The Merits of Sin…The Book Spook du Jour alum and oddball cinema connoisseur Brennan Dortch has published his first book, which is a mighty doozy mind you, and so I figured it would behoove me to say a few words: There’s a shit ton of heart and a severe lack of narrative control which is … More The Merits of Sin…The Book
Directed by Donald G. Jackson (Rollergator) “Written” by Scott Shaw. This introductory paragraph may be an intro to the intro but I don’t care right now. Firstly, this is not the 1999 film Ride with the Devil by Ang Lee. No, far from it. Second, if I sound a little cranky throughout this review, it’s … More Schlock du Jour: Ride with the Devil (1999)
Tales of terror can be delivered by many a weirdo. Crypt keepers, tarot reading doctors, children buying time before being cooked, even kindly old antique dealers have dealt out nightmare scenarios to various jerks and guilt ridden ass-bags for longer than most of us have been on this earth. But Terrorgram decided to make our … More The Merits of Sin: Terrorgram (1990) (USA)
Backyard splatter is pretty much the cornerstone of low budget horror. A subscription to Fangoria and enough like minded weirdos turned many a fright flick fan into a filmmaker in that late eighties, early nineties boom period. America had itself a plethora of enterprising young folks looking to get their blood soaked dreams out on … More The Merits of Sin: Kraven (1990-1992) (Germany)
Ted Vernon is a real piece of shit and, sadly, he’s also our film’s de facto hero. So strap yourself in for the Ted Vernon show and try not to fall asleep. I suggest taking a taser to your own genitals, but I’m a free thinker. An American soldier is sent to Russia to collect … More The Merits of Sin: Zombie Infection (2011) (Russia)
Horny is the best adjective to lay upon Killer Motel. The horror elements are here and even though they are placed front and center, the whole film is overshadowed by a mostly playful vibe of randiness. I’m not complaining. I enjoyed this one quite a bit and when sex and horror combine I usually find … More The Merits of Sin: Killer Motel (2012) (Japan)
Did you ever think that Robocop would have been a far better movie if it had idiotic villains, a quarter of the budget and instead of a heroic police officer it turned a pretty good tennis player (she did finish second) into its android hero after she’s mortally injured by said idiots? If you have … More The Merits of Sin: Lady Battle Cop (1990) (Japan)
Utilizing much of the same cast and crew from Spookies, that crap classic’s co-writer and co-director Brendan Faulkner also made this somewhat enjoyable but more-so rambling comedy/horror hybrid. It’s not great but offers some odd duck characters and charmingly cheap special effects. Vinnie Nicko ( Peter Iasillo JR who played the puppet loving Rich in … More The Merits of Sin: Non-Vegetarian Zombies from Outer Space aka Killer Dead (1992) (USA)
A lot can happen in twenty three minutes. I just had no idea that this much could happen in under a half hour. May the trash Gods bless Germany and all the weirdo backyard filmmakers from Deutschland. A chunk of exploded asteroid crash lands on earth, drawing the attention of two pleasant young German men. … More The Merits of Sin: Attack of the Dangerous Disgusting Black Worms From an Unknown Planet That No One Knows About (1999) (Germany)
“Hey! Do you remember that film with Joe Bob Briggs as a sleazy father and he’s married to a constantly drunk Brinke Stevens? Oh and there’s a cannibalistic midget and a bunch of butt violence. You know? The one narrated by Joe Esteves?” If I was in the lucky position of never having sat through … More The Merits of Sin: Evil Ever After (2006) (USA)
Spook du jour 