Wednesday, February 26, 2014

WILD FROM DOWN UNDER: TURKEY SHOOT



BY: Gorehound Mike

I`m going to spare you the history lesson on Ozploitation. Its been well covered in Mark Hartleys documentary "Not Quite Hollywood: The wild untold story of Ozploitation. It more then clue one in on these gems. I recommend it for any serious film fans. Look for my review of PATRICK 2013 by Mark coming soon!

Today were going to look at TURKEY SHOOT aka Escape 2000 in the US directed by Brian Trenchard Smith (Man From Hong Kong,Night of the Demons 2,Lep.3 etc) Turkey Shoot is an strange and twisted take on "The Most Dangerous Game" For those who are not familiar with TMDG -its about rich hunting man, the most dangerous game.

Set in a future society that is cruel corrupt and doesn't stand for any form of government disobedience. If you don't fit in with the rules you go to a camp for a  re-education.Run with an iron fist by Charles Thatcher and his brutal warders including ex wrestler Roger Ward in a stand out performance. A group of such society misfits are rounded up and placed in imprisonment. While there beatings,harsh environment and rape is a way of every day life. But for these select few something far worse is in store for them, such as being hunted as sport by the wealthy to slate there blood lust.


This movie is a glorious mess. Its got its tongue firmly plated in its cheek, and if your a lover of the weird wild and humorous (and why else would you be at this blog, after all) then you`ll see past its flaws and embrace the genius of this film. Yes I said genius...

Right off the the director sets the tone with savage riot footage and gives us a taste of what we have in store. The cast is amazing. In the main roles you have character actor Steve Railsback as the rebellious Paul and Olivia Hussey as the innocent Chris. Supporting roles such as Michael Craig and Roger Ward (Mad Max) are over the top and perfect as the baddies. You gotta love seeing prim and proper Oliva in this down and dirty, down under film, something I suspect will never ever happen again. This further adds to the surreal quality of the picture. The cartoon style violence can never be taken to serious and fuels the films black sense of humor. For example Roger Wards severed hand continues to twitch even after its been cut off (by Oliva Hussey who almost nearly took it off for real.)

As stated above this film is flawed but a lot of that can be explained by the notoriously troubled production.
From the start something like 12 pages were cut leaving a whole first act re write. This would account for the at times the uneven story. Also its been got cut already half way during production.But one  can never get bored with TURKEY SHOOT..Oh far from it. You have beautiful bare breasts, gore galore and even a mutant hybrid wearing a top hat and human clothes!  Once the hunt begins, the film gets kicked into over drive. With all the blood guts, chases explosions and mayhem that make this genre so much fun. Despite its problems this is a pure thrill ride of carnage nudity action and weirdness that is sure to please even the most jaded of cinema go`ers. Its easy to see why this is one of Quentin Tarantino`s favorite Ozploitation films.


Monday, February 17, 2014

Jim Wynorski :Legendary Film Maker Interviewed! Talks Chopping Mall Working with Traci Lords and his New Film!!

Jim Wynorski :Legendary Film Maker Interviewed! 


Fans of B-Horror films have do doubt seen the films of Jim Wynorski. His impressive body of work includes such cult classics as Chopping Mall, Not Of This Earth,Transylvania Twist,Camel Spiders Return of the Swamp Thing just to name a few. Jim Wynorski started out working for the legendary producer director Roger Corman and soon got his first assignment "The Lost Empire" In addition to giving Lords her first none adult film role his remake of Not This Earth he also discovered a young unknown Jennifer Love Hewitt in his film Munchies. Jim has is just finished a film with none other then the lovely Ms.Lords and took time out of his busy schedule to talk about his films and give us a sneak peek at his latest epic SHARKANSA PRISON MASSACRE.


GM: What were some of your favorite Roger Corman films growing up?

JW: Oh that's a new question. I loved Attack of the Crab Monsters which I saw when I was very little. I liked Not Of This Earth which I remade. I wanted to remake Crab Monsters and theirs a script out there that exists but he (Corman) didn't want to do it he thinks to much of the original film to do a remake. Day the World Ended, of the black and white period though were my three favorite.  Also liked Bucket of Blood. Of  the color period I liked all the Poe films, X The Man with the X-Ray Eyes,Wild Angels there's a lot of them. I grow up watching those pictures and paying to see them. I told Roger that a lot of picture I saw growing up and they influenced me. So when I finally got to meet him and work for hiim it was quiet an honor, i was in awe of him.



GM: Whats the most significant piece of advice that Roger gave you, that you apply to this day?

