Island of Death: WTF Did I Just Watch?

Title: Island of Death (aka Devils in Mykonos, Island of Perversion, A Craving for Lust, Killing Daylight)
Director: Nico Mastorakis

Writer: Nico Mastorakis
Stars: Bob Behling, Jane Lyle
Year: 1976
Length: 106 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Format Viewed: Arrow Video Blu-ray

Seriously, what in the world did I just watch? I have to believe that this is one of the most messed up and depraved films I have seen. I loved every second of it. This is clearly not a film for everybody. I think that most rational people would be best served to avoid this title. With that said, I am surprised that this title is not spoken of more often in the circles I find myself traveling. Maybe it is and I somehow just missed it. 

Island of Death follows a couple on holiday on a small and sparsely populated Greek island. It does not take long after they arrive for their behavior to tip off the viewer that this is not your typical vacationing duo. They start to target, and murder in increasingly bizarre ways, anyone they deem to be amoral and perverted. I guess you could say they are cleaning the streets of perversion to protect the good and upright from being subjected to their seedy proclivities. 

Supposedly made as a reaction to seeing The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Island of Death does not so much as borrow story elements, so much as a gritty, nightmarish atmosphere. It then goes and turns the nobs all to 11. Now, don't get it twisted, TCM still holds a great, realistic impact having gut punch, ans is clearly the better film; however, for sheer disturbing activities, Island of Death holds its own.

This movie has a wonderfully crafted flow as it gets progressively more and more bonkers the deeper into the movie you get. Just when you think it reached its pinnacle of perversion, it pulls something else out of its bag of tricks. I really do not want to provide much in the way of specifics, this is really a better movie, if this sounds at all intriguing, experienced with little foreknowledge. 

Rating: 4/5

Movie Review: Revenge (2018)

Rape/Revenge movies have a long and grimy tradition in the cinema world. These movies don’t glorify the prior act, while putting the latter on a pedestal. This is the way it should be, rape is in no way shape or form a defensible act; however, in the form of a rape/revenge movie it can become quite exhilarating to watch the woman overcome and have her revenge on her attackers, thus destroying the male gaze. The films in this genre can be as grimy as they come, like House on the Edge of the Park and I Spit on Your Grave, they can be unsettlingly artistic like Ms. 45 and Irreversible, they can even be popular mainstream films like Death Wish and Kill Bill, Vol. 1. Of late, there have not been all that many that I have been aware of. Now, I have Revenge to fill that hole.

Event Recap: Exhumed Films Presents - 3-Dementia!

If you know me, you know my love for genre films and the Hudson Horror Show. Even if you don’t know me, there is a good chance that you still know this about me. While Hudson Horror may be local genre marathon saviors they are hardly the only game around. There is a group based out of Philadelphia, PA, called Exhumed Films that has been in the game for twenty years, delivering all manner of genre movie marathons, all from 35mm prints. On July 16, 2017, the group put on what may be the most unique show they have ever had. The show was called 3-Dementia and, you guessed it, was comprised entirely of 3-D films. It also happened to be the first Philadelphia set show of theirs that I have attended.

Outcast Interview: Ben Dukes of Karate Kill

Kurando Mitsutake’s martial arts actioner, ‘Karate Kill’ will be released on US DVD and Blu-ray on July 18, 2017.

The film centers around a Karate master who trawls the mean streets of L.A. in search of his missing sister. The cast includes “entertainer” Ben Dukes, who spoke to us for an exclusive yak about the film recently.

Movie Review: Night of the Strangler

Sometimes I watch a movie and when I consider writing about I have to really sit and think about how to start it and if I am going to have enough to say about said movie. This is one of those movies that I doubt I am going to have a lot to add to the discourse of said movie, but I figured I would try anyway. The movie in question is Night of the Strangler, a film saved by the fine folks at Vinegar Syndrome. An oddity of a film that features a Monkee in a lead role and one that may have been completely forgotten about if not for the efforts of Vinegar Syndrome. This bare bones DVD release features a new 2K scan from original 35mm elements and while it does show its age, this is probably the best it’s looked since its 1972 release.

