Films In the Attic: The Infamous "White Dog"

Another week another film to dust off and watch!

Sam Fuller has made some breath taking visually interesting films that explored the dark nature of humans and what drives them to do what they do. His films had never been "safe" by any means but in 1982 he ruffled more then a few feathers with his controversial film "White Dog" Like Michael Powell with "Peeping Tom" the film was so hated that Fuller was black balled in Hollywood dismayed by Americas narrow thinking he moved to France. Sam Fuller never made another film in the U.S and a shame it was that we lost a wonderful story teller due to negative peoples assumptions.

For the longest time this was extremely difficult to see.  Many of us underground film lovers had to to settle with bootleg copies. Finally the wonderful folks at Criterion Collection was bold enough to re release White Dog so a new generation could view it and maybe learn a little something about the beast in all of us.


 

Title: White Dog

Year: 1982

Director: Samuel Fuller

The Plot:


The Review:


Opener: I was trying to decide if I should tackle such a controversial film about racism. But then I thought that my readers are adult enough to handle anything I throw at them, and if they cant frankly they shouldn't be reading it. I`m not going to sugar coat things this movie will offend certain viewer no matter what color, but its important to understand that Sam Fuller intention was not to shock but to educate and more importantly entertain.

Story:
What I think I liked the most about the screenplay is, that fear of dogs is something that a lot of people can relate with. Its interesting that I don't see the dog as the villain of the movie but yet the racist trainer, who transformed a beautiful creature into a mindless killing machine. Yes this film tackles the issue of racism and I feel like its a topic that should be dealt with. Is this film racist, NO and its this misconception that drummed a wonderful director out of Hollywood.

What narrow minded people failed to understand is that the dog is taught to hate and that the ignorant owner instilled those values in him, and so it is with people. Hate is taught. OK so whats wrong with that message?
What the picketers also failed to see that this film  shows how the dog pound system works and that the unwanted dogs that aren't cute puppies end up getting put to sleep. Their is a wonderful scene in which Kristies character goes to the pound and cries at the sight of all the unloved,unwanted dogs. Overall it gets right down to its a compelling story and entertaining to watch.

Visually: What I love a lot about the films of Sam Fuller is that he has such a interesting visual style and nothing is as awesome then the shot of the dog leaping through a glass window, scary and beautiful.Also notice the use of low shots, giving as the perspective of the dog.

Acting: TV mainstay Kristie McNichol is as always so cute shes its sick. But to be honest I was all ready to hate her in this but shes pretty good. The script affords her many chances to show her range. Everyone is pretty good, but of course the dog is the star of the film, hes lovable one moment and scariest then jaws the next!

Outro: We as a society have come a long way since this film was made, and still have a long way to go. And while we may not all agree on a lot of things I think we can all agree white,black yellow we all bleed red and while this doggy still has bite it didn't deserve to get put out in the cold and its nice that this dog is finally getting a pat on the head for a clever way to tackle a controversial issue.

Films in the Attic:Scarecrows: Were not in Oz anymore!

The golden rules of horror films
kids are creepy
dolls are creepy
old freaky scarecrows hanging out in the middle of a corn field -which probably have creepy children in them.TOTALLY CREEPY and nothing is more apt then this weeks Films in the attic. Well most films in the killer scarecrow sub genre are just stuffing this film is a stitch above the rest. Just don't expect this scare crow to help you find the Wizard.

Title: Scarecrows

Year: 1988

Director: William Wesley

The Plot: The plot is simple. A band of thieves steal a large sum of money and kidnap a pilot and his daughter. They think its all smooth sailing until one rouge thief jumps with the money and lands in you guessed it a field. Out raged by this the guys set down to get back there money and get some payback on there fellow thief.

As they hunt for him and the money they soon discover that they are the ones being hunted and that the harmless field scarecrows might be not as friendly as in Wizard of Oz

The Review:

Not to sound sexist but this is a guys movie for sure. You really get a Predator/Rambo feel. Guns explosions and military men the only thing missing from this guy flick is naked women and Arnold Schwarzengger-hmmm maybe Andie scared them away with his groping.

