Justin-Fog Reviews

Hell to Pay (2005)

The Good Ole Western is back !

[9/10 · 16 April 2006]

This certainly is one of the best western movies produced in the new Millennium. It's an homage to all the stars of the great TV western classics, and it is the ultimate revival of the western movie. The story of two brothers who meet after the War between the States and end up on different sides of the law isn't new but interesting nonetheless, and the shootouts and the atmosphere are great. There is some graphic violence like bad guys getting chopped to death with an axe or women being shot down in cold blood, and Lee Majors doesn't take part in the action until the very end, that's why I gave it 9 out of 10 points. But it still is one of the best new western productions I've ever seen. I've had the honor and pleasure to meet Chris McIntyre at the Festival of the West and have a nice chat with him, and I've had the chance to meet Buck Taylor who performs the role of town doctor. In my opinion, we ought to be much obliged to Chris McIntyre for his efforts to gather that many stars of the classic TV westerns and SASS around him to perform in a new western such as this. Chris has an outstanding talent for choosing the right actors for the main characters, too. Both are young and promising, and I think we should see more of them in future western productions. I sincerely enjoyed this western movie - it was worth every minute. I hope that Chris McIntyre will continue to work on other western movies and present us with some more great productions such as this one. Great work, Chris! Jasper P. Morgan (Pete)

Shallow Ground (2004)

One of the best horror movies I ever saw

[8/10 · 3 April 2006]

This movie has everything a good horror movie needs - a story interesting enough to keep you watching, great special effects (not CGI effects, mind you!), and great actors who love what they're doing. You recognize their efforts to make this movie a good and entertaining one. If one can believe the producers, the movie was made on a very limited budget of just over $ 70.000 - and the result is excellent! In times when horror movies are full of CGI effects and actors who seem to do their job only to receive a paycheck at the end of the day, "Shallow Ground" proves that it can be done with a great enthusiastic team and a special effects crew that knows what they're doing. There's lots of blood, excellent SFX and a nice twist at the end - everything a horror film fan finds entertaining. The actors do their job well, and this movie left me hoping for a sequel. Oh, I just gave it 8 out of 10 points because the motivation of the Dead trying to "avenge" their own death came a bit short and wasn't explained very well. But then - I had a great time watching this movie, and I'm sure I'll watch it again. What else could I want for...? Jasper P. Morgan

Dawn of the Mummy (1981)

It's Mummies, it's Zombies...and it's boredom!

[2/10 · 2 April 2006]

One of the worst horror movies I've ever seen. During the first few minutes everybody who didn't read the credits and rather smooched with his girlfriend would recognize this movie as Italian-made. Poor atmosphere, poor effects, and lots of talking. Despite other Italian horror movies there are no scenes of nudity, the beautiful actresses even get to take a moonlight bath clad with bikinis - maybe the director didn't want to shock the mummy with the view of naked girls? Well, as soon as the mummy awakes and goes on a rampage strangling its victims to death, its long-dead servants awake as well and go on a rampage eating people in a zombie-style manner. Now, why would they feast on their victims and the mummy wouldn't? The special effects are poor, the showdown is poor (a burning shed and a mummy that wouldn't burn...) and the acting is poor. Shy away from it, folks, as you would from an ancient Egyptian tomb! This movie gives you nightmares - but not about the mummy but about the money you wasted renting or buying it and the time you wasted watching it. Jasper P. Morgan

The Trail to Hope Rose (2004 TV Movie)

Nice and entertaining western drama

[8/10 · 2 April 2006]

Lou Diamond Phillips and marina Black star together with Lee majors and Ernest Borgnine in an entertaining western drama. Lou plays an ex convict who tries to make a living as a mine worker, closely watched by Marshal Luther Toll. The convict knows he is just one step away from going back to prison if he gets out of line - but when he stops a neighbor from severely beating his wife and teams up with an old rancher who stands alone against the mine owner's interests things get complicated for our hero. The movie is not as tough as some of the recent western productions but it is atmospheric, entertaining, full of emotions and some nice action scenes. The actors do a great job and seem to enjoy themselves. For the missing shootout scenes and a rather tame showdown, I'll give it 8 out of 10 points, but I still enjoyed it and can recommend it. Jasper P. Morgan

Hammerhead (2005 TV Movie)

The good old monster movie is back!

