Yearly Archives: 2010
“The Erotic Adventures of Zorro” (1972)
Studio: Entertainment Ventures (EVI) Starring: Douglas Frey, Jacqueline Giroux, Penny Boran, John Alderman Directed by: Robert Freeman Rated: X Running Time: 98 min. Synopsis: The classic tale of Zorro for an adult audience. REVIEW Another well done sexploitation film from the master of the grindhouse, David F. ...
A Very Fanboy Christmas 2010
Season’s greetings all you good little boys and girls and welcome to that special time of the year when the Fanboys of Christmas Present get to share a little bit of Christmas Past with you. We’ve had an excellent turnout ...
The Simpsons Christmas Special 1989
During the holiday season there are tons of Christmas programming on television. Growing up, I would always watch the animated Christmas specials like Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. ...
“Trader Hornee” (1970)
Studio: Entertainment Ventures Inc. Starring: Buddy Pantsari, Elisabeth Monica, John Alderman, Deek Sills Directed by: Jonathan Lucas Rated: X Running Time: 84 min. Synopsis: A group goes to Africa to search for a girl who has been missing in the country since she was a ...
Time Warp Toy Box 2010
Decisions, decisions. With space for only one holiday edition of Time Warp Toy Box this year, selecting the toys to showcase becomes quite a challenge since there are so many worthy candidates. Fortunately I have had some requests from friends ...
“Giallo” (2009)
Studio: Hannibal Pictures Starring: Adrien Brody, Emmanuelle Seigner, Elsa Pataky, Robert Miano Directed by: Dario Argento Rated: R Running Time: 92 min. Synopsis: An Inspector is trying to catch a killer who drives a taxi cab and kidnaps women and kills them. REVIEW Dario Argento has always ...
John Lennon Remembered
The dream is over, what can I say? The dream is over, yesterday. I was the dream weaver, but now I'm reborn. I was the walrus, but now I'm John. And so dear friends, you’ll just have to carry on. The dream is over. God – ...
“Cannibal Holocaust” (1980)
Studio: F.D. Cinematografica Starring: Robert Kerman, Carl Gabriel Yorke, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen, Luca Barbareschi Directed by: Ruggero Deodato Rated: Unrated Running Time: 95 min. Synopsis: A professor is sent off into the Amazon to find a group of documentary filmmakers who set out to ...
DVD Review: Gamera vs. Everybody
By the conclusion of 1966’s Gamera vs. Barugon, the giant flying turtle was firmly established as the protector of humanity and he managed to churn out an annual film for the next five years until Daiei Studios went bankrupt for ...
“Sinderella and the Golden Bra” (1964)
Studio: Manson Distributing Starring: Suzanne Sybele, Bill Gaskin, David Duffield, Sydney Lassick Directed by: Loel Minardi and Ronald Terry Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 72 min. Synopsis: A prince tries to find his true love when he goes around town having women try on a ...
Show Review: Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza 2010
When Florida’s winter weather starts to set in around mid to late October, it doesn’t take much of an excuse to get people outside. Once the Sunshine State enters its brief period of cool but not cold temperatures, most natives ...
“Goldilocks and the Three Bares” (1963)
Studio: D&R Pictures Starring: Rex Marlow, Allison Louise Downe, William Kerwin, Netta Mallina Directed by: Herschell Gordon Lewis Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 69 min. Synopsis: A singer discovers that his new girlfriend is a nudist. REVIEW Herschell Gordon Lewis and David F. Friedman are mostly known ...
The Lost Drive-In: Nature Runs Amuck!
The 1970’s was a great decade for fans of exploitation cinema. What was once considered a second tier genre was now being embraced by major distributors and becoming available to every area of the country. One of the more entertaining ...
“The Adult Version of Jekyll & Hide” (1972)
Studio: Entertainment Ventures (EVI) Starring: Jack Buddliner, Laurie Rose, Rene Bond, Jane Louise Directed by: Lee Raymond Rated: X Running Time: 75 min. Synopsis: A modern day doctor find Dr. Jekyll's notebook and begins testing out some of his formulas, but he is in for ...
