Today was a day that I was very much looking forward! I've waited to for week and now, it was time! This past Tuesday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the CINEQUEST MEDIA LAUNCH EVENT
here in Downtown San Jose! The event this year was held at the historic De Anza Hotel, a beautiful 10-story art deco building that has been opened since 1931. I got to see all my old friends like
fellow blogger Jason Wiener (Jason Watches Movies), Terra Wood Taylor
and Michael Rabehl from Cinequest as well as several people from the media. After some cocktails and meeting old friends and making new ones, the event began and I was very excited to see what what was planned for this year's festival.
Started in 1990 by co-founders Halfdan Hussey and Kathleen Powell, the
Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival has grown to epic proportions over the years,
bring new visions and voices from up and coming filmmakers while
bringing new technology and films to the masses. Now in its 29th year,
the
festival shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to bringing the
very best in independent, foreign, and documentaries to film lovers.
Cinequest Publicity Manager Gabrielle Whelan kicks off the event.
The event began with Gabrielle Whelan, the Cinequest Publicity Manager. She welcomed everyone and thanks all those who took time out of their schedules to attended the media launch event. She discussed how big this year's festival and there is something for everyone. She then introduced the one and only Cinequest co-founder and director Halfdan Hussey.
Cinequest Co-Founder Halfdan Hussey announcing the festival's theme.
Hussey revealed this year's
theme for the
festival: THE UNEXPEXTED. Then we were all shown a great
video with Hussey telling us how Cinequest has reached out on a global
scale to influence the idea that YOU can go out a create your film and
have it been seen by people, who will then in turn become transformed by
your film. A great message for all future filmmakers! Once again, The
California Theatre, 3Below Theaters, and the Hammer Theatre Center will
be hosting the festival, along with the Century Downtown 20 in Redwood
City.
Hussey also announced that this year's festival would have a total of 132 world premiers from over 56 countries, and 100 films by female filmmakers! Also, the festival will have 10% more films screened than last year's. These are staggering numbers folks! Once again, Cinequest is leading the charge of equality, diversity, and change to the film world, and it begins again here in Downtown San Jose!
He then talked about the opening night film that will kick off the festival. MANTO is a biopic chronicling the life and work of India's most controversial writer Saadat Hasan Manto.After the screening, there will be a conversation with the film's writer/director Nandita Das, who will also be receiving the Maverick Spirit Award. Afterwards, the celebration continues over at the Glass House on South Market Street for the big after party! Also, it was just announced that Bill Nighy will also be receiving the Maverick Spirit Award as well!
Again, the festival will have numerous world premiers from all over the world, and will offer 100 new films by female filmmakers. Some of these films include AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS directed by Deanne Foley, BLOOD PARADISE from Swedish filmmaker Patrick von Barkenberg, the Swahili drama OUR MADNESS by Joao Viana, the epic action film SHADOW from Chinese director Zhang Yimou, and GRIND RESET SHINE from Margarita Jimeno are just a few examples of what audiences can expect to see, along with ten percent more films than last year!
Other special screenings Hussey mentioned was the Kaiser Permanente Thrive Award Event taking place on Thursday, March 7th at 7:15pm at the historic California Theatre. This year's film is CLOWNVETS, a documentary about Patch Adams, the founder of the Gesundheit! Institute, leading his group of humanitarians on a mission to Guatemala. Plus, Patch Adams, himself, along with the film’s artists will be part of the screening as well! Also at the California Theatre, the festival, along with the PACKARD HUMANITIES INSTITURE, will be the 1928 silent film STREAMBOAT BILL JR, starring silent film comic genius Buster Keaton. On hand playing the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ will be none other than the great Dennis James. This screening takes place on Friday, Mar 15th at 7pm.
The festival will also once again have their Spotlight Films program featuring big time Hollywood names in thoughtful, provocative, and interesting titles and will be screened at both the California Theatre and Hammer Theatre. This year's films include titles like FREAKS starring Emile Hirsch and Bruce Dern, HOTEL MUMBAI featuring Anupam Kher, Dev Patel, and Armie Hammer, and THE HUMMINGBIRD PROJECT with Jesse Eisenberg, Alexander Skarsgard, and Salma Hayek just to name a few. While these films will be released theatrically, film lovers will be able to see them here at the festival.
There's so much more that I haven't even talked about! There's the Virtual and Augmented Reality programs and lounge, there's the new Television & Webisodes program, and also new this year is the Poets N Film program that celebrates, "the power of the spoken word in poetry, music, and film!" And not to mention Creativity at Cinequest program, featuring the aforementioned Television & Webisodes program, Creativity Summit, and Moving Stories!
The festival concludes on Sunday, March 17th at the California Theatre with a film that I cou;d not believe! This year's Closing Night Film is none other than THE MAN WHO KILLED DON QUIXOTE, the latest film by the legendary filmmaker Terry Gilliam! The movie stars Adam Driver, Jonathan Pryce, Stellan Skarsgard, Olga Kurylenko, and Joana Ribeiro and if you haven't seen the trailer yet, holy crap!! If your a fan of Mr. Gilliam and would like to see his latest masterpiece on the big screen in a classic movie theatre palace, then make a date to come here!!
With the Picture the Possibilities, VIP
Soirees, Maverick Meet-Ups, and VR Cinema Programs, there's something
for everybody at this year's Cinequest!! So don't waste anymore time! The 29th Annual Cinequest Film and Creativity Festival will be held from March 5 -
March 17, 2019. Tickets and passes are now available so make sure you
get them now because they are already moving fast. To learn more about
the festival, film schedules and events, volunteering, and to buy your tickets and passes, visit
their website at www.cinequest.org
Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in Downtown San Jose for Cinequest!
