Tourist Trap (1979)

'Tourist Trap' comes from Charles Band and Full Moon Pictures. It was Directed by David Schmoeller, who would go on to make the first in the extremely poor 'Puppet Master' franchise however, with his first film he brings a unique take on the 'Texas Chainsaw' formula. The film has a group of young teens (of course) who have busted a tire and go looking for help down the highway. They manage to reach what looks to be an abandoned tourist trap attraction run by a mysterious old man named Slausen (Chuck Connors) who holds a dark secret in the old farmhouse behind the attraction.

The film starts off immediately letting you know that it won't be a typical slasher film. We are introduced to a mysterious psychic powered killer, who seems to be controlling the various mannequins and displays throughout the museum and this is where the film stands out. The environment these kids find themselves in is absolutely creepy as hell. Old dolls, mannequins, or wax figures have always freaked me out even to this day and here you get a doozy. Every scene seems to be overcrowded with these things, and on top of that, their eyes move, they laugh manically and evilly at their victims, and the killer himself even wears various masks to look like them.

It's a really big aspect of 'Tourist Trap' and it really makes it a hidden gem among the pile of crap. You get a great performance out of Chuck Connors here, who I honestly thought wouldn't be caught dead in a film such as this. He hits it out of the park though, and he seems to really enjoy what he's doing. He's very joking towards the characters, and dead serious and creepy when needed. He's clearly a ripoff of Norman Bates but he still makes it his own and really does a great job.

The teens themselves are actually likeable compared to most 80's slashers. You get a performance from a young Tanya Roberts (That 70's Show) before she really hit it off, and the final girl is one of the best I've seen, though her fate isn't any better than theirs I must say. The ending, which I won't spoil but I must bring up the sheer insanity of it. I loved that a film would be that ballsy and not go with the ending most would assume. Well done. I just wanted to mention a funny piece of trivia about 'Tourist Trap' that it strangely resembles the 2005 remake of 'House of Wax'. The film has various similarities involving twins, covering people in plaster and wax, and an off-road tourist trap luring victims. The film feels much more of a remake to 'Tourist Trap' and I love it more for it.

'Tourist Trap' is a perfect example of a lost gem. It is such a creepy film to sit through and I wish I had obtained it much earlier in life. It's a great addition to the horror genre in the spirit of 'Halloween'. It's style and what you don't see that makes it more disturbing rather than a gorefest. The best thing is you can grab it dirt cheap right now on Blu-Ray. Perfect for Halloween night or a night with your buddies, check it out.

Tourist Trap ((A+))

Pros:
-Chuck Connors
-Freaky as Hell
-Likeable Characters
-Atmosphere

The Funhouse (1981)

 
   A group of young folks head to the mysterious traveling carnival for some thrills and fun only to find bloodshed and terror once they decide to stay after hours hiding in The Funhouse. Tobe Hopper's fourth feature film is also one of his early hits and its easy to see why. There are few things I can think of that is more creepy than a carnival or circus environment. The eerie music, the sideshow oddities, and even the folks running the shown, known as 'carnys'. Hooper captures these elements well in the film, which somewhat makes up for the film's rather slow pacing even in comparison to the best thrillers out there.

The film opens well enough, with both a haunting opening credits and a well done homage to 'Halloween' and 'Psycho' however, that's where the film starts its crawl. Tobe Hooper's intention seems to be that he wanted the audience to experience the entire carnival as if we were with the teens themselves, and while that's all well and good as it does set the mood well and gets you pumped for what's ahead, it takes too long for anything exciting to happen, even when the killer is stalking them one by one. We also get scenes involving a young boy that go absolutely nowhere and could have been left on the cutting room floor entirely.

When the film does finally kick off however, it has some good stuff on offer. The killer's makeup effects by Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London) are rather impressive, though we've seen better from Baker but hey it's an early effort after all. Speaking of the killer, his relationship with the carnival folk and the Barker of the Funhouse ride is by far the best aspect of the film. You get a sense that while they may be committing horrible acts within the film, the Barker truly seems to care for the misshapen killer and wants to protect him at any possible cost.

