Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Invasion U.S.A. (1985)

Directed by: Joseph Zito

Starring: Chuck Norris, Richard Lynch, Melissa Prophet

America wasn't ready....but HE was!











There is a genre of film that I particularly love, and that is action films from 1987-1997.  I have yet to see one from this period of time that I have disliked.  Even the bad ones are fun to watch, especially with the right people.  Die Hard set a high bar of the genre, and the films that tired to replicate the success of it don't clear it, but they are fun none the less.

With that said, Invasion U.S.A. came out a few years prior, but falls into the same category.  Chuck Norris is one of those actors who I'm not expecting a Shakespearean performance out of, I just want a fun action movie with some butt-kicking.  And this one does not disappoint.

Basically, Norris' character Matt Hunter is a retired CIA agent who gets pulled back into the fray when a terrorist he put away starts a reign of terror by organizing an attack on the U.S.  But first, he wants to take out the one man who put him away.

Gun battles: Check
Explosions: Check
Car chases: Check
Bad guys who went to the COBRA school of shooting: Check
Cheesy one-liners: None that I recall

Invasion U.S.A. has been on Dave and I's "need to watch" list since we saw Electric Boogaloo.  I think we are most definitely be hunting down a few of the other Cannon films we want to see.  We really enjoyed the movie, even if it did have some questionable aspects (Mainly, the unlimited ammo guns)  (Also, not sure what the actual point of Melissa Prophet's character was)

A couple of fun things about the film.

A) Takes place during the Christmas season, so it has a place on my Christmas watch list now.

B) The homes that get blown up were actual houses that were set to be demolished for the expansion of an airport, so Cannon purchased them and used them in the movie.  Same for the mall that is used, as it was being remodeled, so they were able to actual destroy it.

C) Billy Drago has one of the briefest cameos I've ever seen for someone listed in the opening credits.


Norris falls into the same category of actor as Lundgren, Seagal and Van Damme for me: I'm pretty sure I will enjoy the film if they are in it.


If you're interested in purchasing the film for yourself, Shout Factory! just released it on blu-ray last month.  You can get it on Amazon here.

Unseen Cinema - L.A. Confidential

L.A. Confidential (1997)

Directed by: Curtis Hanson

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Guy Pearce, Russell Crowe

Based upon the novel by James Ellroy

Everything is suspect...

Everyone is for sale...

And nothing is what it seems.






Last year, I posted my first entry in a feature I entitled Unseen Cinema (it was on Zodiac, for those new to the blog).  As I'm hoping to blog more in 2016, I plan on keeping that feature ongoing, hopefully being able to do at least one entry a month.

As with Zodiac, I ignored L.A. Confidential mainly due to the cast.  I've never really been a fan of Spacey or Crowe, and so I've tended to just gloss over this film.  Thankfully (once again to friends on Twitter), I decided to give this film a shot, as it was recommended to me by multiple people.  And I'm very glad I did, as I loved it.

Based loosely on the 1990 James Ellroy novel, L.A. Confidential follows 3 police officers of the LAPD during the early '50s and shows how the limelight of Hollywood and the corruption of the police intersected.

The three main officers we follow are Detective Sergeant Jack Vincennes (Spacey), whose claim to fame is being the technical advisor to Badge of Honor, a popular police procedural show of the time, Officer Bud White (Crowe), an officer who gets used mostly for muscle work, and newly appointed Detective Lieutenant Ed Exley (Pearce), an officer who is trying to live up to his police officer father, whose unsolved murder in the line of duty fuels his ambition, and is willing to make enemies to get to where he wants.

The Nite Owl murders is the investigation that brings our trio of characters together, and as they investigate it, a bigger mystery begins to unravel.

Going to stop there plot-wise, as I don't want to venture into spoiler territory.  I will say that the movie plays at a brisk pace and as the investigation continues, some twist and turns take place as the road darkens.

The story is great, and I really want to watch it again soon.  There is not one role that is out of place, and the supporting cast is phenomenal.  Kim Basinger won a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award as Lynn Bracken.  Rounding out the cast are James Cromwell, Danny DeVito, and David Strathairn.

The movie is quite phenomenal, and I'm sad I put off watching it for so long.  Being a fan of film noir and crime drama, this is the modern day pinnacle, even with it being almost 20 years old.  If you haven't seen it, I would highly recommend it. 

Don't be like me, and judge a movie by the cast.  I've now visited two films that are modern classics that I didn't want to see because of the cast.  Sometimes you need to look past that.  I'm glad I did.  5/5

2015 Movie Round-Up

As we start off 2016, I like to take a look back at my movie watching for the past year and turn it into statistics.  I enjoy looking back and seeing what month was most prosperous, and where I feel off track.

