SUMMER CAMP AND PIZZA

 

 

                             Menu from show night            Famous Monster Pizza owner Max Miller,

                                                                               Felissa Rose and Mike McGraner

One of the constant things you hear when living in a small town is that there’s nothing to do. Having lived in several cities in my life I’ve heard the same thing said in major metropolitan areas as well which I found fascinating. But then something comes along, an event that happens in that same small town and you think I hope people support this to make sure it happens again. That happened Sunday, June 20, here in town.

Famous Monster Pizza having recently opened in its new location decided on having a special event when the opportunity presented itself. Mike McGraner, a booking agent for celebrities that travel to conventions around the country, had stopped by the old location and fell in love with the spot. The new location even more so. Enough that he made a suggestion to owner Max Miller who took him up on it. 

On Sunday, June 20^th, Famous Monster Pizza welcomed actress Felissa Rose to their location. Fans were able to purchase tickets for the event at $20 each and that included a slice of pizza as well (and let me say the pizza was both delicious and that slice was filling!). I know what some of you are saying, those who are not horror fans. Felissa Rose? Your loss. 

In 1983 at age 13, Rose got her break with the lead role in one of the most controversial summer camp horror films at that time. The movie was SLEEPAWAY CAMP and it has remained a favorite of genre fans since its release. So much so that it spawned 4 sequels. The part had very little dialogue but she made the best of it and it led to a career in film that’s resulted in 146 acting and 33 producing credits to her name on IMDB. 

You’ve never heard of the movie? Really? It starts with a boating accident that kills two and injures one. Eight years later young Angela (Rose) and her cousin Ricky (Jonathan Tiersten) are off to summer camp. Ricky has been there before and introduces Angela to his friends. But Angela is reclusive and doesn’t talk which in turn angers her cabin mates. They focus their attention on picking on her each and every day. 

But you can’t have a movie without a villain. As the days go by someone is killing off various members of the camp from the cook to counselors to kids at the camp. The question becomes who and why. Is it the owner? Is it Ricky? Is it one of the counselors? Or maybe it’s one of the camp goers who’s had enough of the usual pranks. The answer isn’t revealed until the final moment of the film and while you might think you know why trust me, you don’t. 

The movie wasn’t a one off for actress Rose who went on to many other films and TV series. Most of these have been in the horror genre which she lovingly embraced. To prove she didn’t stop there she currently has 16 films in post-production, 7 films she is involved in the shooting of and 14 movies in pre-production. Some actresses should be so lucky. 

But back to Sunday night. Part of the fun was watching the movie on the big screens there at Famous Monster Pizza knowing that moments later Ms. Rose would come out to discuss the film. When the night started McGraner came out, introduced Ms. Rose and she greeted the fans warmly, enthusiastically thanks everyone for coming and heaping praise on the fans of the film. Then they started the movie and the crowd response was perfect from cheering to laughing at moments that were in the film. 

Afterwards Ms. Rose came out to talk to the crowd and take questions from everyone there. As with most things like this people were timid at first but then began asking. Everything from her time making the movie to her friendship with Shudder host Joe Bob Briggs to her podcast with Tiffany Shepis and Kane Hodder called Casualty Friday were discussed. She was incredibly gracious to the fans and you could tell that she was humbled that so many would still be there to support her all these years later in a career that began with this little low budget horror flick. Her enthusiasm with the crowd, the easy manner in which she talked about her life and career made this a night to remember. 

If you’ve never seen the film look for it. It’s on several streaming services. Or you could order the special edition of the film from Scream Factory. Amazon has that at a reasonable price. If you didn’t make it to the sold out event on Sunday then you missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Not just for the experience of the film but the presence of someone who loves her fans as much as they love her. 

The reception of this event, especially since it sold out, leads me to hope more are coming down the pipeline. And with that in mind I suggest that people here in town make sure to keep an eye open if another one takes place. If you say there’s nothing to do here in town and don’t support something like this? That’s your fault not that of the town. Thanks to Max Miller and the entire staff for this wonderful opportunity. And thank you Felissa for the love and affection you showed every fan there that night.  

YEARS OF LEAD-FICE CLASSIC ITALIAN CRIME THRILLERS 1973-1977: A GENRE EXPLORED

 

 

One of the things I consistently say about movies released on disc is that they provide an open window to the rest of the world. Movies that are new or old released in other countries rarely make their way here to the US unless they feature some US star in the films. But the history of film in other countries is as ripe as it is here. Consider the fact that many of the greatest of the classic horror films made in this country were directed by German directors who made their way here rather than live under Hitler. So take advantage of the opportunities presenting themselves with these films.

 

One genre I was unaware of and learned about was the “poliziotteschi” thrillers made in Italy. These years were called the years of lead, a term that refers to the tumultuous time of political unrest and governmental corruption in that country, a time when crime was running rampant and kidnappings and bombings were taking place. Inspired by the crime films coming out of Hollywood and tackling these subjects the genre was born and lasted until times changed. Arrow Video is releasing five examples of these films in this box set the appropriately titled YEARS OF LEAD.

First up is SAVAGE THREE (1975) from Vittorio Salerno. The story revolves around three computer workers that deal with their mundane lives during the day but go on to commit more and more atrocious acts of crime at night. Dogging them along the way is an old police detective who may be the only one able to solve the crimes they commit.

Next up is LIKE RABID DOGS (1976) from Mario Imerpoli. Similar in theme we are presented with a trio of malcontents who are committing more serious crimes this time around. And rather than 3 men this trio is 2 men and a woman. Their crimes involve bank robbery to kidnapping and their cause is less the sterile world they work in and instead the fact that their parents are well connected business people. 

Third in this group is COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD (1976) my second favorite of the set. When crime sores to outlandish numbers the police decide it’s time to fight fire with fire. Led by Inspector Vanni, this elite team is trained in various techniques and provided with high powered weapons to take on the most dangerous criminals around. 

HIGHWAY RACER (1977) from Stelvio Massi presents a renegade officer who dreams of matching the exploits of his commander, a man known for his ability behind the wheel as an officer. When an old nemesis of this commander comes back into play, he must teach this new young hotshot the tricks of the trade to take on these criminals. 

Lastly is NO THE CASE IS HAPPILY RESOLVED (1973) from Salerno and this was my favorite among the films. While fishing one day a man hears a cry for helping. Looking to see what’s going on, he witnesses a man kill a young half naked woman. They glimpse one another and he runs away. Unable to find an officer he decides to not get involved. But the killer, knowing his boat will be connected to the murder, goes to the police posing as a witness and offers up the innocent man as the killer. Now he has to find a way to clear his name and get the real murderer caught. 

