Wuchakk Reviews

Terror in the Wax Museum (1973)

Old-fashioned murder mystery at a house of wax in England

[6/10 · 2 May 2024]

At the turn of the century in Victorian London, the owner of a wax museum (John Carradine) is offered to sell by a Broadway producer (Broderick Crawford). But his associate doesn't want him to sell (Ray Milland) and there are relatives who have an interest in the property as well (Elsa Lanchester and Nicole Shelby). When people start winding up dead, a Scotland Yard inspector (Mark Edwards) tries to solve the mystery.

"Terror in the Wax Museum" (1973) is a Victorian murder mystery in the tradition of Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue," which started the genre in 1841 and influenced Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, amongst others. The best film version of "Rue Morgue" is arguably the 1986 one with George C. Scott, Val Kilmer and Rebecca De Mornay. I bring it up because this is cut from the same cloth. Other comparisons include "House of Wax" (1953), Hammer's "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll" (1960) and Klaus Kinski's "Jack the Ripper" (1976), as well as "Edge of Sanity" (1989) and "From Hell" (2001).

This one isn't as sensationalistic as some of those as it prefers to focus on the murder mystery and the seasoned actors. It's basically "old-fashioned" horror that's timelessly entertaining since these types of films keep being made decade after decade. "The Limehouse Golem" is a well-done example from more modern times.

Redhead Shani Wallis stands out in the beauty department as the tavern singer while Nicole Shelby is worth a mention as the brunette who may inherit the museum and catches the eye of the young detective.

While not exactly great, if you're in the mood for a Victorian milieu, black coats, cobblestone streets, gas lamps, horse-driven carriages, London fog, pub entertainment, ghastly killings, fortune tellings and quaint mystery, this nicely fills the bill.

The film runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot at Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

GRADE: B-

The Canterville Ghost (1996 TV Movie)

Amusing spooky drama in the English countryside with Patrick Stewart and Neve Campbell

[7/10 · 30 April 2024]

An American family moves into a huge manor north of London where the teenage daughter (Neve) discerns a ghostly presence (Stewart) while romancing a young duke (Daniel Betts).

A television production, "The Canterville Ghost" (1996) is based on Oscar Wilde's humorous short story from 1887 and is one of the more faithful film adoptions (amongst many), just updating the story to modern times and omitting the eldest son, Washington, as well as making Virginia about 18 years-old, rather than 15.

It's an entertaining family fantasy with a haunting edge in the mold of "The Watcher in the Woods" (1980/2017). You could call it G horror or PG horror and there's nothing wrong with that, as long as the story's good. It's akin to a Nancy Drew mystery set at a castle-like manor in Britain.

Neve was 21 during shooting, almost 22, and does fine as the intelligent protagonist, although I could take her or leave her. Meanwhile Stewart was keeping busy before doing his second TNG movie. He makes the specter sympathetic.

The movie runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot at Knebworth House, which is located 30 miles north of London.

GRADE: B/B-

Spookies (1986)

Creative, fun, cartoonish 'B' horror from the mid-80s

[6/10 · 29 April 2024]

Two carloads of partiers in their 20s-30s make the mistake of stopping at a mansion with a graveyard curiously right by it. Something diabolical is going on and they might not make it out alive!

"Spookies" (1986) is similar to prior 80's flicks like "Hell Night" or "Frightmare" and would influence soon-to-come ones, such as "Doom Asylum," "Waxwork" and "Deadly Manor." It's low-budget, but imaginative and amusing, not to mention you can't beat the 80's ambiance. You could say it's one of those "so bad it's good" flicks.

There are a few highlights on the feminine front: Redhead Joan Ellen Delaney (Linda), blonde Charlotte Seeley/Alexandra (Adrienne, the smoker) and the bride Maria Pechukas (Isabelle).

It runs 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was shot northeast of New York City in Rye, which is near the border of southwest Connecticut.

GRADE: B-

Barnum (1986 TV Movie)

The life of PT Barnum in the 1800s

[6/10 · 28 April 2024]

Burt Lancaster stars as PT Barnum, breaking the fourth window to tell the story of the showman, author and politician who died four months shy of 81 years-old in 1891.

The man is known as the best purveyor of entertainment in history, a master of sales and marketing. He entered into showmanship in New York at the age of 25 after purchasing a blind and near-paralyzed slave woman, supposedly George Washington's 161 years-old former nurse. She died a year later with an autopsy revealing that she was no more than 80.

He then acquired a museum on Broadway that attracted people with exhibits, such as stuffed animals and changing live acts or curiosities, including the "Feejee" mermaid and General Tom Thumb. Barnum toured Europe with the little entertainer in 1844-1845 wherein he learned of the famous Swedish soprano singer Jenny Lind (played here by Hanna Schygulla), which led to enlisting her talents at great price for a tour of America in 1850-1852.

