Anyone familiar with the films of John Waters remembers Edith Massey. The Egg Lady, Aunt Ida...an exuberant one of a kind actress. She also had a short career as a one-of-a-kind punk singer. Priceless. Marvel at "Hey Punks Get Off the Grass" and her lusty, sick version of "Fever". Brain damaging and sleazy...so bad it's good.
Here's the theme song from John Water's brilliant 1975 campy trash masterpiece "Female Trouble". The song is sung by Divine. I love the sleazy 1970's vibe that this song exudes. This is my favorite John water's flick from the 1970's. A pure, raunchy good time...the movie is filled with dialogue you will want to memorize. And there's Gator, the sleaziest, most hip, hippie alive. When I grow up I want to be like Gator...
All kidding aside, check out the theme song and give this movie a view. There is too much going for this movie to go into right now. Perhaps a full length review should be in order at a later date.
I don't know why, but this song's been running through my head a bit too much lately. Pure raw, grimy, high octane R&B, courtesy of Little Richard. Here it's, 'The Girl Can't Help It". It's from the Pink Flamingos soundtrack, possibly the filthiest soundtrack ever made to perfectly compliment the John Water's cult classic about the filthiest people alive. I love this movie and the soundtrack equally. I think I'll be bringing you music from John Waters' films periodically from now on. I want to do some John Waters reviews to, but I've seen his movies so many times throughout my life I'm a bit burnt out on them at the moment...except for "Multiple Maniacs". I can't get enough of that one. And it's the one John Waters will not release on DVD so I'm stuck with my old VHS copy...
Anyway, enjoy Little Richard's "The Girl Can't Help It". More music from the films of John Waters is coming.
Ray Dennis Steckler. What a director. You either love him or hate him, but even in his worst moments you have to admit that he has an excellent eye for cinematography and a whacked out, creepy, child-like (and very adult at times) take on life that he brings to his films. You know a Steckler movie when you see it. He made his movies the way he wanted to, without the backing of any major studio. All of his films are unique, and they are Steckler all the way through, take them or leave them.
The movie I'm about to review here is not one of Steckler's best. It is a film I'd rather leave than take. It is 1971's "Blood Shack", also known as "The Chooper". This movie has all of the intentions to be a very atmospheric desert horror film, but is cursed with too much filler, bad acting, and an almost comatose pacing. Normally Steckler makes these factors work work to his advantage, but in this film he falls short of the mark.
"Blood Shack" opens with high promise. An eerie desert landscape, and a haunted deserted old house where a mysterious killer has been running rampant. The caretaker of the ranch is an awkward looking cowboy, and speaks in a very thick John Waters-esque accent. He is always warning people to stay away from the house, but do they listen? No. They go on in, and the Chooper has his way with them. The Chooper's costume, like those of most Steckler villains is laughably simple. A hooded sweat jacket, some sweat pants, and a sharp object in hand. The Chooper is lacking in depth however. The strength of Steckler's villains, most played by the director himself by the way, is that they run about in broad daylight, are truly psychotic and menacing, and are very realistic. They could be any creepy guy you run into on the street. What is going through their heads? Will they snap? The Chooper lacks these depths. In place of menace, you have plenty of shadow to cover up the simplicity of the costume. He runs around screaming "Aargh!" with a long sharp object in hand, warning his victims well in advance that he is coming.
So any way, a couple of people go in the house and the Chooper offs them. The caretaker buries the victims in the desert. The inheritor of the ranch shows up, played by Carolyn Brandt, Steckler's first wife. We are treated, or cursed, with her extensive, hazy, voiced-over narration throughout the film. This kind of narration is one of Steckler's trademarks. It saves money when you can add the acting after the filming is done. There is someone wanting to buy the ranch very badly, too badly it seems. He is a member of the family that used to be part owner of the ranch. You see, the ranch used to be owned by two families, and it was lost in a high stakes poker game. The losing family has always wanted this land back because it sits over a huge underground lake. Very valuable property. What really happens here is this movie quickly digresses into an episode of Scooby Doo. I wonder who the Chooper is? It couldn't be the guy wanting to buy the ranch would it? Trying to scare people away so the property values will go down? It can't be...and yes, Scooby Doo style, our villain is unmasked in the end.
So we have a disappointing plot, but some eerie desert visuals are on display here. The whole ranch exhudes a vibe of eerie dilapidated decrepitude. There are some truly eerie shots of the house. It reminds me somewhat of an old, abandoned house I used to play in as a kid that I wasn't supposed to be in. All of this atmosphere is nearly ruined by endless rodeo stock footage and pointless footage of Steckler's two kids roaming around aimlessly (yes he stars his children in his films).
