Weekend Viewing! The Gingerdead Man & The Final Destination

Well. What can I say about the films that got airtime this weekend? As recommended by a friend, who in light of my taste and opinions via this blog and Facebook page (Random Horror Films - Just started. You can choose to like if you feel inclined) gave me the first film... The Gingerdead Man!

Lovingly prepared!

The film starts with Gary Busey mercilessly killing a family in a diner. Leaving only one member of the family alive. Skip forward a few years and Mr Busey's character has been sent to the electric chair for his crimes. The one survivor, who is now looking after her late father’s bakery business receives a package containing gingerbread seasoning???? Knead and mix, roll and shape. Place in the oven on 220 for forty five minutes and hey presto, The Gingerdead man is born!

Voiced by Busey, this walking, talking gingerbread man seeks to complete the job he started back in that diner. Well, that's the story in a nutshell. What do you say about a story like that? I tell you what you say.... What the Fuck! Some terrible acting, not so much from Busey as, for 90% of the film, all we are treated to is his soft tone (or would that be grizzly racket) but one puncture hole in the trash bag of despair was Ryan Locke. Someone who's filmography does not seem to do him much justice. Locke provides the majority of the best scripted stuff, mainly comedy lines but other than him, the talent pool was rather shallow I’m afraid. A further beaming ray of sunshine was the fact that this film is only a whisker longer than an hour in duration. So not a lot of precious time was lost to this film. Nevertheless, some funny moments and even funnier special effects make this little number bearable.... Just!

Released: 2005
IMDB Rating: 3.3
My Rating: 3

After battling through the dough of Gingerdead Man, The Final Destination was next on the list.

They certainly know how to drag
out this Final!

Another Final Destination graces our screens. Sad to say but I really enjoy these films, well the first two anyway. The fourth instalment however does not meet the standards set by 1 & 2. It does surpass the 3rd however. Not really much need to lay out the story line, we all know how that goes... Released in theatres in 3D this was another example of "cashing in" on the latest technology but who can blame them when you have the gate receipts that this film made!

The thing I have always been drawn to about the Final Destination franchise, is the series of events that lead up to the deaths. Somewhat reminiscent of the old Honda advert or an elaborate game of Mouse Trap! So well thought out and intricate in all its fluid motion. Setting up the inevitable and gruesomely gory end, although not always the way you may think! FD4 does seem to substitute good acting and dialogue for this intricacy but that is not in this instance, such a bad thing.

You see, these films are all about the beginnings. The first had an awesome aeroplane explosion, the second, that highway pile up and the third had the roller coaster accident (?) The 4th offering has a race car crash at a speedway track. A very good way to open any film! This, like the previous attempts does dip slightly in the middle but we are treated to some very imaginative death scenes.

When all is said and done, all I can say is that, as unnecessary as the sequels have been. They do provide some very enjoyable chewing gum for the brain. All I can say now is that I am really looking forward to seeing the 5th instalment. Out now!


Released: 2009
IMDB Rating: 4.9
My Rating: 6

Well, those were the highlights of my horror experience this weekend. It can only get better. Happy reading.

The Cube Series

If you are looking for some good films to watch, why not try the Cube Series. Consisting of Cube, Cube 2: Hypercube and the prequel, Cube Zero.

When Cube was first released, it was received rather well. It follows seven strangers who awake to find themselves imprisoned in a strange square room. The room contains a small doorway on each wall and beyond that is an identical square room, and again and again. Every door they pass through takes them to another room. Here comes the fun part! Every now and then, they will come to a room with a terrible booby trap. Someone's imagination was working overtime to come up with some of these traps!

Directed by Vincenzo Natali, Cube focuses on the relationships built between the strangers however good or bad they are. As the case says Fear, Paranoia, Suspicion, and Desperation. It starts with fear... Each person scared for their own life. Once paranoia sets in, suspicion is never far behind and then as a last resort, Desperation. If you were trapped in this thing, you would get desperate too.

