Splice (2009)
Splice was a movie that had a lot of promise. It seemed to be building towards something special, but got lost in an unnecessary plot thread that didn’t quite work towards the end. THis specific plot started with a scene…
Invasion of the Star Creatures (1962)
A pair of comical soldiers (Robert Ball and Frankie Ray) investigate a mysterious crater in an atomic detonation area and discover some beautiful alien vixens (Dolores Reed and Gloria Victor) who plan to conquer the world using an army of…
King of the Rocket Men (1949)
1949’s “King of the Rocket Men” was the first of three serials from Republic Pictures featuring a man wearing essentially the same rocket suit and helmet. The other two, both released in 1952, were “Radar Men From the Moon” and…
For the Love Of Movie Going
Before I write my weekly essay, I scan the articles written about movie theaters from around the globe. This week featured an equal amount of theaters opening and theaters closing. The theaters that were opening were in major metro centers…
Space Amoeba (1970)
This is another alien-invasion movie from Toho studios. It features space alien (s) that invaded a tropical island, where it mutates a squid, crab, and turtle to the size of Godzilla. The aliens’ main purpose: to conquer Earth. We have…
Return to Horror High (1987)
This movie could serve as a wake-up call to all those who thought “Scream” was oh-so-stunningly-original. Witty lines like “Why does everyone always want to go to a dark basement without even a flashlight?”, commenting on the oldest horror cliches,…
Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare (1987)
Brothers and Sisters of Rock and Roll!! Hear my words!! Go forth and rent this masterpiece!! If you have no idea who John Thor is let me explain. He’s the inventor of Muscle-rock. He’s been around since the early seventies,…
Alone in the Dark (1982)
Alone in the Dark” centers on a small New Jersey community, where Dr. Dan Potter is assigned to work as a new doctor at “The Haven”, a mental institution outside of town, run by Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasance). The…
Warriors of the Wasteland (1983)
Pulling cinematic threads together I Nuovi Barbari saw a second life when it’s model city sets were reused in Lucio Fulci’s Guerrieri dell’anno 2072 (The New Gladiators). I could be wrong and an Italian man could have gleaned a lot…
Killer Fish (1979)
This movie mixes together two sets of characters at a Brazilian lake-resort: a gang of jewel-thieves fresh from a heist and a company of people involved in photographing a fashion layout. The tensions and turmoils which occur when these two…
Death of a Snowman (1976)
I know exploitation cinema isn’t exclusive to America, many countries around the world have made and continue to make exploitation, but I have to say that I’m rather surprised to see a Blaxploitation film hailing from South Africa. I suppose…
Robot Holocaust (1986)
Angelika Jager, eh? What a woman! Alas, the sad fact is young Angelika is the only reason this film is worth even half-watching – and even then only if you’re a heterosexual male – because everything else about this film…
The Alligator People (1959)
This typical “drive-in” flick of the late 50s is actually fairly complicated that gets very interesting in the last 45 minutes. “Starring” the totally under-appreciated Beverly Garland (a scream queen of the 50s) and Tuesday Weld’s mom in PRETTY POISON…
Nightmare City (1980)
You can’t honestly give any excuses for this movie; it’s just plain cheesy. You could say that it’s just a horror movie and it shouldn’t be taken seriously, but that’s a lame excuse. This movie is just not good at…
The Barbarians (1987)
I have to admit that I loved this movie — it’s completely campy, it doesn’t take itself seriously for a moment, and it has few redeeming qualities. The actors — which is a loose description of what they are doing…
Annihilator (1986)
Mark Lindsay Chapman plays a reporter who discovers a plot by aliens/androids to begin a conquest of Earth. Unfortunately, he’s branded a fugitive when he is caught killing one of the cyborgs who replaced his girlfriend. His trip takes him…
Standing With Spielberg
This year I reluctantly watched the Oscars I have an ever increasing resentment for the studios, their masters and the premeditated erosion of cinema they instigate. I thought at best the show was tepid without a dynamic center. While some…
Cult of the Cobra (1955)
Six army buddies decide to do some sight-seeing among a cult of shape-shifters when they should have stayed in the bar and had a few more beers. The movie’s not as bad as the title suggests, thanks mainly to enthusiastic…
Class of 1999 (1990)
Recent teenage parolee Cody Culp returns to his anarchistic futuristic hood to find himself disgusted with his home life, alienated from his former gang(probably to his relief), and threatened by the school’s newest bullies: three robotic teachers, implemented by the…
Road Games (1981)
The Hitchcockian story of a trucker delivering meat across Australia who becomes entangled in a possible mystery involving an unapprehensible serial killer who may or may not have murdered a helpless hitchhiker traveling the roads he’s driving on. Often referred…