JW: Just before I started shooting Chopping Mall he took me to lunch and he said bring a pad and paper,so I brought a yellow pad and after lunch he said this here is what you gotta do and he gave me film school in an hour.Everything I learned in film school didn't count but what he said made a lot of sense and I still have that yellow pad and I live by it. I now have it memorized, many do`s and don'ts. Many questions, not trick questions like if your in this situation what do you do and they have to do with keeping up your schedule, dealing with your actors etc. So in short the pad was the best advice I ever got on how to make a movie. He doesn't give it out willingly to just anyone but he gave it to me and a lot of his protege and its worth its weight in gold on how to make a movie for cheap and how to make it entertaining.

GM: Lets talk about Chopping Mall a personal favorite of mine. Did you have a bigger budget to work with on this then your first film "The Lost Empire"

JW: I believe it was yes.

GM:  Which mall was used?

JW: The Sherman Oaks Galleria, which is now gone. Also used in Commando, Fast Times at Ridgemont High and many other movies.

GM: I read Keli Maroney did of her own stunts?




JW: No not all of them. Thats her with all the snakes and tarantulas on her and her running around but when it came to the dangerous stuff like being near explosions or going through plate glass windows that was a girl named Lise Romanoff.

GM: I heard there was a talk of Chopping Mall 2...

JW: My statement has been watch the first one again, there cant be a Chopping Mall 2. Somebody right now is remaking Chopping Mall, I believe without robots. Its like making a Friday the 13th movie without Jason.

GM: Do you have any say as far as...

JW:  I have a say in terms of I own a piece of that film (the remake) if it ever gets remade, cause I know a piece of the original Chopping Mall.

GM: But creatively...

JW: They didn't contact me and  I would tell them what I`m telling you, its not a film you want to remake. Especially without the robots and if they did it today the would probably use CGI robots and it would not be as good. Cause its done to remake it today or reboot it or in terms of a part two it never came up.Any time someone asks me about it I always just say watch the first one again. You`ll never be able to capture whats in the first one in a second one.

GM: I always put this movie out to friends of mine because not only do you have homages to Corman films but to B-films in general.

JW: Well I was just starting out people I wanted to thank visually, like Dick Miller and Paul Bartel and Mary Woronov and even Angus Scrimm is in the film, hes one of the guys asking questions at the beginning. It was a piece of work I had a desire to make.

GM: Speaking of Mary Woronov and Paul Bartel was there reprising there roles in Eating Raoul originally in the script or was this thought of later?


JW: No but Julie Corman who produced it already knew Paul and Mary and she got them to come in there and we just put the camera down and just turned it on and just let them talk. Yeah there was a couple scripted lines but everything else is ad libbing coming right from them and I just used what I liked.





GM: Another film that is a favorite of mine and I`m sure of many of the readers at home is Not Of This Earth. Was it your idea to remake a Corman film or Rogers?


JW: Yeah I wanted to remake Not Of This Earth and Roger said Ok and he left town and while I was doing prep thats when all the Traci Lords hoopla hit the newspapers about under age porn and everything else and I said this was the perfect girl to be in this movie.So I became a detective and sought her out. It was not easy to find her because she was not with any agencies, she was in hiding. I found her and convinced her to do it and been friends with her every since and we just did another movie together finally.

GM: What is she like to work?

JW: Shes a doll, she hits her marks, she knows her lines. She was a little scared of doing something new. We shot that film in twelve days, actually we shot that in eleven and half so on the second half of the last day of the twelfth day I went back to the stuff we shot on the first day and re shot it again when she was a lot more confident and self assured and that's what ended up in the movie.

GM: Speaking of blonde vixens you worked with tall and amazonian Brigitte Nelsen on your horror film 976 EVIL II and you have a interesting story of how she got cast.

JW: I was at a Hollywood party at some producers house and she was there looking hot as ever and I was playing pool in the pool room. She asked if we could have a game and I said can we make a wager? She said what kind of wager? I win you do a day for me for scale on my next picture I lose i`ll put on a maids outfit and clean your house. And she was up for that. We had a good game, it was close but I won. So she showed up on set of 976-EVIL II she did her day and did an Ok job.

GM: Did you felt her difficult to work with?

JW: No no she wasn't difficult to work with. She was working for pretty big bucks at the time and her she was working for scale and she didn't really come in super prepared and we had to go over her lines but in the end she did a great job.

GM: You have a pretty impressive number of film credits to your name. How long does a typical shoot for you last?

JW: It varies sometimes I shoot them in two days (chuckles) or twenty four it depends on whats being shot. A bigger movie like Not Of This Earths took twelve. Return Of the Swamp Thing took twenty two. Different schedules different budgets its whatever you can afford to do.

GM: Last talk now about your latest film with Traci Lords Sharkansas Womens Prison Massacre. Great title by the way, you came up with that?

 JW: In the shower.

GM: (Laugh) Nice.

JW: Somethings just come to you right away and some things don't. I was in the shower last September and I was trying to find something with shark in the title and not use the word shark and suddenly it was like inspiration angel came over my head and Sharkansas and when I put those two words together women s prison massacre just followed. (Laughs) And I was like I wanna see that movie. I got out of the shower, went to the computer and starting belting it out.

