Sonny Boy (1989)

3.5 / 5 Mar '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Robert Martin Carroll
Written by: Graeme Whifler, Peter Desberg
Actors include: David Carradine, Paul L. Smith, Brad Dourif
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Exploitation, Comedy
Length: 97 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This could be one of the weirdest movies I've ever seen. It's not particularly well shot, it feels very straight to video and with every minute it seems to get increasingly more bizarre. It's kinda like a mix of Bad Boy Bubby, Raising Arizona and Mad Max 2 only much cheaper and more mean spirited I suppose. The story is about a fat man named Slue who is sort of a mob syndicate for a backwards town (the whole thing is quite surreal in a way) and his lovely wife (?) Pearl (David Carradine in a dress with bad make-up...he would never pass). When they send their crime henchman the irritating Weasle (Brad Dourif) to do bad things he kills a couple and accidentally kidnaps their baby in their stolen car. The baby Pearl wants to keep as his/her own and they call him Sonny Boy. From there they abuse the heck out of the kid in every possible way (it's pretty nasty, they even cut out his tongue for his 6th birthday) and lock him away and feed him raw chickens and stuff. From there they decide he's a really good weapon so they start unleashing him to commit crimes for him. It sort of goes on from there in an insanely exploitative manner, but unfortunately it did feel like it went on for a little too long and it did try a little too hard to be weird. Still if you like films that make you not believe your own eyes this is a must see. Something tells me David Carradine would want to be remembered this way...

Availability:  Never been on DVD

Death Game (1977)

3 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: The object is to stay alive.
Directed by: Peter S. Traynor
Written by: Anthony Overman, Michael Ronald Ross
Actors include: Sondra Locke, Colleen Camp, Seymour Cassel
Genre: Thriller
Length: 91 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is one unusual low budget exploitation flick. The story is about a married fellow who on his 40th birthday has two young attractive girls show up on his doorstep. They claim they can't find their way to a party and ask to use his phone and wait there. Oddly enough this friend never shows up and before he knows it, the two young girls are throwing themselves at him. Although he tries to do the good guy thing, he gives in and has one hell of an evening. When he wakes up though something is clearly wrong, the girls don't want to leave and they are acting like insane animals and such rather than innocent girls. When he asks them to leave he learns awful fast that these are some miserably nasty girls who wish to claim he raped them and that they were underage. It really gets more looped and insane after that including some really surreal make-up and much more. The thing is, the story isn't all that rewarding, it feels a bit unfinished. Although the girls were pretty great as psychos the fella wasn't much of an actor. Worst of all was the insipidly obnoxious theme song that they played over and over throughout the movie. The music guy should never have been allowed to work again after this film, it made it way dumber than it actually had to be. It's one of those films that you likely won't forget seeing and well if you want to see Sondra Locke naked and acting like a nutbar you'll get that too. Amusingly Sondra tried to sue Clint Eastwood for ruining her career later on but she did this before she was with him...

Availability:  on DVD

Bloody Mama (1970)

4 / 5 Apr '10
Tagline: Say it with bullets!
Directed by: Roger Corman
Written by: Don Peters, Robert Thom
Actors include: Shelley Winters, Pat Hingle, Robert De Niro
Genre: Drama, Crime, Action, Exploitation
Length: 90 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Pretty enjoyably sleazy exploitation take on the whole Ma Baker and her good 'ole boys thing...only it's pretty inaccurate. I don't know much about the real story of the Bakers so the inconsistencies don't bother me in the slightest. Shelley Winters is very amusing as Ma Baker, the ringleader of evil doings and crime. She raises her boys to be very bad with warped ideas on what is good and bad and all of the rest but she's big on family and so are her boys. Hilariously Robert De Niro plays one of her sons, the heroin addicted paint sniffin' Baby Ruth chompin' boy and he's great...I just didn't expect to see him in a film like this. They rob banks as a family, kill people and more warped situations they get themselves into the meaner and more selfish Ma proves to be. It's actually very shocking and it goes a lot further than I would have expected. Heck the opening sequence is Ma as a young girl being raped by her Father (offscreen) but still...that's quite disturbing. This sort of follows from their needing to escape their home and leaving Pa Baker behind to the demise of the family. Very action packed and full of thrills and surprises, a lot more depraved than I was expecting but very fun in a way too. Corman does it again and it seems with each picture he pushes the envelope a bit further, I wonder what happened after this 'un?

