VINYL: THE REAL ROCK AND ROLL SWINDLE

One thing you have to give credit to when it comes to punk rock fans. They are truly die hard fans in every sense of the word. To this day there fans of the genre continue to listen to their heroes while embracing new acts that continue in the tradition. At the same time marketing executives pay more attention to polls and profits and those old bands don't get the same respect they once did. VINYL, just out from Shout Factory, presents that to the extreme.

Based on a true story VINYL tells the tale of Johnny Jones (Phil Daniels), the lead singer/guitarist of the non defunct punk band called Weapons of Happiness. One of the biggest and best in their heyday the group disbanded for reasons unknown years ago. Now Jones lives with his wife in a trailer dreaming of the good old days. When a common friend passes away, the band comes together for the first time at the funeral.

The members have taken different paths since their split. Only Robbie (Perry Benson) seems to have become a success now owning several retirement homes. They all raise a glass to their fallen comrade...several glasses actually...until they're rip roaring drunk and retire to Robbie's new home. Together in his music room they each pick up the instruments they once played and jam together creating a new song which Robbie records on his laptop. The next morning when they wake they hear it playing, think it's a great song and wonder who it is. When Robbie tells them it's them, Johnny thinks they have a chance to reclaim once lost glory.

Taking the demo to the old company they once recorded for Johnny meets with a young exec who talks about how his dad listened to their music. He refuses to listen to the disc though. Why? Because the group is now a bunch of old guys and the buying public is only interested in young groups.

Incensed by this attitude Johnny decides to beat them at their own game. Getting the rest of the band on board, he comes up with the greatest rock and roll swindle of all time. The band will recruit a group of young people with no talent to lip synch their song in a music video they will make. They'll then pass that along to the recording company and when a live gig is announced, they'll step out and take credit for the hit and show the record company to be the soulless money grabbers they are.

The band sets out and does just that. They find the right kids for the group and bring them together, teaching them enough about the instruments they have to fake to get by. They figure out just what clothes they should wear, how they should look, shoot the video and pass it along to stations everywhere. Soon the song is the hit they predicted as is the band. The recording company comes calling. But all does not go according to plan.

Based on the true life tale of Mike Peters, the driving force behind the band The Alarm, this is an interesting and entertaining film that holds you from start to finish. Peters actually did what we see here in the film which makes it just that much more entertaining. It certainly shines a light on the youth oriented recording industry that took from so many bands when they were young only to ignore them when they attempted to return to their rock roots.

Everyone in the film does a fantastic job without a false note in their performances as old time rockers and new kids on the block. Whether it's portraying a rocker with a long festering grudge or a youngster with stars in their eyes, all of the actors involved make this a believable tale. Since his role is center stage actor Phil Daniels perhaps deserve extra notice as Johnny. Not only does he carry the weight of making the film seem real, his character is one that wants to grasp that golden goose of fame once more living the dream of a rock star while at the same time trying to roll with the fact that he's not the kid he once was and has responsibilities that he might not realize until too late.

The music, something that has to come across as real for the movie to be taken seriously, does a fine job of capturing the music of the time. What's interesting to note is the change most of us take with punk music. At one time it might have seemed like just a bunch of chords smashed onto a guitar with no sense at all. Now punk music is much more accepted to the point where perhaps those who started the genre, if doing so today, would have been forced to come up with something else more anti-acceptable.

The movie is a fun film that touches at times, makes you laugh at times and in general provides a great entertainment value while telling a story of growing up, both for the young and old in the story. It's a movie that can be watched more than once and enjoyed each time. I can only assume it didn't play wider in theaters because the names involved weren't the big box office stars people flock to. Don't let that deter you from watching a movie that is worth watching.

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THE MONKEY'S PAW: CLASSIC RETELLING

One would think that there isn't a soul on this planet over 30 who hasn't heard the story of the monkey's paw or some form of that story. The original story involved a couple whose son had just died and then wished that come back to life only to be horrified when his corpse arrives at their door. The motto of the story was be careful what you wish for. With the movie THE MONKEY'S PAW, that story is given a new twists that entertains and yet never turns off its audience.

