I’m a fan of Rob Zombie. He makes hard hitting films that are tough but enjoyable to watch, has a definite and very appealing visual style and is truly spectacular at creating violent set-pieces that pack a punch. He has a knack for creating interesting and memorable characters. And he contributes some great music too.
From way back I remember seeing the phrase; “A portmanteau film”. It was associated with a film made by Amicus Productions that I had on DVD. It was a double feature release that had “Tales From the Crypt” (1972) and “Vault of Horror” (1973). For years that word, portmanteau, stuck with me without me knowing at all what it meant. Turns out it’s just a fancy alternative for Anthology film.
Amicus made seven portmanteau films in all and were active in the filmmaking business in the years 1962 to 1977. At it’s best the studio even rivalled the legendary Hammer Film Productions. I’m quite a fan of anthology films and decided to raid my collection and see what I had. Turns out I must have leant out my DVD of “Tales from the Crypt”/”Vault of Horror” because it was completely MIA but I do possess four quite good Blu-ray releases of Amicus films.
A massive storm hits a small Maine town and causes a lot of damage. The next day a lot of residents head to the local supermarket to stock up on supplies. Among them are David, his son Billy and neighbour Brent who has a fairly rocky relationship with David. As the folks go about their business a thick mist approaches fast and suddenly a deathly frightened man comes running into the store shouting that there’s something in the mist.
Nine members of an extremely rich and spiteful family spend an annual vacation on a small, and very rocky, Mediterranean island. Family patriarch Uberto brings his three children and their spouses. The ninth member is Uberto’s sister. There they indulge in adultery, binge drinking, bickering and general belittling towards each other.
Among them is someone with devilish designs…
A cannibalistic clan slaughtered members of Bobby’s family seven years before in the desert en route to California and he was fortunate enough to get out along with his sister, brother-in-law and his small baby and Ruby, a member of the clan who turned against her kin to help the city folk. Now Bobby is the owner of a motorcross team that’s scheduled to compete in or around the desert area where he lived through his horror.
I remember when “I, Madman” was issued on Blu-ray in 2015 I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. It’s stylishly set up as the film’s villain is introduced in the fictional world of author Malcolm Brand’s pulpy horror novel that’s gotten hold of Virginia’s imagination. As the film progresses the villain, in a variety of icky incarnations, appears in both the real world Virigina inhabits and in the fictional world she’s smitten with.
At Dewitt University a scavenger hunt is about to begin. The game, which takes place at night, takes the contestants all over the campus looking for clues. The terror begins as one by one the female players are slashed by a maniac…dressed as the basketball team’s mascot bear!
I do have a very soft spot for “The Watcher” and view it regularly. Formula movies resemble comfort food in a lot of ways and can be just the thing to close off an average day and gets more than a passing grade as a decent time killer on a slow night.
Financial advisor Chris Thorne takes a road trip headed for Atlantic City with sexy Diane and two Brazilian friends. On the way they take a detour and inadvertently wind up in a small town called Valkenvania. Chris is pulled over and the quartet is brought before the justice of the peace in Valkenvania. Then all hell breaks loose for the gang.
A trio of students, Molly, Ben and Dylan, head to school after it closes for the holidays hoping to make a documentary of a horrific double murder that took place there a year before. They accidentally get locked inside and discover something sinister is lurking about.
