Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Junesploitation Day 7: Slashers!

Close your eyes. Count to 10. And run for your life.

92 comments:

  1. Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)

    Finally got to this one! Meta as hell, and a really fun time. Am I the only one to think Leslie is majorly channeling Jim Carrey?

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  2. SLASHER! TRIPLE THREAT:

    Javier Aguirre's THE KILLER IS ONE OF THIRTEEN (1973, 90 min.) on YouTube for the first time.

    Lisa Mandel (Patty Sheppard), young widow of a rich lawyer who died in a plane crash two years prior, gathers 13 former clients/relatives/associates/lovers of her husband's in her isolated villa. During dinner Lisa breaks out the reasons why she thinks one of them might be guilty of murdering hubby Carlos. It takes exactly one hour for the Argento-patented dark gloved unknown murderer to start dispatching guests with axes, garrote wire, wrenches and even disabled brakes in a car. Before the bodies start piling up, though, this slow-burn thriller is only worth seeing for the dated fashions, social commentary and hot Spanish women (Carmen Maura, Dyanik Zurakowska, Marisol Delgado, etc.). Long live SPANIARD-SPLOITATION! :-)


    BLOOD RAGE (1987, 82 min.) on Amazon Prime for the first time.

    A more accurate title for this filmed-in-'84-but-released-in-'87 slasher would be "Life Shits on Todd" or (you guessed it) TODD-SPLOITATION! Todd is the "good" twin kid that gets sent to the nuthouse when "evil" bro Terry goes on a killing rampage in a drive-in. Ten years later during Thanksgiving night (not that any character acts as if it is) and aware that Todd has escaped from the nearby mental hospital, Terry goes on a killing rampage in the apartment complex he lives in with his overprotective mother Maddie (Louise Lasser, whose night-long mental breakdown redefines 'chewing scenery'), her fiancé Brad (William Fuller) and Terry's unsuspecting friends. All that plus a Ted Raimi cameo playing, what else, a condom salesman. HENRIETTA-SPLOITATON! :-O

    Playing the twin roles and providing a blueprint for Patrick Bateman's cocky-as-a-peacock charming psycopath, Mark Soper is the reason why "Blood Rage" stands out from the 80's slasher pack. Amidst the gore and uncomfortable moments (baby in jeopardy) this movie ends on a sad scene that made me feel genuinely sorry for what will become of the "final girl" after the movie fades to black. Arrow Blu-ray ordered, that's how good this flick is.


    Oz Perkins' THE BLACKCOAT'S DAUGHTER (2017, 93 min.) on Amazon Prime.

    A slice of brutal Canuxsploitation heaven in A24's otherwise "artsy" line-up, this slow-burn horror thriller by the Perkins brothers (writer/director Oz, musician Elvis providing the moody-as-fuck soundtrack) deserves mention alongside the likes of "It Follows," "The Babadook" and "The Witch." Nothing like an empty-for-winter-break Upstate NY Catholic boarding school with a dark basement (even though daytime scenes in the snow are also creepy) to make the stories of three young women converging on the same building make the hair on your back stand on end. The body count and gore aren't the highest but, as I found out when I watched/reviewed this in theaters a couple of months ago (and just rewatched before writing this), "The Blackcoat's Daughter" stays with you long after the credits fade. One of the scariest movies I've seen all year, one that Ti West and Anthony Perkins would be proud to direct and star in, respectively.

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    1. Blood Rage is the tops. No doubt about it. Calling Blackcoat's Daughter a slasher is... ehhh... hey when in doubt it counts! That movie is a rare gem that actually scared me.

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    2. Most slashers aren't scary, they're actually quite predictable and "safe" in following a predictable formula. While "Blackcoat's Daughter" is an above-average example and more moody and scary than most, it is absolutely a slasher.

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    3. I think think I found Blackcoat's Daughter comfortley uncomfortable. Which is why I liked it so much. It was one of those atmospheres that just pulls you in. And there is some slashing involved, and amoung other things.

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    4. I want to marry The Blackcoat's Daughter. Do you think she'll have me?

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    5. Sure, if you make a pinky blood oath. :-O

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    6. As long as its bloody and my pinky's involved then I'm in.

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  3. His Name Was Jason: 30 Years of Friday the 13th (2009, dir. Daniel Farrands)

    Talking heads, clips from the movies and slightly uncomfortable appearances by "host" Tom Savini. You know, the basic movie retrospective.

