“Sex! Trash! DYNAMITE!”

How can you go wrong with films like this?

INTRODUCING “PINKY VIOLENCE!”

Time to look at a Japanese trend in the 70’s that blew the doors off of exploitation films and introduced the world to “pinky violence!”

Warning: some of these movie posters feature nudity!

In the 60’s and 70’s, the Japanese had a category of movie known as the “Pink film”, a term used to categorize a wide variety of Japanese films with adult content.

These movies were, for the most part, action thrillers with a certain amount of nudity and sexual situations…but they were NOT pornography! Think of them as drive-in style, “R”-rated morality tales – with a Japanese twist!

Female Empowerment – At A Price!

These movies were wildly entertaining with LOTS of action – usually highlighting women in peril – but the twist is the women ALWAYS get revenge – these are similar to the “women in prison” movies that were popular in the 70’s and 80’s in the US…the young women had to overcome adversity, which they did – and always with lots of kick ass action!

Here is a look at some of the most popular movies in this genre, beginning with a double bill of “High School” terror!

“Terrifying Girl’s High School!” Plus! “Terrifying Girl’s High School: Lynch Law Classroom!”

Look at this double bill! Outlaw Japanese film auteur Norifumi Suzuki`s ‘Terrifying Girl`s High School’ (1971) and its sequel are classic examples of 70’s sexploitation! Check out the trailer:

As you can tell, this is one messed up school! The students at this institution major in one thing only: survival. Bad girls must face off against one another in power plays, fend off lecherous teachers, corrupt politicians and a sadistic student body that murders when crossed – some things never change!

This is a wacky double bill to warm you up to what is a very unique genre of film…young school girls fighting for survival is a perfect example of “pinky violence!”

These “pinky violence” films were produced by a number of studios, most notably TOEI Studios. They are full of samurai action, geysers of blood, and lots of nudity. And they all had great titles!

These are, simply put, Japan’s version of Sexploitation, and they are even more over-the-top than ours!

There are a score of websites devoted to this sub-culture of film, but I wanted to bring attention to a great collection of films in this genre available now…

The Pinky Violence Collection!

Congratulations to Synapse Films for this package of classic 70’s sexploitation, released under the title of “The Pinky Violence Collection!”

“Don’t Mess With Us Just Because We’re Chicks!”

Yep, I love any movie trailer that includes this line! Check out the trailer for “Girl Boss Guerrilla!”

Well, I can’t wait to see more of that! Included in the collection is “Criminal Woman: Killing Melody” – that’s the poster directly above, along with “Terrifying Girls’ High School: Lynch Law Classroom”, the terrific “Girl Boss Guerrilla” and “Delinquent Girl Boss: Worthless To Confess”!

How can you go wrong with names that these? You can’t! Let me know what you think!

It’s the most widely read movie guide of all time!

It weighs two pounds, it has 1,612 pages – and it’s the end of an era!

Here’s what CNN is reporting: “Leonard Maltin was 18 when the first edition of his “Movie Guide” came out in 1969. Forty-five years later, the book — a well-thumbed totem as familiar on film fans’ coffee tables as a bowl of popcorn or a stained drink coaster — will soon be no more. The 2015 edition, just released, will be the last.

Maltin wishes he didn’t have to end its run, he said in a phone interview. But the writing is on the wall.

“I saw it coming a couple years ago,” said Maltin, 63. “There were pretty consistent strong sales for many, many years, and that started to change. It came as kind of a jolt.”

The internet has made the book obsolete. Which is really a shame, as it is a joy to read and have at the ready when channel surfing for something to watch.

Year after year, you could depend on another edition of Maltin’s guide, and it just keeps getting better. Some highlights from the latest edition:

The first review is for “Aaron Loves Angela”, a three-star effort starring Irene Cara that is, to quote the guide, an “OK combination of comedy, drama, violence and Jose Feliciano’s music!”

On page 1,611 sits the last review, for “Zu Warriors”, the 2001 Hong Kong/Chinese kung fu epic, which Maltin calls “visually sumptuous but dramatically muddled” and gives two stars.

In between are almost 16,000 movie reviews – movies you love, movies you hate, and a LOT of movies you’ve never heard of – like this one!

“P.S. Your Cat Is Dead!” With Steve Guttenberg!

Well, you don’t EVER have to watch this one-and-a-half star effort…just read Maltin’s quick review:

“Claustrophobic, one-set film features stereotypes that seem badly dated. The only character we can work up any sympathy for is the cat, which is never seen!”

Here are another gem starring legendary Actors Richard Burton and Lee Marvin:

It’s “The Klansman” – one of those few classics reviewed in the book that actually is listed as “BOMB”. Here is why: Maltin says it’s a “thoroughly trashy racial melodrama”, and boy is it ever!

If you want to read more about one of the most misguided race movies ever made, click on my story here to read about this classic piece of 70’s trash:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/14/django-please-mandingo-klansmen-ojs-movie-debut-most-offensive-70s-movies-ever/

As much fun as these reviews are to read, even Maltin makes classic mistakes: listen to how much he hates a film that he gives a two-star review:

“To us, this gory, cold-blooded story of sick man’s lurid descent into violence is ugly and unredeeming.”

And he’s referring to the brilliant “Taxi Driver!”

Now that is a BIG mistake! Usually he is much more accurate, like this 4-star review of my second favorite film of all time:

“Mammoth allegory with surrealistic flavor about young coffee salesman who pushes his way to the top only to fall and rise again.”

That is for “O Lucky Man!”

Read all about this incredible movie, and find out about the “Seinfeld” connection, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/22/o-lucky-man-malcolm-mcdowells-seinfeld-connection/

So thanks Leonard Maltin for all of your years of passion for movies…I will wear this book out reading all of your 16,000 reviews!

Welcome To Hollywood!

It’s the entertainment capital of the world…where dreams come true and anyone can be a star…

It is also a tough place to live – and a brutal business of auditions, networking, and rejection…

An Appreciation Of Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith…

I wanted to bring attention to an Actress who had success in Hollywood, but also lost her way…the lovely and talented “Rainbeaux” Smith – her nickname given her for being a mainstay at L.A.’s legendary Rainbow Room…

‘Rainbeaux’ starred in many films throughout the 70’s and early 80’s, building up a fan base among exploitation movie fans, as well as acting in more mainstream films like “Farewell My Lovely.”

“Caged” Cult Movie Classics!

Cheryl appeared in a number of classic B-movies throughout the 70’s, like the legendary drive-in classic “Caged Heat!”

Here is the trailer for this drive-in exploitation film:

In the 70’s, the “drive-in movie” genre was full of cult classics, and Smith also starred in several of them, like “The Swinging Cheerleaders” and “Revenge of the Cheerleaders”!

“The Pom Pom Girls” and “Vice Squad!”

‘Rainbeaux’ also starred in these two classic exploitation films as well – what I always referred to as “good clean naughty fun.” These comedies were R-rated, had the usual amount of nudity and double entendres, and usually involved cheerleader hijinks!

As Hollywood entered the ’80’s, “Vice Squad” was the new type of popular exploitation of the era: lots of action, nudity and women in peril…

There are a number of fan sites around the web that discuss Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith, who showed a lot of promise in these films…

Take a look at this trailer for her cult comedy “The Swinging Cheerleaders!”

Bill Bixby’s Bunny!

In addition to acting, Smith was a very popular model as well. Cheryl was featured in Playboy as the Magician’s Assistant for Actor Bill Bixby…

Hollywood in the 70’s was the place to be, as exploitation films did big business, and the Sunset Strip was the place to go for music and madness…

Phantom Of The Paradise!

I’ve posted about this cult classic before, but I didn’t realize Cheryl was in it! This is Brian DePalma’s musical masterpiece starring Paul Williams as a Music Producer who sells his should to the devil. Here is a shot of ‘Rainbeaux’ as a groupie who warms up to songwriter Winslow Leach…

Rainbeaux Was A Rocker!

Note only was Cheryl an Actress, but she was once a member of the legendary girl band The Runaways with Joan Jett!

According to wikipedia, Cheryl was briefly associated with The Runaways during the production of the motion picture, “We’re All Crazy Now”, after Sandy West and Lita Ford quit the group. An impromptu group was created on the spot, fronted by Joan Jett with Cheryl on the drums as “Sandy”.

Smith was an accomplished musician, and was in a variety of movies, but her career was cut short in what is a too-common Hollywood cautionary tale.

While she continued acting, the film roles dried up after she became addicted to heroin in the mid 1980s.

In the late ’80’s she was arrested several times for drug-related offenses, and twice served time in prison. Her acting work went away, and like so many other stars, she just faded away from the public eye…

Cheryl ‘Rainbeaux’ Smith died on October 25, 2002 of complications from liver disease and hepatitis…

Remembering ‘Rainbeaux':

Here is an official website that shares pictures and stories about the actress – to remember the highlights of her career – with stories and a number of the pictures in this story are from the site:

http://rainbeauxsmith.net

There are so many stories about the “golden” days of Hollywood, but it is a tough business, and Cheryl’s is a cautionary tale about how tough it is to survive in this town…so here’s to her great body of work, and to her spirit…

Check out the site, which helps to keep her memory alive – she was a great young talent, and her death is a cautionary tale about the perils of Hollywood…

Smile! It’s Halloween Month 2014!

I love this image, and I love this movie…and what better time to enjoy “The Exorcist” – and ALL of the greatest horror films – than the month leading up to Halloween 2014!

With 31 days of horror, there are a LOT of films you can watch to make you scream…time to share some of my favorites with you! Just be sure not to make THESE TWO UNHAPPY!

Yes, those two Twins were no doubt perfect girls for Director Stanley Kubrick…more on “The Shining” in a moment, a more stylized horror film…

Watch out! As stylized as “The Shining” is, we start our look at the horrific month of October with a film that for many is the most shocking ever released!

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 it is celebrating its 40th anniversary on a new blu-ray release – that has lots of new documentaries!

This movie is almost TOO intense to watch, which is why it has become such a horror classic…and speaking of horror classics, here is one of most well-made horror films of all time:

Bravo To Brian DePalma!

