Carnival of Blood, Coney Island Carnage

As with all films which gained popularity at the drive-in, 1970's "Carnival of Blood" is flawed. Sure, some of the scenes go on too long, and the film quality is grainy, etc.  However, our feature today is better than anything Harrison Ford has done in 30 years, and the gore is quite graphic. Oh yes, an interesting note, in addition to being filmed at the amusement park in Coney Island, this is the screen debut of Burt Young ("Rocky").

Tom and Gimpy

Oh so sweet, Dan (Martin Barolsky), an assistant DA, proposes to the nubile and quite shapely Laura (Judith Resnick). At the same time, the horror begins at Coney Island. The beautiful Claire (Linda Kurtz) is decapitated on a house of horrors ride. No clues. No witnesses. Dan, a real jerk, cancels his celebration date with Laura in order to take her to Coney Island to investigate the murder...the case is assigned to him in the prosecutor's office.  Distraught at the un-romantic nature of this date, Laura wants to break off the engagement.  Enter Tom (Earle Edgerton). Tom mans a booth at Coney Island and convinces Laura to change her attitude. Actually, lots of passionate pre-marital sex with Dan also helps her attitude adjustment. Tom loves giving teddy bears out to people who win his dart game.  Interesting point however, as the body count increases, all the victims were obnoxious to him just before their demise.

Dan looks for clues

Then there is Gimpy (Young). A hunchback with a deformed face, he helps Tom run his booth.  He is very antagonistic to customers, and mentally unbalanced.  Then a beautiful young lady is gutted underneath the pier, and her entrails are pulled out.  No spoilers here, but the next murder will be even gorier.  As Laura and Dan seem to make-up, Dan continues to investigate the homicides.  Feeling neglected, Tom and Gimpy take pity on her and keep giving her teddy bears.  Uh oh, the beautiful blonde Laura seems to have drawn the attention of the maniac.

Tom consoles Laura

Will Laura ditch her un-romantic fiance in favor of a doctor?  Is our hunchback too easy of a suspect? How about Tom? Why is he so interested in comforting a babe way out of his league? The gore is intense, and the acting is just fine.  Burt Young is great and it is easy to see why he was cast in "Rocky," a few years later.  Drive-in horror fans will want to catch this grainy and raw horror/exploitation film.

Terror at Baxter U, Spartans Dismembered

Lots of great looking college kids in much peril from a bloodsucking beast! Yep...a plot line that can't fail. 2003's "Terror at Baxter U" should have been titled "Nubile Michigan State University Babes and Hunks Torn to Pieces." Okay, so my title is a bit contrived, but our feature today was made at Michigan State and Psi Upsilon Fraternity. Whatever virtues possessed by Ohio State and the University of Michigan and other Big 10 institutions, the kudos go to Michigan State for releasing a slasher film filled with blood spatter and decapitations.

Mary Lewis before being gutted

As our film begins two very hot Michigan State University students (Mary Lewis and Daniel Linton)  are engaging in pre-marital sex. A monster-thing intrudes, pulls apart the male and chases the coed, clad in intimate undies, through the anthropology building. As our nubile coed races through the corridors, our filmmakers seem to be saying "Hey Ohio State, we have hotter chicks than you do!" She'll then be decapitated and have her blood drained.  The cops, Lt. Emil Klinger (Ron Blankenhorn) and Detective Barbara McIntosh (Amy Vanden Berghe) respond. Uh oh, Lt. Emil finds an ancient Mexican (Aztec) amulet at the crime scene suggusting these killings may have been some sort of ritualistic sacrifice...after all, this is Michigan State.

Mary Lewis after being gutted

Lt. Emil connects these killings to similar ones that befell MSU 25 years earlier. Suspects? Oh yes, Professor Cassandra Dregstone (Janet Lockwood).  Dregstone has some connection to ancient Aztec rituals and tries to recruit nubile babes to participate in them.  The  slow and elderly Professor Moxie (Bill Vincent) suspects Dregstone and recruits his anthropology class to get to the bottom of this bloody mystery.  Uh oh, more great looking students get gutted and drained of blood and now the lovely Detective McIntosh gets an ax buried in her skull. As more nubile coeds and hunk underclassmen are shredded, Dregstone seems to be preparing for some grand Aztec ritual which will put the entire Big 10 in peril.

Professor Moxie and his class

Does Michigan State University have the hottest student body in the Big 10? Is the University of Michigan's refusal to counter this film an admission to that very point? Is there any stopping some demented Aztec deity from being resurrected in East Lansing, Michigan?  However amateurish this film class project is, the questions it poses are important and worth extensive debate. Directed by Jeff Burton, see "Terror at Baxter U," available on YouTube.

Bloody Reunion, South Korean Torture Porn

Torture porn from South Korea? So it would appear, but appearances can be misleading. So how is a beautiful woman having her eyelids stapled and her fiance forced to swallow dozens of razor blades not torture porn? Today we look at 2006's "Bloody Reunion," directed by Dae-wung Lim.  A word of warming for all you teachers out there...you better be perfect because all the blame will head your way. Confused? That's appropriate.

