Change Your Image
EvanKevelson
Reviews
La morte ha fatto l'uovo (1968)
Plot Summary fabricated-this is an overrated film and barely makes the Giallo cut.
I am not Albert Einstein.... The opening seen jumping from hotel room to hotel room. Does not show or sound like Marco likes to kill prostitutes. He's got a wild kink bag, there's no audio of a prostitute screaming etc...if you're paying attention at all. The audience is brought in at the end of Marco's appointment, and he is meticulously putting away his demented toys...while she's playing at low self esteem and he's praising her. Hell it's not indicated that the conversation being listened to by Gabri's closet husband- that the woman he was with a hooker.
So let's play 20 20 with the Gabri double cross on Marco.....if there's a string of mysterious prostitute corpses in the hotel? No. Would some crazed serial killer killing hookers not be in tabloids? Does Marco strike you as a calm collected guy.
Marco meets Gabri over the scarf for his weird experience in the middle of the night, and it discovered they are getting down and dirty.
So in Viewing 2/3 of the film there is nothing..nada..bupkes to indicate Marco as a Jack the Ripper....
Anna with Her clearly creepy expressed desires to make her cousin into her sex toy is perturbing but to kill?
FYI that's in summary as well and isn't known till 66.6% into this slow burn.
Then there are just unexplained issues...is this chicken farm for eggs, or selling chickens because I didn't see any roosters.
Then what looks like a trading floor for commodities perhaps? Who cares his new boss
The information gaps and over an hour of dullness except for Anna's Incessant nagging and sexual innuendos on Gabri..
There's no nudity sex or gore till the end.
Marquis de Sade: Justine (1969)
Over 90 minutes of Franco
When I first started watching Franco, I accidentally watched the 1977 version, which was closer to the source material significantly, but realized half way through this is "too well done & linear to be Franco, despite the story being twisted".
This movie was murderous to get through.
First off the imprisoned psychedelic scene with the author suffering from writers block, with the S & M women visions (or are they in jail with him)...Honestly who cares. You can honestly fast forward through that visual madness to when Jack Palance begins the narrative.
Then when I saw Jack Palance in the credits, I double checked if it's a Franco movie!
It felt like Jess had too much money and didn't know what to do with it.
Justine in this version walks a fine line between religiously Naive and mentally delayed.
Juliette's story is not heavily focused on, and is pure imagination of Franco taking artistic liberties (see book or 1977 film). The older sister very Libertine in nature joins a brothel like it's a dream job...in Franco warped sexual fantasies she has a relationship with a fellow lady of the night...then back to Justine...then suddenly a murder robbery plot at the brothel and Juliette disappears till the end, as a High End mistress to a big shot with her co-criminal.
Justine trying to live the pristine life goes from one hell to another, and being a good God fearing girl is framed for theft and loses her dress, corset everything but a button down shirt till she is hired after escaping some infamous professional stage coach hijackers who's boss lady demands she give her purity over to her vulgar slobbish under links.
Justine trespasses gets hired as a house maid then caught and framed in a murder plot (Incredibly ridiculous victim, and Justine).
Then we get a taste of very familiar Franco with Four Wierdo Sex Dungeon clergymen...extensive psychedelic lighting, chains acupuncture etc...
You should be able to tell from my review how disjointed and dry the story is, that by the time you hit "The Dungeon" the viewer is asking themselves why is this being inserted now...close to the end...just dragged out. It doesn't really fit, Justine has enough headaches.
The end is predictable and ridiculous in Franco fashion. You'll recognize some females, but this is not the Franco Band of regulars.
He had a budget for this one...and you watch this you will know why he had trouble with funding after.
Der heiße Tod (1969)
Only the first of ten...
99 Women wild in 1969 but nothing compared to the ten that follow.
I didn't write them down but I think I'll get most of them. The only question I have is why so many of the repetitive film and themes...at different extremes.
1. 99 Women
2. Barbed Wire Dolls
3. Behind Bars
4. Swedish Slave Girls
5. Love Camp
6. The Prison Wardress
7. Ilsa the Prison Wardress
8. Women of Cell Block 9
9. Sadonia
and who really cares you get the idea.
They all have scenes of Horny Wardens or Matrons using there power explicitly or eluded to
They all have solitary
Some are pretty nasty with the punishments, and the makeup...Genital Mutilation (Nipples), Branding, Flogging, Straddling some device that's a blade, Electric shock while tied to a metal cot.... Some Are focused on a "prostitution" prison...some are politically moving women around till they are sold to prostitution...some are soft core lesbian pornography. That sums up his opus.
