Viewings since my last update:
Shock Treatment - sort of 'sequel' to the Rocky Horror Picture Show which finds Brad and Janet experiencing a marital crisis while involved in an all-consuming tv show which has, quite literally, taken over their small town. A bigger box office flop than even the Rocky Horror Picture show, it never attained the same level of cult acclaim of its predecessor which is a shame because, unfair comparisons aside, it's a really great film. The songs are excellent, the satire on media manipulation and reality TV incredibly prophetic and the fact that it was all shot on a soundstage and we never leave the confines of the tv studio (a decision made possible only by the limitations of the production) gives it an oddly claustrophobic feel. It's not as 'out there' as RHPS but definitely worth a look and Jessica Harper does an excellent job at portraying a more self-assured Janet
Foxy Brown - still think I prefer Coffy but still a thoroughly excellent slice of blaxploitation. Still think the tagline should be "She's a feisty chick and she'll cut off your dick!" though.
Black Sabbath - I foolishly watched the AIP version of this which I gather isn't as good. I was less impressed with the last story but really enjoyed The Drop of Water and even The Telephone, although I gather the alternate version of the latter is very different. I must make an effort to clear my mind and watch the Italian version of the film soon
The World's End - a surprisingly moving and poignant end to Edgar Wright's ice cream-based trilogy. It deals well with the troubles of nostalgia and the unwillingness to grow up and yet manages to mix comedy with a sci-fi plot with some excellent choreographed fight sequences in too.
Hot Fuzz - gave this a watch after The World's End and think this might be my favourite of the three. I can't think of a film in recent years that's more densely packed with jokes and I love the way it takes various genre tropes and puts them all together to create something a bit different
The Evictors - horror thriller starring Jessica Harper and Michael Parks as a married couple who move into a new house but become terrorised by a mysterious figure who presumably has some connection to the house. It does moments of tension really well and I was surprised at how creepy I found it, although films about home invasion and invasions of privacy always unnerve me
Tell No One - excellent French thriller about a man who starts to believe his murdered wife is still alive. It's very twisty-turning as layers upon layers are uncovered to get to the truth and is also really heart-breaking at the same time. I think I cried at the end. Sue me.
House - the Steve Miner one. The revisitation of a film I hadn't seen since my early teens. Darkly comedic with wonderful 80's plasticy effects and generally very silly. Top stuff.
Sharknado - think I already covered this but just to reiterate, being super-post-post-ironic and self-aware doesn't change the fact it's a tedious film which looks awful and trades off the craziness of its already tired concept. Bilge.
V/H/S - again, already covered. Headache-inducing found footage film that doesn't have the courage or justification of its main concept and seems only to exist to appeal to genre fans nostalgic of the video format. Verdict: Eject
From Beyond - first time viewing of Stuart Gordon's icky Lovecraft adaptation. I'm quite ignorant of films based on Lovecraft's work but after this will be checking more of them out. I loved the 80s plastic-realism and the icky body-horror stuff makes me squirm in a way nothing else does. It's silly, over the top and at times ineptly directed (with one death scene a baffling case of "Why didn't he move out of the way?!" which so many horror films are guilty of) but it was short, sharp and delivered on the grue and guts.
Satan's Baby Doll - sigh. An all-over-the-place series of sexual set pieces strung together by a hamfisted plot involving possession. It manages to outstay its welcome even in its brief 75 minutes running time and even the most devout Italian exploitation purists will find little to get excited about.
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