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| GRINDHOUSE Theatrical Poster (2006) |
In 2007, directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's homage to exploitation double features
GRINDHOUSE was released to theaters. With their films
PLANET TERROR and
DEATH PROOF, Rodriguez and Tarantino respectively, along with four fake trailers by Rodriguez (
MACHETE),
Edgar Wright (DON'T), Rob Zombie (WEREWOLF WOMEN OF THE S.S.) and Eli Roth (THANKSGIVING), they were able to recreate that visual experience of what it was like to go to these cinematic events. Their distributor The Weinstein Company thought they had gigantic hit on their hands, but instead, the exact opposite happened and it bombed both critically and financially. However, the film struck a chord with many young filmmakers, who were then inspired to make their own grindhouse style movie. This lead to a new trend of movies that harken back to the gritty, down and dirty days of 42nd Street cinemas and drive-ins.
In the past ten years, there's been a plethora of these films being released on home video, on demand and on streaming services. Some are incredibly amazing while others are just plain awful. But that's where I come in, weeding out the good, the bad and the ugly. So without further ado, here is my list of the 10 Best Post
GRINDHOUSE Films of All Time.
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| HEADLESS Poster (2015) |
10)
HEADLESS (2015) Plot Synopsis: In this "lost slasher from 1978," a masked killer wages an unrelenting spree of murder, cannibalism, and necrophilia. But when his tortured past comes back to haunt him, he plunges to even greater depths of madness and depravity, consuming the lives of a young woman and those she holds dear. (View the
film's trailer here)
This movie is not for the faint of heart. It's visually disturbing, graphically gory and just really, really creepy. Especially the little boy with the skull mask that he always wears. Director
Arthur Cullipher holds nothing back on this feature. This is a perfect example of what old school grindhouse movies looked like! Fun Fact:
HEADLESS is
based on the film within a film from Cullipher's previous horror movie FOUND. To purchase a Blu-Ray or DVD copy for yourself, visit the film's website at headlessmovie.net.
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| RUN! BITCH!RUN! Poster (2009) |
9)
RUN! BITCH RUN! (2009) Plot Synopsis: Catherine and Rebecca are two Catholic school girls going door-to-door
selling religious paraphernalia in order to pay for their books and
education. Things go horribly wrong when they knock on the wrong door in
the wrong neighborhood. (View the
film's trailer here)
The film is a throwback to the classic rape and revenge films that dominated the 70's and early 80's. Think
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT,
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and
MS. 45 and you'll have a idea of what kind of movie this is.
Joseph Guzman directed and co-wrote the film with Robert James Hayes II. Cheryl Lyone and Christina DeRosa's performances of Catherine and Rebecca respectively are riveting and hauntingly realistic. This dirty little flick has the making of becoming a cult classic. The movie is available on DVD from Freak Show Entertainment.
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| THE EDITOR Poster (2014) |
8)
THE EDITOR (2014) Plot Synopsis: Rey Ciso was once the greatest editor the world had ever seen. Since a
horrific accident left him with four wooden fingers on his right hand,
he's had to resort to cutting pulp films and trash pictures. When the
lead actors from the film he's been editing turn up murdered at the
studio, Rey is fingered as the number one suspect. The bodies continue
to pile up in this absurdist giallo-thriller as Rey struggles to prove
his innocence and learn the sinister truth lurking behind the scenes. (View the
film's trailer here)
The Canadian film group Astron-6's tribute to Italian Giallos is both hilarious and spectacular! I was completely enamoured with the performances, the compositions, the lighting, the bloodshed and the incredible Casio soundtrack! If you're looking for something unique and fantastic, then you need to see this movie! The movie is available on Blu-Ray and DVD from
Scream Factory. To learn more about the Astron-6 group and their movies, visit their website at
astron-6.com.
