EMBODIMENT OF EVIL (SYNAPSE)

In 1964 Jose Mojica Marins introduced the character of Coffin Joe to the shocked filmgoers of Brazil in a movie entitled At Midnight I'll Take Your Soul and then in 1967 he returned with Tonight I'll Possess Your Corpse. Both tales were violent and shocking films about a madman seeking the perfect woman to bear his offspring. In order to do this Joe must torture the women and see how much they can take.
In Brazil the films were considered trash and they were not seen in the US for many years, but during the video boom in the 80's these films were finally given the release here in the US from Something Weird Video and we got to see what a perverse and violent character Joe was.
Well in 2008 Marins finally made the final film in the trilogy, 40 years after the second one ended and what a film it is!! Joe is released from an asylum after 40 years and immediately starts on his quest to find the perfect female to bear his child. He finds he has some faithful followers and they help him find victims to torture.
He is haunted by ghosts from his past which gives the movie a chance to show some scenes from Marin's original films, and everything is very effective.
Synapse does a fine job in turning this out on a blu-ray dvd combo pack and I highly recommend this for fans of Coffin Joe..my god what a movie!!

ASTRO ZOMBIES (IMAGE)

This is a classic camp fest starring John Carradine as a mad scientist trying to create an astro-man from human body parts. The government is trying to stop him and those forces are led by Tom Pace and Wendell Corey, and enemy agents from other countries want his secrets and those are led by Rafael Campos and the very voluptous Tura Satana.
A real mishmash of a film but it all works for bad movie lovers everywhere. Director Ted V. Mikles is a really one of a kind man making one of a kind movies. Not much gore but plenty of cartoon action make this a winner if you dont take it too seriously. Recommended!!

DRIVE IN TERROR ON TCM TONIGHT

All through this month on Thursday TCM has been having Drive In Double Feature night, and this is the last night of it.
They have an excellent line up which I have listed below. All times are eastern.
8:00 PM The Blob (1958)
9:30 PM H Man
11:00 PM Magnetic Monster
12:30 AM X The Unknown
2:00 AM The Thing (1951)
3:30 AM It! The Terror From Beyond Space
Excellent stuff all!!! Check it out!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.....

Professional wrestler Terry Funk turns 67 today.

RIP SHELBY GRANT 1934-2011

Actress Shelby Grant passed away on June 28th from a sudden brain aneurysm. She was the wife of actor Chad Everett and starred in such genre films as Fantastic Voyage, Our Man Flint and The Witchmaker.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO......

Gary Busey is 68, Nicole Scherzinger is 33, Maria Conchita Alonso turns 54 and special effects legend Ray Harryhausen is 91.

NOT OF THIS EARTH (SHOUT FACTORY)

One of the best movies Roger Corman made during the 50's, this classic stars Paul Birch as as alien from Davanna who has come to earth to look for fresh blood for his dying world. Lovely Beverly Garland is the nurse who takes care of him and Jonathan Haze is his butler.
A very odd film, but an excellent one that NEVER fails to entertain. You gotta love the flying monster that crushes a doctors head!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
This also happens to be my girlfriends favorite movie...she has damn good taste.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO.....

Lalla Ward is 60.

RIP ELAINE STEWART

Actress Elaine Stewart passed away on June 27th at the age of 81 from a long illness. Stewart is best known to genre fans for appearing in the obscure movies entitled Most Dangerous Man Alive in 1958. She also appeared in such film noir classics as Rise And Fall of Legs Diamond and The Tattered Dress.
In the 1970's she was the card dealer on the Game show Gambit and the hostess on High Rollers.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO

Paul  Koslo turns 67 today, Lauren Hill is 32,and Lorrie Morgan is 52.

RAMBLINGS

Wewill be having a new poll soon and I also wanted to mention that in my absense I missed the birthday of the one and only Casey Kasem of American Top 40 fame. A belated but very happy 79th b-day to the man who got me to become a chart addict.
Also I appreciate the comments I have been receiving and hope it continues. This blog had a ton of traffic when I had to stop and I want it back to where it was.

