What Films Have You Seen Recently?

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Cougars Inc (2011)

Sam, a young man who seems to get expelled from every school he goes to, is on the verge of yet another expulsion due to his mother withdrawing the funds to pay for his education. Downtrodden, he meets an older woman in a bar, following a one night stand she leaves him a cheque for $500 to help pay his way, which gives Sam the idea of starting an escort service for lonely woman using his school buddies as escorts.

Ignore the promo artwork, this isn't the American Pie style movie you might be expecting. (There's not even a dog in the film) There's no slapstick comedy or outrageous behaviour it's all done in a realistic sort of way. The women are decent people looking for a good time as their home lives break down and the youths are happy to help them out, in fact at it's heart Cougars Inc is just a movie about relationships.

It's been a while since i saw Jim Belushi in anything more than a cameo so to see him have a large, much meatier role in this as the high school principal was definitely a bonus. Actually all the cast were very good from Kyle Gallner as Sam to Kathryn Morris and Denise Richards as the lead 'cougars'.

Go into this expecting a gross out comedy and you are likely to hate the film, but go in with no expectations and you might actually enjoy this sweet and occasionally sad indie effort with a few laughs along the way.

[Deadite]

It's got a clever strap-line.

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Friday the 13th (1980)

A group of camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp which, years before, was the site of a child's drowning.

Considering the reactions of victims as they meet the killer is often 'Hi, didn't see you there', director Sean S Cunningham does well to keep this trend setting slasher movie suspenseful. Helped in no uncertain terms by a very Hitchcock / Bernard Herrmann style score from Harry Manfredini.

Whilst the film lacks the lumbering Jason Vorhees killer, it's still a stylish bit of hack and slash showcasing the gory make up effects of Tom Savini to full effect with some of his best work. An early throat slashing is memorable and the classic spear through Kevin Bacon's neck sticks in the memory for life so iconic it has become.

You don't need me to tell you if this film is any good. It's one of the all time great horror films and you should know by now if you like it or not. Personally i think it's a far better film than the similar but overrated The Burning (1981) but not as good as the same years The Prowler, two films which also show off the best of Tom Savini.

[Cinematic Shocks]

Bleed for This (2016)

***1/2 out of *****

[Demoncrat]

Sticking with the VHS at the moment

The Diamond Mercenaries (1976, Val Guest)
Slightly shoddy actioner from the man who brought us The Day The Earth Caught Fire. The kind of film that by rights should be "up there" with Avalanche Express and The Cassandra Crossing...but just isn't . A hoot in places, a drag in others. AKA Killer Force. Vipco "big box" release.

Silent Assassins (1987, Lee Doo Yong)
Flash aah - ah! Ahem more like. Sam Jones turns in an undemanding performance as cop Sam Kettle. Linda Blair, a year away from ripping the piss out of her iconic role plays the girlfriend. Am not doing this justice, as it is a fairly violent wee film, though I'm sure that this Medusa release was trimmed....

Tonight?
Bob Ross paints a Seascape (with Lighthouse!!). Should be fun.....

[gag]

Demdike yes fri 13th is a great film.
But imo i think like a lot of other films they over killed the franchise. And me personally with a lot of films i lose interest once start going after 3 4 films.
Hellraiser, cotc, noes, halloween i just havent been bothered to watch the films, they might be good but its me thats missing out
Think only franchise ive watched all the films is Final destinations.
Never been a fan of stuff like James Bond and only seen one fast & furious, but thats just my opinion. Im glad there a lot of films from the 80s they didnt go down that route, and i think if Burning had, they would have spoiled it and lose the edge of the cult status its got.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by gag

Demdike yes fri 13th is a great film.

It really isn't.

Still, it's better than most of the sequels!

[Buboven]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

It really isn't.

Still, it's better than most of the sequels!

Agreed, I am in The Burning as a far superior slasher camp myself

[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by bizarre_eye@Cult Labs

It really isn't.

Still, it's better than most of the sequels!

I don't think it's better than any of the sequels to be honest.

[bizarre_eye@Cult Labs]

Originally Posted by Demdike@Cult Labs

I don't think it's better than any of the sequels to be honest.

Two and three are truly awful. Eight is bad (but fun in a novelty sort of way) and JGTH is probably the worst of the bunch, for me. It's a while since I've seen them to be honest so most just gel together in my head.