Availability:  On DVD as part of the Roger Corman Collection

Hobo With A Shotgun (2011)

3.5 / 5  May '11
Tagline:  Delivering justice, one shell at a time...
Directed by:  Jason Eisener
Written by:  John Davies, Jason Eisener
Actors include:  Rutger Hauer, Brian Downey, Molly Dunsworth
Genre:  Action, Exploitation, Crime
Length:  86 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:
Ahhh some Canuxploitation that delivers exactly what one might think judging by the title.  It's pretty much non-stop action and violence, prepare for buckets of red stuff and plenty 'o deaths by shotgun of course.  The plot is pretty simple, Hobos are getting beaten, tortured and killed by criminals that are running the streets.  One particular Hobo (Rutger Hauer) goes all Death Wish on the the thugs along with his trusty Prostitute companion Abby (Molly Dunsworth).  It's very simple and revenge is a rather trusty theme for Grindhouse pictures but this was entertaining to the hilt and jam packed with fun.  Some of the bonding between Abby and the Hobo could have been whittled down a tad but really that is my only big criticism.  If you are looking for a nice graphic little splatter film to pass the time, this is well worth checking out.

Availability:  On DVD & Blu-Ray

 

Sugar Cookies (1973)

3 / 5 Aug '10
Tagline: Meet the beautiful people who live... and die in a freaky, try anything world.
Directed By:  Theodore Gershuny
Written by: Theodore Gershuny, Lloyd Kaufmann
Actors include: George Shannon, Mary Woronov, Lynn Lowry
Genre: Exploitation, Drama, Thriller, Horror
Length: 89 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is a weird one I'll give it that. In many ways it's a soft-core porn which really put me off I must say. The plot on the other hand is kinda neat, and I like lead actress Mary Woronov, she really makes quite an impression in anything she's cast in. The story is about a pornographer called Max who kills a young model (who was also his lover) and makes it look like a suicide. Soon his assistant Camilla has found a nearly identical looking girl who she grooms to be just like the murdered model. Along the way she has a romantic relationship with this new girl (which chews up way too much time in the movie) under the guise of preparing her for an upcoming film role. The film is at least interesting enough to keep watching and to want to know what's happening, it just could have used a little more "spice" along the way. Not my favorite but it could have been so much worse, at least the cast make this worthwhile though, and heck I'm always up for some exploitation.

Availability:  On DVD

The Psychopath (1975)

3.5 / 5  Sept '10
Tagline: He's Judge... Jury... Executioner
Directed by: Larry G. Brown
Written by: Larry G. Brown, Walter Dallenbach
Actors include: Tom Basham, Gene Carlson, Gretchen Kanne
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 84 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
This is the kind of film that rarely turns up, it's truly absurd and seems to fail on every level it's trying to achieve but it has tons of camp value. It's a PG film, but surprisingly violent considering though you don't see anything, it's just implied. The plot is about a children's host and puppeteer called Mr. Rabbey who looks like a pedophile but is actually some sort of defender of children. Mr. Rabbey is actually rather slow and creepy and a treat to watch, they don't make psychos like this very often. He really hates child abuse, he hangs out in the playground and hospital to observe abused children and watch parents be cruel to their kids. I hate to say the abuse is funny but in this case it kind of is, it's over the top and it's stereotypical to say the least. Anyhow Rabbey comes to their houses later and kills the Parents who are offenders...one of them he kills by snapping a towel and then running them over with a lawnmower (I'm not kidding...though you don't see the lawnmower bit). Something to see for fans of weirdo '70s films for sure, cheaper than cheap and obviously influenced by Herschell Gordon Lewis what with the ridiculous close-ups of people's eyes, drummer for a soundtrack and general cheapness. It's not the greatest film ever and some gore would have helped it out but it still makes it's point...I think.