Strangely, it makes you sympathize with the villains of the film far more than the selfish, ignorant, and frankly complete assholes that are the teenagers. Mild spoilers, but if it weren't for a really stupid decision on one of the teens parts they probably would have been in very little danger and he basically is their death sentence. 'The Funhouse' does have some good in there, with its strong visuals and overall creepy atmosphere, but the pacing and frivolous characters and scenery throughout really hold it back. The slasher genre was new at the time to be fair, so there was not a 100% template to follow quite yet, but it will turn off many horror fans due these issues, therefore I cannot completely recommend it, but if you are looking for something more atmospheric rather than quick and gory this one is likely you're best pick.

The Funhouse: (C-)

Pros: 
-Creepy Vibe
-Creature Effects 
-The Barker & Gunther

Cons:  
-Pacing
-Joey
-The teens are complete assholes

Don't Breathe (2016)

'Don't Breathe' comes from writer/director Fede Alverez and producers Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert who brought us the 'Evil Dead' remake back in 2013 and with this newest release, They've brought us an even better thriller with high tension, and many twists and turns. Summer 2016 has indeed become one of the best years of theatrical horror films in a long time. Summer is not what I think of normally, but hey here we are to close it out with 'Don't Breathe'. The story involves three young thieves who have selected an elderly blind man's home as their next target thinking it'll be the easy score. They soon find out their deadly mistake.

The film stars Jane Levy, who returns from 'Evil Dead' to work with Alverez again with another great and strong performance. Levy seems to put herself through absolute hell in these films and I think it really comes out in her characters extremely well. I would love to see her in more work from here on out. The film also stars Dylan Minnette from last year's surprisingly good 'Goosebumps' and while he may not stand out among the others here, however I feel that without his moral based arc throughout we would care little for the other two. The standout here is veteran actor Stephen Lang, who is extremely freaky. The makeup on him is done so well, it's unsettling to say the least and his performance is one of the best I've seen all year. His presence just always placed me on edge, just waiting for him to react.

Alverez gets to work on an original piece this time and it really shows his high talents as a filmmaker. He is a very visually strong man and can make beauty out of the worst looking locations in this film. I particularly loved his various camera techniques throughout, each giving a stronger film overall. A highlight is giving the illusion of the audience adjusting to total blackness as if we are really there. He immerses you into the world of his films, which makes him stand out with James Wan as the kings of horror. The film can drag here and there, depending on your film tastes I suppose but at roughly an hour and a half, you're not losing anything here.

'Evil Dead' brought Fede Alverez into the world of film with visual flair and over-the-top visuals and gore, however with 'Don't Breathe' I believe he truly shows his genius here. The film is well worth a watch for any fan of horror, suspense, or thriller films and one of the best films this year.

THE FILM: A+

'Don't Breathe' is now in theaters from Sony Pictures Entertainment and is rated 'R' for violence and language.

The Mutilator (A.K.A. FALL BREAK) (1985)

An unusual little slasher film fell into my lap recently (in the form of a FedEx package) called 'The Mutilator'. The film was not completely unknown to me, I mean I did pay for it to be delivered to my house after all but the film was not one under my radar for a very long time, due both to its rather limited DVD run and overall obscurity in the sub-genre itself. The story is simple as most slashers tend to be: a young group of college students head to a summer home by the beach owned by one of the young men's father, who vanished after his son accidentally shot his mother to death. What follows is the father enacting his brutal vengeance upon his son and his friends.

And that's really it for the plot, like you really wanted one in a cheap horror flick like this. However, for anyone into the slasher genre such as myself, 'The Mutilator' is certainly one you shouldn't pass up. What it lacks in..well almost everything in a competent film it makes up for with some hilariously bad acting, almost Mystery Science Theater quality if you will. The money clearly all went into the surprisingly well put together special effects and gore sequences, of which there are quite a lot. You get some pretty gruesome shit here, including a man being chopped up with a boat propeller and another chopped in half at the waist. This is a really gory flick even for the genre at the time and in fact until now, almost all of it was chopped out due to its intense nature, but thanks to the new release from ARROW VIDEO, you can see it in all its red-stained glory (and with the original title too).

