Your thoughts on Event Horizon?

Paul W.S. Anderson has made some crap films over the years, but he really made something special with Event Horizon. Sure, it borrows from Alien, The Shining, Forbidden Planet, Solaris and even Hellraiser, but it still manages to come across as its own beast and a damn creepy one at that. Sam Neil's transformation is an acting masterclass. I love it.

The Walking Dead or Z Nation?

Which zombie TV series do you prefer? I prefer Z Nation myself because it's a lot more fun and isn't so damn brooding like The Walking Dead is. Okay so it's produced by Asylum films, known for all their shitty mockbusters and it airs on SyFy, a channel that lost all credibility years ago, but it's better than you'd expect if you go in with an open mind. It knows it's cheap and rolls with it. Episodes tend to go ridiculously over the top, but that's why it's so much fun. There aren't any of those dull, filler episodes that The Walking Dead has.

As far as The Walking Dead goes, do I hate the show? No, there's been some great episodes here and there, but it's just been so damn inconsistent as a whole. It's not the be all end all when it comes to zombies either. Only watching The Walking Dead doesn't make you a "zombie expert" either. The spinoff series, Fear the Walking Dead has been a dull affair thus far too.

#TV #Zombies

Vlad the Impaler, for toddlers

Holy schla fucking MOLY. You guys would not believe this. This graphic novel was displayed right at the eye level of toddlers, in a library where I volunteer. It was even in the childrens section, with the picture books (like Curious George, Frances the Badger, etc).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013J939EM?keywords=vlad%20the%20impaler%20sid&qid=1443931430&ref_=sr_1_3&s=books&sr=1-3

The author and illustrator talk about it, here:
https://www.graphicnovelreporter.com/authors/sid-jacobson/news/interview-101509

I think a lot of people here might get a kick out of this graphic novel, if you can find it at your library. Hopefully it won't be in the toddlers section. Anyway, they don't really say this in the interview, but it is actually really funny, in several parts, in a demented and dark way. I laughed out loud, a few times, as I was reading it today. Vlad doesn't just impale his enemies, he is also a lusty, bawdy, Captain Morgan type of guy, vigorously boning his way through the boudoirs of 15th Century Eastern Europe. With occasional breaks for impaling his enemies, of course.

Had to share.

How many Steele movies have you seen?

I recently saw The Ghost (1963), and saw She Beast (66) a year ago, was pleased with both.

The Ghost-6/10
She Beast-6/10

Horror-themed bars?

Have you ever been to a horror bar? I bet that would be a lot of fun. I don't think one exists in my city. https://popcornhorror.com/horror-themed-bars/

Looking for Eurocrime recs

I want to check out good Eurocrime flicks, predominantly from the 70's. Any recs?

Scum of the Earth (1974)



Scum of the Earth. What a title! I love it when movies are so blunt in their names, so eye catching. You almost want to rent them based on the title alone. Movies like I Spit on Your Grave and Cannibal Holocaust share a similar feeling of disgust when you first hear them. It's enough to blindly rent them, hoping the titles are an indicator on how good the movie is, and simply not false advertisement (cough, Zebub, cough).

Scum of the Earth is not misleading. The title actually sets the tone nicely. Of course there is an alternative title to this flick; Poor White Trash 2. I personally prefer Scum of the Earth, I feel Poor White Trash really doesn't do this movie justice as a title. It's not your average backwoods hillbilly horror movie, this is something far more gritty and disturbing. This is some slimy and uncomfortable cinema. Something that might make you feel the need for a shower afterwards. This is Scum of the Earth.

The plot is fairly basic. Helen and Paul have just gotten married, and are celebrating their honeymoon in a secluded cabin in the peaceful tranquillity of a forest somewhere in the south. An unknown assailant brutally murders Paul with an axe, causing his wife to run away, fearful and grief stricken, into the dark forest. She soon bumps into Odis Pickett, a frightful man with a frightful accent, and after some pleading for help, accepts to return with him to his house to use his phone. Back at his home, she meets his wife, Emmy, his daughter, Sarah, and his son, Bo. It soon becomes obvious that Odis has no phone. In fact, the family appear to be living in poverty. Helen doesn't trust him, but its dark outside now, and the killer is still on the loose. She has no choice but to stay with them for the night. And it's gonna be a long night.

