Don’t Go In The Woods (1981)
By lngway2go | October 4, 2009
(aka Don’t Go In The Woods… Alone!, The Forest 2)
Director: James Bryan
Starring: Nick McClelland, James P. Hayden, Mary Gail Artz, Tom Drury
James Bryan’s Don’t Go In The Woods was caught up in the video nasty fiasco in the UK and it’s such a disjointed, ineffective affair that it’s really hard to see what the stink was all about. It’s even harder to understand just why Code Red decided that it needed the deluxe treatment it has received, but I guess we should never complain about bad low budget horror films being given a second chance, especially on a grand scale.
Don’t Go In The Woods tell the story of four unsuspecting campers who take a hike in the woods, little do they know that there is a maniac that lives there, and he ain’t happy. Now, I could stop here, and I probably should because there really isn’t much more to the story than this. Really. And it’s not long before we have to witness one unsatisfying massacre after another before this boring movie comes to a close.
Topics: American Horror, Slasher Films, Video Nasty | 1 Comment »
Burial Ground - The Nights Of Terror (1980)
By lngway2go | July 6, 2009
Director: Andrea Bianchi
Starring: Mariangela Giordano, Karen Well, Peter Bark
Burial Ground is a film that lives in infamy among horror fans, not for the skill of direction or the strength of the story, not even for an excess of gore scenes - if that was the case it would be a sorry state, for Burial Ground is lacking to varying degrees in all departments. What Burial Ground is best known for turns out to be one of the few highlights of the film, a scene in which a child rips his mothers breast clean off with his young teeth, in an incestuous zombie feast. It’s not unusual for a horror film to have it’s moment of glory and recognition from one lone moment of triumph that last but a few seconds. There are many such examples. Another being the legendary video nasty Anthropophagus Beast, a film with two such highlights; the killer performing an abortion and consumption of a late term pregnancy, and the consumption of one’s own intestines. Classic stuff in both cases.
One could say that it’s a shame for a whole movie to be considered, and raised to cult status on such flimsy merits, but that’s what keeps things interesting; it can take so little to make something memorable, but there is a journey to get there, no matter how painful, and when the peak of the gory crescendo is reached we experience a moment of joy that allows us to forget the boredom or the ineptness of the other 85 minutes. Perhaps this is shameful justification for bad horror films, but there is usually some kind of silver lining even if it is like a needle in a haystack at times.
Topics: Italian Horror, Zombie Films | 1 Comment »
New and Upcoming DVD Releases
By lngway2go | July 3, 2009
The UK’s Arrow Videos recently released some interesting titles under their new imprint, Masters of Giallo. The three initial titles include Dario Argento’s Sleepless, Lamberto Bava’s Macabre, and Lucio Fulci’s House By The Cemetery. Although the titles aren’t anything too exciting, having been released elsewhere previously, but they are definitely worth picking if only for their awesome sleeve artwork, which bring back memories of the early 80’s video sleeve. The three titles were released on July 29th, and it appears this is going to be another UK label to keep watching.
Staying on the other side of the pond, Shameless Films have released a brand new director’s cut of Baba Yaga (Corrado Farina, 1973). This is a brand new edit which includes footage that was previously removed to finally bring to us the director’s original vision of the film. The great new disc was released back in April, so a little late on this one, but well worth picking up. Also in the works is Luigi Bazzoni’s Footprints (1975). This rare giallo will be released August 29th, and looks set to be yet another must have DVD.
There is a very small label based in Greece, Onar Films, who are pushing some odd product. They are releasing obscure films from Turkey who are not known for their cinematic output. Still don’t be put off, they have some very intriguing titles in their catalog, a couple of Giallo’s no less… Kadin Dusmani (Woman Despiser) is an very early giallo (1967) directed by Ilhan Engin, and is very heavy on the gothic side. The release is a seriously limited edition. Only 500 copies have been pressed, each hand numbered, so be sure to pick up you copy while you still can. The other release is a double bill, aptly named: Turkish Horror Double Bill. It features Oluler Konusmaz Ki (The Dead Don’t Talk), another gothic horror from the early 70’s, and, Aska Susayanlar Seks Ve Cinayet (Thirsty For Love Sex And Murder), a sleazy giallo from 1972. Unfortunately it sounds like the quality on these discs might not what we hope to see on dvd, but the rarity of these films should be more than enough to kill any complaints. Mine are currently in the mail, and I know I can’t wait to see these obscurities.