You take Jackhill who made 4-5 female prison films between 197-1974...and directors that made one...you have the most repetitive garbage. The problem with Jess is, it's like a sick obsession and in 3 of them the sadism is way over the line...Whatever...lol...Personally I had to FF through most of these films...they move slowly...at some point there's an escape that works or doesn't.
Die Säge des Todes (1981)
I HATE 99% of Franco Dubbed
This is a 1981 Slasher, and the film quality is fine, so let me address common problems with Franco "Giallo".
Horrible dubbing, I've seen similar Franco not dubbed and the characters are significantly less irritating.
I don't think any sex or nudity would have improved this film.
BIGGEST PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF DUBBING -SOUND EFFECTS AND SCORE...His movies you have to add the simple knife through the air sound effect, and you have to add the "Squish" "Crack" effects. It's bad enough even in 1971 Franco couldn't spring for some cherry syrup and he's still using 1960s Heinz Ketchup...he's got no splatter or puddles.
So the opening scene there's no terrifying music, no sound at all as he stabs her violently....and cheap on the Heinz.
Then for 1980..."The old...you read to many murder mysteries and your hysterical" already done in multiple Giallo films and much more effectively with better actresses in an early 60s.
The second murder, why would (albeit annoying girl, who literally doesn't shut up) drive off with someone who doesn't speak, and someone supposedly wearing a mask (as he tires her up you briefly see the man's hair and profile and he's not in the film as an actor) lie down on a table in a factory and be tied up for sex fully clothed? That's the biggest mystery of all.
I believe in the original Deutsche (German) this would be a 5.5....some sound effects and score bump it another 1-1.5 points.
With significant quick time jumps, Franco tries to throw you off from the serial killer unsuccessfully, but you're in for a laugh and a small not so small surprise anyway!
One of his signature ridiculous endings where you find yourself laughing at how far fetched it is.
For all 1970s Early slashers you want cool and crazy Italian Giallo typically better (Though slaughtered with dubbing)...
You want the best Erotic, Slashing, Gore the Japanese way ahead of time...they even used red dye before syrup...of course the insane splatters, and the kings of Silicone usage for limbs and vital organs etc...
La fille de Dracula (1972)
The Three Categories of Jess 1967-1983
Jess, Jésus, whatever he wants to call himself.
I've read reviews for horrid films cutting him slack because he made 9 other horrid films that year.
To me walking around with 2-3 35 mm Cameras in the same locations is not "making movies".
I will admit I am a Francophile to some extent. I'd say safely that not before or after Jess have I been enamored with any actress at all but Lina Romay WOW...She is something else, but movies before or after you can see Mr Franco has a "Type".
I can say that roughly 2/7 Franco Films I'll enjoy immensely regardless of how ridiculous or incoherent the end is in relation to the entire movie. 2/7 of his movies I'm entertained but too distracted by women convulsing in the nude, some of whom I'd wish keep their clothing on. The remaining three are bombs.
This one really should get one star.(When dubbed they are always worse). I'll honestly say it got 3 because I couldn't stop laughing at how the Vampire canine teeth looked like a regular person's just longer. They didn't really have a clean piercing quality to them. The other is the "love scenes" and the ridiculous dialogue preceding them. But this wasn't as horrid as other Vampire movies such as Dracula, or probably his worst film Dracula Prisoner of Frankenstein!
I find to genres he repeats disastrously... Vampire is one of them There is a variation of Erotikill (Female Vampire) which has more dialogue and is better; "Marqis De Sade" (There are many movies with De Sade or Eugenia in the title- can get confusing). But the wacky supernatural hypersexual ones are funny.
But you Vampyr Lesbos already, at least 5-6 Vampire literal, or Sexual Vampires that feed off Orgasms and the victims die happily.
Then the other bombs with 2 exceptions I've come across 9 Female prison films...99 women same castle location as this, Barbed Wire same location, Revenge on the House of Usher (-10 stars)...Dracula Prisoner etc...
My favorite are the mystery Giallo/ Heist films.
But if you came across a vampire oriented film with sexual overtones this is just the same film in a different package.
Naked Fear (2007)
Fear of Naked
Whenever I come across something called "Naked Fear" the first thing that comes to mind is metaphorical...e.g. Pure unadulterated fear...And there's of course a psychopath who thinks he has some unique way of bringing out this 'Hopeless , I'm going to be tortured and killed...and nobody even will notice I'm missing or look for me"....
The idea being not unique or novel, it's been executed either poorly, well, or highly disturbingly.
However this has a slasher soft porn theme...the victims are stripped nude and are hunted!
Now the "Evil" psycho doesn't find your typical hunting challenging. I assume as any viewer that he doesn't have the money to elevate his hunting game to travel and go after Bengal Tigers, Wild Elephants etc...For some reason he isn't looking for Bears.