Starring
Linda Lovelace, Harry Reems, Dolly Sharp, Carol Connors, Ronnie Shark, William Love, Bob Phillips
Written by Gerard Damiano (as Jerry Gerard) Cinematography by João Fernandes
(as Harry Flecks) Edited by Gerard Damiano (as Jerry Gerard) Produced by Phil Parisi
(as Phil Perry), Louis Peraino
(as Lou Perry)
Directed by Gerard Damiano (as Jerry Gerard) Originally released by Bryanston Distributing Company Released by Sunset Entertainment
Greetings and salutations all you sexy people and welcome to the first installment of Phil's Porno Chic Theatre for 2019! For today's review, I'll be talking about one of the most important adult films ever made in cinema history. Now, for those of you may not know what "Pono Chic" means, it refers to a time when it
seemed okay to go out and see a "dirtornimovie" at your local cinema.
Couples were going, along with groups of women and celebrities, who were curious as to what the
clamour was all about. Today's film has been called, "the one that started it all." On June 12, 1972, the adult film DEEP THROAT
had its world premiere at the World Theatre in Times Square in New
York. On that warm, summer day, history was made and the world we live
in would never be the same again.
The film's official synopsis: The film tells the story of Linda Lovelace, your typical girl-next-door,
who unfortunately is having problems achieving an orgasm. Even though
she has a very high and adventurous sex life, she still feels
unsatisfied. After a wild sex party leads to disappointment, Linda asks
her friend Helen (Dolly Sharp) for help. She recommends that she visit a
doctor, so Linda meets the wacky Dr. Young (Harry Reems). During
Linda's examination, the doctor discovers that her clitoris is
mistakenly located at the back of her throat. What's a girl do to?
According to the good doctor, she can achieve orgasms by performing the
oral sex skill he calls "deep throat." After seeing fireworks going off,
bells ringing, and rockets exploding, Linda is finally sexually
satisfied. She works for Dr. Young as a nurse and performs her "deep
throat" talent on various patients until she finds the one she wants to
marry.
The film was a first of its kind. It was a pornographic movie with
a plot. Up until then, what was being shown were the old stag films as
well as loops in converted store front theaters. But in early 1973, a
news article about the film appeared on the New York
Times. Written by reporter Ralph Blumenthal and using the phrase "Porno
Chic" for its title, it helped usher in what has been coined "The Golden
Age of Pornography," which lasted between 1972-1984. Because of the New
Your Times article, it made couples want to go porno theatres and see
what the hype was all about. Celebrities also came to see the film: Jack
Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palm, and Johnny
Carson. Seeing the film became the hip thing to do.
Original Theatrical Poster (1972)
The film was an amalgam of slapstick comedy, bad puns, and hot sex with
hilarious one-liners, such as, "Mind if I smoke while you eat?" While
amateurish in certain parts, the film as a whole is quite entertaining
and captures the 70's sexual revolution: its ideas, its frankness about
sex, and stating that women have the right to have orgasms. It was in
some ways a form of enlightenment for women, who saw the film as a form
of sexual freedom and exploration. However, with this new freedom, there
came a hefty price.
The film was tried and banned in New York, and soon, it would become
banned in 23 states. Actor Reems was tried and was almost sent to
prison. The film was then distributed by a network of Mafia-connected
associates of the Peraino family. The film has been rumored to have
grossed as high as $600 million, which would make the film one of the highest grossing films of all time. It's been reported that the film actually earned somewhere between $30–50 million. However, because of the Perainos, it is unsure as to how much the film actually earned.
The popularity of the film became part of the mainstream in a major way. Assistant FBI director W. Mark Felt, the Watergate informer that blew the whistle on then President Richard
Nixon was nicknamed "Deep Throat." It was talked about in the news, on
late talk shows as well as variety shows. It's been referenced in books,
newspapers, mainstream movies, as well as becoming part of the sexual
dictionary. In 2005, the film would also become the subject matter in
the documentary entitled INSIDE DEEP THROAT. In it, directors
Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato chronicled (and in some parts
exaggerated) the history of the film and the ramifications of its
impact.The movie was also the first film to be inducted into the XRCO Hall of Fame. On August 9, 2013, the dramatic biopic LOVELACE, starring Hollywood A-listers Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Adam Brody, James Franco, Chloë Sevigny, and Juno Temple, was released to theaters by The Weinstein Company. Based on Lovelace's life, it was written by Andy Bellin and directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman.
On
April 22, 2002, Linda Lovelace died from injuries sustained from a car
accident at the young age of 53. Then Gerard Damino passed away at age
80 on October 25, 2008 following complications from a stroke he
suffered. And then finally, on March 19, 2013, Harry Reems died from
pancreatic cancer at the age of 65. In December 2014, the website The Rialto Report (which documents the golden years of adult cinema) released a podcast which revealed the identify of Dolly Sharp, who had disappeared from the public's eye after the release of the film. Through their investigations, they reported that Sharp was actually in fact Helen Wood, a former Broadway performer and Hollywood actress, who appeared in the 1953 musical GIVE A GIRL A BREAK and in director William Friedkin's 1968 film THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED MINSKY'S. Sharp passed away from colon cancer on November 1, 1998 in Los Angeles. She was just 63 years old.
