Cannibal World, Gratuitous Nudity and Gore in the Amazon

Any redeeming qualities? Nope.  Gore...nudity...extreme gore while nude...you have been warned.  We also have catfights, babes competing in bikinis, seduction, and gore.  Oh, I said gore again...sorry.  Shot in The Philippines, set in the Amazon jungle, no other film has captured the ethos of Brazil and its people better than 2004's "Cannibal World," directed by Bruno Mattei. Oh, yes...the dubbing makes this a classic Euro-Trash gore-fest.

Grace (Helena Wagner), an info-babe/reporterette is about to have her show cancelled due to falling ratings. The sexpot with a microphone has an idea. Join up with her former lover and colleague in the Amazon and go look for cannibals.  Bob (Claudio Morales) is a hunk and needs dinero, thus he agrees. Also along is the often nude Cindy (Cindy Jelic Matic), and camera guys Ted (Antoine Reboul) and Ricky (Kevin Maxwell). The quintet head into the river and jungle and find natives...just not cannibals.  You know reporterettes...they do fake news well.  With some hearty editing, the TV audience will see cannibals.  Then...to Bob's surprise the cannibals show up. Grace strips her bikini and persuades their Indian guide to take them deep into cannibal territory.

Okay, you can probably guess...the cannibal gore will be extreme, especially with the big breasted nubile natives.  Guts are pulled out.  Heads are cracked open like walnuts and brains pulled out.  I won't go on, but what happens on the screen will cause you to cover your eyes.  Then, Grace, Bob, and crew get stupid.  For ratings purposes they engineer a war.  Now the quintet is on the run from these hungry and angry cannibals.  Nudity and gore will continue.  The big breasted Cindy and Grace will have something else to worry about...as cannibalistic natives are just like horny western thugs.  

Will Bob, Grace, and crew survive the cannibals?  Will Grace and Cindy catfight and passionately make-up with one another?  Will the cannibals spare the big breasted babes for other purposes?  Gory and very gratuitous.  Nudity galore.  You have been warned.  For a prurient film with no redeeming social value, see Bruno Mattei's "Cannibal World."    

Spookies, The Undead and Flatulance

Farting zombie monsters!  Yes!  I said...farting zombie monsters!  Deal with it. This trope has not been used again since this 1986 gem that we'll look at today. Unfortunately this film was not released in theaters with the assistance of Smell-O-Rama.  Yes, Smell-O-Rama was a real thing.  Like Sense-Around, it never caught on. Oodles of demon/vampire/zombie monsters...sultry babes in peril...stupid hunks unable to one-up the evil things, and a ghoulish master sorcerer controlling the whole shebang.  Yes!  Our feature today is 1986's "Spookies" directed by Genie Joseph, Thomas Doran, and Brendan Faulkner. 

Kreon (Felix Ward) is an ages old sorcerer determined to bring his babe wife, Isabelle (Maria Pechukas), back to life after 70 years. To do this he needs the souls of a lot of hunks and babes. His trusty ghoul/vampire assistant (Dan Scott) with a hook for a hand will help him. On cue, two carloads of hunks and babes arrive.  Right away, zombies come out of their graves and chase the idiots into the sorcerer's mansion...the same mansion John Jay (Supreme Court Justice) resided in. Now the babes and hunks are trapped. A corpse delivers a Ouija Board and it possesses babe Carol (Lisa Friede)...now she's possessed by Kreon. Carol now tries to kill her friends and they all scatter throughout the mansion. We pin our affections on Linda (Joan Ellen Delaney), probably because her big boobs hang out of her tight sweater.

Kreon or Carol resurrect monsters...three farting zombie fiends, a spider woman (Soo Paek), vampires, lizard/gargoyle monsters, giant spiders, etc. After a few kills, Isabelle comes back to life and tells Kreon she is not interested in him anymore. Now, clad in a nice alluring wedding gown, the former corpse Isabelle, is on the run. As Carol resurrects the grim reaper, the hunks and babes keep running.  The deaths will be gory and some elongated.  Cleavage will be highlighted, and Isabelle will herself be pawed, molested, and sexually assaulted by a horde of graveyard zombies. 

