Mountain Shark, When Tremors Meets Jaws

If you had any doubt as to the impotence of NATO, see today's film. Our feature today presents the most accurate image of NATO and its troops. As the alliance runs away from any skirmishes with Russia, their brass dine in luxury in fancy restaurants in Belgium.  With NATO protecting western Europe, you folks in Germany, France, and England better brush up on your Russian. Today we look at the film Steven Spielberg wanted to make before his budget was scaled down, 2024's "Mountain Shark," directed by Greg Ak.

Okay, a secret weapons experiment in a mountain base in England, sees a mad scientist, Dr. Eric Nesbitt (Stephen Samson), and the babe Major Hawkes (Angela Wilding) creating the ultimate killing machine. A genetically engineered shark that swims underground in the mountains.  The shark gets out of hand and eats hikers. Hawkes calls in five elite commandos who specialize in tracking down weapons that get out of hand.  Don't ask.  The five commando idiots show up...what losers!  The commander is Walker (Stephen Staley), a coward.  Two un-passionate lesbians, Gina (Ema Ekaete) and Paige (Julia Quayle), and cold-fish Lauren (Emily Felicia Moore) round out the team...incompetents!  They scare easy and are real stupid.  In their briefing with Major Hawkes, she tells them they cannot be informed about what this weapon is.  Apparently knowing about it will make them easier for the thing to hunt them down.  The fools buy this.

The plan for Hawkes and Nesbitt is to have the commandos eaten by the monster shark. Then the duo will tell command all about the shark. Huh? Go with it.  The shark continues eating hikers.  Paige makes a move on Gina who is not in the mood.  Lauren has a great scene in which she imitates a statue. Nesbitt goes bananas. Walker engineers a haggard retreat.  Yep...NATO!  The shark? It roars, it eats, it seems unstoppable.  This is okay with us as we are rooting for it, even though it is a non-vague metaphor for Vladimir Putin's Russia.  As NATO falls, we cheer.  

Will any of our British commandos survive, make it back to England, and file a complaint against the shark for racism or sexual harassment?  Does Britain stand a chance as we progress through the 21st century?  Is Britain taking cues from the U.S. Army on recruiting strategies?  You'll love the shark.  You will love the ending.  Annoyed by leftists who drive Toyota Prius'?  You must see this movie.  See "Mountain Shark," and then order Rosetta Stone and learn Russian. 

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." 

The Stalking, Day of the Triffids Meets The Evil Dead

Who can forget the scene where the tree raped the poor damsel in 1981's "The Evil Dead"?  How about 1963's "The Day of the Triffids"? Pretty scary...both films.  "Triffids" was remade by British TV but the remake was horrible.  Plants on the warpath...creepy (literally). Something about creeping plants, roots that sneak up on you, tear you apart, get inside you and explode out...ick...and eek! Today we have a film that will cause you to feel those roots sneaking up your body.  You'll itch, twitch, and squirm as you will imagine the invasion on your own self. Our feature today is from two of this blog's favorite people, Jeff Kirkendall and Mark Polonia, 2024's "The Stalking."

Joey (Cody Losinger), a nerd-teen, is a good sort. As the film begins, after a weird satanic rite, he is bullied by a mean gang.  Diesel (Justin Gordon), Diz (Anna Dainton), and Rod (Kyle Rappaport) are three of the gang bullies who end up beating and humiliating our nerd.  Joey is a good sort and takes comfort in two buddies, also nerds. Lauren (Jada Sanchez) and Marc (Stephen Pflug) want revenge, Not bloody revenge, as this trio are good sorts.  They concoct a plan that will utilize a stink bomb. Nerds! Meanwhile, remember that satanic rite I mentioned...it worked. Something is happening in this little town as Halloween approaches.  A scarecrow beckons for life.  Plants, sunflowers most notably, seem to animate.  They pull up roots and roam, think triffids. They even smoke weed...how fitting.