Some of the common themes that ran through these thrillers included dealing with bureaucratic red tape, corrupt politicians and police officials, the use of modern weapons against the criminals and the instability of the times. Each of these films offers an example of this film genre and provide an interesting look at what was transpiring not just on film but in the country at the time. These movies are a treat to watch. Arrow Video has done their usual job of making these films look fresh and new. 

As always they’ve come up with a number of interesting extras as well. These include a new video essay on the genre from critic Will Webb, an interview with director Vittorio Salerno and actress Martine Brochard on SAVAGE THREE, and interview with actor Joe Dallesandro on SAVAGE THREE, an interview with cinematographer Romano Albani and historian Fabio Melelli on LIKE RABID DOGS, an interview with assistant director Claudio Bernabei on LIKE RABID DOGS, a music sampler for LIKE RABID DOGS, an interview and introduction by composer Stelvio Cipriani on LIKE RABID DOGS, an interview with editor Antonio Siciliano on COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD, an interview with historian Roberto Curti on HIGHWAY RACER, an interview with director Salerno on NO THE CASE IS HAPPILY RESOLVED, the alternate ending for NO THE CASE IS HAPPILY RESOLVED, trailers, poster galleries, reversible sleeves featuring original artwork for all 5 films and a booklet featuring new writing by Troy Haworth, Michael Mackenzie, Rachael Nisbet, Kat Ellinger and James Oliver. 

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THE DAY OF THE BEAST: HORROR HUMOR

 

 

Once more I found myself confronted by a movie I had never heard of with no clue of what to expect. It was Spanish so that meant I’d be dealing with subtitles, something that I am not averse to but that makes what you see and what you hear a bit difficult since you’re reading. But I was willing to give it a go and try. I’m glad I did because I honestly hadn’t laughed this hard during a movie in some time.

 

A Basque priest and theologian named Angel discovers secrets hidden away in manuscripts for centuries. The secret is the date and location of the birth of the anti-Christ. He entrusts this information to a fellow priest who is then crushed when a giant cross in the chapel falls on him. Did I happen to mention this film is a dark comedy?

 

Angel heads to Madrid with the intent of finding the cult that will be responsible for the handling of the birth. Know that he could never enter among them on his own he has determined that he must become evil and do wrong in the name of Satan to be accepted among this group. So he plans on becoming bad in order to infiltrate them and once there prevent the birth. This results in some of the most hilarious items in the film as he commits little crimes that for the most part would go unnoticed thinking he’s being bad.

 

In Madrid he visits a record store hoping to pick up some truly satanic music. Managing the store is Jose who professes to be a Satanist and heavy metal expert. He provides Angel with the most evil music he knows which happens to be a band he is friends with who are set to perform that week. Befriending the priest he takes him home to meet his mother and gives him a place to stay in her boarding house.

 

Seeing TV host and occult expert Professor Cavan, Angel attempts to steal the man’s book from a bookstore, another of those lame attempts to be bad. Caught he tries to explain what he is doing to the store manager who doesn’t believe him but he escapes before being arrested. But now he has a plan in mind that will help him reach his goal.

 

Angel and Jose come up with a plan to kidnap Professor Cavan so that he can help them perform a ritual that will sell Angel’s soul to the Devil. The only problem is they don’t know that Cavan is a charlatan, a huckster who uses his position to make money rather than do any actual good for people. What follows in his apartment is almost Keystone Kops like material as they try and convince him to join their cause.

 

All of this sets in motion a chain of events that is both funny and frightening. Hilarious in the way things take place and frightening in the fact that perhaps Angel isn’t wrong at all. Perhaps this is the date that the anti-Christ will be born. And if that’s the case how can these three unlikely people prevent the end of the world?

 

The humor here is indeed dark and absolutely hilarious. I won’t bother telling you the things that are funny because it would ruin it for you and this needs to be seen to get the full effect. What works even more is the three main actors here. These characters are so flawed and sympathetic that you find yourself rooting for them to succeed while at the same time thinking that perhaps they’re all crazy.

 

Once more director Alex de la Iglesia does an outstanding job. Severin has also released his film PERDITA DURANGO that I’ve written about as well and after viewing both of these films it will make you want to seek out more that he has done.

 

As with that film Severin has outdone themselves beginning with a new 4k scan of the original negatives making the film pop on screen. The extras are solid as well including “Heirs of the Beast” a feature length documentary by Diego Lopez and David Pizarro on the making of and cultural impact of the film, “Antichrist Superstar” an interview with Iglesia, “The Man Who Saved the World” an interview with actor Armando De Razza, “Beauty and the Beast” an interview with actress aria Grazia Cucinotta, “Shooting the Beast” an interview with director of photography Flavio Martinez Labiano, “Mirandas Asesinas” a 1990 short film by Iglesia and trailers.

 

As I said I wasn’t sure what to expect with this film. After watching I found myself loving it and thinking of adding it to my list of all-time favorite films. Maybe not the long term list but for now this is one I can whole heartedly recommend.

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GRIZZLY: BIG BAD BEAR

 

There are many movies out there that are considered classics, movies that film lovers discuss, pick through and argue about as to why they are the best. Then there are those movies that you watch for one reason only. Because they’re fun. GRIZZLY is one of those fun movies. Made in 1978 the film has been released on various formats from VHS tapes to DVDs to blu-ray. But now Severin has come out with an updated and cleaned up version of the film and it looks spectacular.

If you’ve never seen the film before it is basically JAWS on land. Taking place in an unidentified National Park in the Southeast US just as the tourist season opens. When several campers are found mauled by a bear Charley Kittridge (Joe Dorsey) the park supervisor puts the blame on Chief Ranger Michael Kelly (Christopher George) and naturalist Arthur Scott (Richard Jaeckel). They were to have cleared all the bears out before the season began. Kelly asks that the park be shut down until they can find the bear but is turned down by Kitteridge. They compromise by having the campers move off the mountain and into the lower areas. 

Looking for help Kelly contacts local helicopter pilot Don Stober (Andrew Prine) and they head out to the air to look for the rogue bear. Looking down they think they’ve found their animal only to discover it is Scott in disguise tracking a group of deer. When they show him the evidence of what’s been going on he’s fascinated telling them that all the bears are accounted for and that this is no ordinary bear. Instead it is a prehistoric bear unknown to this area, 15 feet tall and weighing over 2,000 pounds. 

