CultDB Reviews
List of reviews from CultDB... A site dedicated to the wild wild world of bizarre, cult, weird, horrific and exploitative movie gems, cultdb.blogspot.com was founded to cover everything from mainstream hits to films as far out and as underground as its legally possible to venture.
List activity
3.3K views
• 2 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
100 titles
- DirectorAndrzej ZulawskiStarsIsabelle AdjaniSam NeillMargit CarstensenA woman starts exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior after asking her husband for a divorce. Suspicions of infidelity soon give way to something much more sinister.This my fellow film viewing maniacs is the reason why you can never stop loving films, I've left it late to stumble onto this and the other works of Andrzej Zulawski but so glad I finally have.
Ambiguous tale following Anna (Isabelle Adjani) and Mark (Sam Neill) as a married couple with a young son going through the despair of a breaking up. Hard working Mark wants to know why Anna is becoming increasingly distant, he becomes sure she's got another lover. He leaves his job to spend time fixing their disintegrating marriage but eventually Anna breaks and tells him she's been seeing someone called Heinrich for a year. Mark leaves her but the thought of losing his family drives him out of his mind so he returns. Only Anna walks out leaving Mark alone with his anguish and son. Up until here it's been a common yet harsh break up of a family.
Beyond this point the line between fantasy and reality start to blur for the couple, Mark starts to imagine one of his sons school teachers is a purer version of his wife (the teacher is played by Adjani with contact lenses and paler hair). Purely out of a need of having someone to take care of his son and home, Mark embarks on a sexless affair. Anna is in a far deeper unsettled state, no doubt with the guilt at destroying her marriage for Heinrich (whom she's now left) as moved into a run-down apartment block. Either through a mental break down and imagination or via supernatural possession Anna as begun to manifest a living tentacled demon who grows stronger with every sin she does.
I only watched this for the first time a few days ago and my jaws still on the floor while my body is in a catatonic state. It really is psychological horror at its best and true *beep* cinema. I don't get every aspect of it but like I said to start with Zulawski as made the film in such an ambiguous way it doesn't matter. The performances from the gorgeous Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill & Heinz Bennent are excellent. That late 70s early 80s period in cult cinema can't be beat, if you've never seen it treat yourself its essential viewing.
(9½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/possession-1981.html - DirectorAndrzej ZulawskiStarsLeszek TeleszynskiWojciech PszoniakMalgorzata BraunekDuring the Prussian army's invasion of Poland in 1793, a young Polish nobleman, Jakub, is saved from the imprisonment by a stranger who wants in return to obtain a list of his fellow conspirators. Following his mysterious savior across the country, Jakub sees the overall chaos and moral corruption, including his father's death and the betrayal of his friend who stole his fiancee. Being apparently demented by what he has seen, he commits a number of seemingly motiveless and gory killings.During the Prussian army's invasion to Poland in 1793, a young Polish nobleman Jakub is saved from the imprisonment by a stranger who wants in return to obtain a list of Jakub's fellow conspirators. Following his mysterious saviour across the country, Jakub sees the overall chaos and moral corruption including his father's death and his girlfriend's betrayal. Being apparently demented by what he has seen, he commits a number of seemingly motiveless and gory killings.
[Image]As with Zulawski's Possession I found Diabel a visual treat but I've got to agree I kind of lost my way through it one or twice. Who knows maybe that's the point. When you let devil lead you, your sure to lose your way.
Its set in 18th Century Poland at a time when the Prussian army are in the process of conquering the country During the chaos of battle a strange messenger (whom maybe the devil) arrives at a convent with orders to escort a pair of political prisoner. One of the prisoners died but the other a young man named Jakub is still custody, we learn he was accused of trying to kill the King. The messenger frees Jakub along with a nun on the promise that they head for Jakubs home. When he arrives back at his family home he finds his father dead and his pregnant fiancée about to marry the king. He also learns that his mother whom he's not seen since birth is a whore. Wherever Jakub wanders he keeps bumping into the messenger who persuades him that if he see's someone sinning its his duty to kill them. Towards the end as Jakub becomes increasingly insane he kills his remaining family and burns his fathers house to the ground, he then goes after the king whom he wins in a dual but gets shot himself. While he's dying the messenger/devil turns up and asks Jakub to sign a declaration containing the names he'd have handed over during his capture when tortured. On signing the messenger violently shoots Jakub in the head. Then hands the note to a mysterious man for an handful of gold. The mysterious man (maybe the real devil or even god) says 'you made it hard work like you was after his soul, everyone knows man doesn't have a soul'. At which point the messenger goes nuts and tries raping the nun, but she cuts his penis off, he then turns into a dog... cut to credits.