The stoned triffid-wannabes begin attacking.  Most of the victims have it coming as this little town has more deviants than Peyton Place.  The plants strangle, decapitate, pull apart, and invade the body.  The deaths are gory and ominous.  No one dies quickly in this film. Our nerd trio adopts a plan for revenge... not a good one, but when dealing with stupid bullies, one doesn't need Einstein in the gang. Marc has made the ultimate stink bomb, and now the nerds are on the offense..  Unfortunately for all involved, the real satanic killer will adopt a scythe. A scythe?  Has there ever been a bad horror film where the killer used a scythe.  Kind of like a sickle except more sophisticated.  The flamethrower of the folk horror subgenre, one might say. 

Will our nerds gain their revenge or die trying?  Will any of the bullies survive to the end credits? Will our stoned triffid-like things rape any nubile babes like in that 1981 classic?  This is a fun one with some great gore and creature f/x.  Mr. Kirkendall and Mr. Polonia have always known what horror fans want in their movies, and these two have delivered big time.  See "The Stalking" on the free streaming service of Fawesome by clicking this link THE STALKING .

The Amityville Moon, Werewolf Eats Babes

Amityville!  This may come as a surprise to you but this film has absolutely nothing to do with that dreaded house, possession, the Lutz family, or anything regarding what we know as "The Amityville Horror."  I guess "The Amityville Moon" sounds a lot better than "The Levittown Moon." But, we do have a nice cheese factor.  Sure, most of the babes will be shredded.  Our feature today is 2021's "The Amityville Moon," directed by Thomas J. Churchill.

Okay, as our film begins a werewolf chases down some schmuck and shreds him. Fast forward, two at-risk young female criminals try to escape from a Catholic Rehabilitation Home.  The gals there are either junkies, whores, abused, runaways, or exotic dancers sentenced to be there. The sultry Alyssa (Alex Rinehart) and Karla (Kelsey Zukowski) are trying to escape through a window. Alyssa makes it and Kelsey is pureed by a werewolf. Meanwhile, Detective Kimball (Trey McCurley) has just got his badge back after a suspension...anger issues. His first assignment is to find the two runaways, not knowing Karla has been digested. He goes to the home and talks to Father Peter (David B. Meadows) and Sister Ruth (Tuesday Knight). Both of these Catholics are obviously keeping secrets.  Like what? Like Sister Francis (Katrina Leigh Waters), a babe. She's also in a coma...kind of, being fed blood.  A clue!

Okay, more girls get ripped apart.  Alyssa is found at the biker bar she worked at as a cocktail waitress.  She was there to try to  buy a gun with silver bullets...think she knows something? Kimball kind of believes her even though he brings her back to Father Peter and Sister Ruth. Meanwhile, we get indication that Francis is not in a coma but very...hungry.  More babes get eaten.  Now Alyssa takes it upon herself to try to escape again as Kimball tries to get to the bottom of what is going on in the house. More babes get eaten.  One poor babe even gets her face swatted off.  Now Sister Francis is out of bed...and on the prowl.

Will Detective Kimball need cocktail waitress Alyssa to save him?  Will any babe be left with her internal organs as the end credits role?  Is this film a metaphor of the chaos and tumult the Catholic church has been in ever since it adopted The Apocrypha and drove Martin Luther away? For some gory carnage, with babes screaming bloody murder, see "The Amityville Moon."    

Stark Fear, Sultry Babe Put Through the Ringer

Fans of Beverly Garland will find this one very difficult to watch. The sultry actress, usually in horror films, makes this dark thriller.  In it she will be humiliated, toyed with, beaten, and, oh yes, brutally raped. Maybe the creepiest and most humiliating rape of movie history. Her black lacy bra will actually be an important prop throughout the film. This is one that you may think reaches its darkest point...then it gets darker and more sordid. Our feature today is 1962's "Stark Fear," directed by Ned Hockman.

