Ronnie James Dio - R.I.P.

In honor of the passing of the Heavy Metal legend Ronnie James Dio, singer for such bands as Black Sabbath/Heaven and Hell, Dio, Rainbow and Elf.

Summer of Fear (1978, Wes Craven)

In collaboration with a selection of the finest film blogs the infranet has to offer, B MOVIES AND BEYOND is proud to contribute this quality post to Blair Week, a six day extravaganza expounding on the virtues of Linda Blair and her legacy of quality motion pictures. Don't believe me? Just read on...

Summer of Fear was originally a made for TV movie called Stranger in Our House and was first aired on Halloween night 1978.  It was then released theatrically in Europe under the title Summer of Fear.  This was the third film that Wes Craven directed, after Last House on the Left and The Hills Have Eyes.  Considering the shocking subject matter of those two films, it is surprising to me that he was chosen to direct a made for TV movie.  This wasn't the last made for TV movie Craven made either, as he also directed the genre offerings Deadly Blessing (1981), Invitation to Hell (1984) and Chiller (1985).  I had read about this film a long time ago and finally decided to check it out.  I figured even if the movie was bad, it had a young Linda Blair, which is always a good thing in my book.

The Bryants are a well off family living in California.  Their perfect life is soon thrown a curveball when cousin Julia (Lee Purcell) comes to live with them from the Ozarks after her parents die in a car crash.  Julia seems like a nice, young southern belle.  That is until bad things start happening to teenage Rachel Bryant (Linda Blair).  Julia ends up stealing Rachel's boyfriend away from her, which causes her to do a little digging about her innocent cousin.  Rachel, with the help of her professor neighbor, suspects Julia of witchcraft.

Summer of Fear was a solid made for TV movie with some nice touches.  It was very watchable, even the parts that didn't have a lot going on.  Blair (though not really a good actress and what was up with that hairdo?) is always fun to watch and Lee Purcell was a beautiful femme fatale.  The rest of the cast were all very well too, including Jeff East (the teenage Clark Kent from Superman: the Movie) and the debut of Fran Drescher (The Nanny, c'mon admit you watched it).  Though the film wasn't too scary and didn't rise above PG rated action through most of its running time (the DVD says its rated PG-13), the climax was great.  It was tense, suspenseful and had a very unexpected twist.  Though very dated and tame, the film was a fun watch with some neat little surprises.

ALL HAIL LINDA BLAIR!

RATING:  6/10

Our colleagues are bringing fresh Linda related content all week long:
 
 Satan's Hope Chest - Chained Heat and Savage Island
Camp Movie Camp - Grotesque and Nightforce
The Horror Section - Hell Night
Full Moon Reviews - Bailout
Illogical Contraption - Repossessed
Lines That Makes Things - original Linda inspired artwork
Breakfast In the Ruins - Exorcist II
B Movies and Beyond - Summer of Fear
The Manchester Morgue - Rollerboogie
Happy Otter - The Chilling
Ninja Dixon - The Witchery
Unflinching Eye - Linda's fall from grace.
Lost Video Archive - Savage Streets and Born Innocent














 

Anthrax - Oidivnikufesin (N.F.V.) (1988)

What is this?  A music video?  This isn't a B Movie or even a movie at all.  Has Starmummy finally lost it?  Well, for your information, the reason I am reviewing this video is simple:  Because I fuckin' want to!  So there.  I've had this VHS for awhile and was glad when it was finally released on DVD in the USA as a bonus disc on the Among the Living reissue last year.

Anthrax circa 1987 many fans will agree was the absolute pinnacle of the band's career.  They were touring in support of their latest album, Among the Living and were showing a step up in quality from their previous album Spreading the Disease (which itself was a great album).  Anthrax's second singer, Joey Belladonna, had proven that he was a perfect fit for the band with his energy and impressive range.  Guitarist Dan Spitz showed his technical side while rhythm guitarist Scott Ian (back when he had hair) shows that he can shred like the best of 'em.  Drummer Charlie Benante and his nephew, bass player Frank Bello keep the beat going at the speed of lightning.  The selection of songs they play includes some of their best (Metal Thrashin' Mad, Caught in a Mosh, Among the Living) and also has the band playing their hilarious goofball rap anthem I'm the Man.  The film is interspersed with behind the scenes footage of the band and their crew (including future White Zombie drummer John Tempesta who was a drum tech for Anthrax).