Director Brian DePalma made what is, for me, one of the all time greatest horror films ever:

The 70’s was a golden era for horror films, and DePalma deserves credit for many of them – not only his horror classic “Carrie”, but “Sisters” and “Dressed To Kill” as well! See my five favorite DePalma horror classics by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/13/carrie-and-more-5-classic-brian-depalma-thrillers/

And speaking of the 70’s, let’s not forget that in 1973 the greatest horror film of all time was released to a screaming public:

The haunting image on the poster only hints at what is going on inside this Washington DC brownstone: “The Exorcist” is a brilliant film as well as the scariest horror film ever made – with so many shocking moments there are too many to name…and it’s impossible to keep your head on straight!

OK, we all know about the shocking sequences in the film – the buildup of dread that begins when young Regan starts to become – well, POSSESSED…

Director William Friedkin made this two years after he won the Oscar for Best Picture for “The French Connection”…

“The Exorcist” was also nominated for Best Picture of 1973 – a great example of a horror film that is also just a brilliant movie – and Linda Blair was perfect as the young, angelic Regan – which makes what happens in the film all the more shocking:

Regan MacNeil: “My bed was shaking. I can’t get to sleep.”

There is so much great trivia around this movie:

The refrigerated bedroom set was cooled with four air conditioners and temperatures would plunge to around 30 to 40 below zero. It was so cold that perspiration would freeze on some of the cast and crew. On one occasion the air was saturated with moisture resulting in a thin layer of snow falling on the set before the crew arrived for filming.

Oh, and then it gets REALLY SCARY, as the demon begins to taunt Karras:

Demon: “Your mother sucks cocks in Hell, Karras, you faithless slime!”

Oh yeah, the “360 degree head twist” sequence! This film is so intense and scary that the original teaser trailer, which consisted of nothing but images of the white-faced demon quickly flashing in and out of darkness, was banned in many theaters, as it was deemed “too frightening”.

Pea Soup For Dinner?

And then of course, there is the legendary projectile vomiting scene!

The substance that the possessed Linda Blair hurls at Father Damien Karras is thick pea soup. Specifically, it’s Andersen’s brand pea soup. The crew tried Campbell’s but didn’t like the “effect.”

Tons of great stories and commentaries on the special edition blu-ray….check it out and relive a classic!

And it’s just the tip of the iceberg as far as horror is concerned! Because in addition to classic horror, there are some great “new” horror classics as well!

Meet The Shocking Soska Sisters!

Two of the brightest new stars of horror have a great story to share! And yes, they love “The Shining” too!

The Soska Sisters are not only twins, but they direct horror films and they have a company called “Twisted Twins!”

They clearly have a thing for blood, so check out my story on their terrific horror film “American Mary!”

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/07/modern-horror-twin-directors-the-soska-sisters-american-mary-dead-hooker-in-a-trunk/

The Sisters are back this Halloween with “See No Evil 2″ starring Kane! This new horror film is on demand as of Oct. 17!

Let’s pause for a moment to say “don’t you just love October”?

It’s Friday The 13th All Month Long!

Yes, October is really month full of “Friday the 13th’s”, culminating in a night of Halloween horror on the 31st!

Here are my favorite horror films – from all around the world! Like this bloody classic from Japan:

Yes, you can enjoy the classic gorefest of “Tokyo Gore Police” and many more by clicking on my list of worldwide horror here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/12/13/friday-the-13th-the-best-horror-movies-to-scare-the-lights-off-you/

And of course, some think that a certain film is the best horror film ever…

“Here’s Johnny!”

Yes, when a master like Stanley Kubrick takes on the horror genre, you had to assume it would be a stylized look at pure evil…with many iconic moments…

You can read all about this classic horror film by clicking on my whole story here…

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

There are so many great horror films to watch…some are gorefests, and some offer a psychological look at horror, like this one!

A Psychological Horror Double Bill!

If you haven’t heard of “Let’s Scare Jessica To Death”, you are missing a horror treat! And if you want double your horror, then add “Rosemary’s Baby” to your list as well!

Read about both of these classic horror films by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/26/rosemarys-baby-jessicas-scared-to-death-great-halloween-horror/

Well, I’m exhausted, and you should be looking for movies like this right now:

This is just the tip of the horror iceberg, and there are many more posts to come! So try all of these gorefests on for size and let me know what you think!

Time For A Sasha Grey Halloween!

Sasha Grey has a new film out in time for Halloween 2014 – and Sasha is starring with Elijah Wood! The premiere was just held in Spain, where the cast and crew were ready to share this psychological thriller with the world!

“Open Windows” For Halloween!

Sasha has been focused on making terrific independent cinema – and in this case, she is working with Elijah Wood on a thriller that is perfect for Halloween 2014!

Kudos to the entire cast and crew for this great independent thriller – now on demand! Here’s a look at the film!

Here is the trailer:

Here’s the plot: Sasha Grey stars as an actress named Jill, who refuses to have dinner with Nick, a fan who won a date with her in an Internet contest. Elijah Wood is the spurned fan…

A guy named Chord, posing as Jill’s campaign manager, helps Nick spy on the actress from his own computer. Nick starts a game in which he realises that is only a puppet into the manic plans devised by Chord…

Elijah Wood has been on a creative tear recently, using his production company to make edgier work, like his remake of “Maniac.”

He also produced a very low-budget horror film called “Toad Road”, which was released by a new company called “Artsploitation Films.”

Kudos, Sasha!

This is the latest in a string of great Sasha movies, such as Steven Soderbergh’s “The Girlfriend Experience.”

And of course, as much as it may annoy Sasha, here are some of the great adventures I had with her in Australia!

Sasha’s Travel Adventures!

If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I had the chance to travel to Australia with Sasha, exploring one of the greatest countries in the world!

Here she is filming with our crew at Sydney’s convention center…and she also got the chance to take on some much more dangerous sports as well!

Sasha Gets A Shark Photo Bomb!

Those were indeed REAL LIVE SHARKS photo bombing Sasha as she walked among them at Sydney’s Aquarium…and no, there are NO barricades or glass between her and the sharks!

Here’s a short video all about it her adventure – first up, getting instruction from her Shark Master – and asking if she can “walk like a duck underwater!

Then it was time to walk into the tanks and hang out with the sharks…we were all, of course, safely kept behind thick glass!

Sasha Gets “Brushed Back!”

Then it was time to “interact” with the sharks…remember, there is nothing between her and those sharks! Here’s a video in which she discusses the “tail flipping” incident!

You can see all of the pictures – and more video – by clicking on the link below:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Sasha Goes Bats!

Sasha also got to see Australian bats – which just hang out in their parks and look like this:

That story with pictures and video can be found here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

OK, this was Sasha trying out a game where you try and stay on a mechanical surfboard…she did pretty well at it! But we decided to really test her, and took her to the iconic Bondi Beach, where she learned to surf for real!

The entire story, plus lots of fun videos, are located here:

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

Sasha’s On Top Of The World!

Finally, we had the chance to travel to Melbourne, and while we were there we headed up the tallest building in the southern hemisphere: Eureka Tower…

And yes, Melbourne is as beautiful as it looks – we had a great time, and if you want to see the entire video of Sasha peering out from 88 stories high, and how the cube she is in magically transforms, just click BELOW:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Sasha Outtake!

Finally, I found this hilarious short video of Sasha in a car putting on some makeup – and yes, she realizes she is being filmed:

As you can see, Sasha is great fun to work with, so if you are a fan, go order “The Juliette Society” now!

Congrats to Sasha for the publication of her novel!

More To Come From “The Juliette Society”!

Congratulations to Sasha Grey on the best-selling status of her debut novel, “The Juliette Society”! And just announced: a sequel is on the way!

Sasha Grey’s novel, “The Juliette Society” is a worldwide sensation – the book is a bestseller in a number of countries around the world – and the excitement continues as Sasha is writing a sequel!

Sasha has been promoting the book around the world, including personal appearances and book signings – when I traveled to Australia with her, she had tons of fans meet her at a personal appearance in Melbourne:

Sasha Down Under!

I am a big supporter of Sasha’s work, because I admire how focused and driven she is. I had the chance to film lifestyle segments in Australia with Sasha…and she was terrific to work with…

Eureka!

Melbourne Australia is a gorgeous city, and it is also home to the tallest building in the southern hemisphere:

After going up 88 stories in Eureka Tower, Sasha went into a small room and – well, you can watch what happened for yourself:

The people in Melbourne were terrific, and a huge number of fans came out to meet Sasha when she made a public appearance:

After Melbourne, we headed to Sydney, a much more raucous city, where Sasha let us put her to the test with a variety of extreme sports – and she did them all, including swimming with sharks…

Shark Photo Bomb!

Sasha donned scuba gear for the first time ever and went underwater to walk among sharks in Sydney…absolutely NOTHING between her and the sharks…and two of the more playful sharks decided to photo bomb her!

Here’s a short video of her adventure, including her describing how one of the sharks took a swing at her!

First, here is her instruction before entering the tank:

Once inside, Sasha was literally among the sharks, with NO barrier between her and them…and she describes what happened next:

And of course, our Australia adventure was just beginning…it was time for another “first time” sporting adventure…

Surf’s Up With Sasha!

Even though she had never done it before, Sasha willingly donned a wetsuit and learned to surf at Australia’s legendary Bondi Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world:

That led to my favorite video with her EVER – when she discovered – quite unexpectedly – just how cold the water was at Bondi!

Sasha was an amazingly fast learner: within a half hour she was surfing! I also love this video, which captures the moment Sasha discovers that they spit their gum out on the ground in Australia just like the rest of us:

It was a great trip down under, capturing the lifestyle of the Aussies, and even cooking bugs! Yes, that is what they are called, although they are really just “giant-shrimp-with-squashed-lobster-heads” things:

Still, she cooked them, along with a kangaroo steak – they are raised commercially just for that purpose – and we had a nice taste of Australia:

I posted a number of short videos that captured some of the “behind-the-scenes” moments from the trip – you can find them here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/Johnrieber/videos

I have thought about these fun shoots as I read all about Sasha’s success with “The Juliette Society” – so if you haven’t purchased the book yet, now is the time!