Forgotten Films: Bless the Beasts & Children
Ding (ding) n. – something that don’t fit any where, any time, any thing, any place. It uses up space but it’s useless. Nobody wants it or knows what to do with it, so it’s got no use for livin’. - ...
Midnight Video: The Gateway to Horror Movie Imports
Before they were Amazon, eBay, Netflix, or other online stores, you had to hunt and peck for hard to find movies on VHS, especially horror ones. If you were looking for your favorite horror film back in the 80’s and ...
“Blood of Dracula’s Castle” (1969)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: John Carradine, Alexander D'Arcy, Paula Raymond, Robert Dix Directed by: Al Adamson and Jean Hewitt Rated: PG Running Time: 83 min. Synopsis: A man inherits an old castle, but he finds out a couple of vampires live there who are ...
DVD Review: “Dark Star: The Hyper-Drive Edition”
Released By: VCI Entertainment Release Date: October 26, 2010 Number of Discs: 2 Approximate Running Time: 257 Minutes Special Features: Let There Be Light Documentary, Audio Commentary, Trailers, Trivia Suggested Price: $19.99 The Source: After twenty years in space, the crew of the ship Dark Star is ...
- Dark Star | DVD | John Carpenter | VCI
“Halloween III: Season of the Witch” (1982)
Studio: Dino De Laurentiis Company Starring: Tom Atkins, Stacey Nelkin, Dan O'Herlihy Directed by: Tommy Lee Wallace Rated: R Running Time: 98 min. Synopsis: After the mysterious murder of a young woman's father, her doctor tries to figure out who is behind it and discovers ...
Friday the 13th: The Legacy Part 2
Part one of this Friday the 13th retrospective last week covered the second through sixth films in the series which all featured Jason Voorhees as the central psycho. This week we pick up with part seven and the latter half ...
“Carnival of Souls” (1962)
Studio: Harcourt Productions Starring: Candace Hilligoss, Sidney Berger, Frances Feist, Stan Levitt Directed by: Herk Harvey Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 78 min. Synopsis: A woman moves to a new town after getting in a near death car accident and gets a job as organist. ...
Friday the 13th: The Legacy – Part 1
Note: For some strange reason , the Friday the 13th film series features some of the blandest posters ever devised for a promotional campaign. Most of the films from Part 6 forward feature at least average poster art but earlier ...
“Zombi 2″ (1979)
Studio: Variety Film Production Starring: Tisa Farrow, Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson, Al Cliver, Auretta Gay, Olga Karlatos Directed by: Lucio Fulci Rated: Unrated Running Time: 91 min. Synopsis: A group of Americans fight off zombies on a tropical island. REVIEW Next to Night of the Living Dead ...
Spooky Empire 2010
After a less than spectacular experience at the 2009 Spooky Empire show, not the least of which involved my friend Byron swearing off the event, I approached this year’s con with some understandable caution. The guest list only included two ...
The Weekend that was Spooky Empire 2010
It has become an October tradition attending Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Horror Weekend in Orlando, Florida. This is an event that I look forward to going every year and for me the convention always delivers. For any fanboy or girl growing ...
“Martin” (1977)
Studio: Laurel Entertainment Inc. Starring: John Amplas, Lincoln Maazel, Christine Forrest, Elyane Nadeau, Tom Savini Directed by: George A. Romero Rated: R Running Time: 95 min. Synopsis: A boy named Martin stays with his cousin who believes he is a vampire and sets out to ...
Friday the 13th: 30th Anniversary
Has it really been thirty years since Jason Voorhees first popped his decayed bulbous head out of the serene waters of Crystal Lake and changed the way we look at horror movies forever? Yes, as of May of this year, ...
“Tenebre” (1982)
Studio: Sigma Cinematografica Roma Starring: Anthony Franciosa, John Saxon, Daria Nicolodi, Veronica Lario Directed by: Dario Argento Rated: Unrated Running Time: 101 min. Synopsis: When an American writer is in Rome promoting his new book, a killer is copying the killing style in the writer's ...