So of course he hunts a human. Now I guess he may not be confident enough to hunt men, or have his "prey" dressed hence the title "Naked Fear".
What makes it more ridiculous conceptually, he kidnaps a stripper nocks her out, puts her nude body in a wide open plane they wake dazed and get 15 minutes! Now here's the irony, the Actress is too busy with one arm covering her breast's and the other her vagina, that being this psychotic plans on hunting and killing her, for close up shots She is more afraid of being naked.
The movie isn't overkill campy, the sexual content is over exaggerated, the script is awful, and she's not naked. I'm not sure why I gave it 3 stars.
Naked Vengeance (1985)
Seriously- Worst For Topic- Or So bad it's funny...
Average? No...There is a reason this ridiculous film went strait to video.
I couldn't stop laughing at how ridiculous every aspect of this film was.
The first point is this woman is no Marilyn Monroe etc...
She is mourning the tragic loss of her husband by going to her childhood home ONLY TO NOT SPEND TIME WITH HER PARENTS.
Then immediately an old classmate while getting gas gets creepy. The butcher in the grocery is very creepy..The teenage Gardner very creepy...Some A-hole truck driver. Apparently her magical pheromones don't come through the screen because every man she encounters immediately wants to have his way.
Apparently it's a town with no women at all! Or maybe it's a male prison camouflaged. Before things get even worse for our heroine has shown to be a lightening rod for evil men from the first post credit scene. Of course the small town Sheriff brushes off three incidents as simply 30-45 yo men blowing off steam.
After one creepy incident after another she still declines the little get away her parents are going on.
For a serious issue like strait up premeditated rape, this film makes it an absurdity.
Was she not making enough money on Dallas and Hart to Hart that she needed to do this film?
Oh the cop and his deputies are morons, the hospital Doctor is a moron..and the victim revenge seeking City Princess is on the run....
The situation and place she is in makes it impossible to take seriously topped with bad acting and the dirty rural stereotype which had to get boring by 1985..
First Blood (1982)
Most overrated garbage from the 1980s
I challenge anyone to sincerely defend this movie.
It's not the first movie to address PTSD and veteran treatment since Vietnam.
As much as I hate Oliver Stone Born on The Fourth of July was much more poignant.
Vietnam is addressed with some very few flashbacks and his record.
The entire premise and the arrest itself was ridiculous, the hillbilly rural cop stereotype in full force creating a generation or population with a love hate relationship with Law Enforcement.
In terms of action a bunch of out of shape late forties mid fifties chasing after a highly trained individual to "save face" I can't buy it.
In the genre from that time period I can name a good 10-15 films that are more dynamic, with the action, the acting and the storyline.
Any sensible person can understand why it took over a decade to make the book into a film.
And there isn't a woman in the entire movie!
I'd rather see Stallone get tossed around and make a comeback against the Hulkster and Mr T.
Plain garbage.
Kyôfu kikei ningen: Edogawa Rampo zenshû (1969)
A very generous Five
Other reviewers can discuss eloquently whether this is the work of an 'Auteur'.
I enjoy Japanese Cinema when it hits the mark.
Prior to viewing
These rules don't apply to classics like 'Seven Samurai" "Yojimbo" etc..
1. I look up if it has been classified as "J-spoliation" (all the exploitation films, it's a ridiculous label) aka B picture with material that may offend today.
2. The time period of the film (1965-75 many of my favorites fall)
3. Yakuza or Samurai has to be rated R/18+ (Unless it's Zatoichi the Bond Hero of Japan).
4. Period Films.
In my journeys after watching probably too many Fukasaku Films (kind of repetitive) I came across Teruo Ishi's
"Yakuza Law" I appreciated the three time periods, the stories is each period were not convoluted, personally I'm so desensitized and the "gore" is very clearly not convincing (I find it comical in my own twisted mind). Loved the Anthology Film.
I went on to what I could find, and I came across two more anthologies "Orgies of Edo" & "Shogun's Joy of Torture"..
Despite feminist complaints, if incidents occurred like that, I'm sure there were men that underwent severe violent punishments as well but I don't care. I'm interested in the story's coherence, is there a psychological theme beyond Sadism and old Taboos? Is there a surprise twist. And I began to see in both Films a bizarre fixation the director has with "INSECT" & "INCEST" (don't know how good his English was to see a mere swapping of S & C).
Then I see two full features (One more like 2 parts) "Inferno of Torture" a bit bizarre. & "Female Yakuza Take" maybe the subtitles weren't done as well as they could have but it was a bit convoluted for an "Exploitation" Gangster film.