[7/10 · 2 April 2006]

When I heard about "Hammerhead" being released on DVD and finally found it at my local DVD store, I thought "well, just another cheap monster movie from Nu Image". Those guys around Boaz Davidson and Avi Lerner produced cheap but very entertaining B - Pictures in the past few months but also some very disappointing movies. So I didn't expect much, especially after having watched the rather disappointing "Shark Zone" just a few days before. But "Hammerhead" turned out to be an excellent revival of the 1950s monster movies. We have a mad scientist, a group of people in a dangerous situation, screaming women and damsels in distress, man-eating plants and of course we have the creature, a huge mutant mix between a man and a hammerhead shark. Everything you need for an entertaining monster movie. The only thing missing are graphic sex scenes and nudity which you expect in movies of this kind, but since the movie was made for TV it's understandable why these scenes are missing. And it doesn't matter anyway cause "Hammerhead" is action and horror entertainment at it's best. There are two reasons why I gave it seven out of ten points, though: First of all, the monster isn't seen very often and the showdown with the destruction of the creature is too fast and poorly done, and secondly, William Forsythe just isn't the right guy for the "hero" part and for falling in love with gorgeous Hunter Tylo. Other than that, I can highly recommend this movie for any monster movie fan out there. Grab yourselves a cool drink and some popcorn, watch this movie and have fun. Jasper P. Morgan

Beyond the Door III (1989)

One of the worst Horror movies of all times

[1/10 · 25 March 2006]

Set in Eastern Europe, this movie about a group of young people trapped in a demonic, bloodthirsty train is an utter disappointment. The effects are very bad, even though there is some gore, and the story is stupid. The train runs amok and relentlessly takes on any obstacles there are - it runs on and off the tracks, plows through fields and woods (without derailing!), runs through lakes and swamps (without sinking!!) and crashes through trucks parked across the tracks (without exploding !!!). One by one the innocent youngsters aboard the train die a horrible death, from being decapitated, speared by splintered signal poles, or torn in halves by iron chains connecting the railway cars. At the end the seemingly unstoppable train is being stopped by a bomb made of black powder from two dozen shotgun shells! I mean...come on, folks! How stupid can a horror movie get? Well, if you want to find out, watch this one. Or I'd rather you don't. Cause it's not worth your while. It's a waste of time. There are better things to do with your time - and if you must, then watch any other Horror movie but this one... Jasper P. Morgan

Camp Blood 2 (2000 Video)

An awfully bad film - stupid and dull as Jason Vorhees' blade

[1/10 · 26 February 2006]

Just when I thought it couldn't get worse - it happened when I watched Camp Blood Part 2. The story is pretty much a repetition of Part 1, and if you have watched horror slashers you can easily identify the killer after just a few minutes. This time, a film team is trying to turn the tragic and bloody events of Camp Blood Part 1 into a smashing horror movie. The director / producer visits the sole survivor of part one in the sanitarium and manages to break her loose. When they enter Camp Blood, horrendous things start happening. One by one the film crew is being killed. The cameraman is stoned the whole time, the gofer is a fat slob who bites the dust shortly after he's entered camp and the only talented actress is the female protagonist. Well, it's a very, very bad movie. The clown mask is stupid, the killing scenes are boring, and even the shower scene at the beginning is unnecessary and uninteresting. Just forget it... I rather watch a Friday 13th movie for the umpteenth time than Camp Blood Part 2 for a second time... Jasper P. Morgan

Camp Blood (2000 Video)

One of the worst of its kind

[3/10 · 26 February 2006]

Apparently the writer and director of this direct-to-DVD slasher movie is a fan of Friday 13th and other summer camp slashers. This movie has everything - a group of teenagers who want to spend the weekend with fun, alcohol and sex in an abandoned summer camp called "Camp Blood", the old man who warns them not to go there; and of course the crazy killer with the machete who keeps on slashing and hacking at the teenagers without any reason at all... The whole thing could have worked if it had been shot on 35 mm film with acceptable Special Effects. But instead the Special Effects are poorly done. The killer walks around as if he's out on a Sunday afternoon stroll, and the only good things about this movie are the acting of the talented main actress and the sex scene at the beginning. Other than that - dull and forgettable. Jasper P. Morgan

Invitation (2003 Video)

One of the worst horror movies ever!

