Movie Review: The Frankenstein Syndrome (2011)

Man, was I happy to see this film. Let me clarify that statement. I'm never really happy at the thought of watching movies that come out of the Phoenix film community. I'm not knocking the whole group of people that works out here, but there have been far more bad films than good made in our fair city. I should know. I'm in many of them. In fact, I'm only really proud of one of my performances. Recently, there has been an upswing, and that can be credited to a few small groups. The product has been getting better, and The Frankenstein Syndrome is the perfect example of what can really be done on a true independent level.

Buy The Frankenstein Syndrome on DVD or Watch it Instantly

I don't want you to think that I'm stroking this movie because our own David Hayes is in it. That will never be the case. He and I have collaborated on some turds, and you won't see those reviewed here. I'll just watch them alone in a dark room while "Fade to Black" plays in the background on repeat. What we have here is something the Phoenix film community can be proud of, and I'm proud of Dave for his work here. It's good. In fact, I'd hold this film up to any studio horror film. It's better than most these days.

Movie Review: Lady Football (1983)

Directed by Nando Cicero
Starring Carmen Russo, Alvaro Vitali
Run Time: 89 minutes - Unrated

A Brazilian soccer superstar, Paulo Roberto (Alvaro Vitali), is lured to play for an Italian team in Naples. After being payed billions of dollars to sign, the coach and owner of the team are horrified to discover that Paolo stinks at soccer, in fact he’s so horrible that whenever the Italian fans get within arms reach of him they try to tear him to pieces. Sensing a national crisis in the making, the teams managers decide to take drastic measures and fly Paolo’s fiance ( played by the luscious Carmen Russo), into Naples in the hopes of making Paolo a little more relaxed in his new surroundings. After setting her up with a job as a dancer, Paolo finds he has a dead-ringer in the form of a lowly plumber, (also played by Alvaro Vitali).

Movie Review: Refinements In Love (1971, Impulse Pictures)

It's no secret that the '70s were an amazing decade for hardcore adult entertainment. Instead of just throwing a bunch of loops together or just producing a loop by itself, producers got smart - they made actual movies. Movies with plots and even engaging characters. The pseudo-documentary also became a way to get some XXX fucking on screen for the masses while "educating" the viewers a little before they spewed their mess on the back of the heads of unlucky patrons occupying the theater. Impulse Pictures has made a big dent in the sexploitation DVD market with their highly entertaining soft-core pseudo-doc flicks, The Schoolgirl Report series. Impulse's release of Carlos Tobalina's Refinements In Love has a similar charm; just expect lots of hardcore penetration and even worse acting.

Buy Refinements In Love on DVD

"Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore" and "The Blood Trilogy" coming to DVD and Blu-ray September 27th.

Chatsworth, CA – He’s been hailed as a visionary and as a provocateur. His films have legions of fans, and just as many detractors. In 1963, he introduced stunned audiences to a new kind of cinema with Blood Feast – and in the process single-handedly launched “splatter cinema.” He is writer/director Herschell Gordon Lewis and he is truly the “Godfather of Gore.” On September 27, Image Entertainment and Something Weird pay homage to a true cinematic legend with the DVD release of Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore, and the high definition premieres of grindhouse classics Blood Feast, Two Thousand Maniacs and Color Me Blood Red with The Blood Trilogy Blu-ray™ Special Edition!

Buy Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore on DVD and The Blood Trilogy Blu-ray

With a $14.98 SRP for the DVD, and a $17.97 SRP for the Blu-ray™, fans will have a chance to not only explore the wild world of Lewis and his exploitation films, but they will be able to experience every splat, every slice and every drop of fake blood and guts in full 1080p glory! In addition, each release contains a crypt-full of special bonus features including audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, original theatrical trailers and art galleries. Pre-book is August 30th.

Movie Review: Carter Stevens "Teenage Twins" Collection (1976-1977)

After Hours Cinema is back with yet another dose of their “Grindhouse Directors Series”. This time around smut film pioneer Carter Stevens has three of his finest films in a handy dandy collection with the Carter Stevens Teenage Twins Collection – Teenage Twins, Punk Rock and Rollerbabies.

Buy The Teenage Twins Collection on DVD

Teenage Twins is an interesting animal. It’s pretty much a one location sex film produced on a super low-budget. The budget and simple set doesn’t matter here because like other Carter Stevens films - it has a gimmick. This device may not sit well with some folks but it involves the two stars of the film who are identical twin sisters, Brooke and Taylor Young. There really isn’t much of a plot here but it does showcase these very “loving” sisters partaking in a sixty-nine position and one even masturbates with a Bible. Adult film legend, Eric Edwards (a frequent performer in Stevens’ films) is on hand for some of the fun.

