Rocketship Weird Retro Captain's Blog - Weird Retro

Cult Film Friday: House (1977)

29/5/2015

House (ハウス) is a 1977 Japanese cult horror comedy film. A group of girls travel into the countryside, to a house that is possessed with supernatural powers. The house attempts to devour the girls in increasingly bizarre and surreal ways. Beyond that it's hard to describe the magnificent madness that is House. There are moments that hark back to the era of silent movie slapstick comedies, the special effects are just weird, the acting is terrible, and the whole thing is utter nonsense. But those are all the things that make House such a great film. As it merrily skips along as a camp Japanese teen comedy, and suddenly switches to disturbing horror, and back again.

The film straddles the line between horror comedy and experimental arthouse film. With the screen filled with stunning visuals, it plays out like a bad LSD trip. With a floating disembodied head that has a bum biting fetish, a carnivorous piano, vicious killer bedding, and the blood gushing cartoon cat. The whole thing leaves you wondering what the hell you have just watched.

Critically panned (which often makes for great cult film), director Nobuhiko Obayashi went on to direct the live-action version of The Girl Who Leapt Through time in 1983, and the dark erotic cult film Sada (1998), based on the story of Sada Abe who erotically asphyxiating her lover, Kichizo Ishida in 1936. Sada then went on to cut off his penis and testicles and carrying them around with her in her handbag. Obayashi's film of the story is another must see of Japanese cult cinema.

Mid-Week Movie Massacre: Blood Sucking Freaks (1976)

27/5/2015

Bit lovely bit of mid-70s exploitation-splatter fun with Blood Sucking Freaks, which was originally released in theatres under the title The Incredible Torture Show. An all out gore-fest, presented in a campy style, reminiscent of earlyHerschell Gordon Lewis's gore movies. A true expilotation classic, that unapologetically show-horns in lots of over-the-top violence, bad acting, boobs and ridiculous laughs.

In the movie Master Sardu (Seamus O'Brien) runs a Grand Guignol-style theatre with his assistant Ralphus. The shows that they present are verging on torture porn, but the audiences dismiss the shows as merely fake. However, the acts on stage are real, using women the pair have kidnapped and used as sex slaves. And thus the stage is set for a series of gory torture and murder set pieces, which include skull crushing, amputation, tooth pulling, decapitation, the list goes on. The most famous scene features one unfortunate victim having their skull drilled through the top with a household drill, and their brains sucked out with a straw.

The movie was panned universally by critics, with some saying things such as "I think you're a cruel little nutcase if you talk someone else into seeing it", and "The nastiest, filthiest and just about WORST thing you will EVER SEE". The criticism of the movie being far more over-the-top than the movie itself. There are far worse movies than Blood Sucking Freaks. For me it's a perfect slice of 70s exploitation, and a true classic of the genre. A must see for any cult horror film fans.

Mid-Week Movie Massacre: The Beyond (1981)

13/5/2015

The Beyond (AKA Seven Doors of Death) is a bloody gore filled cult horror film by Italian director Lucio Fulci. Considered by some to be the second movie in Fulci's unofficial Gates of Hell trilogy (which includes City of the Living Dead and The House by the Cemetery). It was initially released heavily cut in the UK and USA.

A young woman inherits an old hotel in Louisiana called the Seven Doors Hotel, where after a strange series of "supernatural" incidents, she discovers that the hotel was built over an entrance to Hell. The movie has gained a cult following not only because it is a classic example of Italian horror of the period, but also for the bloody over-the-top scenes strung together by a thin plot. The Beyond isn't a movie you watch for a cleverly conceived narrative plot, it a movie you watch for the set piece gory death scenes. Not more no less, this movie doesn't pretend to be anything more or deliver anything less than somewhat hammy schlock gore, by today's standards. But that is exactly what makes it the cult classic that it is. Zombies, Hell and a nod to Lovecraft. What more could you want?

The nod to Lovecraft, and that this is often placed in the Lovecraftian genre of movies is pretty much down to the reference to the book of Eibon the movie, which appeared in several of Lovecraft's stories. In other ways it nods to Lovecraft in the blurring of the lines between realities, the realms of the living and the dead. However Fulci claimed that it was more a homage to surrealist French playwright Antonin Artaud, than to Lovecraft.

