RIP Jess Franco and Roger Ebert

It's time for the type of post that's always hard for me to do, and certainly never fun, those that pay tribute to people who have tragically left us. This week had two great and very different men, both who contributed to the movie world in very separate and distinct ways: Jess Franco and Roger Ebert.

The passing of Jess Franco, the European cult director who made countless of countless movies, many under the horror and erotic banner, was a shock to me. He was loved by those who got his films; while other saw him as a hack. Me? I liked him. I honestly need to watch more of his work, but I've always had a love for those filmmakers who mix erotica and horror. And, he certainly had a nack for doing just that.

He began his career with We Are Eighteen in 1959, and the last film he worked on, which is incomplete by the way, was Al Pereira Vs. the Alligator Women. He was shooting that movie this year, and at this time it is unknown if someone else will take the reigns to finish it.

Of the Franco flicks, I have seen, I enjoyed A Virgin Among the Living Dead, which while some may

find it slow, I found to be a wonderfully, dream-like horror flick about a beautiful woman who meets her weird family when she goes to be present at her father's will reading. It has a beautiful female cast, some wonderful full frontal female nudity, and some hints of lesbianism. Even better, but lacking in the lesbo action is Faceless, a movie starring Caroline Munro and Bridgette Lahaie that ranks as one of his goriest flicks.

Not everything he made is great, sure. Even with all the lesbianism, nudity, and gore stuff like Lust for Frankenstein and Tender Flesh (which also throws in pissing) are pretty shitty. But, again the man had a passion for his mix of flesh and blood.

He did work with some legends, including Christopher Lee and cult favorites, such as Michelle Bauer (the aforementioned Frankenstein flick)

Christopher Lee in Jess Franco's Count Dracula

As, I said, I need to seriously see more of his work, including one of his most well known and talked about films Vampyros Lesbos.

Franco passed away this Tuesday at age 82. Causes are unknown at this time, but he had lung problems due to his major smoking habit. He is already greatly missed, by fans like me.

Yesterday, Roger Ebert passed away at age 70, tragically succumbing to cancer, which he had been battling for years. I really never agreed with his stance on slasher films or more hardcore horror fare like I Spit on Your Grave. As a matter of fact, during the 80s he and his partner Gene Siskel attacked films like Friday the 13th, Silent Night, Deadly Night, and the aforementioned rape/ revenge flick. To me, it has always one thing to think a movie is crap, it's another to so viciously attack a film that it sounded like they wanted to start a witch-hunt for it. Here is an example of what I mean.

Clips like this always rubbed me the wrong way. This isn't to say Ebert hated all graphic horror. He did praise movies like Last House of the Left, Dawn of the Dead, Re-Animator, and Evil Dead 2. Plus, he wrote Beyond the Valley of the dolls for director Russ Meyer. That truly awesome movie included gore, drugs use, lesbians, full frontal female nudity, and other things that definitely fall out of the safe range, but yet Ebert wrote it! But, all that said, it's very sad, that he has passed on and, even more so, the way he did. Cancer is horrible disease. As I have said before, FUCK CANCER!

And there is no denying that he was the last of the great mainstream critics. And, his, along with, of course, Siskel, thumbs up/ thumbs down, is to day, still used and remembered. There is also no denying that deep down the man loved movies. And, that's something we all do, don't we?

God bless both of these great contributors to the movies and may they RIP.

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The Collection NYCC Panel & I Spit on Your Grave 2010

I've got two new posts up on at Best-Horror-Movies.com. The first is a report of The Collection panel at NYCC 2012 that I attended. It's a sequel to The Collector. You can read and see the pics, I took of it here: http://www.best-horror-movies.com/news?name=the-collection-panel-at-nycc-2012

I also reviewed the 2010 I Spit on Your Grave remake. Check that out here: http://www.best-horror-movies.com/review?name=i-spit-on-your-grave-2010-review

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The 10 Best Horror Remakes of All Time

This Friday one of my favorite vampire movies has a remake of it hit the theaters: Fright Night (Conan: The Barbarian also hits the movies, but while it's splatter it ain't horror, and I don't think of it as a direct remake). I am not very interested or excited about said movie since the trailer is less than underwhelming. But, I heard a good review or two. I'm not sure I will be seeing anytime soon (but I do wanna see Conan!).



