Welcome To Times Square!

Yes, it’s America’s most brightly lit playground of fun for the entire family! Times Square is well lit, filled with upbeat tourist attractions and offers all of the big chain restaurants you expect when on vacation – it’s a street filled with fun!

Well, it is NOW – but New York’s Times Square wasn’t always so wholesome…here’s what it looked like just a few decades ago…

This Wasn’t Your Mother’s Times Square!

Folks, these pictures are from Times Square in the 70’s and early 80’s – a seedy strip filled with movie houses that showed exploitation films 24 hours a day – that’s how the term “grindhouse” came to be: theaters that were grinding out cheap “dirty movies” all day and night…

I have posted many stories about this era in the history of Times Square…it’s fascinating because these movie theaters were as dangerous inside as the action onscreen! They also showed films that weren’t being seen in your neighborhood theater:

“A Smell Of Honey! A Swallow OF Brine!”

These films were rough morality tales – in this case, a young woman who likes to tease her suitors gets her comeuppance in a rough rough way…it’s a common theme in these movies: young women who stray into “bad” territory, and of course stupid guys who want a cheap thrill and pay the ultimate price for it…

This is a classic example of early sexploitation – a hint of nudity and sexual situations designed to attract lonely men who wanted a thrill, and they found it on 42nd street…read more about this cult classic – and see the trailer – by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/01/26/more-and-wilder-sexploitation-classics/

As the 60’s ended, the films being shown in grind house theaters continued to up the ante…New York’s times Square became even rougher, and the posters for these sexploitation films were more suggestive than ever…

It’s not hard to understand what they are selling here, and that kept dozens of these Times Square theaters in business! “Forbidden Flesh” is a perfect example of an era when the films were beginning to show more, suggestion turning to overt sexuality. and you can see more by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/05/31/forbidden-flesh-dirty-girls-the-unsatisfied-classic-sexploitation-cinema/

These films got away with a lot because they were promising an “educational” experience – yes, some of these films skirted obscenity laws by purporting to show a “documentary” aspect to their sexuality – they were showing you shocking perversions going on in your very own country!

“Shocking” Indeed!

Yes, hillbillies were taking “child brides”, and only one film had the nerve to uncover it…and “uncover” they did…this movie poster is as suggestive and exploitive as they come, and you see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/08/29/forbidden-flesh-child-brides-see-how-they-love-in-flaming-hillbilly-color-early-sexploitation-madness/

As the 70’s progressed, many of these movie theaters went hardcore, showing XXX-rated movies…in order to keep up, savvy Producers upped the lurid content of their own software erotic movies as well…

You have to see “Wham Bam, Thank You Spaceman” to appreciate it! It’s as “over the top” as grind house films were…anything to keep the customers satisfied! Here is the trailer:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/12/03/wham-bam-space-sex-cinemas-naked-lust-celebrate-the-sultan-of-sexploitation/

Movies from Europe flooded the US in the early 70’s as well – these films were called “Artsploitation”, because they offered intelligent, moody storytelling – albeit with a lot of nudity – “artistic exploration” – and the best ones featured the “Queen of Artsploitation”, Christina Lindberg!

Lindberg’s most notorious film is called “Thriller: A Cruel Picture”…which also went by this title, because in those days, Producers would simply retitle movies and release them again:

Lindberg inspired Quentin Tarantino to give Darryl Hannah an eye patch in “Kill Bill”…see more about Lindberg by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/05/21/swedish-sex-kitten-christina-lindberg-the-original-queen-of-artsploitation/

Europe’s other “sexploitation superstar” was the iconic Lina Romay:

Romay starred in some of the most outrageous european sex shockers of all time, such as this classic piece of what was known as “euro sleaze”:

“Lorna The Exorcist” took advantage of another popular film of the time of course. Most of her films were directed by her husband, Jess Franco…read all about them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/03/11/lindas-shocking-hot-nights-lina-romays-classic-sexploitation/

The US had it’s own iconic, erotic filmmakers well….yes, that would be the legendary Russ Meyer:

Meyer achieved fame for his classic sexploitation film “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” He went on to make a number of cult classics such as these:

His films were bright, full of sight gags, ample bosoms, and a sense of humor that was usually lacking in sexploitation films…see more of his work here:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/03/16/sexploitation-classics-the-russ-meyer-edition/

There are now many film companies who are trying to keep exploitation alive by releasing classic cult films from that era…

Here is a great new documentary from Something Weird Video that looks at the entire genre, it’s terrific! The documentary “That’s Sexploitation” gives an in-depth look at this era of film making. See the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/20/thats-sexploitation-terrific-documentary-captures-the-seedy-majesty-of-grindhouse-cinema/

I hope you enjoyed your journey into cinema’s dirty bad alley…let me know your favorites!

When Is A Film Horrific Because Of A Cast Member? When Orson Welles Is In It!

Orson Welles may have made one of the greatest films of all time, “Citizen Kane”, but he was anything but a model citizen in person!

Here is Welles interacting with a radio Producer as they attempt to record a “Findus Frozen Pea” commercial in the 70’s!

“EVerything’s OK” With Orson’s Head!

And now, there is a new web series that uses Welles in a unique way! Imagine a world where fracking has turned New York City into a desolate wasteland – and one girl learns to fight the power with help from Orson Welles’ revived head.

That’s the new web series “Everything’s OK!” Read all about it here:

http://www.avclub.com/article/orson-welles-disembodied-head-stars-dystopian-webs-242202

If you want to hear more about Orson’s aggressive meanness, you can start here:

Lunching With Orson!

Another independent filmmaker, Henry Jaglom, published a book of his lunches with the legendary Welles – lunches full of catty commentary by the iconic Director!

As described in a story on Dailymail.com:

“Here is Welles as he has never been seen before: talking intimately, disclosing personal secrets, reflecting on the highs and lows of his astonishing Hollywood career, the people he knew—FDR, Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, Laurence Olivier, David Selznick, Rita Hayworth, and more—and the many disappointments of his last years. This is the great director unplugged, free to be irreverent and worse—sexist, homophobic, racist, or none of the above— because he was nothing if not a fabulator and provocateur.”

Here is a link to a story about the book:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2359143/New-book-reveals-Orson-Welles-thought-Laurence-Olivier-idiot-Richard-Burton-joke-celebrity-wife.html

And now, let’s hear from one of Hollywood’s sex kittens, Pamela Franklin, as she discussed working with Welles on a film in the 70’s – or was it two? And how was the experience? Here is the answer:

A Cult Movie So Good It Has Two Titles!

One of the great things about the movie industry is how “industrious” Producers were at times – like this, a film so good it got released twice – under two different titles!

This Is “Necromancy” Starring Orson Welles!

OK, I know you’ve NEVER heard of this film. That’s because it was barely released in 1972, and yes, the grumpy Orson Welles starred in this occult horror film – and guess what? He also starred in this film as well!

That’s Because “The Witching” IS “Necromancy!”

Cinema history is littered with films that were re-released under different titles, and that was the fate for this cult horror gem.

Orson’s An Ass!

As we’ve discussed, there is much evidence that points to Mr. Welles NOT being the nicest person on the set – we will look at additional evidence of that after we dive into the nutty horror of “Necromancy” aka “The Witching!”

Orson Welles was near the end of his career, and he stars here as the head of a witches’ coven, who needs the powers of Actress Pamela Franklin to raise his son from the dead.

But of course he does!

Thanks to Mondo-Digital, here is the story:

1972’s “Necromancy” was released briefly by Cinerama Releasing. However, as the website reports:

“The Director’s original version was suppressed after its initial release in favor of a radically reworked version in the early ‘80s for the VHS market called “The Witching”, with the story severely reworked, extended scenes of fully nude coven worship added (including a young Brinke Stevens), and an entirely new, senseless ending replacing the original one.”

Here is the trailer for “The Witching”:

The source for this fun trivia is the terrific website “Mondo-digital.com”, which always has the latest in cult film releases and reviews…see more of their review of the movie by clicking on the site here:

http://www.mondo-digital.com/necromancy.html

As for “Necromancy”, it showcased the acting talent of a young sex kitten named Pamela Franklin…

British Actress Pamela Franklin received great acclaim for her work in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie” in 1969, winning the National Board of Review award for Best Supporting Actress.