Natali's decision to focus on character as well as making this film quite gruesome was a great one. You do feel for the characters and want them, well maybe some of them to be ok! It’s quite hard to believe that Natali has never really reached the heights promised with this film. "Cypher" being a highlight in his CV and more recently "Splice" but other than that rather disappointing. Nevertheless, Vincenzo Natali showed us what he can do with Cube and although we wanted more, we are more than happy with this little offering. Instant cult classic and well received in the wider world. Great film and one of the most original to hit the big screens in this genre. Certainly one for any film enthusiast.

Released: 1997
IMDB Rating: 7.5
My Rating: 8

As the case says "The highly anticipated sequel to the smash hit" Cube 2: Hypercube has a very familiar feel to its predecessor;
A group of people who have no idea how they got there are left to find their way out of the Cube..... Déjà Vu?
A few little tweaks to the Cube world just to keep it interesting but all in all, a slight let down. That’s not to say that Cube 2 is not as enjoyable as the first, just lacking in originality. Directed by Andrzej Sekula, who has a more impressive resume as a cinematographer than a director but he does do himself some justice. As most sequels go, this one is no different. Enjoyable, highly entertaining and just as, if not more gruesome than its predecessor. If only they could match the storyline and originality then sequels wouldn't have the bad reputation that they do. A good cast and great visual effects do make the film very good to watch. A lot more open that Cube in the way it feels and a sense of knowing and understanding from those trapped make it something slightly different from the original. Horror or Sci-Fi fans should certainly give this film a try.
Released: 2002
IMDB Rating: 5
My Rating: 6.5

As with so many films in the horror genre, we are treated to.... Yes you guessed it. A Prequel. Prequels occupy that small region of moviedom known as purgatory. Not good enough to be considered the 1st film and when there was nowhere else to take the story, they bump this little number to the front and call it "The Beginning" of the story. This film went with Zero! With all that said, Cube Zero could have been set at any time throughout the franchise. A small connection to the first film is the only thing that makes it a prequel. Anyone else would be mistaken for thinking it was another sequel. Anyway, all these quels are annoying me now! Cube Zero twists the franchise and makes it original again. We are no longer confined to the claustrophobic box rooms of the first two films. Now we get to see who controls the cube! Who is pulling the strings and why. A great emphasis on character, as with the first. We see a control room, complete with computers and filing room but with only two processors working, it still feels very constrained and that is a great thing for building the suspense and letting us know who the characters really are. We do get little treats of action from within the cube but the majority is for once, outside of that world and in a more "real" place. Good casting and a great storyline see what could have been a rebirth of the franchise. Which until now hasn't materialised. Original and enjoyable. A definite for cult horror and sci-fi fans alike.
Released: 2004
IMDB Rating: 5.6
My Rating: 6.5

All things considered, the Cube series is very good. Highly enjoyable and as said in the above, a definite for Horror fans and Sci-Fi fans. Supremely original and quite gory in parts. Certainly one of out household's favourite Horror trilogy's. Something to stick on when complicated storyline's and twists just seem too much work! I would recommend them to anyone. Happy reading and hopefully, if you haven’t already seen them, you might now be considering it. And, just to peak interest slightly, I hear on the grapevine that a reboot/remake is in the works. So hopefully there is some life in this franchise yet... We can only hope!

Movie Review: Stay Alive (2006)

Keep telling yourself, it's only a game!

This was one of my collection which instantly appealed to me! A modern movie about a 'Survival Horror' computer game not based on a real computer game!.. Brilliant.
I was never in any doubt that this movie would entertain me, being a bit of a geek and all and I was not wrong!

The movie starts with a bang and continues on the same path. A young man, Loomis (Milo Ventimigia) is Beta testing a new computer game. After dying in the game in a very gruesome way, he switches off. Hours later, he dies in a similar manor to that of his character in the game. Even more brilliant!

The game is eventually passed on to his friend, Hutch (Jon Foster) He and a group of friends decide to play the game for themselves. It is not long before they realise a connection with Loomis' death and they take it upon themselves to investigate and try to discover the secret of the game. It’s not long before they are eventually picked off one by one....

The film is very well made and a great cast, which includes Frankie (Malcolm) Muniz, Jimmi Simpson and Adam Goldberg, make this film a very enjoyable little horror film. While some moments are unbelievably predictable, the odd flash of brilliance is thrown in there for a thrill that might otherwise have gone unnoticed!