The new Blu-Ray release looks absolutely gorgeous!! There are still some small scratches and dirt, but overall, the movie has never, and I mean never, looked this pristine before!! It looks like a brand new movie all together!! The visuals look so crisp and sharp, the soundtrack and dialogue sounds clear, and it looks amazing in HD!! Congratulations to Sunset Entertainment for making this the best version of the film ever!!
Sunset Entertainment also offers up some cool special features for this Blu-Ray release. There's an interview with the late Linda Lovelace, several random adult trailers from the 1970's, and a second feature DEEP THROAT II, which was written and directed by the legendary Joseph Sarno and released in 1972. The sequel is an exploitation comedy, rather than a true adult sequel. The picture and sound quality is decent, but that's about it. The film was produced once again by Phil Parisi and Louis Peraino and though the production company that made the film was called Damiano Films, Gerard Damiano had no involvement with the sequel. DEEP THROAT and its impact on our society and culture have been
immeasurable. It was the first of its kind, and while there have been a
plethora of its kind since then, it still remains as one of the most
important films in American cinema history. Forty-seven years later,the film still resonates within our society, and its influence is still part of our
pop culture as well as our sexual lexicon. But one must remember, when
watching the film, we are watching a time capsule that captured a
society on the eve of change. The film documented a cultural shift;
an open mindedness about sex. For a brief moment in history, it looked
like America was going to adult about its sexuality. However the
opposite occurred, and now we live in society that glamorizes and
praises violence while sex is still a taboo subject. As a result of
this, we repress our sexuality instead of talking about, exploring it,
and celebrating it. So ask yourself this question: Would you rather see
gratuitous acts of violence or gratuitous acts of love? 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
DEEP THROAT is available on Blu-Ray from Sunset Entertainment. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the Diabolik DVD website at www.diabolikdvd.com.
Starring Michael Rogen, Patty Mullen, Ruth Collins, Kristin Davis, William Hay, Kenny L. Price, Harrison White
Written by Richard Friedman, Rick Marx, Steve Menkin Cinematography by Larry Revene
Edited by Ray Shapiro
Produced by Alexander W. Kogan Jr., Barry Tucker, Ted Hope, Steven G. Menkin
Directed by Richard Friedman
Originally released by Academy Video Released by Arrow Video
Continuing the legacy of the totally radical year of 1988, today's film is another shining example of independent horror filmmaking, and an example of what not to do when making an independent horror film. This particular movie has a reputation of being one of the worst films to come out of the 1980's, which to me is unfair. It's not that bad. It falls into the "It's so bad, it's good" category. What I loved about the movie that it tries really, really hard to be a good movie. And it's that good intentions that make DOOM ASYLUM such a charming movie!
The film's official synopsis: When a group of horny teens wind up on the grounds of a creepy abandoned
asylum, they think they’ve found the perfect place to party. Little do
they know that inside the building’s crumbling walls lurks a freakishly
deformed maniac, driven to madness by the tragic loss of his fiancée in a
car accident. With an array of grisly surgical tools at his disposal,
it’s only a matter of time before the youngsters begin meeting various
splattery ends at the hands of the ghoulish Coroner. Helmed by director Richard Friedman and also starring Penthouse Pet of the Year 1988
Patty Mullen, DOOM ASYLUM combines outlandish gore and a
wise-cracking villain to create one of the most wildly entertainingly
blood-spattered slashers of the late ’80s.
Now, this was my first time watching the movie, but I have known of its existence for a long time. Back in 1994, while I was at a horror convention here in San Jose, I purchased a book called "Invasion of the Scream Queens" and it contained within its pages an interview with actress Ruth Collins. In her interview, the authors included a full page poster of DOOM ASYLUM, and it looked so cool. I looked for it at all of my favorite local mom & pop video stores, but always came up empty handed. Now, in 2019, I finally purchased my very own copy, and I must confess, it was soooo worth the wait!
Original VHS Cover Art (1988)
The movie is full of cheesy goodness that I'm surprised that it wasn't on the old USA Up Al Night show back in the 90's! The plot is paper thin, the acting is mostly wooden, the special effects are really awesome, and the characters are just so damn goofy that it puts a smile on my face. There's an innocence to the film, which is a common thread for a lot of the B-movies being made at that time. The film doesn't take itself seriously, and that's what makes it so much fun to watch! It's a type of film that doesn't get recognize enough, nor does it get made anymore. This is a lost art form, and I'm glad to see it back in the public's eyes once more!
The cast is totally awesome in their respective roles! Lead actress Patty Mullen became more well known a couple of years later when she starred in Frank Henenlotter's 1990 cult classic FRANKENHOOKER. Ruth Collins would go on to star in other low budget films like PSYCHOS IN LOVE, CEMETERY HIGH, PRIME EVIL, and DEADLY EMBRACE. The film would mark the acting debut of one Kristin Davis, who can also be seen in TV shows like General Hospital, Melrose Place, and Seinfield, but it was her role as Charlotte York on the hit Showtime series Sex and the City that landed her in the public's conscience. Our antagonist Michael Rogen had a very short acting career, having appeared in a handful of projects. You can see him Frank Henenlotter's 1990 sequel BASKET CASE 2, PUNCH THE CLOCK, and on the television show Tribeca as Albert.
The movie was co-written and directed by Richard Friedman. Having directed some television episodes, he would go on to direct a plethora of projects, including PHANTOM AT THE MALL: ERIC'S REVENGE, SCARED STIFF, and DEATH MASK as well as TV shows like Silk Stalkings, Baywatch Nights, and Friday the 13th: The Series, as well as a series of short films and then that was that for him. It's too bad, because I would have liked to see more from him. Once again the wonderful people at Arrow Video have pulled out all the stops restoring this lost classic! They did a brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative, offer 1.85:1 and 1.33:1 versions of the feature, original uncompressed PCM mono audio, optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourne, and a fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Amanda Reyes for the first pressings of the Blu-Ray/DVD combo.
