The most notable thing about the giant killer crocodile movie Primeval is that its ad campaign never mentioned that it was a killer croc movie! Inexplicably, the previews made it seem like a serial killer horror flick (see poster at left). The movie is a decent entry in the “Giant Animals Attack” genre. Primeval so closely follows the plot of Anaconda (a classic camp example of the previously mentioned genre) that it could almost qualify as a remake. In Anaconda, a documentary crew takes a boat up the Amazon. In Primeval, a news crew treks into the wilds of Africa. Brooke Langton stands in for J. Lo. Dominic Purcell (TVs Prison Break) fills the Ice-T hero role. Orlando Jones takes Owen Wilson’s comic relief part, and Jürgen Prochnow fills the memorably ethnic-ish shoes Jon Voight. The action in Primeval is well paced, but the giant croc antics are occasionally overshadowed by a political subplot.

Cranky Critters, What We're Watching

The most notable thing about the giant killer crocodile movie Primeval is that its ad campaign never mentioned that it was a killer croc movie! Inexplicably, the previews made it seem like a serial killer horror flick (see poster at left). The movie is a decent entry in the “Giant Animals Attack” genre. Primeval so closely follows the plot of Anaconda (a classic camp example of the previously mentioned genre) that it could almost qualify as a remake. In Anaconda, a documentary crew takes a boat up the Amazon. In Primeval, a news crew treks into the wilds of Africa. Brooke Langton stands in for J. Lo. Dominic Purcell (TVs Prison Break) fills the Ice-T hero role. Orlando Jones takes Owen Wilson’s comic relief part, and Jürgen Prochnow fills the memorably ethnic-ish shoes Jon Voight. The action in Primeval is well paced, but the giant croc antics are occasionally overshadowed by a political subplot.

Cranky Critters, What We're Watching

Producer/director William Castle fancied himself a low-budget master of suspense in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock. Homicidal (1961) can easily be described as his take on Psycho (1960). Joan Marshall (aka Jean Arless) is great as the “psycho” Emily, who torments Helga the wheelchair-bound invalid and has an oddly close relationship with Warren, who recently spent some time in Denmark. It’s all as ghoulish and camp as you’d expect from Castle, who inserts a “Fright Break” before the final twist is revealed. Audiences in 1961 may have been surprised by the final shocking revelation, but despite Marshall’s convincing performance, viewers today are likley to figure things out right away.

Cult Camp Classic, What We're Watching, William Castle

Producer/director William Castle fancied himself a low-budget master of suspense in the vein of Alfred Hitchcock. Homicidal (1961) can easily be described as his take on Psycho (1960). Joan Marshall (aka Jean Arless) is great as the “psycho” Emily, who torments Helga the wheelchair-bound invalid and has an oddly close relationship with Warren, who recently spent some time in Denmark. It’s all as ghoulish and camp as you’d expect from Castle, who inserts a “Fright Break” before the final twist is revealed. Audiences in 1961 may have been surprised by the final shocking revelation, but despite Marshall’s convincing performance, viewers today are likley to figure things out right away.

Cult Camp Classic, What We're Watching, William Castle

If bobbing for apples and trick or treating isn’t your thing, why not spend Halloween night at home with a few these recommended titles:

The Devil Within Her (1975) Joan Collins believes that her newborn is murderously possessed in this Rosemary’s Baby/The Exorcist rip-off that features demonic dwarves and some of the ugliest (but groovy) production design of the 70’s.

Manos: The Hands of Fate (1966) Cheaper and more inept than anything Ed Wood ever dreamed up, this obscure gem gained cult status as one of the more memorable episodes of MST3K. John Reynolds’ performance as Torgo must be seen to be believed!

Abby (1974) This all-black version of The Exorcist finds a innocent minister’s wife possessed by an evil sex demon. Directed by William Girdler with a budget of about $1.98, this one is not to be missed.

Troll 2 (1990) A young boy must convince his family that the inhabitants of the town they’re visiting are really goblins in disguise. Psychotically bad performances and truly awful special effects will separate the novice film cultists from the hard-core bad movie fanatics.

Amityville 3-D (1983) Familiar haunted house clichés are trotted out for this sequel, only this time there’s the added hilarity of 3-D. You could program an entire evenings worth of 80’s 3-D cheese if you also included Jaws 3-D and Friday the 13th 3-D.

What We're Watching

A few years before Chuck Heston took to the skies with Karen Black in Airport ‘75, he piloted a terrorized 707 in Skyjacked (1972). Recently released as part of the “Terrorized Travelers” cult movie box set from Warners, Skyjacked hits all the expected points of an Airport-style disaster movie. While there are certainly campy moments (James Brolin as the sweaty, googly-eyed Nam veteran hijacker, Mariette Hartely giving birth 20,000 ft. over Moscow) the tone remains relatively serious, anchored by the performance of the heroic square-jawed no-nonsense Heston. The cast also includes Yvette Mimieux, Leslie Uggams, Jeanne Crain and Walter Pidgeon.