Scum of the Earth is directed by S.F. Brownrigg, the man who did Don't Look in the Basement. Only, Scum of the Earth is a very different type of movie. A simpler kind. Scum of the earth sets out to show just how disgusting some people in this world can be. It's covered with grit and sleaziness, a real uncomfortable sitting. I was equally repulsed and fascinated all throughout. The award for the most despicable person in the movie goes to Odis, played by Gene Ross whose whole manner just makes you want to cringe. Even on our first meeting of the guy, he comes across as so sleazy, it's unfortunate that our heroine was in such a dire situation she had no choice but to trust him. I think it paints a picture what type of person Odis is, when he introduces his pregnant wife as "the skinny one with the big belly". He is offensive in more ways than one, especially in his treatment to his children and his wife. People like Odis make me sad for humanity.

As memorable as Odis is, there is a female performance that really stood out for me. Surprisingly, it wasn't from our protagonist, Helen, but from Emmy, played by Ann Stafford. I have never wanted to hug a character so badly. Emmy is the type of person that reminds us that there are good people in the world. In a movie filled with scum, Emmy stands out as the bright sunflower. She brings hope that there is good in the world. What a wonderful performance.

This movie does drag in some scenes, and some of the acting was a little over the top (looking at you, Helen). I even remember a scene when a character goes out into the woods when it's meant to be the heart of night, only it's as bright as daylight. But I think my biggest complaint was the score. Wow, was that a misplaced soundtrack. But nonetheless, despite its flaws, this was a good movie. For a low budget B movie, it just oozes with atmosphere. And of course, being a backwoods exploitation flick, you can expect lots of violent scenes, including rape and incest. It's one hell of an underrated gem and one that I highly recommend those who like grindhouse flicks and backwoods horror.

Thankyou for reading.

Combat Shock (1986)



Frankie Dunlan isn't doing so well. Living in extreme poverty in Staten Island, New York with his homely sow of a wife who's a dick to him due to the fact that she originally thought she was marrying into money. Not quite, Miss America. The happy couple have also been blessed with a depressed-looking freak baby with, who brightens their days and nights with it's constant, freaky sounding crying that probably gives them both nightmares. Although, impregnating that woman must have been the biggest nightmare of all. so, again. Frankie Dunlan isn't doing so well.

Oh, and he's also pretty fucked in the head from his longer than expected stay in good 'ol Vietnam as a tortured P.O.W. So, on top of whatever damage that brought on, the poor, out-of-work bastard can't afford any of the comforts of home, including food, so, nobody's eating any time soon. Not to mention rent's due. Time to get out there and look for work, and hopefully not run into the crime boss whom he owes alot of money. But this just isn't Frankie's day. So, you know the worst is inevitable.

Great news! Mr. crime boss is totally willing to let Frankie's wife suck some dick on the side to pay the debt, and maybe even earn their little family some extra cash. Oh, but Frankie's too proud or whatever to allow such a thing to occur. Otherwise, I'm sure there'd be a line of horny men a mile long outside, waiting to get some of that. But nothin' doin' says Frankie. He's determined to take care of his family by himself, the old fashion way. Especially since there's nobody around to mug just yet. But we'll see how it goes.

As calm and accepting as he seems while roaming the streets, Frankie is a ticking time bomb. He's had just about enough of this day, and quite frankly, enough of this shitty life as well. The only thing keeping him going is the fact that his ugly wife and freak baby are counting on him to come up with something. All the ass kickings, verbal and physical. All the regrets and disappointments, all the pain and sorrow he has witnessed is just about to catch up with his damaged mind. And when Frankie hits rock bottm and finally explodes, nobody will be safe. NOBODY!

Obviously, this film is not for everyone. Even the Troma lovers who enjoy fucked up shit might find this one a bit off putting. One must have have a very dark sense of humor to see the beauty in this miserable tale. And I for one see the beauty, crystal clear. One of the all-time great Tromasterpieces. Combat Shock (AKA American Nightmares) offers No redeeming charcters. No redeeming situations. Nothing gets sugar-coated. Just non-stop bleak, gritty, and depressing, with something ugly around every corner to remind you what a unforgiving world this can be. Thank you, Troma! 8/10



#Review

What would your Cowboy name be if you were in the

If you were riding in the Old West and you were about to bust into a Salloon, what would they call you?