Arrow Video also dished out some pretty damn cool special features as well for the combo. Included are a brand new audio commentary with screenwriter Rick Marx, brand new audio commentary with The Hysteria Continues, a brand new interview with actress Ruth Collins entitled, "Tina’s Terror", a brand new interview with director of photography Larry Revene entitled, "Movie Madhouse", a brand new interview with special make-up effects creator Vincent J. Guastini entitled, "Morgues & Mayhem", Archival Interviews with producer Alexander W. Kogan, Jr., director Richard Friedman and production manager Bill Tasgal, and a stills gallery!
DOOM ASYLUM is one of the most entertainingly, goofy, silly, off-the-wall wacky slasher flick that I have ever seen in my lifetime!! If you're looking for a weird ass horror film from the Decade of Decadence that has to offer, then look no further!! From bad puns and 80's high-cut bathing suits, this movie has it all and more!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
DOOM ASYLUM is available on Blu-Ray from Arrow Video. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the Diabolik DVD website at www.diabolikdvd.com.
Starring Paul Harper, Jim Van Bebber, Megan Murphy, Ric Walker, Marc Pitman, Maureen Gentner Written by Jim Van Bebber Cinematography by Michael King Edited by Jim Van Bebber Produced by Michael King Directed by Jim Van Bebber Originally released by Ketchum Video Released by Arrow Video
Welcome back to the first installment of Phil's Horror Watch of 2019! Today's feature leans more towards exploitation than horror, however, it exploits the horror of living in the town of Dayton, Ohio during the 1980's. It's also a great example of the Do-It-Yourself independent filmmaking that was sweeping the nation during the decade. It's depictions of gang violence, lost love, and revenge made it a cult classic when it was first released back in 1988. Over three decades later, the fine folks over at Arrow Video gave the film a new and improved upgrade that it so richly deserved. Now, fans old and new can witness the brilliant and violent cinematic treasure called DEADBEAT AT DAWN!
The film's official synopsis: Written by, directed by, and starring Van Bebber, Deadbeat follows the
story of Goose – a gang leader whose girlfriend is brutally slaughtered
when he attempts to leave the thug life behind. Pulled back into the
gang, who’ve now formed an uneasy alliance with the thugs that butchered
his girl, Goose sees an opportunity to exact his brutal, deadly
revenge.The very definition of DIY, independent filmmaking (VanBebber quit film
school after his first year and used his student loan to fund the
movie), DEADBEAT AT DAWN surpasses its low-budget origins to create a
revenge movie that delivers more thrills and bloody spills than all of
Chuck Norris’ films combined.
When I first watched the movie, I thought it was shot in New York City, but to my surprised, it was filmed in Dayton, Ohio. Van Bebber captures the plight of his city the same way that filmmakers have done prior for the Big Apple. Some of the names that come to mind are Abel Ferrara's DRILLER KILLER and MS.45, Buddy Giovinazzo's COMBAT SHOCK, and Susan Seidelman's SMITHEREENS for example. Van Bebber's style of directing is both beautiful and haunting, grotesque and confrontational. His camera doesn't shy away from those moments of both happiness and sheer violence of gang violence. His style lies somewhere between traditional and documentary, showing us that he isn't afraid of pushing the envelope, and then showing us what's inside. And it's all shot on glorious 16mm filmstock, giving it this aura of sleaze and griminess that looks like it would've been screened at a grindhouse theater on 42nd Street.
Original Theatrical Poster (1988)
Applause goes to Arrow Video for their tremendous job of restoring this beloved cult classic! They did a brand new 2K restoration from original film elements, supervised and approved by Jim VanBebber himself, and looks better than ever in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation! The discs also offer the original uncompressed PCM mono audio, optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, and a reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Peter Strain.
The Blu-Ray/DVD also comes with a plethora of awesome special features. Included are a brand new free-wheeling audio commentary with Jim VanBebber ('Goose',
The Ravens' Gang Leader), actor Paul Harper ('Danny Carmodi', The
Spyders' Gang Leader) and guest Cody Lee Hardin, moderated by filmmaker
Victor Bonacore (Diary of a Deadbeat: The Story of Jim VanBebber), Archival 1986 behind-the-scenes documentary Nate Pennington's VHS documentary on a failed Deadbeat shoot, Outtakes, newly transferred in HD, Four newly-restored VanBebber short films Into the Black (1983, 34
mins), My Sweet Satan (1993, 19 mins), Roadkill: The Last Days of John
Martin (1994, 14 mins) and Gator Green (2013, 16 mins), Jim VanBebber Music Video Collection, featuring never-before-seen Director's Cuts, Chunkblower promotional trailer for an unfinished Gary Blair Smith-produced gore-soaked feature film, Extensive Image Gallery Never-Before-Seen Stills, Jim VanBebber, Deadbeat Forever! a brand new retrospective documentary
on VanBebber and the Deadbeat legacy by Filmmaker Victor Bonacore,
featuring first-time interviews, super-rare footage, VanBebber's college
films and much, much more! Plus, a collector's booklet featuring new writing by Scott Gabbey and Graham Rae for the first pressing of the combo only!