There are some interesting releases in the US, unfortunately several are just re-releases with out anything new on the discs. Redemption are currently going through there back catalog and ensuring it’s back in print. Black Torment
Mya Communications are continuing to release some great titles this summer. Joe D’Amato sequel/prequel to Anthropophagus Beast, Horrible (aka Absurd, Anthropophagus 2)
Blue Underground are re-releasing Sergio Martino’s classic slice of giallo, Torso
Synapse have released Violence and Flesh
Lucio Fulci’s Door Into Silence
Criterion are about to release a worthy deluxe release of Roman Polanski’s classic Repulsion, a journey through a young woman’s mind as she quickly spirals out of control when left by her vacationing sister. Released on Blu-Ray
Topics: DVD News, Dario Argento, Edwige Fenech, Erotic, Exploitation, Giallo, Lucio Fulci | No Comments »
Eye on Horror: Tales of Voodoo
By lngway2go | June 18, 2009
There are a lot of DVD releases lately cashing in on the popularity of the Grindhouse tag line. This collection is another of those. Originally released on DVD in the form of several volumes of Tales of Voodoo, this series of 10 films released by Videoasia has been collected into a box set for a fraction of the price. Obviously this is the time to pick this box set up, if ever there was a reason to in the first place. And, since no one else it likely to touch this with a barge pole, at least someone should take a closer look…
Escape from Hell Hole (1983)
Directed by Maman Firmansyah
This Indonesian woman in prison melodrama is fairly tame when compared to some of the other films in this sordid genre from the likes of Jess Franco and Bruno Mattei. If you are eager for a display of female flesh, this is not the film for you. It really doesn’t get even mildly interesting until the latter part of the film. Hell Hole tells the story of a small town girl being tricked into going to the big city by a friend. There she ends up being entrapped in a house of sin where the woman are treated like caged animals. In this place a girls virginity is her prize, and if they don’t give that prize up to the head honcho then it’s the end for them. But the women are given clothes and beach towels, so it’s hard to see what they are really upset about - they even find time to get down for some disco dancing. Yeah, it really is pretty lame stuff, but there’s some tongue ripping, knife throwing, cat fighting, and positive speech giving to be witnessed so that might just help get you through it.
Topics: Cannibal Films, Exploitation, Witchcraft Films | No Comments »
Oasis of Fear (1971)
By lngway2go | April 9, 2009
(aka Dirty Pictures)
Director: Umberto Lenzi
Starring: Ornella Muti, Ray Lovelock, Irene Papas
Umberto Lenzi is mostly widely known for starting one of the most vial and controversial genre’s of them all, the cannibal epic. The genre started with Lenzi’s rather tame Man From Deep River (1972), although it wasn’t until Ruggero Deodato’s Cannibal Holocaust (1980) that things really started to heat up in a seriously controversial way. Even though Deodato perhaps pushed the genre over the edge shortly before Lenzi, Umberto wasn’t far behind, and managed to cement his place in the celluloid hall of fame with a film banned the world over, Cannibal Ferox (1981). Still, before all the cannibal madness Lenzi had been making a name for himself by directing some very intriguing thrillers. Oasis of Fear is a rare example of one of these early thrillers. British label Shameless has manage to get this rare film into the hands of fans, securing some footage that hasn’t been seen before, according to Shameless.
Topics: Erotic, Giallo, Italian Horror, Umberto Lenzi | No Comments »
Door Into Darkness (1973)
By lngway2go | April 7, 2009
Director: Dario Argento, Luigi Cozzi, Roberto Pariante, Mario Foglietti
Starring: Aldo Reggiani, Laura Belli, Mimmo Palmara, Enzo Cerusico, Paola Tedesco, Pierluigi Apra, Marilu Tolo, Riccardo Salvino, Glauco Onorato, Marcella Elsberger, Mario Foglinetti, Erika Blanc.