Forgotten Films: Stop, Look, and Laugh
In 1958, Columbia Pictures dusted off their short films starring The Three Stooges and unceremoniously dumped them on television stations across the country, hoping for nothing more than a quick buck from an outdated format. Local stations were eager for ...
“Stop Me Before I Kill!” (1960)
Studio: Hammer Film Productions Starring: Claude Dauphin, Diane Cilento, Ronald Lewis Directed by: Val Guest Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 108 min. Synopsis: After a car accident, an ex-race car driver has an urge to kill his wife and tries to seek treatment from a ...
DVD Review: “Dark Night of the Scarecrow”
Released By: VCI Entertainment Release Date: September 28, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 96 Minutes Special Features: Director Commentary Track, Original CBS Promotional Spot Suggested Price: $19.99 The Source: In a small rural town, a mentally handicapped man is murdered by a group of ...
“The Dead Next Door” (1989)
Studio: Amsco Studios Starring: Pete Ferry, Bogdan Pecic, Michael Grossi, Robert Kokai Directed by: J.R. Bookwalter Rated: Unrated Running Time: 78 min. Synopsis: A team called The Zombie Squad hunt down the living dead who have been terrorizing the country. REVIEW The Dead Next Door is one ...
When MTV Played Music
Do you remember a time when MTV actual played music videos? I sure do. Most young kids probably don’t remember or don’t even realize that the channel called Music Television played music videos 24-7 back in the day. Now the ...
Loose in Las Vegas: 2010 – The Deuce
As much as I enjoy visiting Las Vegas, one trip a year is usually more than enough for me. Every once in a while though, life tosses you an opportunity that you just can’t pass up. For me it was ...
“Crypt of the Living Dead” (1973)
Studio: Órbita Films Starring: Andrew Prine, Patty Shepard, Mark Damon, Teresa Gimpera Directed by: Julio Salvador and Ray Danton Rated: PG Running Time: 85 min. Synopsis: A queen vampire is released from her crypt and terrorizes a small European island. REVIEW From looking at its title you ...
Nearly Almost Famous
I will probably never have an opportunity to travel the country with a musical group to write an article for Rolling Stone magazine but, for one brief moment, I did receive a pretty cool consolation prize. I was recently invited ...
“Terror” (1978)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: John Nolan, Carolyn Courage, James Aubrey, Sarah Keller Directed by: Norman J. Warren Rated: R Running Time: 84 min. Synopsis: Strange murders start to pop up over London that could be linked to a filmmakers distant relatives. REVIEW Here’s another disaster from ...
Forgotten Films: Little Fugitive
Mention the name Morris Engle and even the most astute film fan might be reduced to a puzzled stare. Engle was a highly respected photographer but his career as a motion picture director lasted only five years from 1953 to ...
“Happy Birthday to Me” (1981)
Studio: Columbia Pictures Starring: Melissa Sue Anderson, Glenn Ford, Lawrence Dane, Tracey E. Bregman Directed by: J. Lee Thompson Rated: R Running Time: 111 min. Synopsis: Teens at a prep school are being killed off one by one that center around one of the teens' ...
The Lost Drive-In: Demented Double Features
Welcome to the inaugural installment of The Lost Drive-In. I was fortunate enough to grow up about two miles from a drive-in movie theater so my family spent a lot of time of there over the years. My home town ...
“Terrified” (1963)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Rod Lauren, Steve Drexel, Tracy Olsen Directed by: Lew Landers Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 80 min. Synopsis: A masked killer is terrorizing some college kids at an old ghost town. REVIEW When you’re watching a movie and you can’t wait for ...
Series Retrospective: Legends of the Superheroes
Before we begin this week’s retrospective, please take a moment to review the advertisement to the right of this article. Done? Good, now imagine for a moment that you are twelve year old boy in January of 1979 when this ...
Summer Memories: Storytown USA
Growing up in Upstate New York was a fun time because of all the great theme parks and other attractions that surround the area. I have written before about these places on this very web site, such as The Enchanted ...
