Topic: Jimmy's - 2012 Ooctober Horror Marathon

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Mother's Day (1980)

Genre: Horror
Director: Charles Kaufman
Rating: NR
Length: 1h30
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Nancy Hendrickson
Deborah Luce
Tiana Pierce
Frederick Coffin
Michael McCleery   

Plot:
Lovin sons always do what their mothers tell them to even if it's to KILL!!! The Troma Team is proud to bring you Charles Kaufman's Mother's Day, the independent horror classic which redefines the term ''family values.''

This stylish, horrific and darkly humorous film is a worldwide favorite. In the spirit of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Mother's Day is a celebration of gore and depravity that is certain to offend the weak of heart!

My Thoughts:

My expectations were high for that one and they were met. This is a very good backwoods horror film and quite brutal (with a surprising part of social commentary). Sure it is low budget but not in the way we think now when we hear low budget, so I don't mean badly filmed, badly acted and incompetent film making... This is professionally done since all the crew members were film schools student, anyway to give you an idea the two actors playing the brothers had a very long career (Frederick Coffin was in film untill his death 2002 and Michael McCleery did his last film in 2003) and Beatrice Pons, who played the mother, was a TV regular actress from 1952 to 1964. Kaufman write his film with a great flow, you relax and have fun with the girls untill Ike and Addley enter in the story.

For a rare occasion we have one film who is as good as his reputation is, so of course I recommand it. As I've said previously (I'm sure I did) the remake had nothing to do with this film, the remake is an home invasion movie kind of like Night of the Animals or The Intrusion...



Rating :

[Jimmy]

It's always nice to get some extra after a review, so I link an interview with Nancy Hendrickson from Retroslasher

Interview With Mother's Day Actress Nancy Hendrickson

[Achim]

Being banned in Germany I had a certain set of expectations when I first saw Mother's Day. I was underwhelmed It is typical Troma fare, over the top and silly, just as Kaufman likes it. Don't get me wrong, I like Kaufman and usually enjoy him in interviews, but he knows what kind ofilms he makes and on that level they are mostly quite enjoyable...

Thanks also for the review for A Return To Salem's Lot. I think I finally will have to get it, I still have fond memories of seeing it at a cinema during a film festival even before actual release (one of the first Fantasy Filmfests, which now Tom reports from every year).

[Jimmy]

It is typical Troma fare, over the top and silly, just as Kaufman likes it.

Achim this was not made by Troma. Loyd Kaufman and Michael Esner were associate producers only wich is why they had the video rights for a while.

United Film in the US and Ambassador Film in my country were the real distributors of this film. Also at this time Troma wasn't in the horror film bussiness but light romantic comedy like Squeeze Play. They start becoming the Troma we know now after Toxic Avenger in 1984 who was an huge success for the studio.

[Achim]

 

It still felt very Troma to me... But maybe jut another case of expectations not met.

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: 976-EVIL (1988)

Genre: Horror
Director: Robert Englund
Rating: R
Length: 1h45
Video: Full Frame
Audio: English
Subtitles: Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish

Stars:
Stephen Geoffreys
Patrick O'Bryan
Sandy Dennis
Jim Metzler
María Rubell

Plot:
High school underdog Hoax Wilmoth (Stephen Geoffreys) fills up the idle hours in his seedy little hometown fending off the local leather-jacketed thugs, avoiding his overbearing, religious fanatic mother (Sandy Dennis) and dreaming of a date with trailer park temptress Suzie (Lezlie Deane). But his quietly desparate life takes a terrifying turn when his cousin Spike introduces him to an unusual new hobby - phoning in for his "horrorscope." Instead of the slightly kinky astrological predictions he's expecting Hoax is hooked up with a compellingly hideous demonic force that slowly begins to overtake his entire life. Now there's more than just a phone bill to pay for anyone and everyone who ever dared cross the neighborhood nerd.

My Thoughts:

At the end of the eighties most horror film made in Hollywood weren't that good and this one is a perfect exemple of this. In theory the concept of the film was a good one but... it was ripped to shreds by the MPAA to get an R rating (they had an hard on at cutting graphic violence in those days) and studios didn't dare to release unrated or X rated movie anymore (see this is what I mean when I say that the end of the independant theatre is when the movie quality drop) and the script include too many stupid jokes inspired by Nightmare on Elm Street. A movie like that made 5 years earlier would have been great.

But I have to give it one thing : Stephen Geoffreys is great in it and I can't understand why he didn't get better movie after that. Don't worry I know about the Sam Ritter period, but for me it's not a big deal and no different than any other movies...

Wonder if someone here did try that number...



Rating :

[samuelrichardscott]

Agree completely about 976-EVIL. I gve it a 2/5 looking at my viewing history and I gave the sequel the same score though I do remember Debbie James being a little better in the second than some of cast from the first and Wynorski directed better than Englund - just the story was a little worse so they kin dof evened out. Have you seen the second?

[Jimmy]

Have you seen the second?

I don't think so... but maybe I've seen it in french but I really doubt it.