"The Death of Andy Kaufman" coming to DVD on July 26

In 1984, Andy Kaufman Died. 20 years later, one filmmaker set out to find him.

The Death of Andy Kaufman takes on the many mysteries and theories surrounding Andy Kaufman's death, and through exclusive interviews with family and friends, rare performances by Kaufman, and the filmmakers own personal investigation, we are brought closer to understanding mind and myth of one of the most celebrated and mysterious performance artists all time, often with unexpected results.

Buy The Death of Andy Kaufman on DVD

Movie Review: Heartbeeps (1981)

I've always had an interest in watching Andy Kaufman's only leading film role. I heard about Heartbeeps here and there, but I never came across it until good old Netflix put it up to stream. I just couldn't believe my luck, so it went right in my queue. On a day in which I already watched two good movies and two bad, it really stunk to tip the scales toward the negative.

Buy Heartbeeps on DVD or Watch it Instantly

Heartbeeps screams 80s comedy from the first moment. The music, the bright colors and the wacky characters are all there. I will say that the robot make-up on Kaufman and Bernadette Peters was well done by Stan Winston. The two are products of a society that relies on robots, which is funny considering our attachment to smartphones and the Internet. They fall in love and decide to explore the outside world with a comedian robot named Catskills. He's loaded with bad jokes, and those seem to be the only jokes in the movie.

The Wim Wenders Produced "The Clone Returns Home" Coming July 26th From AnimEigo!

An astronaut dies on a mission, but never fear — he's got a clone, which has been imprinted with his memories. Unfortunately, the clone malfunctions, and fixates on a tragic memory from the dead astronaut's youth. The clone runs away to find answers and solace from his burdensome memories, much to the dismay of his wife and the clone company.



Winner: 2006 Sundance / NHK International Filmmaker's Award
Official Selection: 2009 Sundance Film Festival.
Winner: Jury Prize, 2009 Fantasia International Film Festival -- Best Cinematography.
Directed by Kanji Nakajima
Produced by Wim Wenders
Official Selection in 24+ Film Festivals




Buy The Clone Returns Home on DVD
Official Street Date: July 26, 2011

Movie Review: Frauleins in Uniform (1973)

Directed by Erwin Dietrich

Starring Elisabeth Felchner, Karin Heske and Renate Kasche

War is Hell, unless of course you're one of the Frauleins in Uniform, (which is actually a misnomer since these gals spend very little time wearing anything at all.)

For these German hussies its all about getting laid, volunteering from all over the country to join the war effort in an attempt to keep troop-morale and everything else standing at attention.

There's really no plot at all here, we follow a group of hot girls as they go through their physical exams and then out to the front lines. Along the way they’re getting naked at every turn, bedding down officers and soldiers alike and even dipping into a little lesbian fun along the way.

Movie Review: Ticked-Off Trannies with Knives

Wow. That's all I have. Wow. That was an... experience. Apparently, the heir apparent to John Waters' gilded, trashy throne is Israel Luna, the writer and director of Ticked Off Trannies with Knives. I'm a huge Waters fan, from Pink Flamingos to Pecker and beyond, and I haven't had this much fun with a faux seventies grindhouse rip since Black Dynamite. Luna gets it and, more importantly, those crazy trannies get it, too!

BUY TICKED OFF TRANNIES WITH KNIVES ON DVD!

I'm never really sure in most cases when a filmmaker is truly channeling the seventies exploitation flick or some kind of production mishap caused the 'style' change, but Trannies delivers. It is apparent, right from the start, that we are in an exploitation revenge fantasy complete with sexy babes (relatively speaking), dastardly villains and excessive violence (complete with missing reels and grainy film, of course). Breaking Glass Pictures is releasing Ticked Off Trannies with Knives on DVD November 9th, and I can't wait for the rest of the world to experience this. The filmmakers have attempted to create a new genre... transploitation (not mine, I stole that from somewhere).

Movie Review: The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia (2009)

Crazy white trash characters are great for movies. You can look at them and think, "Wow, they're fucked up," while patting yourself on the back for being at least a little better off. When the characters aren't fictional, though, it's tough to know how to react. Initially, you laugh your ass off, partially in shock. Eventually, you realize that these people are out there, and they're breeding.