hehe I'm not even making it up either, if my synopsis sounds crazy you wanna see the film its such an odd odd story. I've seen 100s of bizarre movies over my years but this one was harsh going on my head. Most viewers I'd imagine will find it tiring. I'd suspect its one for acid casualties or arthouse fans only.
(7 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/devil-1972.html - DirectorJean-Pierre BastidStarsDaniel GélinAnouk FerjacMichel SuborIn a mysterious French castle dark meetings and apparitions happen, seasoned by nauseating erotic menages. The involvement frantically increases up to the amazing epilogue.Sadly the only version I could lay my hands on was in French only without any subtitles so I will have missed a great deal of what was actually going on. From what I could make out its not a true flowing story, its done more in the fashion of little montages. We get whole scenes of our lead just sat cleaning his gun or wandering around a chateau looking for sex (which is accompanied with funky Jazz playing), other scenes we go on hunting parties where they hunt a women.
(4 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/hallucinations-sadiques-1969.html - DirectorKurt SteinwendnerStarsLeopold RudolfMargit JerginsA black and white short depicting the events written by Edgar Allan Poe in his famous poem "The Raven".Visually pleasing b&w avante guarde version of Edgar Allan Poe's classic The Raven, that only lasts 13 and an half minutes. I still rank the Simpsons Treehouse Of Horror version as my all time favorite version of The Raven, but this is a stylish short.
(7 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/der-rabe-1951.html - DirectorLéon Paul De BruynStarsCecilia BergqvistBob DoughertyLeo FranquetOne brutal and gory night, a family of four is hacked to pieces leaving one lone survivor, the beautiful housekeeper, Ella. When she is taken as a hostage, her captive is unaware of her growing thirst for blood.The film was bought by Troma and comes in two versions you can watch the original Belgian film (as they bought it) or you can watch a Tromatized version where Lloyd Kaufman and his fellow Troma goons add scenes and gags (these are mostly centred on cutting back to a Troma news desk during various points of action within the main movie). Plots about an on the run bank robber taking an helpless female hostage, only turns out she's not so helpless as she's just killed an whole household of people. The robber takes the hostage back to her place, but the victims bodies rise from the dead and attack.
Very lame attempt by Troma to liven up a very dull though pretty gory movie. You get a few bewbs lots of gore and painfully unfunny gags, who knows if your stoned or drunk and want something that doesn't need much thought it may be ideal viewing. I sadly was sober and found it painful, I was praying for the ending within the first 20 minutes.
(4 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/parts-of-family-2003.html - DirectorJoseph MerhiStarsNatasha PavlovichDelores NascarJimmy WilliamsA family must keep moving from town to town because the mother is a psychotic axe murderer who keeps flipping out and murdering people.Tale about the Fulton family who have to keep moving homes because alcoholic mother Martha kills most the men she meets. The daughter Amy as had enough of these moves and wants to settle down, expecially now she's met a new boyfriend Wayne. Her father does his best to sort the family out by hiring a psychiatrists to pose as Marthas friend in the hope she can help. Only things don't go to plan as Martha ends up killing both her husband and the psychiatrists then continues with her killing ways.
Released by troma but for change it isn't exactly played for crude laughs (well theres some but its not the usual lame gags about *beep* or bewbs). It contains one of the wildest onscreen deaths I've seen since Vincent Price played Dr Phibes. Martha puts a rat in a bucket and ties it to the psychiatrists stomach, then heats the bucket until the rat eats its way through the woman exiting her back. One of the more memorable Troma releases this purely because Joseph Merhi tries to stick to his own penned script. Recommended to fans of classic gory dramas like the kind HG Lewis used to make.