Franklin ended up in horror films, including the occult thriller “The Legend of Hell House” in 1973, as well as “The Food of the Gods” in 1977.

The Good And Bad Of “Necromancy!”

The website “DVDdrive-in” also has a great review of the film, and the site points out that the new blu-ray release of “Necromancy” includes a recent audio interview with Pamela Franklin, who says that meeting her husband (actor Harvey Jason) was the only good thing to come out of the movie!

The Actress speaks of working with Welles, and says on the audio interview that she felt Welles was dismissive of other actors, saying very succinctly:

“He was not a nice person”.

The website also has this great anecdote about the making of the film:

“Welles was notorious for being difficult on the set. In his autobiography The Amazing Colossal Worlds of MR. BIG, Gordon feared he would have problems with the actor when Welles’ secretary informed him that he didn’t work before 10AM or after 4PM. But Gordon appeased Welles with a gourmet chef and all his favorite foods and drinks, and the larger-than-life thesp then agreed to be at his director’s disposal!”

This great trivia comes from a great website, “DVDdrive-in.com” – see their entire review here!

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/reviews/n-s/necromancyblu72.htm

OK, so we can all agree that working with Orson Welles wasn’t easy for many people, but thanks to great home video companies, we can still enjoy some of his work, like in the classic “Necromancy!”

If you love finding obscure cult horror films like this, check out both websites I linked to, and also, check out this film:

“Girly” is so bad it’s fun!

Check out the campy horror fun of “Girly” by reading my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/15/killer-girly-sex-kitten-vanessa-howards-neglected-british-horror-thriller/

And if your idea of horror involves lesbians – and why not – then you should check this film out:

Yes, legendary cult Director Jess Franco’s lesbian vampire masterpiece is now out on a remaster blu-ray – read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/05/19/legendary-sex-kitten-soledad-miranda-ecstasy-vampyros-lesbos-new-cult-films-releases/

Let me know if you fancy “Necromancy!”

“Heat – A Los Angeles Crime Saga”

This 1995 Michael Mann film is a modern classic, one of the greatest action thrillers of the era, and also remembered for making motion picture history:

Amazingly, “Heat” was the first film to ever feature both Robert De Niro and Al Pacino acting together! They both starred in “The Godfather: Part II” in 1974, but their roles were for different eras in the family. When “Heat” was released in 1995, it was promoted as the film to offer the first De Niro/Pacino “showdown!”

Here is the trailer for Michael Mann’s film – with an incredible ensemble including Pacino and DeNiro, along with Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd and Natalie Portman:

Bravo To the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences!

The Academy just put on a great night with the creative team in front of and behind the camera of “Heat” – including a reunion of DeNiro and Pacino!

On September 7, 2016 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, a great discussion of the film was moderated by Christopher Nolan, the Director of “Interstellar” and the “Batman” trilogy!

Here is a clip from the event, where they discuss the famous “showdown” scene, which was shot at the legendary restaurant Kate Mantellini’s restaurant just blocks away from the event.

HEAT US 1995 AL PACINO ROBERT DE NIRO Date 1995, Photo by: Mary Evans/WARNER BROS / REGENCY ENTERPRISES/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection(10372929)

According to IMDB, Pacino revealed that for the scene in the restaurant between Hanna and McCauley, Robert De Niro felt that the scene should not be rehearsed so that the unfamiliarity between the two characters would seem more genuine. Michael Mann agreed, and shot the scene with no practice rehearsals.

Here is a great conversation between Pacino, DeNiro and Director Michael Mann where they discuss filming this iconic movie moment:

Posted by “Oscars” on YouTube – bravo! You can see more of these moments from he event as well – a great way to re-discover this classic film!

Oscar Snub!

Shockingly, “Heat” wasn’t even nominated for Best Picture in 1995….among the other snubs that year were “Dead Man Walking”, “Leaving Las Vegas”, “The Usual Suspects” and “Se7en”!

Here were the Best Picture Nominees: Apollo 13, Babe, Il Postino, Sense and Sensibility

The Best Picture Winner: Braveheart

Wow! Well, twenty+ years on, “Heat” is a classic, and the restaurant scene is a moment for movie history.

Al Pacino is one of my favorite Actors: of course, everyone knows him for this role:

Aside from “The Godfather” and “Scarface”, Pacino has made an incredible impression of cinema…including this masterpiece from the early 70’s:

Check out this great film also starring Gene Hackman – click on my story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/06/19/al-pacinos-a-junkie-a-scarecrow-classic-early-al-pacino-performances/

Of course, DeNiro was also in “The Godfather Part II” – but since he played the early Don Corleone, he and Pacino never worked together in the film:

DeNiro has created many iconic movie characters, but perhaps no one more mesmerizing than “Taxi Driver” Travis Bickle:

Here are some of my favorite movies starring DeNiro:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/21/travis-bickle-turns-40-taxi-driver-tribeca-screening-3-reasons-to-love-him-one-big-reason-to-hate/

Bravo once again to the Motion Picture Academy for putting on this great event – go to their YouTube channel to see more of the conversation!

Christina Applegate’s Mom Goes “Cruising” For Al Pacino!

OK, movie fans, here is a GREAT anecdote for you! First, the new bawdy comedy “Bad Moms” is a terrific way to spend 90 minutes – the cast is hilarious, the story takes a female point of view on all things “MOM” – including disgusting husbands and annoying kids – and how they decide to fight back!

Meet The Real Moms!

Better yet, the film ends on a terrific note: over closing credits, the cast is shown in individual interviews with their real-life Moms, candidly discussing the “bad” things their real-life Mothers did to their daughters when they were growing up.

Mila Kunis, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn and Christina Applegate all have funny and warm conversations with their Moms, but the best is when Applegate tells her “Cruising” story!

Christina explains that her Mom took her to the movies: but this time is was the controversial R-rated thriller “Cruising” – and Christina was 9 years old! Yes, Christina Applegate’s Mom took her 9-year old daughter to see THIS movie:

Literally “Cruising” For A Bruising!

If you don’t know what “Cruising” is all about, well, it was one of 1980’s most shocking movies!

“Cruising” was a very controversial directed by William Friedkin and starring Al Pacino…so how did Christina end up in the theater with her Mom watching Al Pacino doing this?

The “Bad Moms” stars share the screen in the closing credits with their real-life mothers – and it is here where Christina Applegate mentions that her mother took her to see this Al Pacino film when she was 9 years old. How did that happen? Easy!

“Al Pacino!”

The Actor’s name is a hilarious punchline in the credits, as Christina’s Mom explains that she loved Al Pacino, so when his latest film came out in 1980, off she went with her daughter in tow to see it – and here’s what she saw!

So here is the story of “Crusing”: a cop, played by Al Pacino, goes undercover in New York’s lurid gay bondage and S&M scene to uncover a killer.

Check out the trailer for this controversial thriller:

The film is explicitly violent, and also features some of the hardest sexual content you will see in an R-rated film at that time…

The gay community protested the film at the time, with pickets outside some theaters. It’s a shocking film, and certainly way more than any young girl should see. So why did Christina’s Mom take her to see it?

Christina laughs as she explains that her Mom was a huge Al Pacino fan – so of course she would see any film he was in, and take her daughter along with her! Her Mom had NO idea how rough the film was, and as Christina is telling this story, you suddenly hear:

“Al Pacino!”

Her Mom blurts out the Actors’ name as an explainer for her parenting choice – it was “Al Pacino!”

Bravo to the entire cast of “Bad Moms” for a very funny movie hit! All of the closing credit discussions are hilarious, but the Al Pacino stuff is classic!

Pacino is certainly a terrific Actor, and “Cruising” is a fascinating film – it’s on home video so check it out! Also, check out this conversation that Al Pacino recently had with Director Michael Mann and Robert DeNiro about their iconic crime drama”Heat”.

The entire cast took part in an Oscar chat – read it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/10/amazing-heat-reunion-deniro-pacino-showdown-new-oscar-face-off/

“Cruising” Director William Friedkin made some of the greatest films of the modern era, such as “The French Connection”, “The Exorcist” and “Sorcerer.”

Friedkin is a fearless Director, and he wrote a book about his Hollywood adventures.