    Favorite quotes:
    "I needed the T&A for me, to hell with the audience." - Victor Miller
    "I didn't have sex until I was 30 because of Jason. That motherfucker was the best contraceptive a guy like me could have." - Joe Lynch

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    2. Bonus: Jason Hates Selfies (2016 short film, dir. Karo von Rutenhjelm)

      A three-minute short film by a Finnish amateur filmmaker, made only for the purpose of showing off the cool Jason costume he'd created. The costume does look cool.

      See it on YouTube.

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  4. Black Christmas (2006)

    I really wasn't expecting much out of this but there aren't a lot of good movies to see Michelle Trachtenberg and Lacey Chabert in. It's not like I'm going to watch Ice Princess or Christian Mingle. But hey, they managed to create an origin story for the killer here that involves jaundice so good on them I suppose.

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    1. Did you see the alternate endings and see the behind-the-scenes documentary? My HD-DVD copy of the flick has 'em. To paraphrase an FTM motto, they didn't know what they were doing.

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    2. It was just an Amazon digital rental. Plus I had a hard enough time making it all the way through one ending. It was clear they didn't know what they were doing though by the time they got to the third or fourth origin flashback.

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    3. High Tension (2005)

      Very solid movie up until the point where it introduces one of the most poorly handled twists I've ever seen. They just had 10 more minutes to go but they fumbled on the 1 yard line.

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    4. Saw this in theaters a couple of years ago at Nitehawk. I personally hated the "twist," but a lot of people in my theater were genuinely scared shitless of it. One girl I was sitting next to became hysterical and started crying! So what you and consider 'meh' can be somebody else's 'wow' moment.

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    5. High Tension is a film I considered a full on classic of the genre even despite the awful, awful twist UNTIL I saw the 1997 made for TV 2-parter - "Intensity" with John McGinley in which Aja just straight up jacked the first half of the series, even going as far as actual set pieces and specifics to scenes. Btw, I HIGHLY recommend "Intensity". It not only delivers 10 fold on it's title but it's one of the ballsiest made for TV mini series of all time. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118350/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_58

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    6. Seconding that. Watched Intensity thanks to Chaybee's rec (I remember when it aired, but I didn't catch it,) and it's a hell of a ride. I think it's probably the best made for TV movie of the '90s.

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    7. Yeah, I guess a 2-parter isn't really a "mini-series" it's an "event", I guess?

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  5. Torso (1973)

    God bless the Italians. I had a lot of fun with this movie, it's sleazy, goofy with some really great moments of suspense. I am quite happily becoming a Gaillo/Italian Horror fan. Though I do have to say I prefer the translation of the Italian title; The Bodies Show Evidence Of Carnal Violence.

    A serial killers work is just never done!

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    1. This is one of my favourite Giallo movies. The movie opens with a bunch of dudes and dudettes making love, and then you have that freaking doll in the foreground. WTF! The scene in the swamp is great too, with that doll getting it's eyes poked in. Why is that doll in the movie at all? And the lesbians riding on the back the tractor! This is a great movie.

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    2. Oh that doll!!!

      I loved how those scenes always went on for a bit to long. And how all the the towns people came out to view the women like they were in a zoo. It is a pretty great movie.

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  6. Lake Bodom (2016)

    Four teenagers travel to the site of an infamous murder to go camping...You can probably guess what happens next, but you would likely only be half right. The middle section of this movie is the best, with several interesting twists to the story. Unfortunately, they can't quite stick the landing. To be fair, this Finnish production is very well-made, with good direction and acting. It reminds me of All the Boys Love Mandy Lane - it wants to be more than "just" a slasher film, but can't quite pull it off. It's still worth watching, which you can see on the "Shudder" channel on Amazon Prime.

    After viewing the film I read about it online. It turns out there really WAS a mass murder at Lake Bodom in 1960, which is quite well known in Finnish history. They even use an actual crime scene photo in the movie.

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    1. The Bodom case indeed is real (and probably the most famous unsolved crime in Finnish history), which really adds to the movie when viewed with that prior knowledge.

      And I agree, the movie really doesn't stick the landing, but there are some scenes that really work, chief among them one involving a tow truck.

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  7. Maniac (1980):

    I prefer "mannequin enthusiast."

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  8. Tourist Trap (1979) on Shudder

    While it drags in spots, the dreamlike direction, creepy design and great score help elevate this above most pre-Friday the 13th slashers. Crazy ending, too!