This long awaited release of Dario Argento’s Door Into Darkness was originally planned for it’s US DVD premiere by No Shame last year, but after the labels sudden demise the release was left in limbo. Luckily, Mya Communication stepped in, a label formed out of the ashes of No Shame, and one that is quickly establishing itself as a forced to be reckoned with where it’s catalog of Euro horror is concerned.
Door Into Darkness is a collection of short films produced for RAI TV in Italy in the early 70’s. These tales of murder and mayhem are a mixed bag, but supposedly pushed the boundaries of violence on TV at the time, which might not be saying much when viewed by today’s standards. Unfortunately the original materials are no longer around, so this release is from pulled from the RAI TV masters. Although the quality isn’t as nice as we might hope for, it’s not horrible even though the quality oh each episode varies slightly. Door Into Darkness in an interesting collection of thrillers and seems very much in line with other TV productions of the time, including an introduction for each tale by Argento himself; reminiscent of the American TV shows like Alfred Hitchcock Presents or the Night Gallery. There were four episodes produced for this series, each episode was directed by a different director and ran approximately one hour, a few might say that some of the episodes over stay their welcome, but for the most part this is an enjoyable collection of tales.
Topics: Dario Argento, Giallo, Italian Horror | No Comments »
The Frightened Woman (1969)
By lngway2go | March 24, 2009
(aka Femina Ridens, The Laughing Woman)
Director: Piero Schivazappa
Starring: Dagmar Lassander, Philippe Leroy, Lorenza Guerrieri
The Frightened Woman is an obscure little movie released by a small, but seriously cool, label in the United Kingdom, Shameless. Directed by Piero Schivazappa, this visual gem of a movie finds it’s subject matter firmly planted in a battle of the sexes. So, all those couples out there, you can put away those dueling gender games and once and for all let The Frightened Woman give us the answer we all know to be true: there’s just one that has the upper hand.
Dagmar Lassander (House By The Cemetary, and Naked Werewolf Woman) stars as Maria, a reporter from the publicity department of a company that has conducted experiments on male sterilization. She is putting together a story on the subject and asks for more materials from the director, Dr Sayer (Philippe Leroy). When asked what she thinks of the concept, Maria’s all for it. “Why should the woman always be the one to take precautions” she tells the director. The director is absolutely appalled, thinking that the act of sterilization is “barbarous”, stating that the potency of man should remain intact. The materials Maria needs are in at Dr Sayer’s house and they make arrangements for her to pick them up after she promises to write the kind of article Sayer wants.
Topics: Erotic | No Comments »
Important DVD Releases
By lngway2go | February 16, 2009
There are a couple dates to look forward to in the coming months, one next week and the other the following month. Both have a slew of dvd releases hitting the shelves which are sure to drain the bank reserves. Mixed in with these releases are some important film by important directors. Remember if you don’t buy ‘em these labels won’t stick around in this tough climate! Below are the titles seem worthwhile buying to me…
February 24:
Bird with the Crystal Plumage [Blu-ray]
Label: Blue Underground. Director: Dario Argento
The second Blu-ray release of an Argento title from Blue Underground. Not many of these cool Euro titles are making it to Blu-ray, so support the cause! Go Blue Underground! Although their new titles could be a bit more interesting these days.. There I said it.
Scorpion with Two Tails
Label: Mya Communications. Directed by Sergio Martino
There was a bit of a Egypt kick in the early 80’s in Europe… We had Dawn of the Mummy, Fulci was doing it, and this is Sergio Martino effort. Probably not great, but we gotta have it still. Another new, and interesting release for the mysterious Mya Communications label.
Four Flies on Grey Velvet
Label: Mya Communications. Director: Dario Argento
Classic. Must have. First time this has been released on DVD in the USA after being wrapped up in legal tape for so long - Paramount wanting too much to release the thing. Finally… Mya Communications strikes gold early on in life.