Compared to previous years, 2015 was bad.  I only watched 96 movies, which is probably an all-time low for me.  A few changes took place in my life though, and I had to learn to manage time better, and it was movie watching that took the biggest hit.  I have high hopes though for 2016, so as I look back on the past year, I will not dwell upon it.

First off, my 2015 movie diary can be found here.  Letterboxd took over for Pinterest, and I believe it was for the best.

Out of the 96 movies, 63 (66%) were first time viewings, leaving 33 (34%) as movies I had seen before,  I'm happy with this, but is down from last year.

Month by Month Breakdowns

January - 12 (13%)
February - 7 (7%)
March - 6 (6%)
April - 6 (6%)
May - 5 (5%)
June - 10 (11%)
July - 8 (8%)
August - 17 (18%)
September - 2 (25)
October - 5 (5%)
November - 4 (4%)
December 14 (15%)

No real steady viewing habits it seems.

Film highlights of 2015 include:

Theatrical: Mad Max: Fury Road, Jurassic World, Inside Out, Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, Star Wars: The Force Awakens

First time Viewing: The Descent, The Guest, John Wick, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Zodiac, Motel Hell

Repeat Viewing: Groundhog Day (On Feb 2), The Poseidon Adventure, Watching Back to the Future trilogy on 10-21, Introducing Elizabeth to the original Star Wars trilogy

I'm already ahead of 2015, as I went and saw The Hateful Eight this afternoon with Dave.  My first movie of 2015 was on January 13th, so that is a plus in my book.  I'm hoping to blog a lot more this coming year as well.

A plan for movies, I'm not really sure.  I'm hoping to watch at least 2-3 movies a week, and knock some stuff off of my "To Be Watched" list.  But I'm setting no goals, nor making any promises.  I will make the best of 2016 though.

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

The Poseidon Adventure (1972)

Directed by: Ronald Neame, Irwin Allen (uncredited)

Starring: Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Shelley Winters, Roddy McDowall

Who will survive-in one of the greatest escape adventures ever!

The '70s brought a plethora of disaster films to the screen, and The Poseidon Adventure is my favorite of them.  With today being New Year's Eve, I thought it would be appropriate to finally revisit this classic.

The S.S. Poseidon gets capsized by a tidal wave, and a small group of survivors band together to escape.  For a movie that clocks in under the 2 hour mark, we get a lot of personal stories that play out over the course of the movie, as well as some great moments of suspense and terror.

This movie has a pretty star-studded cast, and I'm not going to go into the details of each character.  I will say my favorite of the bunch is Reverend Scott, portrayed by Gene Hackman.  It's been a while since I've seen a movie with Hackman in it, and I forgot how much I loved him as an actor.

It's been a solid decade since I've last seen this film, and I've grown a lot personally as well as how I view movies.  But for some odd reason, this movie hit me with emotions tonight.  So much going on, but the two things that really stuck out were:

- Nonnie dealing with the lost of her brother.

- The relationship between Belle and Manny Rosen.  Don't even get me started on when Mr. Rogo swims back to the rest of the group and Manny inquires about his wife.

Besides the solid acting, we get a musical score by John Williams himself.  Solid  special effects and great set pieces.  I love the scene when the tidal wave hits.  I also noticed for the first time tonight that the camera tilts in frame, so it comes across as the viewer is on board the ship.

I am always down for disaster films; even to this day I will watch SyFy and DTV entries.  But I feel like you can never go wrong with the classics, and I think this one is the best of the era.  4/5

Police Academy 2 & 3 Double Feaure

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

Directed by Jerry Paris

Starring Steven Guttenberg, David Graf, Howard Hesseman

To protect, to serve... and make you laugh. America's funniest crimebusters are back!







Police Academy 2 takes the recruits from the first film and puts them at their first assignment, which is the worst precinct in the area.  The captain (Hesseman) also happens to be Commandant Lassard's younger brother, and he has been given 30 days to shape up his precinct, or he is out.  That is where the new recruits come into play, and Captain Lassard is given Mahoney, Jones, Hooks, Tackleberry, Fackler and Hightower to help improve.  Lassard is unaware though that Officer Mauser (Art Metrano) has been told the precinct will become his if Lassard fails, so he attempts to make sure that happens, with the help of Sgt Proctor (Lance Kinsey).

Police Academy 2 introduces some new characters, as well as brings some favorite back.  Missing are Lt. Harris and Sgt. Callahan from the first movie, and it shows.  But the "villain" role is filled by Mauser, and there are some great gags that I don't think would've worked as well if Harris had been in the role.  Also introduced in this sequel are two of my favorite characters, Mr. Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky) and Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait).