The showman didn't start the first traveling circus by train with canvas tents until he was 60 years-old in 1870, calling it "PT Barnum's Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan & Hippodrome."

All of this, and more, is effectively told, but don't expect a lot of what is traditionally associated with circuses, such as depicted in movies like "Water for Elephants," "The Greatest Show on Earth," "The Big Circus," "Roustabout," "Circus of Horrors," "Trapeze" and "Circus of Fear," aka "Psycho-Circus." These films take place a century after the events in this one. In other words, the events in "Barnum" laid the foundation for traveling circuses in the 1900s. But, don't get me wrong, there's a little bit of what is linked to conventional circuses, like during Lancaster's walking the circus grounds breaking the fourth wall and the very end.

Interestingly, it is stressed in the movie that it wasn't Barnum who coined the phrase "There's a sucker born every minute." Evidence suggests that the phrase can likely be attributed to David Hannum, a banker from Syracuse, who bought the "Cardiff Giant" in 1869 and made a profit in admission fees. Barnum wanted to buy it but Hannum wouldn't sell, so he created a replica and claimed that Hannum's giant was a hoax. When Barnum's exhibit proved more successful it is alleged that Hannum said "There's a sucker born every minute."

This flick should not be confused with another television production, the British musical "Barnum!," which debuted the same year, four weeks later. It obviously had the lesser budget.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes (some listings claim 1 hour, 30 minutes), and was shot in Montreal.

GRADE: B-

The Vampires Night Orgy (1973)

Strange, crumbling Village of...The Countess (Helga Liné)

[6/10 · 27 April 2024]

A small bus of people traveling the stoney mountains northeast of Madrid is forced to bypass to a remote town, which turns out to be a death trap.

A Spanish production, "The Vampires Night Orgy" (1973) is Gothic-tinged Euro horror that borrowed its plot from "The Devil's Nightmare" from two years prior, replacing the castle milieu with an old rural village similar to "Kill, Baby... Kill!" from seven years earlier. People who complain about the title perceive 'orgy' in a one-dimensional sense. Actually, an orgy is any actions or proceedings marked by unbridled indulgence of passions, such as an orgy of killing.

Redhead Helga Liné naturally stands out in the beauty department, but Dyanik Zurakowska (Alma) is also worth a mention. As usual with these types of flicks, there's some nudity. Speaking of which, the guy who turns out to be the protagonist has no qualms with a little voyeurism (Jack Taylor).

While this is easily on par with "Kill, Baby... Kill!" it's not as good as "The Devil's Nightmare" because it lacks the seven deadly sins angle, not to mention the castle. However, the mountain village is awesome in its own way. If you like those two flicks and similar contemporaneous ones like "Messiah of Evil," you'll appreciate this.

It runs 1 hour, 25 minutes, and was filmed in the heart of Spain, with exteriors shot in the mountains about 25 miles northeast of Madrid in Patones de Arriba and Talamanca del Jarama.

GRADE: B-

The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986 TV Movie)

George C. Scott, Val Kilmer and Rebecca De Mornay in the Victorian Era

[6/10 · 25 April 2024]

In Paris, a recently-retired detective (Scott) is encouraged by his daughter (De Mornay) to investigate a shocking double murder in order to save her fiancé. Kilmer plays his associate godson while Ian McShane is on hand as the Prefect.

"The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1986) is a fairly faithful adoption of Edgar Allan Poe's tale, published in 1841. This is in contrast to the 1971 film of the same name (with Jason Robards and Herbert Lom), which totally deviated from the original yarn and is more akin to "The Phantom of the Opera." Here, scriptwriter David Epstein wisely augmented Poe's story to spice it up a little and make it worthy of a feature length movie, albeit a TV production. (Poe's tale is only about 38 pages in modern form).

It's Victorian mystery/horror in the manner of Hammer's "The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll" (1960) and Klaus Kinski's "Jack the Ripper" (1976), as well as later films like "Edge of Sanity" (1989) and "From Hell" (2001). It lacks the colorful sensationalistic elements of those movies and focuses on the murder mystery but, remember, Poe's tale is famous for being the first fictional detective story and obviously influenced Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, amongst others.

I first became aware of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" as a teen due to Iron Maiden's song on their (best) album KILLERS, but never read Poe's yarn and so wasn't familiar with the creative revelation of who the murderer is. As such, this kept my interest. No, it's not as colorfully entertaining as most of those other movies noted, but you can't beat the authentic French locales and the great cast. The special effects for the ending are surprisingly convincing and hold up.

The movie runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in the Paris area, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de l'Opéra and in Buttes-Chaumont, the latter standing-in for the Bois de Boulogne. Almost a third of it was filmed away from the city, such as the prison sequences, which were done in Corbeil, Marne, which is in the country 115 miles east of the city.