Movie Review: Karate Kill

Sometimes I long for the action movies of yesteryear. You remember, the action films that were not always preoccupied with global scale plots and an overabundance of CG effects. This is what makes films like the John Wick series so welcome. Those are films that keep the focus on the execution and entertainment value. If you dig into independent cinema,you can find what you are looking for, even if it does take awhile. The movie in question here is Karate Kill. Described as Tarantino meets Cannon, it is at apt description. The film sits firmly in the revenge action/exploitation corner of the universe.

Movie Review: Combat Shock

Do you ever watch a movie that, once finished, you feel rather meh about? A movie that may have some good stuff, but you wonder about the execution and whatnot? I am sure you have, everyone has, whether you recognize it or not. Now, have you ever had one of those movies stick in your brain, rattle around a bit and ultimately leave you with a changed opinion of said movie, for better or worse? Well, Combat Shock is one of those movies for me. I came out of it with a middling feeling that changes into something that I really liked. Although, it is certainly not a movie for everyone.

Movie Review: The Turnpike Killer

There seem to be a lot of filmmakers out there intent on recapturing past glories. And by past glories, I mean stuff us genre fans have come to love about the past. Examples would be Tarantino's Death Proof as an ode to the grindhouse, and Adam Green's Hatchet series, paying homage to slashers. The problem is that horror, at least mainstream horror, is full of ironic touches and references. To make a true grindhouse type film is a chore, the classics were made with genuine earnestness, not made as a joke or to be funny. Now along comes The Turnpike Killer. It is not mainstream, it's not ironic, and it is not nice. This is grindhouse era exploitation.

Movie Review: Rape Squad (1974)

The 1970's were a wild and crazy time. While I do not remember much of the decade do to my youth, but reliving it through the movies, well dang, it was a free for all. You could pretty much make a movie about anything you wanted, make it as sleazy and over the top as you want, make it gritty, unsavory, disgusting, anything. You would likely be able to find a home in the grindhouse/drive-in scene at the time. Think about it, what are the chances of getting a movie made called Rape Squad these days? Nevermind what it is about, the title alone would be enough to get you black listed. Of course, it did get re-released as Act of Vengeance, but still...

Movie Marathon that will leave you: Dead til Dawn! (2014)

This past weekend was the third annual Dead til Dawn Drive-In event at the Hi-Way Drive-In in Coxsackie, NY. It was the second time I was able to attend, and just like last year, it was an amazing experience. While, if given a choice I would target an indoor event like Hudson Horror Show, but attending both style events is just a fantastic way to go. There is something about sitting through the night under the stars in the crisp air of early Autumn that just feels right. This two night event boasted 11 films under the night sky, plenty of crazy fun for everyone in attendance.

Movie Review: Hitch-Hike (1977)

The world of cult, exploitation, and horror cinema holds a wealth of treasures. These movies have no limits, know no bounds, well, except for budgetary ones, but so what? It is fascinating to watch what a writer and director do to try and make interesting, involving, and boundary pushing films. Now, I am not sure that this particular film exactly qualifies as boundary pushing, but it is one that reminded me that you never know where you are going to uncover a gem. It is a movie that peels the rug back on ugliness, it shows its grimy underbelly to the world, and it could care less if you approve.

Movie Review: The No Mercy Man

The post-Vietnam War/PTSD/revenge flick is not a mix that I am all that intimately familiar with. With that said, my limited experience puts Rolling Thunder at the top of the heap, that is a seriously awesome movie. By comparison, The No Mercy Man, which predates Rolling Thunder by a number of years, feels like the lite version. It is much like the relationship between Man from Deep River and Jungle Holocaust. This is not to speaking of any of these films, it just shows the development of early exercises in a style compared to the lengths that others take it to a little later. A progression in extreme, if you will.

The Quiet Ones and a Bygone Era of Exploitation

So, the other day I was watching The Quiet Ones and was being quite underwhelmed that my mind began to wander a little bit, partially because of the movie and partially because of the trailer for Eli Roth's The Green Inferno that preceded the feature. Now, it was not a terrible film, but it is one that seemed a little confused about what it wanted to be. I will say that I liked the period setting and Jared Harris was excellent as the doctor conducting the experiment.