It's honestly really difficult to review a film like 'The Mutilator' because, it's not a good movie at all. It's slowly paced, it's generic in its execution, and the actors are all unoriginal, stupid, and really annoying. But this is the tradition of these flicks and gives them a charm that I can't explain my appeal to, but its there and its here to stay. What I can review a little better for you is the Blu-Ray/DVD Combo itself, which sports a very nice High Def transfer, in fact it may be too good for a movie like 'The Mutilator'. Everything is real crisp and easy on the eyes, which was a problem on previous home video and DVD releases. The picture on the original release was so dark, you couldn't even see the film half the time, leading to frustration and essentially watching pitch black for almost the entire length.

The film's sound has also been improved drastically. Although its not as noticeable a change as the picture, the film has really high quality audio for such an old film with very few usable prints to work with. Everything from the opening theme song, which sounds like I'm watching a 'Vacation' film, to the killing sequences everything sounds great on here. Special Features were unfortunately not an area I got to explore in its entirety, but what I did check out will please any fan. Audio Commentary from Director Buddy Cooper is a great listen, and another Commentary has him with a few actors from the film, which was even better. I heard a recent interview with Cooper on DEADPIT RADIO and found him very interesting and funny, and with these commentaries you get more of the same, nothing to complain about here.

'The Mutilator' is a terrible movie to be sure, but its still fun to watch especially with friends and a late night snack binge. It's a movie I don't regret purchasing in the slightest, however I find it so funny that a film like this gets such a excellent Blu-Ray treatment. I love ARROW VIDEO's dedication to quality and highly recommend their work if you are willing to shell out a few extra dollars. They bring the best possible presentation of 'The Mutilator' that was ever possible. You will never need another copy of it again.

THE MOVIE: D+
THE DVD: A+

 http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/category/arrow-video/
 http://deadpitradio.blogspot.com/p/deadpit-radio-archives-2013.html (October 2013)
 

Stephen King's IT (1990)

 

"Hi there Georgie, I am Pennywise the Dancing Clown. You are Georgie. There! Now we know each other! Would you like a balloon?" Those chilling lines are a part of the shocking opening to Stephen King's IT, a 1990 television film that was shown in two parts and for the time was very shocking. Today on television, we've seen far worse and with Warner Bros. filming a theatrical remake, I wanted to look back at the original film and see how it held up.

'IT' was directed by Tommy Lee Wallace (Halloween III: Season of the Witch) and he continues to show his talents, despite his limitations with televisions' censorship and production values with this film. The story for those who haven't read the novel or seen the adaptation concerns a group of young teenage misfits who must battle an ancient evil only known as IT. The film continues with the young members as adults who must face their demons and finish IT off once and for all.

  First and foremost, the highlight of the film is of course Tim Curry (CLUE, Rocky Horror Picture Show) as IT/Pennywise who gives one of the most creepy performances I have seen. While not personally having a phobia of clowns, there's no doubt in my mind that they are freaky things for sure and Curry pulls that vibe off perfectly. He also manages to be quite humorous, with some lines making me laugh out loud. The other main highlight is the child actors themselves, who do much better than their adult counterparts. To be honest, the first part is definitely the best of the whole movie, with it having the most development, intense scenes, and the most entertaining. 

The second half with the adults returning to Derry to battle IT one last time really fizzles about halfway through. I don't think the problem is necessarily the adult actors themselves however, which many seem to point the finger at. You have some excellent actors in here such as Olivia Hussey and John Ritter who I always enjoy and they and the others do well with what they have. The problem with Part 2 I think lies in the story arc, pacing, and the writing. The adult versions of these characters just don't seem to get the same level of writing as the child actors do. 

The story also slows to a crawl in this part as well, with the finale becoming a rather cheesy and weak battle and resolution with IT. The film does indeed feel like a literal two part piece, in that they feel almost like two different films. The first part has all of the best scenes and the best filmmaking techniques, whereas the second part has to rely on dialogue and exposition in order to tell the story correctly. It actually reminds me heavily of 'Kill Bill' of which I feel the same way. That's not to say that the second half is terrible, far from it but I just prefer the segments with the kids.

Even now, 'Stephen King's IT' holds up well, mostly due to the performance of Tim Curry as the titular character. I highly recommend giving the film another viewing if you haven't seen it in a while. I even recommend the newly released Blu-Ray edition with some excellent commentary by Director Tommy Lee Wallace. 

