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shrike22
Reviews
Miracle Mile (1988)
One of the most entertaining films I've ever seen.
This film was released in the spring of 1989. I caught a glimpse of the trailer on TV, and I knew I just had to see it. I went to the theater not knowing what this film was about. After the film was over, I was just blown away. It was that good. I don't want to spoil it for any one of you out there, so I'm not going to give out any 'spoilers'. It's basically a love story(a unique one at that) set in a background of total chaos. Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham(did I spell her right?) both give powerful and believable performances. The film also co-stars 50's and 60's B-Movie Icon John Agar. This film has many surprises, twists; and scenes of down-right hilarity. This film, written and directed by De Jarnatt, is a sleeper classic! Unfortunately, this film wasn't well received at the box-office. It was hailed by many critics, though. It found an afterlife on video and cable TV. I recently purchased a used copy at a 'Going-out-of-business' sale at a local video store. It hasn't been released to DVD, to my knowledge. When it does get it's DVD release, it deserves the carpet treatment(full restoration, director commentary, interviews, trailers, etc.)
Vice Squad (1982)
A Great Exploitation Flick....
I enjoyed this film. Wings Hauser is so good and has such presence. When you watch him, as Ram Rod, you hate him. This film is taut and gritty. It captured street life, perfectly. I like the fact that the film doesn't linger on morality. It had quite a nihilistic feel to it. There's one particular scene, in which Season Hubley is at a bar talking 'shop' with her fellow hookers. It was a scene of pure honesty. Some women do what they've got to do to make a living and there's nothing wrong with it.
Wings Hauser plays a crazed pimp, Ram Rod, who loves to punish his hookers by torturing them to death. Gary Swanson, plays a determined vice cop out to stop this psycho. When Hubley's best friend is killed by Hauser, she is blackmailed, by Swanson, to go undercover to bring this psycho pimp down.
This film had such a relentless pace and it puts you on the edge of your seat. This is the type of film that graced the screens at 'The Deuce', during it's hey-day. It's a forgotten gem, an exploitation classic.
Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Still scary after all these years.
I remember watching this film on late night TV back in 1978. Even thought I only caught the last 15 minutes, it was enough to creep me out. I was able to watch it in full a few years later on video. I had trouble sleeping, afterwards. This film is a classic of horror. The recent dead are mysteriously resurrecting and attacking the living. They eat their victims. The film's opening sequence is so chilling that it sets the tone for the rest of the picture. The plot involves eight people, who take shelter, in an abandoned farmhouse, from the flesh-eating ghouls. They sit in horror as they listen to the news that most of the nation is under siege from them. The film is relentless in pace throughout, thanks to a well-written narrative, cinema verite' style camera work, and good editing tequnique. The film also has a sense of humor, though not intentional (some of the newscasts will make you chuckle). This comic relief is temporary as the film leads to its tragic and ironic conclusion. George Romero is a truly gifted man. If you've never seen this film, I urge you to do so. I you have...see it again!
Sole Survivor (1984)
An odd movie...
I remember seeing this flick on video, back in 1984. I was working in a video store at the time and my boss decided to check it out. It has many similarities to 'Carnival of Souls'. It deals with a lady who is a lone survivor of a jet-liner crash. She begins to see dead people from the crash. Basically, she somehow cheated death and 'The Grim Reaper' starts knocking at her door. Interestingly, Thom Eberhardt, also directed the Sci-Fi camp film 'Night of the Comet'-both films are very different in tone. Also I believe that the makers of 'Final Destination' were influenced by this film.
It's been 16 years since I've seen this movie, but I remember liking it for it's low-key and haunting atmosphere. It in no way surpasses 'Carnival of Souls', but it gets your attention. I haven't seen this movie since. But, I hope I run into it again some day.
The Last House on Dead End Street (1973)
A forgotten gem...makes most slasher films seem lame.
This film has to be one of the creepiest flicks ever made. It has this haunting effect on me whenever I watch it. The cast of actors are total unknowns. The director, Victor Janos, hasn't made a film before or after this (as far as I know). It's a shame that he hasn't. I'm grateful that I've seen it; because it took many years to find a film that's actually frightening. Janos and cast deliver the goods. The plot revolves around an ex-con, which just got out of the slammer for a drug rap. He starts looking up old friends to make a film-a film that no one else has ever seen! He meets with several producers and invites them over this very foreboding and gothic house. From that point on the ex-con and cronies torture and kill the producers on film. Believe me, these scenes are not for the squeamish. Much of the effect is produced from the dark and grainy cinematography. The music score adds the finishing touches to the horror that unfolds. I wouldn't be surprised if old Lucifer scored this film. This is the kind of film I wish I could have watched at the Old Times Square theatres or at a mid-night movie house like 'The Elgin'.
Cataclysm (1980)
A disjointed, poorly acted film, but creepy and bizzare.
I rented this film under the title of 'The Nightmare Never Ends'. On the surface this film appears to be pure amateur. The acting is quite horrendous on many occasions. The character of Weiss played Marc Lawrence is a Nazi hunter, who mumbles throughout the picture (that's until he's bumped off). Cameron Mitchell plays a detective who investigates Weiss's death. He starts to follow a rich playboy, played eerily by Richard Bristol. He begins to suspect that Olivier is responsible. Another subplot involves Charles Moll who plays a professor. He writes a book called 'God is Dead', which starts a controversy. Rich playboy, Olivier, approaches him. Bristol is basically the devil's representative on earth. A crazy monk approaches Moll's wife, played by Faith Clift (who could not act if her life depended on it). He warns her that her husband is being seduced by satan. People start dying left and right as they attempt to stop Olivier and his minions. Even though the film suffers from poor dubbing, synching (it feels like you're watching an old Hong Kong Kung Fu flick), the film has a sense of dread from beginning to end that grabbed me. It doesn't have a happy ending. And that's the way I like it.