DeadMilkboy Reviews

Demons (1985)

Long live Argento and Bava

[26 November 2001]

Dario Argento and Lamberto Bava (son of the great Mario Bava) are two of the most untouchable powers in Italian horror cinema: this movie, DEMONI, is proof. Intense though it shows the qualities Italian horror is often subjected to in America (dubbing is one), you can actually follow this movie and get involved in the action. A slick, gory ride that is one of the must-see horror films of yesteryear. Look out for Billy Idol's "White Wedding" too.

This is the basic story: a man in a bizarre mask is giving out to random people free tickets to a movie (a slasher pic about Nostradomus' tomb)which is being shown at a currently reopened theater. These are some really seedy people here (aside from a couple young couples): an old couple who complain too much, a pimp and his two accomplices, and a blind guy accompanied by his daughter (who goes off to make out with some dude, you know her fate). One of the hookers cuts herself on a mask similar to one in the on-screen film, enabling a demonic spirit to gruesomely take over her body. She attacks some more patrons and the survivors end up fleeing for their lives trapped in the theater. Enter a group of punk rockers to really get stuff done (motorbike-and-sword sequence man!).

Get into the crisply transferred Anchor Bay version, a cut above the vintage New World release in picture, quality and completion. This is horror, Italian style!

100 Girls (2000)

Funny little comedy with a great ensemble cast.

[25 November 2001]

Some funny lines, an offbeat narrative, an opposite-sex sense of humor and a great ensemble cast (majority female) are the high points of this film from Michael Davis. This kind of romantic comedy story and the humor prevalent throughout is evident in Davis' other film, EIGHT DAYS A WEEK, which featured Keri Russell of FELICITY fame. If you've seen it, there are obvious trademarks to notice in 100 GIRLS.

Matthew (Jonathan Tucker) is a college freshman who is unlucky in love. But one night, during a blackout, he is stuck in an elevator with a girl, and under the cover of darkness, chat it up and share an intimate make out session. The next morning, she leaves him alone in the elevator, her panties the only keepsake to remind him of the night before. Matthew is so lovelorn, he decides to find out the girl of his dreams at the college dorm house presided by 100 GIRLS!!! Matthew is the only key male character in this story, with the exception of Matt's roommate Rod (James DeBello), a woman-basher, and the abusive nicotine gum-chewing Crick (Johnny Green), boyfriend to the lovely art-school chick Patty (Emmanuelle Chriqui). Matt and Patty have some mild chemistry together, which intensifies later.

Aside from Patty, there are many other individual candidates in Matt's journey, including bombshell Cynthia (Jamie Pressly), lonely intellectual Dora (Marisa Ribisi), strip foozball-loving tomboy Arlene (Katherine Heigl), and Matt's cute old friend Wendy (Larisa Oleynik), who helps him out by disguising him as a girl to better lessen the search.

The female performances are all finely done (Heigl is a hoot, Oleynik is a charmer, Chriqui is cute in a role that she would imitate in the s****y ON THE LINE), and Tucker is fun to watch as well as the hopeless yet desperate man. Some hilarious moments ensue when Cynthia suffers a broken nose, Arlene and Matt duke it out in strip foozball (there are two rounds), when Crick the Dick comes on to Matt in drag, and when we learn why Rod hates the girls so much. A great new millennium romantic comedy, on par with AMERICAN PIE.

Maniac (1980)

Claustrophobic gorefest with a bad reputation.

[25 November 2001]

William Lustig's MANIAC wasn't a critical hit in 1980, but it garnered the attention of horror fans in its gory homicidal story. It was a low-budget film with some disturbing violence which many people deemed misogynist (TOTAL BULLS**T) because he kills off women here. It's good to notice two of the best murders happen to the fellas too (Tom Savini gets it the worst obviously). But that aside, MANIAC is neither the best horror film of all time or most enjoyable, but damn is it intense.

Joe Spinell is absolutely strong in his portrayal of Frank Zito, a real man who has a nasty habit of slaughtering random individuals, mostly female ones so he can dress up mannequins with their scalped hair and clothes. This guy isn't Michael or Jason: when he bleeds, he feels pain. And because he feels guilty a bit over the tragic death of his abusive mother, he feels the urge to murder. Frank falls in love with Anna (Caroline Munro), a photographer who is unaware of Frank's dirty deeds, until Frank sets his unrested demon upon her in the end. The ending is bizarre, and the love story subplot feels a tad unsuitable (although the restaurant scene sets up some exposition, including the knowledge of Frank's mom being killed in an auto wreck). But when the gory carnage sets in, its realistic and graphic. Most other gore flicks seem timid.

The DVD version from ANCHOR BAY is a keeper, with audio commentary, a documentary on the late Spinell, the obligatory trailers/TV ads, a radio interview pitting the Spinell, Lustig and Munro against a DJ who roasts the film despite not seeing it, and some more angry comments from the critics in a "Gallery of Outrage". Tin box version contains the moody and effective Jay Chattaway film score on CD.

The Evil Dead (1981)

The ultimate experience in grueling horror, no jive.

[16 November 2001]

Sam Raimi's feature debut was this 16MM horror movie shot on a low budget and began filming around 1979, only to be retouched and reshot many times up until its U.S. release circa 1981.

The movie is a simple tale of five teenagers who vacation at a dilapidated cabin in the Tennessee woods. One night they play the tape recording of a man who had been to the cabin once before and discovered the horrendous secret of the "Book Of The Dead". His translations of the text are loud enough to wake the dead...and they do. Spirits of demons are awaken and one-by-one they are possessed and killed in an attempt for survival. In the end, our only survivor is Ash (Bruce Campbell), a somewhat ignorant and cowardish boy forced to save himself from the darkness surrounding him.

Not as highly slapstick as its followers (there is one horrendous Three Stooges salute near the end), and gorier than both sequels combined, this movie lacks plot and believability. But what you get are some fast-paced and surprising jolts, really great camera movements (the camera rushes through the scenery at breakneck speed), and some graphic violence bolstered by monster FX and stop-motion animation. Also notable, this was before the days of candy glass and soft contact lenses, so the cast and crew put their all into this movie.

The DVD release from Elite Entertainment is a sure buy. The movie is beautiful in color and there are many extras, including stills, outtakes, and two commentaries (one from Raimi and Robert Tapert, the other a more humorous and informative track from Bruce Campbell himself).