“After Midnight” (1989)
Studio: MGM Starring: Ramy Zada, Jillian McWhirter, Marc McClure, Marg Helgenberger, Judie Aronson Directed by: Jim Wheat and Ken Wheat Rated: R Running Time: 90 min. Synopsis: Three tales told by a group of college students study fear in a psychology class. REVIEW After Midnight is an ...
DVD Reviews: Roger Corman’s Cult Classics
In June of this year, Shout! Factory unveiled the first wave in what will ultimately comprise approximately thirty DVD releases (and some Blu-Ray) of Roger Corman’s New World Pictures catalog. These DVDs are a significant improvement over previous home video ...
“They Saved Hitler’s Brain” (1963)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Walter Stocker, Audrey Caire, Carlos Rivas, John Holland Directed by: David Bradley Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 73 min. Synopsis: Nazis have saved Hitler's brain and kidnap a professor who has something that can help them take over the world. REVIEW With ...
Happy Together Tour 2010
The mid 1980’s saw a renewed interest in the classic pop sounds of the sixties and the revival of many bands from that period. After Mark “Flo” Volman and Howard “Eddie” Kaylan reformed their chart topping group The Turtles for ...
“Satan’s Slave” (1976)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Michael Gough, Martin Potter, Candace Glendenning, Barbara Kellerman Directed by: Norman J. Warren Rated: R Running Time: 87 min. Synopsis: A young woman's parents are killed in a car accident while traveling to visit long lost relatives and she ends ...
The Hat Trick
I’m not usually one for sports analogies but this seemed like the perfect one to acknowledge the third anniversary of Retrorama on this wonderful website we call Nolan’s Pop Culture Review. As the site’s resident retro-ologist, I’ve spent the last ...
Starr Struck: Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band
At the ripe old age of 70, former Beatle Ringo Starr has done well for himself. The days of pondering what it would be like to be 64 are long past but he has a lot to show for these ...
“The Maniac” (1963)
Studio: Hammer Film Productions Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Nadia Gray, Donald Houston, Liliane Brousse Directed by: Michael Carreras Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 86 min. Synopsis: An american has an affair with a young French girl and her stepmother, who ask him to help them break ...
Summer Memories: Sylvan Beach Amusement Park
Today we are going to go back in time. To a place that doesn’t really fit into the high-tech big attractions of today. This place is almost a sanctuary where you can forget about the problems of today and go ...
DVD Review: “Gamera Vs. Barugon (1966)”
Released By: Shout! Factory Release Date: July 6, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 106 Minutes Special Features: Audio Commentary, Photo Galleries, Photo Booklet Suggested Price: $19.93 The Source: Following the events of the previous film (Gammera: The Invincible in the US), the giant turtle ...
“Nightmare in Wax” (1969)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Cameron Mitchell, Anne Helm, Scott Brady, Berry Kroeger Directed by: Bud Townsend Rated: PG Running Time: 94 min. Synopsis: A former actor who runs a wax museum gets revenge on his old acting friends and the studio head that deformed ...
DVD Review: “EYEBORGS”
Released By: Image Entertainment Release Date: July 6, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 102 Minutes Special Features: Trailer, Behind the Scenes Featurettes, Deleted Scenes Suggested Price: $27.98 The Source: In the not too distant future, the United States Government has instituted the ODIN (Optical ...
“Bloody Birthday” (1981)
Studio: Judica Productions Starring: Lori Lethin, Julie Brown, Elizabeth Hoy, K.C. Martel, Billy Jayne, Andy Freeman Directed by: Ed Hunt Rated: R Running Time: 85 min. Synopsis: Three children that are born on a total eclipse go on a killing spree towards their 10th birthday. REVIEW The ...
Happy Anniversary Video Watchdog!
I was a child of the Famous Monsters of Filmland generation. A late arrival granted but I still spent the majority of the 1970’s thumbing through my dog eared copies of this B&W treasure trove as a supplement to watching ...
