Reviews
Baba Yaga (1973)
Bizarre, Strange, Umberto Lenzi Vehicle
My DVD copy claims Umberto Lenzi directed this very late 1960s movie and the director listed on IMDB is a well-known alias of the great Lenzi.
This movie covers a lot of topics, S&M (which I found rather disturbing.), Witchcraft, Dream Sequences, Fascism, Nazism, European Student Protests and Photography. American viewers (like myself) will appreciate the European (Italian/Germanic) feel to this film, especially considering it was made over 30 years ago.
I would recommend this film. It isn't an over-the-top Lenzi Gorefest (these came later in his career), but certainly is an interesting 90 minutes of your time one saturday or sunday afternoon. I purchased my copy for $7.00 at an FYE store in New York, so the price is right.
I give it a 9/10 for an early lenzi mystery/horror shocker.
Let's Scare Jessica to Death (1971)
Creepy Little Horror Tale
Very creepy horror story that uses a woman's past illness to add ambiguity to add to viewers confusion.
Beautiful scenery tricks the viewer in relaxation before dragging one into horror.
I recommend. 8/10
La tumba de los muertos vivientes (1982)
Eurotrash zombie-nazi Schmutz
Sure you can buy a bare-bones DVD for under 10.00 US , but why waste your time.
Horrible movie set in the desset. Lousy acting, lousy plot, lousy gore, fake machine gore firings....
Boy what a waste of time..I am a fan of 60-90s italian horror and this is near the bottom..not even the beautiful desert scenery can save this movie.
3/10 3 for a good idea gone bad.
The Ring (2002)
Good Horror...Though the Japanese Original is better
I greatly enjoyed this film, though I must say the Japanese version of this is scarier since.
Unpredictable story engages the viewers...along with one of the most novel and scary moments I have seen recently in horror toward the end of the film makes this a great film to see.
Recently out on DVD/VHS...Buy it or Rent it. Hopefully, the Japanese orignal will be released here soon too.
Ron
Ringu (1998)
Great Japanese Horror ...See this film!
Arguably the greatest horror movie to come out of Japan in the last 5 years, the ring is spooky, dark and thrilling.
This is much better than the toned down American remake of the same name.
I hope to see the sequels that are out soon. I wholeheartedly recommend this great little film.
10/10 stars
Basket Case (1982)
B-Movie Madness at its best
A truly bizarre movie, typified by the double meaning of the title.
Deformed Siamese twin seeks revenge with his well-meaning brother in Lower Manhattan/Times Square. Dark sets, over-acting and overall bizarre animation sequences typify this early piece of the 1980s indie horror scene.
Also includes one of the most bizarre 10 minutes of any horror movie in the last 20 odd years.
Buy the 20th anniversary edition DVD if you can. The director's commentary is a hoot.
Highly recommended.
Mil gritos tiene la noche (1982)
Dubbed bloody chainsaw mess of a movie, influenced by Joe D'Amato (screenplay)
Bloody, Gory, Dubbed Italian movie with co-eds at a small college being hacked up by a mystery man. Nothing new here...some interesting chainsaw murders...but overall nothing to write home about.
I bought the DVD cheaply (about 6.00), so this is entering public domain territory here.
Try it if you want to remember the old days of slasher films..when the fake blood flowed and the dialogue was lousy and the plot development was razor thin :)
I give it 4 stars out of 10 (an extra 2 stars for nostalgic reasons).
Ronrego
Tourist Trap (1979)
One of Stephen King's Secret Favorites and one of mine too
Ok, this isn't up for an academy award. But it is a lot of fun to watch. Watch future Charlie's Angel Tanya Robert get scared by Mannequins...and so much more.
The DVD of this movie is relatively cheap (I got mine for around $10), and it includes a very interesting commentary by the Director.
Give this a try. Great spooky horror, with little nudity or gratuitious blood.
---
Baba Yaga (1973)
Bizarre, Strange, Umberto Lenzi Vehicle
My DVD copy claims Umberto Lenzi directed this very late 1960s movie and the director listed on IMDB is a well-known alias of the great Lenzi.
This movie covers a lot of topics, S&M (which I found rather disturbing.), Witchcraft, Dream Sequences, Fascism, Nazism, European Student Protests and Photography. American viewers (like myself) will appreciate the European (Italian/Germanic) feel to this film, especially considering it was made over 30 years ago.
I would recommend this film. It isn't an over-the-top Lenzi Gorefest (these came later in his career), but certainly is an interesting 90 minutes of your time one saturday or sunday afternoon. I purchased my copy for $7.00 at an FYE store in New York, so the price is right.
I give it a 9/10 for an early lenzi mystery/horror shocker.
The Sweetest Thing (2002)
A cute Female version of "american pie" or "porky's"
Not a bad movie, but we have seen this all before......group of girls (instead of guys) play the field, run circles around men, and then drop them like cheap suits. The cliches and silly jokes go on and on, but overall this is for women, by women and meant for women. I found myself checking my watch regularly in the last half hour.
Not to spoil anything, but it does have a happy ending..DIS IS HOLLYWOOD AFTER ALL!
Very Bad Things (1998)
Wow..Makes you think..about what depends on you
This movie, which is part-entertaining, part-funny, part-sad, and very high part offensive will make you think if nothing else. It has love, violence, sex etc. but also is very offensive by poking fun at the handicapped incessantly.