Movie Review: Jailbait (2013)

“Relentlessly abused by her stepfather, Anna is ultimately driven to kill him and lands at a dangerously sadistic juvenile detention center.”

Sounds promising, right? Kind of like one of those old school sexploitation/women in prison type of films from the 1970's. Now, who isn't up for one of those? The only problem is that this is a movie from 2013. A time not known for its high level of exploitation output. Well, I was a little intrigued to see how such a thing would play out, so I decided to give it a go. Well, I should have known better. The movie is called Jailbait and it is maybe half of a good effort. It is hardly a film to get all nuts about.

Movie Review: The Possessor

The Possessor is a movie that has gone by many names over the years. It's original title is Un urlo dalle tenebre, it has also been called Return of the Exorcist, Naked Exorcism, Cries and Shadows, Exorcist 3: Cries and Shadows, and even Exorcist 2. Based on those names, you can probably guess that this is an Italian rip off of The Exorcist. This is also one of the things that I love about the Italian film industry (especially in the 1970s and 1980s), they are shameless in ripping off movies. It is fantastic, they don't try to hide it, they flaunt it, it becomes their marketing. So, it goes without saying that when you watch The Possessor, it is going to feel a little familiar, just sleazier.

Movie Review: Maniac (2013)

The film Maniac is a grimy, gritty, unsettling slice of horror that came out back in 1980. The story was developed by the star, Joe Spinell, and directed by William Lustig (Maniac Cop, Uncle Sam). The movie has stood the test of time, garnering itself something of a cult following. The film stands out from the slasher films it is usually lumped together with, as it centers on the killer, forcing you to follow him down his path of madness, murder, and self destruction. I find it curious that such a dark film was targeted by the remake machine as it never had mainstream appeal and an unsavory approach, unlike the Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street series.

Movie Review: The Headless Eyes

Barely released theatrically way back in 1971, The Headless Eyes appeared to be one of those grindhouse quickies that was destined to be forgotten, nothing more than a blip on a very large radar. However, the movie found renewed life in the VHS era when Charles Band and his Empire Video label got their hands on it and reintroduced it to the world as a movie that was “Too gory for the Silver Screen.” Of course, that is just a marketing line, this is nowhere near too gory for the movies, but Band knows how to sell stuff and this thought forgotten feature gained new legs through the late 1980's. Of course, that renewed interest seems to be short lived.

Movie Review: The Driller Killer

It was not that long ago that I saw Ms. 45, an amazing excursion into a gritty underbelly of revenge and exploitation. It is a marvelous film that has no wasted frame and features an unforgettable lead performance by Zoe Tamerlis. It can also be considered my first real introduction to underground filmmaker Abel Ferrara. Sure, I had seen King of New York, Body Snatchers, and The Addiction before, but that was long before I gained my real thirst for film and does not really count. In any case, I have stepped back a couple of years and have now experienced Ferrara's earliest legitimate film, The Driller Killer. Let us just saw that it was a unique experience.

Movie Review: The Thirsty Dead

If you had an idea for a trashy little film and little money to make it with, and it was the 1970's, it was a foregone conclusion that you would somehow find yourself in the Philippines. For a of chunk of years in the 70's, it was the place to go. There is even an awesome documentary on the subject (Machete Maidens Unleashed!). Unfortunately, a few bucks and an idea does not always result in a winning movie. In order to find the good ones you will often find yourself wading through piles of junk. That wonderful thought brings us to the movie at hand, a rather dry little thing called The Thirsty Dead.

Movie Review: Virgin Witch (1972)

The 1970's were a wild and crazy time for cult cinema. Previous hard and fast rules were being broken at every turn. Horror and erotic cinema were being combined in new ways. A good example would be from Hammer with their films like Twins of Evil and The Vampire Lovers. Then there is Virgin Witch. It is a movie that ignored all taboos in putting flesh on the screen, but it forgot to include any atmosphere and horror. The end result is a movie that is boring. It is more interested in clothing removal than it is being a movie. That isn't always a bad thing, but in this case it is.