GRADE: B-

God's Club (2015)

The trials & tribulations of starting a Bible club at a modern American high school

[6/10 · 22 April 2024]

A high school teacher in SoCal (Stephen Baldwin) decides to open an extracurricular club that focuses on the Scriptures and Christianity, but faces constant opposition in carrying it out. Corbin Bernsen is on hand as his supportive friend.

"God's Club" (2015) is similar to "God's Not Dead 2," beating it to release by 3.5 months. It's not as good because it only had a fourth of that one's budget ($1,250,000) but, thankfully, it doesn't morph into a courtroom drama (not that there's anything wrong with that).

If you can forgive the TV budget and the corresponding limitations (e.g. The dubious acting by the teenage peripherals), it's a decent drama about real-life issues with potent morals. For instance, confronting grief and moving on, coming-of-age, bullying, friendship, seeking healing for depression, popping pills or not popping pills, counseling, resorting to violence, vandalism, the suicide solution, offense & forgiveness, and freedom of speech and religion in a multicultural society. Let's just say that the flick doesn't wuss out in tackling tough issues.

Consider the sequence at the bridge. I'm not going to give away what happens but, in my area, a 15 years-old girl jumped off a similar bridge and her body was found down the river. Witnesses said that she had a dead, hopeless expression on her face when she jumped. You see, people can live a week without food, three days without water, a few minutes without air, but... less than a second without hope.

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot at San Fernando Valley Academy in Northridge, which is just northwest of Los Angeles.

GRADE: B-

Signs of Life (1989)

Amusing and bittersweet drama set on the coast of northeastern New England

[6/10 · 21 April 2024]

When it seems imminent that a small boat-building company is closing down in a sleepy Maine town, it affects the lives of the key personnel and those linked to them in different ways.

"Signs of Life" (1989) is worth seeing for the scenic setting of coastal Maine, as well as catching Vincent D'Onofrio and Mary-Louise Parker when they were young and relatively unknown. Several other notables are on hand, like Kevin J. O'Connor, Beau Bridges and Arthur Kennedy. The latter plays a cantankerous 66 years-old man, but easily looks ten years older (he was 74 during shooting and this was his last film).

Some parts are too draggy, but there's enough interesting things going on in the intersecting stories to keep interest, along with some quality droll amusement. I like how the flick leads you to think something is going to happen, but pulls the rug out from under you.

It runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot at various locations near the central coast of Maine (Thomaston, Stonington, South Bristol and Ellsworth), except for one short underwater sequence done at Mystic Marine Aquarium in Connecticut.

GRADE: B-

Desecrated (2015)

Terror at a cabin-in-the-woods in the sticks northwest of Los Angeles

[6/10 · 18 April 2024]

Six college youths from SoCal sneak away to the vacation home of the lead girl (Haylie Duff) for some fun in the wilderness, but the fatigues-wearing caretaker is kind of creepy and two of them foolishly break into a hallowed trailer hidden in the forest. Havoc ensues.

"Desecrated" (2015) isn't exactly great cinema, but it delivers the goods for those in the mood for backwoods brutality and don't mind low-budget issues. Despite some expected cliches, the antagonist isn't the same-old-same-old and the characters are effectively fleshed-out in a story that's a little more intricate than the set-up suggests. It's superior to Haylie's "Backwoods" from seven years prior.

Speaking of Haylie, she does well as the protagonist supported by Heather Sossaman and Vera Rosada as the almost interchangeable brunettes Lizzie and Nina. The latter is stunning in a bikini, but don't expect nudity.

On the masculine front, Gonzalo Menendez is both entertaining and convincing as the stereotypical ex-military guy with a shaved head while Wilmer Calderon works well as the "axx clown," Eduardo (he desperately needed humbled but I can't wish upon anyone what happens). Michael Ironside shows up for a small part as Allie's father.

The movie runs 1 hour, 22 minutes, and was shot in Ojai, which is located in the desert high country 80 miles northwest of Los Angeles, as well as Playa del Rey & Marina del Rey, which are on the coast, just west of the city.

GRADE: B-

Damon's Revenge (2022)

Sequel to "Burial Ground Massacre" is a case of sophomore slump

[5/10 · 16 April 2024]

After surviving the Liberty Manor massacre in Rhode Island, Adrianna (Chelsea Vale) is viewed as a sort of local celebrity. Her wild child friend from college (Hannah Dannelly) invites her out to a rural vacation home to party with friends and recover. Unfortunately, Tina has an unhealthy interest in the massacre and, worse, the Wampanoag mafia chief might no longer be in custody. Havoc ensues.

"Damon's Revenge" (2022) adequately relays what happens to the survivors of the film from the year before, but you won't find much elaboration on the title character. Disregarding his appearing in a recap, Damon doesn't surface until the very end. I was hoping for details on why he likes to torment Indian lasses in his torture chamber, as well as why the Wampanoag mafia hired him (no doubt because he's an effective killer, huh?).

