Altered States (1980)

Ken Russell's 1980 film Altered States was adapted from the only novel written by Paddy Chayefsky. Both the film and source novel reference/"borrow" John C. Lilly's research into sensory deprivation and the influence of psychoactive drugs on those involved while inside isolation tanks. Even though the film's special effects have not aged well and it tends to get bogged down in pretentiousness at times, some of the visuals are suitably hallucinatory. This was William Hurt's screen debut.

the trailer

the feature

The Point! (1971)

Presented below is the original 1971
version of Harry Nilsson's The Point! 

with Dustin Hoffman narration! 

Uploaded by WasOneOnce

Cocteau Twins - 1984 - Sweden

Cocteau Twins

1984 - Orebro, Sweden 

The Best of Benny Hill (1974)

Since I was recently opining that it had been far too long since I'd watched a Benny Hill episode, presented below is The Best of Benny Hill (1974). It's a compilation of sketches from the 1969-1973 seasons of the Thames Television show.

Uploaded by Dali777

Repulsion - 1987 - Flint, MI

Rare footage of the legendary, proto-grindcore band Repulsion from November 1987 performing at The Fallout Room, in the basement of the Capitol Theatre in Flint, Michigan.

Uploaded by allegrocode

Killdozer (1974) US tv movie

Filmed in 1974 for U.S. television, Killdozer was based on a 1944 Theodore Sturgeon short story and was also adapted in comic book form by Marvel Comics that same year. Familiar faces such as Clint Walker, Neville Brand, and Robert Urich populate the small work crew; who are beginning the construction of an airstrip on an African island. A strange meteor causes much mayhem for the crew.

Presented below is the movie that also provided a name for a noisy favorite Wisconsin band.

Thanks to TelevisionBritish for posting.

Battle Beyond The Sun / Nebo zovyot (1960)

Roger Corman purchased the Soviet created sci-fi flick Nebo zovyot,
renamed it Battle Beyond The Sun, and hired young buck
Francis Ford Coppola to film some additional scenes for it's
English language version. Most notable is the "climatic" melee
between two alien creatures, each of which crudely resembles
male and female genitals. Good times at the drive-in!

Phantasm (1979)

 

  Don Coscarelli's 

Phantasm (1979) 

Navajo Joe (1966)

I've been a committed fan of spaghetti westerns ever since attending a 3-D, theatrical showing of late entry Comin' at Ya! (1981) during it's initial run. Among the many genre films I've viewed since then, the Euro-westerns from Sergio Corbucci stand out and Navajo Joe (1966) is no exception.

The film provided Burt Reynolds with an early motion picture role as the title character. He alone survives after his people are massacred by a violent and sadistic group of bandits, lead by Duncan, and he seeks to extract an equally bloody revenge on the killers. There's more to the plot involving a train robbery and treachery among Duncan and his uneasy partner, the duplicitous Dr. Chester Lynne.

Adding to the film's qualities is a typically excellent soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. Also notable is the sultry Nicoletta Machiavelli's first appearance in a spaghetti western.

Both the trailer and feature are included below.

the trailer

Uploaded by moulinvsnavaro

the feature

Uploaded by TheSniper1961

DEVO - 1978 - Paris

DEVO

1978 - Paris

Satisfaction
Too Much Paranoias
Uncontrollable Urge
Mongoloid
Jocko Homo
Smart Patrol
Mr. DNA
Gut Feeling
Come Back Jonee
Red Eye Express
The Words Get Stuck In My Throat

devo - 78 paris choutus from das from ubuibi on Vimeo.

The Wanderers (1979)

First viewed The Wanderers (1979) when it was shown on cable during the early eighties. This allowed for plentiful viewings as it made the rotation of the channels and I dug the film's fascinating world of American Graffiti (1973) meets The Warriors (1979).

Director Philip Kaufman (Invasion of the Body Snatchers '78,  The Right Stuff  '83,  Henry & June '90, among others) adapted from Richard Price's 1974 novel, an interesting read as well. The film showcases a gang of high schoolers from the North Bronx in 1963 and the multitude of fellow gangs they encounter. The sets and locations are vivid and well shot, reflecting the time period quite effectively. Much like The Warriors (1979) this film showcases an interesting collection of gangs, such as: the Italian Wanderers of the title, the all black Del Bombers, the proto skinheads called the Fordham Baldies, the all Chinese Wongs, and the all Irish Ducky Boys, who are the largest and most violently crazy of the Bronx gangs. Against this backdrop, the main character and lead Wanderer Richie deals with increasing stress from a shotgun marriage with a mobsters daughter.