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| NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS Poster (2010) |
7)
NUDE NUNS WITH BIG GUNS (2010) Plot Synopsis: Upon taking her vows to become a nun, Sister Sarah is abused,
brainwashed and drugged into submission by the corrupt clergy. On the
verge of death from a lethal dose of drugs, Sister Sarah receives a
message from GOD telling her to take vengeance on all those who did her
wrong. Armed with God's will and an arsenal of big guns, she dispenses
Judgment Day on her former tormentors. When the church hires the
merciless motorcycle gang the "Los Muertos" to track down and kill her
they soon realize that this SISTER IS ONE BAD MOTHER. (View the
film's trailer here)
Director J
oseph Guzman makes it on the list again but this time with a film that mines a classic grindhouse subgenre: Nunsploitation! Actress Asun Ortega is incredible as Sister Sarah as she's both holy and deadly! There's nothing more sexier than a beautiful nun with big guns blowing bad guys away! This is one film that deserves your time and attention. The movie is available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Image Entertainment.
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| SHE KILLS Poster (2016) |
6)
SHE KILLS (2016) Plot Synopsis: Sadie's life is destroyed when a vicious gang called 'The Touchers'
targets her for their sadistic fantasies after witnessing her sexy but
innocent naked frolicking in a nearby field. On her wedding night they
attack her and her husband Edward, brutalizing both of them. But during
the attack the virgin bride discovers a dangerous secret about her body -
she is cursed with the legendary 'Fire Crotch,' a condition where Satan
has laid claim to her vagina. After visiting her fortune teller friend
Casparella, a space exorcism is attempted on her meat flaps, but it only
ends up unlocking secret hidden powers inside her. Her hatchet wound
becomes lethal, her most deadly weapon in her thirst for revenge against
The Touchers and her fight against lustful men everywhere! (View the
film's trailer here)
If your a fan of
THEY CALL HER ONE EYE,
I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE and
THE CROW, then here's a movie that takes elements of all three and cranks the absurdity up to ten. The film doesn't take itself too seriously and director Ron Bonk knows this. He had fun making this film and we the audience are having fun watching it.
Jennie Russo is riveting as Sadie and
Trey Harrison's Dirk is one of the funniest villains of all time (the moustache gag is hilarious!). This is one movie that must be seen to believe. The film is available on DVD from SRS Cinema. To purchase a copy for your self, visit their website at
srscinema.com/home.
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| DEAR GOD NO! Poster (2011) |
5)
DEAR GOD NO! (2011) Plot Synopsis: Outlaw motorcycle gang The Impalers tri-state rape and murder spree
ended in a bloody massacre with rival club Satan's Own. The surviving
members sought refuge in a secluded cabin deep in the North Georgia
mountains. What first must of seemed like easy prey for a home invasion,
became a living nightmare of depravity and violence. A young innocent
girl being held captive may hold the key to the twisted secrets locked
in the basement and the killing machine feasting on human flesh in the
forest outside. (View the
film's trailer here)
Drawing inspiration from old biker exploitation flicks such as
WILD REBELS,
THE BORN LOSERS and
SATAN'S SADISTS, the movie is a perfect blend of bikes, blood and boobs. Mostly boobs. But there's a lot of bikes too. The violence is over-the-top gory fun, the characters are sick and twisted, and there's a topless girl wearing a Richard Nixon mask toting a machine gun. The film became an underground classic that is spawned the 2016 sequel
FRANKENSTEIN CREATED BIKERS. Both movies are available on both Blu-Ray and DVD. To purchase a copy, visit the Big World Pictures website at
www.bigworldpictures.us.
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| BLACK DYNAMITE Poster (2009) |
4)
BLACK DYNAMITE (2009) Plot Synopsis: This is the story of 1970s African-American action legend Black
Dynamite. The Man killed his brother, pumped heroin into local
orphanages, and flooded the ghetto with adulterated malt liquor. Black
Dynamite was the one hero willing to fight The Man all the way from the
blood-soaked city streets to the hallowed halls of the Honky House. (View the
film's trailer here)
Blaxploitation is a film genre that catered to black audiences back in the early 1970's. Films like
SHAFT,
SUPERFLY,
COFFY,
THE MACK,
SHEBA, BABY and
BLACK BELT JONES became huge boxoffice hits and are now regarded as cinema classics. This film does the same thing, paying homage to those films while having some fun tongue in cheek moments.
Michael Jai White is absolutely fantastic as the title role. The man was born to play this character. Not only does he star in the movie, he also co-wrote the screenplay as well. The film became a huge cult classic that it became a cartoon series on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, which made it even more popular. The film is available on Blu-Ray and DVD. To purchase a copy as well as other merchandise, visit the website blackdynamite.com.