Here is his terrific Autobiography:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/04/22/sorcerer-legendary-lost-classic-is-uncovered-on-blu-ray-the-friedkin-connection-rules/

Of course, he made the scariest film of all time, didn’t he?

I love this film – shocking and horrific, and of course one of the most memorable horror moments of all time, when young Regan “turns her head” to look at who entered the room:

Here is some terrific “Exorcist” trivia:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/10/31/the-shining-room-237-the-exorcist-the-greatest-horror-movies-ever-made/

Thanks to Christina Applegate’s Mom for keeping “Cruising” alive for a new generation!

From “O” To “007”!

Meet Corinne Clery – who went from not”O”rious to 007! Some of the best “Bond girls” from the past were outstanding Actresses with a fascinating body of work – and Clery is no different!

“O” My!

Cléry first came to prominence in the controversial movie “The Story of O” in 1975. The original book was published decades early, and is a notorious erotic novel about submission – the “50 Shades Of Gray” of its time…

She also modelled for the cover of French magazine Lui – holding a huge copy of the novel upon which the film is based! She was one of the most popular models in the 70’s…

A “Bond Girl” Too!

Cléry is also noted for playing Bond girl Corinne Dufour, antagonist Hugo Drax’s assistant, in the 1979 James Bond film “Moonraker.”

More Bond Connections!

She also starred with another Bond girl, Barbara Bach (who played Anya Amasova in “The Spy Who Loved Me”) and another Bond villain Richard Kiel (who played Bond villain Jaws) in the 1979 film “The Humanoid”.

Corinne graced the cover of many magazines in the 70’s, including one of Playboys international editions…and she was fearless in her movie choices, including this brutal thriller from 1977:

“Hitch Hike” also stars Franco Nero, and is an intense thriller about a couple who pick up the wrong hitchhiker…it’s a European film, and some of the foreign advertising was shocking for its time!

“Hitch Hike” is a great action film from he 70’s, but is full of graphic sexuality, including many shots of Clery like this:

You can read more about this obscure thriller by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/02/05/thumbs-up-knives-out-cult-classic-hitchhiking-exploitation/

One of Clery’s later roles was in the 1983 film “Yor, the Hunter from the Future” –

Clery hasn’t made a film in more than twenty years, but managed to achieve iconic status for her wide range of great work – in some very controversial movies…

Let me know how many of her films you’ve seen, and bravo to her for a terrific body of work!

If you want to see more “Bond girls”, how about this terrific Actress?

Caroline Munro was a great “Bond girl”, and you can see her great body of work here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/19/caroline-munro-from-sex-kitten-to-vincent-price-to-bond-girl-a-maniac-too/

Of course, the first “Bond girl” set the standard for great performances in 007 films:

Ursula Andress set the standard when she stepped out of the ocean in “Dr. No”…read all about her work here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/03/28/ursula-andress-or-undress-007s-first-bond-girl-60s-sex-kitten-frolicked-with-nature/

Let me know your favorite Bond girl!

“readin’ writing’ and radiation.”

Bravo to one of the great movie taglines of all time! Exploitation fans are well aware of the cult classic “The Class Of Nuke ’em High”, and you should know that Troma released their latest sequel, “Return To Nuke ’em High” two years ago!

If you need to be reminded of how great it was, here is a trailer in all its wacky glory!

Prepare For ‘Vol. 2’!”

In pure Troma fashion, founder Lloyd Kaufman devised a way to turn his film into a two-part masterpiece, much like “Hunger Games: Mockingjay 1 & 2.”

That’s right: “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2” is almost here! First, let’s tease you a bit. Here is the trailer:

Bring Lloyd Home!

Well, if not your actual house, how about movie theater in your town?

Lloyd wants to come to your city to personally screen his latest opus for you! That’s right, if you can get your local movie theater to screen “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2”, Lloyd’s willing to come to town and watch it with you and all of your Tromatic fans!

UNDATED – Photo of Lloyd and the Cretins, photo from the making of RTNH Vol. 1 Return to Nuke Em High Volume 1-HANDOUT Photo Courtesy of Mayfair Theatre

Support Independent Art!

As always, Troma must kick and scratch their way into movie theaters, because the mega chains are more interested in showing “Suicide Squad” on all twenty screens…but when fans cry out and show their support, Troma gets their due – and don’t you want to see THIS on a big screen?

There are a number of ways you can support Lloyd and his Tromatic bunch…most importantly, go to their website and buy some great movies like this!

You can also subscribe to their youtube channel and get some great movies there as well…see all of your options here:

http://www.troma.com

Don’t forget some of the great films you’ve seen because of Lloyd:

Get Social!

Make sure to follow Lloyd and all of the Troma force on Twitter:

@lloydkaufman

@Troma_Team

@tromacathy

@TromaArmy

Troma is the longest-running independent film company in America – thanks in part to this guy:

“The Toxic Avenger” is Troma’s masterwork…there is no way anyone can make it better….well, unless you happen to have made THIS:

That’s right, “The Toxic Avenger” is being remade by the Co-Director Of “Sausage Party!” Read the entire story here:

http://deadline.com/2016/09/the-toxic-avenger-remake-sausage-party-co-director-conrad-vernon-storyscape-entertainment-1201814509/

Some of you read my story about how my wife, Alex, co-created the Troma character “Dolphinman” with James Gunn, the Director of “Guardians Of The Galaxy”…

We met James at the Cannes Film Festival when he was working with Lloyd, and Dolphinman began as a skit on “Sex On The Riviera” for E! You can read all about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/06/04/james-gunn-the-origin-of-tromas-dolphinman-wrestlers-v-zombies-new-tromatic-classics/

If all of this makes you want more Troma movies, well, I’ve got a list of some of the greatest of all time, like this:

Here is my list of Tromatc masterpieces – see how many you already own:

https://johnrieber.com/2012/02/11/tromas-top-ten-the-tromatic-classics-unveiled/

You must click on the story to see if this made the list:

Make sure to reach out to Troma and get “Return To Nuke ’em High Vol. 2” in your town!

RIP To “The Godfather Of Gore”!

Just another day on set for Herschel Gordon Lewis! He was a superb Marketer, who published many books on the subject – and yet will always be remembered by exploitation movie fans as “The Godfather Of Gore!”

Why? Well, here’s a clue:

“Nothing So Appalling In The Annals Of Horror!”

Talk about truth in advertising! This film IS appalling – but a milestone in cinema history as well! “Blood Feast” is considered one of the greatest exploitation achievements – daring to shock audiences in a way no one else had at the time!

In 1964, this film SHOCKED the world with its depiction of bloody violence and sexual situations – take a look at the classic trailer, which you are told right at the top, is:

“Truly One Of The Most Unusual Ever Filmed!”

Yep, this is the first time anyone dared to film such mayhem and madness. Flaunting all movie codes, Lewis made “Blood Feast” for around $50,000 – and it grossed millions! Yes, it’s not a great movie, but in a really fun way to watch – and at the time, it really blew the doors off grindhouse theaters across the country!

The plot is simple: A crazy Egyptian caterer named “Ramses” collects body parts from young maidens in order to bring Ishtar, an ancient goddess of good and evil back to life. And he does it with VERY BIG EYES!

This film was a shocking sensation, thanks to some very clever marketing. Legendary Grindhouse Producer David F. Friedman came up with some very effective publicity stunts for “Blood Feast”, which included giving moviegoers vomit bags reading:

“You may need this when you see ‘Blood Feast'”!

Lewis went on to make another classic exploitation film soon after:

“Gruesomely Stained In Blood Color!”

“Two Thousand Maniacs” is also a classic 60’s exploitation film. As you can see, Lewis was a master at marketing shock to audiences across the country – and he built himself a fan base that lasted for decades!

Lewis made a slew of classic exploitation in the 60’s and 70’s – films with titles like “She Devils On Wheels”, “The Wizard Of Gore” and “The Gore Gore Girls”, and even a film called “Something Weird”:

A terrific Seattle-based home video company used that for their business title, and released a number of great Lewis exploitation on home video…see more about that company and their incredible catalog here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/01/07/something-weird-wild-wild-cinema-celebrating-a-weird-genius-rip-mike-vraney/

Herschell Gordon Lewis wrote dozens of marketing books, was a great success in that field, and was known to be a great person as well, but his crowning achievement will always be “Blood Feast”:

RIP to “The Godfather Of Gore!”