Some scenes remain in the "what was that?" categaory as on second or even third viewing, images or even just glimses are spotted which beg the question... why didn't i see that the first time? As a true gamer, some of the things that are raised in this film made me think very seriously about possibilities and what might be in the future. Personally its all about Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid but at the end of the day, the opportunity to bata test a video game from hell might be a little bit too good to pass!

Purists may question the storyline... The spirit of Elizabeth Bathory wreaks havoc on an unsuspecting gaming community in New Orleans. I know, New Orleans is thousands of miles away from modern day Slovakia but who cares? Probably more of a European thing!

In the States, the film did rather well. Trebling its initial budget but in the UK, it remains relatively unknown, unfortunately.... Some great on screen chemistry between the cast members and a few "scary" scenes make this film one to watch. A definite recommend to any fan of teen slasher/thriller films. And it has Malcolm in the Middle, so who could say no!?

Released: 2006

My Rating: 6.5

Movie Review: Nursie (2004)

I was very dubious about watching this film at first. It wasn't until the missus picked it out, did we decide to watch it. Most of my DVD's tend to sit on the shelf for quite some time before I eventually give them a whirl.

At first, Nursie didn't really have me interested. Low production value and a very limited dialogue didn't help matters but once it got going, I found myself getting increasingly involved.

The story follows a Doctor, Zack and his wife who are travelling to a friend’s house. They stop off at a truck stop diner and after upsetting some of the locals, they flee. They travel several miles down the road before they are abruptly run off the road and subsequently hit a cow.

Dazed and confused, Zack awakes in a bed. He doesn't realise it yet but he has woken up to a nightmare of Annie Wilke's proportion! With more than just shades of "Misery", this film builds the suspense with consumate ease. Some brilliant acting, mainly from Savannah Boucher, who plays Ada the Nurse, make this film rather enjoyable.

A few suspect moments in the script threaten to reduce the viewing pleasure but when you have a film that doesnt take itslef too seriously and never sets itself too high, you can't really complain. There was clearly no need to resort to mindless gore to bump up viewability as with so many low budget horror films. Instead, Nursie weaves its way through its duration with ease, culminating in a more than satisfactory conclusion.

All in all, Nursie is well deserving of a positive review and in my opinion it deserves far more credibility than its other reviews may suggest. If you are not looking for an Oscar worthy performance and don’t mind a few dialogue problems. I would definitely suggest Nursie But don't keep her too long.... She is losing her patients!

Released: 2004

My Rating: 6

Top 10 Horror Films of all Time

Below is a list of 10 horror films which I consider to be the best. You may not agree with the list, you may not like the list but it's my list so you can think whatever you like. You may notice the absence of one film in particular, The Exorcist did not make my list as I don not consider this film to be a) good and b) a horror film. One thing that has always baffled me about lists like this is everyone's willingness to include, what I would call, one of the most boring "big" films ever! And for that reason, it does not find a place in my top 10. Saying that, it would not make my top 100, so the point is irrelevant really. Anyway, here is my selection of the 10 greatest horror films. I have not chosen films that are the scariest or the most successful. I have chosen purely on the ones that I enjoyed.

10. 1408: Agree or disagree but 1408 was brilliant. Based on a Stephen King story, John Cusack plays a writer who reviews "haunted" hotels. He ultimately finds himself staying at the Dolphin hotel, where, after the Hotel Manager, played by Samuel L. Jackson tries desperately to get him to stay in another room, he ultimately loses the battle and Cusack makes his way up to room 1408. Almost immediately, unexplainable events begin to plague him. Some great intimate moments featuring Cusack in his room make this film feel very claustrophobic and give it that special touch of atmosphere and suspense. Excellent casting, very well filmed and some great scares coupled with a good storyline help to seal this films position in the top 10.

