Reviews

AND I'M STILL WAITING! Turner Classic Movies finally laid the first rotten egg of the restorations. This "redux" of the Tod Browning film starring Lon Chaney is nothing more than filmed stills. I basically was treated to a very badly done slide show. Remember Tod Browning had a certain style with his vampire films. When another person tries to show you how the movie might have looked with stills, you're getting ANOTHER PERSON'S VIEW OF THE STORY. This didn't hit me like a Tod Browning in the least. People will probably hate me for this review, but I don't care. I give this slop 1/2 a star.

This movie is about the most elusive film I've seen since Myra Breckinridge.

It has never been out on VHS or DVD, and now that I saw it on TV, I can see why. John Travolta and Lily Tomlin play lovers (??!!!) He's more interested in her than she him (?????!!!!!!) Those two plot devices should have steered me clear from this mire, but me being a rabid obsessive compulsive movie hound, I just had to look. Moment by Moment is weird alright, but I have to say, "You have to see this mess to believe it." So if you can, check it out, but don't say I didn't warn ya.

In the mid '70s as a 10 year old I was watching the late show, and during commercials I changed the station to channel 5 in Atlanta, GA. They were showing this little gem, and I caught a few minutes of it. It took me 5 years before I could see it on TV again, and I had to rig a UHF antenna in my bedroom to get the broadcast. I was very struck by this weird tale of the dearly departed being resurrected: the style of the film fascinated me. It took me 15 more years before I finally saw the film uncut. The breakdown is this: a rich young couple, Walter and Eva, take in a young girl named Greta who has been in an accident and has amnesia. Something is not quite right about her, but that doesn't stop these kinky people from both having an affair with her. This affair starts a very sinister chain of events. Ewa Aulin and Klaus Kinski star in the film debut by director Joe D'Amato. The film has many flaws I suppose, but I'm NOT a critic and I love it anyway.

One year before the hilarious Airplane! this film was released on an unsuspecting public. Its easy to see what fueled the Zucker brothers to lampoon the Airport series so shamelessly. Let's look at the cast: George Kennedy, Alain Delon, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely..not bad so far. Not so fast, because in come the supporting cast: Mercedes McCaimbridge (as a Russian gym instructor), Martha Raye, Jimmie Walker (!), Sylvia Krystel ( as a stewardess ), Avery Schreiber, and Bibi Andersson (as a prostitute). The plot has pot holes that would do Ed Wood proud. It is so bad dramatically that it plays like a comedy. And funny it is...very very funny. Watch this on a double bill with Airplane!

One year before the hilarious Airplane! this film was released on an unsuspecting public. Its easy to see what fueled the Zucker brothers to lampoon the Airport series so shamelessly. Let's look at the cast: George Kennedy, Alain Delon, Robert Wagner, Susan Blakely..not bad so far. Not so fast, because in come the supporting cast: Mercedes McCaimbridge (as a Russian gym instructor), Martha Raye, Jimmie Walker (!), Sylvia Krystel ( as a stewardess ), Avery Schreiber, and Bibi Andersson (as a prostitute). The plot has pot holes that would do Ed Wood proud. It is so bad dramatically that it plays like a comedy. And funny it it...very very funny. Watch this on a double bill with Airplane!

Anytime Tom Baker graced the screen his characters were always memorable. Here he plays a freak with a self loathing that must be seen to be believed. The story concerns a scientist who tries to turn people into plants. He succeeds with a cross between human and venus fly trap. The makeup isn't great, but it does the job. First time director Jack Cardiff made a great little horror film. Donald Pleasence plays the doctor. I saw this on Cinemax during the 90's. Basil Kirchin from Abominable Dr. Phibes did the music. I wish this was out on DVD. Columbia Pictures has done worse.

Ridiculous '80s ripoff of Mad Max set in a drive in. Not in the least bit scary or adventurous...just dated. The story involves a guy who takes his date to a drive-in movie. His tires are stolen by some cops (?!), so they can't leave. Turns out the place is some sort of government...forget it. This movie stinks.

In 1970 Ken Russell made "The Devils", and before now was regarded as his most notorious movie. Now it seems he wants to top all the shocks he's ever done in any movie, and he succeeds with this independent production. Instead of dealing with a meddling studio, he gave the establishment the finger and made this movie all himself. Louse of Usher is about a rock star convicted of murdering his wife, Annabelle Lee. Roddy Usher is sent to an insane asylum directed by Ken Russell who plays Dr. Calihari. While under the care of this crazy doctor, Usher is subjected to various unconventional methods of treatment. That's the plot. Now here's the catch: this film has no structure. It is filmed with sporadic music videos. There are phallic symbols and blow up doll orgies not to mention topless nuns. I haven't seen a frenetic Russell film like this since the classic "Crimes of Passion." I hope this DVD makes a ton, so the elder poetic artist can keep doing that wonderful shock stuff a little longer. Not for children or prudes.

A woman writer (Camille Keaton) goes on a vacation in the country to write a novel. She is attacked by four yokels who rape and rape and rape her. She survives to get revenge. Nice, huh? The only problem is that the film sucks. I find it very improbable that a lady as petite as Ms. Keaton would seriously inflict the damage done to the rapists. The film is amateurishly made. There is no music score, and not one (even the heroine) character is appealing. The rapists are such morons one would wonder that they even know for what their phalluses were designed. This is an overrated, pathetic film for hillbilly morons.

Just when I feel like giving up on horror movies along comes Cannibal Holocaust like a brick slammed in my face. Much has been said both bad and good toward this strange film. I see myself being in support of it. The story concerns the search for some documentary filmmakers who get lost in the Amazon. Their footage is found and considered by a network for prime time viewing until it is developed and screened. What the filmmakers filmed says more about Western intervention of other cultures than any other movie has dared. It also suggests what should happen to those who intervene. This film is NOT for those who can't take extreme violence. It could be the most violent film ever made. For those who have the stomach for it I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Hilarious trash of a movie from Jack Hill blends elements of witchcraft, vampirism, wax murders, and beatniks(?!). Sid Haig, a Jack Hill regular and guest star in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, plays a beatnik. Weird story is about an artist who lures young girls into his studio, turns into a vampire, and dunks them into hot wax, creating his new figures.

My favorite parts involve interpretive dance and the origin of quantum painting. This film offers the rare opportunity for a vampire to stalk his victim in broad daylight ( probably a film flaw, and abeit a cute one ). Recommended for trash fiends.