Ellen (Garland) only desires to please her oil executive husband, Gerry (Skip Homeier) on his birthday. She'll buy and put on a very sexy black lace bra and bring home a birthday cake. Gerry's company has not been finding oil of late so he is grouchy. Ellen has taken a new job to pay the bills with the hunk Cliff (Kenneth Tobey). She arrives home and her drunk husband pummels and humiliates her. He is upset that she has taken a job with a hunk. He calls her a tramp and belts her around. Now Gerry orders her to refuse the job she was just offered. The beating and humiliation Gerry delivered Ellen is hard to watch, and now she wanders the park in her roughed up state.  What will ultimately make matters worse for her, Cliff still pursues her, not only as a secretary but romantically.

Now it gets really brutal and sadistic, this movie. Ellen, if at all possible, desires to save her marriage... mistake. When Gerry goes missing she tries to find him and learns some weird secrets about her husband.  She finds out he actually hails from a small Oklahoma town and drives there. Big mistake. The town is weird and is filled with weird people and shops.  Rapists and drunks abound and the smartly dressed and made-up Ellen is no match for the deviance and brutality that will violate her there.  In one horrific scene, she is pulled into a graveyard and...well, you'll see. Can this get worse? Oh yes.  You'll see.  The last act in this film ramps up the sordid deviance three levels.  Alas, the sultry Beverly Garland will have turned in a heartbreaking and difficult performance.  Alas, the beautiful will suffer so much in this film.

Will Ellen be able to save her husband from whatever ails him?  Just what secrets lay in Gerry's spooky home town?  Will Cliff be able to be a white horse and come in and save the pretty Ellen? Beverly Garland is one of my favorite actresses and to watch her performance in this film will be unforgettable. See "Stark Fear," and be ready to gasp and squirm. 

The Bloody Vampire, Mexican Vampire

Cultural appropriation be damned, another stolen vampire film from Mexico. Anglo names are inserted for the characters...although didn't Mexico just elect a president with an Anglo name? Never mind. On one hand we have a classic "Dracula" type tale, however there are some twists to it. The movie is also vicious and gory...and the vampire bat!  Yep a bat that looks like a kaiju...Rodan to be more specific. Perhaps the Mexicans did a bit of cultural appropriation on the Japanese. Interesting that Japan never complained about this. Today we look at 1962's "The Bloody Vampire," directed by Miguel Morayta. BTW, this film is on the free streaming service Mometu (get the app or see them on X @freemometu).

Our toothy fiend is Count Frankenhausen (Carlos Agosti). He lives in a cavernous old castle south of the border.  His sultry wife is Countess Frankenhausen  (Erna Martha Bauman). She's sultry but not pleasing to the Count. She does not desire to be bitten so the Count is killing her with disease. The evil servant Frau Hildegarde (Bertha Moss) brings the Count ravishing women from the village for him to feed on and make some his brides. He has a bunch of brides in coffins...perhaps a metaphor for that Mexican machismo we love to snicker at here in the States. Let's skip much of the plot and get to Anna (Begona Palacios) and her doctor fiancé, Richard (Raul Farrell). See, Anna is kind of like Nancy Drew...loves a good mystery. Richard has been tasked to help find a cure for vampirism by his boss, Anna's dad (Antonio Rexel).

Fast forward...Anna uses her guile to land a job as a servant and nurse for the Countess.  Richard will be kept informed and befriend the Count. Eek...Richard does not fool the Count. Even worse, the Count falls madly in love with Anna and desires to kill off the Countess, bite Anna, and make the nubile sleuth his new main bride. Now Anna and the Countess are in mortal danger.  Richard lingers near and in the castle trying to find proof that the Count is a vampire.  Hildegarde finds out Richard's and Anna's deception from spies and reports back to the Count. Now the Count figures he needs to hurry up and turn Anna into a bloodsucker.  He figures on doing this just after finally draining the Countess. Only Richard can stop him as Anna has been entranced by the vampire's magical gaze.