Jake (C.J. Thomason) works in a safety equipment plant in New Orleans. He's having a rough go of things with his mother dealing with cancer, his ex-girlfriend now the wife of the plant's owner and Gillespie (David Hugh Kelly), his supervisor, giving him a hard time about the job he's doing. Jake's friend Cobb (Stephen Lang) is a goof off and trouble maker who tells him not to worry. When a shipment is light his supervisor is fired and he blames Jake.

That night at the local bar Jake first runs into Cobb and complains about the problems he's facing. Cobb in turn tells him about having a son he is not allowed to see do to a restraining order and to stop feeling sorry for himself. The pair runs into Gillespie sitting alone drinking and as they discuss their problems Gillespie shows Jake a trinket, a mummified monkey's paw that his father left him. He then tells him the story of how the paw is supposed to grant a person 3 wishes and can't be passed on to someone else until all 3 have been taken. Jake thinks this is a joke and wishes for the hot car parked out front. When Cobb tries to take the paw for himself Gillespie stops him and reminds him that until Jake finishes all of his wishes it can't be passed to another.

Now completely intoxicate, Jake and Cobb find the car still parked out front unlocked and with the keys still in it after the bar closes. They take off in the care and stop by their boss' house where Jake hopes to talk to his ex with the hope of her helping get Gillespie his job back. That doesn't work and they leave. Driving down the road they swerve to avoid an alligator in the road. The car crashes into a tree throwing Cobb through the front window and apparently killing him. Jake then wishes he were alive again and vacates the scene of the accident before he can be associated with it.

Of course Cobb rises, acting quite differently than he has in the past. He begins leaving behind a trail of bodies as he attempts to force Jake to use his last wish to reunite him with his son. As the victims of his attack become friends and family close to Jake, Jake must locate the trinket he tossed aside earlier and try to placate Cobb. If not, all will be lost.

The thing that makes this film the most interesting revolves around the accident and the results of that accident. As the movie progresses you at first think that perhaps the paw worked and Cobb was actually risen from the dead. But with each passing moment and due to several other items you see, you then begin to consider the possibility that Cobb didn't actually die but that a part of him inside did. How else to explain the actions that he goes through after the accident? Whether or not he is or isn't dead makes for an interesting story.

The movie was made for Chiller, the horror channel offered via cable. It offers a few gruesome scenes but nothing near as graphic as that seen on shows like THE WALKING DEAD. Because of that this movie might make a great horror film for younger viewers though perhaps not too young. Sure there are a few gore scenes but they are pretty tame.

The acting seen here isn't the best with the weakest performance coming from Michelle Pierce as Olivia, Jake's ex. The best performance comes from Lang as Cobb displaying what we perceive early on as a soul that's dark to start with but who changes to a more evil person once the accident takes place. Lang ties together that dangerous feeling with sympathy for a man in pain from being taken from his son. It's a more in depth character than seen on the surface and he brings that character to life.

Some might not think this movie goes far enough but for me the end product was fine. It offered a good horror story, put that new twist of is he or isn't he to a classic tale and was done in such a way that didn't showed you didn't have to go to extremes to get the job done. If you like a good horror story then this film is worth watching.

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SON OF GOD: THE STORY OF CHRIST

It's difficult to write about a movie that focuses on the life of Christ without bringing your own personal beliefs into it. How can you claim to be offering an unbiased review if you believe in Christ to begin with? I do and always have, but I intend to try and hold my personal beliefs in check while writing about SON OF GOD, new on DVD.

If you haven't heard about this film then you've not been paying attention. In 2013 producer Jeff Burnett and his wife Roma Downey put together a TV series that no one expected anyone to watch. What happened surprised the doubters when THE BIBLE went on to become one of the most watched min-series of that year. With that triumph the pair decided to focus on the life of Jesus and made this film which was released to theaters. Once more some were surprised when the film did well financially.

The film opens with Jesus birth but then moves fast forward to his gathering the apostles starting with Peter. As he moves forward the film doesn't stay too long on any given moment but puts together bits and pieces from Jesus life in the order they happened. Given the subject matter and amount of time allotted for a feature film there is no way that the entire story of Jesus could include everything from start to finish. What the makers of this film have done is touch on many of the momentous items and miracles that happened in that time.