The plot moves at a nice brisk pace. We the audience is dropped right into the situation and are quickly are brought to speed.  The story is a breath of fresh air, taking a different route with the heist aspect and that pretty much every characters are actually the villains. Though as the story progresses you see  everyone's true colors and that maybe not all the characters are truly all bad as they seem. I`ve always liked films that have your actors trapped in a house together and Wesley creates a nice tension between all of them.. My complaint is that the story is painfully basic and I would have liked this a lot more had the filmmakers explored the satanic worshiping back woods aspect with more depth. Not helping any is the cookie cutter characters. Asshole leader-check Dumb yet lovable guy-check Asshole Girl-check and Good girl who survives the film-check. There all there folks.  They are pretty standard but you grow to like them towards the end. Jack is my personal favorite-just sayin.

Don`t expect any blood splatter right away, this film is the kind that slowly sucks you into it then it reveals its fangs!  When the movie does start to get gory its well worth the wait. My one and only minor complaint is the scarecrows themselves could have been slightly better.. But their is some nice shock moments that had it not been for some well crafted makeup effects would have been cheesetastic. The body "stuffed" with straw and money was a nice disturbing touch that fits the heist plot perfectly. Totally will stick with you.

This is a nicely done effective chiller that is a perfect hybrid of action crime and horror and was done years before "From Dusk Til Dawn" cleverly mashed those elements up. And while it may lack character development and plot it makes up for in sheer freaky special effects and atmosphere that will make you think twice with taking a nice stroll in granddads haunted corn field. To use a terrible pun....Its likely to scare the straw out of you.

Films in the Attic: Sleepaway "Camp" 2 Oh im a Happy Killer!

Films in the Attic: Sleepaway Camp 2


OOOOOOOOOOH i`m a happy camper and you will be too if you give this sequel a chance!

Sleepaway camp came out in 1981 a year after the ground breaking slasher film "Friday the 13th" and while I agree that the film is a classic in the genre it seems that "Sleepaway Camp" was its not as pretty younger and more clever sibling that gets sadly over looked. Though time has been kind to this film and it soon found its way as a cult film in its own rite. As films logic goes, if the first one was successful way not make another, and normally it frankly sucks balls. Yet in the case of Sleepaway Camp I found the sequels to be fun horror filled tit filled romps that while not as good as the first is still entertaining as hell.

It kind of bums me out that Sleepaway camp 2 and 3 gets the brush off.. It seems like three gets an even worst rap then 2. I for one like them both and while they`ll never be "high art" or whatever the hell that means, bottom line in my book if its a fun film that keeps you entertained then its done its job. So pack your bags cause its back to the woods with everyone's favorite Trans gender serial killer!



Sleepaway Camp 2

Year: 1988

Director: Michael A. Simpson

You know folks you gotta love a film that stars Bruce Springsteen's little sister as a transgender psycho that not only can kill a teen but sing a happy song and play the guitar. This is a pure horror guilty pleasure. Kind of like how Texas Chainsaw 2 took the series in a different direction-namely a more funny route. If your looking for a truly scary tense filmed film this is not it. This is more aptly described as a horror comedy which seems to spoof the conventions of the slasher genre. SWC 2 does this in such a clever way it can get away with being more spoof show and less spook show.

Morals and horror seem to be interlocked and the fun thing about Angela as a killer is she unabashedly punishes the immoral sex charged teenagers for there sins.

The idea of kids dressed like Freddy and Jason (which by the way is years before Freddy vs. Jason) to "scare" Angela is priceless. It says that this girl is tougher then either of those icons of horror. She dresses like Leatherface which came before Freddy or Jason, it seems to suggest that shes the original serial psycho.
Another tongue in cheek joke is that the kids are all named after 80s cult star, Molly,Emillo (Renee Estevez is in the film) etc.