That being said, remakes have been an annoying trend in the genre in the last couple of years. And, while many have been truly, truly rancid (One Missed Call, Psycho, The Fog, etc.) a couple have been been great. This list showcases the very best in the remake department.



10. House of Wax (2005)- This is an interesting remake in that it takes the Gothic setting and styling of the original Vincent Price classic and completely changes it for nasty slasher film territory. It's not a better movie, but is substantially different. There are a couple of memorable moments, include some tense torture scenes. The gorgeous Elisha Cuthbert also makes for a great final girl, one of the best of the 2000s for sure. Even Paris Hilton being in this does not hurt it one bit.









9. My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009)- Taking elements of the original (which really ranks as one of the best slashers of the 80s, moreso uncut) and adding its own take, this fun and wild gorefest is one of the most rip-roaring good times movie going experiences of the last few years. The cast and everyone involved seems to be having as much fun as we are watching it. It, more or less, kicked off the 3D trend, but unlike a lot of the recent shit out there, this one works excellently in 3D. Extra points for the DVD release being in 3D (and not that over-priced real 3D shit, either).





8. I Spit on Your Grave (2010)- This one had so much going against it. From the get go I did not think a remake to a nasty, grindhouse film like this could ever work today. But, it does, and surprisingly well at that. Sure it's slicker and lacks the grittiness of the original, but it does not lack the teeth. The humiliation/ rape is still prolonged and nasty. While, the revenge scenes are shocking and gruesome. Punches ain't pulled and the acting is solid, with villains coming off as utter filth and the stunning heroine earning our sympathy. The climax will have your jaw on the floor! Honestly this movie puts the Last House on the Left remake to fucking shame!





7. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)- This movie has been remade a total of four times!! The first three are solid films (the forth, er, not so much...), but, to me, this is the best take on the subject. The FX are flawless, the cast and acting excellent, and the directing top-notch. It's a little slow to start, but once it gets on track it's pretty suspenseful stuff. While, it maybe rated PG it still features some gooey and gross FX (moreso than ANY PG-13 movie of today and some R ones, as well!). Plus, the ending is fucking classic.







6. Halloween (2007)- Now, this is probably my most controversial entry in this countdown. Fans tend to either hate this one or love it. I fall in the later category. I think Zombie added an interesting take on the Myers mythos. Some may not like humanizing of him, but I think it was the right way to go. This way he does not retread territory that's been done before. When, he actually does get into remaking the original, he makes for a good time. The added more graphic violence fits the mold of this movie quite well. And, having Danielle Harris nude is nice, too! The less said of this movie's sequel, the better, though...





5. The Ring (2002)- This movie started the HORRIBLE trend of remake Japanese horror films as well cemented the annoyance of long, black-haired bitch-ghost movies. But, this one is actually that rarest of remakes, one that tops the original. I think the pacing is better here, as are the scares. It's also one of those few PG-13 horrors where the rating actually works. It's real creepy and scary, yet subtle. The lovely Ms. Watts is also a great lead in this movie. There are lots of memorable moments: the video itself, the horse, and the villainess coming out of the TV. But, once again, avoid the sequel at all costs!!!







4. Piranha 3D (2010)- If you though MBV3D was fun, then you ain't seen NOTHING yet!! Easily, THE best 3D experience, this wild, over the top remake tops the modest classic, it's based on. It's filled with blood rushing gore, black humor, cheese, a great cast, babes, and nudity. I like every single thing and frame from this movie. I am actually looking forward to the sequel to this one! The movie ripping it off/ cashing in on it (Shark Night 3D), eh, not so much...







3. The Blob (1988)- This long time favorite of mine simply blows the likable original out of the theater. It has some solid acting and spectacular gore FX. Shit, a kid even dies in it! Yet, it is never mean-spirited and always, always fun. It works in that Aliens sort of mode where action, sci-fi, and horror meld perfectly. Plus, Shawnee Smith looks sooo delicious in it! Cannot begin to tell you the crush I developed on her after this movie. It was a bomb when it came out, but due to fan and critic love, it when on the become a classic. An awesome movie all the way!!!