The casting is impressive. Ken Wahl stars as Richie, in what may be his finest role. Karen Allen plays Nina, a beatnik/hippie who catches Richie's eye and helps open up a world beyond the Bronx to him. Other standouts include: Linda Manz, Toni Kalem, Dolph Sweet, Ken Foree, Alan Rosenberg, and the enormous Erland van Lidth, as Terror, the leader of the Baldies. He followed this role with Stir Crazy (1980), as the unforgettable Grossberger.

If you are curious for a viewing of The Wanderers (1979), both the trailer and feature are presented below...

the trailer

Thanks to IDidItMyWay78 for uploading.

the feature

Thanks to sychoinyourbrains for uploading.

In Search Of: The End of the World

 In Search Of...  

The End of the World  

Originally broadcast on 30 April 1981, 

this was Episode 22, from Season 5 of this 

"gone but not forgotten" review of weirdness, 

hosted by Leonard Nimoy. 

Thanks to TheDocumentarySite for posting this 

and many other In Search Of episodes.

Motörhead - 1985 - The Birthday Party

Motörhead's 26 June 1985, 10th anniversary show at the 

Hammersmith Odeon in London, England. 

During the performance of "Motörhead" 

all of the past members 

and Thin Lizzy bassist Phil Lynott 

join the band onstage.

1. "Iron Fist" (Eddie Clarke, Lemmy, Phil Taylor)
2. "Stay Clean" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
3. "The Hammer" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
4. "Metropolis" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
5. "Mean Machine" (Würzel, Phil Campbell, Pete Gill, Lemmy)
6. "On the Road" (Würzel, Campbell, Gill, Lemmy)
7. "Killed by Death" (Würzel, Campbell, Gill, Lemmy)
8. "Ace of Spades" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
9. "Steal Your Face" (Würzel, Campbell, Gill, Lemmy)
10. "Nothing Up My Sleeve" (Würzel, Campbell, Gill, Lemmy)
11. "(We Are) The Road Crew" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
12. "Bite the Bullet" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
13. "The Chase Is Better Than the Catch" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
14. "No Class" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor) with Wendy O. Williams
15. "Overkill" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
16. "Bomber" (Clarke, Lemmy, Taylor)
17. "Motorhead" (Lemmy)

Amin: The Rise and Fall (1981)

Amin: The Rise and Fall (1981) 

Presented below is director Sharad Patel's 

"historical" exploitation film concerning the 

brutal, violent, and supremely odd world of 

Ugandan dictator Idi "Big Daddy Number 1" Amin. 

Curious to note that this is the only movie Patel directed, but a few 

years later he began producing films. His first as executive 

producer was the early Tom Hanks vehicle Bachelor Party in 1984.

Thanks to horrorfan183 for uploading.

Napalm Death - 1988 - Germany

Napalm Death

Burladingen, Germany

19 December 1988

Thanks to bostoncrew82 for posting this footage.

Dead Kennedys - 1985 - Washington, DC

Dead Kennedys

WUST Radio Music Hall - Washington DC, 1985

1.Nazi Punks Fuck Off

2.Hell Nation

3.Goons of Hazard

4.This Could Be Anywhere

5.Gone With My Wind

6.When You Get Drafted

7.Soup is Good Food

8.Chemical Warfare

9.A Growing Boy Needs His Lunch

10.Forest Fire

11.Triumph of the Swill

12.MTV Get Off the Air(with trumpet!)

13.Jock-o-Rama

14.Bl­eed For Me~encore:Stars and Stripes of Corruption

Thanks to berloga41 for posting!

It's Alive (1974)

It's Alive (1974)

Delivered just before Halloween

Larry Cohen's film of a

misunderstood mutant baby.

Dig it!

 

 

"Process of Elimination" - Creepy #83 Oct.1976

Here's a combination of music and artwork
from the horror comic Creepy.

Images from Creepy #83 Oct.1976
"Process of Elimination"
Story by Bruce Jones
Art by Russ Heath

Music by Brian Bennett and Alan Hawkshaw
"Dossier" from KPM-1177 "Hot Wax" (1976)

Thanks to cosmocorps2000 for posting
this on Youtube.

Daughter of Horror (1955)

At just under an hour running time, 1955s Daughter of Horror is a black and white feature of supreme oddity. I first learned of it from a brief write up in the RE/Search Incredibly Strange Films publication. It took some time to finally track it down for a viewing but it was worth the effort.

Filmed without sound, voice over narration provides the introduction - "Come with me into the tormented, haunted, half-lit night of the insane. This is my world. Let me lead you into it. Let me take you into the mind of a woman who is mad. You may not recognize some things in this world, and the faces will look strange to you. For this is a place where there is no love, no hope...in the pulsing, throbbing world of the insane mind, where only nightmares are real, nightmares of the Daughter of Horror!"