“The House of the Devil” (2009)
Studio: MPI Media Group Starring: Jocelin Donahue, Tom Noonan, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, Dee Wallace Directed by: Ti West Rated: R Running Time: 95 min. Synopsis: A college student takes a job as a babysitter, but finds out it's not your normal babysitting job in ...
Astro-Zombies M3: Cloned – Florida Premier
When I first received the news that the world premier of cult director Ted Mikels’ latest feature film Astro-Zombies M3: Cloned was scheduled for the end of April in Las Vegas, I was bummed. I already had long standing plans ...
Comic Book Confidential: The Seven Soldiers of Victory
In 1940, DC Comics made comic book history when they created the first true superhero team, the Justice Society of America. The JSA’s initial roster featured the most powerful characters operating at the time in the DC universe like The ...
“Never Take Candy from a Stranger” (1960)
Studio: Hammer Film Productions Starring: Gwen Watford, Patrick Allen, Felix Aylmer, Janina Faye Directed by: Cyril Frankel Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 81 min. Synopsis: Parents takes on a rich old man in the community that they believe tired to molest their daughter. REVIEW When you think ...
My Favorite Band, Genesis
Genesis has been my favorite band since I was 13 years old. That’s when my journey started with collecting all their albums, reading up on the history of the band, buying videos of their concerts, and even catching them live ...
DVD Review: “Supersonic Man”
Released By: VCI Entertainment Release Date: May 25, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 187 Minutes Special Features: Trailers, Second Feature War of the Robots (1978) Suggested Price: $14.95 The Source: When an Earth scientist developing a new fuel source is kidnapped by a megalomaniac ...
“Assault on Precinct 13″ (1976)
Studio: CKK Corporation Starring: Austin Stoker, Darwin Joston, Laurie Zimmer, Tony Burton, Charles Cyphers Directed by: John Carpenter Rated: R Running Time: 91 min. Synopsis: A small group of people battle an L.A. gang that have surrounded them in a closed down police station. REVIEW I first ...
Forgotten Horrors: Island of Terror
Hammer Films dominated the British science fiction and horror movie industry from the 1950’s through the 1970’s. There were many competing companies that tried to emulate their successful formula and reap similar profits. Some of these studios, like Amicus, prospered ...
“Game of Death II” (1981)
Studio: Golden Harvest Company Starring: Bruce Lee, Tai Chung Kim, Jang Lee Hwang, Roy Horan Directed by: See-Yuen Ng Rated: R Running Time: 86 min. Synopsis: A martial arts fighter is looking for his brother's killer and the body of his brother's murdered friend. REVIEW Since the ...
Loose in Las Vegas: 2010
I never need much of an excuse for a trip to Las Vegas. I am not much of a gambler but I find that Sin City has a host of other venues and activities to check out that just don’t ...
“Las Vegas Lady” (1975)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Stella Stevens, Stuart Whitman, George DiCenzo, Lynne Moody, Linda Scruggs Directed by: Noel Nosseck Rated: R Running Time: 87 min. Synopsis: Three women are hired to rob a casino in Las Vegas. REVIEW This comedy/drama/action/mystery film from Crown International turned out to ...
CF Presents Retrorama DVD Review: “Greydon Clark Drive-In Double Feature: Hi-Riders & The Bad Bunch”
Released By: VCI Entertainment Release Date: April 27, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 172 Minutes Special Features: Audio Commentary, Trailers, Interviews Suggested Price: $19.99 The Source: Two lesser known drive-in features from the glory days of the 1970’s produced by exploitation director Greydon Clark. ...
“The Street Fighter” (1974)
Studio: New Line Cinema Starring: Sonny Chiba, Goichi Yamada, Yutaka Nakajima, Tony Cetera, Masafumi Suzuki Directed by: Shigehiro Ozawa Rated: X Running Time: 91 min. Synopsis: A mercenary is hired to kidnap a heiress. When he finds out the Yakuza is behind it, he turns ...
Happy 30th Empire Strikes Back
I can’t believe that The Empire Strikes Back is 30 years old and I still can’t believe that the start of the 80’s was 30 years ago. I still remember when I first saw the movie and the anticipation I ...