Oidivnikufesin (read it backwards) is one of the finest concert videos I've seen.  It features one of the greatest thrash bands of all time at the top of their game.  The band members are all energetic and never run out of steam.  The setlist doesn't have a single dud and the camerawork captures every angle of the show perfectly.  The only gripe I have with the DVD is that the picture quality is a little fuzzy, as if it was ported directly from the VHS.  I recommend everyone go out and pick up the reissue of Anthrax's best album Among the Living, which comes with the DVD debut of this monumental metal masterpiece.

RATING:  9/10

Big Trouble in Little China (1986, John Carpenter)

Big Trouble in Little China, another John Carpenter film, is one of the oddballs in Carpenter's oeuvre.  Known mostly for horror films, Big Trouble is an action fantasy.  Originally conceived as a western, it was then brought into modern times.  The setting of the film (San Francisco's Chinatown) actually reminded me a little of Blade Runner, but the comparisons end there.  I saw this film a few years ago for the first time and thought it was too far fetched and silly.  I was expecting a more straight forward action film without the fantasy.  I decided to give it another shot hoping to enjoy it more now that I knew what I was in for. 

Jack Burton is a rough and tumble truck driver who, to put it nicely, tends to bite off more than he can chew.  In other words, he's kind of an idiot, but a fearless one.  After winning a bet with his friend Wang Chi (Dennis Dun), Burton agrees to take him to the airport to meet Wang's green eyed girlfriend Miao Yin (Suzee Pai) before collecting his payout.  A group of gangsters kidnap Miao Yin and while trying to catch them, Jack and Wang (hee hee...Jackin' Wang...sorry) get stuck in the middle of a gang fight.  They try to escape but meet up with the powerful sorcerer Lo Pan.  They soon find out that Lo Pan needs to marry a green eyed woman to become human again, so they must rescue her.  Along the way, they meet up with Gracie Law (Kim Cattrall), a lawyer who also has green eyes and also becomes a target for Lo Pan.

Fortunately, this time Big Trouble in Little China won me over.  I still think the film was silly and far fetched but in a good way.  The whole ancient Chinese magic mixed with kidnapping plot was very original and an off beat combo.  All of the performances were great, especially Kurt Russell (with his John Wayne accent) and (pre-Sex and the City/post-Porky's and Police Academy) Kim Cattrall.  Carpenter's use of state of the art special effects and crazy stunts are great fun to watch and barely seem dated 24 years later.  All in all, I'm glad I gave Big Trouble in Little China a second chance.

RATING:  7/10

They Live (1988, John Carpenter)

I remember a few years ago I was scrolling through a horror T shirt website when I stumbled upon a shirt that caught my eye.  It had a guy with a plaid shirt and a mullet with the quote "I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass...and I'm all out of bubble gum".  The quote sounded familiar but honestly I had no idea what film it was from.  It wasn't until some time later when a co-worker was talking about They Live and recited the same quote.  They Live was a film I have been familiar with for a long time but just never got around to watching.  I actually saw Roddy Piper (the star of the film) at a horror convention a few years ago but had no interest meeting him (much to the disappointment of my previously mentioned co-worker).

Roddy Piper stars as George Nada, a homeless drifter looking for some work and a place to sleep.  He finds work at a construction site and befriends co-worker Frank (Keith David).  George notices some weird stuff happening at a local church and investigates.  He finds a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see that the world is being taken over by aliens.  He must find a way to stop them before they take over the world.

They Live was a mixed bag for me.  I liked the story and its political views (which are as relevant now as they were in 1988).  I also liked Carpenter's slick direction and many of the images used in the film (especially the aliens and the other visions seen through the sunglasses).  The shoot outs and the seemingly unending brawl between Piper and David were both very well done.  I thought the last third of the film was great.  My main problem with the film was the characters.  Piper, David and Meg Foster were all fine but their characters didn't really engage me.  They just seemed kind of hollow and weren't as interesting as what was going on around them.  I was told that this is a film a lot of people love who grew up with it and have watched it many times.  Maybe that could be part of the problem, being a They Live virgin.