When more attacks occur and the press begins to look into things, Kittridge makes it open season for hunting the bear. All this does is lead to more attacks and more death. Now Kelly, Stober and Scott are going on the attack, tracking down the bear to make sure it doesn’t kill again. But can the three of them accomplish this task? 

Everything from nature gone wild to an oversized killing machine to three men uniting to take out this beast, which by the way seem to resemble the same characters as seen in JAWS, make this film seem like that one in so many ways. There are plenty of bloody attacks on hand including a child who is mauled and his mother who is then killed. Even with the amount of blood onscreen here the film still managed to get a PG rating. So did JAWS. 

One would think that this movie, made for far less than the mega-shark hit, would be a terrible film. But what I found is that it’s just as enjoyable. So many things that could have hindered the film actually benefit the picture. George, Prine and Jaeckel are all amazingly effective and believable in their roles. Had they been played by lesser actors then this film would have tanked rather than do the decent box office figures that it did. 

The effects are well executed and the dialogue feels real. The locations look wonderful and if it weren’t for a fear of bears my guess is people would flock to this park now. The direction of the film is also well done. Director William Girdler hadn’t done many movies prior to this and sadly would only direct 9 films total before his untimely death location scouting on a new film he was making. 

Severin has done a fantastic job of bringing this film to life once more. They start off with a 2k scan from the internegative making the picture crystal clear. On top of that they’ve added a number of extras worth checking out as well. These include an audio commentary track with Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson and film writer Troy Howarth, “The Grizzly Details” an interview with producer David Sheldon and actress Joan McCall, “Towering Fury” an interview with actor Tom Arcuragi, Stephen Thrower (the author of NIGHTMARE USA) discussing the films and life of William Girdler, “Move Making in the Wilderness” a vintage behind the scenes making of short, “Jaws with Claws” an archival making of the film featurette, radio spots, trailers, a reversible wrap and an exclusive slipcover. 

I have both this edition and the earlier one released by Kino Lorber and this one has so much more to offer. If you remember the film and enjoyed it pick this one up. If you’ve never seen it before now is the time. For a fun night at the movies this one is worth watching.

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MORGUE: SURPRISINGLY SCARY

 

 

While you may tire of my saying it I get a number of releases that are not mainstream films but movies that make their way more often than not to disc rather than theatrical distribution here in the US. Sad on one hand but on the other at least DVD and blu-ray have provided us a chance to experience movies from around the world that we might never have the opportunity to see or enjoy. MORGUE is one of those movies.

The story revolves around Diego Martinez (Pablo Martinez), a down on his luck young man working a low paying security job. Low on money and unable to visit his girlfriend before going in to work, her girlfriend gives her a hard time for being involved with such a loser. On top of that as he walks to his car in a mall parking lot while looking at a top of the line truck in the lot, he runs into an old school friend who congratulates him on being successful and able to afford the truck. He plays along but after the friend leaves he’s crushed by the turn his life has taken him. 

Reporting for work he’s sent to the morgue of the Regional Hospital of Encarnacion to work that night. He goes over the job with the outgoing guard and sets in for a boring night. Unfortunately for him it won’t be anything like he expected. 

What could be a boring film actually turns out to be one of the most frightening films I’ve seen in some time with some imagery that will stick with the viewer long after the closing credits. Many of these are take a subtle form like when Diego is face timing with this girlfriend as a blue tinged figure walks in the background behind him. She thinks he’s fooling around with someone but we know better. The morgue is definitely filled with those who have been there before and not all of them are friendly. 

The thing that makes the film work at first though is wondering if Diego is actually experiencing things or is he just frightened by the setting of his job tonight. It is that moment his girlfriend sees the image in the background that things change and we as viewers know that the best thing he could do is quit his job then and there. But if he did so we’d never have a movie to watch or our wits be scared out of us. 

The production value of this film is top of the line. Made in Paraguay by director Hugo Cardozo it is effective in all ways possible. Via special effects and makeup creations we are offered some truly chilling moments. Martinez does an amazing job as well going from unintended loser to the focus of attention from creatures he wants no attention from and portraying both effectively. 

Apparently the film was a hit when released in Paraguay taking the top spot for two weeks. For myself it made me want to seek out more films by this director only to discover this was his first film! How does one make something like this as their first feature? Or is it that he’s actually a ghost and we’ll never hear from him again? 

Fans of horror, among which I include myself, need to find this movie and watch it. In the dark. Popcorn set nearby and not in your lap for fear of it being tossed in the air. I know I will watch this one again but I don’t know if I could do so alone now. It was just that scary.

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HERCULE AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN: THE THREAT OF ATLANTIS!

 

 

For those of us who grew up in the 60s and 70s, those days when you were limited to three channels only on TV (4 of 5 if you lived near a city with independent stations) what we were able to view wasn’t much compared to now. In addition to that there were no VCRs, no DVRs and no streaming services to see your favorite movies on. It sound primitive to kids of today. In spite of that this made watching a movie more exciting and more an event than it is today. Today movies are as disposable as a tissue.

Because of our attitude at the time when a movie came on TV we waited for it to come over the airwaves for us to enjoy. And in a time when corporate conglomerates weren’t racing to capture the rights to every movie out there, we had two special time to watch genre films. The first was late nights on Friday or Saturday when the local horror host unspooled the classic monster of yesterday. The second was Saturday afternoons when we had the chance to watch the Bowery Boys, Sherlock Holmes and the ever popular sword and sandal movies that had filled drive-in screens. 

It was on those Saturday afternoons when I caught my first glimpse of those sword and sandal movies. Each week Hercules or Samson or one of their many offspring faced off against tyrants and monsters. Most of these films were made in Italy and poorly dubbed but it didn’t matter. I was watching mythological heroes taking on the things I’d only read about. 

So why discuss all of this? Because it gives some background into why I was not only anxious but pleased when I watched HERCULES AND THE CAPTIVE WOMEN just released by The Film Detective. I didn’t recall this particular movie but there is the chance I saw it in my childhood. Watching it now brought back memories of seeing these films with my uncle after having mowed his yard and how I enjoyed them. 

The film opens with a catastrophic event affecting Greece. An argument among rulers leaves only Androcles with the intent to sail to the edge of the world to save them all. The only problem is no one will go with him, including his friend Hercules (British strong man Reg Park) who wants to do nothing more than settle down with his wife. So what does Androcles do? He drugs Hercules, hire an unscrupulous group of thieves and cutthroats and their boat and sets sail. In addition to that Androcles has brought along his trusted servant the dwarf Timoteo and Hercules son Hylas. 