Will Kreon prevail and make Isabelle love him again?  Do any of the aforementioned hunks and babes have a chance at seeing the end credits? Filmed at John Jay's mansion, is this film a metaphor for the deadly and ghoulish direction the U.S. Supreme Court has proceeded in over the years?  This is a good one.  A lot of babes in peril.  A lot of hunks in peril. Farting zombies, and terrific creature f/x will make you smile.  See "Spookies" for a Friday night movie night with someone you love.   

Dr. Mabuse vs. Scotland Yard, German Super-Villain Strikes Again

The German Super-Villain, Dr. Mabuse, dates back to 1922, at least in German film. Like many Bond villains, he was just too good of a bad guy to retire after his death.  Hence, bring him back!  Why not!?  Patrick Duffy was brought back in "Dallas," even though no one wanted him back. This mad scientist, dabbing in the supernatural, is just too good of an antagonist to worry about mortality.  In this 1963 German film, set in Hamburg, he's back!  Our feature today is "Dr. Mabuse vs. Scotland Yard," directed by Paul May. 

Yep...he's back.  But how?  Dr. Mabuse (Wolfgang Preiss) was killed many years ago. He is in Hamburg plotting world conquest. One must admire his ambition. This is the deal, he has his henchmen help a demented army doctor escape from a prison train. Now Cockstone (Dieter Bosche) works for him. Mabuse gives Cockstone a different face and sends him to work for a scientist who is inventing a machine that can control the thoughts of others and turn them into Mabuse's drones. Cockstone murders the scientist and steals the device. Now Mabuse uses it to enslave powerful and influential Germans. Insp. Vulpius (Werner Peters), and Insp. Wright (Klaus Kinski) are on the case and call in Scotland Yard genius, Major Bill Tern (Peter van Eyck), the man who got Mabuse many years ago, to assist. 

Mabuse, the mad genius he is, co-opts an influential German princess, Diana (Ruth Wilbert) with the plan to install her as the new German leader. He also co-opts Tern's negligee clad GF, Nancy (Sabine Bethmann). Now it's personal and Tern, working with the two inspectors, seem on their own as half of Germany is entranced by Mabuse. Ah, but wait! Tern is brilliant and he just may have found a vulnerability to this telepathy device.  With half of the German police entranced, our trio must be careful but also work fast.  As Mabuse is ready to inflict his final assault in conquering Germany, Tern and his two buddies must bravely act and take the fight to the mad scientist.

Can Tern rescue Nancy and Diana from the spell they're under?  Just what does Mabuse plan to do with Germany after conquering it?  Will negligee clad Nancy and Princess Diana engage in a gratuitous catfight over Tern...or Mabuse?  This is a campy, quirky, and fun one with a bit of wit to it.  If you like larger than life mad villains, Dr. Mabuse is someone you have to meet.  See "Dr. Mabuse vs. Scotland Yard," and enjoy the madness.  

Crucible of the Vampire, Erotic and Neo-Gothic Vampire Tale

Okay...it is a cauldron. Not a crucible. At least that is what they refer to it as in this erotic movie. A nubile blonde babe, sought after by sultry blonde babe vampires.  Need I say anything more? She'll be seduced by them and they will want to bite her. Oh yes, a back story that takes place hundreds of years ago will tell all about the cauldron but we won't mention much about that. Suffice it to say, eroticism will rule the day, as will blood. Today we look at 2019's "Crucible of the Vampire," directed by Iain Ross-McNamee.

Very sultry Isabelle (Katie Goldfinch) is a virgin! Yay! We know what sultry vampire babes do to virgins in these movies. She works for a university museum and is sent to the Scott-Morton mansion/estate to evaluate something they found buried in their basement. Right!  No cell reception at this mansion headed by the creepy old guy Karl Scott-Morton (Larry Rew). He supposedly has found half a cauldron and knows the museum has the other half. If the two halves are reunited, it would be priceless.  Of course, you and I know what else will happen if the two halves are reunited. Right. While evaluating the find Isabelle meets the family...all weird.  Most notably is Scarlet (Florence Cady). Scarlet is a sultry blonde that has a lesbian attraction to the virgin Isabelle.  Isabelle won't even come close to resisting Scarlet's seduction.