And, if you are a Sasha Grey completist, here are ALL of the stories I have posted of our Australian adventure…beginning with Sasha’ 88-story Melbourne adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/01/11/sasha-grey-goes-88-stories-high-in-australias-eureka-tower/

Then, it was off to Sydney:

That’s where Sasha donned a wetsuit and went for a walk among sharks – here is the complete shark dive adventure:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/21/sasha-grey-shark-diving-sydneys-bugs-opera-house-beauty-australia-rules/

I have to reiterate that there was nothing between Sasha and the sharks and stingray except her instructor:

And of course, I was given more pictures by someone on the crew, so I did a shark followup here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/26/sasha-greys-shark-dive-sashas-shark-photo-bomb-sashas-extreme-shark-diving-adventure/

Then it was time to head to Australia’s famed Bondi Beach:

Here is the entire surfing adventure, with a number of fun videos of Sasha on a surfboard:

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

My first post was all about Sasha’s fan signing in Melbourne…

This is the story of how we got lost inside Melbourne’s massive casino:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/17/melbourne-exploring-australias-exotic-southern-city-with-sasha-grey/

Then, when I previewed the book, I also shared some video of Sasha discovering bats in Sydney:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/05/18/sasha-greys-juliette-society-sasha-goes-bats-for-australia/

Luckily, we shots lots of behind-the-scenes pics and video, which is why I am able to share them with fans:

And my most recent story focused on the release of the novel, plus some additional outtakes I found!

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

OK, so that’s it – your entire library of Sasha Grey’s Australia adventures! If you made it this far, I remind you to make sure and purchase “The Juliette Society” for yourself and friends!

And don’t forget to download Sasha’s latest film for Halloween!

Get ready to bite down on some classic cult films!

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!

Let’s go back to the 70’s – to an era in English movie history when some of the most famous movie studios were desperate to stay alive – so they found a way to take their classic horror films and turn them into something much more popular – by adding lots of blood and nudity!

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!

The Modern Era Of Horror!

Hammer was struggling to survive, as their retro horror films like “Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed!” were looking out of touch at a time when such modern, nihilistic horror films as “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Last House On The Left” were a new way to show horror…so the company came up with an plan to win their audience back….and it involved THIS:

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!

Countess Dracula!

Here is an example of a modern take on a classic tale!

Like all vintage Hammer horror, the plot is simple but effective: In medieval Europe aging Countess Elisabeth rules harshly with the help of lover Captain Dobi. Hammer scored big with sex kitten Ingrid Pitt, who was not only a great actress but a great beauty as well!

So an evil Countess – how to make it erotic? Easy! The Countess realizes that washing in the blood of young girls makes her young again!

“Washing In The Blood Of Young Girls” Indeed!

“Erotic horror” was Hammer’s attempt to stay relevant, and “Countess Dracula” and was a big hit that offered up lots of nudity and gore! All of this led to what many consider to be Hammer’s greatest achievement:

The Karnstein Trilogy!

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…

Ultimately, this type of film wound up at drive-ins, as part of a “sexy” double bill designed to draw in carloads of teenagers looking for a cheap thrill…

Ultimately, no matter how much Hammer tried to become “hip”, the classic look of the films, and their medieval setting, branded them as “square.” But these films are classic horror with a modern touch, so check them out!

Halloween 2014 is underway with amazingly distasteful Halloween horror classics! Yes, Halloween is a season for every kind of movie that is so so wrong – and yet at this time of year is so so right!

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! Now, DO NOT CLICK AWAY. You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists! And it’s just the tip of the “zombie movie madness” I have for you!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! That’s “Dead Snow” in a nutshell! This movie has a great cult following, helped by a great blu-ray release:

There have been a number of comic zombie movies, such as the classic “Shaun Of The Dead” – it is tough to pull off, but when it works, it works! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

Don’t you love this Norwegian movie poster? And listen, Nazis were horrible human beings, but now, they are just disgusting zombies! As you can see, “Dead Snow 2″ is a campy gorefest, with severed arms, frozen zombies, repulsive Nazis and more!

Movies like this DO NOT APOLOGIZE: they are over-the-top, embracing their bad taste – and they are the perfect entertainment to have on in the background at your next party – or better yet, you can watch it in the privacy of your own twisted home!

I know what you are thinking:

“it is really a shame that there aren’t more bad taste zombie movies for me to enjoy…”

Well, we all know that’s not true, right?

Here are more Zombie movies for you – beginning with MORE NAZIS!

“Iron Sky” Indeed!

Did you know that after WW2, a few Nazis managed to get onboard a spaceship and head to the dark side of the moon?

OK, even I admit that this movie poster is in the worst possible taste…but if you are buying the plot at all, then you just have to go with it!

And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, there is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

From “Nazis” To “Toilets!”

And if your taste for Zombies runs a bit more “EXOTIC”, then there is this cinematic gem to share with you!

“Zombie Ass: Toilet Of The Dead!”

You read that right: it’s a toilet that is actually a Zombie, so when you sit down…well, you get the idea, but just in case you don’t:

If you want to know more about this classic asian horror film, then you can click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/06/zombie-ass-yes-japans-wacky-cinema-is-calling-what-the/

Trust me when I say there are few films more delightfully twisted than that one…well, maybe I spoke to soon…how about some “singing zombies?”

Yes, Asian film master Takeshi Miike made a zombie musical! You can read all about this twisted treasure by clicking here….

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/05/happy-singing-zombies-visionary-takashi-miikes-wacky-zombie-musical/

I cannot recommend this movie enough!

And don’t forget, there is plenty of Zombie madness – with plenty of Nazis – waiting for you! Enjoy!

Since it’s “Shocktober”, it’s time to enjoy the perfect blend of food and horror, thanks to:

The Tasty Horror Of “Silent Hill”!

I love this story, and what better time to share than Halloween? As you know, “Silent Hill” is the classic survival horror video game…one of the first to effectively create a horrific environment within a video game format…

The first game was released in 1999 to overwhelming critical and commercial success – with movies that followed – filled with horrific images like this:

This Halloween season, I am focusing on some of the best horror classics, and in researching for “Silent Hill”, I came across this:

Yes, it’s “horror ramen!” Thanks to the brilliant minds at RocketNews24, you can now order a hot ramen dish in Tokyo that uses the horror classic “Silent Hill” as inspiration!

“Silent Hill” Black Ramen!

A restaurant in Tokyo has chosen to offer a unique black noodle ramen dish as an homage to “Silent Hill.” And here is why it is horrific: yes, it certainly looks like a bowl of noodles – but as you can see, a bowl of noodles that has a “severed heart” plopped in the middle…is it something you eat – or bury?

The intrepid reporters at RocketNews24 decided to bite into this horrific dish, and when they did, here is what they found:

That’s right, this unsettling heart-shaped orb is filled with meat! What a wacky food item to share with you today, and if you need more horrific pictures and video, check out the entire story here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2013/07/02/we-learn-the-terrifying-secret-of-silent-hill-ramen/

I love wild and wacky food dishes, and I love ramen, so I guess I would LOVE these black noodles, right?

Jason Statham Approves!

Yes, Action star Jason Statham likes black noodles too – because his new film “Hummingbird” offered up black noodles as well!

This film hasn’t opened in the US yet, but it looks like a traditional Jason Statham action movie:

If you want to see how they took an action movie and tied it into a bowl of black noodles, read my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/06/06/jason-stathams-black-tequila-ramen-japans-dinner-and-a-movie-night/

So there you go, check out these horrific Halloween noodles and bite down on life!

Hey, Girly!

During Halloween season, I always seek out the best of the new – and the neglected – horror films that are available on blu-ray..and when I find a picture like this:

I am curious, naturally – I mean, he seems to be having a bad day in the sandbox….now add this great movie poster:

And you know what? I’m hooked! And you will be too when 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…here is a look at her career…

First up: the wacky film “Girly”, that 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!

“MUMSY, SONNY, NANNY AND GIRLY!”

Yes, there they are – quite a foursome, and what a title! No wonder they shortened it to just “Girly!” That said, it gives absolutely NO idea of what lies ahead for the viewer!

Here’s the plot: Girly and Sonny bring playmates home to indulge in bizarre, child-like games at the insistence of Mumsy and Nanny. You can only imagine what happens to them once the kids grow tired of their new playthings!

Yes, they use many of their childhood toys, like the sandbox, to “finish their business” with their new friends…as you can see, “Girly” is a lot of fun to be around, but a deadly friend to have!

But things change when one new friend plays along with the oddball quartet, using sexual tension to ultimately turn the family unit against each other!

This is quite the oddball film: directed by acclaimed Cinematographer Freddie Francis, and certainly “of its time” – but that is what gives it a quirky charm, and Vanessa Howard does a great job of holding your attention!

“Girly” is virtually unknown in movie circles, so it’s nice to see the film given another chance on home video…it’s a strange little movie, quirky and odd and only slightly horrific, regardless of what the poster implies…but it is a good poster for a horror film, isn’t it?

Here’s what “DVD Drive-In” said in their review: “The violence and the sex is smartly implied rather than displayed graphically, with several of the murder scenes remaining disturbing and a memorable, and a sequence where Girly is deflowered is convincingly played out off screen. Although it was unintentional, a bit where Sonny (dressed in Indian face paint and attire) shoots his victim with an arrow, and films the events on a movie camera, is very reminiscent of Michael Powell’s PEEPING TOM (a film Francis apparently wasn’t too fond of).”

See the entire review here:

http://www.dvddrive-in.com/reviews/e-h/girltblu70.htm

DVD Drive-In is a great website full of reviews and news! I also found some great material on the film from “Videoscope” magazine, one of my favorites!

Any magazine that puts “Girly” on the cover is a winner!

British Sex Kitten Vanessa Howard!

“Girly” star Vanessa Howard made a brief mark in British cinema, then disappeared from the public eye!

Here’s how DVD Drive-In describes British Actress Vanessa Howard:

“A charming little starlet with a youthful, sexy look, Vanessa Howard was a perfect fixture in British films of the period. Prancing around in short skirts and easily seducing any man who lays eyes on her, Howard pretty much carries the film and her adorable doll-eyed blonde image was the centerpiece of Cinerama’s advertising campaign for its U.S. release.

Howard made appearances in the Peter Cushing vehicles THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR and CORRUPTION in the late 1960s, and later starred in the rarely screened Amicus thriller WHAT BECAME OF JACK AND JILL?