When Hercules awakes he isn’t upset. He simply naps on the ship’s deck. Just to make sure he doesn’t get angry, Androcles has Hylas hidden in the lower part of the ship. When their water supply is sabotaged the ship stops at an island to replenish their water. In reality this was a planned mutiny with the crew planning to take out their passengers. Hercules takes out the crew and he and Androcles take over the boat and set sail. It is only then that he discovers Hylas onboard. 

A strange storm crashes the ship, tearing it apart and scattering those on board. Hercules wakes to find a woman encased in the rock formation near the beach of the island he lands on. Intended as a sacrifice to the monster Proteus, he defeats the monster and saves her. He learns that she is Princess Ismene, the daughter of Antinea, the queen of Atlantis. 

Returning to her mother Ismene introduced her to Hercules. Palace intrigue, the imprisoning of Hercules son and friends and plans to rule the world soon come to light. Can Hercules and his friends prevent this from happening? 

While watching this film I was honestly surprised at how good it was. And I’m not just talking about the quality of the production though that was impressive as well. What really surprised me was the story, dialogue and acting was far better than I remembered from these films. In the 80s these movies were popping up on video in terrible reproductions and perhaps that’s why I thought that. But this presentation not only showed me how quality a film it was but that it was entertaining and enjoyable as a film in itself. Maybe my taste in films as a child was better than I realized! 

The Film Detective has done and AMAZING job with this film. The look of the film is stupendous with a clarity of image that I’d never seen before in any of these films. In addition to that they’ve included some seriously wonderful extras. Those include “Hercule and the Conquest of Cineman: A Sword and Sandals Documentary”, audio commentary by film critic Tim Lucas, “The Duel of the Titans” a full color insert booklet with an essay by C. Courtney Joyner, an introduction by MST3K writer and co-star Frank Conniff and the full feature Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K) version of the film. Wow! 

After watching this my first thought was how much I enjoyed it. My second was hoping that The Film Detective has the chance to go back and rescue all of those wonderful sword and sandal movies that seem to be buried in the vaults around the world or found only in cheap, sloppy version rushed to make a buck. I would love to see the Steve Reeves Hercules films or the various sons of Hercules movies this way to truly appreciate them. Who knows, with the success of this release maybe they’ll do so. 

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE THE COMPLETE SERIES ON BLU-RAY: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

 

A year or so ago the complete series of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE was released on DVD. At that time I wrote about it and gave it high praise. Now that box set has been released on blu-ray. The question becomes is it worth investing in the new set if you own the old one? That will have to be determined by each person on their own. I can report that this version offers you the cleanest, sharpest version of the series you will find and for me that makes it worthwhile.

I know there the odds of many not knowing what the series is are small but I’ll go ahead and provide one anyway. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE is a series about an elite group of individuals pulled together each week to form a team sent on missions the government feels are so sensitive that if they group is caught they will receive no help and will be disavowed by the US. The first season the team was assembled by Dan Briggs (Steven Hill) who was replaced the second season by Jim Phelps (Peter Graves). 

Each episode opened with Briggs/Phelps walking into a normal location and picking up a package to listen to and read. Documents showing the assignment were accompanied by a recorded voice describing the person they were targeting, the mission itself and warning that the team is on their own, followed by the tape disintegrating itself. Fortunately for viewers no mission was ever turned down. 

From their Briggs/Phelps would select the member of his team, almost always the same people, and they would gather together so he could explain more of why this mission was taking place. The team would come up with a plan for their mission to succeed and they were off and running for the rest of the episode. 

The regular members of the team always seemed to be tech expert Barney Collier (Greg Morris), master of disguise Rollin Hand (Martin Landau), muscle Willy Armitage (Peter Lupus) and female agent Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain). On a side note Landau and Bain were married in real life. Other rotating agents included Dana Lambert (Leslie Ann Warren), Paris (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. Doug Robert (Sam Elliott). Some of these characters were in separate episodes but most came in to replace outgoing cast members. 

Keeping in mind the series took place during the cold war era they often found themselves in spy type situations in countries that the US looked unfavorably upon. It also began in 1966 at the height of the love of all things spies like James Bond and the MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Unlike that series this one ran for 7 years though from September 1966 to March 1973. It was later revived for a short run that wasn’t as successful. It rose from the ashes once more when director Brian De Palma teamed with star Tom Cruise to create a successful film series that continues to this day. 

The question is does this series stand up to the test of time? The answer is a resounding yes. The tension in each episode as the team works to achieve their goals is there each and every episode. The different methods used to reach those goals are explored in glorious TV time detail and we accept that every one of those methods and gadget actually work and exist. That was always the fun of the show. 

Speaking of fun how can anyone not recognize the theme song that opened the series each week by the incomparable Lalo Schifrin? That match striking and lighting a fuse behind which scenes from that week’s episode unfolded behind it giving us a glimpse of what to expect. It has become an iconic image and theme song that now over 50 years later is still recognizable. 

This new box set not only provides the best looking image of this classic series it’s a little more compact than the DVD release. If your shelf space is limited that’s a plus. For me I just found that I fell in love with the series all over again. The only downside to this box set is having enough time to watch it all among the other things coming out. Then again that could be a plus as in between the new movies and series coming out one can pop in a disc and get through some more of this one. It’s a welcome addition to fans around the world.

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PERDITA DURANGO: WILD AT HEART 2?

 

 

It’s been years since I saw the David Lynch film WILD AT HEART. So long that I’ve actually forgotten much of the film other than I thought it was typical Lynch which means strange. So when I heard another director had taken a crack at one of the characters from that movie I wondered why I’d never heard of it before. Using the same character but a different book by the same author, director Alex de la Iglesia has come up with something uniquely all its own, a movie that you have to allow time to open up before judging. 

Rosie Perez stars as the title character, a violent free spirit who does what she wants at all times. Having just gone to Mexico to scatter the ashes of her dead sister she’s looking for a way back across the border to America. She meets Romeo Dolorosa (Javier Bardem), a self-proclaimed Santeria shaman, con man and thief who has just robbed a bank in order to pay his debt to loan shark Catalina. 

Romeo is in the midst of his latest criminal endeavor, transporting fetuses across the border to a cosmetic company that plans to use them in their moisturizing cream. But before heading north he performs a Santeria ceremony to a group of well paying customers seeking healing. Once finished Perdita suggest that they kidnap a gringo to kill for his next ceremony. 