Now it is apparent that Karl and the family want Isabelle and her virgin blood.  Scarlet wants a bit more from Isabelle than just her blood. Isabelle wants to escape...but all the doors are locked. A veritable prisoner in the mansion, Isabelle starts seeing a ghostly blonde babe vampire walk the halls.  Karl seems to be prepping for something. Isabelle is able to translate the writings on the outside of the artifact and it claims to be a tool for a necromancer to do unholy things. Scarlet keeps popping up in Isabelle's dreams and the dreams get erotic. Yes, the two babe blondes will end up in bed together in a moment of weakness or entrancement of Isabelle. Karl is ready.  Isabelle tries to flee...but will be caught.  Now the dark lady from centuries ago desires to be brought back into the world.

Will Isabelle's virgin blood be of help in summoning the centuries old vampire?  Will Scarlet and Isabelle catfight or make bacchanal love together?  Does Isabelle stand a chance of keeping her virgin blood, or will it be drained, or sucked out by the amorous Scarlet?  This is a creepy and erotic vampire tale.  Perhaps nothing new in this film, but the actresses are sultry and Isabelle's plight is horrific. For a neat vampire film, see "Crucible of the Vampire."

Snow Falls, Freezing to Death

I live in Virginia. Every time the thermometer goes below 45 degrees, schools are cancelled.  Seems children may get cold waiting for the bus.  The bus? Yeah, it doesn't stop at a bus stop...it stops right in front of the kid's house.  Every kid's house. No child shall have to walk more than 10 feet in the cold. yep...we are a country of wusses. We teach our children to be weak and narcissistic.  As an experiment, America has failed. What if the temps drop below freezing and the food runs out? Today we have a grim one.  This film will detail the horror of real blizzards, freezing temperatures, and starvation.  Our feature today is a Colton Tran film, 2023's "Snow Falls."

Snow Falls is a ski resort way up north.  Five friends head into the wilderness on the outskirts of this resort.  River's (Johnny Berchtold) folks have a luxury cabin up there.  Babe Eden (Anna Grace Barlow) is a blonde pre-med student who just lost her mom to cancer.  Em (Victoria Moroles), a babe, is there with her hunk BF Andy (James Gaisford).  The proverbial third wheel is Kit (Tran). At first, it is apparent that Eden still grieves for her deceased mother. We sense the nerd River has a crush on Eden...smart man!  Kit cracks inappropriate jokes...we like him. Em and Andy only want to have pre-marital sex. Blizzard hits.  Lights go out.  Heat goes out.  Someone forgot to go to the grocery store. The insulation in this place is awful and soon the five buddies begin freezing to death.

Hypothermia sets in. Their minds go.  Hallucinations abound,  Their behavior gets self destructive.  Their bodies begin eating themselves.  Eden, as a pre-med student, has an inkling of what is happening.  Telling her mates exactly what is going on does not seem to help.  The hallucinations cause extreme paranoia. We like Eden, she is smart and beautiful, and she does a yeoman's job in keeping her friends alive. Alas, she is only a pre-med student and her smarts cannot raise the temperature or procure nourishment.  What happens to some of these likable peeps is sad and gruesome.  Days go by...no heat, no food, and increased paranoia and hallucination.

Will any of these peeps survive?  Does Eden have knowledge of the Donner Party, and if she does will she share that information with her buddies?  Will River man-up enough to make a move on the nubile pre-med student?  Not the feel good film of 2023, but as winter sets in, and you are looking for a real horror story, see "Snow Falls."  

Uncaged, A Lion in Amsterdam

Gotta love it.  If a gory killing has not happened in the past 30 seconds, just wait another few seconds.  Death counts that are off the charts!  "Jaws" had five peeps eaten by a shark.  Our feature today has 135 gory kills (okay, only a slight exaggeration).  Known for films of blood, gore, and disembowelment, The Netherlands has given us a nice one.  Okay, so I embellish about The Netherlands, too. Our feature today is the Dick Maas 2016 bloodbath, "Uncaged" (aka "Prey"). 