First released as Dementia, there was no narration; that was added when the film was re-released as Daughter of Horror. Easily working wihtin a nightmare/loss of reality akin to an Eraserhead perspective, this one is really odd and recommended for the curious.

The Feature

Keep Off the Grass (1970)

Ib Melchior is best known for his work in the world of science fiction cinema, with credits including writing and directing 1959s The Angry Red Planet to providing the source story for 1975s Death Race 2000. In 1970 he wrote and directed this anti-marijuana short in Southern California and it's a curiosity worth a viewing.

Born Innocent (1974)

Immediately after her star making role in The Exorcist, Linda Blair's next project was the controversial television movie Born Innocent.

This movie always brings back a curious childhood memory. At the time of it's initial airing I was too young to be aware or curious of it's upcoming airing since Marvel comic books, Godzilla, and the like were more my areas of interest. But while being babysat by a teenage neighbor, we made our way a couple doors down the street to her house so she could grab her troll doll collection for our amusement. During our time in her house she ran into her Dad, who was a police officer, and got into a huge screaming match with him because he was absolutely forbidding her to watch the salacious television movie. So ever since, I've always linked this incident to Born Innocent.

Massacre at Central High (1976)

It was through his working relationship (primarily as a cameraman) with Russ Meyer that Rene Daalder was recommended by Meyer to direct 1976s Massacre at Central High. According to IMDb.com trivia, it was Daalder who conceived and created the well known portion of The Great Rock 'n Roll Swindle where Sid Vicious sings "My Way".

Massacre at Central High tells the story of David, a new student at a California high school whose strong minded independence puts him in direct conflict with the popular kids clique. The "in" crowd rules the school with violence and intimidation but when they seriously injure David, they push him to exact ultimate revenge. But with one "in" crowd gone, another materializes to take it's place.

Always enjoyed this film and have gone through a couple vhs copies through the years, but am currently without this in my movie library. Definitely more thought went into the storyline than your average exploitation flick and I have an early episode of the Gene Siskel and Robert Ebert show Sneak Previews to thank for turning me on to this one. Both the trailer and feature are presented below.

The Trailer

The Feature

Combat Shock (1986)

The unflinchingly grim 1986 film Combat Shock (originally titled American Nightmares) is my favorite of all the Troma releases.

Writer/director Buddy Giovinazzo's film portrays a cold, violent world in which Frankie Dunlan (played by the directors brother Rick Giovinazzo) trudges through an absolute shit sandwich of a bad day, compounded by horrific flash backs to his time fighting and then being tortured as a P.O.W. in Vietnam. Betraying the Rambo-esque one sheet art, this film occupies the same dark places as both Eraserhead and Street Trash. It would make a sick double feature with either.

the feature

Cryptic Slaughter - 1986 - backyard show

 
Here's some wild footage of Cryptic Slaughter hanging out and playing a 1986 backyard show in Bel Air, California.
Thanks to luismosh for posting.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

With all the political rancor so prevalent currently, I thought it was time to harken back to that simple question once asked by Robert Plant "Does anyone remember laughter?"    Back in 1985 Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, Bobcat Goldthwait, and the rest of the cast and crew of Police Academy 2 certainly did and below is the cinematic proof.

the trailer

  the feature

Tank (1984)

1984s Tank was a rare foray into feature films for Marvin J. Chomsky, a prolific television director whose work spans popular series such as Gunsmoke, Cannon, Hawaii Five-0, and Mission: Impossible; as well as notable tv mini-series such as Roots and Victory at Entebbe.

James Garner stars as Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Zack Carey, a hard charging but reasonable military man who has just arrived for his newest post at an army base in the deep south of the U.S., bringing with him both his family (Shirley Jones and C. Thomas Howell) and his personal Sherman tank. It's not long before his no-nonsense manner smacks face first against a corrupt deputy (James Cromwell) and thus he and his family become entangled in a quickly escalating conflict with the nasty Sheriff Cyrus Buelton, played perfectly by G.D. Spradlin.

the feature

Nightmares (1983)

The four part horror anthology Nightmares (1983) was originally produced for the ABC series Darkroom. Universal decided they were too intense for broadcast television and instead repackaged these episodes as a theatrical release.

It was directed by Joseph Sargent, a prolific television director who also helmed some notable films, such as 1974s The Taking of Pelham One Two Three or the 1973 Burt Reynolds vehicle White Lightning.