I guess the humour was a notch above as it was directed by Jim Wynorski

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: The Mutilator (1985)

Genre: Horror
Director: Buddy Cooper
Rating: NR
Length: 1h26
Video: Full Frame
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Matt Mitler
Frances Raines
Morey Lampley
Ruth Martinez
Ben Moore

Plot:
A group of teenagers decide to take a vacation at the beach house of one of their fathers. The kid whose father owns the house just happened to accidentally kill his mother when he was a child. When they get to the house, the father has mysteriously disappeared.

My Thoughts:

Right from the start you know pretty much what will happen in the next hour, so this one doesn't win the originality prize (anyway this isn't that much important). This film had a small cult following wich is of course due to the fact it had more or less disapear (I mean that we are stuck with dark VHS materials). I can understand why easilly, even with the non-original story line (even in 85 that wasn't) the film had some strong points. The actors aren't that bad (at least they act like normal teenagers would) for newcommers and the special effets are well done (of course this is if you watch the unrated VHS and not the R rated one). One of the killing is particullary abject and gruesome, just think at the notarious killing scene of Johnny in the original I Spit on Your Grave but with the gender reverse to get an idea.



Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Fright Night (1985)

Genre: Horror
Director: Tom Holland
Rating: R
Length: 1h42
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English

Stars:
Chris Sarandon
William Ragsdale
Amanda Bearse
Roddy McDowall
Stephen Geoffreys

Plot:
Meet Jerry Dandridge. He's sweet, sexy, and he likes to sleep in late. You might think he's the perfect neighbor. But before inviting Jerry in for a nightcap, there's just one thing you should know. Jerry prefers his drinks warm, red and straight from the jugular! It's Fright Night, a horrific howl starring Chris Sarandon as the seductive vampire and William Ragsdale as the frantic teenager struggling to keep Jerry's deadly fangs out of his neck. Only 17-year-old Charley Brewster (Ragsdale) knows Jerry's bloodcurdling secret. When Charley can't get anybody to believe him, he turns to TV horror host Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall), who used to be the "Great Vampire Killer" of the movies. Can these mortals save Charley and his sweetheart Amy (Amanda Bearse) from the wrathful bloodsucker's toothy embrace? If you love being scared, Fright Night...will give you the nightmare of your life.

My Thoughts:

A favorite of mine that I've watch countless time when I was a teenager, but it's the first time I watch it in its original language and not in french. Pretty much everybody know this one and if you don't what the hell are you waiting to watch it? Most people here know that horror and comedy is a mix that I don't like usually, but for this one they got it perfectly as it isn't funny to the point of being an awfull parody (I'm talking to you Evil Dead 2), it is "scary" most of the time and it respect the genre. The acting is blameless, I particulary like the way Roddy McDowall play his part and Chris Sarandon show why he doesn't deserve to be in crap like Bordello of Blood. The effects are well done, the dog / wolf transformation is particulary good.

It was recently release on blu-ray but it sold way too fast and is now OOP and you can't get it unless you are ready to pay more than 100$ minimum. Wich is a lot for an extraless blu-ray... Of course the DVD release many years ago is quite cheap to get. But I've done what Sony didn't want to do and use an old DVD transfer to create my own special edition of the film.

So I can say that my DVD is unique as it's an original widescreen ratio with english subtitles, but mine had extras... In effect it countains two audio commentaries : the first one with Tom Holland, Chris Sarandon & Jonathan Stark and the second one with Tom Holland, William Ragsdale, Stephen Geoffreys & Randall William Cook. The commentaries were on my computer for a while, but I can't remember where I got them in the first place...



Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Ghostkeeper (1981)

Genre: Horror
Director: Jim Makichuk
Rating: NR
Length: 1h27
Video: Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Riva Spier
Murray Ord
Sheri McFadden   
Georgie Collins
Les Kimber

Plot:
A trio of friends on a snowmobiling trip in the Canadian Rockies become lost after venturing up a trail during a snowstorm. They stumble upon a seemingly abandoned hotel lodge and decide to spend the night, unaware of the grave danger that they have put themselves in. Who, or what, is the Ghostkeeper, and will anyone survive the night?

My Thoughts:

If you want to watch an action piece forget about this film as it isn't one. In our country we have two method of doing film, the Quebec / Ontario way who is more in your face and the western method who is more artistic and slow building. So this one being a Western Canada production we have a film who take the time to built itself. Wich can be a negative or a positive depending of what you like as it has a "theatre" feel to it. Usually it wouldn't be my cup of tea, but it's a winter movie and I'm Canadian so I love it...

There nothing more beautifull in the world than the canadian winter, maybe that sound chauvinist but common this is true

So we got a beautifull cinematography of an isolated albertan hotel (it's at Lake Louise and it is always there) and a great nostalgic feeling. I was born in a place like that and all the memories of my youth came back (the great skidoo ride in the mountains, the hiking in the woods peacefull memories, ...).

OK I'm supposed to talk about an horror film not my youth

As I say if you like film who move in a slower pace you'll like it and you'll be rewarded as the end is a great one. The movie is also well acted, but this isn't that surprising as the Canadian actors are incredibly talented and know the works.

Just give it a chance and you won't regret it.

Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

Genre: Horror
Director: Ronny Yu
Rating: R
Length: 1h37
Video: Widescreen 2.35:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: English & Spanish

Stars:
Robert Englund
Ken Kirzinger
Monica Keena   
Jason Ritter
Kelly Rowland

Plot:
Freddy Krueger is in hell – literally! And like and inmate with a life sentence, Freddy's been plotting a fantastic revenge...all he needs is a little help. In comes Jason Voorhees, the equally iconic madman and perfect means for Freddy to once again instill fear on Elm Street. As the bodies begin to pile up, it becomes clear that Jason isn't willing to step aside.

Now, with a terrified town in the middle, the two titans of terror enter into a horrifying and gruesome showdown. Winner kills all!

My Thoughts:

I think I just saw the dumbest studio movie ever made... Take a dead franchise (Nightmare on Elm Street) who is nothing but a joke since the original, take another one who is always going strong after ten movies, mix them and as a result, since you are the creator of the dead franchise, kill the strong one by turning it as a dumb Freddie is funny garbage.

I almost felt insulted as a fan of the Friday the 13th franchise to see the emotionless stunt man they pick to play Jason. Did New Line tought that Friday the 13th twenty years success is just because of a big guy with a mask? Fricking idiots I tell you... Not a single kids in that can act with the exception of Katherine Isabelle and they had the fricking nerve to use the most obvious body double used in the history of Hollywood body double history to cheat her after she had refused to do a nude scene... fricking clueless idiot.

Fricking waste of time with crappy acting, really awfull CGI (I've seen better in no budget movies and those suck), juvenile joke, stupid non-sense story and awfull nu metal music. If it was not a marathon I can tell you that it would be over fast as they killed the best actress first and force us to endure Monica Keena for all its running time.



Rating :

[Dragonfire]

I saw most of this on tv before....I'm not sure why I didn't turn it off.  I didn't like it that's for sure..it was a giant mess.

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Shivers (1975)

Genre: Horror
Director: David Cronenberg
Rating: 18
Length: 1h23
Video: Widescreen 1.78:1
Audio: English
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Paul Hampton
Joe Silver
Lynn Lowry   
Allan Kolman
Susan Petrie

Plot:
The residents of Starliner Island enjoy a luxurious and opulent lifestyle incorporating the best in country living with the services of the nearby city... until something goes wrong.

A strange disease begins to infect the residents causing violent outbreaks of uncontrollable violence combined with unusual sexual behaviour.

SHIVERS is a thrilling mystery filled with terror and suspense. From its nerve shattering beginning to its alarming conclusion David Cronenberg's classic remains one of cinemas ultimate shockers!

My Thoughts:

Another favorite of mine, of course the fact it was made in Montreal (at l'Île-des-Soeurs to be precise a wealthy suburb of the city) help. It's the first commercial film of Cronnenberg after 2 artistic films and many TV productions and for a first film this is quite an achievement. It's in the same vain as George Romero's The Crazies since it's about an infectuous parasite turning its victims as insane freaks (here sex maniacs). So we see the propagation of the infection in a close environment. Really there is nothing to dislike in this film (except maybe for Paul Hampton who isn't that good in this, but he was in Private Duty Nurses) with a good cast including Barbara Steele too. Love that it doesn't have an happy ending. 
   


Rating :

[Jimmy]

MOVIE / DVD INFO:

Title: Rabid (1977)

Genre: Horror
Director: David Cronenberg
Rating: R
Length: 1h31
Video: Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio: English and French
Subtitles: None

Stars:
Marilyn Chambers
Frank Moore
Joe Silver
Howard Ryshpan
Patricia Gage

Plot:
After undergoing radical emergency surgery, Rose (adult film star 'Marilyn Chambers in her first leading role in a mainstream film') develops an insatiable desire for blood. She searches out victims to satisfy her incurable craving, infecting them with an unknown disease which in turn swiftly drives them insane and equally bloodthirsty.

Follow the lovely but deadly Rose through her terrifying ordeal as victim by victim the spreading circle of casualties grows... until no one can escape their grisly fate of becoming... 'Rabid'.

My Thoughts:

The companion piece of Shivers (not a sequel but it expend the premisse) and in my book the Cronenberg's masterpiece. This one previewed a very deadly virus transmited via the blood and the saliva that will appear in the early eighties (I think you can guess wich one it is... for the younger here who don't know, catching it at that time was a dead sentence). So the deadly virus carrier escape from a medical clinic after an accident and bring with her the plague in the city and possibly the rest of our province (yes once again this was made at Montreal). Once again this is really well done and acted (but once again the principal male actor is the weakest link). Seriously for those of you who have never believed me when I wrote that adult actors can act I dare you to watch and say that Marilyn Chambers doesn't burn the screen by her performance. Of course for me it isn't a surprise as she is great in The Ressurection of Eve, Up'n Coming and Insatiable amongst many others.

A great film who hit us French Canadian even more with the fact the martial law is use to control the epidemy (I won't go politics here, but this is a remainder of one of the most awfull moment of our history that we must never forget when we think about the ROC).

Pete I know you have it, so I hope you'll watch it too... if you can't stop watching only TV shows of course
    


Rating :