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MrMad
Reviews
Dust Devil (1992)
Brief synopsis...
Rather over ambitious story of a shape shifter who prays on desperate souls who have nothing left to live for.
While the scenery of the African desert provides some visually impressive photography, the story is a bit of a mish mash. The Dust Devil never seems that scary, and there's a feeling that the emphasis is more on visuals than content.
Conclusion : Looks good but nothing much happening.
4 out of 10.
La montagna del dio cannibale (1978)
Madman's review!
Italian horror supremo Sergio Martino managed to persuade Ursula Andress into this now notorious jungle adventure and moreover got her to display her boobies! Back in the days when animal rights activists were just a glimmer in their fathers eye, film makers were able to shock audiences by showing gratuitious scenes of animals being killed. In this case, a giant snake eating a monkey, tribesmen slicing open a large lizard, and a number of others - intense imagery but it does go to show how brutal nature can be.
Andress plays Susan Stevenson, the wife of a scientist who has become lost in the New Guinea jungle, and mounts an expedition with the help of her brother and another scientist. They soon meet up with the mysterious Manolo who helps in the search and discover that Susan's hubby has gone in search of a secret tribe living on a remote mountain called Ra Ra Me which translates as Mountain Of The Cannibal God.
Much of the group are killed on the way by members of the cannibal tribe and when they do arrive at the mountain, it is the Uranium in the rocks that Susan seeks for financial gain rather than locating her husband. However, her plans are quickly scuppered when the tribe capture her and the last remaining scientist and take them to their mountain lair. They believe that Susan is a goddess and create a living monument by smearing her naked body with fluid and putting ceremonial items on her. How sweet.
The jungle locations are rich and vibrant, and the cannibals are genuinly scarey looking characters - especially the midget one. The flick does over use shock tactics in parts such as the frenzied sex scene which includes a large boar as far as I can make out. That said, I personally enjoyed the whole 70's exploitation experience but that may be due to having something wrong with my head.
7.75 out of 10.
Jeepers Creepers (2001)
Scares aplenty...
I went into this film thinking it would be yet another "Scream-If-You Know-What-I-Did-Last-Friday-The-13th" clone but was glad to discover it was not. Now I like to think of myself as a mans man. Someone who can kill small spiders and such like. However, this film SCARED me. There, I said it. I literally jumped a number of inches out of my seat when I wasn't sitting on the edge of it. Very frightening stuff! Well the first half was anyway...
I felt that the baddy character - a cross between Star Wars' Darth Maul, Hannibal Lector and a bat - was a bit dubious. In my worthless opinion he should have remained as the unseen shadowy figure that he appeared to be. I'm also not too sure why he would listen to a 1930's (or whatever year) recording of the song "Jeepers Creepers" on an old gramaphone. Nor where he would be able to pick up a copy...
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the film but am still making up my mind about the "abrupt" conclusion.
In a nutshell I would say: "Scary, original and some excellent dialogue between the main brother and sister characters."
A Mr Mad rating of: 7.5 loons out of 10.
Tale of the Mummy (1998)
I though it was something else...
!!! Spoiler alert !!! This comment/review may contain information about the film.
Well to start with I thought this was the OTHER Mummy movie. The one with the guy out of George Of The Jungle. Not a good start.
Anyway, this is sort of supernatural cop thriller with loads of stars from British TV. Sean Pertwee is very good, if not a little over dramatic, as an archaeologist (excuse my spelling) gone completely insane. Jason Scott Lee plays the cop who investigates a series of strange and grisly murders.
The Mummy itself is a bit dodgy to say the very least. It basically looks like a roll of toilet paper floating around the room.
That aside the film is reasonably entertaining and used up an hour or so of my time. Nuff said.