Now this RIDICULOUS FILM. UTTERLY RIDICULOUS, if I hadn't seen this director before I would have turned it off when he decides to be a "Doppleganger".
After 20 minutes I said to myself, if this isn't drugged induced dream, it's moronic. I don't care how identical they are, to fool enemy and foe, and Nurse Maid.... IS TOO RIDICULOUS... THE TWIN RIDICULOUS...WITH ALL THE INSANITY THE SECOND THAT REVEAL TAKES PLACE (After an extensive ACID trip with painted people dancing, and animal people, and Mythical Creatures). I know that the protagonists paramour was going to be his SISTER (who he successfully separated from a conjoint in filthy poor medical conditions). Then the Laugh Riot comes in the last 10 minutes. Where the tone of everything gets chucked out the Window as if too say "If I read some in depth breakdown of my genius -My fans are morons".
Though I laughed hard, the 70 minutes were too slow and painful to make this get more than a 5.
Sureibumen (2017)
I want a Helmet to never see this film
The Director does what appears to be a pattern in his library of "Full Length Films".
He thinks of an adolescent toilet humor/ save the nice dork or female dork with the center of the toilet humor.
Take the concept which may be great for a twenty five to forty minute laugh, but then slaughter the audience with a real overkill.
Many of these toilet humor low budget films, revolve around ZOMBIES wow! Zombies!
There's a movie about a tape worm Zombie (His funniest one that actually entertains for 70 minutes)
Sushi Zombies ...yes There is either a foreign entity or a mad scientist responsible for the Zombies. I have not been to Japan I don't know if their is a cultural equivalent to America Wine Tasting, with "optimal sushi" if there isn't then 50% of the film is just not even toilet funny.
A Starfish Alien induces Zombie alien, controlled by the enemy of the protagonist...May many short shots, zooming in and out loud fight scenes with rapid light shifts. Not just bad but a migraine.
This film slightly off the reanimation of the dead, but manipulation of destiny I assume via the butterfly effect from the moment this Slaveman / Custodian gets the helmet...predictably the more improvements he tries the worse it gets.
Not because the situation is worse but because he is not adjusting to an improved reality, and still has his "loser" life desires etc.
You have seen. Variations of this in time travel entertainment or multiverse garbage, there is no new revelation or anything redeeming to be considered entertaining.
Outside of Machine Girl & Zombie Toilet there is nothing worth watching from this guy.
Lady Frankenstein (1971)
First Half more murderous than the creature
DOES LADY FRANKENSTEIN WAKE UP THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND SATIATE HER NYMPHOMANIA OR NOT!?
I don't know where to start.
I read some reviews , like they were expecting some Oscar worthy film about Dr Frankenstein...that in itself is laughable.
From the title and cast outside a worn down dreary old boring Joseph Cotton why come to that conclusion?
Joseph Cotton wasn't even able to make his death exciting.
Dubbing takes away from the raw emotion of such a "Deep film", but the dubbing pulled off the campy cheesy "Romance" sleaze , and "violence" relatively well and I had a great laugh. Unfortunately all the Italian Giallo smut doesn't kick in until after Joseph Cotton's death at the 50 minute mark.
The "Creature" looks ridiculous, he seems insistent on interrupting very hot women in the midst of coital bliss, and then murdering them and there partners by palming their faces and pushing their heads back, or a big bear hug.
Lady Frankenstein with her quivering loins for her Mental Child "stud" grounds keeper, (who she samples to avoid her fathers errors and giving the audience a tease with her round bottom, curves, and breast's covered by her hair) convinced her father's too old (pre-Viagra days) to murder the mentally handicapped stud during her mounting..
The brilliant Lady Dr Frankenstein will make the creature every woman will envy...And it will be Charles brilliant mind and sophisticated personality into the hot dead stud.
Lady Frankenstein will have her super creature to eliminate the monster, and then have her ultimate man (Charles pre-Viagra) jumps at this GENIUS PLAN...DOES LADY FRANKENSTEIN WAKE UP THE WORLD OF SCIENCE AND SATIATE HER NYMPHOMANIA OR NOT!?
El ataúd de cristal (2016)
The Title fits the viewer
The reveal ongoing ridiculous torture, combined with the prisoner never truly listening to directions.
No explanation as to how she got the part over her tormentor.
Not even an implication that she performed lewd acts to get the part. No explanation as to why the pornography actress tormentor lost her part.
The acting and scenario are descent enough for 50% of the film and the big reveal. Then you might as well finish this lame excuse for a solo act with a rapist /slave driver. That one who watches this feels like they are trapped in a glass coffin. There's no place to go, you can't change the channel, you were chosen for torment by pressing play...KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE LOCKED IN A GLASS COFFIN!
