“We’re gonna get the sun drunk. We’re gonna get the sun drunk.” You’ve seen him as a strapping young ladykiller. You’ve seen him as a gruesome old count. Now see him as *checks notes* a band manager? Yes Dracula’s bloodsucking days are behind him, but what’s to stop him from robbing graves to build a … More Schlock du Jour: Dracula of Exarcheia (1983)
In this addition of Short Cuts, we got a handful of ghosts, a demon or two, and a stuffed pig with a homicidal streak. What a gallery of rogues! Attack of the Killer Hog (2003) An explosion of ideas sadly never gels and just left me a bit confused but mostly pissed off. Two detectives … More The Merits of Sin (Short Cuts): Attack of the Killer Hog (2003) (Argentina) Pyewacket (2017) (Canada) Hell Mountain (2016) (USA) We Go On (2016) (USA) Muirhouse (2012) (Australia)
In a dystopian future ruled by a chunky dollar store Emperor Palpatine with 666 carved on his belly, an experimental super soldier by the name of Jacob Stryker has just escaped the prison center he has been held captive in. This is bad news for the head of the empire’s military (and “do-it-yourself” Darth Vader … More The Merits of Sin: Moonchild (1994) (USA)
The menagerie of supernatural entities found within Japanese folklore is expansive. That’s just what happens when you’ve been around as long as the land of the rising sun has. For every folkloric hero, you’ll find a bevy of grotesque horrors just outside of view…ready to pounce. Asia (and believe me I know I’m slipping into … More The Merits of Sin: 100 Monsters (1968) (Japan)
directed by Ron Bonkruntime: 91 mins The year is 1997. The Spice girls are ruling the airwaves. The SPACE JAM soundtrack is monumental. My parents just split up. I spent the bulk of the year as a naïve 9 year old in my Go Eat Worms hat, looking at dirty magazines with my cousin under … More Schlock du Jour: The Vicious Sweet (1997)
Depressing and disturbing Swiss flick manages to make you feel yucky all over but is so well done it’s hard to dismiss it as exploitive crap. So… win? Beaten deaf and dumb by his abusive, sister molesting father, our introverted protagonist (?) goes about his life excelling at his accounting job and living a quiet … More The Merits of Sin: Mosquito the Rapist aka Bloodlust (1977) (Switzerland)
“Why would he come after us? We haven’t done anything wrong.”“He’ll think of a reason, cops love to hassle people.” Call me Mr. On-the-Nose, because I’m topical like ointment, baby! Police are beating the shit out of everyone in real life, because the majority are racist, butt-picking, trigger-happy, Call of Duty playing asshole bullies. It … More Schlock du Jour: Psycho Cop (1989)
Indonesian slasher. That’s all you had to say. Indonesia has been a constant source of joy in my trip down the horror rabbit hole and I was teethed on slasher flicks so I was all in when Waterfall of Pengantin first bleeped on my radar. Luckily it wasn’t that hard to track down and here … More The Merits of Sin: Air Terjun Pengantin aka Waterfall of Pengantin aka Lost Paradise: Playmates in Hell (2009) (Indonesia)
I rarely get angry. It’s just not in my nature. I worked over a decade in the construction business and even in dealing with customers who knew everything there was to know about home remodeling thanks to catching a few seasons of whatever garbage HGTV was shitting out, I always kept my cool. Frustration would … More The Merits of Sin: Deep Blood (1990) (Italy)
It’s always a crapshoot when you put the world of live action film in the hands of an illustrator. It’s not a matter of the talent being there but a matter of whether or not the platform can support the vision. Keita Amemiya is a very talented artist. His character designs and fantasy visuals are … More The Merits of Sin: Zeiram (1991) (Japan)