Availability:  Not on DVD

In A Glass Cage (1987) aka Tras El Cristal

4.5 / 5 Nov '10
Tagline: N/A
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
Written by: Agustí Villaronga
Actors include: Günter Meisner, David Sust, Marisa Paredes
Genre: Horror, Drama, War, Thriller
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Egads, this must have been the feel bad movie of the year. That being said, it's really an amazing picture about the atrocities of war and their lasting effects even after and it's told in a different way then I've ever seen before. It's so bleak and difficult to watch in places, this one will test and disturb, I doubt I'll ever forget it. The story is about a former Nazi/pedophile named Klaus who tormented little boys but is now clinging to life at home in an iron lung. His wife seems harsh and awful as well, and their poor little girl Rena lives with them too. A young Man called Angelo shows up at their house wanting to take care of Klaus but something isn't quite right with this arrangement. It's brutal, violent, explicit, humorless and in no way should this be watched by everyone. Still it's an impressively made and acted film that leaves one hell of an impression and does more than makes it's point. It's rare to see such a combination of exploitation/drama and horror but this is effective and worthwhile to the right viewer.

Availability:  On DVD

Machete (2010)

4.5 / 5 Jan '11
Tagline: Robert De Niro as The Senator
Directed by: Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez
Written by: Robert Rodriguez
Actors include: Danny Trejo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba
Genre: Action, Comedy, Exploitation
Length: 105 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Sure this was created from a fake trailer from the Grindhouse release, and I remember at the time thinking that this would have made a cool movie. It did, it lived up to it's preview and then some...mind you abandon all ye who seek a major plot or some sort of well written script. This is immediately exciting splattery action at it's best featuring the mysterious Machete (Danny Trejo) who's wife is brutally killed in front of him, and his daughter taken. He then is forced to try to assassinate an evil Senator (Robert De Niro) who believes in killing Mexican immigrants and building an electric fence to keep them out. Things don't go as anticipated and soon Machete on the run and ends up finding his way to the rebel forces and so forth. It's as bloody as possible (which I love), and it's violent from the beginning to the end. I also liked the little homages to various classic exploitation films like Ms .45, and Thriller - en grym film [Thriller: They Call Her One Eye]. The one liners were priceless like "Machete Don't Text", I never realized how like Machete I was until that moment hehe. It got the spirit of the grindhouse down pat, it was very entertaining and I'm sure it will offend many, sure it went on a little longer than maybe necessary but I enjoyed every minute of it.

Availability:  On Blu-Ray & DVD

Angel (1984)

3.5 / 5
Tagline: Honor student by day - hooker by night!
Directed by: Robert Vincent O'Neill
Written by: Robert Vincent O'Neill, Joseph Michael Cala
Actors include: Cliff Gorman, Susan Tyrrell, Dick Shawn
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Length: 94 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
I was always intrigued by the cover which is what led me to rent this. She just looks rather young to be a whore doesn't she? Molly is a very productive 15 year old, she's on the honor role and has friends. By night she's a streetwalker on Sunset Blvd. making cash hand over fist. She's able to balance her life just fine until her whore friends start turning up dead. There is a serial killer about who is into necrophilia and slaying hookers! At this point a nice Detective steps in to try to help her from degrading herself and from being the next victim. It's not as exciting as the premise would have one believe but it does deliver on a rather odd concept. It's been quite a while since I've seen this and I would watch it again. I was probably about the same age as Angel when I watched it! A rather strange film that is exploitation even though it's supposed to be a warning against this sort of thing I think.

Availability:  Not on not DVD

Thriller: A Cruel Picture (1974) aka Thriller - En Grym Film aka Hooker's Revenge aka They Call Her One Eye

5 / 5

Tagline: The first film, ever, to be banned in Sweden!

