Dear God No (2011)

Starring: Jeff Bryant, Madeline Brumby
Director: James Bickert


Premise:
A motorcycle gang goes on a murder and raping spree (apparently a daily occurrence) and end up in breaking into the home of mad scientist.

My Take:
Well you have bikers, bigfoot, crazy people, Nazis, and just about everything else under the cliches B movie sink thrown in this misses. I understand what it was going for, but unfortunately it misses the mark. It's just bad, hard to watch, and throws lots of shock value at the viewer for the sake of shock value.

Rating:  Steaming Pile

Watched: Amazon Instant




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Sin City: That Yellow Bastard

AKA: Sin City Volume 4

Author: Frank Miller


Premise:
A old detective saves a child from a murderer/rapist, who happens to be the son of a powerful senator. The senator makes the detective pay by keeping him locked up for eight years and trying to beat a confession out of him. The detective finally escapes and tries to save the now grown up girl from danger once again.

My Take:
Another volume filled with grit and grim known in the Sin City series. Great artwork and great story (much of which was seen in the first Sin City movie).

Rating: Instant Classic



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Blitzkrieg: Escape From Stalag 69 (2008)

Starring: Steve Montague, Tatyana Kot, Brenda Cooney, Gordana Jenell
Director: Keith J. Crocker


Premise:
A former Nazi officer tells his story to a priest after escaping a team of assassins years after the wars.

My Take:
The movie needed at least 30 minutes trimmed from it. Even then, it would probably still be rather boring. It cuts between current and past events with little interest in either story. The whole thing is a homage to similar flicks of the 70's and is full of nudity and torture, but little substance.

Rating: Warning

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Hyena's Blood (2014)

Starring: Jon Lange
Director: Nicolas Caicoya


Premise:
The newly formed DEA tries to stop the poppy trade from Mexico, but a rouge former agent does his best to make sure the drugs get the United States

My Take:
I received an email about a month ago from the director with information about his short film. I agreed to take a look at it.
While not horror, there is an exploitation quality to the short and a decent amount of bloodshed. It looks fantastic too. It would be nice to see this as a full length feature to help explore the historical background of the DEA and the Mexican poppy trade. As well as flushing out the characters more. However, I was quite impressed with the lead actor. If you happen to see this one around give the thirty minutes viewing.

Rating: In the middle


Hyena's Blood Trailer

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Sympathy (2007)

Starring: Marina Shtelen, Aaron Boucher, Steven Pritchard
Director: Andrew Moorman


Premise:
A bank robber takes a teenage girl hostage and waits in a seedy hotel. Soon a stranger breaks into the room and three people have more in common than originally thought.

My Take:
The three characters manage to keep things interesting while different layers and intentions are revealed. Nothing too new here, but a worth a watch.

Rating: In the middle

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Gun Woman (2014)

Starring: Kairi Narita, Asami
Director: Kurando Mitsutake


Premise:
A doctor turns a drug addicted woman is turned into a killing machine and sent on a suicide mission to kill the man who murdered his wife.

My Take:
This is an exploitation movie it's best. An outlandish plot, lots of gore and nudity, and shaking acting. Sometimes, one just wants to zone out and not think about they are watching. This is that kind of flick.

Rating: In the middle

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Love Camp 7 (1969)

Director: Lee Frost


Premise:
A trio of female soldiers infiltrate a notorious Nazi camp, where the woman are used as prostitutes for the officers, in order to retrieve information from a scientist.

My Take:
Sort of the standard, run of the mill, Nazi explotation film full of nudity, torture, and depravity.

Rating: Steaming Pile

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Mutantis (2014)

A few weeks ago Mark Leake of Dire Wit Films reached out to me and asked for a review of their latest film, one which he wrote. The trailer is below.

Director: Kelly Fitzgerald


Premise:
A scientists attempts to find a Bigfoot and instead comes across a different kind of monster. He enlists the help of several odd characters to help capture the creature before it procreates.

My Take:
This ultra low budget flick isn't without it's charm. At times it's hard to determine if the "flubs" are done on purpose or in hopes no one is paying attention (like wigs starting to fall off). At least the cast looks like they are having fun with the crazy material, including the monster penis.

Rating: Warning (but watchable)


The movie is now available on DVD at Amazon, and digital copies are available for purchase or rental at our website,www.direwitfilms.com





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Machete Kills (2013)

Starring: Danny Trejo, Amber Heard, Sofia Vega, Demien Birchir, Michelle Rodriguez, Charlie Sheen, Mel Gibson, Tom Savini, Antonio Banderas, Walton Goggins, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lady Gaga, Vanessa Hudgens, William Sandler, Jessica Alba
Director: Robert Rodriguez


Premise:
Machete is hired by the President of the United States to stop a Mexican revolutionary who is threatening the US with missiles. Machete does the job and uncovers a bigger conspiracy.

My Take:
An all star cast of cameos looks like they are having fun with the outlandish and over the top material. And perhaps that is the point, but I feel one movie would have been plenty (though a third looks to be a possibility). If you have seen the first movie then this is more of the same... lots of blood spray and gun fire.

Rating: Warning (unless your in the mood)

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Nurse (2013)

Starring: Paz de la Huerta, Katrina Bowden, Kathleen Turner, Judd Nelson, Martin Donovan
Director: Douglas Aarniokoski


Premise:
A nurse seduces married men then murders them for being cheaters. She thinks she is doing the family a favor. She then falls in love with a young, new female nurse and will do anything to win her love.