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  9. CURTAINS (1983)
    A group of actresses are competing for a big part, and a masked psycho picks them off one by one. The production was allegedly plagued with constant delays, rewrites, and reshoots. It shows, as part of the movie wants to be artsy Euro-horror, and part of it wants to be a conventional ‘80s slasher. I guess I enjoyed it, even if it is a mess.

    SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II (1987)
    Oh, so THIS is the movie that has the rock n’ roll killer with the drill on the end of his cool electric guitar. That solves that mystery. This one is stupid fun. Young Crystal Bernard plays a psychic girl who has visions of the killings before they happen. How many horror franchises have introduced girls with mental superpowers in sequels? Alice in NOES 4, Jamie in Halloween 5, Tina in Friday the 13 part 7…

    EVIL DEAD TRAP (1988)
    In this Japanese gorefest, members of a TV crew investigate the origin of a snuff film, only to get killed in the gooiest, slimiest ways possible. If you can handle the guts-a-spewin’, then you’ll find this one is actually stylish and well-made. Definitely a must-see for ’80s horror fans.

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    1. The entire Slumber Party Massacre series are some of my favorite guilty pleasures (except I don't feel guilty, screw the haters). Glad you liked Evil Dead Trap, it definitely needs a bigger audience.

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    2. I have the Scream Factory blu-rays and am hoping to get through SPM I&II tonight. I'd already seen III because it was the only one the town videostore had growing up - realizing now I probably have a bigger selection of horror movies than they did - my son is going to be one lucky, screwed up kid!

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  10. Bloody Birthday (1981)

    Probably more of a killer kid movie than a slasher, but I think it's close enough to count. While not overly violent (or bloody, as the title would suggest) it still has a certain early 80s charm about it that makes it kind of fun.

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  11. Intruder (1989)

    Despite coming out pretty late in the game slasher-wise, this was a pretty great surprise. A group of people working in a supermarket are stalked and killed one-by-one by a mysterious slasher (if you haven't seen it don't watch the trailer, by the way, it gives away the identity of the killer) and while it won't win any prizes for originality its full of fun energy and has some crazy gore effects that make it totally worth checking out.

    Director Scott Spiegel (longtime Sam Raimi collaborator and director of From Dusk Till Dawn 2: Texas Blood Money) has a distracting habit of show-offy camera angles (from inside a shopping cart, gliding along with a deli slicer, inside a rotary phone, etc.) but still brings lots of energy to the table, and the kills (courtesy of KNB) are graphic, inventive, and more than worth the price of admission. Who knew there were so many things at the grocery store that could kill you?

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    1. Watched this recently and was WAY better than I expected! Also, Bruce Campbell cameo!

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  12. Child's Play 3 (1991, dir. Jack Bender)

    How can the same shit happen to the same guy thrice?

    Same old plot in a new setting. Perrey Reeves is delightful, Andrew Robinson is fun in a small role and the Chucky doll is pretty well made in most scenes. That's about it.

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    1. I love it when Chucky allows Tyler to escape his clutches because he's too busy laughing his ass off over his handiwork.

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  13. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
    This movie will never not be scary, and I hope this effectively adds to the Tobe Hooper appreciation fest.

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  14. The Slayer (1982, dir. J.S. Cardone)
    Night Warning (1982, dir. William Asher)
    Night Screams (1987, dir. Allen Plone)
    Honeymoon Horror (1982, dir. Harry Preston)
    Oh lordy. This was my first all flop day of the month. Slayer is def a slasher, but moves incredibly slowly and has a tiny body count. It really tries to be a classy, psychological slasher, but doesn't bring anything smart to the table, just something tedious. Night Warning was not bad at all, but wasn't a slasher, despite everything I've heard. It's a psycho-biddy pic all the way, with a very committed and discomfiting Susan Tyrell in the lead role. As far as I can tell, the title means nothing. If you recognize director William Asher's name, it might be because he also made four of the Beach Party movies, and beaucoup episodes of both I Love Lucy and Bewitched! Night Screams and HH are both mega-cheap, lazy productions, and I've learned that if you can't afford decent effects, odds are your slasher movie's not gonna be worth a thing. These are the types of movies where a kill scene has the killer choke somebody from behind with a pool cue, and the actor spits up a mouthful of blood, or worse yet, characters get straight up strangled; which means that out of 90 minutes of running time, 89 of the minutes are dedicated to characters standing around arguing about where people are and what is whose fault. No gracias.

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    1. Night Warning's better title is Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker. I actually enjoyed that one. The Slayer is boring and pointless.