Another issue is that this isn't as ambitious as the first movie, but at least it's a little creative with the hackneyed cabin-in-the-woods plot. The nudity is way toned down and there are no torture chamber sequences (not that I care about either). The women aren't as notable either. Still, the voice dubbing has been fixed (compared to the prior film) and Chelsea Vale makes for a serviceable protagonist, plus there are enough interesting things to keep one's attention, like the Wampanoag chief convincing an Indian deputy to do such-and-such.

The film runs 1 hour, 29 minutes, and was shot in Cromwell, Connecticut, which is in the heart of the state just south of Hartford on the Connecticut River.

GRADE: C+

Burial Ground Massacre (2021)

Ambitious low-rent manor-in-the-woods slasher, shot in Rhode Island

[6/10 · 15 April 2024]

Six college students celebrate Christmas break at Liberty Manor, but learn that the place is cursed because it was built on an Indian burial ground. In the meantime, a creepy masked man stalks the premises and bodies start mounting up. Michael Madsen has a small part with some narration.

"Burial Ground Massacre" (2021) is an Indie slasher featuring the typical cabin-in-the-woods plot although, in this case, it's a wealthy manor. Despite the conventional milieu and slasher tropes, the story's more ambitious than usual, such as the tie-in to the Wampanoag tribe and the bit revolving around a cursed ring. Yet it loses points for lousy voice dubbing and trendy antiwhite elements (speaking as part-Abenaki). I suppose the romantic melodrama could be viewed as questionable, but it's meant to amuse.

Raven-haired Chelsea Vale is decent as the proverbial final girl while Brittany Toczko is fetching in the role of Kayla, as is redhead Sarah Elizabeth Jensen in a small part as Laney (her nude scenes, by the way, were done by a double with a wig).

Speaking of which, there's a lot of gratuitous female nudity, especially involving some Indian lasses in a torture chamber. Why the writers included these scenes is a mystery; I guess they wanted to show what Damon does in his spare time and the irony of the Indian mafia's links to him. Speaking of Damon, the creators came up with a great look; and wrestler Vinny Marseglia does an effective job illustrating his masked creepiness.

I shouldn't fail to add that there are 2-3 quality songs on the soundtrack, like "Wanna Be" by Jennifer Hill.

A sequel called "Damon's Revenge" was released the next year, which is technically better (for instance, they fixed the dubbing), but the story's not quite as thought-provoking. It's still worth checking out for those interested. Like this one, it gets creative with the done-to-death plot.

At the end of the day, this was filmed on spit, chewing gum and home-movie enthusiasm. They had enough funds to hire Madsen for a day's work. Some people can't handle the micro-budget issues but, if you can roll with them, there's meat 'n' potatoes within the shallow formula.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in Rhode Island at East Greenwich and North Kingstown, which are south of Providence, as well as Foster, which is west of the city. There are also some second unit scenes involving Foxwoods Resort Casino, which is a few miles across the border in southeast Connecticut at Ledyard.

GRADE: B-/C+

Jessi's Girls (1975)

Sondra Currie as a cheroot-smoking Woman With No Name

[5/10 · 14 April 2024]

In the Old West, a Morman couple traveling south from Salt Lake City are waylaid by a small gang of dirtbags. The wife (Currie) later teams-up with an outlaw female, a wild prostitute and a squaw to set things a'right.

"Jessi's Girls" (1975) was influenced by Raquel Welch's "Hannie Caulder," "Macho Callahan," "The Animals" (aka "Five Savage Men") and "Cry Blood, Apache" from 4-5 years prior; and would influence the forthcoming "I Spit on Your Grave" and "Bad Girls," the latter debuting almost two decades later. It's basically an exploitation thriller with a Western milieu.

With the Hays Code ending in 1968, filmmakers were exalting in their new sense of freedom, especially Indie filmmakers. As such, this includes a tasteful nude scene involving Sondra bathing near a waterfall right out of the gate, as well as a disturbing gang rape sequence, which took an entire day to shoot and is very convincing. Regina Carrol (Claire) and Ellyn Stern (Kana) also have brief nude or semi-nude sequences. Regina, by the way, happened to be the wife of the director.

As a Western, there's a lot of good in this, such as Rod Cameron as the grizzled loner who assists Jessi. He was 64 during shooting and it's too bad his part wasn't bigger and their relationship developed. Meanwhile, the score and locations are pretty much top-of-the-line, not to mention some excellent touches like how Kana hates Apaches.

Despite all the good, the script needed a rewrite as it includes some weak, nonsensical parts, like a certain formerly devout person murdering a coach driver and seriously injuring a sheriff on a whim with no ostensible motivation. If someone argues that it was to save three captive women, they are total strangers and the protagonist has no idea if they're innocent or guilty. If it's because she hates men, her spouse was a good, loving man, and so was the compassionate geezer who saved her in the desert. Plus, why would she shoot a lawman when it was outlaws who did her wrong, the opposite of lawmen?