In the big picture, though, "Blood Shack" is not all that bad. It's a Ray Dennis Steckler movie for Christ's sake, so kick back, crack open some brews, and enjoy. Despite my complaints I liked this movie...just prepare yourself for a more mundane than usual B-movie ride and you'll be fine.
The version I have is on VHS and it contains two version's of the film, which was released with two different titles, "Blood Shack", and "The Chooper". The same movie, just edited in different ways. I understand that the version I have is also available on DVD with the added bonus of commentary by Joe Bob Briggs and other extras. Sounds like the DVD is worth checking out for the Briggs commentary alone.
On a more somber note, I did not know that Ray Dennis Steckler had passed away in January of this year. He will be missed, but his movies will live on forever.
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult's "Confession of a Knife" (1993). This is the first album I ever heard by The Thrill Kill Kult and it remains my favorite. Their sound on this album is a very dark and evil drug induced form of dance music. It is very sinister sounding, laden with references to and fueled by sleazy retro 1960's through early 1980's b-movies, horror and exploitation flicks, and a campy love for the occult. They perfectly mix together evil dance grooves with guitar and keyboard tracks that sound as if they came from the bowels of hell and ingenious, perfectly chosen audio samples taken from nefarious b-movies and other sources that truly set the music ablaze with the flames of Lucifer. A few of my favorite tracks are: "Daisy Chain 4 Satan", a hypnotic and maddening ode to drug abuse, and "The Days of Swine and Roses", an ingenious song with a chorus of "Christian zombie vampires, I am the father, the father of nothing", with a repeated overlayed sample of Edith Massey from John Water's "Female Trouble"( if you haven't seen this movie, check it out now). Possibly the sleaziest song of all on this album is "Waiting for Mommie", a sweaty, perverted disco workout ode to Satan and incest.
All of the songs on "Confessions of a Knife" bleed together seamlessly and cohesively. This disc is designed to be listened to from start to finish in one sitting. If you don't, you will lose certain nuances at the end and beginning of each song. Not every track is perfect, but as a whole "Confessions of a Knife" is a masterpiece, my favorite Thrill Kill Kult album of all time. Give it a listen, it will not disappoint.
I've always been a huge fan of John Waters. I love all of his movies except "Crybaby". My favorite of his has got to be "Multiple Maniacs" from the late 1960's in black & white. Everyone out there has seen some John Waters, right? If not, you are in for a treat! Overly melodramatic situations, ridiculous dialogue, trashy sets, outrageous sexual situations, and a perverse obsession with exploitation and B-cinema is what John Waters is all about.
Anyway, I was at my local video rental store a while back and I picked up "A Dirty Shame". This movie came out in 2004, but for some reason, I never got around to seeing it. Maybe I was scared it would not be good, I don't know. "Pecker" and "Cecil B. Demented", his previous two films were both incredible. So I picked it up and now I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to see it. I had no choice but to rent the R version but as soon as I get the money I'm going to buy the NC-17 version. "A Dirty Shame" is absolutely hilarious. Sometimes it verges on the ridiculous, almost over the top. But that is ok. John Waters isn't known for his subtlety. He makes movies that shock you and make you laugh at loud until it hurts.
The movie is about a housewife Sylvia, played by Tracey Ullman, that is uptight about sex. Many people in her community also feel the same way. They are outraged at all the perversion and depravity that is invading their neighborhood, such as The Three Bears, three huge, hairy gay guys that run around in their underwear and love to cuddle. Ullman's character has a daughter, Ursula Udders, a topless dancer with jugs just as big as Chesty Morgan's, who is a sex addict. Anyway the decent people in the community band together, brand themselves 'Neuters", and start a crusade against the perverts.
But something happens to Sylvia. She gets a severe blow on the head and is knocked unconscious. When she wakes up, she finds herself in a tow truck with a guy called Ray Ray. He runs a towing service. He is also a sexual healer. You see, when you get accidentally knocked in the head, it awakens your libido. Sylvia wakes up horny as hell, and Ray Ray gives her oral sex to heal her. Well, it turns out that Ray Ray runs a little cult of sex addicts. Sylvia is the twelfth member, the twelfth apostle, if you will. Her induction is supposed to bring the coming of the sexurrrection, a new, most powerful sex act that has never been performed before. What is this sex act? And what will the neuters do once they catch wind of Ray Ray's antics? You must watch this movie to find out. The ending is just too much.....Tracey Ullman's performance as Sylvia is magnificent. She should have won an award for this movie. "A Dirty Shame" is not perfect, but it is extremely entertaining and well worth your time. Highly recommended.