While the first hour of the film touches on his earlier life, teachings and miracles, the second hour begins by setting up his crucifixion. The political ploys between the Romans and the heads of the Jewish religion at the time to insure stability of their personal power is covered here showing that they had no belief in Jesus' teachings and feared him more than anything. He was a disruption to the same old same old, putting their control in jeopardy. As this second hour begins we see them maneuvering him into an arrest which culminates in his conviction and then crucifixion. While painful to watch there is no way it compares to what we saw in Mel Gibson's film THE PASSION. In truth, we don't need to.

What separates this movie apart from so many others is the final 18 minutes of the movie. Where THE PASSION showed the death of Christ, SON OF GOD shows his resurrection and appearance before the apostles after rising from the tomb. This was a complaint many religious leaders had with Gibson's film so they should be satisfied with the presentation of it here.

All of that being said, a short description of what the movie is about, the question becomes is it worth watching? Was it entertaining? To answer honestly I'd have to say for the most part no. It moves along at a slow pace and uses dramatic music in the background too much. Things that happened in Jesus' life seem to be pushed out and then moved aside to get to the next thing and yet the pace drags. The acting is solid for all involved but no one stands out here. The story for most of us is well known and with the exception of the resurrection offers little that we haven't seen before.

That being said, there is a reason to watch the movie. While it may not be a whiz bang movie that holds you by the throat, it does offer an introductory presentation of the life of Christ. If you have children that can't seem to focus on reading the Bible, or if you have problems sticking with it, this movie might offer some insight as to what you'll find there. For some it will give them a glimpse into what Christianity is all about. If nothing else, it could be a good conversation starter that will make people either defend their convictions or defend why they don't have them.

I'm glad I watched the film. I'm glad that it was made and that it was successful. I would guess that a number of people will add it to their collections so that they can watch and remember what they should already know if they believe. Perhaps it will cause a few people to reconsider what they should be doing with their Sunday mornings, perhaps not. In the end the determining factor of whether to watch this movie or not, and if you will enjoy it or not, depends mostly on your own personal beliefs. For me it was a nice reminder of what I hear every week at church.

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HELIX SEASON ONE: BIOLOGICAL ATTACK!

I've often said that one of the benefits of DVDs is that we now have the opportunity to view and entire season of a series we found interesting all at once. Perhaps you missed an episode or two, maybe you missed the beginning and came in after others discussed it, but with DVD on hand you can now watch anything start to finish. Binge watching has become a phrase that many have begun to use.

If you missed the series HELIX on the SyFy network then you missed an interesting and exciting new show. The story takes place in the arctic at a secret research facility. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been called and alerted to a possible infectious outbreak at the station. Specifically requested is Dr. Allan Farragut (Billy Campbell). He's been asked to come because the main person infected is his brother, Peter. Along with Allan is his assistant Dr. Sarah Jordan and several other specialized team members.

Once they arrive at the facility Allan learns that not only was his brother working there, his ex-wife Julia is there as well. This adds some dramatic tension to the show as it slowly reveals that Julia had an affair with Peter which led to the break up between her and Allan. But with Peter's life on the line that's set aside as they try to discover just what the actual problem is.

This won't be near as easy to do as they think at first. Whereas Peter was supposedly near death as the story opens he suddenly has superior strength and has escaped a secured outbreak type cell through the air ducts over top. Just exactly what it was that was going on in this facility is at the heart of the show as it begins. Eventually it twists a bit into who is involved and eventually it falls into the category of can this be stopped and the world saved.

One thing we witness as the story progresses is an attempt to somewhat cash in on the current zombie craze in movies and TV. Those infected with the virus in that's been released suddenly begin to look like the living dead. Fast zombies, not slow ones. But the real fear factor involved in the series is less about those infected and whether or not the entire planet might succumb to this disease. Containment is the answer but will those behind it all want to keep it localized or are they forming plans to weaponize it?  Those answers aren't coming quickly and not fully addressed with this season. It's more about trying to discover just what it is and how it came to be.

Many have compared this series to THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and it's easy to see why. We have a possible outbreak of a deadly virus that mutates or kills those it touches. Scientists are attempting to control that outbreak at all costs but at the same time someone among them may have an ulterior motive when it comes to the virus. It makes for a combination of science fiction and thriller that works well combined this way.