Baiorêtâ (2018)
Wasted potential
The moment the "scammer" leaves with his way too small cooler that he was planning on harvesting from suicides, he goes under the ropes surrounding the boarded house, and there's a road a block away, 20 minutes later he stumbles on someone that wasn't planning on killings themselves.
We have a collection of ghosts that can take physical form..we're only told that the world was cruel and life was unjust, and the only pleasure they get is from killing ingrates that have everything and want to die.
In terms of offensive warnings I have seen a lot worse.
There was no horror...it's obvious after five minutes that the woman trying to stop her sister has been dead for a while.
The only shocker is how lame the trap is for the ghosts to get their kicks.
Ghosts don't eat so I don't get the cannibal scene. This director has done close ups of eating and I find that repulsive weather it's noodles pizza etc. I don't need a 55' shot of someone stuffing their face, blowing their nose, or their rectums during a BM.
This film was a solid BM.
Tôkyô zankoku keisatsu (2008)
For Nostalgia & Over The Top Insanity
I can't list the many movies falling into this "Retro- Vengeance Gore Fest" that Japan Filmmakers have been successful in Capturing that feel of 1970s-1990s B picture/ Exploitation films.
The first common and most important factor is the Cinematic Experience, it looks like a clear flat finish, not as colorful as the actual late 1960s/1970s but the visuals are great.
The genre is mostly low budget, but these appear to be shot on 35mm not digital with minimal CGI effects.
For me the over the top Gore can be hysterical...When human guts, and body parts clearly look nothing like actual human guts it's hysterical in an adolescent or pot head sense.
Stories are basic mostly revenge, sometimes a horror mystery, sometimes straight up hysterical e.g. "Zobie Ass: Toilet Hunter"
When watching these B-picture gore fests and I compare it to Western low Budget anything the visual in Japan is under appreciated.
Post 2000 West, It has a glossy feel, the locations or sets are too real in a very eerie way. A perfect comparison would be the first Eli Roth Hostel. Filled with gore but the anatomy a bit way too realistic. That crystal clear 3-D creepy look. Or Takasha Mike's "Taraformers" that film swimming in CGI, clearly incredibly cheap. The space ship interior looked like cardboard or a back "Green Screen". It looked ridiculous and I know the story line of the movie was ridiculous, however that doesn't mean it had to look ridiculous.
Down (2001)
Definitely Crashes at the 65 minute mark
This started off as a better acted more comical remake of the directors first film made in the Netherlands called "The Lift".
I don't know if the trivia is true in terms James Marshal not being able to take Direction, or merely James Marshal being incapable comedic actor.
After some wild Elevator Deaths...Mr Marshal becomes obsessed with what he feels is a conspiracy to cover up the truth.
He is instigated by the overrated avg looking Naomi Watts, (Outside of Kong and Mulholland Falls I don't know what phenomenal films she's been in, and those two were not that wonder for myself.
She as a hungry investigative reporter enables James Marshal to get more carried away.
This get out of control for a non humorous dull 40 minutes till a packed elevator goes on a Rampage! After which James Marshal believes he's James Bond, or Bruce Willis in Die Hard.
This entire section of fecal matter deviates from the original and like the deadly elevator it's a disaster that you have to finish unfortunately.
If you care for elevator comedy horror watch the original.
Suor Omicidi (1979)
Seen in Italian with Subtitles
The Swedish (former bombshell- cigarettes, sunbathing, lack of exercise)) takes its toll by 48 years of age.
I watched this after with English Dubbing- again proving in my experience even with below par subtitles- Dubbing really kills any effort the actors made).
You had some nunsploitation elements as per many of that genre (A real Italian entertainment rebellion against the church throughout the late 60s early 80s).
The Swedish bombshell does a great job as a possibly sexually repressed, menopausal, hypochondriac, (though it's clear whatever the reason she's now Bi-polar with her mania manifesting in Anger and harm to other potential behavior, who might be healthy physically but clearly not mentally, and results to morphine addiction.
Not much gore, the sex is relatively short nudity minimal for the genre, and the Story has a Hitchcock vibe to it.
Hostel (2005)
Garbage till the Escape Begins
I've read reviews praising this while defending it because of budgetary limitations.
Anyone a fan of the genre since the 70s knows it's difficult to pull off gore while being comical.... It has to reach the level of ridiculous, in story and bad acting.
Per the Trivia a great example is 1982 "Pieces" a Favorite of the writer director.