Will Anna be able to survive as a living being and also save the Countess?  Is Count Frankenhausen a misunderstood undocumented living being in a world that sees him as undead? Is Richard's and Anna's desire to murder the charming vampire a mere form of xenophobia and hate that will forever damn Mexico?  The babe factor in this film is terrific as is the gore factor. This is a better film than many of the "Dracula" remakes made by Hollywood. Treat yourself with a terrific vampire film, see "The Bloody Vampire" or should I say "El Vampiro Sangriento"?

Terror of the Master, Vampire Duo and a TV Info-Babe

When we think of horror films from1998 we may mention "Urban Legend," "The Faculty," or "Deep Rising."  We had starlets like Famke Janssen (who was in two of those films) seducing us.  Though the 1980s were the golden years of slasher and horror films, we often forget about the 90s. Straight to VHS came into being and horror films still opened fairly often in the movie theater.  1998 also saw our buddy Jeff Kirkendall as a young, strapping, gentleman of a film maker. Today we associate him with our other buddies, the Polonia Brothers.  Today we look at Jeff Kirkendall's 1998 film, "Terror of the Master," available free on the streaming service of Fawesome .

Okay, as our film opens, the sultry Jennifer (Amy Naple) is chained in the basement of a vampire's abode. Clad in a nice black negligee, and trying to escape, sadly, she will fall victim to the toothy Christopher (Tony Turcic).  Apparently many young babes have gone missing as Christopher does have needs. Info-Babe Drew (Maitely Weismann) has yet to make it big.  Thus, she works part time in an antique store. One night a babe comes into the shop, leaves suddenly, and ends up in Christopher's basement. Very sad. Drew recognizes the babe when her station does a news report on her disappearance.  She also gets a threatening call telling her to forget about seeing the babe in her shop...or else.

Now Drew, determined to graduate to important news features, instead of bake sales, investigates.  Her depressed sister Amelia (Jennifer Birn) joins her.  They get close to Christopher fast and this incurs the vampire's wrath.  Uh oh...Christopher explains his backstory...and it goes back centuries.  You'll see, no spoilers here, but it does tell us there is another vampire, Darden (James Carolus).  These two have a bit of a rivalry...a rivalry that indicates both want the other dead...I mean really dead.  Unfortunately for Amelia and Drew, they will be caught up in this battle while chained in Christopher's basement.

Will Drew survive to break the story of a lifetime?  Will the sisters, now chained in the basement, escape as living beings...or undead beings?  Can any nubile babe survive the lust rivalry of two horny and hungry vampires?  Jeff Kirkendall succeeds in giving us a plot we want to see on the screen as opposed to making a sequel to Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon."  For some fun and campy thrills, see "Terror of the Master." 

My Cherry Pie, Hardened Criminals vs. Psychos

We have one from Australia today.  What do we have?  Let's just say it is a reimagining of Tobe Hooper's "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." At times the accents will be difficult to understand, here in the U.S., but stay with it.  This isn't an arty film about relationships, it is a horror film with gore thrown in your face. It is also one of those films where we end up cheering for the killer.  There are just some people that need killing...a U.S. Marine told me that once. Our feature today is 2021's "My Cherry Pie," directed by Addison Heath and Jasmine Jakupi.

Okay, the film begins with two hippies in the woods planning to fornicate. They'll be killed off in very gory fashion.  The killer marches away with their heads. Fast forward, two idiotic crime guys, Jack (Dylan Heath) and Green (Tim Jason Wicks), pick up Freddie (Sotiris Tzelios) as he gets out of prison. The trio immediately continue their evil ways and knock off three drug dealers. Uh oh...they knocked off a connected fiend (Aston Elliot) and now have to get out of Dodge. They don't get far as their car breaks down.  Edwin (Glenn Maynard) finds them and brings them home. Home? He has an abandoned school where he lives with his sultry niece, Cherry (Trudi Ranik). Like all babes...she's a bit off. The trio look at Cherry as if they want to rape her.  Edwin and Cherry look at the crime boys as if they want to...well, you'll see.