Released: 2007
IMDB Rating: 6.9
My Rating: 7.5

9. The Ring: Although the Japanese original has a lot more atmosphere, I really don't like films that you have to read and dubbed movies take even more away! This film was released in 2002. Being the first of many J-Horror films to get the Hollywood treatment, it was probably the best (so far). With a lot of the storyline surviving from Hideo Nakata's original "Ring" it plays a pivotal part in what has become a small epidemic of J-Horror remakes. Casting was never an issue as Characterisation was quite low on the priority list although Naomi Watts does play the lead brilliantly. An investigative journalist searches for answers after watching a video tape which has (after seven days) claimed the lives of several youths. The tape in itself is unnerving enough but there are various aspects of this film which see it earn its place in this count down. Very good throughout. Watching the full unedited tape frame by frame certainly sends a shiver down your spine.

Released: 2002
IMDB Rating: 7.2
My Rating: 7.5

8. The Thing: Could anything else go wrong for a group of scientists in Antarctica? A shape shifting alien makes the already harsh conditions even harder to bear! Some very unsettling scenes of the alien in full shift mode and great special effects make up for the plot, which seems very pedestrian at times. A simple "alien attacking scientists" plot but it more than makes up for that in atmosphere and imagery. With the horrific truth that the strange shape shifting alien could be anyone, you do ask yourself, is he the Alien? Directed by John Carpenter and starring one of his (and my) favourite actors, Kurt Russell, having cast him in five of his vehicles, so far. The Thing is widely thought to be as close to "Alien" as any Sci-Fi Horror will ever get.

Released: 1982
IMDB Rating: 8.2
My Rating: 8

7. Night of the Living Dead: As influential horror films go, there are not many more influential than this one. Zombie films before had mainly consisted of voodoo folklore a la White Zombie and Haitian beliefs of the dead being resurrected to perform the duties of slaves. George A. Romero changed all that and every Zombie film that precedes it has a lot to thank him for. Night of the Living Dead follows a group of people who hold up in a farmhouse in an attempt to stave off the undead. As was present in Romero's "Dead" series that followed, Night had a social message. The film focuses on the relationships between the strangers barricaded in the farmhouse and their obvious differences of opinions and at a time when racism was still a major issue in America, Duane Jones was cast as the likable "hero", with complete disregard for what was considered normal in cinema's at the time. Before, African Americans had typically been cast as the comic relief, someone to be ridiculed but this was a definite step in the right direction. With a shocking ending which captures everything that was wrong with America at that time. Zombies had never before looked so good or bad, whichever way you think of it. Clumsy, lumbering lumps that never seem to stop. A true classic and certainly worthy of its place.

Released: 1968
IMDB Rating: 8.0
My Rating: 8

6. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Storyline, Dialogue? Who cares! When it comes to Tobe Hooper's exploitive slasher, none of it matters. A group of teenagers desperately try to escape the clutches of a grave robbing, hill-Billy family with Gunnar Hansen's character as the chain-saw wielding Leatherface. The sheer feeling of despair that is created by this film is only made worse by the reality that no matter how hard you try, Letherface will catch you! That horribly rusty chain-saw sounding like a beacon of terror, only serves to let you know, he has already found you. Hooper manages to create a purely terrifying, atmospheric and grim film which will have you on the edge of your seat. It played a massive part in writing the "how to" guide of slasher, which has rarely been beaten by any other film.
Released: 1974
IMDB Rating: 7.5
My Rating: 8

5. Halloween: The second offering from "Master of Horror" John Carpenter sees one of the most recognisable villains in Michael Myers. An escaped mental patient who is looking for his sister to finish off the work he started years earlier when he killed the rest of his family. The machete wielding masked manic stalks down his prey with a slow and steady pace, which makes the whole experience that little bit creepier. You can run as fast as you like, it won’t make any difference. The whole feel made that little bit more intense due to the excellent score, from Carpenter himself. Much the same as the score which let you know something was going to happen in Jaws, as soon as that music starts playing, we know Michael isn't far away. With Jamie Lee Curtis playing Michael's sister, we have a great lead, who for the most part is just running for her life, screaming all the way, nevertheless, she does it brilliantly! Donald Pleasence plays the Psych Doctor desperately trying to warn the local police of the impending storm that is Michael Myers! Halloween keeps you gripped from beginning to end and a perfect ending, which paved the way for one good sequel before the franchise was well and truly destroyed. Following in the trend of Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street, far too many sequels and terribly pedestrian re-makes But the original stands tall and has definitely stood the test of time.