VAMPIRE CIRCUS (SYNAPSE)

Synapse turned this out in a blu-ray/dvd combo and that is a damned good idea since I havent made the switch to blu ray yet.
This is an excellent and often overlooked film from Hammer about a cursed village in which a circus comes to town and the people start dying. The vampires are vicious killers and they prey upon the children of the town, and that topic alone makes this a very controversial but good film.
It's a touchy subject, but the film handles it well as the vampires spread their terror thru the small town . Lots of blood and gore and ample nudity which would become a Hammer staple in the mid to late 70's.
The quality it top notch and this is a MUST for any horror movie fan. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

MANOS THE HANDS OF FATE

It looks like Shout Factory is bringing us a two disc set of Manos the Hands of Fate. Disc one will have the MST3K version and disc two will have the regular version plus cool extras like a documentary on the making of the film and a lot more. My God, the street date is Sept. 13th!! This will be something to see.

DINOSHARK (ANCHOR BAY)

Roger Corman produced this gem and even has a pretty large speaking part!! A vicious prehistoric shark is freed from the arctic ice and begins to go on a killing spree from the Arctic to Puerto Vallarta. Eric Balfour and Iva Hasperger star as two people trying to stop the monster.
Is there ANY reasont to not like a Corman film?? Watch this and Sharktopus on a double feature you'll never forget. This is one of the best films I have seen in some time. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

INVADERS FROM MARS 1986 (MGM)

Those of you familiar with the original 1953 version will be apalled, like I was at this turgid remake that really makes no sense and is a waste of time. Tobe Hooper directed this flop starring Karne Black and her son Hunter Carson. I am telling you, this movie sucks and I don't usually say that.
Avoid at all costs.

STRANGE INVADERS (MGM)

This interesting little film is on a double feature disc with a remake of Invaders From Mars, and it makes for good viewing. In the year 1958 aliens arrive on earth and take over a small town in order to study and learn about human life. The experiment lasts until 1983 and come to find out they have actually succeeded in mating with humans.
Paul Le Mat, Nancy Allen and Louise Fletcher are the human while character actors such as the late Ken Tobey are the aliens. This is a fun movie and one you dont really have to think about, just enjoy.

HEADLESS GHOST (VCI)

Innocent little comedy horror film about a headless ghost seeking to find it's body in a castle with the help of three tourists. Herman Cohen wrote and produced this entertaining little film.
This is included on the same disc as the film below,and it makes for a great night of fun viewing from the late 1950's. Thanks VCI.

HORRORS OF THE BLACK MUSEUM (VCI)

The great Herman Cohen produced this classic thriller about a madman who uses diabolical devices to kill people then write best selling books about the murders. Michael Gough stars as a madman obsessed with murder. The eyeball gouging scene is always fun to watch as so is the ending to this 1959 color shocker.
This is one of the best horror films of the time period and very recommended.

GUNS, GIRLS AND G-STRINGS (MILL CREEK)

This is a complete set of the films of the legendary Andy Sidaris. Andy made action films for men and women with good looking men and women starring in the films. The most famous are such films as Hard Hunter, Savage Beach, Hard Ticket To Hawaii and more.
This set is a godsend to Sidaris fans and at an average price of $7.99 is it a most welcome addition to any film library.

RIP PETER FALK

The man who played Columbo on TV has died at the age of 83. Falk played the role for to perfection and was also in Princess Bride and one of my favorite films All The Marbles where he played a wrestling manager. A great talent that will be missed.

My absense

During my absense I missed posting the 85th birthday of movie director Roger Corman, the 39th birthday of sexy Carmen Electra and so I will post them here now, and i have a LOT of reviews coming up in the following weeks......so happy birthday to Roger and Carmen.

I AM BACK.....FINALLY

After a couple of months I am returning to this blog with a vengeance!! I have a lot to add and will be doing so over the next few days.