Meanwhile, a masked killer stalks the grounds of this school turned into an orchard, and murders annoying trespassers.  The kills are gory.  Jack realizes there is something off with Cherry and implores his mates to get away now.  The mates, unwisely are captivated by her beauty and decline. Now something or someone in the house hunts them.  Right, someone or something is behind a locked door and is fed body parts by Cherry.  The reveal is not totally surprising, but the gore is intense.  Our three criminal stooges may or may not get what is coming to them.  Other reveals are sordid and taboo.

Do any of these criminals have a chance of getting away?  What is Cherry's story and is she the killer?  Just what is behind the locked door that needs to eat human remains?  This film pays a lot of homage to the Tobe Hooper classic and that is just fine with us.  For an incredibly gory horror film set in the Land Down Under, see "My Cherry Pie."    

Blood and Snow, The Thing in Northern Ontario

Okay, let me clear up any questions that may arise after you view the first five minutes of this film. It isn't in English. The first five minutes is in French. No subtitles. Don't turn it off.  Let me translate for you now. Here is the English translation of the French dialogue. "AH!"  "NO!"  "RUN AWAY!"  "WE'RE DOOMED!" "ALL IS LOST!"  "DON'T RIP MY HEAD OFF!" After this, all is in English. What we have here is inspired by 1982's "The Thing." Our feature today is 2023's "Blood and Snow," directed by Jesse Palangio. By the way, the head did get torn off.

A base in northern Canada supports a rig that is supposedly drilling for oil. Yeah, right!  Marie (Anne-Carolyne Binette) is a sweetie who only speaks, and screams, in French. Something comes up out of the hole they are drilling into and takes her dad's head off. Or so it appears.  She is dragged away by whatever the fiend was. Enter Luke (Simon Phillips) and Seb (Michael Swatton). The two guys from base were sent to bring Marie and her dad back to base before a storm sets in. They find half of dad and Marie, who is in shock. They bring her back to the base and into sick bay...mistake.  It's not Marie. The professor (Vernon Wells) treats Marie and notices things about her that can't be right.  They aren't. Eventually she'll wake, talking perfect English, and seeking knowledge on the internet about the human brain.

Marie also has superhuman strength and starts assaulting, and murdering members of the base.  The peeps are stuck with her as the nearest rescue team is 24 hours away. Uh oh!  She wants the rescue team.  See, she wants to "spread."  Yep, the professor figures out that Marie has a parasite in her from outer space.  If she reaches general population, the entire planet will be infected in 27,000 hours. Seb, who always had a thing for Marie (probably because they don't speak the same language...funny how that makes the opposite sex more appealing) wants to try to get the real Marie to fight off the parasite. Good luck!

Is incinerating a whiny babe scientist, who only speaks French, something we can all get behind?  If the alien parasite does reach general population, and takes over, how will we notice? Is the lack of flamethrowers in this film a severe enough plot deviance from the 1982 film something we can get past? Oh!  Fear not...there is an Alaskan Husky in this movie. For a toned down, but still creepy, version of John Carpenter's 1982 classic, see "Blood and Snow."  

Aimee: The Visitor, AI Babe Runs Amok

Remember cloning? What was it...maybe 10 years ago.  We were told cloning was finally here...gonna change everything. Yawn.  Then VR...what was that, five or six years ago?  Yawn.  Today we have AI.  Well, it's here.  What's here? A device to cut down on labor costs.  A device to trim payrolls.  A device to finally get rid of entitled employees who demand to "work from home." Today we look at Aimee...or AI-mee.  A sultry redhead who is 100% computer generated by Charles Band and Full Moon Features.  She's seductive, sexy, kinky, and not real. Kind of like a lot of stuff in our lives.  Our feature today is 2023's "Aimee: The Visitor."