 

 ((B+))

 

EVIL DEAD (2013)

'EVIL DEAD' is the 2013 remake of the classic Sam Raimi film from 1981 and stars Jane Levy as a young drug addict named Mia who travels with her friends to her family's old cabin in the woods to detox. They soon find themselves fighting for their lives after they unleash an ancient evil when they discover the sinister 'Book of the Dead'.


As with many remakes (or rather all of them) there are always reservations and let's face it flat out hatred from fans of any film genre. A good example is in the video below, but sometimes we get a nice surprise and 'Evil Dead' is quite the surprise. Being produced by the original developers of the franchise, there was always some hope for this one, however I was quite surprised at just how enjoyable this film was. It will never top the 1981 classic of course, even with updated makeup and special effects the original film will always have that first time charm but for what this 2013 offering gives us I left the theater pleased.

 (Most remakes to our eyes)

Really the main thing to discuss here is the special effects, as with any 'Evil Dead' film it is the highlight and here they deliver in spades. The gore and monster effects on display here are so spectacular and so gruesome it surprises me to this day how it passed with an 'R' rating. limbs are cut off, people are shot with nails, stabbed with needles, and various other horrific mutilations. The film ends with blood literally raining from the sky. This definitely satisfied the gore-hound in me and will in any fan of splatter flicks.

Unfortunately, where the film falls is in its characters. Like the original film, the cabin dwellers in question were not that interesting (Bruce Campbell's Ash wouldn't really come into his own until the sequel I'm sad to say) and here while they are a bit more distinctive, some characters barely get any lines in the film before they become demon fodder. The film is really all about Mia and her overcoming of her literal and figurative demons and it makes the film work for its short run time. I only wish that we got something else out of these other actors. At least give them a reason to be there, which one female character seems to not been given one.

 

 A great addition to the remake is its fantastic camera work and color palette which have thankfully been carried over from Mr. Raimi's original film. This is one of the most imaginative looking remakes I have seen and one of the best looking horror films in several years. The POV camerawork is carried over as well to great effect and the many close up shots and various twisting of the cameras make it a beautiful film to look at each time, even in the film's most gory moments it still stands out in a sick but pretty way with bright red blood and an over-the-top aspect to everything.

All in all, most horror fans will find little to hate about the 'Evil Dead' remake. It will never top those that came before it, but on its own it's one of the best horror films of the decade in a land of barren wasteland known as the horror genre. I recommend this one highly, it proudly sits with the others in the franchise on my DVD shelf and it should on yours as well.

((A))

Pros: 

-Special Effects

-Camera Work

-Jane Levy

Cons:

-Characterization 

-Shallow at times

-Slightly too long

'Evil Dead' is available on DVD/Blu-Ray now! Be sure to check out Fede Alverez's newest film 'Don't Breathe' on August 26th, 2016.

 

The New Pennywise Has Been Revealed

Stephen King's 'IT' was always a favorite of mine throughout high school. It was one of the first novels from Mr. King I ever read, and to this day it still gets me at times. The novel was adapted in 1990 into the popular television film starring Tim Curry as the evil Pennywise the Clown. Now in 2017, Warner Brothers is hoping to bring a more faithful adaptation to the big screen starting with 'IT: PART 1' and recently photos of the film have been popping up, including this brand new creepy reveal of Bill Skarsgard as the titular character.

Check out the pic below, along with some other production photos and be sure to check out the film next summer.

 

MADMAN (1982) BLU-RAY REVIEW

'MADMAN' is directed by Joe Giannone and tells the tale of a local campground legend coming to horrible life and setting its sights on the campers that foolishly taunted him. One of the first of many 'Friday the 13th' copies to come out during the 1980's, 'Madman' stands out however as one of the better slashers to come out during that period. The film's legend, known as Madman Marz was based upon an actual East Coast urban legend known as 'Cropsy' (A documentary based upon this legend has been created as well and I highly recommend checking it out on Netflix). The Cropsy Killer was supposed to be an infamous serial killer during the 1940's and 50's who's existence seems to have many different stories connected. Another slasher during this period 'The Burning' would also use this concept for its plot and both films had conflicts during filming due to this.