GM: What can fans expect?

JW: Fan can expect everything you would expect from that title (laughs) Hot chicks cat fights shark attacks not only on water but on land, because these are land sharks from Saturday Night Live. Of course funny dialog and suspense actually.  We spent a lot of the budget shooting on location in the Florida caverns and swamps. We got Traci Lords and Dominique Swain, its a good movie, so far were putting it together right now.



Thanks again to Jim Wynorski for taking the time to talk to us about his epic career! Look for Jims movie GILA! Starring Chopping Mall`s own Keli Maroney on DVD soon!




Saturday, February 8, 2014

90`s Horror Series Children of the Corn II: The final sacrfice -Corny but fun

Ok its a proven fact that horror films were at there best in the seventies and the eighties but seeing how people lately are getting nostalgic for the nineties (yes i feel old) I thought about doing this series on 1990s horror films, the good the bad and the so bad there awesome.  This was a early horror film that I seen and made me fall in love with the genre. Having re-watched it for this review I still feel the same love I did when I first saw this years back.

Picking up after the original film left off the sins of the sleepy town of Gatlin is discovered by police  and hot on the story is hacky rag man/journalist John Garrett and his teenage son Danny. And as you would guess the followers of former leader Issac is still going strong and the mysterious demonic force of "He who walks behind the rows" possess Micah (Ryan Bollman) and makes him the new leader of the pint sized blood cult. It seems that what turned out to be a juicy story for John turns into more then he can bite off. But can they escape the clutches of the corn or will they end up as just another sacrifice.

What I like the most about COTC II is that it doesn't take itself to serious and has some the best outrageous and yes even funny gore splatter scenes that is more reminiscent of eighties horror films. One of the best jokes is the Wizard of Oz references which is both map cap and priceless. Not to mention a scene which will make you NEVER look at bingo the same way again.

The acting is actual above what you`d expect. Ryan Bollman plays the emo new cult leader of He Who walks behind the rows" and manages to be not hammy but creepy giving Issac a run for his veggies. Also look for a young Sean Bridgers who would go on to do such great films as JUG FACE,THE WOMAN etc playing Jedediah. Marty Terry also steals the scenes in a duel role as Mrs Burk and sister Ms West. Like the acting the writing is smarter then you`d think and doesn't talk down to the audience like so many carbon copy horror films do.  A nice touch is the church scene with the self referencing "movies with violence nudity etc" which again is a nice little self aware moment that adds to the film being better written film in the never ending series.  This does what a good sequel should which is not replica the first film but expends the mythos from the first story with the nice addition of the native american character Frank Red bear.

 Now lets talk about the blood and guts and that there are plenty. As stated above the gore is over the top and a makes this film enjoyable to even the most jaded horror fan. Award winning make up artist Bob Keen worked on this film (Star Wars,Nitghtbreed etc) and it shows.


Now this film is far from being perfect and I'm not saying its a great film, and its easy to put out its glaring flaws (crappy cgi,clunky romance subplot) but I feel like this is a lot less fun if you endlessly pick apart it.   It is what is is a "corny" but fun splatter film that does what it sets out to do, entertain you on a beer soaked Saturday night.


Thursday, February 6, 2014

David Scherer The French Rick Baker.
















In the age of CGI its nice to know there is a community that believes there will always be room in this modern age for practical make up effects. One such artist (and i stress the term artist) from Strasbourg France is bringing nightmares to life in his work shop. I first seen his work for the music video DOME SWEET DOME by Eyr vs Double Dragon (see Link Below) and not only is it a kick ass song and very well directed (by Francois Gaillard) but is the most disturbing music video i think i`ve ever seen. This due in part to the brilliant effects work of David who at just 35 years old has been doing effects for many films including The Theater Bizarre in the segment Mother of Toads directed by Richard Stanley (Hardware) When i look at updated pictures on his fb page his work always gives me chills. This gorehound reporter thinks if given the chance he could easily be the next Rick Baker. Below are pics of his work.












































<---click to see the music video. 