Cult Camp Classic, Skyjacked, What We're Watching

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) is an affectionate look back at the post-war exploitation boom that overtook cinemas and drive-ins in the 1950’s and 60’s. The documentary mainly focuses on the horror and sexploitation genres and explores such films as The Brain That Wouldn’t Die and Carnival of Souls (both from 1962). It also features interviews with the likes of Samuel Z. Arkoff and the always entertaining Roger Corman. The DVD includes some terrific extras, including an irreverent “making of” audio commentary from director Ray Greene and producer Wade Major, as well as outtake and bonus interview footage from genre mainstays Harry Novak, Doris Wishman and David F. Freeman. Schlock! delves into a unique period in American film history and offers a behind the scenes look at some of the groundbreaking work these filmmakers were attempting on shoestring budgets. Definitely worth checking out!

Schlock The Secret History of American Movies, What We're Watching

Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001) is an affectionate look back at the post-war exploitation boom that overtook cinemas and drive-ins in the 1950’s and 60’s. The documentary mainly focuses on the horror and sexploitation genres and explores such films as The Brain That Wouldn’t Die and Carnival of Souls (both from 1962). It also features interviews with the likes of Samuel Z. Arkoff and the always entertaining Roger Corman. The DVD includes some terrific extras, including an irreverent “making of” audio commentary from director Ray Greene and producer Wade Major, as well as outtake and bonus interview footage from genre mainstays Harry Novak, Doris Wishman and David F. Freeman. Schlock! delves into a unique period in American film history and offers a behind the scenes look at some of the groundbreaking work these filmmakers were attempting on shoestring budgets. Definitely worth checking out!

Schlock The Secret History of American Movies, What We're Watching

The twisted souls at Synapse films have once again collected the very best trailers from the good old days of grindhouse cinema. The newest installment in their demented series, 42nd St. Forever Volume 2, features two hours worth of trailers highlighting the weirdest and wildest in exploitation cinema. A gratuitous appreciation for the female form is obvious in films like The Babysitter (1969) and College Girls (1968), but if international skin is more to your liking, try I, a Woman (1965) or Helga (1967). The golden age of blacksploitation is represented with The Guy From Harlem (1977), Sugar Hill (1974) and Kenner (1969) a tripped-out Jim Brown flick set in India. A few drive-in era coming attractions are featured as well. The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959) and The Hideous Sun Demon (1959) are included, as well as more modern horror fare like The Evil (1978) and the Wes Craven/Sharon Stone screamer Deadly Blessing (1981). The original trailer for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is included and, just for the record, the preview is just as unsettling as its full length counterpart. The low-rent spy spoof genre is included with Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1966) and The Last of the Secret Agents (1966) starring “Mannix” himself Mike Connors. There’s also the Italian peplum Amazons of Rome (1961) and the Zorro/Hercules hybrid Samson and the Slave Queen (1963). The entire collection is topped off with “The greatest story ever rolled,” Skatetown USA (1979) a roller disco epic that features Scott Baio, Ruth Buzzi, Flip Wilson and Patrick Swayze among it’s cast members. 42nd St. Forever Volume 2 is packed with enough sex, sleaze and cheese to keep and any bad movie fanatic satisfied. Now we’re jonesing for volume 3!

What We're Watching

The twisted souls at Synapse films have once again collected the very best trailers from the good old days of grindhouse cinema. The newest installment in their demented series, 42nd St. Forever Volume 2, features two hours worth of trailers highlighting the weirdest and wildest in exploitation cinema. A gratuitous appreciation for the female form is obvious in films like The Babysitter (1969) and College Girls (1968), but if international skin is more to your liking, try I, a Woman (1965) or Helga (1967). The golden age of blacksploitation is represented with The Guy From Harlem (1977), Sugar Hill (1974) and Kenner (1969) a tripped-out Jim Brown flick set in India. A few drive-in era coming attractions are featured as well. The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959) and The Hideous Sun Demon (1959) are included, as well as more modern horror fare like The Evil (1978) and the Wes Craven/Sharon Stone screamer Deadly Blessing (1981). The original trailer for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) is included and, just for the record, the preview is just as unsettling as its full length counterpart. The low-rent spy spoof genre is included with Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1966) and The Last of the Secret Agents (1966) starring “Mannix” himself Mike Connors. There’s also the Italian peplum Amazons of Rome (1961) and the Zorro/Hercules hybrid Samson and the Slave Queen (1963). The entire collection is topped off with “The greatest story ever rolled,” Skatetown USA (1979) a roller disco epic that features Scott Baio, Ruth Buzzi, Flip Wilson and Patrick Swayze among it’s cast members. 42nd St. Forever Volume 2 is packed with enough sex, sleaze and cheese to keep and any bad movie fanatic satisfied. Now we’re jonesing for volume 3!

What We're Watching