Sins of Sister Lucia
Label: Mondo Macabro
A Japan nunsploitation movie… need I say more? Where do Mondo Macabro find these bizarre titles? We don’t really care as long as they are releasing them!
Requiem For A Vampire
Label: Redemption. Director: Jean Rollin
Re-release by Redemption to get this movie back in print. Probably has little significant difference from their previous release. If you want an upgrade pick up the European Encore 3-Disc set.
March 31:
Two Evil Eyes [Blu-ray]
Label: Blue Underground. Directors: Dario Argento/George Romero
So-so interpretation of stories by Edgar Allan Poe, and another decent title on Blu-ray. Argento’s tale is much better than Romero’s fairly lastlustre interpretation.
The Cremator
Label: Dark Sky Films
What sounds like a surreal black comedy from the Czech republic, and it sure does sound interesting! A late 60’s lost classic perhaps?
Cat In The Brain
Label: Grindhouse Releasing. Director: Lucio Fulci
Not Fulci at his best, but a great film starring Fulci in the title role as a director being haunted by his work. Autobiographical? Who cares, this is going to be a great release. I’m all over this one…
The Sinful Dwarf
Label: Severin Films
Dwarfsploitation?!? This one will likely throw you over the edge… A dwarf captures and rapes women in what in supposed to be a fairly vile movie. But we were never big fans of Disney anyways, were we? Severin really do know what they are doing…
Exposed
Label: Synapse
Christina Lindberg stars in this piece of celluloid sleaze from Synapse who are doing a good job of getting the Swedish stars film appearances on DVD. Christina will be at Cinema Wasteland in April…
The Escapees
Label: Redemption. Director: Jean Rollin.
This is one of those rare Rollin movies that have never seen the light of DVD. What would we do without Redemption in all matters Rollin?
Topics: DVD News, Dario Argento, Exploitation, French Horror, Giallo, Jean Rollin, Lucio Fulci, Nunsploitation | No Comments »
Fascination (1979)
By lngway2go | February 15, 2009
Director: Jean Rollin
Starring: Brigitte Lahaie, Franca Mai, Jean-Marie Lemaire, Fanny Magier, Muriel Montosse, Sophie Noel, Evelyne Thomas, Agnes Bert, Alain Plumley, Myriam Watteau, Joe De Lara, Jacques Sansoul
Fascination could most likely be described as Rollin’s most accessible film, and it is, but it’s also a masterpiece of 70’s European horror cinema. Those might be big words, but Rollin’s output is vastly under-rated and under-appreciated, so it only seems fair! And while we might normally equate achieving accessibility with selling out, this is far from the case with Rollin. Every moment of Fascination could easily find its way into any other Rollin film, except there are just more memorable moments, and the story is perhaps a little tighter than his other work.
Topics: Brigitte Lahaie, French Horror, Jean Rollin, Vampire Films | No Comments »
Pieces (1982)
By lngway2go | January 15, 2009
(aka Mil gritos tiene la noche, One Thousand Cries Has the Night)
Director: Juan Piquer
Starring: Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Braña, Edmund Purdom, Paul L. Smith
Grindhouse Releasing are starting to get back into the swing of things with a couple of very interesting releases which hit shelves in October; Lucio Fulci’s The Beyond (1980) and Juan Piquer Simon’s Pieces (1982). These two releases share certain similarities in their approach, but one is a masterpiece and the other is, well how can I put this… absurdly entertaining.
Pieces owes much to Lucio Fulci’s early 80’s output, with its use of a familiar face (Christopher George - City of the Living Dead), to the overall feel of the film. And, although much of Fulci’s output during this time can hardly be called solidly scripted, much more sense can be made of Fulci’s work than can be of Pieces. But comparing Pieces to anything by Fulci is probably giving Pieces too much credit from the get go. It’s hard to take Pieces seriously and it’s probably closer to comedy than it is serious scares, whether intentional or not.
Topics: Giallo, Slasher Films, Spanish Horror | 1 Comment »