As with any anthology, the different segments are somewhat uneven. The first, "Terror in Topanga," is my favorite. It details a woman's late night cigarette run while a serial killer is loose in the area. Watch for appearances from William Sanderson and Lee Ving in this segment. The second story, "Bishop of Battle" often gets the most attention, with Emilio Estevez as a teen who gets sucked into a video game. While playing, he often cranks up his Walkman with music from FEAR, Negative Trend, and Black Flag. Next "The Benediction" features Lance Henriksen as a priest who's faith is tested in a Duel style confrontation. The final story "Night of the Rat" details a man versus rat battle.

At the time of its release, I was already a fan of the Darkroom series so when I read in Fangoria about this film's connection I was curious. Don't remember it playing theatrically, but I rented the vhs as soon as it showed up in the new release section.

the trailer

the feature

Basket Case (1982)

Frank Henenlotter wrote, directed, and handled many additional duties on 1982s Basket Case. It's a classic exploitation movie that proved to be successful in both the quickly disappearing world of grind house theaters and drive-ins, while also breaking out as a vhs home rental.

For me, much as was the case with The Evil Dead, Fangoria magazine alerted me to the upcoming horror film in the early 1980s with brief articles and photos detailing the production. I eagerly awaited the vhs release and was more than pleasantly surprised when the hype was exceeded by the actual item.


the trailer

Starcrash, aka Female Space Invaders (1978)

Created in the wake of the huge success of Star Wars, Luigi Cozzi's 1978 film Starcrash is a low budget sci-fi saga that borrows from earlier genre movies but for me still succeeds as a highly entertaining popcorn flick.

As space smuggler Stella Star, Caroline Munro gets involved with a mission to destroy Count Zarth Arn's (Joe Spinell) planet sized super weapon before it can be used. There's a bit more to it but that encapsulates the story. Other familiar faces include: Christopher Plummer, Marjoe Gortner, David Hasselhoff, and the hulking, bald Robert Tessier.

The film moves quickly and throws all sorts of effects at the viewer with the stop motion and miniatures both endearingly effective in spite of the budget constraints. The skimpy ensembles worn by Caroline Munro offer additional visual excitement.


the trailer


the feature

Hardcore (1979)

Released in 1979, writer/director Paul Schrader's Hardcore first presented itself to me for viewings during multiple showings on cable television movie channels in the early 80s.

Like many of Schrader's films, it's a sometimes heavy handed and tough movie filled with heavily conflicted and damaged individuals. The film quickly changes locations from a dark, snow covered small town in the American Midwest to the sun saturated, unmitigated perversion of California.

George C. Scott chews the scenery a bit portraying a very religious businessman who travels this distance to find his daughter, who has gone missing from a school trip, and is presumed to have gone to work in the pornographic trade. Much like The Searchers, he ventures into hostile territory to rescue his "kidnapped" child, only instead of Indians, it is sleazy pornographers and pimps he must confront.

Scott provides a powerful lead, who conveys a rising, violent rage that eventually erupts. Other standouts in the cast include Peter Boyle as a private investigator who is truly of dubious intent and quality as well as Season Hubley (at that time, just about to marry Kurt Russell) as a sympathetic and helpful sex worker.

The heavy 1970s vibe is a real plus as well, with much of the film's set design and clothing (check out Scott's getup when he goes undercover!) evoking that era. If you're curious, check it out below.

the tv trailer


the movie

Super Fuzz (1980)

It's been years since I last viewed Sergio Corbucci's 1980 Super Fuzz (aka Super Snooper) on vhs. Terence Hill stars as Officer Dave Speed, a character who gains super powers after being exposed to a nuclear explosion. The late Ernest Borgnine plays his put upon sergeant. And you can't forget about the infectious theme song from The Oceans. Good stuff.


the trailer


the movie


the theme song

Dinosaur Jr. - 1989 - Long Beach, CA

Dinosaur Jr. Cal. State, Long Beach, CA 05.12.1989

J Mascis, Lou Barlow & Murph
touring in support of Bug.

Sound Check (No Bones)
In A Jar [2:45]
The Lung [7:15]
Kracked [12:30]
No Bones [15:38]
Freak Scene [19:15]
Tarpit [22:30]
Yeah We Know [29:05]
Raisins [30:00]
Chunks [34:50]

Sorcerer (1977)

Here's a favorite of mine, Sorcerer. It's William Friedkin's 1977 remake of Henri-Georges Clouzot's 1953 film The Wages of Fear.