Directed By: Bo Arne Vibenius

Written By: Bo Arne Vibenius
Actors Include: Christina Lindberg, Heinz Hopf, Despina Tomazani
Genre: Cult, Thriller, Exploitation, Action, Drama
Length: 92 minutes
Banned: Sweden, Finland

Review:
This is the most disturbing film I've ever seen bar none. I dare you to find one to match this one on just about any level. I knew it was influential for Quentin Tarantino but until you watch it, it's hard to explain but definitely they share a uniquely captivating style. This is just beyond what I think Tarantino could come up with or rather it's more sadistic I guess and it's quite humorless but it needs to be serious with this sort of content. Our story starts out with a young girl who has been sexually abused by family members and has become mute as a result. Flash forward to her life as a teen, she catches a ride with a young fellow and has dinner with him. He drugs her, addicts her to heroin in her sleep, and then forces herself to whore herself to earn heroin. I now feel compelled to add that this has hardcore sex, it's not sexy sex, but rather degrading painful looking humiliating sex...hard to watch to say the least. On the side she earns money by doing disgusting things and saves up for lessons in combat training and fighting for revenge. She breaks free and rights the wrongs in a particularly graphic and brilliantly shot way. The whole film is extremely well done, I mean beautiful and horrific all at the same time. The revenge is oh so sweet and nice and graphic, the style of which they chose to shoot some of these scenes is absolute perfection. I would recommend this but it's so extremely cruel that it's hard for me to do that, I haven't been the same since I watched it. Brilliant movie....just incredibly sadistic but at least it's fufilling.

Availabilty:  On DVD

Reform School Girls (1986)

2.5 / 5 Mar '11
Tagline: Some Get Tough. Some Go Insane. Some Will Die...
Directed by: Tom DeSimone
Written by: Tom DeSimone, Jack Cummins
Actors include: Linda Carol, Wendy O'Williams, Pat Ast
Genre: Exploitation, WIP, Action
Length: 94 minutes
Banned: Nope

Review:
Although I nearly enjoyed the campy nature of this (particularly that of the ridiculous evil warden Pat Ast), this wasn't a winner for me. Sure it was sleazy, and filled with scenes of naked (or scantily clad) ladies fighting, showering and prancing around. The thing is, I have no interest in that, I was kind of hoping for a story or something of that nature. The plot is about two innocent(ish) girls who are placed in reform school. They have to try to live with the tough girls and evil staff that reside there. Wendy O. Williams plays Charlie, the leader of the bad girl brigade that is out to cause trouble. It really made me see how gross Wendy is, plus she looks about 40...too darned old to be in reform school. There are a few minor snickers to be had here, and small parts were entertaining I guess but overall I was surprised with how little I liked it. Some absolutely love this though so you might want to watch to see if it's your cup 'o tea. I can't see watching this ever again myself.

Availability:  On DVD

Spetters (1980)

4.5 / 5
Tagline:  N/A
Directed by:  Paul Verhoeven
Written by:  Gerard Soeteman
Actors include:  Hans van Tongeren, Renée Soutendijk, Toon Agterberg
Genre:  Drama, Exploitation, Action
Length:  120 minutes
Banned:  Nope

Review:

This one probably takes the cake for being the film with the most penis in it that isn't x-rated.  Now don't let this deter you because this is one heck of a powerful and interesting film.  The odd thing is, when I put this on I thought we were in for a racing movie, but this is so much more than that.  In fact it bears a bit of a resemblance to Saturday Night Fever but I think it's so much better.  It revolves around a group of friends who are into biking, one kid in particular called Rien is destined to be a champ.  He meets the ambitious Fientje who works at a food stand and he falls pretty hard for her.  She's more interested in who will provide the nicest life for her...she's rather evil.  The other friends involved all go through some major realizations and troubles.  One friend likes to beat and rob gay men, one is sort of an underachiever, and one is going to have a life changing ride.  It's actually rather comical despite the fact that it's rather serious overall, it's surprisingly well put together and it does have a little bit of everything.  Outside of the horror genre I've seen very few foreign films, but this was a real treat.  Highly recommended from a very talented director not to mention the excellent soundtrack of classics.

Availability:  On DVD