2. The Thing (1982)- John Carpenter's classic was also a bomb when it came out. But, since then this claustrophobic classic has been worshiped by fans all over the world. It would make for a perfect marathon with the aforementioned The Blob and Aliens. In fact, I think I need to do that one of these days!! Anyway, Bottin's FX are flawless, and Keith David and Kurt Russel are just awesome in it. So is the rest of the cast. That said the reremake coming out later this year seems positively uninteresting...





1. The Fly (1986)- David Cronenberg's masterpiece tops the list. It's always been my fav remake and will probably always be. Adding emotion and heart to the story and combining it with excellent acting and flawless FX make for a perfect film. The gore is gruesome and the score is classic. It also happens to be THE best beauty and the beast tale, since the original King Kong. Cronenberg's best movie is one that will always have a special place in my heart.









So, those are my choices. I really had to think about this one long and hard, but I soon found myself connecting with I ended up picking. Now, I'm curious. What are your thoughts on my list? What would have ranked?

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The Best Horror/ Exploitation Trailers Vol. 1

I'm a HUGE fan of trailer collections like the 42nd Street Forever series. To me the old school trailers are an art-form long lost. Back in the day, gore and nudity was happily showcased in them. The narration was awesome. And, sometimes these trailers out-shined the movies being advertised.

I hope to post more volumes as times passes, for now here is the first batch. Each is followed by my thoughts. Hope you enjoy my picks (please note: they are in NO particular order whatsoever)



This might be my all time fav trailer. The narration is awesome! "But, you cannot escape from Suspiria!" "The only thing more terrifying than the last 10 min of Suspiria are the first 92!" That's fucking classic right there! As, is the skull coming her hair and the breathing title letters. This , by the way, is my all time fav Argento film. A remake from the director of Pineapple Express is STILL threatened. God, please help us all and don't let it happen!



This controversial and infamous cult fav really knows how to sell itself. While, it is said to be vaguely inspired by true events, this movie is, I'm pretty sure, far from the actual truth. But, the trailer makes this film sound as morbid as they come. The nudity and gore shown in it is a reminder of a day gone by. Love the last line in it. The movie itself is OK. I actually enjoyed it more the second time around, though it suffers from pacing problems. The blu-ray release to this, by the way, is simply amazing. Get it!



This most recent of this group of trailers. I love it cause it promises (and the movie delivers) lots of action and kick ass stuff. "But it's gonna be one hell of a night!" Great line! Plus, the use of the Aliens score is all win, in my book. This remains my fav Rodriguez movie and my fav movie that Tarantino has anything to do with.



Here is another trailer that claims that it did happen, in real life. While director Meir Zarchi did say he was inspired by something, he saw in his life, this film, itself never really occurred. Nor those the movie, itself, claim that it does. The way the narrator says the title of the movie is just awesome. The movie has never lost it's power to shock and disturb. A flawed and mean-spirited classic all the way.



Wes Craven's debut movie remains a disturbing and shocking classic. This trailer is so fucking good! The "It's only a movie" campaign is fucking classic. Considering how brutal this one is, for once, it actually delivers fully on what it says.



I actually never seen Snuff. From what I hear I am NOT missing much. But, maybe some day I will see it. But, I just LOVE the trailer. First off, any trailer, or movie, for that matter that opens up with a warning is just plain awesome. Why don't movies do that nowadays? Anyways, the best line in it is "This could only be made in South America where life is cheap". HAHAHA! That's fucking priceless right there!

So, what did you think of my picks? Are there any you would like to see in a future installment? Let me know! Till then, go see these movies, themselves!

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Chiller Theatre April 17, 2010

Another Chiller has passed and another awesome time has been had! This time it was Alan, Matt, and I who went out to Jersey. This is actually the first time in years I have not stayed at the hotel, but we still had a great time.

Matt went up to Zacherly, as he grew up listening to him. Zacherly is a fucking legend! Alan then went up to David Hess. I had already met him, so the first person for me to meet would be Camille Keaton.

When I first saw I Spit on Your Grave, I was completely traumatized, and I told her this, when I met her. I also told her how great her acting is. She was very nice and down to earth, by the way. She also looked amazing! And, I hear she is in her 60s! God bless her. She has some great genes.

We saw Richard Chamberlain eating a salad. See celebs are just like us. They eat food, too! I saw this chick who prob should not be your babysitter.