Released: 1978
IMDB Rating: 7.9
My Rating: 8

4. Psycho: It is now time for the "Master of Suspense". Everything about Psycho has you gripped, from the steady opening to the shocking end. Something as simple as Janet Leigh escaping with $40,000 dollars, stolen from her employer and Hitchcock makes it suspenseful. We watch through the window of her car as she drives towards freedom, the music building slowly and a look of fear and panic in her eyes; almost as if she knew that something else would come looking for her. She decides to get off the road to rest and stumbles upon Bates Motel. A bog standard looking motel with a young proprietor, only too willing to help his new guest. The sinister look in is eye, enough to make anyone scared. It may seem strange but for a film that is now 51 years old, I still feel wrong giving the twists away, so I won’t. As the original theatre's warned... "No One ... BUT NO ONE ... Will Be Admitted To The Theatre After The Start Of Each Performance Of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho" and the plea "Don't give away the ending; it’s the only one we have!" It is a film that must be watched from start to finish. Anyone who has seen it will agree and anyone who hasn't, just watch it for yourself.
Released: 1960
IMDB Rating: 8.7
My Rating: 8.5

3. The Shining: Much like Hitchcock, Kubrick was a genius. With various successful films under his belt, if somewhat disturbing in the case of A Clockwork Orange. Kubrick takes Stephen King's novel of the same name and makes it into something King could not accomplish, as witnessed with his own adaptation which was a rather poor effort compared with this one! Rather loosely based on the novel but still, one of the true horror masterpieces. Jack Nicholson plays Jack Torrance, a writer who, along with his wife and son travels to the Overlook Hotel to be caretakers for the winter. It isn't long before strange things start to happen. A bad case of writers block is far from the worst thing that inflicts Jack. Over the course of time, he has a full blown mental breakdown and carnage ensues. There are so many scenes in this film that once seen cannot be unseen and will no doubt stay with you for a very long time. Small flashes that make you question if what you have just seen was real or just your imagination playing tricks on you. But I can assure you, you did see it! Filled with memorable moments between Jack and his wife, who is played brilliantly by Shelley Duvall. None more so than the infamous "Heeere's Johnny!" which once you have heard the story behind the scene makes it even more memorable. The famous line uttered by Nicholson was an improvisation after a whole day of hacking on endless door after door as the super perfectionist Kubrick dug deep for that perfect moment of horror magic. Which, needless to say was accomplished and the line itself fitting perfectly with the descent into madness of Jack. I think every emotion known to man is conjured up during this film as it plays its way towards its conclusion. Despite King's decision to distance himself from the film, it is as close to perfection as any horror film could ever hope to accomplish.

Released: 1980
IMDB Rating: 8.5
My Rating: 9

2. Alien: In space no one can hear you scream! Absolutely. Despite my wife being adamant that I am wrong in saying Alien is not only a Horror film, but also my second best horror film of time... It is. The sheer loneliness of the Nostromo as it makes its way through deep space, the unknown quantity captured in every outer worldly shot. Not to mention the terrifying looking alien which is beyond anything in my wildest, twisted dreams. A true predator, right down to its acid for blood! The story follows the crew of a mining ship, The Nostromo. They investigate a possible SOS on a nearby planet but what they find is a wreck which looks like it has been there for some time. As well as the wreck they find what looks like an egg, when it bursts open and latches on to John Hurt's face, they quickly get him back onboard to rescue him. As they seal the airlocks and make their way back into space what they don’t realise is that they have just sealed themselves in with true terror! Once the thing finally let’s go of Hurts' face and dies, they think that everything is fine. Then comes one of the best scenes in movie history. As the crew, including Hurt sit down for dinner, what they witness, will, in movie making circles be remembered for the best acting ever and in movie watchers minds, shocking to its vey core! What starts as a caught, quickly takes a turn for the worst and with a small pop, Hurt falls onto his back and literally gives birth to an Alien. As it bursts through his chest, it sits long enough for everyone to get a glimpse and then as fast as it had appeared, it is gone. The next time we see it, it will have grown into one of the scariest looking things I have ever seen. The atmosphere generated by the brilliant Ridley Scott epitomises fear. This film will also help shape an entire generation of female leads who don’t just run away screaming. Sigourney Weaver's portrayal of Ellen Ripley is just ass-kicking! Seen more in the three sequels which follow this film but this was where it all started. If you want all out action, watch the sequel but if you want to watch one of the scariest films ever made watch this!
Released: 1979
IMDB Rating: 8.5
My Rating: 9