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| MACHETE Poster (2010) |
3)
MACHETE (2010) Plot Synopsis: The highly skilled Federale Machete is hired by some unsavory types to
assassinate a senator. But just as he's about to take the shot, he
notices someone aiming at him and realizes he's been set up. He barely
survives the sniper's bullet, and is soon out for revenge on his former
employers, with the reluctant assistance of his brother Cheech Marin,
who has become a priest and taken a vow of nonviolence. If you hire him
to take out the bad guys, make sure the bad guys aren't you! (View the
film's trailer here)
The first
fake trailer that opened in
GRINDHOUSE became the first to become a full length feature film. Robert Rodriguez's film fulfills the exploitation criteria while adding political and social commentary.
Danny Trejo is such a bad ass in the film and when he teams up with
Jessica Alba and
Michelle Rodriguez to take down
Robert De Niro,
Jeff Fahey and
Steven Seagal, it's a fucking blast to watch. The movie became a hug hit and in 2013 the sequel MACHETE KILLS was released. There is a rumor that the third film MACHETE KILLS AGAIN...IN SPACE (which is a fake trailer in MACHETE KILLS) is supposed to be still in the works. The movie is available on Blu-Ray and DVD.
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| HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN Poster (2011) |
2)
HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN (2011) Plot Synopsis: A vigilante homeless man pulls into a new city and finds himself trapped
in urban chaos, a city where crime rules and where the city's crime
boss reigns. Seeing an urban landscape filled with armed robbers,
corrupt cops, abused prostitutes and even a pedophile Santa, the Hobo
goes about bringing justice to the city the best way he knows how - with
a 20-gauge shotgun. Mayhem ensues when he tries to make things better
for the future generation. Street justice will indeed prevail. (View the
film's trailer here)
Directed by Jason Eisener, the movie started out as a
fake trailer made for an international contest to promote the release of
GRINDHOUSE. He won the contest and his trailer was shown within the movie in parts of Canada. Due to the overwhelming demand from fans, he decided to make it into a feature length film. Legendary actor Rutger Hauer steals the film as our hobo hero, who dishes out justice one shell at a time. The violence is crazy gory, there's blood everywhere, and it's balls-to-the-wall crazy fun! Anyone who is fan of exploitation movies needs to see this film! The movie is available on Blu-Ray and DVD.
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| FATHER'S DAY Poster (2011) |
1)
FATHER'S DAY (2011) Plot Synopsis: Ahab, a man obsessed with exacting a brutal, violent revenge on the man
who murdered his dad, joins John, an eager priest, and Twink, a
hot-headed street hustler, on an epic quest to find and defeat this
mythical monster known as Chris Fuchman AKA The Father's Day Killer. (View the
film's trailer here)
The group Astron-6 takes the number one spot! This movie is not for the squeamish. There are
multiple scenes of male rape, tons of male nudity (but there's also plenty of female nudity), graphic
gore and even genital mutilation. In spite of all that, this is
actually a comedy that serves as both a homage and a satire of
exploitation films. Now when you watch the film, even though it's low budget, it looks
rather expensive. Believe it or not, the film's budget was only $10,000!
The movie looks incredible, which once again reinforces my point that
you don't need a lot of money to make your film.
FATHER'S DAY is without a doubt the BEST exploitation film ever made! The movie is available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Troma Entertainment. Visit their website at
www.troma.com. To learn more about the Astron-6 group and their movies, visit their website at
astron-6.com.
And folks, there you have it! My Top 10 Best Post
GRINDHOUSE Films of All Time! Man, this sure was fun! And I hope all you jive turkeys, biker dudes, groovy chicks and soul brothas and sistas had a good time reading all about these far out flicks. Now, there is no reason that ya'll can't checkout these flicks because they're all available to watch, either on home video or they're On Demand, iTunes, Netflix and other streaming services. So if you wish you could relive those glory days of 42nd Street or you're new to the whole exploitation genre, then these ten films are required viewing. So turn off your phone, close the blinds, order some pizzas a beer and spend a day watching these exploitation classics! Just make sure you save me a seat, will ya?
Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!