Bad writing like this takes the viewer right out of the movie.

The film runs 1 hour, 24 minutes, and was shot at Capitol Reef National Park in southern Utah and Dee Cooper Ranch.

GRADE: C.

Adam & Evil (2004)

Low-rent cabin-in-the-woods slasher in the Great Northwest

[6/10 · 13 April 2024]

Eight high school graduates and two stragglers from Oregon head out to Lake Nede to celebrate, but they soon learn that a mad slayer is loose in the area. Havoc ensues.

"Adam & Evil" (2004) isn't a spoof of teen slashers, but there's a bit o' hammy acting, particularly Erica Cerra in one scene as Yvonne. The fact that it's very low-budget can be observed in the relatively cheesy effects of the opening scene, but they're not THAT bad.

I can't find specific data, but I doubt it cost much more than $150,000 to make; however, if you can roll with its micro-budget issues (like questionable acting), it pretty much delivers the goods as a traditional slasher-in-the-woods. While not as 'good' as "Body Count" or "Edge of the Axe," it's at least as entertaining as "The Final Terror" or "Terror at Tenkiller" and superior to "The Prey," "Beserker," "Madman" and, especially, the lousy "Don't Go in the Woods."

There are no less than 13 characters with 10 of them being high school graduates, so it's hard to get a lock on their names. Yet the forest sets, night lighting and sound are all proficient. There's also some rockin' music on the soundtrack by writer/director Andrew Van Slee, Natasha Thirsk, The Dirtmitts and Born Against Christians.

The script is decent as well with a well-done "reveal" at the end (IMHO). Sure, the teens act like typical partying youths, but isn't that the way it is? (I've camped right by them on occasion). Would it be more realistic if they discussed quantum physics or deep theology at the campsite?

The flirtatious blonde wife of the sheriff stands out on the feminine front (Allison Warnyca), but the rest of the 18 years-old lasses are too interchangeable (same thin body-type, same height, all Caucasians). Speaking of which, the flick sneers at "diversity," which some might find welcome and others offensive. It's not offensive; it's just the way it is half the time.

It runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot entirely in Vancouver.

GRADE: B-/C+

Roadkill (I) (2024)

A killer is loose on the rural roads of the Florida Panhandle

[7/10 · 12 April 2024]

In 1983, a comely teenager in a red Nova (Caitlin Carmichael) picks up a troubled long-haired hitchhiker (Ryan Knudson) and the mounting bodies naturally attract the local sheriff (Warren Fast, who also happens to be the writer/director).

"Roadkill" (2024) takes the killer-on-the-road theme of flicks like "Kalifornia" or "Midnight in the Switchgrass" and meshes it with the Southern milieu and car chases of "Smokey and the Bandit," minus the comedy. It may be throwaway entertainment that's hollow and somewhat slow burn, but it worked for me for what it is. The director well captures Caitlin's beauty without resorting to tasteless sleaze.

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot in Ebro, in the heart of the Florida Panhandle, and areas nearby (Bay County and Washington County).

GRADE: B/B-

Testa di sbarco per otto implacabili (1968)

Subtitled "D-Day: Italian Style"

[6/10 · 11 April 2024]

Just before the D-Day invasion, a group of American paratroopers (led by Guy Madison) team-up with an American lieutenant impersonating a German officer (Peter Lee Lawrence) and a resistant fighter (Erika Blanc) to destroy a bunker on Omaha Beach with the controls of a device that would burn alive Allies in the water.

An Italian/French production, "Hell in Normandy" (1968) is titled "landing head for eight relentless" in Italian and "beachhead for relentless eight" in French (translated, naturally). There's some quality action and the Italian interpretation of American soldiers is entertaining. Meanwhile, redhead Erika Blanc spices things up as the French farm lass (she was 25 during shooting). The way her aged father is desperate to comply with the occupying troops of Hitler is an interesting touch.

On the dubious side, the American fatigues appear to be mid-60's Italian NATO uniforms with the wrong camouflage patterns and helmets, but passable for non-sticklers, I reckon. Meanwhile the German "secret weapon" and the Allied operation to destroy it smacks more of James Bond than history. Also, the Italian locations are a far cry from Normandy landscapes, but I've seen far worse geographical substitutions.

At the end of the day, this is comparable to 60's WW2 flicks, like "Battle of the Bulge" and "Anzio," just on a lower budget and from an Italish perspective.

The film runs 1 hour, 30 minutes.

GRADE: B-/C+

Pines (2022)

A redhead chased by shady yokels thru eldritch woods and dilapidated buildings

[6/10 · 11 April 2024]

A hospice care provider (Una Jo Blade) tries to find her missing beau in the sticks, but is hindered at every turn by unsavory characters, who might be mixed up with meth labs and the occult.