The article finishes by stating that the Actress died in 2010 at the age of 62…it is sad that her career never continued, and that she died so young…but thanks to a couple of great home video companies, her movies live on…

“Corruption” Indeed!

Vanessa Howard starred in a number of great, neglected British horror films like “Corruption”…look at this lurid poster for the film – which was just recently released on blu-ray for a whole new generation to enjoy…it’s a really good thriller that evokes a different time for sure!

I always read “DVD Drive-In” as well as “Mondo Digital” to find some of the best movies being saved from obscurity, and The Phantom of the Movies’ Videoscope is a great magazine for this as well…

Searching For Vanessa Howard!

One website was so smitten with the Actress that they posted a story about their attempt to find her, which is where I found this picture:

The post was on this blogsite, which looks at a lot of classic camp movies and pop culture personalities….

my-retrospace.blogspot.com

So check out the campy horror of “Girly” and keep the spirit of Vanessa Howard alive!

The Horrific Soska Sisters Are Back!

With Halloween right around the corner, what better time to revisit the super talented Soska Sisters, who have a new film on demand right now and blu-ray on Tuesday!

These Soska Sisters had their latest horror film premiere at “Screamfest 2014″ – and now you can see it too – it’s a great way to get into the Shocktober spirit!

Meet The Soskas!

If you don’t know who Jen and Sylvia Soska are, I am about to change that. It’s a great Hollywood success story; twin sisters with a love of horror and a passion for movies! And once you enter their twisted world, you’ll never want out! Time to celebrate this directing duo who have embraced the horror genre – with great films that may be low in budget but big in thrills!

“See No Evil 2!”

Jen and Sylvia Soska have directed a number of great horror films, and now they have a new one just in time for Halloween! Here is the trailer for “See No Evil 2″:

Here’s the plot of “See No Evil 2″: A group of friends pay a late-night visit to the city morgue to surprise Amy on her birthday. But, since this is a great Halloween slasher pic the surprise is on them when “one-eyed corpse” aka “brutal psychopath Jacob Goodnight” rises from an icy cold slab – and he’s not too happy to have his sleep disturbed…

This being the horror genre, their wild party turns into a terrifying slay-fest as the sadistic mass-murderer resumes his savage rampage complete with hooks, surgical knives and power saws!

Kane Is Able!

WWE Superstar Kane stars as sadistic killer Jacob Goodnight – and from the looks of it, the Soska sisters gave Kane lots of bloody fun in the film!

They also had a great time at the premiere, celebrating their latest cinematic achievement…

Get “Horrored Up” At Home!

You can get your “Shocktober” on right now, as “See No Evil 2″ is available on Digital HD and Video On Demand October 17th, as well as Blu-ray and DVD on October 21st from Lionsgate – so you can experience all the bloody fun at home!

Bravo To The Soska Sisters!

This is just another triumph for the Soska sisters, who were born in Canada and now are on a directing roll! They also run their own film production company, Twisted Twins Productions – and as you can see, it’s an appropriate title!

Jen and Sylvia Soska have quite a success story so far: they launched their directing career with the low low budget “Dead Hooker In A Trunk” and then they achieved huge critical acclaim for the next effort, the intense horror film “American Mary.”

I read a great review of “American Mary” in a british film magazine, so I sought it out and love it! It’s a moody thriller with great acting, a strong script and great directing!

The Soska Sisters Are On A Roll!

The twin directing Soska sisters are on a creative tear, with new films being announced, and the classic “American Mary” on blu-ray…check out my entire story on these great sisters – with more detail on their movie, by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/06/07/modern-horror-twin-directors-the-soska-sisters-american-mary-dead-hooker-in-a-trunk/

Kudos to the Soska sisters, I can’t wait to see your next movie!

Behold Iconic Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

First of all, NEVER tell a Scream Queen to keep it down! All great scary movies have a character you feel empathy for – you root for them to survive, against all odds – and against psycho slasher killers – like these guys!

Creepy killers are a dime a dozen, because the greatest horror films all seem to have one thing in common: Jamie Lee Curtis!

Celebrating Cinema’s Greatest Scream Queen!

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 first movie ever, 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 its 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!

Now, time to move on to more Jamie Lee mayhem, this time with a very unusual co-star!

Prom Night!

First of all, check out the credits on the poster: Jamie Lee Curtis is second billed on this horror classic behind Leslie Nielsen!

The plot is fairly obvious: A masked killer stalks four teenagers at their high school’s senior prom. The killer is out for revenge against them for the accidental death of a young girl years earlier….

This is a straightforward slasher film, but by this time, Jamie Lee was a star, and as you can see from this cover art, they quickly switched out their original horror poster to highlight her!

In fact, according to the film’s director Paul Lynch in the documentary “Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film”, he was having difficulty securing financing until Jamie Lee Curtis signed on!

Reigning Scream Queen Jamie Lee Curtis!

“Prom Night” was another big hit for Jamie Lee, as was “Halloween II”. So now Curtis was an official movie star, and the world’s most popular scream queens well! She took full advantage of this by starring in a number of hit slasher films, including this one:

Terror Train!

“Terror Train” is an effective slasher film, with some good scares and lots of blood…much of it on Jamie Lee!

The plot of “Terror Train” is brilliant in its simplicity: A masked killer seeks revenge against six college kids who were responsible for a prank gone wrong three years earlier – and lucky for the killer – the kids are throwing a large New Year’s Eve costume party aboard a moving train!

This film is helped greatly by a truly creepy looking killer, and an ongoing sense of dread throughout. Check out the trailer:

According to the great movie website IMDB, Jamie Lee Curtis once said of her character in this film:

“There are certain things a heroine in a thriller has to be. She has to be vulnerable, so that the audience identifies with her and is rooting for her. But she also has to have an enormous inner strength to overcome the evil, or terror, that is pursuing her. I play the same kind of character as I did in other films. But Alana – the girl I play – is stronger and more defined”.

After a few more slasher films, Jamie Lee broadened her work in film. Curtis used her popularity to star in a number of big movie hits, like “True Lies” with Arnold Schwarzenegger and “Trading Places” with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd!

One of her best films was “A Fish Called Wanda” as well…but we will always remember her as the greatest “Scream Queen” of all time!

If this wets your appetite for some good old fashioned horror, I have some more great options for you:

If you need even more horror, check out some of these classic horror films!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/01/shocks-scares-chainsaws-the-best-halloween-horror-2014/

I love scary movies, let me know what your favorites are!

Time To Get Messy!

Yes, Halloween is a time for movies to “let it flow”, and that means some of the wildest horror films of all time get a much deserved spotlight!

You know, Shocktober is the month to revisit such classics as “Carrie”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”, and of course, the greatest horror film ever made, “The Exorcist”:

Killer Frogs And Vincent Price, Too!

It’s also a perfect season for movies that are over the top, campy and fun as well as horrific – I mean, how can you not love a horror film with this poster:

That is, for me, one of the most perfect movie posters of all time: that is one evil Frog! The poster captures perfectly what you can expect form the film – good horrific fun, and it is just one of the campy horror treasures I have for you today – let’s begin with a great genre of horror called “J-sploitation”, cult exploitation movies from Japan, and here is one of their wildest efforts:

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

“Dream Home” Rocks!

This is a great horror film – look closely at the poster: the Actress is laying amid dead bodies! To read all about “Helldriver” AND “Dream Home”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

There are so many terrific Asian horror films to share, search them out on my blog as well!

And now, let’s go to a type of horror film that’s been “gnawing” at me lately:

Zombeavers!

Yes, what a great campy horror movie…”Zombeavers” is EXACTLY what you think it is…and exactly what it should be! Bloody horror fun with zombie beavers!

It’s the genre of killer animals – rodents really – and it’s a hilariously over the top genre epitomized by the new classic “Zombeavers”, and of course, the ultimate “killer frog” movie:

Read all about these “killer animal” films by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/02/18/zombeavers-the-latest-in-killer-animal-movies-frogs-ants-and-more-campy-horror/

Sometimes the best part of a horror film is to spend time with your favorite Actors, and it is time now to celebrate one of horror’s most iconic faces:

Vincent Price was one of horror’s great stars, starring in such classics as the original “The Fly”, “The House On Haunted Hill” and one of my favorites:

Dr. Phibes! Vincent Price’s Masterpiece!

If you haven’t seen “The Abominable Dr. Phibes”, you are missing a campy horror film from the 70’s that is just as entertaining today, and now out on blu-ray! Check out my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/22/drunken-dr-phibes-horrors-abominable-midnight-madness/

Vincent Price wasn’t the only great Actor who found success in the horror genre…are you aware that there is a another great genre of scary movie?

Old Lady Horror!

Yes, you may not be aware, but this is one of my favorite horror genres: the killer grandma! And nobody did it better than legendary Actress Shelley Winters!

Yep, Shelley Winters was just one legendary Actress who turned to campy horror late in their career…along with Ruth Gordon, Bette Davis and even Debbie Reynolds! You can read all about the genre of “Old Lady Horror” by clicking on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/09/old-lady-horror-crazy-ladies-chew-up-the-screen/

So there you have it, some good campy Shocktober fun for you…

Happy Halloween!

What Makes A Movie “CULT”?

Could it be something as ridiculous as a film based on the concept of hunting someone down with a bow and arrow – WHILE NAKED?

Does a movie achieve “cult” status because it’s about an obscene phone caller who likes to wear a RABBIT MASK?

Or then again, maybe you just need to pair Sexploitaiton legend Russ Meyer with the greatest film critic of all time!

Time to look at three of the “wildest” cult films of all time, beginning with one of the strangest pairings in motion picture history!

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls!

Some movie sequels are just a retread of the original film. However, if you only know of the original cult classic “Valley Of The Dolls”, then you haven’t experienced cult film sequel magic – taken to the X-treme!

“Russ And Roger Go Beyond!”

First, imagine a time when a movie studio was struggling for survival because of a number of big-budget flops. Now, imagine it’s the height of the sexual revolution in America, and soft core film maverick Russ Meyer was making a fortune with his low budget brand of “SINema!”

Meyer was already established as the outlaw helmer of soft-core pulp films like “Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and he wanted the legitimacy of making a studio film. Richard Zanuck, then head of 20th, gave him that opportunity because his movies made so much money, cost so little to make, and were a big hit with the younger generation!