After this we decided to get lunch, as some of the celebs we wanted to meet were out for lunch to.

After a good burger, the next celeb I met was the lovely Kristin Bauer who play Pam on True Blood. As I have said in the past, I am a huge fan of the show. It's one of my favs on TV, so I was very excited that someone from the show was at Chiller. Especially her, since Pam is a total babe and one of my fav characters on the show. She is actually even more gorgeous in person! I CANNOT wait for season three!!!!!!

I then went up to Sherilyn Fenn for a friend. I been a fan of hers since I was in high school. She's a very underrated actress, in my humble opinion. Also, she looked great in person!
The next person I went up to is the one I most wanted to meet, this time around: Kristanna Loken. Now, I have liked this babe since she was in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. But, I think it was her role in Bloodrayne that solidified my fandom in her. In fact, back on myspace (remember myspace?), she is listed as one of the people I would like to meet. I told that she is actually one of my fav actresses, which she is. Though, I must say I was awe struck by her. She is without a shadow of a doubt one of the hottest babes around!
That was a the last celeb I met. We got some dinner at a nice little diner and then it was back to Chiller for the party!

At the party I ran into my friend Jan, who had not seen in a long, long time. He was with a group of friends. Sky was joining in parting with the group of girls. Sky is such a freaking hottie!

But hey, Chiller's party always has the hottest, sexiest and most beautiful babes! There I met Elyse. She and her friend were really cool and fun to hang with. Actually, I think this might be one of the most fun Chiller parties I been to in a while. And, if you think about what I just fucking said that is saying a lot!!!!!

Well, of course this meant the music was kicking ass and it was! The Dead Elvi gave us another great performance. Kevin, who runs Chiller, told me that there were many surprises, and boy he was right!

Lite Ford performed with them! She sang "Kiss Me Deadly", of course. And, it kicked fucking ass! A dude won a guitar from Lita! He, then, actually got to sing "Close My Eyes Forever" doing the Ozzy parts with her! And, dear readers and friends, he totally kicked ass! It was a awesome performance!!!!

We had to break out a early, but nonetheless this was just another awesome time! And from what my friend Pat said Jim "The Anvil" Niedhart showed up later! Anyone got any pics of that?

As always all hail Chiller! And, here is to the next one!

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10 Awesome Gore Scenes, Vol. 1

Ahh, a good gore scene is always gonna make for a memorable moment in a movie, isn't it? This is a new, semi-regular post I am adding to this blog where I pick ten awesome gore scenes (duh!) and post them here.

Note that these films are in NO particular order whatsoever, nor are they meant to be. Whenever possible, I will post pics or the actual scene, if I can't get it, sorry. Go see the movie yourself to see it. Which, you really should regardless, of anything else.

WARNING: Spoilers are present. Anyways, sit back and enjoy the blood flow and carnage!

1. Friday the 13th (1980)- This is the best kill in the original, which remains one of the best slasher movies, ever made. A young Kevin Bacon gets an arrow through his neck after fucking some hottie and smoking weed. Oh yeah, this is the uncut version of that kill, which we finally got to see in the DVD released earlier this year.


2. Dawn of the Dead (1979)- Like the aforementioned Friday the 13th, this one has excellent FX work by Tom Savini. This scene where a dude opens up the door only to get his head blown off by a shotgun is one of the best exploding heads ever!

3. Ichi the Killer (2001) - One of the best movies from shock-master Takashi Miike this masterpiece has many gruesome moments, though the most shocking comes in the form of a women who has her nipples sliced off. It's a harrowing scene in a highly controversial classic.

4. Alien (1979)- Often ripped-off horror/ sci-fi movie has this often ripped off classic moment. One of the greatest gore scenes ever as a dude has a little alien come out of chest while eating. Fun times!


5. I Spit on Your Grave (1978)- Controversial rape-revenge film is one of the most disturbing movies I ever seen. This classic moment where a scumbag rapist gets his dick chopped off in the bath by the victim is one of the best and most unforgettable moments in the film. Not to mention utterly painful to watch!

6. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)- Wes Craven's highly original creepy classic has some really great moments, but the best part has to be when a young Johnny Depp is killed in his bed and geyser of blood erupts! Messy!