I found this follow-up to be surprisingly entertaining, and though not as good as the first (or the 3rd, which I assume will be my favorite of the sequels), I enjoyed myself.  I think part of the charm of the franchise is that the characters are memorable and each one is unique.  There is a sequence is this sequel where they respond to a robbery call at Sweetchuck's store that had me laughing heartily.

None of the entries in this franchise were going to be award-winning, and maybe it is the nostalgia factor for me, but I do find them to be fun and watchable. 3.5/5

Police Academy 3: Back In Training (1986)

Directed by Jerry Paris

Starring Steve Guttenberg, Art Metrano, David Graf

Run for cover!








Police Academy 3 takes us back to the academy, as the Governor has decided to close one of the state's academy's and has put together a committee to evaluate each one on their latest class of recruits.  Commandant Lassard decides the way to win is to have the class of '84 be part of the training of the new group of misfits (including Sweetchuck and Zed from the previous installment).  The other academy is being ran by Commandant Mauser, who has schemed with Sgt. Blanks and Copeland and has their help in sabotaging Lassard's recruits.

All of the usual suspects return in this sequel, and Callahan also makes her return to the series.  New recruits also include Tackleberry's brother-in-law Bud, Fackler's wife, and Tomoto Nagata, who falls for Callahan,

As with the previous two movies, this one sticks to slapstick humor to be funny.  Mauser once again gets some tricks played on him, as well as his right-hand man Proctor.  The series has a few reoccurring jokes they use, like Commandant Lassard's poor goldfish, Hooks saying "Don't move, dirtbag!", and the use of the Blue Oyster club.

This is the entry in the franchise I have the most remembrance of, as it includes a boat chase as part of its finale.  One of my favorite gags is Jones turning his jet ski into a submarine, to avoid collisions.  A worthy follow-up, and probably the last good one.  3.75/5

Police Academy (1984)

Police Academy (1984)

Directed by Hugh Wilson

Starring Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, and G.W. Bailey

What and Institution!








Police Academy is a franchise I remember watching a lot growing up.  The first four are the ones I remember mostly, and I think that is due to my grandpa having them recorded (probably off of HBO).  I finally got around to picking up the series on DVD (thanks to WB releasing two 4-movie sets), and I decided to revisit the franchise to see how it holds up.

I will say that I was not disappointed in Police Academy, as it has held up and I laughed a lot.  A lot of that has to do with the great ensemble cast that it has.  I won't even begin to list each character, but each one is unique and has their own voice (even if it is meek, like Hooks), and that is part of the charm of the series.

The basic plot is simple: a new mayor has removed the criteria of joining the police academy, so everyone and anyone can join now.  We watch as the worst of the new recruits are put with Lt. Harris (Bailey) and Sgt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) for their 14 weeks at the Academy.  Mahoney (Guttenberg) is our protagonist, at the academy as an alternative for jail time.  He can get thrown out, but can't quit.

Like a said, a broad cast of characters make up our group of misfits, each with their own unique characterization.  Jones is a human sound effects machine, Hooks has a meek voice, Tackleberry (a personal favorite) is gun-ho at a moments notice, and Commandant Lassard is a dim-witted commander.  At least in the first film, no one really outshines the rest, and they all work very well together.

It has probably been 15+ years, if not longer, since I had seen a film of the franchise.  But when I popped in the DVD and heard the theme playing, a rush came over me and a smile came to my face.  For that alone, I was happy.  I laughed a lot in my revisitation of the movie, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  I don't expect the caliber of the first one, but with the memories I have, I do expect to at least find them enjoyable.  This is easily a title I can throw on as background noise, or if I need a mood lightened up.

Motel Hell (1980)

Motel Hell (1980)

Directed by Kevin Conner

Starring Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons and Nina Axelrod

It takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent's fritters.







I remember seeing the VHS box (pictured) for Motel Hell when roaming the horror aisle at the local video store when I was younger, but never watched it.  I guess that particular box was never appealing to my young eyes, and I wasn't one who read the synopsis on the back to help me make a decision,

I'm glad I finally took a shot on it (thanks to Scream Factory releasing it on Blu-Ray), as it is a better film than my young brain decided it was.  But then again, my taste in horror has grown since the days of wanting a basic slasher film, and I'm not sure I would've picked up on the black humor and satire the film has.

Farmer Vincent (Calhoun) runs a motel with his sister Ida (Parsons), and also makes smoked meats on the side.  The meat is world-famous, but is only sold within 100 mile radius of the farm, to keep costs down.  But Farmer Vincent has a secret: he has a garden of people that he uses as his secret ingredient for his smoked meats.  Vincent and Ida's younger brother is Sheriff Bruce (Linke), who is naive to what is going on,

The cast is what makes the film so great, especially Calhoun who carries the film as Farmer Vincent.  Parsons, Linke, and Axelrod (as Terry, a young female that Vincent falls for) all do well in their parts too.  There are a few minor roles too, including a pre-Cheers John Ratzenberger and Wolfman Jack.