How Meyer Met Ebert!

So here’s where it get really fascinating: Meyer agreed to take on “Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls” – the sequel to the smash pulp hit – but only on the condition that the script get written by Roger Ebert! At the time, Ebert was the third-string movie critic of the Chicago Sun Times, but he had written one of the few positive reviews Meyer had ever received!

Since Meyer had built a huge fan base by focusing on his Actresses’ ample talents, he brought in his usual buxom brigade! The film was actually “X-rated” – and a huge box office success! Meyer and Ebert remained friends until Meyer passed away in 2004.

Check out this classic trailer!

Here’s the very succinct plot outline from IMDB:

Three girls come to Hollywood to make it big, but find only sex, drugs and sleaze.

Of course they do! But those are the three most important things for a “cult” film!

If you want to see a major studio trying to be hip and edgy, and Russ Meyer and Roger Ebert having a blast sticking it to the man, this movie is for you!

And if you are unhappy with this choice, you can hunt me down like this:

Meet Countess Perverse!

How do you describe a movie like “Countess Perverse?” Well, maybe this way:

“Hunting Humans Was Her Favorite Game!”

What a great tagline for a movie!

Here’s the plot in a nutshell: Two wealthy aristocrats lure a virginal girl to a Spanish island for a night of sex, death and cannibalism.

Again, the PERFECT elements for a cult classic! And there is SO much more! Here is how The AV Club described the movie:

When a young couple in a classy seaside village finds a nude woman washed up on the beach, they aren’t particularly surprised by the story she tells them, about a house of horrors and a “man with black glasses” who’s trying to kill her.

As you can tell, this isn’t going to end well for the couple. But that’s what makes it so perversely fun – as you are about to see!

These aristocrats have a fun hobby: They strip their guests and send them out on the grounds to be hunted, Most Dangerous Game-style. If the guests survive long enough, the count sets them free.

Otherwise, the countess — who is also naked, save for a quiver of arrows — shoots them dead, then roasts them and serves them for dinner!

Yes, you read that right!

It’s “The Most Dangerous Game” – Naked!

I mean, that’s what is going on here: hunting humans for sport – and in this case, everyone is naked! That’s especially good news for fans of sexploitation legend Lina Romay, who spends most of the film running around the island naked!

Don’t look shocked, Lina – you were naked in ALL of your movies. The best part of “Countess Perverse” might just be the ending, just before the closing credits roll, when the count looks down at the corpse of his magnificent bride and boasts:

“You will be the best meal of my life!”

Now do you understand why this film is on this list? And if you don’t agree, then pick up a phone and call THIS NUMBER:

The Telephone Book!

Yes, this is a cult classic just based on the sight of a man seducing a young woman while wearing a Rabbit mask! But this wacky classic has a lot more than that!

First, meet Sarah Kennedy, the most adorable star you could ever hope for in a film…in a breakout role – a role that sees her in virtually every scene in the film, where she falls in love with –

THIS GUY!

A Lost Cult Classic Is On The Phone! You Have To Answer This Call!

“The Telehone Book” is a mind-blowing camp classic! It’s a day in the life of a lonely, sensitive young woman – who meets a very special person on “the telephone.” Thus begins one of the most original and surreal romantic comedies ever made…

There is SO MUCH to share with you about this incredible cult classic, but let’s get started by checking out the trailer!

Thanks to the maniacs at Vinegar Syndrome for releasing this mind-blowing obscurity from the halcyon days of the early 70’s!

Actress Sarah Kennedy not only looks exactly like Goldie Hawn, but she plays Alice, a young woman who lives in a New York City apartment decorated with pornographic images and knickknacks.

She’s sexy, quirky and liberated, but she really gets off on obscene phone calls, with rotary dial work from an unknown man, identifying himself as Mr. Smith (Norman Rose), bringing Alice to orgasmic heights.

That’s right, she falls in love with Mr. Smith based solely on his obscene phone calls to her!

Alice tries to track down Mr. Smith by telephone book cold calling, then racing around town, running into an amazing array of people, usually doing something dirty, as you can tell by this movie poster:

Alice’s goal is simple: she must find her gloved Romeo – who wears a pig mask and claims he can seduce the President of the United States! Is this strange enough for you yet?

According to the great IMDB website, “The Telephone Book” was written and directed by Nelson Lyon, who went on to participate in the early years of “Saturday Night Live.” Lyon also achieved infamy as John Belushi’s partner during the drug-binge weekend that took the superstar’s life.

Calling Andy Warhol!

Here’s another great piece of trivia: According to producer Merv Bloch, the movie originally came with a specially shot intermission which he eventually decided to cut out. During the intermission Andy Warhol was shown sitting in a chair eating popcorn until the actual movie would continue again!

This intermission was meant as an in-joke to Warhol’s own films that often showed the most mundane things for an extended amount of time, like a person sleeping for several hours or a person eating something without anything extraordinary happening. The footage of this intermission is currently considered lost!

“The Telephone Book” also includes one of the most surreal animation sequences ever, which pushes the film into X-rated territory, but it’s all quirky and fun, and therefore surprisingly innocent…an adult film anchored by an innocence that is charming…

Writer-director Nelson Lyon helmed “The Telephone Book” as a kinky vaudeville revue. When Alice’s obscene phone caller boasts that his talents could seduce the President of the United States and the entire First Family, he suffixes his claim that he would not try it because “I have no political ambitions.” And yes, he wears a pig mask the entire time!

There are several recognizable people in the film, including Jill Clayburgh, who would go on to receive an Oscar nomination a few years later!

Thanks to the folks at Vinegar Syndrome, who have released a blu-ray with radio spots, production stills and a feature-length audio commentary! What a great job saving one of cinema’s most obscure films ever!

So there you go, three trips into the world of cult cinema – enjoy and let me know what you think!

THIS is how I plan to spend my Halloween…

Isn’t this one of the most iconic images in film? A pig-blood-drenched Carrie White, about to exact revenge on her tormentors…a great Halloween horror film, and just one of the many Brian DePalma masterpieces…so let’s take a trip back and dip into some of the master’s greatest shockers!

Brian DePalma has directed some of the best films ever – classics such as “Scarface” and “Phantom Of The Paradise”, as well as great action films like “The Untouchables” and “Mission: Impossible” – and for a period in the late 70’s and early 80’s, DePalma was creating brilliant thrillers that evoked the best of Alfred Hitchcock – with a deliciously naked twist…

SEXPLOITATION LIVES!

DePalma revamped the sexploitation film – taking what was a drive-in staple of the 70’s and turning them into high class, glossy thrillers with strong female characters who were empowered – and preyed upon. Let’s get started with some great suspense thrillers!

Dressed To Kill – 1980

A mysterious woman murders one of a psychiatrist’s patients, and now she’s after the prostitute who witnessed it”

DePalma pushed the envelope with this 1980 thriller starring Angie Dickinson, who bared all to tell the story of a sexually-repressed married woman who pays the ultimate price for her indiscretion…and unleashes a killer who can’t be stopped.

Nancy Allen is the prostitute that witnesses the murder, and it’s up to Angie Dickinson’s son to team with her to catch his Mom’s killer – and save her. A classic thriller with an unrated blu-ray out that includes a ton of extra supplements!

Aside from suspense, Brian DePalma has other “obsessions” as well….

Body Double – 1984

DePalma’s other obsession was sex. SEX. He pushed the boundaries in “Dressed To Kill”, and tore them apart in “Body Double.”

Body Double – 1984

Melanie Griffith stars as “Holly Body”, and adult film star who is hired to be a “Body Double”…but not for a movie, for a murder plot!

Craig Wasson stars as the nebbish guy who stays in a house that his new “friend, Frank, asks him to house sit…and of course, from his window you can see a young woman posing seductively – DePalma’s homage to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”…

Porn star Annette Haven was originally cast for the role of “Holly”, but Columbia Pictures decided to turn her down when their executives saw what kind of movies she had been making. Haven later stated that she was happy because of that, because she hadn’t liked the script and hadn’t liked to be in a film with gory violence.

Brian De Palma originally planned for this to be the first Hollywood film to boast unsimulated sex scenes. That didn’t happen, but an unrated blu-ray shows off a ton of nudity and more…

But when it comes to classic DePalma shockers, there is nothing better than this:

Carrie – 1976. And then there is “Carrie”, simply the greatest horror thriller ever made!

No need to state the plot, except to say that Sissy Spacek is brilliant in the title role – a girl with special powers who seeks revenge against those who torment her…

Naked Princess Leia!

Here is some great trivia about the casting of “Carrie” and another iconic female role:

George Lucas and Brian De Palma held a joint audition for “Carrie” and “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”. There is a long-standing rumor that originally, Sissy Spacek was cast as Princess Leia, and Carrie Fisher as Carrie, but when Fisher refused to appear in nude scenes and Spacek was willing to do them, they switched parts.

However, Fisher refuted this story in a Premiere magazine article called “The Force Wasn’t With Them,” about actors who auditioned unsuccessfully for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. That article quoted Fisher as saying, “Not only do I love being nude, I would’ve been nude then… But anyway, it’s total bullshit that Fisher refused to play Carrie.”

P.J. Soles Spills The Beans On Spielberg!

And what about this trivia? In a 2010 interview with “The A.V. Club”, “Carrie” co-star P.J. Soles said that Steven Spielberg often came to the set at Brian De Palma’s invitation because DePalma told him that there were “a lot of cute girls down here.”

Soles said that Spielberg asked out most of the women on the set, Soles included, and Amy Irving was the only one who accepted!

“Carrie” is a masterpiece, and brilliantly directed by a master filmmaker – check out the special editions Blu-rays of all three of these thriller – there is tons of great extra material from each film!

And don’t forget, DePalma has a number of classic films like “Scarface” – read all about them here!

http://johnrieber.com/2012/03/03/a-celebration-of-depalma-the-best-least-known-classics/

I’m ready for Halloween!

Whenever awards season is underway, it always reminds me of some of the most audacious – and neglected – films ever released…

These are movies that are hard to describe in a one sentence, challenge the viewer in ways you don’t expect movies to do, and reward you with a mind-blowing cinematic experience, thanks to the Director’s singular vision…

“Action!”