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  15. The Bleeder (Blödaren) 1983 Dir. Hans Hatwig

    While I thought I had banged out watching all of the "Rock and Roll" Horror sub-genre films last year, up pops this ultra-obscure Swedish film about an all female rock band, the "Rock Cats", whose bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere and they are terrorized by a madman who wiggles his tongue and pushes around a baby carriage. "Rock Cats" are basically an awful version of the American band "Heart", and their introductory scene has them playing a terrible song to audience just standing there wondering what the hell they were watching (with some great "cheers" ADR added in for good measure).

    In keeping true to the slasher genre, nothing happens till about the 30 minute mark when one of our Rock Cats is killed by Mr. Tongue. Every kill is a character being pulled from a doorway and screaming or something to that effect, or at one point, shoved into a drainage pipe (haha) so there is absolutely no on screen deaths. I really like the setting though. Great use of location with a "cabin in the woods" vibe (in this case a house) and it's a "daytime" slasher which us fans know is pretty rare.

    I loved the last 30 minutes as we actually learn at least a little bit about our killer (though not really) and the last 5 minutes have a great 80's slo-mo scene. Most will find this a chore to get through, and it is, it's rough, but I kind of liked it.

    Only recommended for Swedish film, Slasher film, Rock and Roll Horror Sub-Genre and all female band fetish completists. Oh and tongue wagging freak-a-zoids.

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    1. 'Hollywood' Heath Holland, are you listening to the Pavlovian bell Chaybee is ringing for you? :-D

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    2. That's actually pretty damn funny :)

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    3. Is it safe to assume that Youtube is the only place I'm going to find this?

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    4. Nope! I don't even think it's on there. I bought the DVD from Amazon.

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    5. OH, OH...sorry, thought this was for "Intensity". Yeah, YouTube, man.

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    6. Odd, I couldn't find it on Amazon (as The Bleeder or Blödaren) but found it on youtube with subtitles right away.

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    7. So...wagging tongue fetish I presume? :P

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    8. I'll watch just about any movie that has a fictional band in it. Or a real band for that matter. I got a DVD of Burst City I need to watch also.

      I'll have to pick up Intensity at some point as well based on your recommendation.

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    9. Intensity is LEGIT! This one though, you'll struggle, but I guess I'm so use to it that it's part of the fun for me. Their outfits are great though!

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    10. ...and that's strong with "Burst City"...haven't seen it.

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    11. Just got through watching The Bleeder. It wasn't that much of a struggle for me to get through since there's always some fun to be had in seeing how filmmakers work around not having any budget.

      The name of the movie could have maybe used some reworking though as there's very little bleeding involved. The Grabber or The Smotherer might have worked better. My favorite part in that regard is when one of the women passes out after two seconds of having a hand over her mouth. That and the fact that the villain's downfall comes from ambushing a victim only to just leave them unconscious and not even take their weapon. I was entertained though.

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  16. Amsterdamned (1988, dir. Dick Maas) on YouTube

    "Slick thriller by writer/director Dick Maas (The Lift) about a serial killer who strikes from the waters of Amsterdam's famed canals." - video description

    It's fine. A shame since I expected more from this one based on that premise. Its competently made, including a remarkable boat chase, but routine in every other respect.

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  17. Child's Play (1988)

    Jason Vorhees the Cabbage Patch years. Chucky will be your friend til the end or until he can steal your soul so he can be human again.

    Even after all these years this is still great fun, who'd have thought back then that this franchise would still be going almost 30 years later. The original however is still the best.

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  18. The Final Terror (1983)
    Kids go camping in the woods. Killer comes after them. It's quite smarter than that. The characters actually have brains and make sound enough decisions for their situation. The body count is fairly low from the size of the cast and the kills are nothing special, mild spoiler, the final kill is quite cool.

    Tourist Trap (1979)
    That certainly was a movie. Telekinetic mannequins? A loopy little feature.

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  19. I went with the original A Nightmare on Elm Street, since I'd never seen it. Despite some cheesy bits (like the Home Alone sequence), it managed to have effective scares even when I was expecting them.

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  20. The Slayer (1982)

    This one is a bit different than most of the well known slasher films from the 1980's. It follows an artist who goes with a few of her friends and family members to an island in hopes to help her to ease her mind after she's been experiencing disturbing dreams that have been interfering with her work and personal life. Definitely a lot of psychological horror added into the mix, which takes away a bit of the slasher aspect. Not that it's a bad thing, but it makes it a little more of a slow burner. Worth checking out for any horror fan, but don't expect a lot of gore or high body counts. Looking forward to the blu-ray release from Arrow Video in August.