(6½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/mommys-epitaph-1987.html - DirectorDavid KeatingStarsAidan GillenEva BirthistleTimothy SpallThe parents of a girl who was killed by a savage dog are granted the opportunity to spend three days with their deceased daughter.Interesting new horror from the legendary Hammer stable (under new management, but same name and hopefully same agenda to chill horror fans). A veterinarian and his wife lose their daughter Alice when she gets tragically malled by a dog. In order to keep sanity the couple move to a new village for a fresh start in life. Only the new area Wakewood as a few dark secrets, its residents are pagans. After a short period of settling in the head of the village (The fantasic Timothy Spall) gives the couple a promise that he can resurrect Alice for three days (so they can say goodbye to her properly), the only catch is they can't leave the village with her.
A great plot very Stephen King's Pet Sematary feeling but with lots of human emotion, it makes a nice little addition to the creepy clannish British village horrors alongside films like The Wicker Man and An American Werewolf In London. The film sports a solid cast and effects work, my only complaint was it looks more like a British television movie instead of a glossy film aimed at the cinema, also felt slightly pedestrian at times. Well worth hunting down and as a fan I can't wait until New Hammer start giving us more gems maybe even a few classic anthologies or even new Dracula/Frankenstein variants.
(6½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/wake-wood-2011.html - DirectorLukas MoodyssonStarsThorsten FlinckBjörn AlmrothSanna BrådingIn a decript apartment, a young man watches as his father and a friend shoot an amateur porn film. Issues of morality, reality TV and friendship are explored.Basically plotless film centring on an homemade porn production, we follow the director his handicapped son, the porn actress and a friend of the director who's doing the male sex scenes.
This film is sickening depraved boring and headache inducing at times, this isn't mainstream and you certainly arn't in Kansas any more. Even after all my revulsion and wanting to turn it off, there's something about Lukas Moodysson forth feature A Hole in My Heart I liked. Take for instance I loved the ending, when the porn actress is playing at being the lost mother of the son she says close your eyes, if you do like she says (as I did) and open them... you end up with the credits rolling in silence, Moodysson here proves himself very very clever. Like I said A Hole in My Heart is no easy journey, but there's more to this film than you will at first notice, you'll first see the sex & filth but deep down there's so much honesty within the film. From the characters talking about times they're lonely to losing loved ones, to the sons outburst that his dad was raped as a child by his grandfather. So many viewers won't appreciate the style and it takes cast iron determination to reach its end. But when those credits do roll, something inside will make you feel like you've been with them in that trashy flat while they've shot a porno and bared their souls, and from a movie what more can you ask.
(7½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/hole-in-my-heart-2004.html - DirectorThom EberhardtStarsAnita SkinnerCaren L. LarkeyPeggy McClureA lone survivor of a plane crash is haunted by a feeling unworthy of survival. Dead people start coming after her to collect her.Denise Watson is the sole survivor of flight CON86, only it seems she's cheated death and something still wants her dead. At first she puts these strange occurences down to post crash stress, and her new boyfriend Dr Brain Richardson blames it on sole survivor syndrome. But she keeps seeing supposedly dead people, after a few startling incidents Dr Richardson starts to be believe Denise but can he save her or as fate got other plans in store for her.
For most part this person cheats death tale feels very made for televison feeling, but for a few brief moments of very mild sleaze like a strip poker scene and a crude taxi driver and his smutty talk radio station. It's very slow to start with focasing more on our leads relationship with the doctor. Thankfully though theres some really good creepy moments to keep it worthwhile watching, I loved the drowned dead girl scene and the follow up later when the doctor said someone stole her body for a few hours. Not so much a classic then in the same way as the similar Carnival Of Lost Souls was, but its still a well rounded slow burning suspense yarn.