There is nothing more exciting than watching a Director’s passion for a project unveil itself onscreen…whether it’s Sam Peckinpah directing James Coburn in the brilliant and under-rated “Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid”, or Francis Ford Coppola on the set of the greatest film ever made, “The Godfather”…

There are amazing films released every year – some are big hits, but many don’t get the exposure they deserve…well, it’s time to blow your cinematic mind just a bit:

Because here are three of the most audacious, innovative and mind-blowing films of the past few years!

Here Are Three Visionary Films To Share With You!

“Audacious” doesn’t begin to describe these three brilliant works of art! Let’s get started with the latest film from one of the most controversial Directors in the world!

Enter The Void!

Argentinian Director Gasper Noe makes tough, provocative films….that just happen to be brilliant. Here is his masterpiece from 2009:

A U.S. drug dealer living in Tokyo is betrayed by his best friend and killed in a drug deal. His soul, observing the repercussions of his death, seeks resurrection. Check out the trailer:

My friend Sasha Grey got to watch this with Director Gasper Noe in his Paris screening room, and she told me to seek it out immediately – and boy was she right! This film is electrifying – shot from the main character’s point of view…

Gaspar Noé describes his movie as a “Psychedelic Melodrama”. As the lead character says:

“Basically, when you die your spirit leaves your body, actually at first you can see all your life, like reflected in a magic mirror. Then you start floating like a ghost, you can see anything happening around you, you can hear everything but you can’t communicate. Then you see lights, lights of all different colours, these lights are the doors that pull you into other planes of existence, but most people actually like this world so much, that they don’t want to be taken away, so the whole thing turns into a bad trip, and the only way out is to get reincarnated.”

According to the website IMDB, Gaspar Noé was inspired by the famous “star gate” sequence in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey. The camera never stops moving, gliding over a neon Tokyo at night….

The screen is drenched with color, as you can see from these screen shots from the film…

This is challenging filmmaking for sure, but worth the time and effort. And if you REALLY want to be challenged, remember that Noe is the Director of the ultra-violent and controversial “Irreversible”…

As challenging as his movies are, they are also brilliant films that explore dark territories of the mind…and speaking of singular visions, wait until you see this:

L’Homme à la tache de vin: What makes you carry on, Oscar?
Mr. Oscar: What made me start, the beauty of the act.
L’Homme à la tache de vin: Beauty? They say it’s in the eye, the eye of the beholder.
Mr. Oscar: And if there’s no more beholder?

Holy Motors!

That dialogue says it all. This film is almost impossible to describe, so check out the trailer first:

Here is all you need to know about the plot: from dawn to dusk, you travel in a limousine alongside a mystic man named Monsieur Oscar.

Director Leos Carax’s professional name is an anagram of his real name, ‘Alex’, and ‘Oscar’. And interestingly, his regular collaborator Denis Lavant stars as Monsieur ‘Oscar’…

Leos Carax wrote the part of the supermodel with Kate Moss in mind, but by the time of filming, Moss was about to get married so the role went to Eva Mendes.

Singer Kylie Minogue also stars in the film – in a part that the Director turned into a musical role when she agreed to be in the movie.

According to IMDB, the film’s initial concept started with a trend Leos Carax had observed where stretch limousines were being increasingly used for weddings. The director was interested in the cars’ bulkiness!

From there, the characters and situations become more and more ethereal and hallucinatory – with haunting imagery throughout…

Leos Carax’s most well known work in the US is the great – and provocative – 1999 film, “Pola X”.

And if those two films are not mind-blowing enough, well then it’s time to go “inside the mind” once again!

Vanishing Waves!

Yes, another mind bender, literally…In “Vanishing Waves”, a neuron-transfer scientist experiments with the thoughts of a comatose young woman. Check out the trailer…

The experiment takes an unexpected twist when the two meet in their mutually altered forms of consciousness. Soon, their psychic meetings turn into a romantic, sexually charged relationship set against the backdrop of surreal dreamscapes created by their collective minds.

“Vanishing Waves” was directed by Kristina Buožytė and Bruno Samper, and was a co-production between three countries: Lithuania, France and Belgium…

Once again, this is a movie that delves into the mind: how thoughts can be controlled, how thoughts can merge, and of course, the erotic nature of the mind as well…this is a great science-fiction film – full of big ideas and startling imagery…

Kudos to “Artsploitation Films”, a cutting edge home video company releasing challenging films from around the world….like this one released with Elijah Wood:

And speaking of Elijah Wood, here is his new thriller with Sasha Grey:

Read all about “Open Windows” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/23/sasha-greys-new-movie-open-windows-with-elijah-wood/

“Open Windows” is available on demand, so check it out!

And kudos to these three Directors for their brilliantly challenging work! Let me know if you’ve seen any or all of them!

Ready For New Japanese Horror? Well, Meet This Guy!

Yes, the Japanese are making some of the most inventive horror films around…beginning of course with the legendary masterpiece “Battle Royale”:

And now, there is a new film that is not only controversial for its subject matter, but for this as well:

Yes, they are connected in a most unusual way….first, let’s look at a new film just released in Japan:

Here is the trailer for “Kamisama no Iutoori” – “As The Gods Will”:

“As The Gods Will” is an adaptation of a japanese manga series – and tells the story of a group of high school kids who, after their teacher is killed, are forced to play a number of childhood games with a horrifying twist in order to survive!

Thanks to RocketNews24, I found a promotional video for the film that is causing much controversy.
In the video, six sexy idols are forced to play the same game as in the film, trying to creep up on the giant-faced doll.

However, in this case all of the participants are bikini clad models, and their goal is NOT TO JIGGLE!

There is really nothing NSFW about this trailer, but if “bouncy” bikini models offend you, you can skip the video…

Here is the trailer for “The Bikini Game”:

As you can see, a very imaginative way to get attention for the film. Did it offend you? Let me know, and you can read the entire story on RocketNews24 here:

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/11/10/dangerous-jiggles-six-bikini-clad-girls-play-the-ultimate-game-of-statues-in-horror-movie-promo/

Let me know if you plan to see the film!

Looking for a unique way to give a movie gift this holiday season?

Give A Great Movie Night!

I love the idea of a couple of movies wrapped in a popcorn container with specialty salts and some great wine! But it has to be the “right” kind of film. If your cinephile is looking for something more sophisticated than “The Ugley Truth”, then look no further than here:

Weng Weng’s Got You Covered!

Yes, it’s time for giving gifts to those you love – so why not surprise them with one of these five wild wild wild movies?

Let’s get started – first, hands up!

MEET 2 FEET AND 9 INCHES OF PURE MAN!

You are in good hands, because the legendary action hero “Weng Weng” is on the case!

For Your Height Only!

Now here is a classic film to slip under someone’s Christmas tree: a James Bond rip-off starring the legendary “littlest action hero” Weng Weng!

Take a look:

This classic slice of campy action stars Weng Weng, the legendary diminutive action hero…first, the plot:

Mr. Giant has kidnapped the brilliant Dr. Van Kohler and is planning to use the Doctor’s invention, the N-bomb, to hold the world hostage. The only one who can foil Mr. Giant’s evil scheme is Agent 00:

A 3-foot-tall filipino martial arts master, expert marksman, top-class romancer and all-around super spy!

That’s right: SIZE DOESN’T MATTER!

“For Your Height Only” is a play on words on “For Your Eyes Only”, the title of the James Bond film released that same year. I mean, look at this Bond-ish poster!

And of course, just like James Bond, Weng Weng is also a lady-killer…

Every movie lover would embrace Weng Weng! This movie was so successful that a sequel was produced in 1982, titled “The Impossible Kid”. Weng Weng is known as the shortest man to ever be a lead in an action film/martial arts film; he stands at 2’9″ (less than one meter).

The answer to the question you are thinking is “yes, it is as crazy as you imagine” – but isn’t that the point of giving it to a loved one?

From Weng Weng to Lloyd Kaufman!

Yes, it’s the perfect transition, because while Weng Weng is a small slice of heaven, Troma stands tall once again with their latest “Tromasterpiece!”

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1!”

The Maestro of Troma has unveiled his latest classic – check out the trailer!

WARNING! FULL FRONTAL NUDITY IN THIS TEASER – VERY VERY NSFW – ONLY FOR YOUR OWN EYES!

Well, hard to argue about this one…it’s Troma in spirit and execution – and of course green foam and blood….

“Return To The Class Of Nuke ‘em High” was ultimately divided into two parts, with “Vol. 1″ arriving this year…you can find it at Amazon as well as the official Troma store…and “Vol. 2″ will be released in 2015…

If you head to Troma.com, you can buy this terrifically fun movie and see the hundreds of films they have in their library –

Support legendary filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman by checking out more of my “Return to Nuke ‘em High Vol. 1″ here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/02/09/schools-out-rock-n-roll-high-nuke-em-high-and-alice-cooper/

Now, time to shift from Troma, home of the classic “Surf Nazis Must Die” – yes, another great Troma classic, to a more serious Nazi film…

“The Sequel You Did Nazi Coming!”

Yes, you read that right! You need to read about some of the craziest movies being made today – the raucous blend of zombies and Nazis! I’ve got a sequel to a movie you may not even know exists!

First: did you happen to see this classic film?

“Dead Snow”! Nazi Zombies, Of Course!

Leave it to the Norwegians to corner the market in wacky “nazi zombie” movies! You get the idea here: Nazis were never wiped out in WW2, they were just frozen solid – and once they thawed out, they were ravenous zombies! The success of the “Dead Snow” comic zombie gorefest has led to, you guessed it – THIS!

Read this inspired plot summary by the brilliant minds at IMDB:

“If the worst day of your life consisted of accidentally killing your girlfriend with an axe, chain-sawing your own arm off, and watching in horror as your closest friends were devoured by a zombified Nazi battalion, you’d have to assume that things couldn’t get much worse. In Martin’s case, that was only the beginning!”

Check out the trailer:

These are wacky cult films that are actually good! And of course, if you didn’t read my original post, here is the link to the “Citizen Kane” of Nazi Zombie movies, “Iron Sky!”

http://johnrieber.com/2012/10/23/bad-taste-this-halloween-nazi-zombie-halloween-horror-halloween-party-movies/

Ok, let’s get away from war films and head to the far east, where there are entirely different kinds of zombies to fight!