When, oh when is a new John Waters movie coming out? I can't wait to see what he has in store for us next.
NevousNorvus. I first discovered his music in John Water's insane cult film "Female Trouble". The song was "Dig" and it cracks me up in disbelief every time I hear it. Nervous Norvus, starting in 1956 crafted jittery, sometimes annoying but always addictive novelty music with a hepcat attitude and way out there beat lyrics that verge on dada. I love his stuff. His first single was 'Tranfusion", a deranged song about the dangers of reckless driving. He followed with the nonsensical"Dig", the science fiction, beatnik opus "The Fang", and other singles. He kept recording throughout the 1950's. By the time 1960's rolled around, his life sank into mystery. He passed away in 1968 from cirrhosis of the liver.
Here's a sampling of his lyrics, from "The Fang": "I got a be-bop cat, man, a real stingaree And a solid gold keychain down to the knees And real nervous pegs with a crazy crease I'm the Fang "
I have a small handful of his singles that Ive downloaded from the internet here and there. There is a comprehensive CD collection of his works called "Stoneage Woo" on Norton Records that I'm going to have to break down and buy soon. There is a great article on Nervous Norvus you can read here. Hope you get as much of a kick out of his stuff as I do.
Caleb Emerson’s “Die You Zombie Bastards!”(2005) is an insane gem of a B horror movie. Here's a word of warning...do not take this movie too seriously. You must keep your tongue firmly planted in cheek. If you are one of those that take your horror too seriously you had best look elsewhere. This movie is not for you. But if you are one of those like me that love your B-Movies and you miss the good old days of the 1960's and early '70's when they made'em raw and fun and they didn't give a darn about who was going to be offended, then “Die You Zombie Bastards!“ is for you!
Let's see.....how do I even begin to describe this one? It is like watching a movie made by Herschell Gordon Lewis, John Waters, Ted Mikels, and Russ Meyer all at the same time. It starts out with the legendary, one-of-a-kind country singer Hasil Adkins playing as himself sitting outside of his trailer, introducing the movie. He is preparing us for a strange tale, a very strange tale indeed. It seems that there are some unusual things going on at a place called Hell Island. The story centers around our heroes: Red Toole, your typical run-of-the-mill mild-mannered cannibalistic serial killer, and Violet, his sex-crazed human flesh-hungry wife. He loves to bring parts of his victims home so they can eat them and have wild sex. They love each other, and something is bound to come in their way, to try to pull them apart.
Enter our nemesis, the mysterious hooded Baron Nefarious, a mad scientist gone awry. He too is sex-crazed and he has a mission: to make the entire world an army of zombies that do his bidding...and he has a zombie ray to do it! Right now he just has a gun that shoots the ray, but his zombies on Hell Island are working on a machine that will soon zap the entire world! Nefarious needs lots of bizarre sex (there is almost too much juvenile sex humor in this movie and way too many penis site gags) so he kidnaps three hot blonds to become his sex toys and zaps them into zombiedom so they will do his bidding. So he has three green zombiefied sex slaves that run around in nothing but go-go boots and a g-string. He has it made, right?
Wrong. He needs a wife. Some one with a libido to match his, someone to be his partner in crime. So Nefarious is watching a hillbilly version of The Newlywed Game and he sees our loving couple on there. After the show is over the camera is still rolling and Violet is so worked up from all the whoopie talk that she attacks the game show host and begins to eat him alive! Nefarious wants her so off to Hell Island she goes.
Of course this doesn't bode well with her husband. He dons a skin-tight red super hero suit fashionably accessorised with a chest plate, penis, and cape all made from genuine human flesh! Find her he will. So begins Red Toole's maddening, sometimes irritating, always dada-esque quest to find Nefarious, destroy the zombie army, and get his wife back.
I can't tell you anymore about what happens next because that is the charm of the movie....what will they think of next? It will keep you guessing...you're in for one thrill-packed, exhilarating, cartoonish, wild ride of a movie!