(5 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/sole-survivor-1983.html - DirectorMatt EskandariMichael A. PierceStarsStephen WeigandBob BancroftBrendan KellyA young man finds himself held captive by a mysterious doctor and his brutish henchman.Ridicules mess of a movie following a rich doctor whose daughter gets brutally murdered while being filmed on a snuff tape. Out of revenge the doctor manages to track down the man responsible but instead of just killing the man, he decides on something far more extreme. The doctor kidnaps the man and over a period of 4 months turns the man physically and mentally into a replica of his daughter.
Victim is an absolute pile of trash with the dumbest premise for a movie I've had the displeasure of seeing in many a year. Its got zero logic or humor, dire characters (One victim, one eccentric doctor, one henchman and one snoopy police detective) and to top it all off, it ends with a poor unsatisfying quick wrap up. And after all the trouble the doctor goes through the guy still looks like a guy, but with make-up and a wig. Destined for the bargain bin where if you're wise you'll leave it.
(3½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/victim-2010.html - DirectorGuillem MoralesStarsBelén RuedaLluís HomarPablo DerquiThe story of a woman who is slowly losing her sight whilst trying to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister.Second feature from director Guillem 'The Uncertain Guest' Morales, sadly this stylish Spanish horror thriller fails to reach its true potential due to using far too many well established genre clichés. The story follows Julia as she tries to uncover the real reason why her sister Sara as suicide. Turns out both the sisters suffer a medical complaint that could them to become totally blind. At first her loyal husband and soul mate Isaac helps her get over the loss of her sister, but as Julia starts to delve deeper she learns Isaac could be involved in Sara's death.
Julia's Eyes is extremely glossy and well filmed yet the twists are too obvious. As a viewer instead of being surprised I felt more at times like I was being manipulated. One example being the moments you never see a characters face, and not just for flashes but whole scenes for minutes at a time, another being all the fake glimpses of things Julia could of seen or maybe imagined. Not sure how involved Guillermo del Toro was with the production (possible he was just a name added to help sell/hype the movie) but it never reaches the glory of his other work. I don't want to be too negative as its still a great little horror film, some of the set pieces are fantastic, one of the more memorable grisly moments was when we see a needle going right into an eyeball. Not fantastic there's dozens of better Spanish horrors kicking around, films from directors like Jaume Balagueró & Nacho Cerdà spring to mind, but Julia's Eye's is still above average and well worth the view.
(6½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/julias-eyes-2010.html - DirectorDaniel SimpsonStarsAmy NobleEmma Griffiths MalinGeorge MaguireThey say squatting is dead - a term that takes on a sinister double meaning when four homeless art students decide to take up residence in an abandoned London House where a hidden terror lurks.Underwhelming and unoriginal British horror about four art students, who out of rebellion towards their parents decide to live like squatters. They find an abandoned building that seems perfect, only when they wake up after their first nights sleep they find they've been locked inside with no way out.
Its typical maniac captures teens, then they start to get bumped off one after another. Its all well acted and starts with a few neat flourishes of suspense, but towards the middle it starts to sway towards blood and gore and becomes yet another torture movie (must mention the gores mild compared to Hostel or Saw). The twist isn't that much of a surprise either, by no means the worst but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it.
(5 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/spiderhole-2010.html - DirectorJorge Michel GrauStarsFrancisco BarreiroPaulina GaitanAlan ChávezWhen the patriarch of the family passes away, the teenage children must take responsibility for the family chores: the preparation of the rituals, the hunting and putting the all-important meat on the table. These newfound responsibilities are even more daunting, however, when you live in the city and happen to be a family of cannibals.When an husband & father of three fails to arrive home from one of his many visits with hookers. They are forced to go on without him which isn't easy in such a deprived area of Mexico. Only they're not you're average family because they've a ritual they do every few days, they eat human flesh and for some reason they've been led to believe if they fail to do this they'll die. The three teen children set about finding victims for their feast which the mother will prepare.