Shot in 2011 but not released until 2022, "Pines" is a proficiently made thriller/horror directed by the protagonist (Una Jo). It combines plot elements of "Winter's Bone" and "Rust Creek" meshed with the backwoods horror of "Blair Witch" and the beautiful women stuck in an abandoned building angle of "Death Tunnel."

The lovely Una Jo is one of the selling points along with the creepy sylvan ambiance and implication of America-in-decline. The premise of a goodhearted caregiver resorting to violence when backed into a rundown corner is also interesting. Unfortunately, the cut-up storytelling is viewer unfriendly (not to mention annoying), which makes for an incoherent experience. Yet it's effectively disorienting, which is what the creators were shooting for.

This isn't only for horror fans, but also those interested in a grim backwoods drama/thriller, like "Blackway," aka "Go With Me."

The film runs 1 hour, 15 minutes. Regrettably, I can't find info on where it was shot, not even in the end credits; I'm assuming somewhere in the great northwest, possibly Oregon (which is where the studio's previous movie was shot).

GRADE: B-/C+

The Big Picture (1989)

Satire on Hollywood and the filmmaking process with Kevin Bacon

[6/10 · 10 April 2024]

After a film student from Ohio (Bacon) wins an award for his short movie at the film institute in Los Angeles, he has to carefully traverse the minefield of the system to get his artistic vision made. JT Walsh plays a manipulative producer and Martin Short a dubious agent.

"The Big Picture" (1989) is an amusing look at the moviemaking process in Hollywood. The humor is mostly droll or quirky and viewers not up on the business might not relate to some of it, which could explain why the flick flopped at the box office. I wouldn't want to blow time & money on seeing it at the theater, but it works well enough for home viewing on a quiet night or whatever.

Winsome Emily Longstreth stands out on the feminine front as the protagonist's girlfriend, Susan. She was a minor female sensation at the time who worked with the likes of Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, Rob Morrow, Molly Ringwald and James Spader, but she left acting entirely by the early 90s, reportedly falling into substance abuse, mental illness, and living in homeless shelters. It's rumored she died in early 2015, but factual info is hard to find so I can't verify this.

Teri Hatcher is notable as wannabe starlet Gretchen; it was her movie debut. Meanwhile Jennifer Jason Leigh is on hand as hipster Lydia while Fran Drescher shows up as the producer's wife, Polo.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in the Los Angeles area.

GRADE: B-

Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal (2006)

Dynamic documentary on the first 25 years of thrash metal

[9/10 · 9 April 2024]

"Get Thrashed" does an excellent job detailing the history of thrash and other offshoots of metal up to the time of its release in 2006. Generally speaking, thrash combined the double bass drumming and complex guitar riffing of NWOBHM bands (including Priest and Maiden) and fused it with the aggression and speed of punk/hardcore along with the technicality of prog bands. The documentary relays all of this in a very energetic fashion, including references to the most prominent bands, along with myriad commentators.

"The Big Four" are, of course, noted at length, but myriad "second tier" bands are acknowledged, like Overkill, Death Angel, Forbidden, Sepultura, Hirax, Kreator, Sodom and Anvil. Hardcore bands are also recognized, like Cro-Mags, as well as the later bands that were heavily influenced by thrash. Of course, there are some omissions, such as Bathory (especially HAMMERHEART, not that early drek), but what's packed-in here is very impressive and entertaining.

Sepultura is fittingly acknowledged and I'm glad that the Derrick Green/Andreas Kisser form of the band is interviewed twice because this is easily the best version of the group, as observed in excellent albums like NATION, A-LEX and MACHINE MESSIAH, et al.

The original drummer of Overkill, Rat Skates (who had a LOT to do with establishing the band up through their first two albums) was heavily involved in the behind-the-scenes production. Meanwhile singer Bobby Blitz Ellsworth appears frequently as a commentator. The original guitarist of their first four albums, Bobby Gustafson, also appears. (I, incidentally, thought Overkill improved after those albums, with excellent releases like THE KILLING KIND, FROM THE UNDERGROUND AND BELOW and KILLBOX 13, even I HEAR BLACK and WFO).

You'll hear a relatively unknown song a couple of times with a chorus that goes "Thrash, thrash, thrash... Thrill, thrill, thrill... Mosh, mosh, mosh." This is by the obscure Swedish band The Law and the song is called "Anthem" (with a 1.5 minutes intro called "Lawman & the Law"). You can hear it on Youtube, if interested. The band independently released the song in 2004 and 2006, which explains how it was available for this 2006 documentary. They included it on their only 2008 full-length album and that's the last anyone's heard of the band, except for two singles in 2010.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes.

GRADE: A.