As far as which adaptation is the better or rather, which slasher is better I tend to go back and forth with 'Madman' and 'The Burning'. What I can tell you for a fact is the music on 'Madman' is much more enjoyable, giving us that camp experience feeling throughout. The film's many folk and campfire style songs were written by actor Tony Fish who plays a character in the film. These songs really get you into the mood for the night to come and fits the best.

The film's atmosphere is also a treat, with fog, blue lighting, and the flickering of fire throughout. I believe this is what truly makes 'Madman' stand out among the slashers of its day: Quality. Now, having said that 'Quality' is a strange word at first for most thinking of a film such as 'Madman', but I mean what I said just in a different context. The film has better quality than other slasher films of the decade. It has better acting, better camera work, and a better overall film.

What can be said about the film's downsides is that while the film's settings are top notch, I can't say the same for the makeup effects. Something like this is rather important for a horror film after all, and honestly the killer's look is rather cheap looking. Luckily, we really don't get to see him in the light (again another great aspect of this film). As for the victims' makeup during their gruesome demises, they vary from here to there. Some obvious cheapness aside they overall can be considered both a strength and a weakness to 'Madman'.

Video quality and Sound come in strong here from Vinegar Syndrome. A vast improvement from the now out-of-print Anchor Bay DVD with both a newly crisp picture and higher quality sound. The color issue with the Code Red DVD has been thankfully fixed and the film is presented in Widescreen to great effect. Special Features include the original commentary from the Anchor Bay set along with a brand new commentary and both are well worth listening to. 'The Legend Lives' documentary from the previous release has been included as well. A great addition to the set, it gives you everything you could possibly want to know about the film (aside from a noticeably missing actress from the film) and has good heart and humor sprinkled in as well. An interesting addition to this Blu-Ray is a segment involving music and bands inspired by the film. You'd be surprised how many people were inspired by this little known film.

'MADMAN' has been given the release it deserves after many years of disappointment. This film is quite the hidden horror gem that any slasher fan should check out. And be careful to not say his name out loud...Madman Marz...


THE MOVIE: B
VIDEO: A
AUDIO: A-
SPECIAL FEATURES: A+

FINAL GRADE: A-


(Madman is the property of The Legend Lives Co. and Vinegar Syndrome. Images are not mine.)

Blood and Black Lace (1964) BLU-RAY REVIEW

 

'Blood and Black Lace' comes from Italian horror aficionado Mario Bava and was released in 1964. The newest release of this classic giallo slasher comes to us on a multi-disc pack from Arrow Video. The story involves the recent mysterious deaths being experienced at a fashion academy. The deadly masked killer has only just begun and each death becomes even more gruesome.

The film was one of the earliest examples of what would become the 80's slasher genre later on, with the many similarities right down to the masked killer with a signature weapon. The film is actually a part of the italian horror sub-genre known as 'Giallo' (yellow in english) which were more akin at the time to mystery novels with almost everyone being made out to be the suspect in question and giving the audiences many twists and turns throughout.

For many of you who choose to pop this one in, you will most likely be as surprised as myself at how graphic the film truly is. Some of this stuff is downright sadistic and hateful, nothing you would have expected in 1964 but a lot of that aspect really makes this film stand out among other reasons. The colors in these older films when bumped up to high definition are very vibrant and beautiful to behold. Even in the film's most violent moments, you will notice the brightness and deep colors of the blood and the lighting around the characters. It's a beauty to be sure.

Where 'Blood and Black Lace' ultimately falls, along with the genre in general is the lack of a straight story. Many films like this and later on with 'Suspiria' and 'A Bay of Blood' have many problems with visuals over the story itself. Whether this be due to the Italian language and subsequent dubbing into English that ultimately causes a distance between the audience and the film or even due to some critics claiming these films rely only on violence that causes these issues, it will turn off many viewers who will find it rather slow paced or confusing in its narrative.

As for the Blu-Ray release itself, Arrow Video has impressed here, as with their previous US release 'The Mutilator'. The picture quality is really cleaned up well for a film with this age, and because of the film's age you won't be getting the best quality possible per se but for what they had to work with 'Blood and Black Lace' shines in my opinion. 