As much a social commentary about Mexico's poverty as it is an horror, in the same way I guess London had Sweeney Todd, if the people can't afford to feed their selves they'll feed on each other. As well as the family's cannibalism angle there's a feeling incest is going on between the two youngest teens. It never really sheds a light on if its since the father as died or if its been going on longer. The eldest son who comes across like the only member of the family with any real intelligence, appears to be a repressed homosexual. Its all done in a very bleak manner, except that is for the pursuing police who for some reason are like corrupt versions of Inspector Clouseau, infact it isn't until a gang of revenge seeking prostitutes get involved, do the family have any real reason to worry about being caught. We Are What We Are seem's to be a film that's split movie goers you'll either really like it or think it's pretty average. I really liked it but the person I watched it with didn't and couldn't give a reason why. All I can advise is its well worth hunting down and viewing, if only to make you're own mind up.
(7½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/we-are-what-we-are-2010.html - DirectorSpike JonzeStarsAndrew GarfieldLyle KanouseNancy MunozA young man faces the abrupt loss of his friend.Charming technically impressive short by director Spike Jonze, plot follows a lonely robot Sheldon as he works his dull job, then goes back to his dull one bed apartment. One day while waiting for the bus home, a fembot Francesca drives by and smiles, the next day they get chatting. Eventually they build a relationship together but Francescas self destructive nature asks too much of Sheldon.
Extremely warm hearted little movie that basically deals with how destructive relationships will eventually tear you apart. Visually it oozes quality and the robots act and feel as human as well humans act and feel. The soundtracks amazing as well, not sure who the characters are based on but to me Francesca came across like Bjork, someone whom Jonze as made fantastic videos for before. Highly recommended.
(8 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/im-here-2010.html - DirectorAnders JacobssonTomas SandquistStarsLars BethkeAlida MorbergJohanna LeamoA lonely hotel by a lonely road. Sarah is lost, looking for somewhere to sleep. She's come to the wrong place. A lonely hotel by a lonely road. Sarah is lost, Jenny is looking for her. She's come to the right place. The Bridgeburn Hotel.There's no excuse for films as lazy as this, I mean most lower budget films have nothing going for them. But Insane as a few real pluses 1) its got a fantastic location with the very odd Twin Peaks looking hotel 2) a pretty good fx crew, the opening death is done really well as is a metal bar in the head kill later on. 3) though not oscar worthy the actors are good enough. 4) the killer actually looks great with his gas mask and tight leather coat.
Yet what does Insane do ? it totally *beep* blows it by offering the most dull plot ever put on film, then to add insult to the viewer it's delivered with zero enthusiasm by the director who can't create a tone or atmosphere.
It's basically lone female checks into an isolated hotel then gets killed, then another lone female checks into same hotel blah de blah de blah. Here goes sure its a spoiler but *beep* it we learn its the bellboy (which isn't a shock as he's been the only *beep* person on screen most the whole god damned film) the reason is given briefly at the end that his mother used to rent rooms out as well as him as a child, to travelling salesmen. So he's decided he's got something against women and kills them, roll credits....
Honestly its an insult to low budget film makers around the world who at least try, who don't get half the breaks this film got. Simple fact is if you can't write a script or create atmosphere at least add some humor. I'd sooner watch a 5 hour loop of paint drying for a week than sit through this sh*t, how I even managed to sit through this turkey once is beyond me I need a meddle.
(2½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/insane-2010-director-anders-jacobsson.html - DirectorBrad AndersonStarsHayden ChristensenThandiwe NewtonJohn LeguizamoThe population of Detroit has almost completely disappeared, but a few remain. As daylight disappears they realize that the Dark is coming for them.Who turned out the lights ? for some reason one night in Detroit anyone who's not around an artificial light source or have some emergency generated power source vanishes when the whole city blacks out. A few of the survivors manage to meet up at a bar (which thankfully as its own generator). How can they survive with dwindling resources when the nights are lasting longer with each new day.
Firstly gotta start by saying I'm a massive fan of Brad Anderson, he's made some great movies and directed more episodes of Fringe (the only airing drama show I currently watch) than any other director. Sadly it seemed to be a real miss with the masses this horror film, which is a shame as there's some wonderful moments. I think the films gained such a lack of support because a few aspects of the film have been left so ambiguous. Leaving the viewer to make up their own mind, the main one being why did the event happen. I personally don't mind things being left a little bit open to interpretation and love the little hints like when Leguizamo was reading the book on dark matter, or the word Croatan appearing on the bridge. Reminded me a lot like Dean R. Koontz Phantoms and when the group gets together a little like Stephen Kings The Mist. Anyway I enjoyed it so would recommend it but keep in mind many more didn't.