There are times the show moves along a bit slowly but when binge watching that's easily placated by being able to advance to the next episode in a short amount of time rather than having to wait a week. The acting is well played by all involved with perhaps the exception of one person who I will kindly not reveal. If you watch you'll know who I'm talking about. In the end what we are presented with here is a solid science fiction story that holds keeps you guessing from moment to moment. It's science fiction that doesn't take you beyond the stars to find and enemy but right here in your own back yard. Well if your back yard was the arctic. In the end you'll find yourself entertained and wondering what will happen next. That's a good sign for any series.

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COMPOUND FRACTURE: TYLER MANE DOES GOOD

There are some who may know the name Tyler Mane. If not then my guess is you've seen him without realizing it. At one time a professional wrestler, Mane made his big break in films playing Sabretooth in the first X-MEN movie. That led to his getting parts in numerous horror and action films over the past 14 years as well as tons of appearances at conventions across the country. Now he steps into as one of the writers and producers of COMPOUND FRACTURE.

Mane stars as Michael, a no nonsense father on his way to visit his ailing father Gary (Muse Watson). Along for the ride are Michael's girlfriend Juliette (Renae Geerlings) and his nephew Brandon, a stereotypical brooding teen. It's been years since Michael has been home and the resentment he feels for his father is palpable. But with the death of his sister earlier and a call from his stepmother he decides the time is right to come home and try to make amends.

When they arrive at his father's house the first thing they notice is the overabundance of security cameras covering the house. When Gary comes out to greet them he seems to keep a wary eye out and later acts a bit strange. Annabelle (Leslie Easterbrook), Gary's wife, has reached a point where his violent nature has taken its toll on her. She still loves him but can't deal with him any longer. She relates this to Michael, apologizing for leaving, but hoping for the best.

As the story progresses we learn that things are not exactly what they seem. Isn't it always that way? Just what happened to Chloe and how she was killed is the centerpiece of the story. A combination of ghost story and cult-like activity join together to make an interesting tale. It seems Chloe's husband and Brandon's father William was heavily involved in the occult, enough so that when he died his ghost lived on and has come to seek retribution and spill evil over the family he left behind. Just who will survive this battle makes for a great story.

William is played here by Derek Mears, another horror film regular these days who makes the convention circuit as well. Mears has a menacing appearance when he wants and uses it to full advantage here. One of the few actors able to stand eye to eye with Mane, the face off between these two as they battle for the lives of Mane's loved ones makes for an interesting confrontation.

For me, while the entire cast did a great job, the stand out was Mane. With his angry appearance and bad guy wrestler build Mane has been subjected to always playing the heavy in most films he's made. He even played the new Michael Meyers for goodness sake. Here he is given the chance to show that he does indeed have some acting ability and can play the good guy if given the chance. He does a great job of it but at the same time come on Tyler, smile a little more.

In the end what we have here is an enjoyable horror film that offers an original story with some great acting to take you on the trip it offers. It's rare that a horror film offers something new these days. Take advantage of the trip this one presents and you just might have a good time.

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HOUSE OF DUST: NICE INDY HORROR FLICK

There has been a glut of horror films released over the past decade. It seems like everyone has realized that the lowest budgeted film that can be made is a horror film and that it makes for an easy entry into the world of film making. Coupled with a legion of horror fans who have adored so many films they want to emulate and you find an overabundance of horror movies coming out, most of them bad. So it's nice to see one every once in a while that might not have a big name starring in it and might use bits and pieces of other movies but that entertains at the same time. Movies like HOUSE OF DUST.

The movie focuses on a group of college students beginning a their year. New to the group is Emma, a young girl with some serious issues relating to her mental stability. Shy and withdrawn, Emma is egged on by her roommate Gabby to join in at the party some students are having that first night there. Gabby's boyfriend Dylan is on hand as well as his roommate, Kolt. Emma has caught Kolt's eye and he attempts to win her trust that night.