Cult Film Friday: Der Todesking (1989)

8/5/2015

The King of Death, is a German experimental horror film by controversial film-maker Jörg Buttgereit, also known for his NEKRomantik films. The film covers themes of death and suicide, with seven separate segments spread over the seven days of the week. The segments are stitched together by footage of a body slowly rotting and consumed by maggots in time-lapse.

Part exploitation movie, part avant-garde arthouse, a thought provoking and at times disturbing film that will stay with you long after watching it. An uncompromising exploration of the cycle of life, which ultimately shows (though the decomposing corpse) that new life comes from death. The nearest example of a film like it, and themes it covers would be the 1990 experimental horror Begotten. Delivered in a cold, stark, detached style, der Todesking is a classic piece of cult European cinema. Not to everyone's taste, but a must see for anyone who appreciates experimental cinema at its best.

Other experimental Buttgereit movies that are worth checking out are 1993's darkly surreal serial killer film Schramm. 1986's Jesus - The Film, made in the exquisite corpse style in 35 segments by 22 individual film-makers in Germany, from 16mm film stock smuggled out of East Germany. More recently in 2010, he released Captain Berlin vs Hitler, a filming of his 2007 campy over-the-top and controversial stage-play.

Horror Hosts: Bob Wilkins

5/5/2015

Wilkins was the creator and horror host of a popular television show named Creature Features that ran on KTVU in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1971 to 1984, and which began with Del Tenney's infamous The Horror of Party Beach (1964). The show is also famous for featuring the television première of George A. Romero's 1968 zombie classic Night of the Living Dead.

Creature Features showed both horror and sci-fi, from classics to cheesy schlock, all under the banner of "Watch Horror Films... Keep America Strong." Bespectacled and suited Wilkins famously presented from a bright yellow painted rocking chair, and would smoke his trademark cigar, while delivering his dry humoured patter in a kindly older brother smooth soothing manner. A style that went down well with fans, and made Bob a household name.

"Don't stay up late, it's not worth it," Bob Wilkins warned as he leaned back in his yellow rocking chair, smoke wafting from his big cigar. As he introduced one bad b-movie after another. As the popularity of the show, saw it expanded into a double feature, Bob also attracted some top name guests from the world of sci-fi and horror. Ray Harryhausen, Christopher Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, John Landis, William Marshall, and Forest J Ackerman, among others. Bob did it all, wrote, produced, presented, booked the aforementioned guests and even answered the fan mail personally.

In 1977, Wilkins launched an afternoon children's program on KTVU. Called Captain Cosmic it featured and mainly focused on imported Japanese sc-fi serials, like Ultraman and Johnny Sokko and his Flying Robot, as well as showing British TV show Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, by Thuderbirds creator Gerry Anderson. Wearing a helmet that his his face, Wilkins was uncredited. His sidekick was a robot named 2T2, parodying R2D2 from Star Wars.

Cult Film Friday: The Stuff (1985)

1/5/2015

Horror sci-fi comedy and satire on capitalism, Larry Cohen's The Stuff is a much under-rated classic, that deserves re-watching. Cohen a prolific writer, producer and director scored another cult classic with Q-The Winged Serpent in 1982, but by far his best movie is satirical dark comedy The Stuff.

A weird substance is found bubbling up from the earth, and the two guys who discover it decide to taste it (As you would.) It's so delicious that they decide to market it as a new kind of dessert.The Stuff takes off as the new sensation, as consumers clamour to buy it. Becoming addicted zombies, as the stuff starts to take them over.

In the movie sales of The Stuff drastically hit the ice-cream market, and the ice-cream industry hire ex-FBI agent turned industrial saboteur David "Mo" Rutherford, to investigate it. It reality much of the prop "stuff" used in the movie was ironically lots of Häagen-Dazs ice cream. They also used yoghurt, and for one large scale scene of The Stuff coming through a wall, fire extinguisher foam.

Of course The Stuff is in some part a homage to The Blob (1958), and in many ways harks back to the schlock horror of the 50s and 60s. It's very much a movie of the 80s, but is much better crafted than many of its contemporaries. It's unique, quirky, cleverly handled and directed by Cohen with a witty script that has some moments of sharp cutting satire. Making the movie much much more than the hammy schlock horror that it may at first appear to be. Hence why it deserves another watch for those who may have caught it the first time round and missed the clever nuances buried in amongst the quirky humour.

And if you have never seen it. First why not? And second, you are in for a deliciously toxic piece of classic 80s sc-fi horror. Highly recommended.