[2/10 · 31 January 2006]

This is one of the worst horror movies I ever saw! It lacks everything an good horror movie should have - atmosphere, effects, good actors, humor, slasher scenes, gore and graphic sex. There's nothing! The only reason I gave the movie two points is that there are a few good looking girls - but that's it. The story is terrible and rips off from all kinds of much better horror films. The actors try to do their best with this bad script and the terrible directing but a bunch of gorgeous girls can't make a terrible film good. I've seldom seen worse - but lots of times I've seen much better. It's not worth the money and a waste of time to watch. Jasper P. Morgan

Popcorn und Himbeereis (1978)

German Teen Erotic Comedy - A Classic !

[8/10 · 29 January 2006]

Almost 30 years after I've seen this erotic comedy in a German movie theater it is now released on DVD. It's nostalgic erotic cinema at its best! The German teenage sex queens Olivia Pascal, Gesa Gabor, Uschi Buchfellner and Bea Fiedler star in this hot B-picture comedy which mixes bad jokes, disco music of the Seventies and lots of beautiful naked teenage queens. There have been better and sexier comedies of the kind starring Olivia Pascal and Ursula Buchfellner, but it still is great entertainment. It has all the atmosphere of Germany in the 1970s and arouses great memories of that time.Great picture and sound quality and very enjoyable. Jasper P. Morgan

Into the Sun (2005)

Atmospheric and tough - Steven Seagal is back!

[8/10 · 29 January 2006]

Once again, Steven Seagal returns to the Asian world to present an action-packed story about one man's fight against the Japanese Yakuza and the Chinese Tong. There's lots of Japanese and Chinese Dialogue with subtitles and lots of Asian atmosphere. Set in Tokyo, Japan, Seagal plays a free-lanced secret service operative and master swordsman. He's assigned to investigate a newly founded crime organization formed by Yakuza and Tong members. This ruthless crime organization is out to eventually control the Asian and US drug market and to destroy the old Yakuza. Seagal pulls out all the stops when the woman he loves is brutally murdered by his opponents. Now nothing can stop him from getting his revenge, and blood is spilled like in the classic Shaw Brother movies. Steven Seagal has produced and starred in a lot of bad movies and I have often considered to scratch him from my list of favorite martial arts and action heroes. But "Into the Sun" restored my confidence in him again. I still believe he can make good movies - if the money, the script and the crew is right. Let's just hope that there will be many more movies like or better than "Into the Sun" to follow. Jasper P. Morgan

White Tiger (1996)

Solid martial arts thriller

[7/10 · 29 January 2006]

"White Tiger" is a solid martial arts thriller starring Gary Daniels. Out to avenge the murder of his best friend and partner, DEA-cop Gary Daniels gets hot on the tracks of Chinese drug-lord Chow. He busts and kicks his way through Chinatown and gets kicked around a lot, until he meats a beautiful woman who is the only person to help him. Well, the show down is a bit disappointing, but the fight scenes are better than in numerous other movies of the kind. Julia Nickson plays her sensual, erotic and sympathetic part excellently, and I enjoyed the movie. I've seen many better ones but a lot worse ones. 90 minutes of solid martial arts entertainment. Jasper P. Morgan

Hard Bounty (1995)

A "dirty" western

[5/10 · 26 September 2005]

As a western fan I got to watch the censored German version years ago. But I enjoyed it then and I enjoyed the R-rated version which I recently got to watch. Kelly LeBrock is beautiful but with her Eastern accent she seems to be somewhat out of place in the Southwest. Matt McCoy is the tough, silent gunfighter who shoots to kill. The gunfight scenes are well done but the story is full of cliché, with some sex scenes and some nudity thrown in for spice. Well, if you don't expect too much you will be able to enjoy this film. If you expect Kelly LeBrock to bare it all, however, you'll be deeply disappointed. She leaves that to a couple of her female sidekicks. Compared to the tough HBO TV-western "Deadwood", this movie is quite harmless and I don't understand why it received an "R" rating. But if you are into the new kind of western films you really should give it a chance. At a more than reasonable price of a couple of dollars, it's worth the effort anyway. Jasper P. Morgan

Monster Man (2003)

A monster of a movie !