The couple kidnap an American couple that they proceed to torment. But in the midst of this a former partner of Romeo that he swindled arrives with plenty of heavily armed men to seek revenge. Escaping with their lives while taking out most of the attackers, Perdita and Romeo drag along the kidnapped couple and head for the pickup of the truckload of fetuses. Unfortunately the pickup is interrupted by DEA agent Woody Dumas (James Gandolfini), an agent bound and determined to take down Romeo. 

Perdita and Romeo along with their captives escape arrest and take the truck, heading for the delivery point in Vegas. Along the way Romeo learns that Catalina has raided his grandmother’s house since the payment he was waiting for has yet to arrive. Now a new motivation for revenge has risen. 

I could go on describing more and more acts of carnage and carnality but it has to be seen to be believed. The movie was everything I expected and more. As I said I wasn’t a fan of WILD AT HEART and when this movie began I wasn’t a fan either. I felt that I wasn’t seeing anything worthwhile at first. And then it began to grow on me. The story unfolds slowly, introducing the characters who are so far off the charts as to not even be on them. And as it progressed I found them both irritating and interesting at the same time. These are not characters you are supposed to love but they will hold your interest. 

Iglesia does a wonderful job with all things here. The combination of story, characters and quality production make the movie one that isn’t painful to watch as some movies are due to lack of ability on the part of the director. Instead here he coaxes out performances by both leads that are among the best they’ve ever offered. In addition to that he is able to handle the jumps in genres that this film involves from action to sensuality to horror to comedy. All combine with his deft hand to make an interesting film. 

Severin has done a wonderful job with the release of this film as well. To begin with it’s being offered in a 4k scan of the film and looks magnificent. But they’ve included some interesting extras as well. These include “On the Border” an interview with director Iglesia, “Writing Perdita Durango” an interview with author Barry Gifford, “Dancing with the Devil” an appraisal of the movie by film scholar Dr. Rebekah McKendry, “Narcosatanicos: Perdita Durango and the Matamoros Cult” and interview with Abraham Castillo Flores and “Cauldron of Blood” author Jim Schutze, “Canciones de Amor Maldto: The Music of PERDITA DURANGO” an interview with composer Simon Boswell, “Shooting Perdita Durango” and interview with the director of photography Flavio Labiano and the trailer for the film. That’s plenty for a film that many may never have heard of. 

The movie is a bit strange and contains plenty of bloodshed but it’s one of the most interesting things I’ve seen in quite some time. If you’ve never heard of it and enjoy something off the beaten path then by all means this is one you should pick up and give a watch.

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THE TIME TRAVELERS: SCI FI CLASSIC HITS BLU-RAY

 

 

I can remember the first time I saw the movie THE TIME TRAVELERS. The movie aired on TV in Cleveland on the Ghoulardi show, the late night Friday horror host. The images from the movie as well as the inserted scenes of the host into the film left an impression on me. In later years I’d forgotten the movie but eventually found out what it was and saw it again. Now it’s being released on blu-ray by Kino Lorber.

The movie is about a group of scientists trying to create a machine that will allow them to take a glimpse at the future through a large screen. Dr. Erik von Steiner (Preston Foster), Dr. Steve Connors (Philip Carey), and Carol White (Merry Anders) are working hard on the project when technician Danny McKee (Steve Franken) comes in from the power plant to let them know the project has been canceled and he needs to shut everything down. Letting them take one more crack at it they succeed but not quite what they had hoped for. 

Instead of a screen viewing they future they’ve created a portal that they can step through. Danny goes in first as the others keep the screen stabilized. When they see a group heading out after him, they follow through. With no one at the controls the screen closes and the four are trapped in the future with a group of mutated humans chasing them. Taking refuge in a cave the mutants stop. Why? Because this is an entrance into an underground city where the normal humans remain.

Meeting Dr. Varno (John Hoyt) they learn it’s the year 2071 and the Earth can no longer support human life. What they experienced outside was what was left of most humankind. Those that were unaffected have built this location for themselves and protect it. But with food and more dwindling the outsiders are more insistent on getting in. Varno and the other scientists are working on a spaceship that will take them to another planet. To handle things on the ship while they are in suspended animation, they’ve created androids to take care of them. 

The four agree to help but it isn’t long before they realize that there is no room for them on the ship. With only days left they begin working to recreate the screen that brought them here. Will they make it? If they do will they be able to help prevent nuclear holocaust? And what about the spaceship or the mutants? 

Made in 1964 on a small budget the movie packs a punch for every dollar that went into it. This is a classic science fiction tale that fit right into the genre of the time. That should be expected because the director and writer of the film was Ib Melchior. Melchior was an author of science fiction novels as well as screenwriter for some of the best in the genre like JOURNEY TO THE SEVENTH PLANET and ROBINSON CRUSOE ON MARS. His own story is fascinating as well. Melchior was served in the counterintelligence corps during WWII going so far as to win a Bronze Star for his efforts. Film fans will remember him more for his movies though. 

The acting in this film is far better than one would expect from a movie made for such a small budget. Carey had been featured in a number of TV series and ended up playing Asa Buchanan on the soap opera ONE LIFE TO LIVE. Foster, Anders and Franken all had long careers in in various television series. And Hoyt was one of those actors you’d see and say “I recognize that guy from something”. 

The effects while mild by today’s standards were also well done. The big screen, the underworld city, the androids, the spaceship all matched some of the best coming from these genre films at the time. The work to make a believable story and film. 

The quality of the upgrade to blu-ray here by Kino is top notch. They’ve made the movie look as good if not better than when it was originally released. I was surprised to learn while watching the film that the cinematography was done by Vilmos Zsigmond who later went on to do CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and THE DEER HUNTER. While this film offers nothing as spectacular as those you can tell it was above most films of this sort. 

The big question though is does the movie stand the test of time? Is it entertaining? Is it worth watching? I’d have to give that an emphatic yes. I was stunned at how much I enjoyed it after all these years. So much so that I know I’d have no trouble watching it again. If you like science fiction and especially those movies in the genre made in the 50s and 60s, this one is worth picking up.

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WEIRD WISCONSIN - THE BILL REBANE COLLECTION : REGIONAL FILM MAKING

 

 

Sadly the times when independent film makers could create some amazing films on a near non-existent budget have gone by the wayside. The market for these films started as fodder for the drive-in theater and grindhouse locations and then went into the home video market. With those locations drying up and disappearing there wasn’t a place for those movies to be exhibited any longer. Not only that, major studios began creating boutique labels to gather up many independent films made with larger budgets.