Between 1988 and 1989, when compact discs were still considered an emerging technology, Arista released the first four Monkees’ albums in this format. Aside from the historical significance, these releases did little other than get Monkees’ music back on the ...
“Black Candles” (1980)
Studio: Films Around the World Starring: Carmen Carrión, Vanessa Hidalgo, Alfred Lucchetti, Mauro Ribera Directed by: José Ramón Larraz Rated: Unrated Running Time: 84 min. Synopsis: A woman and her boyfriend visit the woman's sister-in-law after the death of her husband. She soon learns that ...
Welcome to the second part of my interview with Dr. Paul Bearer’s wacky witch pal, Erma Broombeck. Last week Erma told us about how her character came to be and her early days with Dr. Paul Bearer. We left off ...
“Smash Cut” (2009)
Studio: Zed Filmworks Starring: David Hess, Sasha Grey, Jesse Buck, Michael Berryman, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Ray Sager Directed by: Lee Demarbre Rated: Unrated Running Time: 86 min. Synopsis: A filmmaker starts killing people and uses their body parts as props in his new horror film. REVIEW Smash ...
My Friend Erma: The Erma Broombeck Interview
Dick Bennick’s character of Dr. Paul Bearer was inseparable from the experience that was the 44 Creature Feature. Over the span of its twenty-two year history, our horrible host had a lot of visitors to his tenement castle. This cast ...
“Evil Eye” (1975)
Studio: Emaus Films S.A. Starring: Jorge Rivero, Richard Conte, Pilar Velázquez Directed by: Mario Siciliano Rated: Unrated Running Time: 89 min. Synopsis: A man believes that his nightmares are coming to life. REVIEW This Italian horror film from the 70’s had some promise in the beginning with ...
The Deland Collectibles Expo
As much as I enjoy collectibles shows, I am always slightly suspicious when an unknown quantity turns up. With the reduced number of shows due to online sales and auctions, new shows are something of a rarity and some don’t ...
“Eaten Alive” (1976)
Studio: Mars Productions Corporation Starring: Neville Brand, Marilyn Burns, William Finley, Mel Ferrer, Stuart Whitman, Robert Englund Directed by: Tobe Hooper Rated: R Running Time: 91 min. Synopsis: A twisted story about a crazy old man that runs a motel in Texas and feeds his ...
The World of Wrestling
Wrestling. Call it a sport. Call it entertainment. Call it what you want. To me it’s a mix of both. It’s also part male soap opera, part comic book come to life, part live theater, and part action/adventure movie. Say ...
Forgotten Horrors: Equinox
In 1965, a group of friends and special effects enthusiasts who were all children of the Famous Monsters of Filmland generation, decided to make a monster movie of their very own. Dennis Muren, Mark McGee, Jim Danforth, and Dave Allen, ...
“Nightmare” (1981)
Studio: 21st Century Film Corporation Starring: Baird Stafford, Sharon Smith, C.J. CookeMik Cribben, Danny Ronan Directed by: Romano Scavolini Rated: Unrated Running Time: 98 min. Synopsis: A man travels from New York to Florida is stalk and kill his ex-wife and children. REVIEW I first saw this ...
Saturday Morning Fever: CBS 1968
The concept of a Saturday morning network television line up began in 1962 when all three networks began to schedule programs for children on the weekends. Initially these were reruns of movies and television shows aimed at the younger audience ...
“Devil Dog: The Hound from Hell” (1978)
Studio: Zeitman-Landers-Roberts Productions Starring: Richard Crenna, Yvette Mimieux, Kim Richards, Ike Eisenmann, Martine Beswick, R.G. Armstrong Directed by: Curtis Harrington Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 95 min. Synopsis: A new puppy a family get for their daughter turns out to be the hound from hell. REVIEW Throughout ...
Sounds of Terror: Dracula vs. Frankenstein Soundtrack
In this age of collector’s edition DVDs for almost any film imaginable, it is amazing that audio counterpart compact discs are not more prevalent. The good people at Elysee Productions are out to change that though with some impressive original ...