(7 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/vanishing-on-7th-street-2010.html - DirectorCarlos MayoloStarsAdriana HerránDavid GuerreroSantiago GarcíaWhen grandmother dies, a girl returns to Colombia from the US and is reunited with her half-brother. They are instantly attracted to each other and have delirious visions of ancestors who also starred in stories of incest and violence.aka Flesh of Your Flesh
It's probably the first movie I've ever seen from Columbia but boy is it one I'm not going to forget in an hurry. It starts somewhat like a classic family sage (think Godfather but instead of following the mafia its a few generations of rich Columbian farmers and landowners). When the Grandma and head of the family dies, her family gather from all corners of the world at her estate, to hear her will be read. Only it spells trouble for two of her grandchildren as both the brother and sister learn of their families dark secret, that there's been numerous cases of incest among the family. As they visit old familiar childhood haunts they start to become insatiably attracted to each other and start to have sex, its at this point they're visited by ghostly apparitions of their dead elders. These ghosts start to chant echo's and remarks about tasting blood. The next morning as the brother and sister wake they're somehow changed. After killing a man checking the security of the estate they taste blood for the 1st time and change a little more into blood craved vampires, they then go hunting the local area for newborn babies to feed on.
Apparently the story is comprised of grisly Columbian myths and folk tales, I'm sure some of the aspects of the film I didn't really grasp but on the whole I understood what was going on. The incest within the film is done without showing any nudity but it's still pretty perverse, not really gory either but there's the odd bit of blood ohh and a turkey gets its head blown off in one of the opening scenes. I guess any of these events could offend viewers which is a shame as its a very haunting little movie and the two vampires are as unique to me as when I first watched a Asian hopping vampire film. Well worth hunting down I've probably over scored the rating purely due to never seeing a film like it before, who knows Columbia maybe as an whole sub-genre of incestous blood drinking baby eating vampire movies to unearth
(8½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/flesh-of-your-flesh-1983.html - DirectorQuentin DupieuxStarsStephen SpinellaRoxane MesquidaWings HauserA homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.Rubber is that rare beast... a film that's unique. Plot is surplus to the directors intentions of doing just what he wants. Deep down it's basically a lone killing spree movie, instead of it being a human/monster or animal its a rubber tire doing the succession of killings.
That doesn't really do the film credit though, as its more an examination on the 'what/why the *beep* principle of films'. The film starts with a monologue from a desert sheriff giving a rant direct into the camera about the 'WHY THE *beep*' flaws in movies claiming every film has them, things like why do we never see characters wash or go to the toilet or eat sometimes. Rubber builds on this concept as it rolls along (pun intended) throwing loads of random nonsense in the mix, things like the tire taking a shower or the sheriff from earlier telling the rest of the cast to go home they're only actors. I don't think it's a film for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something very different and you're open to totally bizarre moments you should enjoy this as much as I did.
(7½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/rubber-2010.html - DirectorDavid Burton MorrisStarsArch JoboulianDianne DavisPeter SpitzerPsycopathic killer stalks teens at a run down, abandoned movie theatre.Obscure late 70's horror about a father Mitford Webster who buys an old abandoned cinema in the hope he and his family can start a new life together running it. Only turns out a burnt Jean Harlow loving maniac (who had been rumored to have died years back in a cinema fire) is still hanging around in the theatre and killing off the customers.
Below average 70's horror flick was director Derek Savages lone movie. Its not without a certain goofy charm largely thanks to the various odd characters, take the father Mitford he never stops eating on screen and really fluffs the way he says thhee-aATer, theres a sleazeball cop named Lieutenant Wombat. Then you get the 1st two victims geeky wannabee projectionist Raymond who looks like Superbads McLovin's older brother, next is a Napoleon Dynamite lookalike who tries sneak his mates in the back entrance. The trouble though is its not got a great deal of action and most the films time is taken up showing the Webster family run the cinema that seems to just show a loop of the same wild life movie.