Mine would be Sasparilla Johnson

#cowboyballs

Tromeo And Juliet (1996)



Way back in '98, when I really started getting into B-Horror and other cult classics, Three movies by three legendary directors caught my eye more so than the rest, and they would shape my taste in trash cinema and influence my outlook on life. Herschell Gordon Lewis' Two Thousand Maniacs, John Waters' Pink Flamingos, and Lloyd Kaufman's Tromeo And Juliet. Those movies brought me more joy as a teenager than I could put into words. But I'd like to talk about one of them in particular. Tromeo And Juliet is a very 90's, very Gen-X, somewhat surreal parody of the immensely popular Leo Decaprio film which came out not long before it. Founder and President or Troma, Lloyd Kaufman, always did dabble in the spoofing, and never has it been more hilarious. Somewhere between The Toxic Avenger and this movie, Kaufman eased up on the graphic violence and trashy nature his films once flaunted, due to an attempt at mainstream appeal. But at some point in the mid-90's, Lloyd and Troma said "Fuck it", and decided to make a movie with some balls, again. And with the help of writer, James Gunn, Tromeo And Juliet was born. This would be a turning point for the films of Lloyd Kaufman, as well as Troma as a whole.

For 20 years, the Capulets and the Qs have been at eachother's throats. A feud that started between Monty Q and his former friend, Cap Capulet. They once owned a softcore film company together, and soon become rivals once Cap Stole the business out from under him, as well as his wife. Monty, now a babbling drunk, living in poverty, he, his son, Tromeo, his cousin, Benny, and their overly confrontational friend, Murray, are now in the middle of a deadly family feud with these arrogant, perverse Capulets. An encounter with any of these people can escalate at a ridiculous rate. Otherwise, the Q family and their friend are pretty easy going. However, Tromeo is the ladies man of the group, but makes a habit of ending up with chicks who shit on his good nature. However, when he meets Juliet at a costume ball, it's love at first sight. Unfortunately, she's the one Capulet he's never met. Her father, Cap, has always kept her on a short leash, to say the least. Later that night, Tromeo sneaks in the Capulet house, and finds Juliet locked in a glass case. The 19 year old is being punished for having a wet dream by her father who often watches her sleep. Cap is a drunken, wife beating pervert who has promised the vegetarian Juliet to a billionare who owns a meat company. A high strung tool whom she has very little affection for. This, however, doesn't discourage Tromeo, as he quickly proposes, which would end any chance of this farce of a marriage from happening, as well as any chance of Cap gaining a billionare son-in-law. As this 20 year long feud rages on, and Cap catching wind of this new marriage, the shit is finally about to hit the fan.

Unlike every movie Lloyd Kaufman made before or since, Tromeo And Juliet does lack a bit of the goofy humor he normally applies. And I think easing up for once was the right decision. Regardless of whether it was his decision or not And let's not forget this movie has some damn fine actors. And not to mention James Gunn's genius script. Just a lot of good decisions all around. I don't claim to know anything, but I'd tend to give Mr. Gunn more credit for this accomplishment than Lloyd, as this is clearly unlike anything Kaufman ever did, and probably ever will do, again. Tromeo And Juliet is hip. It's unique, and could possibly be taken seriously by a non-Troma fan. A movie I could easily see gaining more mainstream appeal than the ones that were actually meant to. There's still plenty of Kaufman's signature slapstick in this, and shout outs to his past movies, like a Toxic Avenger Part II poster on Tromeo's bedroom wall. Nothing wrong with that. There's also a a strong anti-meat message going on, here, that I can only assume is the PETA-friendly Lloyd's doing. It works well, though. Juliet's fiance, London Arbuckle, is one of the most entertaining characters in the movie. And then there's the penis monster, decapitations and other dismemberments, freaks, perverts, incest, and some pretty hot fuckin'. All the while, dialing the silliness back a notch, Kaufman went all out in every other direction.

And since Tromeo And Juliet was a success, everything that Lloyd Kaufman has come out with since this been more violent, has included more nudity, as well as a trashy, self aware vibe which has become the modern Troma trademark. It doesn't get said enough, but Tromeo And Juliet was a game changer that breathed new life into Troma, and made way for fucked up movies of the 21st century like Terror Firmer and Poultrygeist. None of which can hold a candle to Tromeo And Juliet in my opinion. But all a massive improvement over Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD. Just sayin'. Come to think of it, I actually haven't even seen that one. But I have seen the trailer, and I can honestly say Tromeo And Juliet is a far better movie. And it's really a shame more of the cast didn't end up becoming Kaufman regulars after this, because every single actor shines, and helps make it the masterpiece that it is. However, we would later on see Will Keenan and Debbie Rochon in Terror Firmer. A film which turns the volume way up on this new ballsy style which began right here. Not unlike The Toxic Avenger, Tromeo And Juliet isn't just another silly Lloyd Kaufman Troma movie. it's a Troma movie which defines a generation. 8/10



#Review #Troma