DEADBEAT AT DAWN is a tried and true cult classic that examines the hardship of living in Regan's America during the 1980's!! With it's down and dirty gorilla filmmaking and over-the-top violence and brutality, the movie is a time capsule that captures the spirit of independent filmmaking during that decade! It also announces the masses the arrival of a true auteur whose film still manages to shock and surprise 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
DEADBEAT AT DAWN is available on Blu-Ray from Arrow Video. To purchase a copy for yourself, visit the Diabolik DVD website at www.diabolikdvd.com.
2018 was another banner for the horror genre!! Horror hounds as we were treated once again with a plethora of outstanding, thought
provoking and truly terrifying movies to watch! There was so much great films that I thought I died and gone to Hell! Now this was really a
daunting task, due to the fact that there were
some truly incredible and remarkable films that I saw in theaters,
Blu-Ray, DVD as well as on VOD and streaming services like Shudder and
Netflix. So boils and ghouls, here is my Top Ten Horror
Films of 2018!
10) THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT: A family's road trip takes a dangerous turn when they arrive at a
secluded mobile home park to stay with relatives and find it
mysteriously deserted. Under the cover of darkness, three masked
psychopaths pay them a visit to test the family's every limit as they
struggle to survive. Right from the beginning, the film has the aesthetic of a 70's horror
film, right down to it's logo design. And I was digging it man! While the first installment was extremely unnerving and highly
suspenseful, the sequel knows exactly what it is, as that your straight
forward slasher flick. And there's nothing wrong with that. Over the
duration of the movie, director Johannes Roberts keeps his eye of the
prize; providing shocks, scares, suspense, and shenanigans to keep
horror fans happy. And that freaking pool scene!! An intense, thrill ride of a slasher movie that's short on plot but makes up in sheer joy and enthusiasm!
9) THE BABYSITTER: Cole (Judah Lewis) loves his babysitter (Samara Weaving) Bee. She's hot,
funny, and popular. One night, in a moment of defiance, Cole secretly
stays up past his bedtime to discover she's actually a cold-blooded
killer who's in league with the Devil. He now must spend his night
evading Bee's band of killers who will stop at nothing to prevent Cole
from spilling their dark secret. It's up to Cole to survive the night
(and blow up a few people along the way). The
characters are very relatable and sympathetic. I mean, c'mon, who
didn't have a crush on their super hot babysitter when they were kids?!?
Now, add in some awesome gore, bloodshed, and hysterical hijinks and
you have yourself on hell of a film!! It follows along the lines of
recent horror comedies like SHAUN OF THE DEAD, TUCKER AND DALE VS. EVIL, and BETTER WATCH OUT.One of the most outrageous, blood stained, batshit crazy, bonkers as
hell, flat out gross out horror comedies of all time!! I freaking loved
this movie!
8) NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE: Five teenage friends set out for the beach on their Spring Break
vacation. Good times are cut short when one of the group, Carrie,
contracts a deadly sexual transmitted disease during a bathroom stop.
When they stop for the night at an isolated motel, the real terror
begins when the STD virus starts running rampant, turning those infected
into the living dead. However, there's more going on at the motel than
meets the eye. f there was ever a film that promotes that abstinence as well as the dangers of necrophilia, it's this film! Writer/director
Jonathan Straiton, along with co-writers Ron Bonk and Mean Gene,
crafted one of the most insane, gory, fast paced, darkly
sexual, horror film I have ever seen! One of my favorite independent horror films of 2018!!
7) CULT OF CHUCKY: After accused of murdering her family, Nica (Fiona Dourif) is taken to an asylum and
thinks that she's the cause of the deaths of her family. However, when
grizzly deaths start to occur, she then realizes that Chucky (Brad Dourif), her
illusion might not be make believe. She also finds out that the doll is
slowly starting to possess anyone or anything to join a huge cult to
kill off Chucky's victims, but things don't go to well in the asylum,
including for Chucky's long lost friend Andy Barcley (Alex Vincent) who tries to stop
the cult from getting bigger while also trying to get past Chucky's
wife, Tiffany (Jennifer Tilly). I am so impressed with Mancini's
directing. He clearly has a vision and, despite its very low budget, he
is able to capture some outstanding sweeps, compositions, and gore
galore. He finds the balance of scares and drama, with a little bit of
humor for good measure. You can also see how much confident he gains
from each film. I cannot wait to see what he does in his next film!
6) REVENGE: Debut director Coralie Fargeat announces her stunning arrival, painting a
crimson canvas of hypnotic beauty and bloody retribution in this
razor-sharp feminist subversion of the revenge-thriller. Jen (fearlessly
embodied by Matilda Lutz, Rings) is enjoying a romantic getaway with
her wealthy boyfriend which is suddenly disrupted when his sleazy
friends arrive for an unannounced hunting trip. Tension mounts in the
house until the situation abruptly––and viciously––intensifies,
culminating in a shocking act that leaves Jen left for dead.
Unfortunately for her assailants, Jen survives and reemerges with a
relentless, wrathful intent: revenge. An ungodly violent and grotesque entry in the rape/revenge genre, the film grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the final credits roll! I had seen the film first on Shudder, but then I bought it on Blu-Ray once it became available. A powerful and raw film!!