RATING:  6/10

Gamera: The Giant Monster (1965, Noriaki Yuasa)

Above you can see me doing my best Gamera impression.  Some say we were separated at birth, but I think it's just a case of dead ringers.  Regardless, as you can see I am holding a copy of the new Gamera The Giant Monster DVD being released on May 18th by the fine folks at Shout! Factory.  They were kind enough to send me a copy to review on my blog, which I am very excited to do.  I'll admit that, though I would say I am a B movie lover (in case the title of this blog didn't tip you off), I am not very knowledgeable about the realm of "Kaiju" (Japanese for Strange Beast) films.  I saw Roland Emmerich's Godzilla remake in the theater in the late 90s but other than that, I don't think I've ever sat through an entire Kaiju.   After watching Gamera, that will definitely change.

Gamera is a giant turtle creature that is awoken when a plane carrying an atomic bomb crashes into the arctic where the turtle has been asleep for a very long time.  It destroys a Japanese research ship, but three people manage to get away and alert the world.  Soon a UFO is spotted and we presume it must have some connection to Gamera.  Is he from Outer Space?  Gamera then appears in a Japanese town, destroying their water tower but saves a boy who believes that Gamera is really his pet turtle Pee Wee.  The boy's father and sister made him get rid of Pee Wee because the boy was obsessed with it and wasn't making friends with other kids.  Despite the boy's pleas that Gamera is friendly, a ploy is thought up by scientists to freeze Gamera and then blow it up.  Instead of killing Gamera, it is knocked on its back, which the head scientist says will cause Gamera to starve to death due to its immobilization.  We soon find out that this ain't no ordinary turtle (duh) as do we learn how the UFO is connected to this anarchic amphibian.

Wow, what a crazy, silly, ridiculously awesome film.  There were a lot of interesting concepts that were thought up for Gamera that I had never seen before.  The UFO connection (which I won't spoil), the sympathetic young boy and Gamera's power source are all kooky enough to make it more than just your typical monster.  Shout! Factory has done a great job with the film, featuring a commentary by August Ragone, a Japanese cinema historian and the first ever DVD release of the original Japanese version of the film.  Like I said before, I haven't seen many Kaiju films but Gamera will definitely make me check some more out.

RATING:  7/10

Shout! Factory to release Forbidden World and Galaxy of Terror on DVD and Blu-ray

A DIABOLICAL DUO OF UNFORGETTABLE ROGER CORMAN SCIENCE FICTION SHOCKERS UNLEASH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIGH-DEFINITION BLU-RAY™ AND AVAILABLE ON DVD THIS SUMMER!

SHOUT! FACTORY PRESENTS

FORBIDDEN WORLD

2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY and DVD

highlighting widescreen presentation of the newly remastered theatrical version and the debut of unrated director’s cut,

plus extensive bonus features

&

GALAXY OF TERROR

SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY and DVD

digitally remastered and presented in widescreen,

 jam-packed with all-new bonus content

IN STORES NATIONWIDE JULY 20, 2010

FROM SHOUT FACTORY

Space, the final frontier …it’s also the fiercest, most fearful frontier. No one can hear you scream ... but now they can hear you shout! This Summer, Shout! Factory, in association with New Horizons Picture Corporation, have a treat in store for aficionados of sci-fi, horror classics and Roger Corman fans when Forbidden World and Galaxy of Terror debut for the first time on Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD on July 20, 2010. Forbidden World 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD contain two versions of the movie – the newly remastered theatrical version and the never-before-seen unrated director’s cut. Each Blu-ray and DVD boasts a shocking selection of extensive bonus content including all-new interviews and audio commentaries with cast and crew, rare behind-the-scenes footage and much more. These two inter-stellar shockers mark the latest installments from fan favorite ROGER CORMAN’S CULT CLASSICS home entertainment series from Shout! Factory. Each Special Edition Blu-ray and DVD is sold separately. Blu-ray is priced to own at $26.97; and DVD is available at $19.93.