Interstingly, and somewhat a stand-out from teh rest of his career, one of Larry Cohen's first movies as writer/director was the blaxploitation movie Black Caesar (also known as Godfather of Harlem) in 1973. Starring Fred Williamson, it was a remake of the 1931 gangster movie Little Caesar.

Mid-Week Movies Massacre: The Godfather Of Gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis

29/4/2015

The self-titled "Godfather of Gore" Herschell Gorgon Lewis is credited with creating the splatter or gore genre of horror movies. Although by today's standard of gore, Lewis's movies are little more than low-budget high-camp quirky exploitation these days. But when he started making his gore movies, nothing the likes of had been seen before. Saturated colours, and buckets of bright red blood, his movies flew under the radar of the MPAA. Who simply weren't prepared for this kind of movie.

Working outside of the system, he usually worked with exploitation producer David F. Friedman. Initially making nudie-cuties, and screw-ball comedies, like The Adventures of Lucky Pierre (1961), a film made for a shoestring budget of $7,500.

Lewis and Friedman entered wanted to tap markets that their nudies couldn't or wouldn't reach, andso in 1963 they made Blood Feast. Now a cult classic, that is considered by many to be the first ever "gore" movie. The simply buckets of blood and cheap special effects trickery found a willing and ready market, especially in the drive-ins. So the pair followed up Blood Feats with Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964) and Colour Me Blood Red (1965). They'd hit on a formula, and they were going to milk it for all it was worth. As soon other exploitation film-makers picked-up on the movies Lewis was making, and started making their own gore movies. After Colour Me Blood Red, Lewis and Friedman stopped working together, but Lewis continued to make gore movies. His next were A Taste Of Blood and The Gruesome Twosome, both 1967. He still continued to make nudie and softcore movies, as well as a couple of children's films. But it is his gore movies that he's most well known for. He started using the word in the titles of his movie. In 1968 he made Doctor Gore (also known as How To Make A Doll), followed by 1970's The Wizard Of Gore, and in 1972 Gore Gore Girls. Most recently after a gap of nearly 40 years, in 2002 he made a sequel to Blood Feast, Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat.

Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather Of Gore (2010): A great documentary charting the career of Lewis, and the creation of the gore movie genre. The film gives viewers a fun ride through the mind of the mad genius that is Lewis, as well as the people he worked with. Giving an insight into independent and exploitation film-making of the period, taking you on a journey through the genres of nudie-cuties, roughies and ultimately gore.

Through interview, rare footage, clips and even a recreation of lost footage. The documentary is lovingly handled by exploitation horror writer and director Frank Henenlotter, who credits Lewis's movies as starting him on the path towards becoming a film-maker. Henenlotter himself, has made some classics of 1980s and early 90s horror, with the Basket Case series, Brain Damage and Frankenhooker.

Mid-Week Movie Massacre: Pieces (1982)

22/4/2015

Following last week's Mid-Week Movie Massacre: Top 70s Massacres Not From Texas With Chainsaws, we jump into the bloodied pool that is the 1980s. Based on a single image that I came across, while looking up last week's posters. The image (below) of a woman cut in half, slumped in the corner of a bathroom in a pool of her own blood. I've seen a lot of horror movies, but I couldn't place this one. Turns out I'd not seen the movie, a 1982 splatter-fest called Pieces. How this one had slipped under my radar is utterly baffling, but hey even the most hardcore cinephile can't see literally every movie out there can they?

Pieces is a US/Spanish exploitation slasher flick, (original title: Mil gritos tiene la noche translation: A Thousand Screams in the Night), which was apparently a "drive-in favourite", according to Wikipedia. A chainsaw weilding serial killer collects body parts from his victims to create a grisly human jigsaw puzzle. Even the clips of YouTube make this look like an all-out over-the-top awesome blood and guts roller coaster ride of gore.

I dug through YouTube to find the scene related to the image I had come across. And it has to be said that the close-up of cutting the girl on half was pretty realistic looking for such a low budget movie. It turns out that the film makers actually used a pig carcass, and cut through it with a real chainsaw. Nice and obvious touch that really worked. Right I'm off to see if I can get my hands on a copy of this film...

I saw this image and just had to look up the movie.

A full release version only made it to the UK few years ago. It had a "limited" release in 1984, and from what I can see was never offically released on video in the UK. If it was released on video in the 80s, it would have certainly made the BBFC Video Nasties list. All of which I have, and it isn't among the schlock, gore and awful nonsense that did make it on the list. In the United States, an uncut and uncensored director's cut wasn't released until 2008.