The first Scream film was a Fresh take on the slasher and a kick in its rear end..."change it up"
Saw didn't have a problem with reality, it had a problem for me in realistic gore I saw it my Girl Friend at the time wanted to, and she said to me "This isn't a horror film it's a snuff film".
Throwing victim guys instead of girls isn't "Fresh"
Psychotic bored billionaires hunting humans that's nothing new.
Psychotic millionaires granted a poor Eastern European block, having a secret dungeon for cutting up people alive? Like an "Eyes Wide Shut" for psychopaths...it doesn't really come off as unique just sick.
And who needs new concepts, you need Execution. For me a great execution of human hunting and torturing humans was "The Hunt".
This film didn't have the over realistic gore, maybe when the kidnapper (Member of the group) sliced the ankles and said free to go. Otherwise the realistic sick gore, which where accustomed to and sensitized to were the fake limbs lying around.
The actors weren't bad enough or good enough to make it ridiculous.
No college graduates with money for a full European tour would go to Slovakia to get action. In 2005 you knew these countries were key in the Eastern European Human Trafficking Rings.
There was nothing comical in Amsterdam at all. There was no musical score to help "the build-up".
The end is where the lone survivor grows a brain, and it turns into the ridiculous country conspiracy, the extra difficulty and heroic saving the Japanese girl, only to see the Train with the over the top head flying off etc... His escape on I woke up, laughed.
I thought the street kid scene was hysterical. Not in the reality of them stoning or not, but the visual of the head bashing looked ridiculous. The reality of it is the first Intifada adolescent and older kids using large rocks and stones.
I didn't care for the line "You're not a Jew you're an Israeli" in today's climate, that's a sad reality that some secular Israelis believe.
Obviously the revenge sequence in a film like this is to have the effect, but the entire film dragged on at an unforgivable pace, like many films when you see the actual infliction it looks silly e.g. Uma Thurman decapitating the Crazy 88..
Hostel (2005)
Garbage till the Escape Begins
I've read reviews praising this while defending it because of budgetary limitations.
Anyone a fan of the genre since the 70s knows it's difficult to pull off gore while being comical.... It has to reach the level of ridiculous, in story and bad acting.
Per the Trivia a great example is 1982 "Pieces" a Favorite of the writer director.
The first Scream film was a Fresh take on the slasher and a kick in its rear end..."change it up"
Saw didn't have a problem with reality, it had a problem for me in realistic gore I saw it my Girl Friend at the time wanted to, and she said to me "This isn't a horror film it's a snuff film".
Throwing victim guys instead of girls isn't "Fresh"
Psychotic bored billionaires hunting humans that's nothing new.
Psychotic millionaires granted a poor Eastern European block, having a secret dungeon for cutting up people alive? Like an "Eyes Wide Shut" for psychopaths...it doesn't really come off as unique just sick.
And who needs new concepts, you need Execution. For me a great execution of human hunting and torturing humans was "The Hunt".
This film didn't have the over realistic gore, maybe when the kidnapper (Member of the group) sliced the ankles and said free to go. Otherwise the realistic sick gore, which where accustomed to and sensitized to were the fake limbs lying around.
The actors weren't bad enough or good enough to make it ridiculous.
No college graduates with money for a full European tour would go to Slovakia to get action. In 2005 you knew these countries were key in the Eastern European Human Trafficking Rings.
There was nothing comical in Amsterdam at all. There was no musical score to help "the build-up".
The end is where the lone survivor grows a brain, and it turns into the ridiculous country conspiracy, the extra difficulty and heroic saving the Japanese girl, only to see the Train with the over the top head flying off etc... His escape on I woke up, laughed.
I thought the street kid scene was hysterical. Not in the reality of them stoning or not, but the visual of the head bashing looked ridiculous. The reality of it is the first Intifada adolescent and older kids using large rocks and stones.
I didn't care for the line "You're not a Jew you're an Israeli" in today's climate, that's a sad reality that some secular Israelis believe.
Obviously the revenge sequence in a film like this is to have the effect, but the entire film dragged on at an unforgivable pace, like many films when you see the actual infliction it looks silly e.g. Uma Thurman decapitating the Crazy 88..
I vizi morbosi di una governante (1977)
Enjoyable WITH SUBTITLES
I couldn't explain the rapid crammed in ending if I wanted to, Until the last 5 minutes I was ready to give it a seven.
I've been on a binge of the "Giallo" genre this summer of 2024...It reminds me of my love of 1940s-early 60s Film Noir, with soft core simulated sexual acts, and hysterical "gore" it's rare to truly be repulsed with how fake a stabbing and decapitation look.
