Phil’s Cult Classics: SPACE BABES FROM OUTER SPACE (2017) from Bandit Motion Pictures - April 22, 2018

I've been  busy digging through the independent film world for something that would catch my eye. Luckily, there's a lot of activity here in the underground, which produces some unique and interesting works of art. Take for instance filmmaker Brian K. Williams' SPACE BABES FROM OUTER SPACE, which both harkens back to the glory days of Mom & Pop video stores and USA Up All Night while showing us where the B-movie sci-fi genre is now.

The film's official synopsis: Three babes from a faraway galaxy (Ellie Church, Allison Maier, Alyss Winkler) end up stranded on Earth after a surprise encounter with their mortal enemies, the Scrotes! The babes need sexual energy to refuel their ship and return home. Lucky for them, their newfound friend Charlie (Brian Papandrea) knows just the place to get it — the strip club! Will they harness enough sexual energy to get back home? Or will the Scrotes put another wrinkle in their plans?

Now this is how B-movie films and cult classics should be: FUN!! Good crap, I had so much freaking fun watching this! First off, you have a fantastic cast to bring these characters to life!  Actresses Ellie Church, Allison Maier, Alyss Winkler carry the film and they do a tremendous job here! All three bring humor, toughness, and vulnerability as well as a heavy dose of beauty and out-of-this-world sexiness! These ladies rocked my world and channel their inner Scream Queen, especially Brinke Stevens, Linnea Quigley, and Elizabeth Kaitan. Add actor
Brian Papandrea's character lovable and horny country boy Charlie, and you have a film that's worth your time and attention!

Kudos to director Brian K. Williams, who along with producer Scott Schirmer founded Bandit Motion Pictures in Bloomington, Indiana in 2016. However, this dynamic duo have been part of the Indiana indie film community for a long time. They've workd on other titles like HEADLESS, HARVEST LAKE and PLANK FACE. Williams captures the essence of the independent spirit while forging an active and local film community. His set-ups and compositions capture all the fun and mayhem of the movie, which is what you should always do! I don't know how many times I watch a movie with a cool premise, but the directing is all over the place. I'm now a big fan of Williams and I cannot wait to see his next film, which is called AMAZON HOT BOX.

I bought my Blu-Ray copy on their Bandit Motion Pictures website, and since I'm also a hardcore collector, I had to buy my copy of the film signed by both Williams and Schirmer. The bonus features include the 20 minute feature "The Making of Space Babes", audio commentary with Ellie Church, Allison Maier, and Alyss Winkler, a second audio commentary with Brian K. Williams and Scott Schirmer, and movie trailers for other independently released movies.

SPACE BABES FROM OUTER SPACE is a loving tribute to those awesome happy-go-lucky, feel good B-movie of yesterday!! If you're a fan of SLAVE GIRLS FROM BEYOND INFINITY, HYBRID, and CREEPOZOIDS, then this movie is right up your alley!! This is a future cult classic, so get on the ground floor now because this movie is gonna take off into the stratosphere!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

SPACE BABES FROM OUTER SPACE is available on both Blu-Ray and DVD on the Bandit Motion Picture website. To purchase a copy, visit banditmotionpictures.com. The film is also available on Vimeo-On-Demand and Amazon Instant Video.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!

Phil attends the SUNDAY EARTHQUAKE ANNIVERSARY SHOW - April 15, 2018

Once again I was at the Edison Theater, home of the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, where I was volunteering this past Sunday. The museum was busy that day, be we were having our EARTHQUAKE ANNIVERSARY SHOW. The Saturday night show was a huge hit and was completely sold out. Even the ABC 7 Evening News came out to report about the screening! We also had two more screenings on Sunday: a 2pm and 4pm screening. I was on the first shift, and had the pleasure of watching history unfold before me. Plus, we were also showing the recently restored long, lost film from the Miles Brothers that was thought to have been lost forever.

A TRIP DOWN MARKET STREET (1906): The show started off with a museum staple. By now, you’ve heard about how our archivist/historian David Kiehn deduced that the film was made just four days before the 1906 Earthquake that rocked San Francisco. You may have also seen the story on 60 Minutes where Kiehn was interviewed by none other than the legendary Morley Safer. This local film was selected by the Library of Congress to be part of the National Film Registry in 2011. It’s a silent film that I’ve seen more than any other silent film. It’s a film that captured history before history took place four days later.

AFTER THE QUAKE (1906): After the earthquake destroyed most of San Francisco, the Miles Brothers shot over two hours of film of the devastation that it had caused. Unfortunately, the footage was considered lost. Then in 2017, Jason Wright, a film historian from the bay area now living in England, bought the remaining nine minutes from a man named David Silver, who found the film at the San Francisco’s Alemany Flea Market. Wright then contacted Kiehn in helping to restore this cinematic find. He spent the past eight months preparing a digital version that premiered at the museum for the show. After seeing it, it felt like it was the bookend to A TRIP DOWN MARKET STREET, and it was simply amazing to see it up on the silver screen. It was history thought to have been lost, but thanks to Kiehn and Wright, it no live on forever!

THE DESTRUCTION OF SAN FRANCISCO (1906): The film is an amalgam of footage shot by the Edison, Pathe, and Biograph film companies as well as some footage shot by the Miles brothers. It shows the devastation caused by the earthquake an by the subsequent fires that blanketed the city in a cloud of smoke.

Another great earthquake show at the museum. Remember folks the museum is open for tours every weekend from 12pm-4pm and every Saturday night there's a silent film show starting at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm). So if you would like to learn more about the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum, on how to become a member, and to view their film schedule, visit their website at www.nilesfilmmuseum.org.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!