Roy Scheider (who portrays a low level American criminal) leads an international cast of characters each with their own deadly, grievous reasons to have relocated to a small town in a rather hostile South American country. But a chance for an extraction anywhere else is presented when financial reward is offered as compensation for those driving truckloads of ancient nitroglycerin through thick jungles and threatening mountains. It's a wild ride, best seen on the big screen and worthy of a viewing.

Damnation Alley (1977)

Roger Zelazny’s novel Damnation Alley (1967) was used as source material, but as is often the case, the 1977 film version did not necessarily follow the book to the letter.

Promising huge special effects along with science fiction action, the film was released five months after Star Wars had already captured that audience by the bucketful and had also truly delivered with spectacular creatures and ground breaking special effects. Damnation Alley did poorly at the box office and was quickly pulled and repackaged on a double bill with Ralph Bakshi's Wizards (1977). Curious side note: the film's "Landmaster" later made a cameo in Chris Elliott's sitcom Get a Life as the Paperboy 2000.

The feature is presented below.

D.O.A. - A Rite Of Passage (1980)

Director Lech Kowalski's first film was 1980's D.O.A. - A Rite Of Passage, which gives a glimpse into the Sex Pistols 1978 tour of the Southern United States. The film also includes The Dead Boys, Generation X (with Billy Idol), The Rich Kids, the X-Ray Spex, and Sham 69 among others.

Just Before Dawn (1981)

Director Jeff Lieberman had previously created such drive-in favorites as Blue Sunshine and Squirm, when he brought his creative imprint to the cinematic world of teens in trouble with 1981s Just Before Dawn. Lieberman transcends the slasher in the woods sub-genre with taught atmospherics and well executed pacing which both add to the onscreen terror.

I first saw this movie as a vhs rental in the early/mid 80s. Good times! In fact that scan above is from my still watchable Paragon Video vhs copy, complete with great previews for fun flicks such as Boardinghouse or The Gates of Hell beforehand. Anyway I digress, please check out the trailer and the (presented again) feature below.


the trailer



the feature

Northville Cemetery Massacre (1976)

Even for the exploitation sub-genre of biker movies, 1976s Northville Cemetery Massacre is an odd one.

Initially filmed around Michigan locations during 1972, it took several more years to make it into theaters. Allegedly ex-Monkee Mike Nesmith provided not only songs for use on the soundtrack, but money to help finish the post-production. The film makers hired two actual Detroit area biker clubs, The Scorpions and The Road Agents, for the film which adds a dose of realism.

It was co-written and directed by then newcomers William Dear and Thomas L. Dyke. Dear would go on to a still flourishing career including shorts for Saturday Night Live in the early 80s and directing increasingly family friendly feature films such as: Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann, Harry and the Hendersons, and Angels in the Outfield.

The bikers in Northville Cemetery Massacre play against type, even aiding an elderly couple with auto trouble in the first few minutes. But this doesn't gain them any favor with the local sheriff who promptly frames them for a rape which was committed by the cops and sets up wrong headed reprisals. Gritty, violent, and ultimately rather down beat the film delivers much for the modest budget.



the feature

Darkroom - 11 Dec. 1981 Episode

Hosted by James Coburn, Darkroom was a horror/fantasy anthology television series that ran from 1981 to 1982 on ABC. Some of the episodes created for the program were deemed too intense for broadcast television by the network, were subsequently beefed up with additional footage and released in 1983 as the film Nightmares.

My favorite episode was first aired on December 11, 1981. There were two stories, the first Needlepoint, has to do with a grandmother using voodoo to extract revenge while the second Siege Of 31 August, concerns army toys coming to life and attacking.

Heavy Metal Parking Lot (1986)

The year was 1986 and Judas Priest were touring in support of their recently released record Turbo. Created by John Heyn and Jeff Krulik, Heavy Metal Parking Lot documents the scene prior to a show on that tour at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.

Gummo (1997)

In the scene where Solomon's eating spagetti in the bath, there's a piece of bacon taped to the wall behind him. Says Werner Herzog: "When I saw a piece of fried bacon fixed to the bathroom wall in Gummo, it knocked me off my chair. Korine's a very clear voice of a generation of filmmakers that is taking a new position. It's not going to dominate world cinema, but so what?"

the trailer



the movie

Over the Edge (1979)

Presented below is 1979s Over the Edge, a film favorite of mine.

Directed by Jonathan Kaplan (Night Call Nurses, The Student Teachers, Truck Turner, The Accused, Bad Girls, etc.) the film was completed in 1979 but was never widely released into theaters. The studio was concerned that the film's subject manner was too controversial and would incite violence among teen viewers, ala The Warriors, and subsequently shelved the film for two years before finally selling it to HBO, which is where I first came upon it. The response was positive and special screenings then took place.

the trailer

the movie