What hurts this film the most is the pace. Iit not very long  (80 mins) but suffers from dragging at certain points, including a flashback scene that stops the film dead. And while I understand every camp horror film has scenes of kids being well kids but there's to much of that here which keeps the film from moving forward. There is however plenty of breasts and blood to keep the audience happy. The body count is impressive The gore effects are done by Bill Johnson who is known for Pet Semetary 2 and recently Zombieland. His special effects are gross out and fun. Death in a port a pottie is great with a nice gag factor. While the first ending was a shocker I`m afraid this ending was sadly not as memorible as the first. Its disappointing because so much could have been done to try and top themselves. Its interesting to note that the lovely Felissa Rose was asked to reprise her role and wanted to, but she wisely she choose to go to college. Is this a classic like the first, no but I feel it deserves a chance. Sleepaway Camp 2 might not have the same "goods" the first one has, but its still a fun bloody good tit filled romp that will leave you punning for those days of tents, bug spray and chainsaw wielding transsexuals.

Films in the Attic: SPECIAL EDITION: Psychos In Love: WITH Director Retrospective EXCLUSIVE!!!

Greetings Gorehounds! I was stuck up in the attic and found a oldie but a goodie!! Is that love a smell in the air or a rotting corpses?

This weeks Films in the Attic is a very near and dear film to my black heart. Growing up in a small town, it was a treat to go to our local video rental. (for our young readers this was pre-netflick and redbox) I ran right back to my favorite section, you guessed it Romance, KIDDING -:"Horror"

The shelves were lined up with lurid covers with the promises of all kinds of fun splatter, and creepy delights. "Psychos in Love" was one of the cover art that really stuck with me and I was already "in love" This was a early splatter movie that really made an impact and I understood that going off the big Hollywood big budget grid was a good thing.While the film has gained a much deserved new life on DVD It still needs a wider audience and as I`ve said before If I can do one thing with this blog its to help other fans discover there next favorite movie.

Fear not the dvd is out there and Netflix also carries it to rent!! Netflix i`ll expect my check in the mail. Seriously!

Psychos In Love
Director: Gorman Bechard
Year:1987


The Plot: Joe is just your average strip joint owner and well butchers young women. Kate is just a regular girl and manicurist and shes slaughters men. While killing is there true passion in life, alas they are lonely.Kate strolls into Joe`s club and instead of killing each other they fall in love. Not only do they both have a blood lust  they both hate grapes! But as they settle into there new life together a Cannibal plumber may have the happy murdering couple on the menu.

The Review:  Grapes, I hate grapes! Such is the proclaimed by our murder happy couple. This movie is gross, sleazy and hilarious just a lot of fun to watch.  Come on you gotta love a movie that has its own theme song! The film uses a really interesting style, with documentary interviews with the characters. Its used in a really cool way and helps make this stand out. It obviously has flaws but pointing them out is kind of pointless, I mean its low budget but they filmmakers are having so much fun with it that we just go along for the ride. I read some reviews were they picked this film apart and I`m like why? Its not posing to be any more then what it is, a bloody sleazy t and a romp that proudly jams its tongue in its cheek. The end is also fun, breaking the forth wall. I think this movie was way ahead of its time as far as self referencing and playing with the horror genre. Its refreshing to know that alot of the actors as well as the director still works in the film business. This is a fun film that is easy to fall in love with. Just don't offer me you know (GRAPES!)

EXCLUSIVE SPECIAL Psychos In Love Retrospective!! Interview with Director Gorman Bechard
Its been over 25 years since the film came out and were still in love with this bloody fun flick! 

GH: It seems like you and the cast and crew had a lot of fun making the film, any on set practical jokes?


GB: No practical jokes actually, but we did have a blast. A lot of it had to do with us being all friends, and
how we kept pushing the silliness of the material. I so remember the scene where Carmine is putting the
poison in the glass of champagne, and I’m off to the side telling him to keep going, more, more. It still
cracks me up to this day.

GH: I read this was shot in your apartment what was that like?

GB: Actually my father’s house. And the biggest problem became the rug, which had to be steam
cleaned 3 times to get all the fake blood out.

GH: Do you hate grapes?

GB: How can you even ask me that? You don’t like them, do you? What your address?

GH: Do you remember the reviews for Psychos in Love when it came out?

GB: Two stood out. One idiot reviewed who commented that I was using a fake name as director. He
must have thought the “gore” part of “Gorman” made it sound unreal. It is my real legal birth name.
And at a press screening at the old Bleecker Street Cinema a reviewer from the New York Times threw
up in her gym bag. I so wanted to use the take line: “The reviewers have thrown up, now it’s your
turn!”

