Category Archives: Independent

1972 Films, Gore, H.G. Lewis, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror

The Gore, Gore Girls-1972

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The Gore, Gore Girls-1972

Director H.G. Lewis

Starring Frank Kress, Amy Farrell

Scott’s Review #12

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Reviewed May 14, 2014

Grade: B+

The Gore Gore Girls (1972) is a fun, late-night, campy horror film by the “Godfather of Gore”, H.G. Lewis.

An unknown assailant is hacking strippers to bits using very unusual methods. An investigator is hired to find out whodunit.

It’s an entertaining experience and I love the use of the whodunit mixed in with horror. I enjoyed the outcome when the killer was revealed.

Influenced by John Waters (even the music seems identical!) it’s a hearty viewing of wildness, merriment, and debauchery.

Comedian Henny Youngman appears, though he later denied being in the film.

The strippers are over the top and unique and the investigator (sort of a Sherlock Holmes type) is wonderful to watch.

Quite a low budget as the audio is tough to hear at times and the video fuzzy, but this only enhances the fun.

Continuity errors for miles, but it hardly matters.

1970 Films, British, British Horror, Horror, Horror-Camp, Independent, Independent Horror, Slasher

Girly-1970

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Girly-1970

Director Freddie Francis

Starring Vanessa Howard, Michael Bryant

Scott’s Review #11

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Reviewed June 14, 2014

Grade: B-

Girly (1970) is an unusual British horror film about an affluent, bored family, clearly deranged, who kidnaps victims and forces them to become “members” of the family by participating in game-playing escapades for their delight.

The premise of the film is appealing and intriguing as to how it will play out. The family members (Mumsy, Nanny, Girly, and Sonny) are played with gusto by the cast but are never over the top.

My favorite is “Mumsy”, wickedly played by British actress Ursula Howells.

The film itself has a fairy tale quality to it with the sets of the house they share. The main victim (a male gigolo) is a miscast (too old, not sexy enough) and begins a cat-and-mouse game of trickery, plotting the family against one another until the inevitable bodies pile up.

The film loses steam midway through and the ending is not satisfying.

Why the victims are not able to escape the vast property is weak (a 7-foot tall flimsy fence??).

“Curious” film that becomes a tad boring towards the conclusion.

2013 Films, Independent, Indie Adventure

All is Lost-2013

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All is Lost-2013

Director-J.C. Chandor

Starring-Robert Redford

Scott’s Review #4

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Reviewed June 16, 2014

Grade: D

The accolades heaped on this film from 2013 escape me.

Some felt that this was Robert Redford’s late in life masterpiece. I’ve never found him to be a great talent as an actor, and while not horrible in this film, it is certainly not the Oscar-worthy performance being bandied about.

Many actors would play this role better- Tom Hanks, Sean Penn come to mind.

Beyond the performance, there are facets of the film that are unexplained (how did he become shipwrecked? Why did ships pass by not noticing him? who is he???).

Much of the movie dragged and a feeling of having seen this film many times before kept gnawing at me, albeit without a one-person cast, which I give it respect for.

But castaway, shipwreck movies have been around since the beginning. It had the standard plot developments of this type of film- broken equipment, sharks, storms, which made it feel quite contrived.

Fail.

Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Director-J.C. Chandor, Best Male Lead-Robert Redford, Best Cinematography