1. Blair Witch Project: This may be a controversial choice in most people’s eyes. You either love it or hate it but one thing no one can deny is that this film was groundbreaking! The Blair Witch project sold itself as the real events that happened in the woods to three student film makers. The footage from tapes was found in the woods, with no sign of the students. As we witness the tapes, it soon becomes apparent that they would probably never be found. They start out asking questions of the nearby townsfolk about the legend of the Blair Witch. Some give tall tales of personal experience whereas some are sceptical of the legend. Their film making takes the deep into the woods and after a few bad nights, things really take a downward spiral. Eventually ending in a shocking but brilliantly creepy way. The thing I always say to people who don't like this film is, watch it again, in the middle of the night, in pitch darkness with the volume turned right up! Some of the noises caught in the background really do take you by surprise. Nothing about this film is boring and it was the first film to use the internet to massive success to promote and generate hype. When I saw this at the cinema, it was loved by all and even made a few female members of the audience cry at the end. Since then, I think the hype coupled with ignorance has seen The Blair Witch Project fall into that obscure region of space that few would dare enter. Well I enter it and I am resurrecting its memory. For people who have never seen it and just made a judgement call based on reviews and what other people say... Shame on you. Please, give it a chance and follow my previous viewing instructions and you will not be disappointed.

Released: 1999
IMDB Rating: 6.3
My Rating: 9.5

Well, that was my Top 10. I hope you enjoyed reading it. The thing to remember is that this is my opinion. All opinions are welcome and I would be interested to see other people’s views. Coming soon, Top 10 most underrated Horror Films.

Watch this space!

Hi all. I am taking a little bit longer between posts in order to compile a list of what I consider to be the 10 best Horror films of all time. A slight change of pace from the "low budget" films features so far but hopefully it will make for good Reading and maybe even some difference in opions. Soon to follow the top 10 will be alist of my 20 most underrated horror films but fear not, reviews of two low budget films watched in the last two days, "Nursie" and "Zombie Chronicles " will fill the gaps. Enjoy!

Movie Review: Sharkman (2005)

More like a Bull Head!

Hammerhead, or Sharkman, depending where you get it, is one of those little creature features that tries too hard to do something in all seriousness but in doing so, makes itself even more ridiculous and for the enjoyment of all, hilarious!

It features a typical storyline. Two (obviously mad) scientists, Dr. King and Dr. Krauss, are performing experimental research on a remote island, trying to find cures for a number of diseases. A drug company, who used to employ Dr. King become interested in the research and make their way to the island. What they find is a mad scientist who, using Shark stem cells in an attempt to save his dying son has created a new breed of beast.... Sharkman!

As the box says half man, half shark, total terror! Unfortunately, the eye catching case is about as good as it gets. The sporadic glimpses of the actual shark-man are shaky at best. Very little cash must have been left for special effects. The casting sees one of our favourite mad doctors playing; yes you guessed it, a mad doctor. Jeffrey Combs, who has previously portrayed the mad doctor role, most notably Dr. West in the Re-Animator films and Dr. Vannacutt in House and Return to House on Haunted Hill is back at it again, complete with mad man round specs.

Regrettably, Combs is by far the best thing about this film and even that is stretching slightly. William Forsyth plays what can only be described as the ass kicker role, however, he is far from believable. All the make-up in the world could not convince us that he is twenty years younger and capable of playing "the hero". Hunter Tylo, of The Bold and the Beautiful fame does play her part rather well, despite some terrible dialogue from the script department. Sad to say, they are the only parts worthy of mention.