[8/10 · 10 July 2005]

If you are into horror/action trash films, this is the one for you! It has everything for horror and action fans. After watching and listening to a couple of morons on their way to a former school friend's wedding, things get really tough when they first encounter a mysterious hearse with tinted windows and are chased by a monstrous truck soon afterward. There are moments of fun and laughter, and then enter a gorgeous hitchhiker, a real looker. From here, it's pure road movie / backwoods / redneck horror in the tradition of "Joyride"! The driver of the monster truck is a disfigured monster himself who has taken various body parts from local residents by driving over them with his gigantic vehicle. Eventually, our heroes and the girl reach a backwoods farm and pitch right into the depth of hell... The special effects are great, it's gore and splatter galore, and the showdown is spectacular and simply hilarious. Some parts of the movie, though, are totally unrealistic, that's why it's only eight out of ten from me. But still it's one of the best trash movies I've ever seen and it's definitely recommendable. Jasper P. Morgan

Bloody Murder 2: Closing Camp (2003 Video)

Excellent Teenie - Slasher

[8/10 · 9 July 2005]

Although I somehow like "Bloody Murder I", too (it isn't as bad as some of you may say; well, there isn't any blood, but the suspense is there and, except for the missing gore and the sex scenes, so is the stalking killer and the obligatory scream queen...), this one titled "Closing Camp" is considerably better. In fact, it's one of the best films of the slasher genre I've seen in the past few years. Here you have everything - the stalking "Jason Vorhees"-like Killer Trevor Moorehouse who uses everything from Crossbow to chainsaw to get his victims. You have graphic and very well choreographed sex scenes and you have not one but a trio of scream queens. The film has suspense, gore and everything that makes the hair in your nape crawl. There are only two weak points - one, the female cook is so scared of killer turned legend Trevor Moorehouse that she refuses to spend one more night at the camp. A while later we learn she's been killed - but how? When? And where? We never get to know. Secondly, at the end there is a puzzling confrontation between young Trancy and chainsaw-wielding Trevor Moorehouse - yet, he spares her. Why? If a third part is planned, this is where the story should pick up. Other than that, a great and enjoyable horror-thriller that's worth your while. Eight out of ten from me. I've seen a lot worse... Jasper P. Morgan

Reality Check (2002)

It's not horror, but just a very bad thriller

[2/10 · 12 June 2005]

It's supposed to be one of those slasher movies I favor - but it's not. I was deeply disappointed with this film. It's as if you take a few girls and guys from a Big Brother camp and put them in a lodge out in the woods, miles from any civilization. They're supposed to stay there for six months and winner gets a hundred thousand dollars - but soon it becomes apparent that one of them doesn't want anybody to survive and get the money. Then the killing starts - members of the crew and the candidates perish one by one. The killings are far from gruesome (the victims are stunned by what looks like electrical shocks and then killed by getting a lethal injection), there is lots of foul language, a few sick jokes, a badly done sex scene, lots of screams and virtually no suspense. I forced to keep my eyes open just to watch it to the end, but it wasn't worth my time. If you consider to watch this movie, well, I'd advise you to rather watch a couple of hours Big Brother instead. That's as dull as "Reality Check", but at least with BB you know you can't expect anything and therefore won't be disappointed - and you won't waste any money. Jasper P. Morgan

Legend of the Phantom Rider (2002)

A western like you've never seen before

[7/10 · 12 June 2005]