The films in the genre that I truly like, are in the original language. It's incredibly rare that a predominantly French/Italian/Spanish film is dubbed well AT ALL. I've had to turn off promising ones not because of lip synchronization but I find a disconnect in mannerism, and facial expressions.
This goes on to this day, they should get experienced Animation voice actors to do it.
With subtitles I will come across something loosed in translation, too literal, or a coma or something is missing, but from the overall story, I can gather the gist.
I'm glad many of these films survived yet, very perturbed by the lack of streaming option in languages that exists more on Netflix.
Basket Case (1982)
7- Low budget comically brilliant
Some movies are meant for interpretation some are meant for Entertainment.
Professors who should have their doctorates revoked have talked about the Theological significance of the sociopathic deformed detached twin Blial.
Books have been written about a neutral stance on Abortion...more idiots.
The 70 yo Director was asked in 2024 what he thought on the above
I've read a lot about how people have interpreted the character of Belial, with some saying he represents the devil on your shoulder and our dark impulses, while others think he's a commentary on abortion rights. I was wondering what he means to you?
All it meant to me was that you had a good monster! I don't overthink this stuff. I don't take an intellectual approach to any of the films I've done. I'm aware that some of them may have meaning on the outside of my brain, but I didn't purposefully bring that into the film. If it gets there, that's fine. I'm a guy who likes who grew up watching exploitation movies on 42nd Street. Don't give me a message, just give me a lot of blood and a lot of boobs. But I appreciate how different people see my films and what they take away. I saw a case study that said that Belial was actually a female which I found interesting - maybe something for a future remake.
Death Proof (2007)
Tarantino fan, but Garbage is garbage
An homage to 70's B movie horror films suspense films, but even a year before the IPhone Tarantino had to throw in a flip cell for some moronic reason.
First off if you've seen a library of movies made in that time frame, you would know if not for VHS/DVD 99% would be lost forever. Even the enjoyable ones typically fall into the category of "So over the top ridiculous" hysterically funny, or terribly written with no name casts that simply can't be watched.
In the first category as messed up the violence would be in terms of story, the fake limbs, gashes, a shot to the head looking like a porcelain replica shattered...or in Samaria slicing the skull but theirs no fake brain etc...you laughed at the gore. You wanted the decapitation to see the lame attempt at the head...and neck.
This despite the 70's touch with grain the Fabricated bad editing etc...this film has the color and clarity of a 2007 film on Blu Ray it looks better than Pulp Fiction.
Kurt Russel isn't a bad actor or a ridiculous creepy "shtick"... he was given the role of stone cold sociopath, and he pulled it off in a sickening way.
The "Gore" and violence were way too realistic bordering on a sick sociopath being able to watch it.
Even with CGI gore like "Spartacus" you see clearly it's CGI , 70s clearly look a like dummies, no realism. This films main problem was realism in view, and the fact that there are psychopaths historically that were serial killers perhaps not in a death trap car.
What really made it bad, was what made the 70s bad overkill on the "Pulp Dialogue" with qualified actresses. Trash girl talk doesn't entertain me but that's my taste. They also came off as smart enough to know or sense that he was a lunatic. So the encounters were bizarre.
After Kill Bill this was something unlike it's counterpart (Planet Terror) pulled off brilliantly.
La sorella di Ursula (1978)
Another Giallo given away....
All the characteristics of a good Slasher/Hedonistic/Mystery with "religious piety".
Like all mysteries the first jump up and guess is obviously not who it is....
But right away despite the "libertine attitude" of 1960s-1970s of Europe after WWII, and in the genre Lesbianism of a form is always in these films, or other cheesy B films.
The first victim, asks the "Non-mysterious murderer" I have a friend you want to watch? Still ambiguous since the western world is condemned that the killer will be a male.
Then for some Moronic Directorial decision, there is an extensive glaring zoom on the killers eyes. The only eyes in the film that are piercing green are those of the "Neurotic" possibly psychic sister Ursula. Whose commentary goes from a sad reality, to her insane reality.
Her constant wanting to leave is a combination of the sleaze, and her compulsive need to rectify it.
Now the "Weapon" meant to throw one off by the second murder the shadow indicates a large Male sex organ, and is taken out after the knife to stab the male. She likely kills the woman by suffocating her by covering her mouth and violently raping them.
The object itself is not one that looks (if you notice it throughout the film) splintered, or murderous though I assume if with some KY it could be used. But she must have really destroyed some cervix with that Woden toy. But I can't see how though painful and mutilating it could be. SILLY NONETHELESS.