Mid-Week Movie Massacre: Top 70s Movie Massacres Not From Texas With Chainsaws.

15/4/2015

Stick "massacre" in the title of a horror / slasher film and your in for a winner! Or not, as the case maybe. In 1974 Tobe Hooper brought us the most well known slasher film that used "massacre" in the title to attract audiences. But throughout the 70s, there were a good number of bottom rung b-movies that also used massacre as marketing. Here's three of the best, worst or simply weirdest of the bad b-movie bunch.

Demented Death Farm Massacre (1971): AKA... Shantytown Honeymoon

What started out as the obscure b-movie Shantytown Honeymoon was taken by producer/director Fred Olen Ray, and spliced with new footage of famed b-movie actor John Carradine as the Judge of Hell, who narrates the story. A group of jewel thieves on the run, wander into a backwoods farm, hoping to hide out for the time being. However, when the farmer returns home only to find the thieves taking over the house, he hatches a deadly plan.The film was re-released with the 5 minutes of Carradine footage, destined still to be an obscure b-movie. Released under the various titles of Honey Britches, Moonshiner's Woman, Hillbilly Hooker, Little Whorehouse on the Prairie, and finally Demented Death Farm Massarce. It still made no impact, until 1986 when Olen Ray sold the film to Troma Entertainment, and they released it on VHS as part of their back catalog of schlock horror movies.

Naked Massacre (1976): Original title, Die Hinrichtung (AKA Born For Hell)

A German / Canadian / French / Italian co-production, directed by Denis Héroux. Loosely based on the notorious Richard Speck murders, which is transferred inexplicable from America to Northern Ireland, during the Troubles. This is the grim tale of a disturbed Vietnam vet returning home via Belfast, who invades a house shared by eight nurses and proceeds to terrorize and murder them. This is the closest telling of the Speck story. Others that were likely inspired by it I have mentioned before are the controversial Japanese flick Violated Angels, and possibly to some extent the infamous Canadian cult slasher Black Christmas. The film, which has the potential to be a cult classic, is somewhat ruined by the bad dubbing. For some reason all the actors have been dubbed over with painful foreign accented voice actors. Rather than having Irish, British or American accents. Or it did on the version I watched.

Drive-In Massacre (1977): ... Your Nightmares Are About To Come True!!

In essence a cheap hack-and-slash reworking of Peter Bogdanovich's 1968 cult classic Targets. Two police detectives try to catch a serial killer who is stalking a rural California drive-in theater, randomly killing people with a sword. Co-written by George "Buck" Flower, who has appeared in films as diverse as Back To the Future II, Ilsa: She Wolf Of The SS and many of John Carpenter's productions. The movie has all the right elements for a cult slasher b-movie, and even harks back to schlock horror marketing tactics of the like of William Castle. With it's viewer discretion WARNING!!!, and claim to have been "filmed entirely in bloodcurdling Gore-Color." It's a movie that was designed to be seen in a drive-in cinema, and loses something on the small screen. With it's tired old "he's coming for you" twist ending, designed to put the willies up drive-in audiences.

Cult Creature Feature: Tentacles (1977)

11/4/2015

"Tentacles. It slept until man disturbed it. Then it woke, with a fury no man could control. Rising from the ocean floor, to bring destruction and death." Tentacles, or Tentacoli was an American/Italian co-production. A horror movie attempting shamelessly to cash-in on the success of Jaws.

Ocean Beach, a seaside tourist resort, has come under attack by an unknown creature, which captures and devours human swimmers and boaters, picking the skeletons clean of flesh and even extracting the bone marrow. The scientists have no idea which animal could do such things. However an investigative newspaper journalist (played by John Huston) begins to suspect that the company which builds a tunnel beneath the bay might have poisoned the environment and caused an octopus to mutate to giant dimensions.

As well as the late great John Huston in the lead role, the movie had an all-star supporting cast, which included Shelley Winters, Bo Hopkins and Henry Fonda.

With terrible tag-lines like "It's Turning the Beach ... Into a Buffet!" The horror of Tentacles is how it got made, and how the hell they got the stellar cast to star in it. A hysterically bad creature feature, with all the cheesy acting and special effects you have expected from a 50s b-movie, except inexplicably made in the late 70s. An utter car crash of a movie that you'll either laugh yourself silly watching, or sit in abject boredom, wondering whether to have seafood for dinner tomorrow.