Cassidy Red (2017)

Lyrical Western about love, hate, sacrifice and redemption

[7/10 · 8 April 2024]

The firecracker daughter (Abby Eiland) of an alcoholic gunslinger and a prostitute makes an enemy of the local mogul in southern Arizona (David Thomas Jenkins). When her beloved is captured under trumped-up charges and feared dead (Jason Grasl), she has to turn to her lousy father (Rick Cramer) in order to set things a'right.

"Cassidy Red" (2017) is an artistic Indie with a reverent tone, great score, nice cinematography, decent no-name actors and authentic Southwest locations. This was Matt Knudsen's only film as writer/director; he usually works in the camera/electrical department. Despite its kickstarter origins, the movie worked for me as a moving arty ballad rooted in a romantic triangle with an Old West milieu.

Despite the nod to "Hannie Caulder" (and its unacknowledged remake, "6 Guns"), the story & style smack of originality with the setting switching back-and-forth from 1899, 1874 and 1863, although 1874 is the main setting described above.

Eiland does well as the no-nonsense protagonist. Also notable on the feminine front is Lola Kelly (Rowena), Jessy Knudsen (Quinn) and Alyssa Elle Steinacker (Young Joe).

The film runs 1 hour, 31 minutes, and was shot in Old Tucson and the nearby Sonoran Desert with some stuff done in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles.

GRADE: B/B-

More Dead Than Alive (1969)

Clint Walker as an ex-con in Arizona and Vincent Price a Western show barker

[6/10 · 7 April 2024]

In 1891, a former gunfighter (Walker) gets out of prison in Yuma and is taken aback by how things have changed in the two decades that he's been locked up. While he tries to stay away from guns, he settles for a trick-shot artist at a traveling show (ran by Price). He deals with a rash young buck (Paul Hampton) while taking interest in a lovely artist (Anne Francis).

"More Dead Than Alive" (1969) is similar to the great "Bandolero" from the year prior, but with a lower budget, a meandering script, and less attention to detail (e.g. The vintage Schwinn bicycle with chrome and plastic parts). Seven years later "The Shootist" would borrow the basic plot with a bigger budget, just exchanging John Wayne for Walker's part, Ron Howard for Hampton and Lauren Bacall for Francis.

The opening Gatling Gun sequence feels contrived, which destroys realism, but the corresponding prison set is impressive. It, incidentally, was built in the mid-50s by Columbia Pictures for $118,000 and was used in the popular Star Trek Gorn episode, "Arena," as Cestus III. Hampton plays a "kid" who's about 19 years-old, but was 31 during shooting and looks it.

If you can roll with the questionable issues, you can't beat Walker as the masculine protagonist or Vincent Price in a rare Western. I was able to enter into the world of the characters and care for the protagonist and his potential mate. Unfortunately, the ending leaves a bad taste and reflects the 60s after JFK's murder, which isn't helped by the horrid offbeat song.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot at Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, which is just north of Los Angeles in the desert high country. The mine-fight sequence was filmed at Bronson Caves, which is 15-20 miles due south of there. The town scenes were done at a movie ranch in the area.

GRADE: B-

Liza's Pioneer Diary (1976 TV Movie)

What it was really like to cross the plains in the Old West

[7/10 · 7 April 2024]

A young wife (Ayn Ruymen) recollects her journey on a small wagon train through the Nebraska Territory in 1848 on their way to Oregon. Katherine Helmond is on hand as Aunt Sara.

"Liza's Pioneer Diary" (1976) is a realistic pioneer-oriented Western about the grueling hardships of crossing the pristine prairie. It was released on PBS in America and, apparently, part of their dramatic showcase series, "Visions" (season 1, episode 5), yet it's very much a standalone movie. Just don't expect any eye-rolling talk about "the fastest gun in the West" or any other mythical elements. It's a docudrama that eschews cliches and brings the frontier of the mid-1800s alive with sometimes painful naturalism.

Criticized as a "feminist Western," that's not the case. It's a Western from the perspective of a young bride who has to rise to the challenge if she wants her family and the rest of the denizens of the wagon train to make it to Oregon. She slowly realizes that she has to break free from the shackles of being "delicate" (and veritably hopeless in the wilderness), as her husband ignorantly calls her. In his mind, he's trying to protect her, but this is actually a form of psychological abuse.

Speaking of the husband, the flick wisely doesn't make him out to be a villain. He's a good man, but he needs humbled a little, not to mention comprehend that his wife isn't a useless flower. She's capable and he's going to need her talents if they're going to be successful.

Forty-five years after this debuted, the recent series "1883" covered similar terrain. I recommend that show, but it falsified history by eliminating any mention of God and Christianity, which were instrumental in the lives of the majority of settlers traveling West. "Liza's Pioneer Diary" doesn't make this glaring mistake. It covers many of the same privations and trials, but offers a greater sense of hope with glimmers of joy and light.