A couple of horny teen-age lovers are devoured by a lion in Amsterdam.  To make matters worse, the skanks mom and dad, and six year old sister are eaten moments later. Five dead in just a few seconds. This pace will continue.  Lizzy (Sophie van Winden), a sultry blonde veterinarian at the zoo is consulted by the police.  A detective named Olaf (Rienus Krul) asks Lizzy guidance and she tells him this was no boating accident.  She says it in Dutch so it may have got lost in translation. Now Amsterdam has a lion problem. The media is going crazy with this story.  Lizzy's two-timing BF, Dave (Julian Looman) is with the TV station, and will remain by Lizzy's side throughout this story hoping for a scoop or pre-marital sex.  He'll get both.

Okay, the .lion feeds often.  Children are eaten.  Delivery guys are eaten. Hunters are eaten. You name it. After a hunter, who is a pal of the chief, is eaten, Lizzy's ex-husband is called in. Lizzy still has feelings for him making Dave insecure.  Jack (Mark Frost) is the planet's best lion hunter.  He arrives.  Uh oh.  His last hunt did not go well and he shows up sporting only one leg and riding a mechanized wheelchair.  He also wants sex with Lizzy.  Lizzy, if I may say, is quite the Nordic babe and wears leather pants well. Jack is good and takes the fight to the toothy maneater.  The maneater is good, too, and almost seems to be expecting the one-legged hero.  Lizzy keeps looking fantastic even as she ploughs through the gore and hunk guys.

Where did this lion come from?  Will Lizzy go back to the one-legged ex-husband or will she opt for her two-timing lover?  Just how can a one-legged hunter confined to a big motorized wheelchair hunt a lion?  Gore will be the common theme throughout this entire film.  Oh!  The ending!  Wow!  You'll see.  For a fantastic creature film with a lot of kills and some nice gore, see "Uncaged."

Cursed, Stupid American vs. Euro-Babe Witch

Set in rural Romania...filmed in Wisconsin.  One has superstition and gypsies.  The other has cheese and the Packers.  One has magic, curses, and mysterious deaths.  The other has an overflow from Chicago, an overflow from Scandinavia, and secular Catholics.  I will say that it is nice to see a witch in Romania who doesn't have a mole on her face with a single strand of hair growing out of it. Our feature today is 2024 "Cursed," directed by Patrick Corcoran.

Stupid dweeb American Gordon (Billy Branigan) is hiking through rural Romania...probably looking for The Slaughtered Lamb. He is out of money and hungry. The dweeb comes across a fruit stand that seems unattended.  He steals some apple, and the cash box that has a lot of money in it. The weather gets colder and he seeks refuge at a nearby farmhouse occupied by the sultry Zulema (Sarah Bonrepaux). She lets him in, feeds him, and shows some signals that she may want to seduce him. Uh oh...she tells Gordon that her grandmother, the old hag Olga (Lamya Regrauui Muzio), is upstairs and runs the fruit stand.  She also tells him that Olga provides the region with the freshest fruit and curses anyone who steals from her stand.

The horror begins. The next morning, Olga and Gordon meet.  She knows he stole from her and he bludgeons her to death after she projectile vomits at him. A heartwarming scene, I may add. Now he hides the body and claims ignorance when Zulema wonders where her grandmother is. Alas, she knows.  Now Gordon has no idea what he is in for.  Pre-marital sex will occur but not for the reasons it usually occurs.  Then Gordon begins changing.  What follows is horrific and gory.  The last ten minutes of the film will give you some imagery that will stay with you through days of nightmares. 

Just what did Zulema give to Gordon through this pre-marital sex?  Does Gordon have a prayer of escaping the witch Zulema? Just what does Zulema have planned for Gordon?  Creepy and moralistic, this film will be unsettling and cold.  For a good Friday night movie watch, see "Cursed."