GH: Did you keep any mementos from Psychos?

GB: I have the fake hand and fingers that Herman ate. And some of the fake knives. The rest we buried
under my father’s house.

GH: When I was young I remember vividly the cover art for this film, who did the artwork and any idea
where that piece of art work is now?

GB: That would have been Empire pictures. I actually never liked it to be honest.

GH: After years of waiting Psychos finally made it on DVD, was it hard to get this to happen? When’s the
blu ray out?

GB: They came to us actually. Did a nice job on the release. Lot of great extras. But no, there will never
be a bluray. Sort of no reason for one.

GH: What are you currently doing these days?

My Replacements documentary COLOR ME OBSESSED is playing the festival/indie cinema circuit. It’ll be
out on DVD in September. My next film, WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?, which is an Archers of Loaf concert film will premiere in June. And we’re in various stages of production on two other documentaries:
PIZZA, A LOVE STORY, about the three world-famous pizza joints in New Haven; and ECERY EVERYTHING,
THE MUSIC, LIFE & TIMES OF GRANT HART, about the infamous drummer from Husker Du. Plus we have two narrative films we’re working on: BROKEN SIDE OF TIME, which is a dark road trip; and ONE NIGHT STAND, my return to horror.

GH: Finally do you still enjoy watching Psychos in Love after all these years?

The last time I saw it at a fest a few years ago, yes, absolutely. It’s still a really funny film!

For more information on the films of Gorman Bechard please go to: http://www.www.wwwtfilms.com

http://www.psychosinlove.com

Thanks!

Films in the Attic: Fear No Evil: I was a Teenage Devil!

High school, its hell and in this film it literally is Hell! A weird little film shows us that you cant skip school even if your the Son of Satan!

Title: Fear No Evil
Year: 1981
Director: Frank LaLoggia

I guess even the son of the Devil has to go through the growing pains of youth and High School.  Lovers of the normal blood soaked fair be warned this is far from your typical 80s teen horror film, and that is why I love it so much. The lighting,camera angles and use of a well placed fog machines really gives this movie a creepy European vibe. It just goes to show you that even on a smaller budget you can create nice atmosphere The film does not shy away from nudity, and actually its mostly male nudity which is far from your normal horror film. Its really interesting that it shows how rising a evil child can really drain and suck the love and life out of the parents who unknowingly had to raise this Satan spawn. A detail that is unique to the sub genre and worth a mention.

Now I`m certainly not faulting this film for being to smart for it own good but it gets a bit thinky and could be over whelming for a viewer not use this this kind of horror film.It may take a second view for you to get everything. The pace could be brisker but there is a good amount of character background to get into. I totally get if your mainstream horror viewers would not dig this, but I think if you give it a chance, it might grow on you. If the story had a flaw I would say it seems to get so into the religious aspect of it forgets to just have fun with the horror elements.

The soundtrack is awesome, with music from The Sex Pistols, Ramones Talking Heads etc! If i was a teenage son of the devil this would be a nice soundtrack to rock out to while planning to take over the world.

Now this film is far from being perfect, the make up effects are at times cheestastic and towards the end of the film the Devil incarnate starts sounding and acting more like a whining goth kid rather then the mighty Anti-Christ. This movie has some blood but seriously lacks any real gore, yet I think this movie is aiming higher then just soaking the audience in the red karo syrup. However when they do use blood they do use it in a weird and disturbing way.

The fact that I film like this could be put together by a young man not even in this thirty's really impresses me. It may bog itself down with the religious aspects I give it alot of respect for trying to break out of the mold of other similar movies such as The Omen or The Exorcist. Maybe not the best film you`re likely to see about a teenage son of Lucifer, it does however remain interesting and strange enough that in this final exam it gets a passing grade.

Frank read my review and had this to say.....

Hey DUDE! WHaT The **** is THIS! You musta been smokin' some doggie drenched weed to attually like dis! if i were the dierector i'd go back to makin peezas! 
-Frank LaLoggia