(4 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/meateater-1979.html - DirectorPeter A. DowlingStarsKip PardueVinessa ShawBreckin MeyerFour men out on a STAG NIGHT in New York prematurely exit an underground train after the soon-to-be-best-man begins to hassle two women. Trapped at a deserted station these six adults become the target of a gruesome manhunt when a secret gang of cannibal dwellers, living in the tunnels discovers them. Tensions will rise as they fight to make it through the night with all their limbs attached.While journeying back on a subway train from a bachelors night out, the best man starts to sexually harass two female passengers, the women pull the emergency stop cable and get off. Not wanting to leave these poor girls stranded the groom asks the best man and two other friends to get off the train as well, to make sure the girls are OK, only the train sets back off and leaves the six people stranded in a remote unused part of the subway network. It's not long before they stumble on a gang of underground cannibal maniacs while they kill a security guard, the group are left to flee and hope they can reach a station and get back to the surface.
Had a few harsh critics this but I personally thought it wasn't an half bad first feature from director Peter A. Dowling. The acting's OK, the blood'n'gore when it starts to flow is done with quality FX, the cannibals themselves are done well they look like the missing link between apes and humans, the plot though nothing ground breaking is interesting enough. The downside to the package is the pace and the repeating locations (if you remember Scooby Doo mid case when he's running from a monster and the backgrounds all the same you'll know what I mean). Yeah its no modern masterpiece and is a little too much like Creep for it's own good, but it's worth the view.
(6 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/stag-night-2008.html - DirectorDennis YuStarsEddie ChanSing ChenKent ChengA father seeks revenge from a gang of thugs who raped his daughter and murdered his son.aka The Beasts
Director Dennis Yu as made a handful of weird little horror films The Imp and Evil Cat jump to mind, here in the lesser seen The Beasts he tackles the rape revenge sub-genre, basically ripping off I Spit On Your Grave scene for scene bar the fact female rape victim's brother gets killed and she ends up in a mental ward, its left to her father to extort the revenge.
The rape itself is a little tamer than the western rape revenge yarns like the already mentioned Spit or MS45 (that could be down to a cut in the version I caught). The gang of thugs involved in the rape/murder range from really sleazy to downright 3 stooges dumb. The father comes across like a one man on a mission killer along the lines of Charles Bronson in the Death Wish series, he's got a vast set of tricks and traps for the gang ranging from snakes, rope traps and best of all a giant wooden box with nails through it. The reason it most likely has never had a proper international release is due to its use of western music ranging from The Police and Genesis, I bet you'd never have guessed you'd ever hear Phil Collins belt out a song during an Hong Kong exploitation film. Personally I was expecting a little more from the film with all the underground hype its gained, I was the same with Boxer's Omen waited years to see it and it never lived up to my expectations, that said its well worth the hunt and is never boring.
(6½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/beasts-1980.html - DirectorDennis DevineStarsMalerie GradyMarlene Mc'CohenKelly KulaIt's Alice's birthday and her sorority girlfriends throw her a themed party. Everyone comes as their favorite, sexy character from Wonderland. The Jabberwocky wasn't invited and brings murder and mayhem to the girls' night out.Boy was this little film a total waste of time, the premise when a girl turns 18 her friends decide for some moronic reason to hold an Alice In Wonderland themed party for her in the house her mother was brutally killed years earlier. From then on in while they're arranging the party people start to get killed, and in the most boring as little blood spilt off screen manner possible.
I'll forgive low budget films a few things like we don't expect oscar worthy acting, which we certainly don't get here, but having such a dumb premise without making it funny is plain dumb. The film exist purely because for some reason they had Alice In Wonderland costumes, more than likely borrowed from a local theatre due to do an Alice play. Avoid at all costs and don't be fooled either by the cosplay styled Alice on the DVD sleeve, the girls don't look that great in the film itself more like boyfriendless students or pay their way through college hookers.
