After reading the press materials for Dan Nelson and Drew Bolduc’s “The Taint,” I expected almost anything to happen while watching it. And that’s pretty much what I was given when watching “The Taint.” Just about anything and everything that you can imagine happened. And some things you were too afraid to imagine happened. It’s almost impossible to describe the film that was made by directors Dan Nelson and Drew Bolduc, but it’s an experience that no one will forget after watching it. And surely enough it has Troma written all over it. It’s compelling while also entertaining. It’s trashy but it’s clever. And it’s completely abundantly moronic, but also has a wit to it that makes it entertaining.
F (2010)
I think in the end audiences will find the finale of “F” to be rather infuriating for the simple fact that while director Johannes Roberts doesn’t create a very conventional horror film, he also doesn’t opt for a conventional final scene. And viewers awaiting a huge showdown or some sense of comprehension to the extreme events that have occurred throughout the running time of “F,” many will find that it just doesn’t come to a close as many will be expecting. We live in a world where movies explain everything and anything they can. “F” chooses to leave most of its premise a mystery and keeps the motives of its almost supernatural legion of villains a mystery even after the credits have finished rolling.
The Human Sexipede (First Sequence: A Porn Parody) (2010)
If the pretentious shit drizzle torture porn of 2010 entitled “The Human Centipede” entertained you, or if it just made you roll your eyes at the bloated hype, then “The Human Sexipede” may just be right up your alley. “The Human Sexipede” works more as a spoof of the Tom Six film than it does a hardcore porn, and right from the get go its intent is to make us laugh. I found myself giggling through most of the parody, especially with Sunny Lane and Amber Rayne delivering dialogue that’s nothing but clunky foreshadowing. The basic premise of this version is that both American tourists are incapable of achieving sexual satisfaction. After a quick girl on girl romp involving anal probing with vibrators, and 69ing, the girls find the evil Dr. Heiter online through a personal ad where Heiter insists he likes to party.
Straight Arrow, Sharp Shooter: Interview with Director John Fallon
Who is John Fallon? Well, if you peruse the net in search of information on horror movies, you’re likely to come across John who runs one of the most popular horror sites on the net entitled Arrow in the Head. He’s also one of the bigger names at Joblo.com and has appeared in numerous documentaries and notable genre films over the years. You literally can’t go an inch on movie websites without hearing about Fallon, and the credit is much deserved as Fallon works for his respect, is a self made man, and is one of the most lauded figures in film journalism. But did you also know he’s an indie director too? Sure you did, Arrow in the Head has a large following!
You should know by now. In either case, Fallon is an indie director when he’s not traveling or covering films, and he has made “Deaden” a throwback to the classic revenge films of the eighties, and “Red Hours” an experimental short film just released that has garnered some controversy. Not to mention he has his own official website. In either case, Fallon is a heavyweight in the film journalism world and he was gracious and kind enough to take time out of his hectic schedule and take part in an interview with us to explore his filmmaking techniques, his thoughts about indie film, and his experiences in the business. Throw back that last whiskey and have a read while we delve in to the thoughts of the action and horror buff.
Director Juliane Block & Her Blockbusters
Juliane Block is playing the field that only boys have for a very long time. From John Woo, John McTiernan, and Clint Eastwood, action films and the action genre have been a boys game for a very long time. Once a make-up artist, Ms. Juliane Block is a seasoned professional in working behind the scenes and is now directing her very own martial arts films. We reviewed her short martial arts film “Ramly at War” and managed to convince us that she is the next big action director capable of breaking out of the indie field and delivering some of the greatest action films of all time.
Currently, Ms. Block is working on developing her newest feature film and is working on funding her latest films and garnering as much experience as possible. She took time out while working on her action projects to tell us why she is no amateur and why her films are bonafide Blockbusters for a new age.
Dark Stars Rising: Conversations from the Outer Realms (Paperback)
I was most elated when I was able to get my hands on author Shade Rupe’s lengthy compendium of peeks in to the sub-cultural icons we know as cult figures today. Though all of the individuals in Rupe’s book are prolific and iconic, they don’t nearly garner as much attention as they deserve to. While many would be quick to pass this off as a book filled with interviews, the truth is “Dark Stars Rising” is a compilation of mini-biographies for stars, or people we consider stars, that deserve a spotlight. While author Rupe could have easily passed off lazy articles for a non-fiction book, all of the chapters profiling Rupe’s subjects are comprehensive to a startling degree, painfully honest and blunt, and stand as mini-biographical in-depth explorations in to the many cult stars Rupe is lucky and determined enough to interview and admire with professionalism.
Never about appealing to the mainstream, but more spotlighting the stars behind the shadows, author Rupe takes it upon himself to interview some of the most controversial figures in pop culture, some of the most derided filmmakers in film, and many of the most underground and cult individuals who have yet to see their relevance dwindle.
Going the Distance (2010) [DVD/Blu-Ray Combo]
Much like Drew Barrymore, “Going the Distance” is so intent on being cutesy and bubbly that it’s nauseating, and what contributes to Nanette Burstein’s romance comedy being utterly insufferable is its insistence on being two types of movies. It wants so hard to be thought of as a sleazy comedy with incessant and tedious improvisations from every single actor who gets more than a minute on-screen. It also wants to be a cutesy chick flick about a lovely geeky guy and an ambitious young girl who try to keep their romance sweltering over a long distance. And none of it works. Were it not for writer Geoff LaTulippe’s insistence on attempting to please both audiences and entertaining neither.