The film runs 1 hour, 28 minutes, and was shot in northeast New Mexico in the Las Vegas area (not Nevada), which is about an hour's drive east of Santa Fe.

GRADE: B.

When the Circus Came to Town (1981 TV Movie)

Elizabeth Montgomery joins a traveling circus

[6/10 · 4 April 2024]

When a small circus stops in Savannah, a bored 40-ish spinster (Montgomery) decides to enlist on a lark. Christopher Plummer plays the owner/ringleader while Eileen Brennan and Tommy Madden are on hand as members of the troupe.

"When the Circus Came to Town" (1981) is a drama with a few amusing touches set at a traveling circus. Elizabeth was 47 during shooting and, amazingly, still looks like she did on Bewitched (which ended 9 years earlier), not to mention she's appealing in a circus outfit.

There are the expected clowns, acrobats, high wire artists, elephants and big cats, but the focus is on the four characters noted above and the drama thereof, which is relatively realistic and, by the end, heartwarming. The flick's entertaining in the manner of "Roustabout" or "Circus of Horrors," minus the horror elements of the latter.

While a TV movie, it's worth checking out if you're in the mood for something along the lines of "Water for Elephants," "The Greatest Show on Earth," "The Big Circus," "Circus of Fear," aka "Psycho-Circus," "Trapeze" and those other two. Sure, it's lowkey in comparison to blockbusters like "Water for Elephants" and "The Greatest Show on Earth," but it has it's points of interest and is well done, all things considered.

The film runs 1 hour, 36 minutes, and was shot in Savannah, Georgia.

GRADE: B-

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

The Suffering of The Christ

[9/10 · 2 April 2024]

Helmed by Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ" (2004) details the excruciating last 12 hours of the life of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as detailed in the Bible, as well as various devotional writings. Jim Caviezel stars in the eponymous role and it's hard to imagine a more fitting person in the part. Also notable are Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, Hristo Naumov Shopov as Pontius Pilate and Jarreth Merz as Simon of Cyrene.

Obviously, this isn't a fun movie. You have to be braced for it, as it's shocking in a reverent way. This explains why one critic denounced it as "a two-hour-and-six-minute snuff movie." Nevertheless, it artistically brings to life that particular turning point in history and gives the viewer a great visual of what went down. Christ's death appeased God's just wrath in a substitutionary sense and opened the door to immortality and eternal life, as noted in Romans 6:23 and 2 Timothy 1:10.

Research the evidence and decide for yourself whether this is historical fact or just myth.

The film was shot entirely in Italy.

GRADE: A.

Savage Youth (2018)

Coming-to-death in declining America

[7/10 · 1 April 2024]

Seven youths in a town 40 miles southwest of Chicago try to find meaning, purpose, love and happiness, but without a spiritual compass veer toward crime and tragedy.

"Savage Youth" (2018) is a dark coming-of-age drama with gritty realism and an artsy flair similar to films like "Kids," "White Rabbit," "Undertow" and "Back Roads." The difference is that this one is based on the real-life Nightmare on Hickory Street Murders that took place on January 9, 2013, although the names have been changed (as usual), along with other necessary alterations.

Will Brittain is charismatic in a brooding way as Jason, patterned after the ringleader of the small gang, Joshua Miner, who was 24. The other three key white youths were 18-19 while the two black guys were 22. Being a little older with a certain amount of charisma, it's not hard to see how he could mislead the others with his harebrained schemes.

At the end of the day, this is a realistic portrayal of youths growing up in declining American despair. Don't expect a fun time, but a sad, empty, one-note commentary. If you can roll with this, it's effectively done, not to mention a necessary artistic documentation.

The film runs 1 hour, 40 minutes, and was shot in Joliet, Illinois, and Chicago.

GRADE: B.

The Cabin (II) (2019)

Resisting the powers of darkness one-on-one in the lonely backwoods

[5/10 · 31 March 2024]

A troubled pastor from northeastern West Virginia goes to a remote cabin to search the Scriptures and have it out with the devil.

"The Cabin" (2019) is a low-budget Indie that combines the set-up of Johnny Depp's "Secret Window" combined with elements of cabin-in-the-woods flicks, albeit don't expect a masked slayer with a machete or Bigfoot. The filmmaking and acting are relatively proficient for a spare-change flick. The caretaker is comical and there's some unexpected amusement in the final act. While the eventual special effects are cheesy in the manner of Syfy movies, they're effective enough to get the point across.

The story's a little too one-dimensional for the runtime without enough perks, but the ultimate message centering around James 4:7 is driven home and it's a worthy theme. I liked how angels are shown to have personalities and aren't all the same.

The film runs 1 hour, 34 minutes, and was shot an hour's drive south of Morgantown, West Virginia, in Belington and Buckhannon.

GRADE: C+