“A lot of strange things happen in this world. Things you don’t know about in Grand Rapids. Things you don’t want to know about. Doors that shouldn’t be opened.”

Welcome to the seedy world of “Hardcore.” This riveting thriller from 1979 stars George C. Scott as a religious man from Grand Rapids who heads to Hollywood to search for his missing teenage daughter.

This is a rough, rough movie – that exposed very real XXX-locations in Los Angeles. Here is the trailer, which makes it clear you are in for a provocative movie experience:

“Turn it off! Turn if off! TURN IT OFF!”

Of course, the father is stunned when he finds out what happened to his daughter, and this moment in the movie theater, when he see the stag film she’s in, is shocking.

Now of course in this modern era of the internet, this scene was shared for a very different reason a few years ago: someone posted it claiming that it was showing the reaction of a viewer watching the new Adam Sandler film “Jack And Jill!” Bravo, internet, bravo!

“Hardcore” Goes Hardcore!

The production filmed on-location at actual real-life sex shops, strip clubs, porno theaters, massage parlors and adult film studios in LA and San Francisco in the late 70’s – all of which are seen in the movie.

“Oh my God, that’s my daughter!”

That is certainly a compelling movie poster – powerful, controversial, shocking. Except that George C. Scott NEVER SAYS THOSE WORDS IN THE FILM!

Great ad though!

Director Paul Schrader Gets Dirty!

The Director of “Hardcore” was Paul Schrader, who wrote “Taxi Driver” about the very seedy streets of New York. This film continued his look at the seamy side of the 70’s.

According to the great movie website IMDB.com:

“George C. Scott and director Paul Schrader did not get along, so much so that at one point Scott refused to come out of his trailer and threatened to quit the film. Scott only agreed to come out after forcing Schrader to promise that he would never direct again!”

Schrader did, of course direct again, but how hilarious is that story?

The picture above also shows Actress Season Hubley, who plays an adult movie performer who helps Scott look for his daughter. Here is a very raw scene where he wants to talk to her at her “job”:

He’s in a “peepshow” room with a metal door that slides up to reveal Hubley – once he has paid his money, here is what he sees:

Peter Boyle also stars in the film – it’s not a perfect movie, but it is raw, gritty and fascinating to watch – all of those massage parlors and adult theaters were real!

Twilight Time just released a great Blu-ray – a pristine copy of the film along with a couple of audio commentaries, including one from the Director!

Read a great review of the film, and an in-depth look at the audio commentary with Director Paul Schrader, by clicking here:

http://trailersfromhell.com/hardcore/#.V98UPzv5Pwx

I look forward to watching this again while listening to the commentary…and if you forgot just how provocative Schrader is, remember that he wrote THIS:

The brilliant “Taxi Driver” is forty years old! Read about the great reunion that was held by clicking here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/21/travis-bickle-turns-40-taxi-driver-tribeca-screening-3-reasons-to-love-him-one-big-reason-to-hate/

Schrader continues to make films – in fact, he waded into the “hardcore” pool again:

Schrader directed Lindsay Lohan, along with controversial Adult performer James Deen, in “The Canyons”…check it out here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/15/lindsay-lohan-from-mean-girl-to-the-canyons/

If you want to see 70’s films that are shocking and provocative, here’s another film from that era that was controversial:

Al Pacino cruised New York’s underground gay S&M clubs in the 1980 thriller “Cruising” – see why “Bad Moms” has made it relevant again by clicking here!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/13/cruising-the-bad-moms-al-pacinos-christina-applegate-cruising-connection-explained/

Let me know what you think of “Hardcore.”

“Nudge Nudge Wink Wink…Say No More, Say No More…”

One classic genre of movie that needs to be embraced is “Brit-sploitation” – comedies that make fun of – and embrace – the very British take on sex – because they are coming back, thanks to the digital revolution!

The Brits had a steady stream of comedic sex comedies in the 70’s, including a series that was based on books by Timothy Lea. That’s right, our friends in England grew up with a series of “sex comedies” that were based on all sort of dirty “confessions”!

In the US, the early wave of sexploitation always involved murder and mayhem, along with tons of nudity. For the Brits, their 70’s sexploitation films were comedies!

Confessions Of A Driving Instructor

This “confessions” series saw star Timothy Lea always get involved in “randy” sex romps, like this one, when he and his brother-in-law Sidney decide to open a driving school as their latest get-rich-quick scheme.

“Hey, Is That A Stick Shift, Or…?”

Cue just about any sexual innuendo you like, because that is what drove these films to success! Though he sincerely wants to teach, young Timmy finds that his female students are far more interested in keeping their eyes on him than on the road! Of COURSE they are!

Check out this vintage trailer:

See more classic clips and pics here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/09/30/confessions-of-the-sex-obsessed-british-70s-cult-sex-comedies-are-back/

And if you want to keep it “naughty” – check this out!

“We guarantee a laugh a minute in the zaniest film you’ve EVER seen!”

How can you argue with a “laugh a minute?” Especially when it’s from one of James Bond’s best Directors!

Time to look at a classic British sex comedy, shaken NOT stirred!

Here’s the plot: a scriptwriter, a producer and a director are called in by Benny Murdoch, an exotic movie producer. He wants to make a new erotic movie starring a big woman – “Eskimo Nell!”

As with all classic sex farces, there are plenty of problems. The scriptwriter is a virgin, and each of the three main big $$$ Investors want a different type of movie – one wants a western, another demands an erotic drama, and the last wants a kung-fu movie!

This is classic British sex farce, which means Monty Python-type comedy and lots of nudity! It was directed by Martin Campbell, who went on to make the great /bond film “GoldenEye”!

See more of the “Eskimo Nell” craziness here:

Sexy “Eskimo Nell”! Erotic “Keep It Up Downstairs”! Classic British Sex Comedies! James Bond’s Naughty Director!

Not all of England’s “brit-sploitation” films were comedies – one was a campy horror story!

Wait until you uncover the wacky antics of this campy cult horror class known as “Girly!” I mean, you have to celebrate a neglected horror movie that had the audacity to originally be called:

“MUMSY, SONNY, NANNY AND GIRLY!”

Yes, “Girly!” is obscure cinema of the highest order – and time to also acknowledge and appreciate British sex kitten Vanessa Howard!

Vanessa Howard starred in a number of acclaimed horror films in the early 70’s, but never achieved mainstream success…

Her big hit was the wacky film “Girly”, which Variety described as:

“A macabre combo of Disney and Hammer films!”

Adolescent brother and sister Girly and Sonny live in a decaying countryside mansion run by their Mumsy and their maid-attired Nanny – hence the original wacky title!

See more of this wackiness here:

https://johnrieber.com/2014/10/15/killer-girly-sex-kitten-vanessa-howards-neglected-british-horror-thriller/

Let me know your favorite campy Brit-sploitation movies!

It’s “Shock-tober” – a month to celebrate horror for 31 days – I will share one shocking Halloween movie with you every single day of the month –

Don’t scream, it will be fun! All thirty-one of these movies capture what makes Halloween so much fun – because we all love to be scared, shocked and unnerved in the dark – and what better way to kick it off than with one of the greatest, and most unsettling horror experiences ever:

Fire Up Your Chainsaws!

Let’s begin with what many consider the most “horrifically raw” horror film of all time! “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is not only an iconic horror film – it was groundbreaking for it’s “documentary” feel, and a great way to kick off “Shocktober!”

First, check out the iconic trailer:

What A Classic Shocker!

Director Tobe Hooper offered up a new vision of horror in 1974, when his film was so raw that many people thought it was real!

The plot is simple: five teenagers in a car have a couple of strange encounters before ending up at an old family home…where the horror begins!

Say Hello To “Leatherface!”

Gunnar Hansen played “Leatherface”, one of the most shocking characters in movie history – the “raw” feel of the movie made it almost impossible to watch – especially when they are invited to the family “dinner”…

According to the great IMDB website, Director Tobe Hooper claims to have gotten the idea for the film while standing in the hardware section of a crowded store. While thinking of a way to get out through the crowd, he spotted the chainsaws!