Those days may be gone but the movies made by those pioneer film makers are still out there. Fortunately there are several disc distributors who realize there is a market for these films and have saved them from obscurity. One of the major distributors out there for this type of product is Arrow Video which I’ve talked about before. They were the ones behind the box set for Florida film maker William Grefe. Now they’ve focused on another regional film maker who produced films far from Hollywood. These are the films of Bill Rebane of Wisconsin. 

One of the common items that run through the films of these independent film makers is the fact that their budgets prevented them from bringing in name stars or using the best of the line equipment and facilities when they were making their films. But this didn’t stop them from making some of the most original films ever made. The stories they told had they been given the millions studios poured into some of the bad movies that were made would have resulted in their films being huge money makers. Rebane’s films prove that. 

This box set contains 6 of the films that Rebane made. The first is MONSTER A-GO-GO, a movie he doesn’t claim to have directed. That’s because he sold what he had to director H.G. Lewis who added more footage and re-edited the film then giving it this title. The story involves an astronaut whose capsule lands back on Earth but his time in space has altered him and not for the better. 

Next up in INVASION INNNER EARTH. This one seems kind of prophetic since it involves a group stranded at a remote mountain cabin when a contagion is unleashed on the rest of the planet. The same sort of tale is there in the third movie, THE ALPHA INCIDENT. When a germ attached to a rock that came from Mars is accidentally opened on the train transporting it to safety, a small group is left to find out the effects while I cure is sought at the lab it came from. This is one of the best films of the bunch relying on the interactions among the cast members to create a tension that you can feel while watching. 

THE DEMONS OF LUDLOW presents us with a haunted harpsichord donated to a town from the family that was once one of the founders of Ludlow. The film has a lot in common with John Carpenter’s THE FOG in that it’s a coastal town beset by pirate ghosts from the past with their main target being the local pastor. Rebane wasn’t fond of this film since the producers kept insisting he add more blood to it, something he didn’t think was necessary. 

THE GAME has a group of nine people gathered together by three millionaires, bored and looking for something to entertain themselves. They propose a game where each of the people must confront their most dreaded fears. If they can do so they receive $1 million. And lastly we have TWISTER’S REVENGE, Rebane’s attempt at an all-out comedy involving three goofball characters and monster trucks. He had hoped this would lead to a series of films involving the characters but illness prevented that from happening. 

Something special about these box sets that makes them worthwhile is the extras. The fourth disc of this set includes a documentary about Rebane and his life making these films and others he was known for including THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION (not a part of this box set). All sorts of other goodies are on hand as well including a 60 page collector’s booklet by author Stephen Thrower. 

The movies are not Hollywood glossy type films. But they are original and enjoyable. The best way to view them is to pop some popcorn, turn out the lights, snuggle on the couch like you did in the bench seat of the old Chevy and watch them like you would have at the drive-in. Rebane might not be a common household name but he should be. Give these films a watch and you’ll see why.

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SPACEBALLS: MAY THE SCHWARZ BE WITH YOU!

  

 

By 1987 Mel Brooks name was synonymous with film parody. He would take and existing film or genre and turn it into his own comedic playground. With BLAZING SADDLES he took the western genre on a journey never seen before. YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN turned classic horror movies into something that made you want to go back and watch those old movies to see which ones were skewered. And HIGH ANXIETY took the films of Alfred Hitchcock that had frightened so many and made us laugh at moments from them. So it was inevitable as the science fiction film series STAR WARS took off that he focus on them. The result was SPACEBALLS.

On planet Spaceball the incompetent king Skroob (Brooks) has squandered the planets air supply. To solve the problem he plans on forcing King Roland (Dick Van Patten) of nearby Druidia to give him the codes to take down their planets protective shield and then steal their air. To do this he sends his evil henchman Dark Helmet (Rick Moranis) to kidnap Roland’s daughter Princess Vespa (Daphne Zuniga) who is about to marry get married. Before they arrive she escapes them and her wedding with the help of her android assistant Dot Matrix (Joan Rivers). 

King Roland contacts mercenary Lone Star (Bill Pullman) and his trusty sidekick Barf (John Candy) to find the princess and return her at once. Lone Star is heavily in debt to Pizza the Hut and readily agrees. Off they go and not only do they find the princess but they rescue her from Dark Helmet in the process. This leads to all sorts of perilous adventures as they try and return her and collect their bounty. But then again maybe they’ll find a reason not to and still make the funds they need. Along the way the many themes, fixtures and concepts found in the STAR WARS pictures will be tossed and twisted and provide a ton of laughs. 

For many this is the main Mel Brooks film that they remember. A large part of that is due to the fact that many your people when it was released weren’t familiar with his other films and this was the one behind most hyped at video stores across the country at the time. It was the, pun intended, launching pad for many of those who would later discover the many films that Brooks had made.

The movie was available on tape for years. Then it made its way to DVD and eventually blu-ray. Then it disappeared and suddenly it was difficult to find. Kino Lorber has fixed that problem by now offering it on blu-ray and doing so with a magnificent new print of the film. In addition to that they are including more extras than many new films are getting. 

These extras are enormous. At least as big as Dark Helmet’s helmet. They include: an audio commentary track by Mel Brooks, “Force Yourself! Spaceballs and the Skroobing of Sci-Fi” with Mel Brooks and Rudy De Luca, “Spaceballs: The Documentary”, “In Conversation with Mel Brooks and co-writer Thomas Meehan”, “John Candy: Comic Spirit”, film flubs, watch SPACEBALLS in ludicrous speed, storyboards to film comparison, a behind the scenes image gallery, posters & art image gallery, an exhibitor trailer with an introduction by Mel Brooks, the theatrical teaser and the theatrical trailer. 

Fans of the movie and of Brooks will want to add this to their collection. And if you already own it, you don’t have this version with all of these extras. Make sure you add this version to your collection. And if you’ve never seen it, pick it up today and start laughing after you pop it in your player. This is a classic that deserves to be treasured.

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THE PRODUCERS: HITLER IS FUNNY? YES!

 

 

Mel Brooks IS one of the funniest people to have ever walked the earth. Being the 2000 year old man that should go without saying. Having been there at the start of television and offering some amazing work there his move to film should have been seen coming. And yet it was a struggle. So what is a writer director to do? Make a comedy that involves a Broadway musical about Hitler. Of course.

For his directorial debut in 1967 Brooks created the film THE PRODUCERS. The story revolves around two main characters. The first is Max Bialystock (Zero Mostel), a Broadway producer who was once the talk of the town but now ekes out a living seducing and charming little old ladies out of their money. The second is his accountant Leopold “Leo” Bloom (Gene Wilder), a nervous sort who’s discovered a discrepancy in the last play Max produced to the tune of $20,000. 