The group heads back to the dorm from the party and while walking across campus they go past a building covered in ivy and sealed to all students. The abandoned building was once and asylum that housed numerous patients including one notorious serial killer. While these students don't know it, in the opening sequence of the film we witnessed him killing some of the staff as well as his incineration in the oven in the basement. Seeing a building like this how can you expect kids not to try and break in? They do so, eventually finding the oven and accidentally knocking over a container of ashes. Guess whose ashes they were? Suddenly things begin to happen the kids.

Emma begins seeing things and worries that it is her mental problems come back to plague her. Students start to turn up murdered or missing. Kolt begins to change his behavior, becoming more anti-social and violent. With each passing day the hold that the spirit of the serial killer begins to take hold. Whether the kids in the film will survive or not is a toss up until the end. What's really nice here is that rather than do what's become far too typical in most horror films, leaving it open ended for a possible sequel, this one actually does offer a closing.

The scares here are not too intense and the acting is surprisingly well done by all involved. That is not to say that it's surprising because they don't possess any talent but surprising because it's rare to find someone with actual acting ability in most low budget horror films these days. While perhaps not Oscar worthy, each and every member does a believable job here.

While the die hard horror fans out there will probably not find this movie gory enough or will feel that it's been done before, it still offers a fairly fresh take on the subject matter while at the same time not portraying the kids involved as total idiots. I don't recall any scenes that had that "look a trail of blood, let's separate and find out where the killer is" moments. Instead we get a decent story, a few chills and enough horror for the non-fan to enjoy the movie.

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BLOOD OF THE VIRGINS: LUSTFUL VAMPIRE ON THE LOOSE

There are certainly some bad movies made out there, a large number of which were made in the sixties and specifically in European countries. This is not to say that the U.S. made the best pictures without their own share of turkeys. Indeed, the bad movie is not limited to any one country. At the same time some of those bad movies weren't as bad during the time period they were released. Viewed now though it takes some stamina to get through one.

That being said, there is a market for many of these movies. Collectors are fascinated by the films of directors who were more noted for infamy than for a celebration of art. And yet on occasion those same directors actually did create some artistic films. The names Jess Franco and Paul Naschy come to mind. As fans are drawn to their films they begin to discover other directors from Europe as well and clamor to pick up everything they can. This has opened a market for those films, one that companies like Cheezy Flicks has tapped into.

The company has found that there is money to be made in repackaging and in some cases putting out for the first time various movies that their original studios have decided to ignore or films that have a niche market that they are willing to tap. The great thing about this is that movies once unavailable can now be found for a reasonable price. The only problem is that videophiles will gripe about the lack of extras, something I've never let stop me from picking up a movie I was looking for. All this being said, Cheezy Flicks has just released another European horror flick in their series called Erotomania. The movie is BLOOD OF THE VIRGINS, and actually it's not all that bad though quite dated. While not really a European film (it was made in Argentina) it does feature those sensibilities.

The movie opens around the turn of the century somewhere in Spain. Ofelia is in love with Gustavo but is being forced to marry Eduardo at her parent's insistence. Gustavo swears that he will not allow it to happen, that he will never let Ofelia go. Marrying for societal stature instead of love, she goes through with the wedding. On their wedding night, Gustavo shows up as they are about to consummate their wedding, kills Eduardo and turns Ofelia into a vampire. Yes, Gustavo was a vampire, the reason he refused to meet her family.

Fast forward to the swinging sixties (the movie was made in 1967). Three young couples and their goofy guide are on a tour of the country, going from nightclubs to ski slopes and more. Call me surprised to find that it was nothing for dating couples to undress at the local club while dancing. As they travel from one town to the next one night, they discover they've run out of gas. Too far to walk to the next town and too late to flag down a passing car, they walk to an abandoned lodge to spend the night ignoring the guide's tale that the place is haunted. Of course this is the same lodge where our earlier story took place.

They start a fire, find food left out for them on a table and after drinking drugged wine, all fall asleep with the exception of one of the men. While searching through the home he comes across Ofelia who jumps into the sack with. The next morning the girls are nowhere to be found and the police are alerted. Eventually they begin showing up but each one is pale and ill, suffering from an unknown malady. As the young man begins to look into the lore of the place with the help of his girlfriend's brother, they find out about the story of Gustav and Ofelia. But will it be in time to save everyone?