Gunnar “Leatherface” Hansen hit his head on doorways and other objects several times during the shoot because the Leatherface mask severely limited his peripheral vision and the three-inch heels he wore made his 6’4″ frame too high to clear all obstacles!

Horrific – But No Blood!

The most shocking thing about “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is that it isn’t very bloody! As IMDB reports:

“This is because Tobe Hooper intended to make the movie for a “PG” rating, by keeping violence moderate, language mild, and having most of the horror implied offscreen rather than shown in great detail onscreen. However, this plan had actually backfired, and made the film even more horrifying. Because despite cutting and repeated submissions, the Ratings Board insisted on an “X” rating!”

This movie is almost TOO intense to watch, which is why it has become such a horror classic…and a great way to kick off “Shocktober 2016!”

Iconic Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis Loves Shock-tober!

Day three of our countdown of 31 shocking horror films to celebrate “Shocktober 2016” – the greatest horror films of all time!

Jamie Lee Curtis will forever be our favorite “Scream Queen” – because she had to take on THIS GUY!

Jamie Lee Curtis has made a lot of good movies over the years, but she got her start in the horror slasher genre, and those films are great as well! Let’s take a look at three of her best horror films – beginning with Jamie Lee’s first feature film – when she was paid a reported $8,000 for her efforts!

Halloween!

“The Night HE Came Home!”

A classic tagline for what many consider the best “Halloween” movie of all time!

Director John Carpenter’s horror masterpiece just keeps getting better over time.
The plot is a masterclass in simplicity: After killing his older sister, a young boy is institutionalized – but when psychopath Michael Myers escapes, he returns home to terrorize a babysitter and her friends!

Here is the trailer:

“Halloween” is, without a doubt, one of the most terrifying slasher films ever, and the film’s success in 1978 opened the door to a wave of slasher films that changed horror forever…

“Halloween” was Jamie Lee’s movie debut, and Director John Carpenter considered hiring her as the ultimate tribute to Alfred Hitchcock – since Hitchcock cast Jamie Lee’s Mother, Janet Leigh, in his horror classic “Psycho”.

Now you can see where Jamie Lee got her “scream queen” title from! The young Actress became so well known as America’s newest scream queen that she even had a book written about it!

William Shatner, Psycho Killer!

Here is some great trivia, provided by IMDB: Due to “Halloween”‘s shoestring budget, the prop department had to use the cheapest $2 mask that they could find in the costume store: a Star Trek (1966) William Shatner mask. They later spray-painted the face white, teased out the hair, and reshaped the eye holes!

Shatner admitted that for years he had no idea his likeness was used for this film. It was only during an interview that someone mentioned his mask was being used. He has since stated that he is honored by this gesture!

Michael Myers is one of cinema’s great psychos, and what makes “Halloween” work so well is that you truly root for Jamie Lee to survive – a tribute to how well she acted in her movie debut – which IMDB says paid her $8,000 for starring in the film!

Among the great bits of trivia about this film, Director Carpenter also wrote the haunting score! The “Halloween” theme is written in the rare 5/4 time signature. John Carpenter learned this rhythm from his father!

So “Shocktober 2016” is off to a bloody start…and if you missed the beginning, it all begins here:

Yes, hold your chainsaws high as “Shocktober 2016” kicked off with the classic horror of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” – see that vintage trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

Day two took us on a tour of a VERY haunted house:

Check out legendary Actor George C. Scott in this great haunted house film – see more here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

Bravo to John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis for delivering one of Shocktober’s great horror films ever!

Eli Roth Welcomes You To Shocktober Day #4!

Yes, Director Roth could be on this list many times – for the classic “Hostel”, his debut “Cabin Fever” – even for his terrific thriller “Knock Knock” with Keanu Reeves – but I chose his homage to the legendary shocker “Cannibal Holocaust!”

“Have you ever had fantasies of saving a tribe?”

Great question! It’s the stuff of horror legend: eager young environmentalists go into the Amazon with the best intentions: to save noble tribes…but things never go as planned, do they?

And for our latest Shocktober film, Roth proves that “good intentions” are NEVER appreciated – especially in the cannibalistic Amazon!

Director Eli Roth delivered a vicious little horror film last year that paid homage to one of the most controversial movies ever made!

Here is the trailer for Eli Roth’s “The Green Inferno”:

This is going to be one shocking trip up river! It’s the story of young activists who travel deep into the Amazon to save the rain forest…

This is extreme horror from a Master of the genre, and Roth is leaning on some of the most shocking influences in film. Here is some great behind-the-scenes info on the movie.

Director Roth filmed “The Green Inferno” in an Amazonian village with no electricity or running water, only accessible by motorboat. The village was so remote the natives had never before seen a movie or television.

To get permission to film with them, Roth’s producers brought a generator, television and DVD player in order to show the tribe what a movie was!

And What Did Roth Show Them? Home Movies!

Eli Roth is known for “Cabin Fever” and “Hostel” – aggressively shocking films – so what does he show these tribal folks? How about a film that shows them as savage cannibals! Yes, Roth showed them “Cannibal Holocaust!”

More on this shocking film in a moment. According to the great website IMDB, when Roth shows them the movie – the first film they EVER saw – the natives thought it was a comedy and agreed to let Roth and crew film there. Nearly the entire village signed up after the screening to play cannibals!

“The Green Inferno” was filmed in some of the most remote locations in the world.
All of the cast agreed to get yellow fever vaccinations before filming, and agree to make the film in the deepest amazonian jungle, surrounded by tarantulas, snakes, and venomous frogs!

Eli’s “Cannibal” Homage!

The plot of “Green Inferno” is heavily influxes by 1980’s “Cannibal Holocaust”…

According to IMDB: “in addition to being one of Eli Roth’s favorite horror films and one that inspired his directing career, “The Green Inferno” was actually the working title that Director Ruggero Deodato used when he was making that movie; it was changed to something more bluntly descriptive and shocking (particularly with the use of the word “Holocaust”).”

And thanks to “Popcorntaxi” on YouTube, here is a great conversation with Roth where he discusses “Inferno” along with his previous films, “Holocaust” and horror in general:

Kudos to Roth for taking extreme cinema back into the jungle, inspired by:

“The Most Controversial Film Of All Time!”

WARNING! THIS FILM IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART!

If you do not know about “Cannibal Holocaust”, maybe you should stop right here. It is known as the most controversial film ever released, and there are good reasons for it!

The plot is simple: A New York University professor returns from a rescue mission to the Amazon rainforest with the footage shot by a lost team of documentarians who were making a film about the area’s local cannibal tribes.

WARNING! The trailer is somewhat graphic!

Yes, “Cannibal Holocaust” is one of the first “found film” movies ever released! The shocking aspect of the film begins with this Professor finding footage showing what happened to a film crew that disappears in the Amazon.

It’s difficult to shown most of the images from the film, it is just that shocking. But it is also a film that has been rescued from infamy with a new blu-ray release that puts the movie in context.

I am not going to show the front cover of the blu-ray release, as the imagery is just too shocking – and that led to a fascinating story at the time of the film’s release in Italy:

Here is a great fact about the movie from the “UnbelievableFacts” blog:

Here is how IMDB describes what happened:

“Ten days after its premiere in Milan, the film was seized by the Italian courts, and director Ruggero Deodato was arrested and charged with obscenity. He was later charged with murdering several actors on camera, and faced life in prison. The cast had signed contracts requiring them to disappear for a year after shooting, to maintain the illusion that they’d died. Deodato contacted Luca Barbareschi and told him to contact the three other actors who played the missing film team. When the actors appeared in court, alive and well, the murder charges were dropped!”

That’s right, he had to bring the movie’s cast into court to prove he hadn’t killed them on camera!

Whether you ever want to see this film, or likely NOT – you have to understand the role that “Cannibal Holocaust” played in horror film history, and why Eli Roth is paying homage to it!

And here is the best fact of all:

“In actuality, there are no cannibalistic tribes in the Amazon!”

Ha!

“The Green Inferno” will speak to horror aficionados who are willing to go to the edge of the cinematic cliff: films that are shocking and NOT for everyone…if you want a fun thriller that is less edgy, then try this:

Last year Roth also delivered “Knock Knock”, a fun thriller starring Keanu Reeves…read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/08/knock-after-sexy-knock-keanu-reeves-halloween-horror-sex-charged-death-game-eli-roths-erotic-thriller/

Bravo to Eli Roth on this 4th day of Shocktober 2016 – for delivering lots of great thrills!

