The Lucid Nightmare

Sunday, July 21, 2013

ALL THE COLORS: Dick Tracy

Thursday, July 18, 2013

REVIEW: The Return of the Living Dead

The Return of the Living Dead

Director: Dan O'Bannon

Year 1985

The Return of the Living Dead is a horror comedy cult classic! I could leave it at that, but that wouldn't be much of a review, so allow me to explain. Drenched in 80's goodness and warped to the max, this outstanding zombie entry is absolutely entertaining. With its diverse and memorable cast and its penchant for grotesque zombie mayhem, The Return of the Living Dead brings us all the iconic archetypes of George Romero's dead infested world, yet turns it on its head by cranking up the comedy and playing up the fun. In grand fashion the film is a riot, which will have you rolling with laughter, while at the same time being sick to your stomach at the demented things that director Dan O'Bannon throws your way.

The film takes place after the events of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead and the government has hushed up their involvement in the incident, packing away containers of infected corpses in order to take back for experimentation. As luck would have it, or misfortune, one of the containers ends up being shipped to a medical supply warehouse where two bumbling workers, Frank and Freddy, accidentally release the deadly gas inside the canister, unleashing a potent chemical that re-animates the dead. As the town is quickly overrun by an army of walking corpses, the few remaining survivors must band together in order to survive the night.

The greatest asset that this film has going for itself is the tremendous cast of characters that litter its story. Engaging, interesting and hilarious, they all do their individual parts to bring this film to stark life. James Karen and Thom Mathews take on the roles of Frank and Freddy, the two numbskulls who end up unleashing the deadly gas responsible for turning Louisville, Kentucky into an undead feeding ground. These guys are fabulous together and their chemistry is just ridiculously potent, resulting in some unforgettable scenes and dialogue that will be tumbling around in your head years after viewing. The banter between the two is just astounding and they really introduce the movie off on the right foot.

From then on the cast just gets wilder and wilder as we are introduced to the pair's boss, a group of punk kids, and a mortician that is a little more than loopy. Clu Gulager plays the role of Burt, Frank and Freddy's boss, and he is just great as the older sarcastic character who turns out to be quite the zombie killer. He's kind of an asshole, but a loveable one, and his lines are classic. Don Calfa takes on the role of Ernie the mortician, and his quirky personality and baffled reactions to all that is going on around him are highly entertaining. As for the punks, the real standouts are Miguel A. Nunez Jr. as Spider, Mark Venturini as Suicide, and of course Linnea Quigley as the rarely clothed Trash. All in all, this ensemble cast is one for the record books.

On the comedic front the film opts to go for a really dark and morbid approach, specializing in over the top sequences that highlight how difficult it is to kill these breed of zombies, while allowing the undead themselves to get in on the fun. One particularly entertaining moment comes when a paramedic team is ambushed by a horde of walking corpses, resulting in one of the zombies radioing in to send more paramedics. This same gag is repeated in hilarious fashion after a squad of police cars is overtaken with the same tactic in mind. I'd have to say that one of the appealing aspects of this production is that it knows when to be silly, while still maintaining that horror focused atmosphere and edge.

As for the horror moments, they are abundant and sometimes rather unsettling in brutality. Blood explodes in wild sprays as zombies rip at flesh and tear at jugulars, all in grotesque grandeur, while the overall visual look of the film is drenched in macabre-filled imagery. It's actually hauntingly beautiful in parts, while it maintains that tongue and cheek attitude which permeates the production. The locations are equally creepy as most of the film takes place in a mortuary surrounded by a decrepit graveyard. The look and feel of the film is top notch and that goes a good distance in providing a serviceable backdrop for this literally crazy story to unfold in all its gory glory. Deservedly earning its classic and cult status, Dan O'Bannon's morbid masterpiece is a thing of demented beauty.

The Return of the Living Dead is one hell of an enjoyable zombie romp from beginning to end. Jam packed with memorable quotes and stupendous characters, the film relishes in its era, providing a distinct atmosphere that is just super-charged with 80's goodness. The combination of horror and comedy is balanced to perfection, and the over the top nature of the production is all the more potent when combined with the larger than life characters that inhabit its world.

For me the real glue that holds everything together is the ensemble cast and the roles they bring to the table. Down the line, they all establish their characters as believable, even if a good majority of them are greatly exaggerated. James Karen and Thom Mathews are especially guilty of indulging in the over acting department, but to me that extra added camp value of their performances help to establish the wacky nature of this film world. It's exceptionally thrilling to see both actors riff off of each other and their interactions are absolutely sublime once the shit hits the fan and the zombies are unleashed. Really all you need to know is that The Return of the Living Dead is a whole hell of a lot of fun and isn't that all that matters when watching a horror comedy. If this gem has somehow passed you by, make it a priority to watch this flick as soon as possible. You have no idea how much fun you are missing out on. The Return of the Living Dead is.....

What a big goof!

Peek a boo!

You think this is a costume? It's a way of life!

You better pull my finger if you like this job! Like this JOB?!?!?!

Why can't I work at a place as cool as this.

Hello there! Everyone enjoying the show?

Thank the shirtless gods for Trash!

Anyone have a wet-wipe?

It's getting a little crowded at this peep show.

When hugs go bad..... Really BAD!

Well you're as cute as a button.

I'm the same exact way when something gets in my contacts.

Go ahead and pray to your fire gods Frank.

Send more police.

I'm gonna knock your block off shit demon!