7. Jaws (1975)- To me this is Spielberg's best film. Quint is my favorite character in the movie so it does suck when he dies, but he does die in a truly memorable and utterly vicious manner as the deadly great white chomps on the bottom half of his body.

8. The Devil's Rejects (2005)- Rob Zombie's modern classic is pretty fucking hard for a mainstream release and this scene where a pretty girl seemingly escapes the psychotic family only to get splattered by a truck is pretty fucked up!

9. Vampyres (1974)- This cult fav is the single best erotic-horror film ever made. This scene where our lovely, lesbian vamps share a victim's blood is both highly erotic and sexy, as well as bloody and violent! The ultimate mix of sex and violence!

10. Suspiria (1977)- Argento's best film has one of the best murder scenes ever, in the history of cinema as TWO pretty girls are killed in a vicious, jaw dropping scene accompanied by amazing music by the Goblins.


And, that's it for now! Tell me what you think of these picks and if there are any gore scenes you would like to see mentioned here, in the next volume.

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The 5 Most Disturbing Movies Ever

While movie can entertain by being fun, exciting, sexy, or perhaps be touching or romantic, some films choose not to be any of these things. Instead they aim to disturb, shock, horrify, to get under your skin. These movies stay in one's subconscious well after the film has stopped. They never get easy to watch and probably not the best films to show that hot girl you bought over your house (unless she is into this type of stuff, in which case you may wanna consider marrying her).

The following list includes the five, in ascending order, of the absolute most brain and soul searing of them all:

5. - Memento meets I Spit on Your Grave, this "thinking man's" rape revenge film is notorious and shocking, yet highly respected and rightfully so. Beautifully shot and wonderfully acted, it is all horrifically violent and brutal. And, Monica Belluci's rape scene is as harrowing a scene as they come. A masterpiece that you need to see, but with caution, of course.

4. - It's funny, make-up master Tom Savini hated this film, when it came out. Highly controversial and totally misogynistic, he condemned the film. But, as time passed and it achieved cult status, he went on to do DVD running commentary and such. Whatever the case maybe, Maniac remains one of the nastiest psycho films ever made. What really makes this film so horrific is the fact that it is all told from this sick serial killer's perspective. Savini's realistic, ultra-violent effects consists mostly of violence against women, as this sicko (excellently played by Joe Spindell), who goes around brutally offing women, scalping them, and using their hair as wigs for the mannequins he keeps at home.

3. - Featuring what is inarguably the single, most harrowing rape scene, this movie, perhaps the most well-known rape-revenge film, ever, spawned lots of controversy and uproar. Equally reviled as it is hailed, this movie has been berated as the sleaziest of exploitation by some, but also praised as a feminist empowerment movie, by others. I feel the movie is the later, but the rape scene is never, ever easy to watch. It is unforgettable and stays with you long after the last reel. But, on the plus side, it is because of the brutality of this moment that one cheers Jennifer (Camille Keaton, grand-nice of Buster Keaton) as she exacts her revenge on the scumbag rapists.

2. - This German shocker is some weird combination of art-house film, sleaze, and ultra-gory, low budget horror. A dude and his chick get into necrophilia, but when she leaves him, he continues his downward spiral adding murder to corpse fucking. Extremely graphic and horrifying, the movie manages to repulse like few can. The corpse fucking, extreme gore, and the unforgettable, jaw-dropping ending manage to stay lashed on to your brain. Not for everyone, but recommended to those who dare to thread in this territory.

1. - Now, I consider myself, as hardcore a horror fan as they come. And, I have seen more movies than I can ever count, but despite this all, this remains king. No movie is more shocking, horrific, brutal, nasty, vile, or downright disturbing than Ruggero Deodato's classic of Italian cannibalism. Never, ever easy to watch the movie still shocks and repels no matter what you have seen before hand or how many viewings you give it. The repulsive, reprehensible, and unnecessary, very real violence against animals is it's gravest atrocity. But, even devoid of that, it still is a dark, bleak movie that harbors some of the most nasty images ever put to celluloid. The images of cannibalism, rape, the village being burned, the infamous stake up the ass out the mouth, and the truly nihilistic climax deliver a gut punch that is equivalent to the incredible Hulk, himself, giving it you at full strength. No doubt about it, THIS is THE single most disturbing film, I have ever seen and perhaps ever made.

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