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  21. The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

    Like a little mystery in your slashers? Yes? Well fuckin skip this one because they reveal the killer during the first kill! But if watching half-naked high school girls getting brutally murdered is your thing (which is like totally normal, don't worry about it) this is right up your dark, deserted alley!

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  22. Some Guy Who Kills People (2011)

    Not a typical slasher, but more of a dark comedy horror. The story is about a guy who wants revenge on the people who tormented him and made him go crazy years earlier. It stars Kevin Corrigan, Barry Bostwick, and the great Karen Black. Overall the performances are pretty good and there are some funny scenes throughout. However, the predicable ending kinda took me out of the film for most of the third act. Only 4 people die so maybe it's not a slasher at all. Oh well.

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  23. Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990): Despite appearances from Viggo Mortensen and Ken Foree, this movie suuuuuucks. There's nothing here. Incomprehensible story, annoying characters, nothing new, nothing remotely interesting. Has to be one of the worst slashers out there. First Junesploitation fail.

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  24. Freddy vs. Jason (2003)

    It's a bad, bad movie but I honestly don't know how this concept could have been done better. Still, I'm weirdly thankful that these two titans got to be in a movie together. Their presence makes the movie totally watchable, even though I have no interest in seeing them fight each other.

    But hey! Let's be thankful it's a horror film and not an action blockbuster in the Dark Universe!

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  25. Slumber Party Massacre II (1987)

    What the movie lacks in nudity and scares, it makes up for in ripping off A Nightmare on Elm Street. It's actually kind of interesting and unique in a lot of other ways - I wouldn't say GOOD but it's a fun enough watch.

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  26. Jason X (2002)

    I'm not a big fan of the Friday the 13th series so I was very surprised how much fun I had with this one. It's silly, creative, confident. Every hesitation I had about it in the first act became a positive by the end. The Jason vs. Android fight is one of the best things I've seen all Junesploitation.

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    1. Jason X is a gem I think. Jason in space sounds like a terrible idea. But it turned out to be something really fun. It's knows what it is and embraced it.

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  27. Black Christmas (1974)

    I finally got around to seeing Black Christmas and now I'm mad its taken me this long to watch it. It's so good, guys! I'd argue that this could be viewed tomorrow for Cops day as well.

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    1. The cops are great in the movie! Even without them in it, it would still be fantastic. They add an extra cherry on top.

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  28. Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

    Holy where was this movie all my life? I picked up the scream Factory blu-ray of this and I'd been saving it but I think it was a perfect junesploitation pick.

    It's so crazy, and colorful, and funny, and disgusting, and fun. At times I was laughing out loud and other times I was jumping and looking away in disgust. Everyone knows that they're in this completely bonkers movie and cranks their performances up to 11, it's amazing (especially Dennis Hopper). The character design and set design was also amazing. I felt like I could stare at Stretches recording booth or at the Sawyer familie's murder BBQ bunker all day and still not notice everything.

    If this is the crazy shit Tobe Hooper can put out when left to his own devices then please give me more, I'm hopping on the Hooper Hype Train

    I give this one 11 Handheld Chainsaws out of 10.

    #hooperhypetrain

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    1. Eaten Alive (1978)

      Is it just me or did movie seem like Psycho on coke?

      I did not love this AS much as Texas Chainsaw 2 but it was a strong addition to the Junesploitation madness. I loved all of the color in this movie and how Hooper is able to give his films a feverdream-like quality.

      Hooper is really able to tap into the darkest, dirtiest, most disgusting parts of the human psyche and I think the rawness he portrays with his antagonists (and sometimes his supporting characters, looking at you Roy) is really powerful and makes each of his films genuinely terrifying

      10 mystical crocodiles out of 10.

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    2. I was listening to The Wrong Reel podcast's episode on Tobe Hooper today. It;s really something, I highly recommend it!

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    3. Thanks Daniel! I'll have to check it out. I downloaded my first episode of Wrong Reel the other day but haven't gotten to it yet!

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  29. The Final Girls (2015)

    A young woman is mourning the death of her mother, who was a scream queen known for being in "Camp Bloodbath." But then she gets pulled into the movie itself! Overall I liked this one. And I did get teary-eyed during a striptease scene, which was new.