Available for the first time on both Blu-ray and DVD, audiences can experience the 2-Disc Special Edition home entertainment release of Forbidden World as it was originally envisioned, in a never-before-seen, unrated director’s cut, as well as a newly remastered theatrical cut.

On the remote planet of Xarbia, a scientific experiment has gone horrifically wrong. An experimental life-form known as Subject 20,” created by an elite group of scientists to prevent a major galactic food crisis, has instead mutated into a man-eating organism. It’s getting bigger, it has the ability to change its genetic structure at will and, worst of all, it’s hungry. Very, very hungry!

Two-fisted, hard-living, hard-loving bounty hunter Mike Colby (Jesse Vint, Macon County Line, Deathsport) is called in to combat this monstrous menace, but soon suspects that the scientists are keeping something from him. He soon discovers why: Subject 20 is half-human.

In classic Agatha Christie tradition, Subject 20 begins killing off the scientists one by one, while Colby and the remaining survivors desperately try to figure out a way to destroy it -- before it destroys them.

Also released theatrically as Mutant, Forbidden World has it all: Gratuitous gore, unexpected nudity, surprising bits of black comedy, and an assortment of inspired and inventive special effects (done on a Roger Corman budget, of course). Nevertheless, the film earned three Saturn Award nominations: Best Low-Budget Film, Best Special Effects and Best Makeup. The film marked the directorial debut of two-time Primetime Emmy Awards^® winner Allan Holzman (Survivors of the Holocaust), who like so many Hollywood luminaries got his start under Corman’s auspices.

The cast also includes delectable damsels-in-distress June Chadwick (This is Spinal Tap, the original V) and Dawn Dunlap (Barbarian Queen, David Hamilton’s Laura) and character actors Linden Chiles (Helter Skelter, Who is the Black Dahlia?), Fox Harris (Repo Man, Sid and Nancy), Michael Bowen (Kill Bill – Volume 1, Jackie Brown) and Scott Paulin (The Right Stuff)

You too can embark on a never-before-seen, never-more-explicit journey to Forbidden World. It’s a journey you won’t soon forget!

FORBIDDEN WORLD   2-DISC SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

Disc 1 on Blu-ray Disc

• New anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) in high definition transfer from the Inter-Positive films elements of the R-rated theatrical cut
• Interview with producer Roger Corman
• Interviews with cast and crew including director Allan Holzman, composer Susan Justin and actor Jesse Vint.
• A look at the special effects of Forbidden World with John Carl Buechler, Robert Skotak, Tony Randal and R. Christopher Biggs
• Poster and still Gallery
• Original theatrical trailer
• Additional New World trailers

Disc 2 on DVD

• The never-before-seen, unrated Director’s Cut (4:3 - Full Frame)
• Audio commentary with director Allan Holzman

FORBIDDEN WORLD 2-DISC SPECIAL-EDITION DVD BONUS CONTENT:

• New anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) in high definition transfer from the Inter-Positive films elements of the R-rated theatrical cut
• The never-before-seen, unrated Director’s Cut (4:3 - Full Frame)
• Audio commentary with director Allan Holzman
• Interview with producer Roger Corman
• Interviews with cast and crew including director Allan Holzman, composer Susan Justin and actor Jesse Vint.
• A look at the special effects of Forbidden World with John Carl Buechler, Robert Skotak, Tony Randal and R. Christopher Biggs
• Poster and still Gallery
• Original theatrical trailer
• Additional New World trailers

With its unforgettable catch-line “Hell has just been relocated!” Galaxy of Terror, known at various times during development as Planet of Horrors and MindWarp: An Infinity of Terror, is the quintessential example of Corman magic. Working behind the scenes was production designer James Cameron, who achieved some measure of success shortly thereafter .

In the distant future, the crew of the starship Quest is dispatched to the barren planet of Morganthus to search of the missing crew members of the starship Remus, which has crash-landed there. Instead, they encounter something far more mysterious and insidious, as the crew members fall victim to their worst fears -- each one more horrifying than the last. If any of them are survive the Galaxy of Terror, they must unlock the secrets of this deadly world.

