Infra-Man (1975)

Watching this colorful, wild, and action packed science fiction/monster movie takes me back to my misspent youth. Produced by the Shaw Brothers Hong Kong Studio and released in 1975, Infra-Man is the story of how Demon Princess Elzebub and her brood of monsters try to take over the world but are thwarted due to the heroic actions of the "bionic kung fu superhero" Infra-man. 

the trailer

the feature

A Boy and His Dog (1975) - Repost

This is a re-re-post with an updated, working video.  

This post-apocalyptic film oddity was based on a novella by Harlan Ellison. Directed and co-scripted by actor L.Q. Jones it follows Don Johnson's character Vic and his telepathically linked dog named Blood as they roam the ruins of America following World War IV.  As they search for food and other necessities, they also have to contend with other more dastardly and violent scavengers. After they stumble into an underground community of survivors, they assume things will become easier but soon discover otherwise. By no means perfect, this film offers an early and unique glimpse of the 
post-nuclear war genre.

Alice Cooper: The Nightmare (1975)

First aired by ABC on April 25, 1975 Alice Cooper: The Nightmare presents a little over a hour long descent into the world of Alice Cooper as it showcases songs from his Welcome To My Nightmare album, plus "Ballad of Dwight Frye" from Love It To Death. We follow the character Steven through a nightmare world from which he cannot escape.  Making a special appearance as the "Spirit of the Nightmare" is horror favorite Vincent Price. I missed the first television airing of this special, but gained access to this thanks to its availability on VHS in the 1980s.

Eyeball (1975)

Umberto Lenzi's 1975 film Eyeball is a curious giallo/proto-slasher movie. Punctuated by a unknown killer, notably dressed in a red hooded raincoat and wearing red gloves, who not only slices and stabs the numerous victims among a tourist group visiting Barcelona, but also gouges out an eyeball as a finishing touch to each murder. Italian soundtrack favorite Bruno Nicolai adds to a threatening atmosphere with a well crafted score. 

the trailer 

the feature

In Praise of David Cronenberg's Shivers (1975)

In 1975, David Cronenberg's first feature film Shivers (aka They Came From Within or The Parasite Murders) made it's way into unsuspecting cinemas. With a shooting title of Orgy of the Blood Parasites, filming took place over a brisk 15 days. This mix of horror on both a cerebral and visceral level upset more than a few vocal opponents who were angry Canadian government financial assistance had been involved with the production. Some of this was offset by the fact that the film proved to be a more than respectable worldwide success and made a large profit.

The setting for the entire film is a very J.G. Ballard-esque ultra contemporary high rise apartment situated on a small island. We soon discover that within this seemingly perfect new world of multiple modern conveniences, all is not right. The juxtaposition between the ordinary and the horrifying steadily builds towards a frenzy of paranoid and bloody chaotic action. Recommended.



the trailer


segment from the program, "On Screen!" featuring
David Cronenberg's first full length feature Shivers


David Cronenberg speaks about Shivers