Suffering from a terminal illness Miss Park (Mi-hee Oh) will die soon. Her former student, Mi-Ja (Yeong-hie Seo) is now her beautiful nurse. Sensing her patient is close to death, Mi-Ja arranges a reunion of Miss Park's last class. 7th graders from 15 years ago will now convene at Park's house on the shore for a remembrance of happier times. Oh yes, Miss Park gave birth to a deformed child who doesn't appear to be around anymore. The students arrive and at first they appear to be full of affection and admiration for their former teacher.

Uh oh, something is not as it seems. We learn each student was emotionally crushed by Miss Park and in fact, hate her guts. Double uh oh...one by one each student is grabbed, tied up, and tortured unmercifully to death. The blood flows, and razors, bugs, and staples seem to be the villains tools of preference. Who is doing all this awful stuff? Could it be Miss Park, after all, she tormented the kids 15 years ago? Wait, wasn't there a deformed son? Where is he? Or is the answer more ominous and surprising?

Gory and heartbreaking, "Bloody Reunion" will leave you needing a few stiff adult beverages. The answer to the mystery is almost as disgusting as what the fiend did to the victims.  The cast is great looking, and resemble a flight crew of a Korean Airlines plane. Not the feel good movie of the 21st century, but horror film fans will love this gore-fest and relish in the surprise, though very macabre, ending.

Audition, Not for the Squeamish!

Not for the squeamish? Ha! That's an understatement! In what may be Harvey Weinstein's biggest nightmare, from Japan, we have 1999's "Audition." There is the final 30 minutes of this film, which I will keep quiet about, as even the description isn't for the squeamish. Remember, all you lonely and vulnerable souls out there, this film is a warning. When the heart speaks, the brain turns to peanut butter. Perhaps the more seasoned among you may take "Audition" (directed by Takashi Miike) as a metaphor for what 'the perfect gal' is likely to turn into once you get to know her.

Shigeharu (Ryo Ishbashi) is a lonely widow yearning for female companionship. Since his wife's demise seven years previous, he has put together a successful talent agency. His friend and partner, Yasuhisa (Jun Kunimura) suggests a phony audition. A casting call for a new TV show, but in reality, this audition will allow Shigeharu to view dozens of Japanese beauties and select one. In short, he selects Asami (Eihi Shiini). Mysterious, beautiful, and apparently in need of someone like Shigeharu. Ignoring red flags that come to light in a cursory background check, he dates her and the two get very serious.

Now the second half of the film. Yes Asami is beautiful and of course, mysterious. Okay, we see her sanity is...well...perhaps non-existent. Unfortunately for Shigeharu, he learns this too late, probably because his hormones over-ruled his brain! What we, and Shigeharu find out about Asami is that she is...a demented and sadistic monster.  All you divorced guys out there, I don't want to hear it! Too late. What follows...oops, I promised I wouldn't go into that. Suffice it to say, "Audition" may have been the inspiration for "American Mary." Syringes, pins, dissection, torture, and amputation will grace the final half hour of "Audition."

I have always warned my family that anyone can appear sane and normal for a few days.  Give it a week, and watch out. Like Shigeharu, by the time a week has passed, phone numbers have been exchanged and a symbiotic relationship has seized you. If you dare, take a look at "Audition." You have been warned. All you guys approaching middle-age, heed this film as a warning. When a beautiful 24 year old beauty seems intrigued by you, she may really only be intrigued by your internal organs.

The Burning Dead, Lava Oozing Zombies

Okay, our film today has received a 2.2/10 rating on IMDB.  Perfect for this blog. How can a film containing lava spewing zombies, a volcano that spits out those zombies, and lots of intestine and internal organ dismemberment be bad?  Oh yes, it also has Danny Trejo!  Directed by Rene Perez, let us take a look at the much maligned "The Burning Dead."

The soon to be eaten nude blogger

As the film begins it is 1846 and cannibals (...or zombies) are finishing off the Donner Party. A volcano erupts swallowing all the zombies in a river of lava. Fast forward to today, a volcano is about to erupt and a California mountain town needs to be evacuated. The handsome, and newly single Sheriff Denton (Thomas Downey) comes to help the single mom Mindy (Moniqua Plante) box up her belongings, The two are sweet on each other. The volcano erupts spewing out lava-oozing zombies. Our first victim will be a young damsel (Jenny Lin) who is in the mountains snapping nude pictures of herself. She'll be eaten in an elongated scene in which we see the nude blog-model's internal organs eaten. As more lava-spewing fiends are ejected from the volcano, Denton races back up the mountain to rescue his new GF Mindy and her daughter Nicole (Nicole Roberts).