The star-studded cast of Galaxy of Terror includes some popular veterans and a talented supporting cast, many of whom achieved greater fame subsequently. Topping the cast are Golden Globe^® winner Edward Albert (The House Where Evil Dwells, The Domino Principle), Erin Moran (TV’s Happy Days, Joanie Loves Chachi), and Primetime Emmy^® Awards winner Ray Walston (Fast Times at Ridgemont High, TV’s My Favorite Martian, Picket Fences).

In supporting roles are Robert Englund, prior to portraying Freddy Kreuger in the original Nightmare on Elm Street series, future filmmaker Zalman King (Wild Orchid, TV’s Red Shoe Diaries), two-time Gemini Award winner Bernard Behrens (The Changeling, The Man With Two Brains), Grace Zabriskie (The Grudge, TV’s Twin Peaks, Big Love) and cult icon Sid Haig (The Devil’s Rejects, Kill Bill - Vol. 2).

GALAXY OF TERROR BLU-RAY AND DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:

• Commentary with Cast and Crew
• New Worlds – producer Roger Corman, screenwriter Marc Siegler and director Bruce D. Clark discuss the origins of the film
• The Crew Of The Quest – Actors Robert Englund, Sid Haig, Taaffe O’Connell and Grace Zabriskie discuss their experiences as crew members of the U.S.S. Quest
•  Planet Of Horrors – A detailed look into the creation of the film’s memorable sets and alien landscapes
• Future King – Memories of co-production designer (and future visionary filmmaker) James Cameron from members of the cast and crew
• Old School – A journey into the complicated mechanical and makeup effects with artists Allan A. Apone, Douglas J. White, Alec Gillis and others
• Launch Sequence – Co-editor R.J. Kizer walks us through postproduction and a profile on composer Barry Schrader
• Theatrical trailers
• Extensive photo galleries including posters, production sketches and designs
• Theatrical trailer with commentary from writer/director Joel Olsen, courtesy of   Trailersfromhell.com
• Original screenplay

Shout! Factory will continue to present Roger Corman’s Cult Classics home entertainment releases on a monthly basis. Upcoming highlights include Attack Of The Crab Monsters, the original Not Of This Earth (1957), Piranha (directed by Joe Dante), Humanoids From The Deep (starring Doug McClure and Vic Morrow), Deathsport (starring David Carradine and Claudia Jennings), Battle Truck (released in the U.S. as Warlords of the 21^st Century), among others.

www.rogercormanscultclassics.com

Independent filmmaker-producer Roger Corman’s illustrious career ranks as one of Hollywood’s most amazing success stories. Having produced more than 350 films and directed 50 others, his influence on American film goes far beyond his own energetic, creative low-budget movies. He is arguably one of Hollywood’s most gifted and masterful filmmakers. In 2009 he was the recipient of an honorary Academy Award for his contribution to the medium of film.

Noted for his keen ability to spot young talent, Corman’s most lasting legacy will undoubtedly be

the legion of producers, directors, writers and actors he has fostered, among them: Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Ron Howard, Peter Fonda, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd, Diane Ladd, Tommy Lee Jones, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Talia Shire, Charles Bronson, Joe Dante, Peter Bogdanovich and Sally Kirkland.

Shout! Factory is a diversified entertainment company devoted to producing, uncovering and revitalizing the very best of pop culture. Founders Richard Foos, Bob Emmer and Garson Foos have spent their careers sharing their music, television and film faves with discerning consumers the world over. Shout! Factory’s DVD offerings serve up classic, contemporary and cult TV series, riveting sports programs, live music, animation and documentaries in lavish packages crammed with extras. The company’s audio catalogue boasts GRAMMY^®-nominated boxed sets, new releases from storied artists, lovingly assembled album reissues and indispensable “best of” compilations. These riches are the result of a creative acquisitions mandate that has established the company as a hotbed of cultural preservation and commercial reinvention. With its fingers on the pulse of pop culture, Shout! Factory continues to impact the entertainment media landscape through acquisition of top quality programming for home entertainment releases. Shout! Factory is based in Santa Monica, California. For more on Shout! Factory, visit www.shoutfactory.com