William Lustig's depraved classic Maniac was massively controversial when it was first released in 1980. It garnered the ultimate accolades for an exploitation film- it was HATED by Siskel and Ebert (Gene Siskel said he made it to the shotgun murder then had to leave the preview screening as he couldn't stomach anymore!) and was …
Continue reading Day 1- 31 Days of Halloween 2023- Maniac (1980)
Here are the films I will be reviewing throughout October for the annual 31 Days of Halloween- Maniac (1980) The Stepfather (2010) Color Me Blood Red (1965) Last House on the Left (1972) Psycho (1960) Cry of the Banshee (1970) Peeping Tom (1959) Mantram (2017) Ek Thi Daayan (2013) Mondo Keyhole (1966) I Spit on …
As I had recently watched The Wicker Man from 1973, I thought it only fair to rewatch the remake. I remembered very little about the film from when I first saw it when it was released in 2006 apart from the 'bees' scene that became a meme years later. Would the film be worthy of reappraisal? …
Continue reading Is It Really That Bad?- The Wicker Man (2006)
A very religious policeman (Edward 'Equalizer' Woodward) arrives at the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a child, Rowan Morrison. Whilst he makes enquiries regarding the missing child he witnesses first-hand the pagan lifestyles of the inhabitants which shock him and clash severely with his staunchly Christian and somewhat puritanical beliefs. I …
Continue reading Meathook Cinema Hall of Fame- The Wicker Man (1973)
In this new regular series of reviews, I'll be watching films that are hated by many. Do these films deserve their bad reputation or do they deserve reappraisal? First up is Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning. Beware- there are spoilers ahead. I remember hearing about the film being in development when it …
Continue reading Is It Really That Bad?- Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning (1985)
Writer David Norliss is employed to write about his scepticism regarding the supernatural and the self-proclaimed spiritualists who are currently in vogue. However, he goes missing. His publisher discovers his research in the area on a series of tapes at his San Francisco home and decides to listen to the first one. He hears the …
WARNING- There are spoilers ahead. I remember as a young kid going past my local cinema in the family car and seeing the poster for the double bill The Incredible Melting Man and The Savage Bees. Just seeing this poster in passing was enough to give me sleepless nights. In fact, my protestations that The …
Continue reading Meathook Cinema Hall of Fame- The Incredible Melting Man/The Savage Bees
WARNING. Spoilers! Damien Thorn is progressing up the political ladder by hook or by crook. The methods used are exemplified by the first kill in the film in which The U.S.Ambassador to the UK crosses paths with Thorn's Rottweiler and then goes back to his office and kills himself by blowing his brains out, completely …
Continue reading Review- The Omen 3: The Final Conflict (1981)
You have a horror franchise about a haunted house. The first film is pretty well made, has a great cast and occasionally dips its toe into exploitation territory. It does well at the box office. The sequel goes FULL exploitation and even has a taboo subplot that will make even the most seasoned horror fan …
There are so many major films that I remember seeing on TV when they were shown for the first time. These first screenings were such big news in the UK. Jaws, Superman and The Omen all spring to mind. It was high time that I reinvestigated The Omen. It tells the story of Robert Thorn …
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