5) TERRIFIER: Based on a character from the cult anthology, ALL HALLOW'S EVE, the gory
80's slasher throwback takes place on Halloween night as the demented
Art the Clown sets his sights on terrorizing two girls and anyone else
that gets in his way. Yeah, this is one fucked up horror movie!! It has that old school,
1970's grindhouse horror film aesthetic that the movie nails you to the
back of the theater and doesn't let go till the end credits. It's also
super nasty, meaning everything about it makes you feel dirty watching
it. Credit goes to actor David Howard Thornton for his performance of Art
the Clown, one of the most horrifying clowns I have ever seen in a
horror film! He doesn't speak a word and he doesn't have
to: his body language, his mannerism, his facial expressions, every
little thing he does adds to mystic to his role! One of the most shocking, grotesque and insane horror films of the past
decade!! This movie is not for the faint at heart! If you like your
horror movies outrageously fucked-up, and covered in blood and guts,
this one was made for you!
4) HALLOWEEN: Jamie Lee Curtis returns to her iconic role as Laurie Strode, who comes
to her final confrontation with Michael Myers, the masked figure who has
haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween
night four decades ago. Holy crap I loved the hell outta this movie!! This surpassed beyond my
expectations! Jamie Lee Curtis returns to bring a new dimension to her
iconic character Laurie Strode. Life has been hard on Laurie, and we
learn the sacrifices, consequences, and loss that she has lived through
these past 40 years. This is the sequel that we have been waiting for for the last 40 years!!
Everything in this movie was phenomenal!! The acting, the directing,
the cinematography, the film's score, there wasn't anything wrong with
the overall presentation! And the kills were graphic, gory, and
gorgeous!!
3) A QUIET PLACE: If
they hear you, they hunt you. In this terrifyingly suspenseful
thriller, a family must navigate their lives in silence to avoid
mysterious creatures that hunt by sound. Knowing that even the slightest
whisper or footstep can bring death, Evelyn (Emily Blunt) and Lee (John
Krasinski) Abbott are determined to find a way to protect their
children at all costs while they desperately search for a way to fight
back. Holy shit was this an intense, nail biter of a horror flick!! Emily Blunt is absolutely amazing!! Actor/director John Krasinski crafted one of the finest horror films of the year! And having deaf actress Millicent Simmonds gave the film more credibility, as it brought the world of ASL (American Sign Language) to the forefront. And since my girlfriend is an ASL Interpreter, this brought it closer to the world that she lives in. One of the most frightening horror flicks of 2018!!
2) MANDY: The quiet life of devoted couple Red (Nicolas Cage, Leaving Las Vegas)
and Mandy (Andrea Riseborough, Birdman) takes a dark and bizarre turn
when a nightmarish cult and their maniacal leader (Linus Roache,
“Vikings”) seek to possess Mandy…body and soul. A shocking assault on
the innocent pair leads to a spiraling, surreal, bloody rampage of all
out, mind-altering vengeance. Holy crap was this one of the most batshit crazy film of the year!! Cage gives a tour de force performance as our protagonist Red Miller. Co-writer/director Panos Cosmatos made a name for himself with his breakthrough debut BEYOND THE BLACK RAINBOW back in 2010. One of the most talked about films of 2018!!
1) HEREDITARY: When the matriarch of the Graham family passes away, her
daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying
secrets about their ancestry. Actress Toni Collette gives one of her greatest performances of all time!! Actor Gabriel Byrne is the world's biggest asshole in cinema history!! The film was written and directed by Ari Aster, who before this film several short indie films. This was his feature full length debut and he knocked it out of the mother fucking park!! If there was one film that talked about more than any other film of 2018, it was this film!!
And
that, my fellow children of the night, is a wrap! I sincerely hope you
enjoyed my Top Ten Horror Films of 2018 and I really hope this encourages
you all to check out these incredible fright flicks! Remember, if you
get scared from watching these cinematic nightmares, keep repeating
yourself: It's only a movie...only a movie...only a movie...only a
movie....BOO!!
Hello again everybody and Happy New Year!! I'm gonna predict that 2019
will be another fantastic year for movies, as was 2018! There were an
insane amount of movies that I absolutely loved and found myself walking
away feeling completely transformed from viewing it. And that is the
power of cinema: taking me somewhere new, showing me something I have
never seen before, telling me a story I have never heard of and meet
characters I can only imagine meeting. So without further adieu, here
are my Top Ten Films of 2018!
10) KING COHEN: Buckle up for KING COHEN, the true story of writer, producer, director,
creator and all-around maverick, Larry Cohen (BLACK CAESAR, GOD TOLD ME TO, Q: THE WINGED SERPENT, THE STUFF). Told through compelling live
interviews, stills and film/TV clips, the people who helped fulfill his
vision, and industry icons such as Martin Scorsese, John Landis, Michael
Moriarty, Fred Williamson, Yaphet Kotto and many more, including Larry
himself, bring one-of-a-kind insight into the work, process and legacy
of a true American film auteur. Few can boast of a career as remarkable
or prolific, spanning more than 50 years of entertaining audiences
worldwide! It's about damn time that Cohen had a film about himself and his body of work! Fans of this iconic filmmaker will want to look for this informative documentary on the horror streaming app Shudder.
9) ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: In the aftermath of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) grapples with the consequences of his choices as both a
Super Hero and a father. As he struggles to re-balance his home life
with his responsibilities as Ant-Man, he's confronted by Hope van Dyne (Evangaline Lilly)
and Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglass) with an urgent new mission. Scott must once again put
on the suit and learn to fight alongside The Wasp as the team works
together to uncover secrets from their past. Paul Rudd does a great job as Scott Lang again, bringing his haplessly
heroic loser to life once again. But he steps it up immensely, as he’s
Hank’s and Hope’s only hope of defeating their newest adversary: Ghost
(played spectacularly by Hannah John-Kamen). Both Michael Douglass and
Evangaline Lilly return as they lay their emotions out for all to see,
as they both discover something (or someone) that they thought was lost
forever. And Lilly kicks some major ass in the film! Also returning are
Scott’s loveable and goofy friends Luis, T.I., and Kurt.