And don’t forget to check out the other films being highlighted this Shocktober 2016 – beginning with scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/03/shocktober-day-3-screams-halloween-scream-queen-jamie-lee-curtis/

Shocktober Gets Bloody Naked!

As we head into day #5 of our “Shocktober” fun, I need to share a warning:

NUDITY AND CULT EROTIC HORROR AHEAD!

Yes, I need to warn you that some of the images to follow include nudity – because this story is about a time when movie studios were desperate to keep up with the times, and if a horror film was going to connect with an audience, it had to look current even if it took place in the past!

Yes, the 70’s were a time when all rules were thrown out the window as movie studios struggled to stay current…and this was how one iconic horror studio took timeless horror stories and sexed them up!

It’s Hammer Time!

Hammer films became legendary in the 50’s and 60’s by offering up vintage horror tales with Dracula, Frankenstein, and lots of medieval atmosphere!

However, by the 70’s, movie studios were amping up the sex and violence, and that meant taking a classic horror genre and spicing it up!

And guess what? It worked! Let’s look at some of Hammer’s best erotic horror films from the 70’s – the golden age of naked horror!

Celebrate Shocktober With The Karnstein Trilogy!

If you want a bit of sex and nudity along with your shocks and scares, then I have just the trilogy for you!

The Karnstein Trilogy was based loosely on J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s early vampire novella Carmilla. These three films were a major step forward for Hammer – as they showed some of the most explicit scenes of lesbianism yet seen in mainstream English language films!

The Vampire Lovers (1970) – “Taste The Deadly Passion Of The Blood-Nymphs!”

First, check out this classic movie trailer!

Here’s the simple plot: The Countess is called away to tend a sick friend – so she asks her friend the General to let her daughter Marcilla stay as a house guest. Of course, soon villagers begin dying, and the General’s daughter Laura gets weak and pale – but Marcilla is there to comfort her. Like I said, Hammer went lesbian!

Of course the villagers rebel, more people die, and there is a lot of nudity and female-on-female vampire action, thanks to Marcilla…

Marcilla: You must die! Everybody must die!

Legendary Horror Actor Peter Cushing starred in the film as well, and got to hold some fun props:

Baron Joachim von Hartog: They were all evil and remain evil after death!

They sure are…and, in trying to be more contemporary, there were plenty of scenes that allowed the Actresses the chance to “work” together:

I love the posters of this era, including this one from overseas:

After the success of “The Vampire Lovers”, another film in the series quickly followed…

Lust for a Vampire (1971)

“Welcome To The Finishing School – Where They Really DO Finish You!”

How can you argue with THAT? Check out the trailer:

In 1830, forty years to the day since the last manifestation of their dreaded vampirism, the Karnstein heirs use the blood of an innocent to bring forth the evil that is the beautiful Mircalla – or as she was in 1710, Carmilla.

The nearby Finishing School offers rich pickings not only in in the blood of nubile young ladies but also with the headmaster who is desperate to become Mircalla’s disciple. Again, lots of beautiful women taking their clothes off for the sake of horror.

The film has a cult following, and its most famous scene shows Actress Yutte Stensgaard drenched in blood and partially covered by blood-soaked rags…a good look for a horror film…

Hammer films began to showcase much more flesh to go along with the blood, which was their only way to compete against the more modern films of the time…

As good as “The Vampire Lovers” and “Lust For A Vampire” were, the masterpiece of the three was the final film in the trilogy…and as you can see from the poster, they were selling it on explicitness!

Twins of Evil (1971) – AKA “Twins Of Dracula!”

“In Old Gothic Europe They Had Two Burning Passions: Witch Hunting and Devil Worship!”

They sure do, no matter which title you use – because they used them both! Let’s check it out:

“Twins of Evil” starred Peter Cushing, along with the real-life twins and former Playboy Playmates Mary and Madeleine Collinson. Yes, the twins had been in Playboy in October, 1970 – and Hammer saw a smart commercial idea when they saw one – put them in a horror movie and make them wear lots of lingerie!

It is the third film of The Karnstein Trilogy, based on the vampire tale Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu. The film has the least resemblance to the novel and adds a witch hunting theme to the vampire story.

Much of the interest of the film revolves around the contrasting evil and good natures of two beautiful sisters, Frieda and Maria Gellhorn. Of course, all of the publicity shots focused on the twins in all their sexy glory…

The plot allowed plenty of opportunity for the girls to undress – and of course, for one of them to be EVIL…

As you can see, the twins were front and center for nudity and bloodletting…

While I love a good “nude Shocktober”, let’s not also forget it is a month for shocks, shocks, SHOCKS!

Luckily, Eli Roth remembers that, and delivered a shocking tale of cannibal horror – which was day #4 of Shocktober:

Check out this master of horror here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/04/shocktober-day-4-goes-cannibalistic-enter-the-green-inferno-ei-roths-cannibal-holocaust-homage/

And never forget that this is one of the most iconic images in horror history:

I began “Shocktober 2016” with a look at one of the most horrific movies ever made – check out the story behind “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

On this 5th day of “Shocktober 2016” – enjoy this trilogy of blood and lust as we countdown the best of “Shocktober!”

“I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.”

Who Likes Clowns? NO One!

It’s a very unsettling time right now, as new stories from a ross the country are reporting strange Clowns terrorizing people – is it a prank gone bad – or something worse?

News reports from all across the country are telling of bizarre and unsettling clown sightings – and pictures are all over the internet – like this:

Which brings us to Shocktober day #6 – which celebrate all the evil that Clowns represent – beginning with this guy!

It: “I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.”

Stephen King’s “It!”

Halloween season wouldn’t be complete without a visit from one of Stephen King’s greatest monsters!

There have been many great Stephen King movie adaptations: everything from “Carrie” to “The Shining”, and a whole bunch in between…but, with creepy clowns in the news every day, we should give credit where credit is due – King gave us the creepiest all!

In 1960, a group of social outcasts who are bullied by a gang of greasers lead by Henry Bowers are also tormented by an evil demon who can shapeshift into a clown and feed on children’s fears and kill them. He is known as Pennywise…

STEPHEN KING’S IT, Tim Curry, 1990

After defeating the demonic clown as kids, it resurfaces 30 years later and they must finish it off as adults once again. Of COURSE they do!

Tim Curry IS Pennywise!

Tim Curry, best known for his iconic role in “The Rocky Horror Show”, steals this show as well…check out the trailer…

It: “Let go. Be afraid. You all taste so much better when you’re afraid.”

On the DVD commentary track, the actors note that Tim Curry’s characterization of Pennywise was so creepy and realistic that everyone avoided him during the filming.

Tim Curry was reluctant to take the role of Pennywise initially because he didn’t relish the thought of being buried under so much makeup. When he played Darkness in Legend, it was a difficult and demanding role, and the hours in makeup was still fresh in his mind. To compromise, Tommy Lee Wallace minimized the amount of makeup on Curry, and a lot wasn’t necessary anyway because Curry’s performance was so strong.

Everyone I ask goes right to Tim Curry’s performance in “It” as one of the most unsettling they have seen…

Now, time for a different kind of KLOWN:

Killer Klowns from Outer Space!

What a camp classic! Check out the trailer!

When a small town is invaded by aliens from outer space who are capturing and killing the townspeople, no one takes them seriously. Why? The aliens all look like circus clowns, use weapons that look clown like, and all have painted on smiles!

This is a feisty little thriller with tongue in bloody cheek!

How can you argue with dialogue like this:

Debbie Stone: “We were up at “the top of the world” and we saw this shooting star and we decided to go look for it. But instead of finding the shooting star we saw this… this circus tent. And that’s when we went inside, and that is when we saw those people in those… those pink, cotton candy cocoons. Dave, it was not a circus tent. It was something else.”
Dave Hanson: “What? What?”

Mike Tobacco: “It was a space ship. And there was these things, these killer clowns, and they shot popcorn at us! We barely got away!”
Curtis Mooney: “Killer clowns, from outer space. Holy shit!”

And it’s got Dean Wormer from “Animal House!”