Helldriver!

I love japanese exploitation films: they are wildly imaginative, and offer more excessive bloodshed than you will find anywhere else! Need proof?

“Helldriver” offers up one of the wackiest plots ever, as a zombie plague turns Japan into a bloody war zone…

Did I Say “Bloody?”

Yes, these classic “j-sploitaiton” films – japanese exploitation, a genre that offers garden hoses full of blood – a campy excess that keeps the films firmly in “tongue in cheek” territory – they are well done, and very fast and frenetic….never a dull moment in these movies!

It’s more a bloody action spectacle than a horror film, but it is indicative of the imaginative approach to moviemaking that is going on in Japan and Asia…

It’s what every movie buff would want under their tree!

To read all about “Helldriver”, just click on my story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/05/01/female-ninja-warriors-extreme-asian-cinema-updated/

From “J-Splo” To “Oz-Splo”!

As much as I love “J-sploitation”, I think “Ozsploitation” may be even better!

Yes, let’s head to Australia for a legendary film that lives up to its hungry name!

Strap Yourself In For “The Bed That Eats!”

Yes, it is time to discover the wonder of “Death Bed!” First, let’s see a few choice moments thanks to “Saibot216″ on youtube….

It is referred to as the “worst film ever made!” But c’mon, if you’ve see “The Room” or “Birdemic”, you know that’s not possible…and now, thanks to the great home video distributor CultEpics, there is a new blu-ray that gives YOU the chance to decide for yourself!

Patton Oswalt’s Favorite Film!

This cult classic was lost to camp movie buffs for years, and comic Patton Oswalt actually went on a riff about the film – and people thought he was making it up!

He wasn’t of course – “Death Bed” is a terrific horror comedy that deserves to be seen by the cinephile in your family!

Read all about this incredible movie AND see Patton Oswalt’s love affair with it by clicking on my whole story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/07/28/classic-cult-horror-death-bed-the-bed-that-eats-patton-oswalts-obsession-is-here/

So there you have it: five wildly entertaining films that deserve to be on everyone’s holiday gift-giving list!

It’s Anniversary Time! Let’s Celebrate!

Today is the third year anniversary of this blog, and I want to take a moment to thank everyone who visits – and if you don’t want a piece of “bacon cake”, then maybe this will do:

Yes, this is a chicken wing cupcake, and I share this photo for a reason: it was three years ago when I shared the recipe for making them yourself…

http://johnrieber.com/2012/02/03/buffalo-chicken-wing-cupcakes/

Three years of posting stories about food, travel, movie, music, books, concerts, great adventures both personal and professional…and yes, stuff like this:

The Majesty Of A Cheesesteak Doughnut Burger!

Yes, I post about burgers a lot. Because many of you seem to enjoy these unique foodstuffs. And yes, there is much more to come. But before we devolve into a discussion of “Cheesesteak Doughnut” burgers, let me thank the person behind this story – and behind this blog.

Three years ago, my wife and ongoing inspiration Alex told me to write a blog and have some fun…and that fun included stories about our adventures in Spain, Provence and more, including the Cannes film festival…

That’s my wife Alex and I along with our good friend Michael Castner in a Cannes hotel stairwell waiting to interview a celebrity. I have shared a number of fun stories from the past, including the story behind this photo of Michael interviewing Arnold Schwarzenegger, while I watch in the orange shirt:

You can read the entire story here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/14/cannes-2014-my-classic-arnold-schwarzenegger-encounter-big-star-planet-hollywood-shenanigans/

Alex has been amazingly supportive of this blog, letting me share some of our adventures with you – but she couldn’t have imagined it would lead to this:

The Tokyo Burger Tower!

Little did Alex know that, as I looked for things that interested me enough to write about, I would find a world full of crazy food – from a “Tokyo Burger Tower” you see above to the best burger currently being made in Cambodia!

Some people love these burger posts – so thank you for your feedback – and one, Jeff Greenfield, HATED a food story I posted: showcasing the spaghetti-stuffed hot dog!

Not sure why, but Jeff said this freaked him out a bit…so now I have to keep looking for more wacky food mashups just to keep him on his toes…you know, like the “bacon cheeseburger-stuffed doughnut!”

Read all about the majesty of this by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/10/25/bacon-glazed-cheeseburger-doughnut-amazing-burgerbacon-mashup/

Yes, it has been a tasty three years…and I promise moving forward there will be much more of this:

Yes, this bacon cheeseburger has 1,000 slices of bacon, which is appropriate since this is a post all about numbers:

Closing In On One Million Views…

In the three years I have been posting, these stories have collectively generated almost one million views – it is exciting to see the response to new stories as well as stories posted a year ago or longer – and from the comments I have gotten, it’s nice that a wide range of topics are of interest…from amazing travel memoirs like this:

Read about this incredible Author and her year on a south pacific island by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/05/faraway-lucy-irvines-castaway-sequel-more-amazing-island-escapes/

And of course, I have posted many times about my favorite musical group of all time!

The Beatles Are #1!

The greatest musical group in history is also making history for me! Here is the single most viewed post I have ever published:

The Beatles Lost Rooftop Concert Film!

Yes, you can never go wrong when you’ve got The Beatles helping you out! My “Let It Be” post continues to be the most viewed story of all time on my blog, which I love because this Beatles documentary is probably the greatest “lost” film of all time, and you can read my entire post about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/04/06/let-it-be-the-beatles-lost-documentary-londons-live-beatles-rooftop-concert/

And yes, I own a VHS copy of the movie, which is one reason I love The Beatles so much!

Now, onto a “different” kind of movie…

Three years ago, I discovered that certain stories got a lot of interest, like films from the “grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street: it was almost three years ago when I actually warned people which movies NOT to show at a family holiday gathering!

Which, I will reiterate, is NOT a film to be shared with relatives…although “The Sinful Dwarf” is a classic example of “euro-sleaze”, a rough type of 70’s film…classic cult cinema that lives on thanks to DVD and on demand services – and I do have a fondness for wacky exploitation movies, like this:

Grindhouse Cinema Lives!

Yes, it’s an acquired taste, but I have met a ton of passionate exploitation fans who enjoy stories about his unique time in movie history…and look, not only did I share the plot of “Mantis In Lace”, but I found this picture as well!

The fact that the President and Vice-President would be eating in front of a “Mantis” poster…I love the internet! Ii you want to more, just click on my “grind house gift guide” here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/11/23/sex-violence-grindhouse-have-a-purient-holiday-an-exploitation-gift-guide/

There are a lot of people who enjoy this unique era of film, and I thank all of you who read my posts about this weird and wild world of cult cinema…

But I also love to travel, and Alex and I have been lucky enough to have some great adventures, which I have shared throughout the years:

Here is Alex harvesting a fresh eggplant from the Patricia Wells garden in Provence, where we cooked with this legendary cookbook Author:

We got to cook on Julia Childs’ original provincial stove, and you can read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/06/10/tasting-provence-cooking-with-patricia-wells-food-and-travel-unite/

No matter how great cooking with Patricia and her husband was, it pales in comparison to the fun I’ve had with my kids as well…

This is my daughter Jessica, who came along on a work trip to Tokyo and got to see some crazy japanese food…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/05/06/tokyos-build-a-burger-wacky-japanese-burger-ads-wildest-food-for-sale/

We had a great time eating our way through some of Tokyo’s great food…but it paled in comparison to this hilarious trip, which I call:

The “London Grind!”

My son Jeff went with me on a work trip to London, and got to work with the crew for a few days as well…which led to what we call his “London grind” adventure – a hilarious night out with some very drunken British business people, highlighted here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/18/alison-haislip-the-london-grind-travels-with-alison/

This was a trip to film for G4 with Host Alison Haislip, and thanks to Alison for being such a great talent, and so much fun to work with in London!

And Let’s Never Forget The Bacon!

Yes, I have posted about ALL kinds of bacon as well…that’s because bacon is funny, and you “never cut funny”…so whether it’s a bacon wedding cake…

Or perhaps it is bacon that is utilized in a more “fashionable” manner…yes, bacon has proven to be very very popular, and the stranger the better!

Thanks to Sara Underwood for wearing a bacon bikini – all for the good of television. Of course, bacon fits best right here:

Burgers!

I have also enjoyed posting lots of burger posts…like the Brazil burger sold in an edible wrapper:

I haven’t been to Rio to have this, but cannot wait to get there! Read all about this edible adventure here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/12/20/brazils-edible-burger-wrappers-go-brazil-go/

I have also shared my love of music – and of course my admiration for the music and career of Todd Rundgren!

I have been a lifelong fan of this musical Artist, and have posted many stories about his unique career. For example, did you know that he created MTV? Read all about it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/02/todd-rundgren-inventor-of-mtv-a-hollywood-square/

And one of my favorite stories about Todd Rundgren was his special musical friendship with the late Singer/Songwriter Laura Nyro…

You can read it here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/10/25/brilliant-laura-nyro-todd-rundgrens-muse-their-beautiful-musical-history-together/

Laura is an under-appreciated Artist, and her body of work is amazing to listen to. Here is a story about a recent tribute CD that is currently nominated for Three Grammy Awards!

http://johnrieber.com/2014/09/09/re-imagining-laura-nyro-a-brilliant-map-to-the-treasure-laura-nyros-beautiful-tribute/

Congrats to Billy Childs for the success of this project, which highlights great Laura Nyro music!

Todd Rundgren AND Laura Nyro fans have been hugely supportive of the site, and I truly appreciate it. I’ve also met a lot of great people who have great blogs as well, and I appreciate everyone’s support and interest…

Stevie Wonder Live!

I also shared my review of Stevie Wonder’s “Songs In The Key Of Life” concert in Chicago, including this live performance of “Saturn” with India Arie:

And there is so much more to share!

Year Four Sneak Peek!

With more than 700 posts, I just keep finding more stuff of interest to me. So what else can you expect going into 2015? Here are some clues:

Behold “Zolton”!

Yes, I’ve got some classic movie posters to share, thanks to an incredible website that helps to keep these alive…that will be posting soon, and I also have some great stories about classic Hollywood, such as the legendary sex kitten Jayne Mansfield:

I also have a bunch of travel stuff to share, like more of my adventures with Sasha Grey in Australia, where she got photo bombed by a shark!