Sound quality is also great, with both English dubbing and the original Italian languages being enhanced for modern viewers. As with many special labels, Arrow Video's special features for the film are the jewels of this crown. You get a audio commentary from Mario Bava's autobiographer, multiple documentaries, essays on the film and the genre itself and much more. Any horror fan will want this release just for the features alone. 

'Blood and Black Lace' is not the traditional horror film you would see on most people's much watch list, but the film's obscurity is slowly vanishing and many are finally getting to see this intense film for themselves. If you love Alfred Hitchcock with a mix of 'Friday the 13th', you'll definitely enjoy 'Blood and Black Lace.'

THE MOVIE: A-

VIDEO: B+

AUDIO: B-

SPECIAL FEATURES: A+ 

 (Images come from Blu-Ray release transfer. Property of Arrow)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

'The Blair Witch Project' is a 1999 found footage film that tells the tale of three filmmakers who wander into the woods of Burkittsville, Maryland to film a documentary about the infamous titular character, only to come face to face with an unknown evil which led to their mysterious vanishing.

The film is often considered the first of its kind, which is not true as films such as 'The Last Broadcast' and 'Cannibal Holocaust' had played with this idea beforehand. 'Blair Witch' is what I would consider the first film of its sub-genre to reach mainstream audiences and become one of the most profitable independent films of all time.

I caught the film years later on home video, as I was too young to even show an interest in such a film at the time. Without any of the hype that it had with its theatrical release, I was free to enjoy the film without any criticisms one way or the other and at the time, the film absolutely terrified me. The fear of the unknown and the stillness of night in the film brought some of my greatest childhood fears back to life and since then the film was a frequent on and off viewing choice for me as time went on.

That being said, I caught the film again recently to prepare myself for September's 'Blair Witch' a sequel we deserved much sooner than this. Does the original film hold up after nearly twenty years? For the most part, yes.

First off, I just want to talk about the real major flaw of the film that even got to me back then. The three filmmakers are unpleasant, annoying, vulgar, and you just don't really feel any pity for what their going through. At some points, you really want something to attack or scare them so they can stop arguing and cursing constantly. But really, other than that and trust me that is a big problem I still love this movie.

The atmosphere, the brilliant idea to switch between film and a camcorder for different effects and perspectives, the fact that they can get you so nervous by showing so little or even nothing at all. It all still works so well and gels perfectly. Sure, this film is and never has been for everyone and the younger generation used to the recent 'Paranormal Activity' films will find this film a chore, but I urge people to check it out again, late at night, on the biggest television screen you have.

'The Blair Witch Project' has become the unfortunate item of pop culture, which has drastically dulled its impact for sure, but the film still stands out as a unique film that was a big deal way back in 1999. Nothing like this was ever shown in over 2,000 theaters and audiences had never been exposed to anything like the film or its marketing. People were so convinced by the trailers and posters etc. that the film was real and people really went missing for years. I myself thought it to be true until my early teens. Nobody does this kind of film making really anymore. 'Paranormal Activity' just didn't capture that same kind of hook like 'Blair Witch' but it was clearly inspired by it and hopefully this cleverness can return soon.

Overall, the film is flawed and dated in many aspects but I still just can't help but love 'The Blair Witch Project'. It was the last of the great 90's horror films in a decade of garbage titles. Definitely give this one another chance.

((B+))

Be sure to check out the newest film in the franchise 'Blair Witch' this September. The trailer will be linked below.

(('Blair Witch Project' (1999), Stick man figure, and 'Blair Witch' (2016) are all the property of Lionsgate Home Entertainment. Visit www.lionsgate.com or www.filmratings.com for more information.))

Welcome and Update

Welcome all to my new spin-off site, where the road leads to nowhere..and to horror, sci-fi, and fantasy film reviews. These genres have always been a personal favorite of mine, and while I enjoy talking all things film I feel most comfortable here with my fellow genre fans.

The original Splice|Here website will continue, however it will try to focus on newer film reviews and news to you folks. As for here, we hope to talk the classics along with some new favorites whenever possible.

Thanks for the many views so far, and I hope to continue them here.


-Christopher R.