“Deathdream” (1974)
Studio: Quadrant Films Starring: John Marley, Lynn Carlin, Richard Backus, Henderson Forsythe, Anya Ormsby Directed by: Bob Clark Rated: R Running Time: 88 min. Synopsis: A family welcomes back home their son who they thought died in Vietnam, but they notice there's not something right ...
DVD Review: “FANEX Files: Samuel Z. Arkoff”
Released By: Alpha Home Entertainment Release Date: October 28, 2008 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes Special Features: None Suggested Price: $9.98 The Source: From 1984 to 2004, the FANEX Film Convention was held annually in the Baltimore / Washington D.C. area. During this ...
“Scum of the Earth” (1963)
Studio: Box Office Spectaculars Starring: Thomas Wood, Allison Louise Downe, Lawrence J. Aberwood, Sandra Sinclair, Mal Arnold Directed by: Herschell Gordon Lewis Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 73 min. Synopsis: A young woman starts to do some innocent modeling, but the group turns out to ...
Saturday Horrors on USA Network
Back in the day, the USA Network was the one stop shop for classic and cult horror films. The network was much different in the 1980’s then it is now. Today, the channel is very mainstream and has tons of ...
Megacon 2010
The week preceding this year’s Megacon was filled with a lot of unusual changes to my usual con going routine. Chief among these was the last minute cancelation of my friend Byron who has attended every Megacon with me to ...
“The Defilers” (1965)
Studio: Sonney Amusement Enterprises Starring: Byron Mabe, Jerome Eden, Mai Jansson, Linda Cochran Directed by: Lee Frost Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 69 min. Synopsis: Two young men kidnap a woman in Hollywood and sexually torture her. A cool little gem from the master of exploitation, ...
DVD Review: “Mystery Science Theater 3000: XVII”
Released By: Shout Factory Release Date: March 16, 2010 Number of Discs: 4 Approximate Running Time: 400 Minutes Special Features: Introductions, Interviews, Trailers, Photo Galleries Suggested Price: $59.97 The Source: A working class schlep from Gizmonic Institute is trapped by evil scientists aboard an interstellar spaceship and ...
“Scream, Blacula, Scream” (1973)
Studio: American International Pictures (AIP) Starring: William Marshall, Pam Grier, Don Mitchell, Richard Lawson, Michael Conrad Directed by: Bob Kelljan Rated: PG Running Time: 96 min. Synopsis: Blacula returns from the grave with the help of a voodoo spell from a man wanting revenge on ...
The Joy of Comics
With the recent landmark sales of Action Comics #1 for a whopping $1 million dollars and the immediate follow up sale of Detective Comics #27 for $1,075,500, I found myself revisiting exactly why I love comic books and why I ...
“Blacula” (1972)
Studio: American International Pictures (AIP) Starring: William Marshall, Vonetta McGee, Denise Nicholas, Thalmus Rasulala Directed by: William Crain Rated: PG Running Time: 93 min. Synopsis: An African Prince is bitten by Dracula in the 18th century and is locked away until 200 years later where ...
Series Retrospective: Matt Helm
James Bond was a major contender for movie theater dollars in the 1960’s and ushered in a spy craze that would continue for most of the decade. Imitators of all sizes and temperaments popped up on the entertainment landscape in ...
“Horrors of Spider Island” (1960)
Studio: Pacemaker Pictures Starring: Alexander D'Arcy, Barbara Valentin, Elfie Wagner Directed by: Fritz Böttger Rated: Not Rated Running Time: 75 min. Synopsis: A group of dancers get stuck on an island and their boss gets bitten by a spider and becomes a spider monster. REVIEW I recently ...
DVD Review: “Inalienable”
Released By: Anchor Bay Release Date: January 26, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 106 Minutes Special Features: Trailer Suggested Price: $19.97 The Source: A male research scientist is impregnated with an alien embryo and gives “birth” to a human / alien hybrid. The US ...