My Take:
It's really hard to tell is Paz de la Huerta is terrible at acting or a knows how to plays this incredibly sexually twisted roles.  Either way, this is a rather outlandish tale which didn't work for me.

Rating: Warning





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Werewolf In A Woman's Prison (2006)

Starring: Victoria De Mare, Eva Derrek, Dlmiziano Arcangeli, Jackeline Oliver
Director: Jeff Leroy


Premise:
A woman is put into a foreign prison after her boyfriend is killed by werewolf.

My Take:
If you want campy then you got it. The movie is literally what is sounds like with a corrupt prison, lots of nudity, bad special effects, and worse acting.

Rating: Warning

Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Hidden In the Woods (2012)

Starring: Siboney Lo, Carolina Escobar,
Director: Patriciio Valladares



Premise:
Two sisters and their brother are raised in rural Chile by their psychotic, drug dealing, abusive, rapist father. The siblings finally stand up to their father and run away to make it on their own. He goes ballistic and eventually gets arrested. The local drug kingpin denies the man help to get out until he reveals where the drugs are stashed and instead goes off to find the kids, thinking they know about the drugs.

My Take:
The film is gritty and really defies a lot of logic, in fact the story goes all over the place from child abuse and rape to a deformed sibling to prostitution to cannibalism to crazy drug dealer shoot outs, but despite the flaws it is hard not to get sucked into this crazy ass world. The characters play it all with the upmost believability. The movie is not for everyone but I found it interesting.

Rating: In the middle





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Dust Up (2013)

Starring: Amber Benson, Jeremiah Birkett
Director: Ward Roberts


Premise:
A meth head's family is saved from a crazy drug dealer by a former marine and his Indian friend. The drug lord enlists his followers to enact revenge on what he thinks is owed.

My Take:
A rather outlandish movie which has it's moments. The cast is what really holds this together as they all take their silly characters serious dispite the over the top nature of the tale. Some good gore gags help the cause. It's a watchable, dont think about it too hard movie which is easily forgotten about afterwards.

Rating: In the middle







Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Strip Mahjong Battle Royal (2012)

AKA:  Datsui - Majan Batoru Rowaiaru

Starring: Hiroaki Kawatsure
Director: Mac P. Forever


Premise:
Four women wake up in a prison. They are forced to play Mahjong for a web show where the losers get stripped of their clothes and eventually their lives.

My Take:
Yawn. Random girls are captured. Play mahjong. Get tortured and stripped, often in sexual ways, but there is no reason behind it. The only slightly worthwhile character is the deviant, over the top host of this "game". Dont get me wrong, I enjoy topless women as much as any one else but at least give me a story.

Rating: Steaming Pile





Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Lost Souls (1980)

AKA: Da She


Director: Tun Fei Mou


Premise:
Illegal Chinese immigrants are caught trying to sneak into Hong Kong are caught by a gang and subjected to devious methods of torture.

My Take:
If you into films where a group of sadistic men rape, torture, and kill naked woman and sometimes men and children, then maybe this movie is for you. Even though it was probably far more shocking when it was released, it is still quite disturbing. But there is really no rhyme or reason for the violence or explanations behind the actions. Some rave over this "classic explotation" movie, but I am not one of them.

Rating: Warning






Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Ilsa, The Wicked Warden (1979)

Starring: Dyanne Thorne, Jesus Franco, Lina Romay
Director: Jess Franco


Premise:
Having escaped her past sins, Ilsa runs a secluded mental hospital. A girl gets intentionally committed so she find out what happened to her sister.

My Take:
Probably one of the worst movies in the Isla series even if it's filled with the familiar over the top gory scenes, naked women, and torture. 

Rating:Warning

 




Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
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Island of Death (1977)

Starring: Robert Behling, Jane Lyle
Director: Nico Mastorakis


Premise:
A British couple arrive on small Greek island and proceed to cause havoc by going on a murder spree.

My Take:
This movie contains some outlandish situations revolving around bestiality, incest, raping hippies, sexism, and homophobia. It results in lots of killing and nudity. Unfortunately really just shocking for the sake of being shocking and not much substance behind the actions (or generic reasons at best). And the acting is terrible by everyone involved. Supposedly it's notable in the exploitation and Greek cinema, so film buffs may want to watch it.

Rating: Warning





 
Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Sushi Girl (2013)

Starring: Tony Todd, Mark Hamill, James Duval, Cortney Palm, Noah Hathaway, Andy MacKenzie
Director: Kern Saxton


Premise:
On the day he is released from prison, a man is taken by his old gang. He gets interrogated so they can find out what happened to the loot.

My Take:
The stellar cast holds it all together in spite of several cliches and a plot that is easy to figure out. Nice cameos from Danny Trejo, Jeff Fahey, Sonny Chiba, and Michael Biehn too. A very "Tarantino-esque" caper flick full of testosterone.

Rating: In the middle




 
Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.

Mansion of Madness (1976)

AKA: Dr. Tarr's Torture Dungeon

Starring: Claudio Brook,
Director: Juan López Moctezuma

Premise:
Inmates of  remote insane asylum take the staff hostage and start running the institute.

My Take:
This movie is full of so much crazy stuff it has to been seen. And its rather entertaining and unique. I dont want to spoil any of it by sharing.
It does have down falls though, but still far more interesting than most stuff I watch.

Rating: In the middle





 
Fringes of Horror by Sean Kimmel is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at www.seankimmel.com.