Campy, fun and timeless, and these clowns still look like Klowns you don’t want to wake up to!

“Killer Klowns From Outer Space” is regarded as a cult classic for campy clown films.

Of course, there is so much more to enjoy in “Shocktober”, like this classic haunted house movie! See the trailer for “The Changeling” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

If you like your horror with more of an “erotic” twist, well I have you covered – in blood!

See this incredible trilogy of erotic horror here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/05/shocktober-day-5-gets-bloody-and-naked-lust-for-a-vampire-erotic-horror-trilogy/

Finally, if you need a little cannibal action this Halloween, I’ve got you covered as well:

Enter Eli Roth’s shocking “Green Inferno” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/04/shocktober-day-4-goes-cannibalistic-enter-the-green-inferno-ei-roths-cannibal-holocaust-homage/

Enjoy Shocktober day #6 – Pennywise demands it!

You Don’t Have To Go To Texas For A Chainsaw Massacre!

Well, that’s helpful to know. It also helps to know this:

“While we out fiddling with that music, the lousy bastard was in there killing her! BASTARD! BAAAAASTAAARD! BASTAAARD!”

And with that classic dialogue, it is time to celebrate day #7 of “Shocktober 2016” with the incredible over-the-top bad taste and great grind house entertainment that is:

“Pieces!” It’s Exactly What You Think It Is!

How can you go wrong with a poster like that! And look at this one, which includes a special line underneath the title on the left:

“AN IMPORTANT FILM”

Indeed!

“Pieces” is a notorious shocker from 1981 that was banned in several counties, and included some of the bloodiest scenes in motion picture history! In fact, look how they chose to promote the film:

It always begins with a young boy who is traumatized…flash forward to college, when young co-eds are being cut up by a chainsaw killer! The madman is attempting to put together a human jigsaw puzzle made from body parts – “PIECES!”

In the 80’s, horror films turned very violent, with slasher movies turning screens blood red:

This era may not have produced great films, but they were shocking and fun to watch, perhaps no more so that this classic:

Linnea Quigley was a big star of 80’s horror, and you can read more about her here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/10/28/scream-queen-linnea-quigley-naked-graveyard-dancing-horror-demons-too/

If you love this era of film, then the newly remastered Blu-Ray version of “Pieces” is for you!

Grindhouse Releasing has a great special edition of “Pieces” on Blu-Ray, including the U.S. theatrical and Spanish versions of the film, and a bonus video of American horror director Eli Roth presenting a theatrical screening of Pieces to a Los Angeles cult audience!

Roth most recently directed his homage to the 80’s cannibal films, “The Green Inferno.” You can read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/09/05/enter-the-green-inferno-eli-roths-homage-to-shocking-cannibal-holocaust/

Perhaps the greatest extra bonus on the new “Pieces” release is this:

42ND STREET MEMORIES: All-new feature-length documentary about the legendary “Grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street, including interviews with Bill Lustig, Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeff Lieberman, John Skipp, Lynn Lowry, Terry Levine and other exploitation icons!

This was a fascinating era in movie history: Time Square lit up with theaters playing the wildest sexploitation movies of the time, suavely 24 hours a day!

I can’t wait to see this new documentary, and if you want to see some of the greatest “grind house” films of the era, you can check out my story here:

Sexy “Honey”! Dirty “Brine!” Grindhouse Classics, “Prurient” Style!

Folks, these were some wild wild films!

42nd Street was a seedy, dangerous place in the 70’s and 80’s, and the movies had to deliver!

Here are some more of the classic movies of that era:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/06/12/dirty-keyholes-immoral-wives-the-naked-truth-about-cult-grindhouse-cinema/

You see, the films were full of sex and violence, and legend has it that the movie theaters of Times Square were as well! That meant you need films like this to keep the customers satisfied:

Lurid, pandering, and usually hilariously bad, these films are worth checking out just to see how gullible the public was at the time! Here are a few more great examples:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/07/02/70s-sin-ema-massage-parlor-murders-ursula-gets-naked-gritty-grindhouse-classics/

So much scary stuff to share, but perhaps nothing as shocking as this:

Yes, “real life” clowns are terrorizing America! It’s one of the most unsettling things to happen right now – read about it here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/06/real-shocking-creepy-clowns-killer-klowns-shocktober-day-6-is-it-pennywise-is-torn-from-todays-headlines/

I prefer my horror to be confined to a movie or TV screen – not outside my door!

So celebrate the month of “Shocktober” – let me know if you are falling to “Pieces!”

Rosemary Woodhouse: What have you done to him? What have you done to his eyes, you maniacs!
Roman Castevet: HE HAS HIS FATHER’S EYES…

Talk about horror!

Time To Get Shocktober’d By Satan!

The 8th day of “Shocktober” is here – time to celebrate one of the greatest horror films ever made – the classic shocker:

Rosemary’s Baby!

This CLASSIC horror film offers up the tag line:

“Pray For Rosemary’s Baby…”

First, check out the trailer, which sets up the premise of this classic horror film well:

Mia Farrow is Rosemary, and John Cassavetes is her husband Guy Woodhouse – they move into an apartment in a building with a bad reputation. Their neighbors are a very friendly elderly couple named Roman and Minnie Castevet…yes, VERY FRIENDLY, and Guy begins to spend a lot of time with them.

Strange things start to happen: a woman Rosemary meets in the laundry dies a mysterious death, Rosemary has strange dreams and hears strange noises and Guy becomes remote and distant. And of course, there is that horrifying dream about lovemaking she can’t shake…

Then Rosemary gets pregnant and begins to suspect that her neighbors have special plans for her child. Oh, she also has the WORST pregnancy of all time!

Roman Polanski’s City Horror!

Director Roman Polanski uses the city of New York as a character – every building looks evil, and the city in a sense swallows Farrow up and is part of the conspiracy against her…

When Farrow was reluctant to film a scene that depicted a dazed and preoccupied Rosemary wandering into the middle of a Manhattan street into oncoming traffic, Polanski pointed to her pregnancy padding and reassured her, “no one’s going to hit a pregnant woman”. The scene was successfully shot with Farrow walking into real traffic and Polanski following, operating the hand-held camera since he was the only one willing to do it.

Cue Evil Frank Sinatra!

It was on the set of this film that Mia Farrow received divorce papers from then-husband Frank Sinatra. He was angry that filming was taking too long and demanded she quit the film. When she didn’t, he divorced her!

Back to the horror onscreen –

This movie build to a shocking climax, as Rosemary knows that something is wrong – very wrong, with her baby…

Rosemary Woodhouse: What have you done to him? What have you done to his eyes, you maniacs!
Roman Castevet: He has his father’s eyes.

The Criterion Collection has a special release including the following:

New high-definition digital restoration, approved by director Roman Polanski, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray edition

New interviews with Director Roman Polanski, actor Mia Farrow, and producer Robert Evans

What a great way to celebrate Shocktober 2016! If you need more proof, I have a few “PIECES” of information to share:

Yes, this classic 80’s shocker will fill your Shocktober nicely – see the original shocking trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/07/shocktober-day-7-pieces-of-cult-80s-bloody-halloween-2016-horror/

If you like your Halloween a bit less bloody, but still full of great scares, check this out:

This great “haunted house” film stars the iconic George C. Scott – you can see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

And recently, America has been “spooked” by the appearance of real evil clowns:

Wow! There are a few great Halloween “evil clown” films to check out, and you can see them here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/06/real-shocking-creepy-clowns-killer-klowns-shocktober-day-6-is-it-pennywise-is-torn-from-todays-headlines/

Let me know if you are planning to invite “Rosemary” to your house this Shocktober!

Meet The Fiery Horror Of “The Wicker Man!”

As The Beatles once said: “number nine, number nine, number nine…”

On this 9th day of Shocktober 2016, let’s celebrate the Halloween season with a horrific story of sacrifice – “Wicker Man” style!

“Do sit down, Sergeant. Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent.”

The Wicker Man!

One of the most unique horror films of the 1970’s came from England, where acclaimed Writer Anthony Shaffer unveiled the story of a young girl’s disappearance, and one Detective’s efforts to find her…

“FLESH TO TOUCH! FLESH TO BURN! DON’T KEEP THE WICKER MAN WAITING!”