8) BORG/McENROE: It is the 1980 Wimbledon tennis championship. Bjorn Borg is the
number 1 tennis player in the world and the undisputed king of
Wimbledon. He has won the tournament four times in a row - a fifth
consecutive time would be a world first. However, a new face has
appeared in the tennis world and presents a serious threat to Borg's
title hopes - John McEnroe. This
was LaBeouf’s best performance to date, as he nailed McEnroe’s
character and mannerism perfectly! Gudnason shines as Borg and is a dead
ringer of him! Both actors commanded the audiences’ attention as we
were swept up into the movie. Janus Metz directed the hell out this
movie, especially in the third act which kept me on the edge of my seat! For all you fans of this sport, this was one indie film that flew under the radar, so make sure you go see this! One of the film's I saw at last year's Cinequest Film Festival.
7) THE INCREDIBLES 2: In this incredibly heroic, action-packed sequel, Helen is called on to lead a campaign to bring Supers
back, while Bob navigates the day-to-day heroics of "normal" life at
home with Violet, Dash and baby Jack-Jack -- whose superpowers are about
to be discovered. Their mission is derailed, however, when a new
villain emerges with a brilliant and dangerous plot that threatens
everything. But the Parrs don't shy away from a challenge, especially
with Frozone by their side. That's what makes this family so INCREDIBLE. Another hit from Pixar Studios, you cannot help but laugh your head off while you're watching the film. Plenty of jokes for the kids with some sly one for the adults, but overall, it's a great family film! The old gang returns to voice all your favorite characters, plus some newbies to make it fresh and exciting!
6) THE LAST MOVIE STAR: Legendary actor Burt Reynolds stars as Vic Edwards, a washed-up,
has-been actor whose glory days a long behind him. When I he accepts to
attend the Dallas Film Festival, he is paired with the organizer's
eccentric sister Lil (Ariel Winter), who
takes him on a trip down Memory Lane, only to discover what it means
about growing older and coming to terms with your past. I absolutely loved this movie!! Reynolds'
performance was just incredibly poignant, remarkable and all-too real. Sadly, we lost this talented actor this past year, but if there is any justice, fans of the legendary actor will see his greatest performance of all time! Director Adam Rifkin marks his return to the mainstream and a turn in his career. Another film I saw at last year's Cinequest Film Festival.
5) ENTHUSIASTIC SINNERS: The
film's about a police officer who comes to the home of a widower after
receiving reports of gunshots there. From there, the two embark on a
lust filled 24 hour adventure of sex and fun, but ending up falling in
love with each other. However, as the day ends, so does their fantasy
world and both must face their real world personas. What
I really loved about the film that it was a film about adults having
sex, enjoying sex and treating it as a human emotion, rather than
something that is used for comedic purposes or treated with such
disrespect. There is absolutely nothing wrong with sex, but for some
reason, we are so hung up on it. Writer/director Mark
Lewis treats sex with honesty and care, showing us that it's an
emotion, much like love. Actress Maggie
Alexander bares not only her body, but her soul and emotions as she
bring vulnerability, humor and longing to her character Shelby. Her
performance is so raw and captivating that she commands the audiences'
attention. My favorite film from last year's Cinequest Film Festival!
4) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their
music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie
defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most
beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of
the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach
unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by
darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having
suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to
reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely
facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the
greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a
legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to
this day.
3) DEADPOOL 2: After surviving a near fatal bovine attack,
a disfigured cafeteria chef (Wade Wilson) struggles to fulfill his
dream of becoming Mayberry's hottest bartender while also learning to
cope with his lost sense of taste. Searching to regain his spice for
life, as well as a flux capacitor, Wade must battle ninjas, the Yakuza,
and a pack of sexually aggressive canines, as he journeys around the
world to discover the importance of family, friendship, and flavor -
finding a new taste for adventure and earning the coveted coffee mug
title of World's Best Lover. The movie was so damn popular, the studio re-released the film in a PG-13 rated version, with former child actor Fred Savage recreating the intro of THE PRINCESS BRIDE with Deadpool playing Peter Falk's Grandpa role! Yup, it looks like there's no stopping everybody's favorite Merc with a Mouth!!
2) BLACK PANTHER: After the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR, King T'Challa returns
home to the reclusive, technologically advanced African nation of
Wakanda to serve as his country's new leader. However, T'Challa soon
finds that he is challenged for the throne from factions within his own
country. When two foes conspire to destroy Wakanda, the hero known as
Black Panther must team up with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross and members
of the Dora Milaje, Wakandan special forces, to prevent Wakanda from
being dragged into a world war. never thought that I would see a film like this: an African cast,
filled with African clothing, African beliefs and traditions, and the
lead is an African superhero. When "The King" Jack Kirby and Stan "The
Man" Lee unleashed the Black Panther in The Fantastic Four back in 1966,
little did they know that they were making history. Here is a black cast, directed by a black director, is one of the
highest grossing films of all time!! It's time to wake up Hollywood and
smell the change!!
1) AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR: As the Avengers and their allies have
continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero
to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A
despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity
Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his
twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for
has led up to this moment - the fate of Earth and existence itself has
never been more uncertain. The fact that I saw this film in the theaters FOUR FREAKING TIMES should indicate how much i enjoyed it!! The MCU forever changed with this one movie, and the repercussions are still being felt! Now with the sequel coming this April, Marvel fans will finally see how this all plays out, and who will be leaving the MCU forever!! My favorite film of 2018!!