Max asks Leo to shuffle a few things this way, a few others that way and to cover the missing funds. As the two discuss the problem Leo comes up with the revelation that a producer could make more money off of a failed production than a second one. Seeing this as an opportunity Max realizes that Leo has landed in a gold mine. If they over sell shares of a play that fails on its first night and closes they could make millions! Of course Leo is afraid of this adventure but Max convinces him to join him. 

To do this they need to make certain that the play is a flop. Searching through the plays that have been sent to him Max finds the perfect vehicle. A play written by an ex-Nazi named Franz Liebkind (Kenneth Mars) called “Springtime for Hitler: A Gay Romp with Hitler and Eva at Berchtesgaden”. To insure the plays flop Max hires a hippie named Lorenzo St. Dubois (Dick Shawn) to play Hitler. Having sold 25,000% of the play to investors now all they have to do is wait for the outraged patrons to rush out of the theater in shear awe at the audacity of this play. 

The comedy here revolves around the characters of both Max and Leo. Their personalities couldn’t be any further apart. Mostel eats up the scenery every moment he is on screen, presenting a maniacal interpretation of the character that is memorable. Wilder, who before this only had a handful of acting credits on TV and a bit part in BONNIE AND CLYDE, shows off his comedic talents here that would land him in the category of star, mainly in the films he and Brooks made together over the years. 

In addition to the characters stirring up laughs from start to finish the supporting cast here is amazing. And the show they put on with the musical number where a cast prances and sings to the title tune is one of the funniest things ever filmed. The entire movie was truly inspired. 

If all of this weren’t enough, Kino Lorber is releasing this movie to blu-ray with an updated 4k restoration of the film. In addition to that they’re adding extras that include a new audio commentary by filmmaker/historian Michael Schlesinger, “The Making of THE PRODUCERS”, playhouse outtakes, a sketch gallery, Peter Seller’s statement read by Paul Mazursky, radio spots for the film and the theatrical trailer for the film. 

Odds are if you’re a fan of Brooks you already own a copy of this film. But with the quality of this release and the extras included by Kino Lorber you might want to consider picking this edition of the film up. It’s definitely worth updating your collection or adding it to yours if you don’t have it already.

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OPTIONS

 

For the past few years now the mainstream media has been tolling the death knell for hard copy movies. The claims are that the DVD/blu-ray market is dead and going to be replaced by streaming services. When these stories first popped up the only two streaming services of note at the time were Netflix and Hulu. Both were offering recently released movies, classic movies and TV series. Things have changed a bit since then.

Now these two are not the only game in town. Disney + came out offering the classic Disney films and series as well as Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars films and shows. CBS All Access came out and has since changed to Paramount +, offering series from CBS and Paramount movies. Amazon Prime jumped on the band wagon as well offering movies and new releases to purchase digitally or to watch via their app. Peacock now carries NBC programming. HBO Max carries HBO series, movies and more. If you enjoy shows on cable channels like the Food Network, ID and HGTV there is Discovery +. Tons of viewing to watch all over the place. So what’s a person to do? Are hard copies of films you loved all to be tossed aside now? 

The main push behind many of these streaming channels was to call for “cutting the cable”. The idea was that you could pay a small monthly fee for one of these streaming services and stop having to pay a cable bill that was suddenly becoming astronomical. Hulu was pushing it first offering many of the programs found on TV a day after they aired. But there was something I said would happen at the time that has since come to pass. 

If there were only two services carrying network programming you might actually be able to save money and get rid of your cable bill. But as with the cable movie channels like HBO and Showtime, once studios recognized they could create their own channels they got greedy. Notice that those two stations each have several variations and that many more arrived in their wake. Rather than lease their movies to them, studios began making up their own cable stations. 

The same is happening with streaming services. Rather than lease programming to these services studios are creating their own. So now rather than pay say $20 for two services you end up paying roughly the same amount of money that you would have paid for cable. And if you’re still getting cable on top of that you’re spending a ton of money each month and likely are unaware of it. 

And those streaming channels that started it all? They’ve had no choice but to offer their own programming instead. With CBS and NBC taking back their shows for their own services, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have had to resort to shows of their own. Some are good, some bad and most are just kind of there. For viewers that’s good news because you have more to choose from. On the down side we now binge watch shows in a weekend and then have to wait nearly a year for the next season. 

But what about discs? Are they really dead? Or are studios trying to push you to believe they’re dead? Certainly fewer stores are carrying product on their shelves. Big box stores like Best Buy have nearly eliminated any sections to purchase them. But they can still be ordered online or found in smaller sections of stores like Walmart. 

The benefit of discs, which I for one still favor, is being able to watch what you want when you want and not have to pay to see it every time. If you want to watch say AIR FORCE ONE you can pick up the disc on blu-ray for $13.46 at amazon. Then you can watch it over and over again. If you want to watch it on Prime it will cost you $3.99. To see it again a few months later, another $3.99. If you buy a digital version of the film for a service like Vudu or Movies Anywhere you will pay for it but it might be taken away. Yes those services can actually withdraw titles down the line even though you bought them. 

So what’s the solution? For me I keep buying movies that I love on disc. I have them on hand when I want to watch them that way. Or when Halloween rolls around I can actually watch HALLOWEEN. At Christmas I can watch IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE without interruption. I prefer having them on disc. But I have a number of the streaming channels as well, mainly for some of the series they run. The one thing greedy studios don’t seem to understand is you don’t have to limit yourself to one item or the other. 

I suggest that you check out the streaming services and find out what works for you. If you love horror movies let me say SHUDDER is amazing and includes Joe Bob Briggs The Last Drive In as well. Discover + is great for reality lovers. Amazon and Netflix have great original series. The options are wide open and only you can decide what works for you. But let’s hope discs never really disappear.

THE MARY MILLINGTON COLLECTION: MARY WHO?

 

I saw that this collection was coming out and my first response was who is Mary Millington? Even after doing a web search and finding out about her I’d still never heard of her before this box set was coming out. That might be because I live in the US and her claim to fame took place in the UK. Only those who live there could tell you.

If you’ve never heard of her before Millington was a porn star in 70s England, a place where surprisingly pornography was banned. Having made a few 8mm shorts in Germany she became the girlfriend of pornographic publisher David Sullivan even though she was and remained married at the time. He featured her in the various magazines he published and then decided she’d be perfect for movies. 