If anything, the film is worth seeing for the finale: a lot of things come to head, and it includes a final fight with dueling chainsaws.  Also, the image of Farmer Vincent wearing a hog's head while wielding a chainsaw is iconic.

Overall, a very enjoyable flick, and Scream Factory did a wonderful job with their release of it, including interviews and a making of feature that makes me appreciate the film a little bit more.  4/5

Madman (1982)

Madman (1982)

Directed by Joe Giannone

Starring Tony Fish, Gaylen Ross, and Paul Ehlers

Lore of the campfire,
Telling of his horror.
Lost in the woods,
With the madman and the stars.

Don't laugh at the tale,
Heed if you call him.
The Legend lives, beware the Madman Marz.
The Legend lives, beware the Madman Marz!


Madman is an '80s horror film that somehow slipped under my radar until recently.  Horror is one of my favorite genres, and I am always looking for something that is new to me.  Thanks to companies like Scream Factory, Olive Films, and Vinegar Syndrome, a lot genre titles are getting to see the light of day on Blu-Ray.  Madman was put out by Vinegar Syndrome earlier this year, and based upon the synopsis alone, I decided to take a chance on it.  And I'm glad I did, as I was not disappointed by it.

The movie starts off around a camp fire, in which scary stories are being told.  Max tells the tale of Madman Marz, a local legend who murdered his family one night and then was hung by the townspeople.  The next morning, Marz was missing (along with the corpses of his family) and has not been seen since.  But legend has it, if you say his name above a whisper in the woods, he will hear it and come for you and our friends.  Of course, one of the campers decides to test fate and yells out his name.

I'm not going to go to much into plot details, as I went into the movie blindly, and I would recommend the same for anyone who hasn't seen it.  The reason I think the movie worked so well for me was I knew nothing of the plot, and it wasn't going for a campiness factor.  The story takes itself seriously, and thus enthralls you as you watch. 

The acting is not the best, and for the most part the characters are very unlikeable.  Besides Madman Marz, Max (head counselor of the camp) is really the only person I liked.  Gaylen Ross is the only actor I knew (Dawn of the Dead), and I believe most of the actors were first-timers.

One of my favorite things of the movie is the soundtrack.  It's a bit hard to explain, but it really adds to the atmosphere of the film.  I guess the best way to describe it is synthesized. I found myself listening to it on YouTube while writing this entry, as I enjoyed it that much.  And the end ballad is great.

The kills are pretty tame, the suspense is done well, and the blood runs red.  I really wasn't scared by anything while watching, but I was on edge a few times while waiting for the inevitable to happen.

The look of Madman Marz is great.  I'm surprised more people don't talk about this movie, and I think it had the potential to be a franchise.  Marz most definitely could hold his own against Michael and Jason.

I'm not sure how previous home releases look, but the 4K transfer on the Vinegar Syndrome disc is beautiful.  For a movie that takes place for the most part during night, it is never too dark to see what is going on.  And I have yet to crack the fully-packed extras on the release, including a 90 minute retrospective on the making of the movie.


This is a great addition to my collection, and would make an awesome double feaure with The Burning, which came out around the same time.  If you are a fan of '80s slasher films, I highly recommend giving this one a look.  3.5/5

"This is the Zodiac speaking..."

I'm hoping this will be a first post in an ongoing series, in which I finally get around to some of the Unseen Cinema in my life.  New theatrical releases, as well as anything within the last 2-3 years, I probably won't cover (but may review, depending on my mood and what I thought of it).  Also, for the readers who do decide to venture to my little blog, bear with me.  I am not a master wordsmith.

                                       ZODIAC (2007)

As much as I like true crime (both movies and books), as well as the mystery behind the Zodiac Killer, I avoided this film due to the cast.  I'm not a huge Robert Downey Jr (even thought I can't really think of another actor who could bring Tony Stark to life like he has) or Jake Gyllenhaal fan, so them having top billing kind of just had me push it away.

Thankfully to the awesomeness of the interwebs and Twitter, I've made a few friends who are into movies as much as I am, and based upon their recommendations, I seeked out this film.  On top of that, I got an awesome deal on the blu-ray on Amazon, only paying $4.99 for it.

Based upon Robert Graysmith's book Zodiac, the movie follows San Francisco Chronicle employees Graysmith and Paul Avery and SFPD Inspectors Toschi and Armstrong as they search for the killer known as the Zodiac.  For some, obsession eventually takes over.

I'm sad I decided to avoid this film for the past 8 years, as I loved it.  The film brings to life 1970s San Francisco, and you feel like you are part of the investigation as the movie progresses.  Fincher does a magnificent job, and this has easily become my favorite film of his.  Each actor plays their role magnificently, and no one out shines anyone.  I will say the best performance is Mark Ruffalo, who portrays Inspector Toschi.