The story seems pretty standard by horror film fare with few changes in vampire folklore to be seen. Most notable is that these vampires seem to be able to walk in daylight but then again perhaps that was a budgetary choice rather than one for folklore. The photography seems to be standard European sixties style with little flare but not all that bad. The transfer is acceptable so don't worry that this is just a VHS to DVD transfer. The movie hasn't been given a refurbishing as many blu-ray films are these days, but it's fine anyway.

As with any foreign film that comes this way there is possibly a few things lost in translation. That's something that can't be avoided and for the most part doesn't affect the story being told. The same holds true for the acting which seems fine but since you're reading the dialogue rather than hearing the words actually spoken, it loses something. Still, the cast seems to do a decent job of it all. Then again you can tell that their acting skills weren't always what the film maker here was going for. Susana Beltran as Ofelia seems hired more for her physical presence than for her acting ability. Again, though, not knowing the language on it's own you won't know for sure.

On the whole this is not the worst European styled vampire movie to enter the U.S. but not the best either. For fans looking to fill out there collection it's worth adding. If you love European horror then you'll want to pick it up. Also fans of director Emilio Vieyra, the man behind THE CURIOUS DR. HUMP and NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES, will want to add it to your collection as well.

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MIRAGE MEN: INTERESTING STORY TOLD IN UNINTERSTING FASHION

There are great documentaries and there are bad ones. The good ones take you on a path of discovery involving a topic you may know little about and hold your interest from start to finish. The bad ones have one of two problems. The first is that they take a subject no one cares about and do a bad job of gaining your interest. The second is when they take what could be a very interesting story and turn it into something so boring no one can stay till the final credits. MIRAGE MAN falls into this second category.

The topic at hand is UFOs and aliens, something that many find of particular interest. It seems everyone can find someone they know who has seen something odd in the sky or who claims they have seen a UFO. This movie tries to explain where the whole hysteria of flying saucers stems from. According to this film it all came from one man, Rick Doty.

Doty was an agent of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFSOI). When an electronics whiz and UFO researcher named Paul Bennewitz began looking into transmissions he was receiving word got back to the Air Force. What Bennewitz was actually receiving was transmissions from secret Air Force tests being conducted. But this was at the height of the cold war so they wanted him to steer clear of what he was hearing. Rather than threaten him they sent Doty who worked alongside Bennewitz and allowed him to believe that these actually were messages of alien origin.

Passing along false information they carried out a charade that lasted decades and that almost all UFO information has stemmed from. Photos and leaked documents were all false and passed along to Bennewitz and others with the hope that it would lead people to think they were either crazy or perhaps on to something. Of course it was UFOs and not the secret projects being formed and tested in those deserts. What better way to camouflage what was really going on?

The problem came when the tiny story began to expand and become bigger than they ever dreamed it would. The government went so far as to hire members of the groups searching for the truth about UFOs to help them. Many weren't even aware at the time just how involved they were. But here is where the problem with the movie comes in.

To begin with the movie is done is such a straight forward way with nearly non-stop interviews with the most uninspiring and bland people that it nearly puts you to sleep. The other problem is how the stories unfold which becomes confounding to the viewer. There are items that Doty being interviewed says were stories concocted to be passed along but then he backtracks about later and says there was some truth to. By the time you're done listening to him you're not sure if there was UFO technology being used and backtracked or if it was all faked. Then again that was what his job was to do for all those years.

In the end your own personal beliefs will not be shaken by this film nor will they be confirmed. Like the ever elusive Bigfoot and the long seen but never found UFO, it all depends on your belief. Until either of these is sighted I'll have to take the side of the skeptic. When you find either of them please let me know.

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NO VACANCY: WATCHING LEAVES YOUR MIND VACANT

I love horror films. If you read enough of what I write you already know this. That's why when I see a sloppy horror film that attempts to take the genre and just add another log on the fire but in the worst way possible I get upset. I sit and wonder why, with so many films that are waiting to be made, why was it this film in particular got the green light or someone to invest in it? Case in point NO VACANCY.

The movie tells the story of 7 friends on a vacation trip. These stereotypes have been done so often that you recognize them instantly. The nerd of the group is filming everything with his video camera. The male member of one couple is the bully, always picking on the nerd. The group would have been 8 had not the nerd's girlfriend bowed out at the last minute. A roadblock alters their route and suddenly they have two blowouts in the middle of nowhere. Imagine my surprise when a truck shows up and a guy gives them a lift to town.