FULL IMBD CREDITSMetro 2033: The Fan Film (Short) (special makeup effects artist) (post-production) 
 2013A l'abri (Short) (prosthetic makeup artist) 
 Boulevard du Palais (TV Series) (special makeup effects artist - 4 episodes, 2011 - 2013) (prosthetic makeup artist - 2 episodes, 2010 - 2012) (prosthetics - 1 episode, 2008)
Une vie au placard (2013) ... (special makeup effects artist)
Une juste cause (2012) ... (prosthetic makeup artist)
Silence de mort (2012) ... (special makeup effects artist)
La ballade du pendu (2011) ... (special makeup effects artist)
Notre enfant (2011) ... (special makeup effects artist)
 2013Dieu reconnaîtra les Siens (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2013Hero Corp (TV Series) (special makeup effects artist - 1 episode)
Episode #3.1 (2013) ... (special makeup effects artist)
 2013Samarkande (Short) (special makeup effects designer) 
 2013The Strange Color of Your Body's Tears (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2013The Revenant (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2013Rose or the Mute Liars (Short) (prosthetic makeup artist) (completed
 2013Chimères (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2013Réactions en Chêne (Short) (special makeup effects) 
 2013Doc Martin (TV Series) (special makeup effects artist - 2 episodes)
L'inconnu de Port-Garrec (2013) ... (special makeup effects artist)
Un conjoint en poste (2013) ... (special makeup effects artist)
 2013Guet-apens (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012Witch Bitch (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012Alice et Lucie (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012At All Costs (Short) (prosthetics designer) 
 2012Antoine et les héros (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012/ILapse (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012Matriarche (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012Thanatomorphose (special makeup effects designer) 
 2012Dead Shadows (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2012Inquisitio (TV Series) (prosthetics designer - 1 episode)
Murus strictus (2012) ... (prosthetics designer)
 2012Innocence, Do Not Enter His World. (Short) (special makeup effects artist) / (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2012Employé du mois (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2012Zombie chéri (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2012/IBack (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2011Postaction (Short) (makeup artist) / (prosthetics designer) 
 2011/ITommy (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2011Die Die My Darling (Short) (special makeup effects) 
 2011Rock N Roll Over (special makeup effects artist) 
 2011Zombinladen: The Axis of Evil Dead (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2011The Theatre Bizarre (creature effects) / (special makeup effects artist) 
 2011Une histoire de famille (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2011Kangootomik (Short) (prosthetic artist) / (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010-2011Empreintes criminelles (TV Series) (special makeup effects supervisor - 6 episodes)
L'affaire de l'illusionniste (2011) ... (special makeup effects supervisor)
L'affaire de la prison (2011) ... (special makeup effects supervisor)
L'affaire de l'Orient-Express (2011) ... (special makeup effects supervisor)
L'affaire Lefranc (2011) ... (special makeup effects supervisor)
L'affaire Saint-Brice (2010) ... (special makeup effects supervisor)
 2011La chanson du dimanche (TV Series) (prosthetics designer - 3 episodes)
Alec et Clément jouent les traders (2011) ... (prosthetics designer)
Alec et Clément hébergent un vieux (2011) ... (prosthetics designer)
Alec et Clément fuckent la police (2011) ... (prosthetics designer)
 2011Mandragore (Short) (prosthetics supervisor) 
 2010/IILast Caress (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2010Descente (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Marginal Tango (special makeup effects artist) 
 20101788... et demi (TV Series) (prosthetics designer - 2010) 
 2010All Murder, All Guts, All Fun (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Demande à la mer (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Ouvert 24/7 (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Ça marche? (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Two Bang Bang (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Beware of Darkness (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Nek (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Survivant(s) (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2010Cinémaniac (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2010/IVHope (Short) (prosthetics designer) 
 201036ème sous-sol (Video short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Le chat noir (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2010Blackaria (prosthetics supervisor) 
 2010/IBunker (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2009Des rats (Video short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2009Le chasseur (TV Series) (prosthetic makeup artist - 2009) 
 2009Le chat dans la boîte (Short) (special makeup effects designer) 
 2009Éternelle (TV Series) (special makeup effects artist - 2008) 
 2009Dogfight (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2009Batman: Ashes to Ashes (Short) (special makeup effects designer) 
 2009Zachry (Short) (special makeup effects) 
 2009Du sang sur la hache (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2009Roches rouges (Short) (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2009Le journal de Mademoiselle M (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2009Paris by Night of the Living Dead (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008Bloody Flowers (Video) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008Mauvais mélange (Short) (makeup artist) 
 2008Monsieur Méchant (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008Fusible (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 20088th Wonderland (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008Lady Blood (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 2008Dead Bones (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008/IIPerformance (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2008Faux freres (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2007Le mal sacré (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2007La nuit des horloges (prosthetics) 
 2007Pantin (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2007Absence (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2007Oeil pour oeil (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2006Projection (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2006Bushido Boogie (special makeup effects artist) 
 2006Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (special makeup effects designer - uncredited) 
 2006Naufrage (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2005Petite faiblesse (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2004/IITransit (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2004The Good, the Bad, and the Zombies (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 2003Betrayer (Short) (special makeup effects artist) 
 Le Jour de la comète (special makeup effects supervisor) 
 Fever (prosthetic makeup artist) (post-production
 2004Plus belle la vie (TV Series) (special makeup effects artist - 1 episode)
Episode #6.130 ... (special makeup effects artist - prosthetic supply)