Even the minor roles are played great, and this film has one heck of a supporting cast.  Anthony Edwards, Brian Cox, Elias Koteas, and Dermot Mulroney are just some of actors who play bit parts that have significance to the story.

But best of all: John Carroll Lynch as main suspect Arthur Leigh Allen.  He brings a calmness and eeriness to the character in each scene he is present.

There are two scenes that have stuck with me, which is always a good sign to me, that a movie has that kind of impact on my memory.  The first scene is also the films most brutal: the Zodiacs attack at Lake Berryessa.  If you've seen the movie, you know this scene.  The second scene is closer to the end, where Graysmith visits Bob Vaughn (portrayed by Charles Fleischer) to gain some additional information on a potential suspect.  What starts out as a hopeful visit has a very eerie and sudden twist.

Also worth noting is how Fincher does the time jumps, as this film takes place throughout the '70s.  Days and weeks turn into months, which eventually turn into years.  My favorite is the one late in the film, as we jump 4 years into the future with a black screen as the music and news tidbits of the era play over it.

I 'm not sure how much of the film was fictionalized, if any, and just as the case remains unsolved, the movie doesn't give us an answer to the identity of Zodiac.  But, as Graysmith's two books on the subject have revealed, I truly believe Allen was the man behind one of the greatest unsolved crimes of the 20th century.

For a film that has little any action and a running time of almost 3 hours, the film flys by.  I never really looked at the time, and as the movie was winding down, I was surprised by how quickly it seemed to be ending.  I am looking forward to watching the two documentaries that are bonus features, just to expand upon what the movie covers.

2014: In Review (Movies)

As 2014 comes to a close, I'm going to take the time once again to give statistics for the movie watching I did this past year.

I set myself a goal to watch at least 175 movies in 2014, which I did not meet. Because of this, I am not setting a goal for 2015. I I'm not disappointed my not making the goal, I've just come to realize life happens, and I won't always be able to watch 10+ movies a month.

So what did I watch in 2014? Altogether, 154 movies. My 2014 Pinterest board can be found here for a complete listing of each film.

Out of the 154 films, 116 (75%) were first time viewings, leaving only 38 (25%) as films I had seen before. That is an average I am happy with.

Month by Month breakdowns

January - 8 (5%)
February - 14 (9%)
March - 16 (10%)
April - 26 (17%)
May - 15 (10%)
June - 7 (5%)
July - 17 (11%)
August - 14 (9%)
September - 14 (9%)
October - 10 (6%)
November - 3 (2%)
December - 10 (6%)

Comparing to last year, it doesn't look like I have steady viewing habits.  I look forward to seeing what 2015 has in store, for movies, as well as my personal viewing habits. I have a few shows I plan to start watching, so that may skew the numbers a bit. We shall see.

Looking back at 2014, I did a lot of franchise viewing. Theresa and I watched the first four Leprechaun movies while she was visiting, and then I tackled both Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th series this summer.  I began Critters, Prom Night and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series, which I will probably continue in the new year. Elizabeth and I tackled the Ocean's Trilogy after our trip to Vegas, and then did the complete Hobbit experience in theaters earlier this month.

If you would like to follow my 2015 movie board on Pinterest, I've set it up already and it can be found here.

October in Review

October started with potential.  I even made a list of movies to watch throughout the month.  Sadly, I failed my mission, only raking in 10 movies altogether.  I could still meet my end of year goal, which I would like to do.  But with my next 2 weeks being on vacation, that will only leave the last 6 weeks of the year to watch 35 movies.

With all that said, let's take a look at the month of October.

Most of the month was spent watching horror.  I also took the time and finished season 2 of Hannibal, which was probably the best thing I watched for the month.  I did get a few good movies in, and all put one of the horror movies watched were new to me.

It's a hard choice for best view of the month, as I'm being torn between Dead Heat and Dark Night of the Scarecrow.  Both are really good films.  I was surprised I had never seen Dead Heat before.  It fits into all kinds of genres that I am a fan of, plus has Vincent Price.  Dark Night is a made-for-tv movie with some excellent atmosphere and great acting. It's too tough to call.

I also got around to taking Elizabeth to see Guardians of the Galaxy, which still holds up and is a fun movie.  Not sure what the last film I saw 3 times while it was in theaters was.

Not a horribly bad movie, but Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III gets my vote for worst of the month.  It just really didn't do much for the franchise, plus after watching the short making of feature on the dvd and seeing how the studio cut the movie prior to release and didn't allow the full vision of the director, it could've actually been a better movie.

I will be on hiatus until mid-November, as I am about to leave for 2 weeks in Hawaii and Vegas.  Probably will write an update upon my return, but I don't plan on spending a lot of time online while on vacation.

8) Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

Directed by Jeff Burr

Starring Kate Hodge, Ken Foree, Viggo Mortensen

Letherface has found a new group of outcasts to call family, and a couple driving cross-country find themselves down the wrong road at night.


This one has been sitting in my draft folder for a few days, as I'm still not sure what I feel regarding it.  Storywise, it seems to be a continuation of the first film, while ignoring the second.  But it also includes some elements of TCM2, most noticeably the famous "The Saw is family" line, this time emblazoned across Leatherfaces new tool.

I know from the making of feature on the DVD that this film had to battle with the MPAA and the studio, so that hurt the film in the end.  A lot of '80s and '90s horror had that problem it seems.  I watched the unrated version, which given modern horror, pales in comparison.

The story is ok, but I found the ending to be a little weak, especially with the reappearance of a thought to be dead character.  I feel overall that the director didn't actually get to tell the story he wanted to, but made due with what he had.  The acting is actually pretty decent, with each new member of the Sawyer clan bringing their own bit of creepiness to the table.

Overall, a bit muddled, but there are some elements that work.  5/10

7) The Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre part 2 (1986)

Directed by Tobe Hooper

Starring Dennis Hopper, Caroline Williams, Jim Siedow

Set 14 years after the original, TCM2 finds the family still up to no good.  A late night DJ, Stretch (Williams), records an "accident" from a caller.  Former Texas Ranger "Lefty" Enright (Hopper) has been investigating at least for the past year any and all leads of the cannibal family that he believes killed his niece and nephew (the original film).  Stretch takes the tape to Lefty, who asks her to play it on the air to draw the family out.  In doing so, the family sets its sights on her.  Lefty is seeking vengeance, using Stretch at the bait.  Chop-Top & Leatherface go to the radio station, and then lead Lefty back to their home.  Who will be left standing this time around?

TCM2 has a much different tone and look then its predecessor.  The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is frightening, realistic, and very atmospheric.  Part 2 has almost a parody approach to it, with a lot more humor and gore.  Case in point, the poster that I included being a parody of The Breakfast Club poster.

The score is what makes the movie for me, as it adds a creepiness that I wouldn't find without it.  The case is alright, with Hopper bringing a level of crazy to the movie, especially in the latter half.  Dueling chainsaws, crazy cannibals, and some top-notch SFX make the second half worth seeing.

TCM is a franchise I've just gotten into recently, and one that I know gets progressively worse, according to the internet.  I still plan on watching each movie, or at least attempting to.  6/10

6) Dark Night of the Scarecrow

Dark Night of the Scarecrow (1981)

Directed by Frank De Felitta

Starring Charles Durning, Tonya Crowe, Larry Drake

Bubba Ritter (Drake), who is mentally challenged, is falsely accused of murdering his young friend Marylee (Crowe). Local postman Otis Hazelrigg (Durning) gathers a few of his friends and together they go on the hunt for some mob "justice" .  Bubba is found hiding in a scarecrow, and Hazelrigg and Co. execute poor Bubba, only to find out seconds late Bubba had actually saved Marylee's life, not taken it.  They cover up their murder, but soon a scarecrow begins to stalk them one by one.  Does someone know what they have done, or is Bubba back from the grave?

First things first, this movie was made for TV and aired in October of 1981.  This is easily one of the best horror films I've seen that was made for TV.  I will be adding this to my collection, as it is quite terrifying at times.

The acting is great throughout the whole film.  Larry Drake does a phenomenal job portraying the mentally challenged Bubba, and the emotion in his eyes when he is found as the scarecrow is one of the best scenes in the movie.  Durning does a great job playing the despicable Hazelrigg, who might just be losing his mind.  As the film progresses, he crosses more than one line.  His mob of friends are portrayed by some great actors, including the late Lane Smith (of The Mighty Ducks and Lois & Clark), Claude Earl Jones, and Robert Lyons.  Jocelyn Brando brings out the cast as Bubba's mom Mrs. Ritter.

The suspense is great, and there is a lot of build-up in each scene.  Harless Hocker (Smith) is the first to see the scarecrow on his property, which at first he thinks is a prank from his cohorts.  But it is not, and after investigating some sounds late at night in his barn (bad idea, Harless), an untimely fate is met.  This sets off the other three, and Otis visits Mrs. Ritter, whom he thinks is behind all that is going on.  An eye for an eye, and all that jazz.

I really don't want to divulge too much more of the plot, as it is worth seeing.  The score is haunting, and helps with the tension and suspense that last throughout the film.  This is a very effective movie, with no gore (given the made for TV aspect), but that does not detract any.  If anything, it helps it, as it proves you do not need blood & gore to make a great horror film.