Buy The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia on DVD or Watch it Instantly

Jesco White is the accidental star of the family. His dad D. Ray, the family patriarch, was a famous tap dancer until he was killed in a shootout. Jesco picked up the skill and ran with it. PBS made a documentary about him in 1991 called The Dancing Outlaw, and they made a sequel eight years later. They were both popular, and after seeing them, Johnny Knoxville of Jackass fame decided that a follow-up involving the entire White clan needed to be made. He wasn't wrong.

Movie Review: Hora (2009)

By Travis G.

D: Reinert Kiil (Norway)

I got home this week to find a nice stack of DVDs waiting for me in the mail. After opening the two packages, I saw that I got I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE(yeah…),I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE Remake( ergh….)Double Feature, HORA and some other DVDs. So I thought why not bust out the Cheese doodles because tonight’s movie theme is Rape Revenge !I wonder if my mailman knows how much of a filth distributer he is, ha!

Buy Hora (Region 2) on DVD

Impulse Pictures to Release "Wide Open" Starring Christina Lindberg!

Featuring the gorgeous Christina Lindberg in her final screen role in WIDE OPEN. Taxi driver Paul and his beautiful journalist girlfriend Marianne already have a strained relationship when things get crazier by Paul bringing his drunken father back to their apartment. As tensions rise, they decide to chill out at a wild movie party and things go from bad to worse (for Marianne anyway) when they both wake up in bed together with Marianne’s sister, Beryl!

Buy Wide Open on DVD

Marianne leaves, so Paul decides to spend some time watching strippers and taking Beryl along for some nighttime fun. Everything is going great, until Beryl gets picked up by the evil Mr. X and things turn dangerous. A stolen mink coat, drugs, and violent sex games lead Paul and Beryl to confront Mr. X during the film’s perverse stag party climax!

Movie Review: Anvil: The Story of Anvil (2009)

I grew up on metal. First it was Motley Crue and Iron Maiden. Then I got into Bands like Pantera and Sepultura. Most importantly, there was The Big 4: Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth and Metallica. They defined thrash metal. Just before them, there was a band called Anvil that set the tone for them all.

Buy Anvil: The Story of Anvil on DVD

In Toronto, Anvil singer Steve "Lips" Kudlow works his way through life at an average job while working toward an exceptional dream. At age fifty, he and his childhood friend and bandmate Robb Reiner are able to keep hope alive when a European woman promises to manage the band through a small European tour. This is an insight into what originally caused the band to remain mostly anonymous to music fans. Poor management and worse decisions kept the band down, but they never gave up.

Ed Wood: King of Smut?

by David Hayes



Edward D. Wood, Jr. has been called "The Worst Director of All  Time" and is a winner of the Golden Turkey Award. He has made some of the most laughable, and entertaining, films to ever come out of the independent Hollywood  scene. With classics like the hastily constructed Plan 9 From Outer Space (1958) and the  surrealistically autobiographical Glen or Glenda (1953) Wood has placed an indelible mark on the art of film production resulting in a big-budget life story by movie giant Tim  Burton, titled Ed Wood (1994). There is a lesser-known sidelight to Wood's career as a  producer-writerdirector-actor, almost another career entirely. Edward D. Wood, Jr. is one of  America's most prolific short story writers and novelists.

Beginning in 1963, just to make meager ends meet for his wife Kathy and himself (insert: "booze"), Wood began to write for some of the major California smut publishers (this does not include Wood’s unpublished, 1948 novel The Casual Company, a Marine comedy that led to his disastrous stageplay of the same name). He would continue to write novels, short stories and essays for the next fifteen years, until his death on December 10, 1978. In that time, Wood, under quite a large number of pseudonyms, is known to have penned at least 80 novels, hundreds of short stories and a slightly lesser amount of non-fiction. There are more Wood-writings discovered every year, usually under another of his many pseudonyms. Publishers like Gallery, Pendulum, Calga, Pad and others would publish sex, smut and sleaze novels at a breakneck pace through the sixties and seventies, and Wood, by all accounts, was the largest on staff "producer," meaning the volume of his work was a great deal more than his fellow writers. At the same time, Wood wrote many soft and hard core porn screenplays for A. C. Stephen, Jacques Descent and Joe Robertson.