Overall a nice film..You can see Cameron Diaz in an over the top role and Christian Slater in a rather subdued one.
Not for the kiddies..or the easily offended.
La casa sperduta nel parco (1980)
disappointing...Take Ruggero Out of the Jungle and look what you get!
A very disappointing outcome for a highly anticipated Ruggero Deodato Movie.
The best things going for this mess of a film is David Hess (reprising his LOTL character KRUG, John Morghen and the brunnette who survives in Cannibal Ferrox)
Story is non-horror, just preppie bashing, which is now quite dated in the 21st century......
Plus this film takes place in NYC and Jersey, while I am a native, Ruggero should have moved the location to somewhere more exotic...how about delaware or Georgia.
See it only if you are Genre fan of non-Giallo Deodato films.
:)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
A Missed Opportunity to Follow Up on the Original Massacre
Cleary, a missed opportunity. The big name star (dennis Hopper), the bigger budget, and the cheap humor definitely knocked this overdone film down a few notches.
The final scene is excellent and almost needs to be seen on a big screen (as I first saw it back in 1996). Still, it would have been great to bring back the older actors (I know Gunnar Hansen showed up for the sequel too). Stick to the original and see a real texas.
>
Brokedown Palace (1999)
A limp recreation of "Return to Paradise"
This rough female version of "return to paradise" really puts u to sleep.. It is hard to feel for the two female characters...and for gods sake Hollywood's bashing of Malaysia and Thailand's justice systems is getting old...We should examine inequities in our own system more often..Dead Man Walking was a start...but i mean showing spoiled american kids roughed up in foreign prisons is rather drab and boring in my opinion.
I predict Claire Danes will do a breakthrough performance sooner or later; "Breakdown Palace" is not it!
Non si sevizia un paperino (1972)
A masterful movie
This film shows a serious side to the often thought of as gore-fest works of fulci. Not a lot of blood and guts here , but a fine tale about murder and the lives affected by it.
A real find, considering it was made in 1972 and will soon celebrate its 30th anniversary.
Check this one out, but be warned it is hard to find!
Ron
The Nesting (1981)
Skip this one
it is very boring..see the shining instead This is an old style retread of the haunted house movie where people appear from the past in vintage clothing
it tries to be novel..but god, it only shows a neurotic women's descent to madness, skip it
La spiaggia del desiderio (1976)
Excellent Scenery - and Laura Gemser is scantily clad outfits...
are the highlights of this film.
Plot, character development and coherence are nowhere to be found.
There are better island movies, better Laura Gemser films and more realistic scenarios than this film (I especially enjoyed Trap them and Kill Them).
This isn't really a true Emanuelle Film..it was renamed this to cash in on Laura Gemser.
All in all this one will put you to sleep...with no plot and a shoestring budget......Save your time and money and look elsewhere.
Not a bad effort..but any one of us could make a better film, in my opinion.
Emanuelle e gli ultimi cannibali (1977)
Entertaining in a Joe D'amato sort of way
This film is quite entertaining.
It combines the cannibal/sex genre quite well and keeps the late 70s Cannibal style intact by including about 20 minutes based in new york city.
Then off to the amazonian jungle we go where Laura strips, has sex and sees a lot of cannibals in the jungle. A true blue Joe D'amato hybrid between sex and cannibals..He was the master..this is one of his best!
Le notti erotiche dei morti viventi (1980)
UGH - a mess
A real mess..boring
I wouldn't recommend this..Joe D'amato has done better..see trap them and kill them.
I think old joe thought he was making a masterpiece..but this one is just dull and boring..even the women are rather average for a d'amato flick.
Emanuelle e Françoise (Le sorelline) (1975)
UGH - Joe D'amato left his format and it showed
Unfortunately, the late, great Joe D'amato left his favorite horror format for this mixed-up caper of romance, revenge and the powers men and women hold over each other.
There is very little gore here, but many relationships. This spells disaster for a Joe D'amato Pic.
Obviously, Joe wanted to branch out from his usual Gore and Chicks flicks..but this bomb will put you to sleep...or hurt your finger from holding down your VCR's Fast Forward key.
Take my advice, Skip It!
Apocalypse domani (1980)
Not bad/Not Great Dated By Age
This is not a fantastic movie/but also not bad. It has a very American feel for it, unlike other cannibals-running-around-the-jungle-eating-innocent-victim's adventures.
Perhaps it is the presence of John Saxon or the Atlanta GA American location (as opposed to the usual gritty casting in New York City 1980).
This feature is rather watchable and has a plot - somewhat unusual for this type of film. If you can find it cheap, rent it? If not, head for the jungle and a usual gorefest!
Inferno (1980)
A REAL LETDOWN
Stick with Suspira or Demons. This film is slow and slow and slower. The plot is incomprehensible and you will find yourself asking, "WHY I AM WATCHING THIS).
This is my opinion, you could do better than wasting 2 hours with this,
Ron
The Last House on Dead End Street (1973)
AWFUL - DO NOT SPEND YOUR TIME ON THIS ONE
This movie is a waste of time, it intends to shock but fails miserably.
It was really a let down, especially the hoof scene. I really would recommend not wasting your time with this film. I am a true Horror fan and was badly disappointed.
Ron