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    1. Definitely glad I watched it! It was one I wanted to get to for a while now, and today was the perfect time! Also, that slow motion scene. Amazing.

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    2. The mother/daughter relationship is maybe my favorite in a movie.

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  31. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
    It's like comfort food.
    I can't even offer an objective review, it's been in my life too long.
    Slasher day was a great excuse to watch it again (even though I never need an excuse).
    "So, what WERE you gonna be when you grew up?"

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    1. Jason Lives is a warm blanket of happiness.

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    2. I usually drink a nice cup of tea while watching it in front of the fire.

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  32. The Town That Dreaded Sundown (1976) / (2014)

    I was excited to watch these movies as a double feature. I hadn't seen either one. I actually enjoyed both of them. They are very different movies but both have their positives. The beginning and end of the original is very good and kinda terrifying. It does what many of the late 70s horror movies did and had this lag where they try to have plot lodged in. I had heard that people didn't like how stylized the remake was. I actually appreciated how it was shot. I'm not totally sold on the end but it didn't kill it for me. They both were highlights of this month and both get 7 out of 10s.

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    1. I also enjoyed both. And like you, the style of the 2014 actually elevated it for me.

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  33. Stagefright (1987)

    Definitely one of the best discoveries of Junesploitation2017! This slasher kicks ass to the moon and back. The score is incredible, the setting is fun and different, and the characters are interesting. The gore is also INSANE to a level I was not expecting. And I must say the sequence towards the end of the owl on the stage was so dark and sick and I just loved that the movie included it. Bravo!

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  34. Scream (1996)

    So, my sister and I started out watching Black Christmas (1974), but we were 10 minutes in and decided that the film seemed a bit too disturbing (and rapey) for a fun night of film viewing (not in anyway meant to knock the movie), so we decided to switch to Scream, which we hadn't seen anyway. We made exactly the right choice. We had a blast. Plus, now I get to listen to the podcast on it!

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  35. Twisted Nightmare (1987, dir. Paul Hunt)

    A totally generic slasher for most of its runtime (not that I'm complaining), this one at least has a few surprises in store for the climax to make it stand out. It gets points for style, taking place mostly outside at night with nonstop smoke and backlighting. Forgettable for almost everyone but us diehard slasher fans, who will find a lot to like in it.

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  36. Tourist Trap (1979)

    I love the fact that this is rated PG. Hey kids! You want to watch something that will scar you for life? I've been trying to watch every category with my kids but there aren't too many slashers for kids. That's a shame. I pretty much loved this movie for its silly weirdness. 8 out of 10.

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  37. Stagefright (1987)

    Sneaking one in under the wire for west coast time! Slashers are my girlfriends favourite type of movie so I was lucky that we got to binge a bit today.

    Stagefright was ridiculously awesome, I agree wholeheartedly with Daniel above, especially about the score. It was gorgeous to look at, a delight to listen to, and just a lot of fun. I loved it. Thanks for the recommendation Patrick!

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  38. Friday the 13th 4: The Final Chapter (1984).

    First view. It's funny the twins dressing the same and naked swimming in tandem. The amount of nudity was surprising. The amount of killing was ad expected. I liked when the girl got slow mo pulled out and through the window.

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  39. Happy Junesploitation! It sounds like it would be a great holiday in real life.

    Looks like I am a day late for the slashers, but reading all of these posts inspired me to watch one this morning.

    I chose Graduation Day from 1981. While it does not do anything new, there were quite a few twists in the story to keep me guessing who the killer was and what would happen next. I enjoyed that the characters are generally not annoying cardboard targets for the killer. Some of the victims I ended up feeling sorry for, particularly Linnea Quigley's character Delores. (It is hard to believe Linnea is now almost sixty.) The movie also succeeds in capturing the hijinks of graduating high school students. The editing in certain scenes, particularly the party sequence, gets a little avant-garde, a jolt that I did not find unwelcome. Overall, despite a run time that is a little long, this an solidly entertaining slasher.

    I recently watched Jess Franco's slasher Bloody Moon, also from 1981. Although the film is absolutely stupid; has a terrible soundtrack; and has less than stellar effects, Bloody Moon is great fun. The English dub is awful and funny at the same time. Moreover, there are also some beautiful shots in the film. Franco had a good eye, especially when it came to photographing women.

    Stagefright is a superb movie. The suspenseful and gruesome shower sequence lingers in my mind. The image of the killer with all the bodies on the stage is also very memorable. It is a shame Soavi did not make more films.

    A Casual Listener

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