Here comes the only new twist added to an aging genre. Spoiler alert if you care to watch this movie. They're taken to a nearby town where everyone treats them well. They get free drinks, free food and free motel rooms. But during the night they're gassed and wake to find themselves tied or imprisoned in their rooms. It turns out the entire town is involved in killing the group. Why isn't revealed until the very end but clues were given in the seemingly insignificant opening montage.

The movie falls into the genre known as torture porn with the killers less intent on killing their prey than they are in coming up with "creative" ways to kill them. I have yet to understand this in any movie or TV series, the whole idea that now that you have the good guy in your hands why you don't just shoot him but instead take the time to explain just why you are shooting him and instead give him a lecture about how badly you were treated as a child or some other nonsensical reason. It always allows time for them to find a way to escape.

If that wasn't enough to steer you clear of this film the ending should. It leaves it open for the possibility of a sequel even though from what you witnessed taking place there should have been no chance of that. If only.

The acting is passable with the exception of the leader of the killers who comes off as an actor portraying a role. For me that's the determining factor when I view actors. Did you make me believe you weren't acting? If not, you stink. This guy stinks. So much that I didn't want to watch who got credit for portraying that role. That was a mistake on my part because had I paid closer attention I would have known not to watch anything else he does in the future.

If you feel compelled to watch movies in the torture porn genre, if you will watch any movie at all that falls into the horror genre, then by all means give this one a watch. As for myself I think I'll let all I know that this movie isn't worth your time.

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SCAVENGER KILLERS: AN ATTEMPT AT THE WORST MOVIE EVER MADE

It's amazing how difficult it is to describe what could possibly be one of the worst films I've ever had to sit through as this one. SCAVENGER KILLERS features some of the worst acting, the worst effects and the worst plotline of I've ever had to endure. From the opening moments of this film till the end credits rolled I was dumbfounded once again that this movie was actually given the green light, the money was provided for someone to make this film while others sat on the shelf.

The story is thin here. A judge and a defense attorney set out to kill as many people in as many ways as they can. The first victim is one that the judge rules in favor of even if the circumstantial evidence was enough to go for a conviction. Not only do the judge and the lady attorney kill this victim the sequence they've done so has her in bed with them and their bodies covered in her blood. I'm sure that the reason behind this was to shock but instead it just somehow gives them a chance to display their acting abilities instead. In other words they can't act.

The pair continues to kill and kill again, which of course means we get the chance for some gratuitous flesh from time to time. In particular we get to see three victims for the price of one, of course all female, standing on boxes with their hands tied up above. One is decapitated in what appears to be one of the most terrible special effects moments captured on film combining actual effects with CGI for a terrible effect. And during the moments of their kills it seems the judge and attorney feel compelled to have sex as well.

With all of that you would think this was the worst offense committed here but it isn't. What is is the fact that well known and respected actors actually appear in this film. Eric Roberts, Charles Durning and Robert Loggia all make appearances in the film and all I cold think each time they appeared on screen was are they really in need of money so badly that they'd appear in something like this? It saddened me to think they had to be in something so terrible.

While I watched I tried to force myself to believe that what was going on here was a campy film made to look like those of H.G. Lewis, a homage perhaps to poorly made, poorly shot films that fell into a category of movies that were so bad they were good. If that was the attempt they failed miserably.

I'm hoping I never have to see either of the leads in this film again in a movie or if so that they take a few acting classes before then. If they've already done so then they need to ask for their money back. Each time I saw the lead actress in this film I kept thinking she must be a porn star because not only does she look like one offering a display of cleavage every chance she had but she had the same acting talents of one as well.

To list the things wrong with this movie would be to waste consonants and vowels. Suffice to say that this is a bad movie and not in a good way. I am stunned to find a number of favorable reviews online for this movie. It makes me think either those posting those reviews either work for or are related to someone involved with the film. That or they're written by people who adore any and all horror films that offer gore more than story. I honestly can't think of a single word that has been created to say how bad this movie is. So let's just stick with two: it stinks.

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