Everybody know who Herschell Gordon Lewis is? He made the first gore film, BLOODFEAST, back in 1963. It showed tongues being ripped out, brains being gouged, and people dying with their eyes open. When it was showing at drive-ins it caused traffic jams. Although mostly known for gore, he made other films based on social commentary like SHE DEVILS ON WHEELS and SUBURBAN ROULETTE. He stopped making movies in the very early '70's. All have extremely poor acting, and a low budget, but are very entertaining. Except for BLOOD FEAST. The problem I have with this movie is it has a snail's pace, the acting is horrid, and you want to take a shower after watching it. Don't get me wrong. I love bad movies. I've seen tons. And I know the ones to stay away from and this is one of them. But for some reasons you can't take youre eyes away... And 40 years later here comes BLOOD FEAST 2! I was skeptical at first but I broke down and bought it. A new Herschell movie!!!!! Let me give you the story behind the two movies: in the first one, Fuad Ramses is a caterer who is possesed by the goddess Ishtar. He must find women to kill and mutilate in the basement of his catering business so he can give a human sacrifice to Ishtar. Of course the police catch up to him and he is killed. Now, Bloodfeast 2. Fuad Ramses' grandson moves into the same catering place run by his grandfather and becomes possessed by Ishtar. Of course he goes on a killing spree and serves his victims to his guests. Many bizarre twists ensue… BLOOD FEAST 2 is very fun. H G LEWIS did a great job directing and the acting is good, the production is smooth, the writing good. There is tons of gore and some naked women, and a rockin' soundtrack by SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS. It doesn't take itself too seriously and is especially vicious when it shows how slow the police are at figuring things out. This movie is great fun and what a comeback for Herschell! And may I mention there's a cameo by John Waters? Buy Bloodfeast 2 now and go rent or borrow the first one.
Dave Reda's "Bit Parts" is a sick and twisted gore flick that harkens back to the good old days of the '60's, '70's, and early '80's. It's part H. G. Lewis and part some forbidden fruit of a horror movie you would pick up to rent at some dilapidated, sleazy, run down video store on the wrong side of town...but you don't care because you have the greasy old video tape in your hands and you're on your way home anxious to pop open a beer and see just what kind of ghastly treasure you've unearthed this time...
BIT PARTS is a relatively new movie. It looks good, has a decent soundtrack, but feels slimy and reeks of the stench of death and grimy production.....just like a gore flick should be!!!! Approach this movie with no pretensions and leave your logic at the back door. Now you're ready for a good old time...
Meet Dr. Kranston, a creepy, filthy-looking plastic surgeon. His daughter was horribly disfigured in a car accident. He takes it upon himself to reconstruct her, to make her pretty again...but how? By using models of course! He takes the eyes from this one, the nose from that one, the breasts from the other one... Dr. Kranston is an odd, delusional character. His presence brings to this movie a morbid, southern-gothic feel that will keep your eyes glued to the screen. Most of the acting is ok and the characters are fleshed out and believable. But there is one thing that grates on the nerves.....Dr. Kranston's daughter's screeching voice! You'd think she was trying out for an old John Waters movie for christ' sake but that's ok because I loved this movie! They just don't make them like this any more!
Give this one a good look. It's a bit extreme so love it or hate it, at least you will walk away feeling something.
Has any one seen the first CORPSE GRINDERS from 1972? It's a doozy.....slow, poorly acted, too low budget for its own good, but great entertainment! A couple of people decide to make cat food from human corpses by using a corpse-grinding machine. Cats start attacking people, the criminals get caught, and the corpse grinding machine turns the bad guys into cat food . The end. Ho hum............
But now, there's CORPSE GRINDERS 2 !! Made by the same director, TED V. MIKELS, but stepped up a bit for the 21'st century, there's plenty of new twists involved. Let's get one thing out of the way first. This is a TED MIKELS movie so the acting is going to be terrible and the production bad but the plot will be very imaginative......
And what a story it is! It opens with scrolling text just like you would see in Star Wars.....two planets are at war.........THE DOG PEOPLE and THE CAT PEOPLE.......a big spaceship battle ensues...THE CAT PEOPLE are losing and they need food...they look to the planet EARTH for help.
Cut to a seedy warehouse district. Two brothers are hard at work rebuilding their uncle's cat-food factory, LOTUS CAT FOOD. They think turning corpses into cat food sounds like a great idea......what a moneymaker!!! So they fire up the old corpse grinding machine, make some shady deals with embalmers, cremators, and grave-diggers, and they're all set!!!!!
The cat food business is booming! The corpse-grinding machine gets tons of attention in this movie! A corpse goes in one end and ground meat comes out the other.......over and over and over...
Cats start attacking humans then THE CAT PEOPLE come from outer space.........
What happens next? Well, you'll have to watch the movie!
I highly reccomend this one, especially if you're a fan of cult cinema......DOLORES FULLER makes an appearance and so does LIZ RENAY......big stars for Ed Wood and John Waters, respectively.