And there you have it folks! My Top Ten Films of 2018! It looked like
the year that comic book based movies and animated family films
prevailed. But every year this list gets harder and harder to
put together, but these were films that really made an impact on me,
and I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading my picks. So if by chance there
are films here that you haven't seen yet, I encourage you to check them
out. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by them!
Hello everyone out there on the internet and welcome to 2019!! Hard to believe that another year has gone into the history books! Now granted, the state of the world of 2018 was very bleak, which was reflected and referenced in many of the movies I watched. In these dark times, we look towards the world of art to see its commentary and views of life, love, and the political and social issues that have plagued this country, especially since November 2016. Overall, it was an interesting year; a year full of great movies, surprises, and losses.
As I mentioned in past posts, the Bay Area institution The Camera Cinemas officially closed all its locations in 2017, marking the end of an era of movie going experiences for many film lovers like myself. Basically, they went out of business, and I was completely devastated by this news. The Camera Cinemas played a pivotal and vital role not only for this blog, but on myself as well. They were the only place I could see the very best in independent cinema, documentaries, foreign film, as well as spotlight local films, artists, and film festivals like the Cinequest Film Festival and CASMFest. They were so important to the landscape of the Downtown San Jose area that, truth be told, hasn’t been filled yet. In 2018, both the Pruneyard Campbell and Downtown SJ reopened as new film theaters, with Csmera Cinemas co-founder Jack Nybloom being part owner in both businesses. The old Camera 7 reopened in the summer as the brand-new Pruneyard Dine-In Cinemas, completely remolded and refurnished with new reclining leather chairs, enhanced visuals and surround sound, and a restaurant Cedar Room (formerly the old Boswell Bar) as part of theater, providing very delicious meals and tasty drinks for the moviegoers. I had the pleasure of seeing some movies there and I did have a very positive experience, the old Camera 7 is still there with me. Same was said with the Camera 3 Cinemas on the corner of Second Street and San Carlos in downtown. It was reopened in February as the 3Below Theaters & Lounge, picking up where the Camera 3 left off. It’s still the home for the Comedy Sportz Impov Comedy Group, the midnight screenings of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with my friends The Barely Legal shadowcast, an home for some of the best indie, foreign, and documentaries from all over the world. Now owned by Nyblom and with the former owners of the long gone Retro Dome in Saratoga, they added some new ingredients to the theater, namely retrospectives of classic Hollywood movies, and stage plays as well. So as the old saying goes, "Everything that’s old is new again." While I’m sad to say goodbye to the Camera Cinemas, it’s nice to welcome both the 3Below Theaters and the PrunyDine-In Cinemas to my movie going world!
After the Camera Cinemas closed, I frequented another local theater business, which also went through some renovations last year as well. The Cinelux Theaters have also been a staple here in the Bay Area, and I was more than happy to give them my support. I saw a plethora of movies at my three favorite locations: the Cinelux Alamden Cafe & Lounge in San Jose, Cinelux Plaza Theatre in Campbell, and the Cinelux Tennant Station Stadium 11 in Morgan Hill. Established over 50 years ago, the Cinelux Theateres are a great alternative to the overwhelming mall theaters, and they support several local organizations and international charities like March of Dimes, The Second Harvest Food Bank, and UNICEF for example. So if you’d like to support local businesses and are a cinema lover, then please visit your local Cinelux Theatres!!
With 2019, a wide array of works of art has now become part of the public domain, especially silent films. This is very good news for my friends over at the Niles Essany Silent Film Museum, which I came back as a volunteer and docent. It felt good to be back to one of my favorite places in the Bay Area, having been part of the museum family since 2006! We had a lot of great shows in 2018. Some of the highlights for me were the annual Broncho Billy Silent Film Festival, Charlie Chaplin Day weekend, our DVD release party for the museum’s silent film BRONCHO BILLY AMD THE BANDIT’S SECRET. Originally titled THE CANYON, the movies took four years to complete, and was made using the old hand cranked film cameras from the museum and was shot on Kodak black and white 35mm filmstock. The final cut looked absolutely stunning! It looked like it came straight from the silent film era! It was incredible to see, and I was so happy to get it on DVD! And now with copyright expired, many of the movies we have in our film vault can now be exhibited without the monetary constrainments that prevented the museum from screening them. So keep your eyes peeled to the museum’s website for some awesome silent film shows in the new year!!
Then there are all the films that are now available on a plethora of streaming services, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and my personal favorite, Shudder. So many great films either fly under the radar or don't get to be screened at movie theaters, and therefore, having these media outlets gives the filmmakers a chance for an audience to find and watch their movies. And if this means watching a movie on my TV, iPad, or iPhone, then so be it! I just want the opportunity to view films that I wouldn't be able to see any other way. Not only that, but I'll be reviewing a lot of cool movies ranging from
Hollywood blockbusters to indie films, cult classics to porno chic,
comedy and GLBTQ films. You name it and I'll be watching and reviewing
it!
As you can see, I'm gonna be very busy and this is just the tip of the
iceberg. I'll have some other surprises that'll make you want to come
back over and over again. So get ready folks for one hell of a ride in
2019!!
Thank you all out there who have been reading and supporting my blog. I
don't get paid doing this. I do it for the fun of it. I'm a film
fanatic, cinephile, movie junkie, whatever you want to call me. So I
hope you'll stick around another year as I bring you another year of
reviews, fun and adventures!