(2 out of 5)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/03/alice-in-murderland-2010.html - DirectorBrett SimmonsStarsDevon GrayeWes ChathamC.J. ThomasonA group of friends stranded near a desolate cornfield find shelter in an old farmhouse, though they soon discover the dwelling is the center of a supernatural ritual.Light horror yarn about a group of youths whose car breaks down while driving on what seems like a never ending road, all they see is corn fields for miles except for one farm house in the distance. Thinking they've found somewhere to call for help they head towards the house, only is there something more to those creepy looking scarecrows other than to just scare crows.
Now I could have the wrong idea about Husk, as I caught it on Syfy and its possible it was toned down from the version shown at in the theatre at 2011's Afterdark Horrorfest or the DVD version. But the TV was dull as hell almost zero action, suspense or blood which for an horror about killer scarecrows isn't good. The plots sedate as well which didn't help plus side the acting isn't so bad and the film itself looks atmospheric enough. Maybe when more of the discs come out I'll buy Husk and give it a second chance, but from the TV edit I watched its a below average sleepfest.
(4 out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/02/husk-2010.html - DirectorPatrik SyversenStarsRuta GedmintasJosh BowmanPerdita WeeksIn Famfield, the teenager Amber feels displaced and dreams on moving to Chicago. When she learns that she is the foster daughter of her mother, she decides to move to the big city. Amber has a short schedule to pay the rent of an apartment in Chicago and she convinces her friends to travel with her to the windy city. However the van breaks down and they hitchhike on the road. The truck driver Bernard offers a ride to the group but they need to travel inside the back of a semi. Bernard does not stop the truck and they realize that they have been kidnapped. When he finally stops and opens the semi, they find that they are inside a dirty warehouse. Sooner they are hunted by fast blood-thirsty creatures and their leader Veronica discloses a secret to Amber.Lead character Amber as had enough of her small town and wants to venture to the nearest capital Chicago. Only she needs the help of her friends to get there, thankfully they lend her an hand and agree to drive her. Along the way they break down and thankfully are picked up a a truck driver who's luckily heading their way. Trouble then starts when they realise that he's not as helpful as they first thought, as he drives them to an abandoned meat processing plant to be sold as game for a pack of blood thirsty mutant humans.
Another of After Dark horrorfest's original produced movies, that slightly misses the mark. It does everything OK the cast look and act well together, the actions done well with quality looking wall climbing mutants (the mutants them self look very much like the vampires in 30 Days of Night.) the gores more implied than shown but you get a bit of blood. The pace is a little wayward at times and the plot offer's nothing new, ohhh and the camera man should go see a doctor for those shakes. But all in all not such a bad effort for a first feature, of the 3 After Dark Originals I've seen so far Prowls easily the best.
(5½ out of 10)
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/02/prowl-2010.html - DirectorDarryn WelchStarsSam PageNatassia MaltheDavid GantFiancés Georgie and David head to Spain to get a wedding blessing from David's father, who has lived a criminal life. On a debauched night out, the couple are separated for only a few seconds, but in that time the course of their lives is changed forever, and the truth behind David's family comes to light.Glossy kidnap drama about a young couple David & Georgie, because Georgie wants to have a little idea what her sons going to turn out like they travel to a fancy Spanish villa to meet David's estranged father Robert. Things don't go to plan as before they get to meet Robert, they're separated while in a local nightclub and Georgie goes missing. After a bit of a struggle David eventually finds out his wife to be along with various other beautiful women are being held on a rich Arabs boat, for his sexual gratification.
Stylish enough movie clearly helped by the fact its filmed in such a gorgeous looking Spanish resort. Sadly though due to pacing problems the film begins to drag midway in, and the twists are ultimately too predictable. The acting for the most part was OK, I especially enjoyed the actor playing the white Arab, also plus points for giving Howard Marks a cameo (during the 80's he was Britain's biggest drug runner, and recently had his own biopic 'Mr Nice') likewise both the direction and cinematography are good. To sum it up Slave's well worth a casual view, if the plot had been tweaked a little in places could of been something really special.
http://cultdb.blogspot.com/2011/02/slave-2009.html