Monday 30 September 2013

Classic Trailer: Soylent Green (1973)


"What is the secret of Soylent Green?" The cat might be out of the bag on that one but this sci-fi is still an amazing classic.

Sunday 29 September 2013

Classic Review: The Girl From Starship Venus (1975)


A trashy but classic sex fantasy about a creature from another galaxy that transforms itself into a voluptuous woman in order fully to understand human ways and emotions. The film is essential a softcore porno foreshadowing the popular 90s film Species. 

It seems that the only thing that these aliesn know of Earth is a pretty good grasp of the English language, but nothing of the basic rules of society. The comedy comes from the rather oblivious, but good natured, observations of Earth society by The Surveyor. She knows nothing of the concepts of clothing, food, time, or sex. She has no emotions and has no physical senses to speak of, besides her sense of sight. The Soho district in London at this time was like Times Square in New York, an area heavily populated with porn theaters and adult book stores, so The Surveyor, and her robotic demeanor, falls headlong into an atmosphere of sexploration. But her adventures are not completely sexual in nature. The destinations of The Surveyor include, along with a visit to both a porn movie theater and an adult bookshop, a visit to a laundromat where she meets an old lady and learns of the inevitability of aging in the Doms. While there, she meets up with a nice man, a Good Samaritan of sorts, who offers her a place to sleep for the night. The Surveyor also ends up at a wedding and hooks up with a guy there, with less than erotic results.

The Girl From Starship Venus is one of those classic films with a unique visual style that is reminiscent of the era. You know you're in for a good fun time when the films tag line makes use of the childish humor of the number 69.

* * * * *

Saturday 28 September 2013

Classic Review: Suspiria (1977)


From his stylish, atmosphere-laden opening, director Dario Argento relentlessly assaults his audience with his own rock score as Jessica Harper gets threatened by location, cast, weather and camera. The extraordinarily grotesque murders pile up as Argento happily abandons plot mechanics to provide a bravura display of his technical skill and with his naturally sharp eye for the bizarre, it's always fascinating to watch; the thrills and spills that the movie delivers. Suspiria is a treat for classic horror fans and a must watch for modern horror filmmakers who often miss their mark.

* * * *

Classic Trailer: Blacula (1972)


Blacula! - Dracula's Soul Brother

Friday 27 September 2013

Classic Poster: Hail Caesar (1973)


The Cat with the .45 caliber claws is non other than Fred Williamson.

Rewind Remake: I Spit on Your Grave (1978)


Director, Meir Zarchi offered us a classic film with a common theme: revenge! 1978's "I Spit on Your Grave" is a cult classic from the world of exploitation cinema. In the film, a young novelist moves from New York to a cabin in the woods in-order to finish her book; however, she gains the unwanted attention of some local men who attack and rape her... repeatedly... oh! and they destroy her manuscript; as a young writer this would but absolutely gut retching. After she recovers, she systematically hunts down and violently murders each of the men who violated her in a roaring rampage of revenge and quickly learn why "no jury in America would ever convict her!"

Because of the graphic and explicit violence, the movie was banned in some countries; in the U.S., the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) went to federal court in 1984 to seek an X rating on the movie. According to the suit, the producers allegedly added more sexually explicit content after the film initially received an R rating. In addition to the extreme rape and murder-based violence, the movie is notable for prompting Roger Ebert to write in 1980 that seeing "I Spit on Your Grave" was "one of the most depressing experiences of my life."

This cult film leaves you feeling very ill indeed; the visuals have a dramatic affect on the audience, similar to the sickening Cannibal Holocaust (1980) which has a very real feel to its dark themes.

* * * *

Thursday 26 September 2013

Classic Poster: Mad Max (1979)


The classic Australian car film offers a beautiful poster that encapsulates the film in a dry heat of bunt rubber and gunpowder.