There are times when words simply cannot describe the “power of strange” – this cult classic is simply one of the strangest films ever made – and spawned possibly the worst remake of all time!

First, here is the trailer for the original:

Police Sergeant Howie, played by Edward Woodward, is called to an island village in search of a missing girl whom the locals claim never existed. While conducting his investigation, he uncovers so much more…

Christopher Lee in Robin HardyÕs THE WICKER MAN (1973). Courtesy: Rialto Pictures/ Studiocanal

Veteran horror film Actor Christopher Lee is Lord Summerisle, and as always, Lee is in top form as the leader of this stage island…

Britt Ekland was immediately launched into movie infamy as Willow…a “free spirit” who performs one of the strangest and yes, “most naked” dances in movie history…

Britt Or No Britt?

While the Actress achieved notoriety for the naked dance, it was revealed later that the nude scene was a body double…but the dancing is all her…according to IMDB, “a body double was secretly used for the naked rear shots of Willow dancing. The scenes were filmed after Britt Ekland had left the set. The body double was used because Ekland would only agree to topless shots of her body. After shooting was over, not only was Ekland furious to learn she had been doubled in some shots but that she was also a few weeks pregnant in that scene. Director Robin Hardy says it was Ekland herself who did not want her bottom to be filmed, as she did not like it.”

“The Wicker Man” is widely regarded as one of the best horror films ever made. Not bad for a film that was disowned by its makers on release. There is a great blu-ray release that offers a “Director’s Cut” of the film along with a ton of great extras!

Sergeant Howie: Your lordship seems strangely… unconcerned.
Lord Summerisle: Well I’m confident your suspicions are wrong, Sergeant. We don’t commit murder here. We’re a deeply religious people.
Sergeant Howie: Religious? With ruined churches, no ministers, no priests… and children dancing naked!
Lord Summerisle: They do love their divinity lessons.
Sergeant Howie: [outraged] But they are… a-are NAKED!
Lord Summerisle: Naturally! It’s much too dangerous to jump through fire with their clothes on!

The Movie’s Shocking Finale!

The film builds tension and horror throughout, until the fiery shock ending is revealed…bravo “Wicker Man!”

During this “Shocktober” season, let’s celebrate this incredible bizarre and creepy thriller – and remember:

Do sit down, Sergeant. Shocks are so much better absorbed with the knees bent.

Bravo to “The Wicker Man” – and if you are in the mood for more classic horror, then nothing beats this:

Yes, the film that made Frank Sinatra divorce Mia Farrow! Check out the story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/08/shocktober-day-8-satans-spawn-rosemarys-baby-shocks-mia-farrows-marriage/

It’s been a full “Shocktober 2016” already, and if you missed any, head to my home page to find all of them, like this subtle shocker:

Yes, one of the cinema’s most shocking films – with very little blood! Read the behind-the-scenes stories of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

There are more subtle films as well, still effective horror films, like this one:

Legendary Actor George C. Scott brings gravitas to this great horror film, see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

Enjoy your Shocktober!

Christopher Lee in Robin HardyÕs THE WICKER MAN (1973). Courtesy: Rialto Pictures/ Studiocanal

Sasha Grey Gets “Smashed!”

Day #10 of “Shocktober 2016” features my friend Sasha Grey – who stars in a great piece of independent horror! Time to get bloody with the 2009 film “Smash Cut!”

Sasha Grey stars alongside David Hess, best known for this role in the iconic 70’s shocker “The Last House On The Left”.

In “Smash Cut”, Hess stars as a frustrated Director, with Sasha Grey as his unknowing new “star” – check out the trailer:

Yes, that was legendary “Blood Feast” Director Herschell Gordon Lewis narrating the trailer – and he also appears in the film – this legendary filmmaker died recently…read about his amazing “Blood Feast” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/09/26/rip-to-blood-feast-maestro-herschell-gordon-lewis-the-godfather-of-gore/

Actor David Hess is best known for the early 70’s shocker “The Last House On The Left” – and throughout his career, he has shown a great screen presence:

Hess also delivered a dynamite performance in a forgotten slice of 70’s sexploitation from Europe:

Read more about this classic thriller here:

Thumbs Up! Knives Out! Cult Classic “Hitchhiking” Exploitation!

Sasha also does a great job in the film, showing a quirky side, as well as an ability to exude danger:

Sasha is great in the film, which is a fun independent horror film – perfect for Shocktober!

I had the chance to work with Sasha in Australia, when she surfed iconic Bondi Beach – check it out here!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

if you are in the mood for more classic horror, then nothing beats this:

Yes, the film that made Frank Sinatra divorce Mia Farrow! Check out the story here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/08/shocktober-day-8-satans-spawn-rosemarys-baby-shocks-mia-farrows-marriage/

It’s been a full “Shocktober 2016” already, and if you missed any, head to my home page to find all of them, like this subtle shocker:

Yes, one of the cinema’s most shocking films – with very little blood! Read the behind-the-scenes stories of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/01/shocktober-is-here-31-days-of-horror-day-1-slices-up-the-texas-chainsaw-massacre/

There are more subtle films as well, still effective horror films, like this one:

Legendary Actor George C. Scott brings gravitas to this great horror film, see the trailer here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/02/shocktober-2016-haunted-house-the-changeling-spooks-day-2/

Let me know what you think of day #10 of “Shocktober” – with Sasha Grey!

Author Sasha Grey Is Back!

Bravo to my friend Sasha on the publication on her new book, THE JANUS CHAMBER, which is being released now!

Sasha’s LA Book Signing!

Sasha is signing copies of her new novel on October 11, so make sure you get a copy and have it autographed!

As the publisher announces, “Grey has set the bar with her narrative style and no holds-barred lust-filled pages.”

“The Janus Chamber” is a sequel to Sasha’s best-selling debut novel “The Juliette Society”. Here is how the book is described:

“A few years have passed since Catherine’s time in the The Juliette Society, but things haven’t been going the way she planned. Her life with her fiancé Jack has become predictable and boring, especially in the bedroom. Now working as a journalist, she struggles to find inspiration in her work or at home-until she starts writing about the death of a publicly beloved model, Inana Luna, whose experiences reflect Catherine’s own blossoming sexuality and independence. What started as a routine story quickly becomes Catherine’s obsession, as she follows the tale of a woman whose tracks take her down a road with too many familiar facets: a fascination with kink, lustful men, and some very sexy intrigue. Like the Roman god Janus, Catherine is simultaneously looking to the past and the future. Can her experiences with The Juliette Society, along with Inana’s diary, help her figure out what she really wants in life, love, and sex? Or will the story drag her back down into a tantalizing world from which she might not be able to escape a second time?”

If you haven’t read her first bestseller, here is a closer look at that book!

https://johnrieber.com/2013/10/29/sasha-grey-conquers-the-world-best-selling-juliette-society-scores-worldwide/

Congratulations to Sasha on the release of her new work, make sure to support it!

And don’t forget that it’s “Shocktober 2016”, so you need to check out Sasha’s great horror film as well:

See more on her terrific horror movie here:

horror post

Sasha also shared a terrific work of art with her fans – a poetic commentary called “Greyscale”:

See this haunting video here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/07/20/sasha-grey-greyscale-a-beautiful-poetic-commentary-on-art/

I was lucky enough to travel with Sasha to Australia for some great G4 TV specials – you remember, when she got “photo bombed” by two sharks?

Here is that video of Sasha inside a tank with two sharks!

Sasha Grey’s Shark Dive! Sasha’s Shark Photo Bomb! Sasha’s Extreme Shark Diving Adventure!

While she was in Australia, we also went to the legendary Bondi Beach, where Sasha learned to surf:

Oh, I might have forgotten to tell her how cold the water was – here is a great video that shows her reaction:

See more of this incredible adventure here:

https://johnrieber.com/2013/01/03/sasha-grey-surfs-sasha-steps-in-gum-surfs-up-at-bondi-beach-australia/

Finally, Sasha is also part of “Shocktober 2016”, with her dark comic horror film “Smash Cut!”

Check out the film’s great trailer right here:

https://johnrieber.com/2016/10/10/shocktober-day-10-smashes-sasha-grey-the-darkly-comic-horror-of-smash-cut/

Bravo to Sasha on her new book release, and don’t forget to stop by and get one signed!