Ah shit! There goes the neighborhood!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

MY FILM: Among the Fallen Review #5

Hey everyone! I thought you guys might find this news interesting. A new review for my film Among the Fallen has just been posted on YouTube by Jason over at Beyond the Realms. It's a damn fine review and Jason has a lot of positive things to say about the movie, so check it out from the man himself. BEYOND THE REALMS REVIEW

You can also check out the full movie below. ENJOY!

REVIEW: Wonder Women

Wonder Women

Director: Robert Vincent O'Neill

Year 1973

Wonder Women is a fantastic spy-centric 70's gem which takes all of the fun aspects of the espionage genre from the mid sixties and mixes it all up into a ridiculously fun exploitation flick that often boggles the mind. Filled to the brim with sexy kung-fu women, dangerous thugs and exotic locations, the film goes all out in displaying its outlandish heart on its sleeve. Lensed in the Philippines and comprised of an international cast, Wonder Women is a lost gem of a feature, which surprises at every turn, often taking the viewer into unfathomable situations that serve to entertain exponentially.

The film follows insurance investigator, and all around badass, Mike Harber, as he is assigned to a most unusual case. It turns out that the world's greatest athletes have been disappearing in startling succession and all signs point to a mysterious organization off the coast of Manila. Run by a brilliantly mad surgeon named Dr. Tsu, the all female group has been experimenting with body transplants which require them to abduct famous athletes in order to sell their body parts to the highest bidder. Racing against time, Mike Harber begins a harrowing search for the most recent missing athlete, but his investigation won't be easy. Crooked con-men, deformed creatures, and Dr. Tsu and her army of ravishing and leggy assassins are just a few of Harber's many obstacles in this most outlandish tale of delectable and action oriented sights.

Ross Hagen takes on the role of Mike Harber, the quick-witted and unstoppable insurance investigator powerhouse. Ridiculously cocky and abundantly womanizing, Hagen's portrayal of this sure-headed hero is something to witness. Sometimes slick, but mostly accident prone, Hagen gives an interesting performance that is both adrenaline fused and comically silly. The hybrid of sorts makes for some rather entertaining viewing, and his charisma is without a doubt what holds most of these wacky antics together. You can tell that he is having fun with the role and through this whimsical manner, you begin to be infected by the fun of it all. Whether he's toppling down a staircase, being beaten to a pulp by a sexy kung-fu artist, or dishing out some well deserved justice, Ross Hagen makes it all so damn enjoyable and a real treat to witness.

Maria De Aragon steals the show as the ravishing female assassin Linda, whose gorgeous figure and hypnotizing looks literally set the film on fire. She throws herself into this role, as she punches and kicks her way through it like a champ. She may not be the most athletic or accomplished of fighters, but damn does she give a fiery performance that never holds back. Often thrust into a number of action scenes throughout the film, Maria bursts to life in each case, giving the movie a much needed injection of female badassery. I'd have to say that she was an excellent and pitch-perfect femme fatale for the film, leaving Nancy Kwan's Dr. Tsu character in the dust. Like Hagen's role in the film, Maria's presence in this movie is an essential piece to the puzzle and she is one of the glaring reasons on why this feature is so damn enjoyable.

It's the oddities and unusual nature of the movie that really meld well with the entertaining performances of Hagen and Maria. From a child assassin, to a strange skinny oriental mob leader, to a mad surgeon, to an army of sexy killers, to even a handful of deformed beast men, this film has it all, and it's all integrated in a way that truly takes the viewer by surprise. You never quite know what will happen next and that is one of the more enjoyable aspects of the production. Taping into its exploitation roots, the film delivers one crazy set piece after another, until your head begins to spin from the strangeness of it all.

Another odd facet of the movie is the inclusion of cult actor Sid Haig as Dr. Tsu's associate. He exits the movie as mysteriously as he enters, and in the end you really don't know much about his character other than he is a part of the overall scheme that Dr. Tsu has cooking. His disappearance from the film is hilarious, because he literally just vanishes mid sequence. As wacky as it seems for a side character to just fade into obscurity, it fits in perfectly with the overall atmosphere of the production. In a movie filled with lethal babes and an unstoppable ladies man insurance inspector, you really have to throw logic out the window and just sit back and be entertained.

Wonder Women is an unapologetic trip through exploitation action cinema, which derives much of its style from its 60's Eurospy counterparts. Sprinkled with a heavy dose of outlandish humor and unprecedented weirdness, this outstanding gem is one for the record books. From beginning to end, you'll struggle to guess what will happen next and the spontaneous nature of the production is one of its strongest assets. Ross Hagen and Maria De Aragon are exceptionally engaging in their roles with Hagen bringing his charisma in full force and Maria looking absolutely breathtaking as she kicks major ass. Nancy Kwan and Sid Haig do a commendable job with their characters, but the true stars are Hagen and Maria.

In the most simplistic of ways, Wonder Women is a film that is ridiculously off the wall. In the most outstanding of ways, the film manages to pack an enormous amount of weirdness into its quick running time, but without sacrificing the coherent nature of its story. It's wild and inventive, yet it never forgets that above all things, it must entertain. I was highly satisfied with this feature and fortunate enough to come across it when I did, because it truly is a lost gem. If you're a fan of these types of films and enjoy a good old fashion oddity, then give this one a go. Wonder Women is truly a spectacle and it is one that you're not going to want to miss. This film is absolutely.....