So immediately there's no real suspense, the question is what's going on with the questionable characters. Suddenly the manager is married to a singer, the distracting jealous one is a non convincing Heroin addict on a drug sting....and is undercover and the entire movies is just a laugh out loud "This is so ridiculous but not boring " that I found myself laughing hysterically how there was zero imagination outside "Murderous woman kills with giant wooden penile statue and genitally mutilates her victims".
I DON't think I would have made it though a dubbed version even if dubbing was descent.
Sette note in nero (1977)
Zero Suspense- STEER CLEAR
Assuming you are enjoying a film and you suspend reality and you accept Clairvoyance is legitimate.
So the film starts of (Love HD) darkly comical with a mother leaping of a cliff, and a look alike crash dummy, is shown with her head smashing on the rocks on the way down.
This woman has a vision of her husband's (of only 6 months) house , with a dead person in the wall....etc
She arrives at her destination identical to her vision....she feels compelled to open the wall, she goes to the cellar and sees all the materials in her vision that are needed to ...DESTROY AND REPLACE A WALL WITH A PICK!
This woman who loves her husband, or as the movie progresses, is so irritating and in her forties, as well as her sociopathic husbands immense wealth..Despite a skeleton being there...is WAY TO INSISTENT ON CLEARING HIS NAME.
NOW 30-35 minutes in, after a bone study the police identify the woman, (Also in her vision on the cover of a magazine reporting her death) who her husband acknowledges he was intimate with..
THIS MORON WHO RUINED HER HUSBANDS MURDER BY REVEALING IT, WANTS TO DEFEND HIM, WITH THE LAMEST EXCUSES LIKE AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KID WHO FORGOT THEIR HOMEWORK!
There's not enough gore or violence, zero sexuality, and outside of hooking you enough as you say to yourself "As a viewer this cannot be that predictable and lame" BUT IT IS.
Ecologia del delitto (1971)
3 for Story 7 for laughs 1 for the ending
I recently started watching giallo films from the 70s, some have been Hitchcock + A LOT of "college girls gone wild" meets a "Saw" for teens because the ax to the skulls etc attempt at realism is the opposite.
The shock factor when done well is when you don't see the kill shot coming.
Immediately an elderly very wealthy woman wheeling around in silence with Earie music...you're not trying to frighten the audience. Maybe there's a tiny surprise when her murderer is taken care of shortly after.
Now when 65% of the cast is dead in 50 minutes. It's not hard to figure out what's going to transpire. All tat's left is the how.
There was one character who could have saved themself but honesty is not the best policy in the end.
With bodies piling up (based on the storyline) quite pointlessly. It's hard to enjoy the absurdity of it.
In other giallos the surprise sociopath you can figure out 5-10 minutes before revelation and you get the psychotics nonsensical justification.
This story was just worthy of a Netflix showing with rookies.
You can only appreciate this comedically.
Dabide no hoshi: Bishôjo-gari (1979)
Where to Start.
Putting the description of NAZI aside, and the Title. They aren't a significant focus of the film.
They are definitely there to stereotype Caucasian Culture.
The film places basically Caucasians being Nazis, or Americans as "modern prosperous and peaceful facade to cover their true natures of Barbarism of the Concentration Camps and the A-bomb".
I was amused in his school- there was no mention of Japan's brutal occupation of Korea for 50 years, their invasion of Manchuria 3-4 years before Poland, or the Japanese execution squads with pits that got the Nazi's going.
I could see some offense with translation... Hër wearing the Star of David was his and Hër father's subjugation.
There's really no high message here... it's a typical sexploitation film with strong blame on Western Influence.
The first kidnapping is creepy as she's a HS Jr and looks like a Freshman...Then she has earned good treatment is released...and doesn't obsessively seek out her master..but is seen after a three week vacation well Adjusted.
Lots of Christian backdrop imagery in the windows and the crucifixes.
I came across something worse than the "bestiality scene" in a Devil worship by Spanish Indie Smut Director Larraz "Black Candles" with a Billygoat and she was a participant. There's Also Jesus Franco's Barbed Wire Girls, Isla the Wardress (Another female prison film), and "Women Behind Bars" only a few to mention...
In general I find it rare and difficult to even take the mysogeny seriously in Japanese 70s sexploitation films the staging even when bleeding or hit there's no real bruises, or blood. "The Shogun's Joy of Torture" was significantly more disturbing than this. If they do a stab the blood starts spraying like a Samaurai decapitation.
But even more mild The Hanzo Trilogy where Hanzo interrogates his female suspects, with his larger than life manhood, and "edges" the tied up woman who start with protest but fall in love...and he won't let them climax unless they spill the goods.
As was "Inferno of Torture" & "Orgies of Edo".
Like 99% of these actresses don't look like they're putting up a resistance, they don't curse or spit at them, (except the pop singer).