Now here’s where it gets strange. The movies she appeared in at this time, most of which are collected in this box set, are not what I would consider pornography. And apparently those in charge in the UK didn’t either as they were released in theaters there. At the same time it’s painfully obvious that she wasn’t being hired for her thespian skills but for her willingness to remove her clothing. The films themselves actually had plotlines and stories behind them. The thing was amid all of those stories were reasons for women to shed their clothing offering full frontal nudity but no over sexual play. 

The release of the first major film touted as a Mary Millington film only had her on screen in the film for a short time. Released in 1977, COME PLAY WITH ME (included in this set) became a box office sensation playing for 201 straight weeks at the theater it opened in in London. It still stands as the longest running film in British history and broke other box office records. In watching the film though it didn’t strike me as porn so much as those classic British bawdy CARRY ON films from the sixties. 

This is the first film in the box set and tells the story of two counterfeiters who retreat to a quiet country estate to play their trade. Unfortunately for them the nephew of the locations owner has brought in a busload of girls and he plans on turning the place into a health spa complete with massages that go far beyond what they should. 

This film is followed by THE PLAYBIRDS, a thriller in which Millington plays a police woman who goes undercover to find a serial killer on the loose. Who knew that to apply to be an undercover operative you had to strip down to nothing for your superiors. 

Next up in CONFESSIONS FROM THE DAVID GALAXY AFFAIR. This movie revolves around the lead character, a psychic tarot card reader and lousy celebrity impersonator who attempts to bed down every woman he meets. Too bad for him at the moment he’s the lead suspect in a series of murders. Millington is featured here as one of his conquests and little more. 

QUEEN OF THE BLUES actually uses Millington in a lead role for once. She stars as the main attraction at a strip club called The Blues where mobsters are trying to take over the club. Fortunately her abilities on stage removing her clothing saves the day. 

MARY MILLINGTON’S TRUE BLUE CONFESSIONS is a short film made by Sullivan after her passing in order to cash in on her death. The film is a combination of archive footage, interviews and new sex scenes with Millington nowhere to be found. 

MARY MILLINGTON’S WORLD STRIPTEASAE EXTRAVAGANZA is another film made after her passing. A composite of strippers performing, clips from her appearance in previous films and jokes by blue comedian Bernie Winters combine for a lackluster film. 

Lastly there is RESPECTABLE-THE MARY MILLINGTON STORY and the only real reason to watch this set. This feature length documentary on Millington is written and directed by Simon Sheridan who had written a biography on her. This combination of interviews with many who had refused to talk openly in the past, clips from her films, visits to locations where she lived and the use of stills to tell her story give us a view of a woman who was more than just the most famous British porn star of the 70s. Millington was a troubled woman who appears to have had a husband who used her notoriety just to find his own sexual conquests, who was used for her own beauty by film makers and who was plagued by the police and tax collectors of the country who wanted to shut down her sex shop and career. All of this led to her suicide at age 33. It’s a sad story but one that is a part of history that most aren’t aware of. 

The box set has done an exemplary job of bringing these movies to life in pristine condition. In addition to that it includes a booklet about Millington’s films and life. Included on each disc are some of the shorts she made though toned down and not the X-rated versions of those shorts. Fans of Millington will no doubt want to own this set. Those who are curious might want to look for just the documentary about her. For most she will remain a name they never heard of sadly. One can only hope that future females will not fall prey to the same sad conclusion she did.

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DAY OF THE ANIMALS: NATURE GONE WILD

 

 

Director William Girdler never lived long enough to see his career soar to heights they could have. Known for making several movies in the exploitation genre like THREE ON A MEATHOOL, ABBY, GRIZZLY and THE MANITOU, he died in a helicopter accident while scouting locations for his next film. He left behind only 9 films in total. Among those was the environmental/animals attack film DAY OF THE ANIMALS. 

A group of tourists are about to set out on a days long hiking trip in a park in northern California. Led by guide Steve Buckner (Christopher George) they include Prof. MacGregor (Richard Jaeckel) an anthropologist, Paul Jenson (Leslie Nielsen) an advertising exec, a teenage couple Beth Hughes and Bob Denning (Kathleen Bracken and Andrew Stevens), a wealthy older woman Shirley (Ruth Roman) and he son Johnny (Bobby Porter), a former pro football player Roy Moore who has cancer (Paul Mantee), bickering married couple Frank and Mandy Young (Jon Cedar and Susan Backlinie) and Daniel Santee, a Native American guide. Before heading out a park ranger tells Buckner that there’s been some unusual animal attacks in the area and asks him to call it off but he keeps the group moving. 

Not long after the group takes off word comes in that a depletion in the ozone levels is affecting wildlife above a certain level in the landscape. By then the park ranger has no way of reaching Buckner and his party. 

As the group travels they are followed by a hawk that’s apparently keeping a close eye on them. We also see various other animals that would never associate with one another creeping around as well, everything from a bear to wolves to snakes. 

Eventually as their first day comes to an end they come across a campsite with a fire going and coffee on the fire with no one to be seen. Buckner assures them it is more likely than not they went off into the woods and got lost but will return. As it grows dark Santee is feels that something strange is going on and share’s his concerns with Buckner. Buckner asks him not to say anything and they agree to keep watch that night. Even so a wolf comes into their campground and attacks Mandy, leaving her with a severe bite. 

The next day the group separates with Frank taking his wife Mandy down to a nearby ranger tower so she can get medical help while the rest of the group continues to move up the mountain towards the next stop where food is waiting for them scheduled to be dropped in by helicopter. When they get to the food it’s been destroyed or eaten by animals. Jenson begins insulting and calling out Buckner as incompetent. Soon after he splits the group with some following him and the rest remaining with Buckner. 

What follows is a world gone wild where this ozone depletion affects both man and beast. The animals work together to attack the would be campers. Jensen begins to act as if in a rage demanding to be almost worshiped by those who went with him. And the effects of the ozone level on the animals reach all the way back into town. 

Movies about the environment and pollution having an effect on animals and wildlife have been a staple of the horror genre for years. Their frequency increased after the push for the environment in the 60s and 70s. They made good story fodder though and we saw everything from rampaging frogs to 30 ft. tall rabbits. This movie is a bit more subtle than those but effectively uses the concept of animals working together to take their revenge. 

Girdler may have made movies on a low budget but they never looked like they were. His use of the camera to present a great looking film combined with some nice editing always made the films look like they were major productions. His casts were largely made up of actors on the way up or the way down but he always got performances from them that were believable and in a film like this that always mattered. It’s sad to think that he only left behind 9 movies. One can only imagine what he was capable of if he’d had a bigger budget. In the meantime this one and the other 8 are enjoyable films worth watching.

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