Highly recommend this one.  9/10

5) Q, The Winged Serpent

Q, The Winged Serpent (1982)

Directed by Larry Cohen

Starring Michael Moriarty, David Carradine, Richard Roundtree

Detective Shepard (Carradine) and Sgt. Powell (Roundtree) are investigating a series of brutal ritualistic murders.  Career criminal Jimmy Quinn (Moirarty) stumbles into an ancient creature's lair after a jewelry heist goes awry.  Does the creatures presence tie into the case Shepard and Powell are working on?  After being caught for the heist, Quinn decides to try and exhort the city for some money and exoneration for information leading to the lair of the beast.

This is a new acquisition from Scream Factory that I recently found online for a low price.  I had seen the movie before and have been wanting to add it to my collection.  It's a decent '80s horror, which is worth seeing for the monster alone.  I didn't recall a whole lot of the movie from my first viewing, so I really wasn't sure what to expect.

The acting is ok, and you can tell the movie was low budget, but that doesn't really hurt the film any.  Q (short for the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl) is done in stop motion, and is worth seeing the film for.  Moriarty gives the best performance.  The film does tend to drag at parts, and I found myself on the computer more than usual while watching, but overall I still enjoyed the movie.

6/10, with a little extra for Q.

4) Dead Heat (1988)

Dead Heat (1988)

Directed by Mark Goldblatt

Starring Treat Williams, Joe Piscopo, Lindsay Frost

I'm not going to write a plot synopsis for this one, as I don't even know where to start.   Basically, there are detectives Roger Mortis (Williams) and his partner Doug (Piscopo) stumble into a case where resurrected criminals (being resurrected makes you indestructable) are used.  Chaos ensues, Roger ends up dead, and then he is resurrected and tries to solve the case before his body breaks down.

I had to ask myself while watching this how was it I had never seen it before.  I loved this movie!  I don't even know where to begin.  Besides Treat Williams (who also starts in another favorite film of mine, Deep Rising), this movie also has Keye Luke, Professor Tanaka, Robert Picardo, Darren McGavin, and VINCENT PRICE in supporting roles.  Price is one of my all-time favorites, and somehow this movie slipped passed my radar.

I went into this movie blind, and I'm glad I did, as it made my movie experience that much better, I believe.  Besides the crazy plot, the make-up and effects in this movie are great!  There is a sequence where Roger & Doug are at a Chinese restaurant and the animals are resurrected.  They battle chickens, a pig, and finally a headless cow from the freezer.  Roger progresses nicely throughout the film, as he starts to get closer to his end, as well as the damage inflicted upon him.  There is also a great scene involving the decomposition of a person.

I enjoyed Dead Heat a lot more than I expected, for knowing next to nothing about it.  I highly recommend it.  It is a great blend of horror, action, and comedy.  10/10

3) Mountaintop Motel Massacre

Mountaintop Motel Massacre (1986)

Directed by Jim McCullough Sr.

Starring Anna Chappell, Bill Thurman, and Will Mitchell

After a stint in the local asylum, Evelyn (Chappell) is released and returns to her Mountaintop Motel.  During a psychotic relapse, Evelyn kills her daughter.  Lying to the police about what happens, she is allowed to return to her motel.  A rainstorm brings her a bevy of new customers, and during the storm Evelyn starts hearing the voice of her dead daughter. This leads her to start killing her tenants, using an underground tunnel system that links each cabin.

Made in 1983, Mountaintop Motel Massacre sat on the shelf for 3 years until distribution was found.  I actually found the movie to be surprisingly decent and enjoyable.  Having no knowledge of anyone in the movie or associated with the making of, I was expecting a mess.  What I got instead was a simple slasher made on a budget, but done well.

The score is eerily haunting, and the sets used are atmospheric, especially down in the tunnels.   The kills are pretty straight-forward, with nothing original.  Evelyn's weapon of choice is a sickle.  There are a few scenes where she lets loose rats and roaches into a tenants room, and that got to me more than anything else.  Not a big fan of creepy crawlies.

The movie does a decent job of introducing each character, and making them likable or dislikable, as in the case of Al (Mitchell).  Crenshaw was easily my favorite of the tenants.

Even thought it doesn't add anything new to the horror genre, and there are probably better films similar to this one, I would still recommend checking Mountaintop Motel Massacre out.

6/10

2) House (1986)

House (1986)

Directed by Steve Miner

Starring William Katt, George Wendt, and Richard Moll

Roger Cobb's marriage fell apart after the disappearance of his child.  A former Vietnam vet and now horror novelist, Cobb (Katt) decides to move into his recently deceased aunt's house for some solitude.  The house also happens to be where his son disappeared from.  Working on a new book detailing his time in 'Nam, Cobb starts seeing things (including his dead aunt) in the house.  With the aid of his new neighbor (and biggest fan) Harold (Wendt), Roger begins to investigate the presence of something sinister within his new home.  The evil makes him face his past, leading to conflict with a ghost he last saw in the jungle.