All in all a rather dull outing, a few moments of enjoyment but sorry to say, my worst review so far. My advice, watch Deep Blue Sea.

Year Released: 2005

My Rating: 3.5

Movie Review: Outpost (2007)



No one told them the war was over!

 It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a budget accumulated from re-mortgaging your house.

Outpost uses war as the undertone but puts an all important spin on it. Maybe not as much as a horror film as it is a sci-fi thriller but when you have an army of undead Nazi's surrounding your location it could be quite horrific.

For anyone who has seen Deathwatch, this one is for you. Where that film took a World War setting and added the horror twist; rather well I might add, Outpost does a very similar thing.

Set in war torn Eastern Europe, a group of mercenaries are employed to protect a mysterious businessman but what they find is an old WW2 bunker. Strange things start happening and the group then find themselves in a struggle for survival. Some recognisable faces make the whole thing seem very local, mostly British actors, including Ray Stevenson, who recently played the muscle to Gary Oldman in The Book of Eli and Michael Smiley, or Tyres, to anyone familiar with Spaced. Both play very good parts in this film and along with Johnny Meres, who plays "The Breather" they carry the film very well.

The movie is gritty and suspenseful which makes for great viewing and the undead Nazi army are very unnerving. What this movie lacked in the special effects department is more than compensated for in the cast, who through talent alone make this a very believable (I know, Undead Nazi's believable?) and underrated flick. Very well done to the hard working production team who obviously sacrificed a lot to make this film happen. I hear there may be hope for a sequel, Watch this space!

Released: 2007

My Rating: 7

A small word from Monty

What is the first thing you look for when buying a DVD or choosing a film to watch? Great cast? Special effects? If you do, then you are certainly missing out! To me, there is a purity and rawness to low budget horror films that is sometimes sacrificed in large productions. Yes, the majority will not be bursting with great dialogue or have an oscar worthy storyline but every so often, a film comes along which has you gripped in the same way a big budget blockbuster might. This blog will hopefully make you aware of some of these little gems, which, you would have otherwise overlooked or never even heard of. From films you may know, to films such as Camp Blood, Hell Asylum and so many others. You may learn something, you may not really care but either way try and enjoy and maybe even pitch in with your own ideas and if I haven't already seem them, I will watch and give my honest and humble opinion. So, happy viewing and keep an eye on those bargain bins, you never know what you might find!

Movie Review: Zombie Flesh Eaters (1979)

Remember to brush your teeth!

Zombie vs. Tiger Shark! Possibly the best selling point for any Horror movie ever! Can you say in all seriousness that you wouldn't watch just to see that?

Well if you do decide to watch, you will get more than just a lumbering awkward looking Zombie grappling with an eight foot long Tiger Shark in beautiful tropical waters. You will be getting one of the all time classic zombie films. Hot on the heels of Dawn of the Dead or Zombi as it was known in Italy, this little number came along. Called Zombi 2 for the Italian market, maybe in an attempt to coat tail some of the success coming for George A. Romero's classic but nevertheless, Zombi 2 delivers it's own brand.

Directed by Italian supremo Lucio Fulci, he delivers an udead romp which was able to compete with the master himself (George A. Romero) Starting off in New York Harbor (possible another attempt to appeal to the wider audience of Dawn) but mainly set on a tropical island. In stark contrast to the beauty of the sand and palm trees, the undead begin to rise, looking like we'd never seen them before.

As with most zombie films, the storyline leaves a lot to be desired but when you're watching zombies munching on helpless humans, why would you want a storyline to distract you from the magic? Fulci injects the film with various other gems to keep you gripped.

Obviously the afore mentioned Zombie vs Shark scene is without question, one of the best and most widely remembered scenes in any horror film but the eye impaling scene, possibly infamous for being excluded from the cut version really gives it a super gory, intense feel.

All in all a very gory outing which more than rivals Dawn and its predecessor, Night of the Living Dead and sits Fulci right up there with Romero. The film spawned several sequels but none hit the same heady heights as the original. Atmospheric soundtrack and great make-up help to make Zombie Flesh Eaters one of the best Zombie films ever. If you liked any of the Dead series check this one out.

Released: 1979

My Rating: 8