Voyage Trekkers Premiere Tomorrow Night

CHC fans in the Phoenix metropolitan area should be aware of the Voyage Trekkers premiere at FilmBar in downtown Phoenix tomorrow night (Monday, 17th July) at 8.00pm. Admission is $5.

Voyage Trekkers is a new webseries from Nathan Blackwell, creator of Zombie Team Building, which was a selection at both The International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival and Phoenix Fear Film Festival, where it won for Best Short. He's also responsible for the awesome pulp serial episode Masters of Daring and the web series Normally This Weird, among others. Many of these can be seen online in the viewing room at the Squishy Studios website.

Voyage Trekkers delights in its geekiness. Obviously a spoof of the original Star Trek and the other shows that came along in its wake, it merely shows the incidents that wouldn't have made it into one of those episodes. As the tagline has it: 'These are the voyages that don't make the Captain's Log.' It even has a promo poster in Japanese, which is another stroke of genius on Nathan's part. He has a lot of those.

I've watched the first episode of Voyage Trekkers a couple of times now and it sits well with Nathan's other work. All the cast will be familiar to anyone who's seen his other work and the production values and humour are comparable too.

So if you're a fan, head on down to FilmBar tomorrow night to see the first three episodes premiered in the company of many members of the cast and crew. It is a bar, so it's 21 and over. If you're not a fan, check out the Squishy Studios viewing room and you will be. Your best bet would be to do that before tomorrow night. Episode 1 will go live online tonight at midnight, but you'll have to wait for the others if you miss the event.

By the way, while you're at FilmBar, check out the other shows upcoming at the venue, including Yuen Woo Ping's True Legend, which beguns a run on Thursday, 21st July. That's the same night The Royale in Mesa shows Franco Nero in Enter the Ninja and a day before Army of Darkness and the beginning of a run of The Troll Hunter. Suddenly the valley is a great place to go out and see movies on the big screen. With Voyage Trekkers you can support local filmmaking too. How can you go wrong?

Movie Review: Desert Son (2010)

I like a movie with a little suspense. Desert Son has exactly that. A little suspense. Very little. We start out with super pouty Phillip (John Bain), who sits in the back seat of his drunken and angry stepfather's car. Apparently, stepdad see's Phil as little more than a whiny bitch, and he's pretty much right. After he's had enough, stepdaddy ditches Phillip in the desert. At that point, good parenting aside, I was right with him, and I wanted to see what bar he was hitting next. Unfortunately, we have to watch Phillip for the next hour and a half.

Buy Desert Son on DVD

Movie Review: American: The Bill Hicks Story (2009)

Few comedians leave their impression on the craft the way Bill Hicks did. He started out like many, sharing observations about his own life, but he ended up deconstructing everything from pop culture to politics with a sharp wit and a vicious tongue. His life was short, but his legacy continues to grow.

Buy American: The Bill Hicks Story [Blu-ray] or DVD

Like many people, I didn't discover Bill Hicks until years after his death. I've been fascinated with him since. I like learning about the lives of comedians. It helps me understand their material in different ways. Hicks started in his early teens as part of a duo. He was always funny, and he really didn't seem to have a fear about speaking his mind.

Cinema Head Cheese: The Podcast! #10 featuring The Uh-Oh Show producer Andrew Allan

Good times and good beverages as usual as Kevin Moyers and Jeff Dolniak talk about the best movie to ever come out of the Phoenix film community, The Frankenstein Syndrome. It co-stars our own David Hayes and Hal Astell.

They also get into a pile of other movies, Netflix's upcoming changes and more television shows than they've ever discussed before.

Jeff and Kevin talk with The Uh-Oh Show producer Andrew Allan about working with legendary director Herschell Gordon Lewis.

This month in the Trade-off, Kevin gets a little revenge by tugging at Jeff's heart strings and Jeff makes Kevin watch the first porno that he couldn't "enjoy."

This month's podcast is sponsored by Health First Chiropractic. Please support our sponsor. We are thankful to have them on board.

Get The Uh-Oh Show and The Frankenstein Syndrome on DVD

Get this month's Trade-offs Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father and Driller: A Sexual Thriller on DVD

Click here to listen or right click and choose "Save Link As..." to download.

"Subspecies" Available July 25th on Blu-Ray and DVD!

SUBSPECIES RE-MASTERED IN 16:9 IS FINALLY HERE!!!

On both blu ray and DVD! First copies will "premiere" at
San Diego Comic Convention on July 20th and will then be available
only at www.FullmoonDirect.com starting Monday July 25th!