Pervert and hunk Keyes (Dallas Schaefer) is an industrial hacker.  He owns a building where he plies his trade. Also living in the building are his friends, the nubile Gazelle (Faith West) and her brother Hunter (Felix Morback). The trio discover, or steal, some software that could really bring their hacking to a new level.  Keyes installs it and there is Aimee (Liz Jordan's voice). She is a sultry redhead but soon learns everything.  She helps Keyes and even offers him inspiration and tools for his masturbation. Gazelle gets jealous...and Aimee gets jealous...women! Aimee moves in quite rapidly for Keyes' affections.  Now Aimee desires to eliminate the competition.  See, Gazelle and Keyes end up having pre-marital sex and Aimee is not happy.

Now Aimee plugs into everything computerized in the city and kills Hunter's dog with a Roomba...happens.  The little yapper probably had it coming. Our redheaded computer generated babe proves to be quite psycho and develops a justification for murder.  Now our three humans are in great peril, but Keyes is slow on the uptake.  Uh oh...Gazelle figures out where Aimee came from, though the answer is no surprise. 

Just how does a catfight go when only one of the participants is flesh and blood?  Will Keyes figure out a way to impregnate an AI image?  If the Roomba can be weaponized, can a curling iron or a...well, never mind.  Entertaining and thought provoking, especially if you were thinking of getting a Roomba, "Aimee: The Visitor" is a quirky techno-thriller. 

The Wolf of Snow Hollow, A Werewolf in Upstate New York

Yes!  You are right.  There's no doubt.  Everyone is stupid.  Everyone around you has been put on this Earth to mess you up at every turn.  To interfere with your success. How could everyone be so stupid?  Why don't they just listen to everything you say as if it were the word of God? Is there a limit to how stupid people can be?  Doesn't appear so. Beware, there is someone, or something, who is not stupid.  That monster that hunts you...you'll see.  Today we look at 2020's "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" (aka "The Werewolf"), directed by Jim Cummings.

John (Cummings) is a deputy.  He is covering for the elderly and sickly Sheriff Hadley (Robert Forster). Hadley was like a dad to John, but now his best days are long gone and he is in denial about his diminishing abilities. No time for drama, the lovely Brianne (Annie Hamilton), clad in a leopard print bikini, is eaten by a werewolf. Her sex organs are now missing. John will now have a weird murder case. John? He's at AA yelling at the other drinks.  Irate at his ex-wife, who he wants to drive a bulldozer through her house.  Trying, badly, to raise a lovely 18-year-old daughter (Chloe East), and putting up with incompetent fellow deputies. Now he has this weird case.  His lovely babe deputy, Julia (Riki Lindhome) is trying to tell him that his alcoholism and temper are skewering his own abilities. Still, John belittles the coroner, fellow deputies, the sheriff, the media, his daughter, his ex-wife, and waitresses. 

Might John need an attitude adjustment? This is an important part of the film as it chronicles a deputy/dad that is in the throes of a nervous breakdown. More sultry dames will be eaten by the werewolf. Parts of their bodies will also be missing. No clues.  John refuses to believe a werewolf is doing these awful crimes, though the evidence certainly points to that.  He maintains a man is doing these evil and perverted things. His deterioration continues at full speed. Even after we see the werewolf, John does not believe in monsters.  We see the werewolf?  Do we?  Even in a state of going insane, could John be right?

Could John, himself, be the monster?  Will the lovely Deputy Julia, or Jenna (the daughter) end up wolf food?  Is the 12-foot tall creature really a werewolf, or could John be right? This is a good one.  As John further delves into a nervous breakdown, he just may be onto something.  See this gory, quirky, and often heartbreaking horror film.  "The Wolf of Snow Hollow" will deliver surprises and a sad human commentary.