At first, I hesitated to give this movie a chance - I've seen too many bad westerns lately, and with a "Phantom Rider" in the title, what could I expect? But finally I decided to give it a go, and I don't regret that decision. It's a low budget western alright, but it's as tough as they come. The acting is good, even though Denise Crosby isn't exactly the kind of heroine I'd like to see in a western. The action sequences are excellent, and there's lots of gun play and brutality which gave the German authorities sleepless nights and made them issue an "R"-rating (FSK 18) for the German version of this film. I gave it a seven out of ten because the story is a bit confusing. The film starts with two ancient Indians warring over a woman in 1065 A.D. Eight hundred years later, there are two magnificent fighters warring against each other again, but this time they fight for good and evil. One of them, the mysterious Phantom Rider, has been resurrected by an Indian medicine man, (I wonder why his face had to be a grisly mask of horror...) and if I got the plot right, he is the alleged "good" part of the bad guys personality. So the bad guy with his bad personality has to prepare for a showdown with his living "good" personality? That was a bit gross for my taste, especially when I saw the "good" personality bleeding and apparently mortally wounded and not being able to kill the bad guy in the end. No, the killing has to be done by Denise Crosby. The bad guy is dead, and his good personality rides into the sunset. Well, can't have everything. But it's fun to watch the film and western fans might really enjoy it because it's a very unusual western with a touch of mystery. With lots of graphic violence (sometimes a bit too much) and without any nudity (you wouldn't expect that with a film like this), the film guarantees 100 minutes of great entertainment. Jasper P. Morgan

Angel of the Night (1998)

Resurrection of a Danish vampire

[7/10 · 2 June 2005]

Denmark has many attractions. Not only smörgåsbord or blond beauties or the Lego park. It also has a dark side - vampires! A hundred years ago, or so the story goes, a vampire named Rico Mortis roamed the Copenhagen streets in search for young women's blood. Every hundred years he has to sleep with a woman, make her pregnant and drink his own child's blood in order to survive. Well, Rico Mortis fails, and a young woman resurrects him a hundred years later. That's when the real trouble starts... "Angel of the Night" is a well done Danish vampire movie with lots of blood and gore and action. The action scenes are as drastic as in a Tarantino movie, and the vampire effects are excellent. The only bad thing about the movie was the German dubbing - that was really awful and I could easily have done without it. But if you love vampire movies, you definitely should watch this one. It's worth every minute of your time. Jasper P. Morgan

Red Water (2003 TV Movie)

More than "just another shark thriller"

[6/10 · 26 May 2005]

"Oh no, not another one" was the first thing I thought when I discovered this movie at my local video store. But being a fan of animal horror movies I couldn't resist, and so I watched it. And I don't regret I did. It's not the usual shark horror movie. It's rather an action thriller where one of the villains happens to be a man-eating shark. Well, the only disappointment for me was that this movie was produced for TV and therefore doesn't have the qualities of a big screen movie. But Lou Diamond Phillips, Kristy Swanson and the other actors give their best to make this an above average TV production. The story is good, but nothing we haven't seen before. The action is okay, and the shark effects are well done. I've been disappointed more than twice with Lou Diamond Phillips' movies in the past few years but in "Red Water" he did some great acting. I also loved the Louisiana setting with Cajun music and nice atmospheric sceneries. Since it doesn't have a lot of new ideas, though, I'll give it 6 out of 10, but if you get a chance, watch it. It's worth your while, if only an alternative to a boring TV program. Jasper P. Morgan

Bloody Murder (2000 Video)

Entertaining slasher

[6/10 · 16 February 2005]

A killer wearing a hockey mask. Sounds familiar? A killer using a chainsaw. Sounds more familiar? And a killer stalking screaming teenagers through the woods surrounding a holiday camp - does that ring a bell? Well, what if it does? "Bloody Murder" is just one more slasher movie, and if you decide to watch it you know what you're getting yourself into. This movie may not be the best horror slasher you've ever seen, but it has it all: The killer stalking his victims, several gruesome murders, the usual thrill and shock atmosphere and a Whodunit plot. Even though the murders are less bloody than in other slashers, the film is entertaining, the actors do their best to keep you thrilled, the girls scream their hearts out - what else could you wish for with a movie of this genre? There're horror movies a lot worse than this one (though there are some a lot better than this, too...) So, if you find something entertaining in "B" slashers and don't expect anything new, fix some pop corn, invite some friends, lean back and enjoy this horror thriller. At least it was good enough to produce a sequel... For me, it was fun, and I've seen most of 'em.