The Donner Pass horror

Now trapped up the mountain, the zombies converge on our survivors which also include Nicole's beau, grandfather Old Ben (Robert F. Lyons), and a sultry geologist Eve (Julie Lehman). They'll be attacked and soon find out that head-shots don't work on these walkers. As they flee from these monsters, we are given a clue as to how the living may prevail. An old Cherokee called Night Wolf (Danny Trejo) knows about the Curse of Donner Pass, and perhaps how to break it.

Lava spitting fiend

Will Night Wolf be able to end this reign of terror? Will the Sheriff and Mindy be able to swap some spit with Nicole and her boy toy nearby? Will we get to see the pictures of the nude blogger before she was eaten, or will the lava claim that treasure forever?  Cannibals, zombies, and Danny Trejo! Sure, the elite film critics may give this a 2.2/10 rating, but fans of this blog know better. Enjoy 2015's "The Burning Dead."

The Sinful Dwarf, Sex Slaves and a Midget

A faded and disfigured canteen singer performing "Chu Chu Bamba." A demented and perverted dwarf. Three nubile beauties turned into sex slaves. From Denmark we take a look at 1973's "The Sinful Dwarf." Warning, this film has no socially redeeming value and a mention of it in polite company will relegate you to an outcast to be avoided at all costs.  So as we proceed...you have been warned.

As our story begins, Olaf (Torben Bille), a weird dwarf, lures a Danish beauty (Jeanette Marsden) to his rooming house where he clubs her unmercifully, addicts her to heroine, tortures her, strips her, and turns her into a sex slave. Nothing unusual here for Olaf and his mom, Lila (Clara Keller) the scarred has-been nightclub performer. Their new gig? After addicting girls to heroine, they charge perverted guys to go up and do whatever they want to them. Rape, whippings, or other tortures are the most popular pleasures. After a few doses of the narcotic, the gals are reduced to drooling drones only too happy to please Olaf and Lila.

Desperate for a cheap room, the very sultry Mary (Anne Sparrow) and her husband Peter (Tony Eades) arrive at the boarding house. After taking a gander at Mary, and seeing her potential, Lila rents them a room. Olaf is happy as he peeks through a peep-hole at the naked Mary, especially when she is having marital sex with Peter. As Olaf and Lila wait for a chance to turn Mary into an addicted sex-slave, we are treated to Lila's nightclub act covering up the moans and screams of the three existing slaves. The torture porn (a literal in this film) is overwhelming and gratuitous, and naive Mary seems no match for the evil that is about to enslave her.

Will Mary emerge from this nightmare? What of the fate of the three existing slaves? Has Torben Bille's performance as the fiendish Olaf typecast dwarfs in Hollywood to weird miscreants? This is a dirty and violent one and after seeing it, you might want a very long shower. Directed by Eduardo Fuller, for some extreme sexploitation, see "The Sinful Dwarf" at your own peril.

The Living Dead Girl, Lesbian Vampire and Toxic Waste

Jean Rollin (who died in 2010) finished his film making career creating porn films. Before that, the French director made fantasy/horror movies featuring lesbian eroticism, vampires, and madness. Hence 1982's "The Living Dead Girl" (aka "La Morte Vivante"). I don't believe Mr. Rollin was influenced by Japanese horror, however, the spurting blood in this film will remind you of those Asian gore-fests.

An unfortunate grave robber

Two French schmucks seeking to get rid of some toxic waste decide to kill two birds with one stone. They break into the spacious crypt at the Castle Valmont, deposit their barrels of radioactive goo, and pry open the coffin of Catherine Valmont (Francoise Blanchard) and steal her jewelry. Earthquake! The barrels fall and spill their toxic waste creating fumes that reanimate Catherine. Catherine, a blonde beauty returns as a vampire-like vixen with sharp finger nails. She punctures out the eyes of her would be necrophiliac grave-robber and her blood drinking rampage begins. The zombie-like Catherine wanders out of the crypt and goes upstairs into the Valmont Castle where she begins remembering her lesbian lover, Helene (Marina Pierro).

Helene and Catherine

The castle is on the market so a sultry realtor and her lover stop by for pre-marital sex. Big mistake, as the two are in the throes of intercourse, Catherine arrives sending the blood of the lovers spurting. Helene figures out that Catherine is back and races to the castle. The two beautiful lovers have obstacles to overcome, such as Catherine only dines on human blood in her resurrected state. Helene lures pretty French women to the castle and Catherine feasts on them. Uh oh, an American photographer, Barbara (Carina Barone) shoots a picture of Catherine from a distance and returns to the castle to investigate.  Helene realizes the world is getting curious about reports of Catherine coming back from the dead. Catherine's kills are getting more graphic as now she punctures arteries and rips guts out of formerly stunning French women.

An over-the-top ending

What does Helene have in store for Catherine's future? Will the two be lovers again? Is Catherine's new appetite for human blood and guts an ominous omen for Helene's desire to be intimate with the resurrected beauty? Erotic and very gory, Jean Rollin's "The Living Dead Girl" will arouse you and turn yoiur stomach at the same time. Oh yes, be warned, the last 15 minutes will have you diverting your eyes in horror and disgust.