First things first: I am surprised I have never seen this film before today.  Besides the cast (The Greatest American Hero, Norm from Cheers, and Bull from Night Court) and Steve Miner in the directing chair, it also has Sean Cunningham as a producer and a story from the mind of Fred Dekker.  With those credentials, this is a movie that should totally be in my wheelhouse.

With that said, this movie is a great combination of horror and comedy.  The make-up and creature work are great throughout the film and I really like the monster woman who shows up about midway through.  Big Ben in the finale is very well done as well.  Plot-wise, I'm not 100% sure if they knew what they were wanting, as sometimes it does get a bit cheesy.  There is this weird and out of place plot device where Roger babysits a kid, which has some cool effects in, but didn't really do anything to move the plot forward.

I do remember seeing the VHS box at the rental store when I was younger, and finding it to be creepy.  I may of even seen it back in the day, as the lady monster seemed a bit familiar to me.  Might not be an award-winning film, but I really enjoyed it.

8/10

While looking for the movie poster, I also came across the following Thai poster for it.  Totally worth sharing, as it includes some artist renditions of the monsters from the film.

1) The Serpent & The Rainbow

Original Movie Poster

The Serpent and the Rainbow (1988)

Directed by Wes Craven

Starring Bill Pullman, Cathy Tyson, and Zakes Mokae

Loosely based off the book by the same name, The Serpent and the Rainbow is about anthropologist Dennis Alan (Pullman) whom is sent down to Haiti by a pharmaceutical company after rumors of a black magic "zombie" drug.  The drug in question paralyzes the user, whom is then declared dead and buried while they are still conscious.  While in Haiti, Alan is assisted by Doctor Marielle Duchamp (Tyson), and his investigation takes him to a witch doctor, but also brings the attention of the local authorities,lead by Captain Peytraud (Mokae).  Is there really a "zombie" drug or is something more sinister in play?


One of Craven's better films, The Serpent and the Rainbow is just as much a psychological thriller as it is horror.  It's a film that can easily get under your skin, and isn't one that is easy to forget.  The "true story" nature of it makes it all that more eerie, even if liberties were taken for film purposes.  And the realism of voodoo Craven portrays on film is probably some of the most realistic ever, especially since filming was actually done in Haiti.

I found the acting to be decent, with Mokae having the best performance as the villainous Captain.  I was also impressed with Brent Jennings portrayal of witch doctor Louis Mozart.  The movie also has a few smaller roles, including a pre-Alfred Michael Gough as Schoonbacher and Paul Guilfoyle (Captain Jim Brass on CSI:) as Andrew Cassedy, the men who sends Alan down to Haiti.

Psychological horror always tends to get to me more than slasher, and this movie has a few scenes that stick out.  The being buried alive scenes are really well done, and the one Alan dreams is particularly mind-bending.  Also, if you hav arachnophobia or ophidiophobia, be warned; there will be a scene or two that makes your skin crawl.

I found the movie a little hard to get into at first, but once the main plot takes hold, it really is an entertaining and well done film.  I did find the ending to be a little weak, but overall I'm glad I found the time to give the film a watch.

7/10

List of Potential October movies

I've decided I want to do something this year during the month of October movie-wise and blogging-wise.  I am going to watch at least 31 movies of the horror genre, and hopefully in the process write a post regarding said film.

So, to get myself in the right frame of mind and in the Halloween spirit, I decided to make a list of potential films for this endeavor.  Not everything I list will get watched, but I've got a nice selection between my personal collection and the offering of Netflix & Hulu.  Plus, the public library is always accessible.

Most of the things I list are titles I have in one of two queues, or plan to get from the library within the next month.  A few items will also be from my own collection.

Oh, and entry one is already pending.  The Serpent & The Rainbow will kick all this off tomorrow, hopefully.

Without further adiu, here we go.

Library
Oculus (2014)

Hulu
The Prowler (1981)
The Beyond (1983)
Arcade (1994)
Intruder (1989)

Netflix Streaming
Grave Encounters (2011)
The Stuff (1985)
The Innkeepers (2011)
The Hole (2009)
ParaNorman (2012)
Dead Heat (1988)
Birth of the Living Dead (2013)
Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (1988)
Transylvania 6-5000 (1985)

Personal Collection
Subspecies (1990)
The Monster Club (1980)
Deadly Eyes (1982)
Trilogy of Terror (1974)
The Descent (2005)

19 movies isn't a bad start.  I didn't list anything from my Netflix queue since I still need to finish Season 2 of Hannibal before I get any movies in the mail.