“My Bloody Valentine” (1981)
Studio: Paramount Pictures Starring: Paul Kelman, Lori Hallier, Neil Affleck Directed by: George Mihalka Rated: R Running Time: 90 min. Synopsis: A killer attacks a mining town on Valentine's Day. REVIEW Back in the early 80’s, a trend was started, which actually started as far back as ...
Comic Book Craze Part 2: From DC to Dark Horse
Last month I wrote about my love of comics. I highlighted all the Marvel comics I collected when I was a kid. This month, I pick up where I left off and discuss other comic brands I collected such as ...
Tales for Another Day: Night of the Badfinger
Music, much like politics and religion, is an amazingly personal proposition. People will argue vehemently on the merit of one particular artist or the detractions of a certain group and there is usually very little that can be done to ...
“Laserblast” (1978)
Studio: Selected Pictures Starring: Kim Milford, Cheryl Smith, Ron Masak, Eddie Deezen, Keenan Wynn, Dennis Burkley, Roddy McDowall Directed by: Michael Rae Rated: PG Running Time: 85 min. Synopsis: A teenage boy discovers a laser and an alien necklace that possesses him and makes him ...
I Talked With A Zombie: The Seth Sklarey Interview
While his career screen time may be limited, Florida actor Seth Sklarey made a lasting impression on audiences in Bob Clark’s 1973 horror film Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things. His portrayal of lead ghoul Orville manages to evoke both ...
“The Beach Girls” (1982)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Debra Blee, Val Kline, Jeana Tomasina, James Daughton, Adam Roarke Directed by: Bud Townsend Rated: R Running Time: 91 min. Synopsis: A bunch of teenage girls have a wild party at a beach house. REVIEW Another disappointment from Crown International, which in ...
Forgotten Horrors: Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things
By the early 1970’s, Night of the Living Dead was already well on its way to becoming a cult classic and audiences all across the country were eating up this new zombie film. Two of those audience members were aspiring ...
Absolutely Fabulous: The Fab Four
I was only three years old in April of 1970 when The Beatles officially disbanded as a group, so my chances of experiencing Beatlemania first hand were effectively ended. It would be another ten or so years before my appreciation ...
“Chain Gang Women” (1971)
Studio: Crown International Pictures Starring: Michael Stearns, Robert Lott, Barbara Mills Directed by: Lee Frost Rated: R Running Time: 85 min. Synopsis: Two cons break away from a chain gang and try to make it across the state line. REVIEW Looking at this film’s title, you think ...
Comic Book Craze Part 1: The Marvel Years
Comic books have always been a big part of my life. Even though I haven’t collected comics in 23 years, I still from time to time pick up an old back issue at the local comic book convention. For me, ...
DVD Review: “Kingdom of the Spiders”
Released By: Shout Factory Release Date: January 19, 2010 Number of Discs: 1 Approximate Running Time: 97 Minutes Special Features: Interview With William Shatner, Featurettes, Audio Commentary By Director John Bud Cardos, Behind-The-Scenes Footage, Poster Gallery, Trailer Suggested Price: $19.99 The Source: A remote Arizona town is ...
“The Car” (1977)
Studio: Universal Pictures Starring: James Brolin, Kathleen Lloyd, John Marley, R.G. Armstrong, Ronny Cox Directed by: Elliot Silverstein Rated: PG Running Time: 96 min. Synopsis: A possessed car terrorizes a small town. REVIEW I first saw this film back in the late 80’s on late night TV. ...
“Class of 1984″ (1982)
Studio: United Film Distribution Company Starring: Perry King, Timothy Van Patten, Roddy McDowall, Merrie Lynn Ross, Michael J. Fox Directed by: Mark L. Lester Rated: R Running Time: 98 min. Synopsis: A new teacher at a high school is terrorized by a gang of misfits. REVIEW Class ...
Forgotten Horrors: Bad Ronald
Back in 1974, calling something a “made for television” movie could actually be taken as a compliment. Unlike most of the sludge indiscriminately pawned off on the cable networks these days, movies from this era were actually required to have ...