Thanks to Sasha for always supporting these posts, and allowing me to tell all the fun stories about working with her, like this classic clip of Sasha finding out just how cold the water at Bondi Beach was!

Check out all of her adventures by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2013/08/11/sasha-greys-new-novel-sasha-grey-shark-dive-outtakes/

And yes, there are more food adventures to come as well:

One of Barcelona’s most innovative restaurants is coming soon to the blog…as well as a look at some of the best ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

There are a lot of fun adventures still to come…my goal is to share more stories about interesting people, classic movies, adventurous travel, wacky movies and more bacon!

Thanks again for the million views and I hope you enjoy what is still to come!

Let me know your thoughts!

It’s the story of a young man who dreams of making it big – and he does – in adult films! Time to celebrate the brilliance of Dirk Diggler!

One of the greatest films ever made is now being remembered with a great “oral history!” Here is Actor Thomas Jane talking about working with legendary Actor Burt Reynolds:

Thomas Jane: “In between setups, all the actors would sit on the floor, all around Burt Reynolds in a big puffy chair. Luis Guzmán and the Roller Girl girl and all of us, ya know, we’d all be there. We’d all sit down and Burt would tell stories about acting in the ’50s and New York City and Marlon Brando and James Dean.”

Boogie Nights!

Paul Thomas Anderson directed this epic look at the rise of a adult film superstar, and his journey through the changing world of porn. Anderson uses the adult film industry to tell a much larger story of the changing world of art and commerce, innocence and corruption.

Inspired by the tragic story of John C. Holmes – aka “Johnny Wadd”, Mark Wahlberg does an amazing job as Eddie Adams, who is “discovered” by an adult movie producer – due to his “unique” talent – and overnight becomes porn superstar Dirk Diggler!

“Livin’ Thing: An Oral History of ‘Boogie Nights’”
by ALEX FRENCH and HOWIE KAHN!

I found an incredible oral history of the film on the great website “Grantland” – and you can read the entire history here:

http://grantland.com/features/boogie-nights/

This terrific oral history includes gems like this from Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson:

I was so influenced by Spinal Tap that it was in my brain, so it was like, “Let’s play it as a documentary.” I’d seen this piece on A Current Affair on [adult film star] Shauna Grant, which was the clichéd-but-true story of a girl from Iowa who comes to Hollywood on the bus, looking for her dreams.”

Creating “Dirk Diggler”!

The Director also reveals how he came up with the film’s most iconic character name:

“I remember sitting on my bed, I was 17 years old, I was watching TV, and I swear to God, it just was like — bang! Dirk Diggler. Hey, that’s a good porno name, and I wrote it on a little index card. And I still have the index card.”

Mark Wahlberg has never been better as the young man who becomes porn’s biggest star, Dirk Diggler. The terrific cast also includes John C. Reilly, Burt Reynolds, and Heather Graham, who is terrific as Roller Girl…

Also in the cast are Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Julianne Moore, who plays porn star Amber Waves…here she meets Wahlberg AKA Dirk Diggler, and sees what all the fuss is about…

Amber Waves: Let me just check on something.
[takes off Dirk’s pants]
Amber Waves: That is a giant cock.

The entire cast is phenomenal in the film, with Burt Reynolds doing an amazing job in what was called the comeback role of a lifetime…

This is a fascinating look at ht rise of adult films in the 70’s, and how it all turns into ’80’s excess. You see Dirk Diggler as he creates another character, “Brock Landers”, an ass-kicking Detective who also loves the ladies!

These parodies of 70’s porn films were hilariously accurate:

[in a scene from “Brock Landers: Angels Live In My Town”]
Dirk: [as Brock] You still hungry?
Jessie St. Vincent: Starving.
[unzipping his pants]
Dirk: [as Brock] Then feast on that.

After achieving porn super stardom, Dirk Diggler and his sidekick Reed Rothchild decide to become rock stars. After singing some of the worst songs ever put on film – “You Got The Touch”, they return to the studio to find out that the record producer won’t release the master tapes…

Dirk: Look, man, all we need is the tapes, all right?
Record Producer: No, you don’t get the tapes until you’ve paid.
Dirk: In our situation, that doesn’t make any fucking sense.
Reed Rothchild: Look, we can not pay for the tapes, unless we take the tapes to the record company, and get paid.
Dirk: Hello? Exactly.
Record Producer: That’s not an MP, that’s a YP, your problem. Come up with the money, or forget it.
Reed Rothchild: Okay, now you’re talking above my head. I don’t know all of this industry jargon, YP, MP. All I know is that I can’t get a record contract, we cannot get a record contract unless we take those tapes to the record company. And granted, the tapes themselves are a uh um oh, you own them, all right, but the magic that is on those tapes. That fucking heart and soul that we put onto those tapes, that is ours and you don’t own that. Now I need to take that magic and get it over the record company. And they’re waiting for us, we were supposed to be there a half hour ago. We look like assholes, man.
Dirk: Let me explain to him in simple arithmetic. One, two three! Because you don’t fuckin’ get it, Burt! You give us the tapes. We get the record contract. We come back and give you your fuckin’ money. Have you heard the tapes? Have you even heard them? We’re guaranteed a record deal. Our stuff is that good!
Record Producer: Now I get it. Now I understand. You want it to happen… but it’s not going to happen. Because it’s a Catch-22.
Dirk: What the fuck does that mean? What is a Catch-22, Burt?
Record Producer: Catch-22, gentleman. Think about it.
[pause]
Dirk: You know what I’m thinking about, man? I’m thinking about kicking some fuckin’ ass!

Dirk Diggler’s “Living Thing!”

Of course, the movie’s most notorious “reveal” is at the end, when Dirk Diggler reveals what makes him a star…and it is one of the most perfectly realized endings of any film…in a movie full of great moments…

There is so much that is memorable about this film – great character Actors like Alfred Molina show up for small roles that burn through the screen –

I can watch this movie any day of the week…a masterpiece. And this “oral history” is full of great stories about the making of the film….and finally, it may be one Actor’s greatest performance ever. RIP Phillip Seymour Hoffman…

Make sure to read the entire “oral history” of this great movie here!

http://grantland.com/features/boogie-nights/

And let’s not forget Burt Reynolds’ other claim to fame…

Oh, Burt!

Don’t forget that, aside from a great role in “Boogie Nights”, Burt Reynolds was one of the biggest stars in the world in the 70’s…read all about his amazing career highlights, including posing nude in “Playgirl” magazine…

http://johnrieber.com/2013/03/26/long-yards-squealing-pigs-boogie-nights-burt-reynolds-greatest-roles/

And kudos once again to everyone involved in the masterpiece that is “Boogie Nights!”

Smile!

The Awards are rolling in for one of the year’s most provocative films!

A Golden Globe acting nomination, on the AFI Top Ten film list, multiple Broadcast film critic nominations and now the San Diego Critics have chosen it Best Film Of The Year…Time for:

Brilliant “Nightcrawler”! Jake Gyllenhaal’s Oscar Worthy Portray Of A Modern Day Travis Bickle!

When Academy Award nominations are revealed, don’t be surprised if Jake Gyllenhaal’s name gets announced – this terrific Actor has given the performance of a lifetime – a modern day Travis Bickle from “Taxi Driver” with a hint of Robert DeNiro’s Rupert Pupkin from “The King Of Comedy”.

First, check out the trailer:

“Nightcrawler” is an intense, beautiful directed action thriller that looks at a modern day sociopath, and the bloody world he crashes to make a name for himself…

Gyllenhaal plays Lou Bloom, a loner and hustler who stumbles upon a new profession: “Nightcrawler”, the term used to describe the guys who chase down crime scenes and car accidents and then sell their footage to local news stations.

Rene Russo is terrific as the aging News Director who loves to yell “if it bleeds, it leads” every time Bloom films a horrific crime scene.

Look at these two images: Jake looks like the spawn of “Taxi Driver” Travis Bickle, and both characters use automobiles as their window into the bloody, violent world around them…

Empire’s Great Interview!

The terriifc british movie magazine empire has an interview with the Actor in their November issue. It offers up some great insight into the film.

Empire has a great interview with Gyllenhaal, who explains the look of his “Nightcrawler” character.
The actor lost twenty pounds to give himself a more haunting, “hungry” look…

“The idea was that he would be thin and that he would feel hungry…at a certain point I said ‘Lou is a coyote’…when you see one of these coyotes, they’re skinny and they stare at you like they’re going to eat you. Their techniques are all about preying on the desperate.”

Director Dan Gilroy was fascinated with a crime photographer from the 40’s in New York named “Weegee”. The Director told Empire:

“He was the first guy to put a police scanner in his car and drive around looking for crime scenes. I was fascinated by the intersection of art and crime.”

Bill Paxton is great as a veteran “Nightcrawler” who befriends Bloom – and quickly comes to regret it.

This is a terrific movie: a searing character study of evil, a tense, action-packed thriller, and an oscar-worthy performance by Gyllanhaal, who also produced the film.

For those who work in TV news, this isn’t a pretty picture. I worked in hard news for many years, and I know that this film, while not indicting the “nightcrawler” mentality, does raise many serious questions about “the public’s need to know…”

And for Gyllenhaal, this is an amazing career achievement…and here is a look at two incredible performances that his character seems to evoke:

Gyllenhaal’s loner in “Nightcrawler” is similar in mindset to Travis Bickle, who roamed the streets and found violence in Martin Scorsese’s brilliant “Taxi Driver”…read all about the seedy street of 70’s NYC by clicking here:

http://johnrieber.com/2012/09/07/new-yorks-gritty-movie-streets-taxi-drivers-subway-hijackings-cop-chases/

And of course, some of Gyllenhaal’s character evokes a sense of Rupert Pupkin, DeNiro’s brilliantly deranged character from Scorsese’s “The King Of Comedy” as well…

A newly released 30th anniversary blu-rays a great way to re-discover this masterpiece…read all about it here…

http://johnrieber.com/2014/03/25/the-king-of-comedy-goes-blu-amazing-extras-scorsese-grills-pupkin/

And once again, check out the masterful “Nightcrawler”, one of 2014’s best films!