Film Review: ‘Grimm Love’ (Rohtenburg – 2006) Combines Love and Cannibalism for a Shocker

 Drama, Germany, Horror, J. Holderness, Thriller  No Responses »
Oct 202010
 

DVD Artwork

A graduate student played by Keri Russell researches and delves into the psyches of a cannibal and his willing victim for her thesis. This crime is based on the Rohtenburg Cannibal, Armin Meiwes.

Here I was so interested in seeing Keri Russell break from the norm but sadly, it was not meant to be. She does what she can but her part in this has very trite dialogue and voice-overs no less. Actually folks, some of the voice-over dialogue wasn’t so bad. It was her lines and her introduction along with this part. None of this is to say that it isn’t worth the watch though. Here’s the real skinny, watch it for the flashbacks and story of the cannibal Continue reading »

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Film Review: ‘Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives’ (2010) – When a Normal Tranny Just Won’t Do

 Exploitation, J. Holderness, Revenge  No Responses »
Oct 062010
 

Poster Artwork

So, Ticked -Off Trannies With Knives turns out to be perfect grindhouse fodder. That might have been a given. What isn’t a grindhouse given is that it all turned out to look and sound so good. Modern grindhouse is expensive to make and difficult to get the look right. Even harder for an independently funded film to afford to make it look good. A lot of work and care went into this film and it really does show. They have inserted all the scratches, pauses, edits and even reel changes in all right places. The sounds are equally as well done. I’m thankful for director Israel Luna’s choices in music. The music here is not seventies porn style. The garish wash on the film along with our trannie’s outfits add up to a colorful, fun piece of entertainment.

The plot is simple and brings on the typical violence and laughs in this genre. Our trannies, a great group of gals Continue reading »

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Film Review: Kipp Makes ‘Contact’ (2010) with The Dark Side of Human Nature

 Drama, Experimental, Horror, J. Holderness, Short Films  No Responses »
Oct 012010
 

Poster Artwork

Contact is a beautiful study in black & white, a tale of loss and possibly even awakening. It will all depend on the viewer. This is driven by emotions with no dialogue to speak of. We start our journey here with two very sad people who have obviously suffered an unimaginable loss. The camera draws us in and every shot seems to carry the weight of the actors emotions. It’s as if the lens and the actors are as one entity filling the screen with sadness, guilt, loss and eventually healing.

Zoe Daelman Chlanda gives a startlingly brave performance. She draws us in with subtlety rather than over the top expressions. Her vulnerability is front and center. This dark artistic Continue reading »

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Film Review: Midnight Syndicate Call Forth Their Own Brand of Cinematic Terror with ‘The Dead Matter’ (2010) – A World of Darkness

 Horror, J. Holderness, Zombies  No Responses »
Aug 222010
 

DVD Artwork

A grief stricken young woman who is desperate to contact her dead brother obtains an ancient vampire relic that is being sought after by two evil vampire lords and a vampire hunter.

This film is a total mish-mash of sub-genres that mix and mingle together to make a completely original viewing experience. You’ve got everything within, including the kitchen sink. You have warring vampire lords being chased by a weary vampire hunter (Jason Carter of Babylon 5). You get an ancient relic that controls the dead. They give you zombies, a séance and Andrew Divoff in a dime store wig? Oh yes, worth a view for that alone Continue reading »

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The Richard Crawdaddy Show (Cleveland, OH)

 Comedy, J. Holderness, News  8 Responses »
Jun 022010
 

Richard Crawdaddy

Spoofs, parodies and a perverted puppet? Something odd is rumbling around the city of Cleveland and I’m hearing the whispers of an underground movement. Could it be Gojira coming up from Lake Erie finally? No, that’s not quite right, considering Richard Crawdaddy is much shorter than Gojira. No, it seems to be an old, wisecracking puppet calling himself Richard Crawdaddy. He currently has his own show with a much more attractive co-host, Jaclyn Bradley. He’s rude, crude, mean but even better, honest. It all adds up to funny and this hard working, or is that hardly working crew are moving on up. Continue reading »

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Slaughterhouse (1987)

 Horror, J. Holderness  3 Responses »
Jun 022010
 

DVD Release

An old slaughterhouse worker and his son “Buddy” find themselves out of work when progress catches up to them with the big machines. Finding the old methods of slaughtering pigs for food obsolete, these two take matters into their own hands. A little matter of revenge for the good old boys that are trying to buy the farm.

I guess I was predestined to enjoy this totally cool Texas Chainsaw 2 inspired ’80′s gem! I saw this way back in the day but didn’t remember how this film is so filled with the fine touches that make these eighties horror films so fun. Our father/son duo (Lester and Buddy Bacon) are flat out entertaining to me. Buddy is big and disgusting and Continue reading »

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Apartment Zero (1988)

 Drama, Horror, J. Holderness, Thriller  2 Responses »
May 212010
 

DVD Release

Neurotic, mama’s boy, loner Adrian LeDuc (Colin Firth) is forced to take in a border for money in his mother’s apartment in Buenos Aires. The border may or may not be crazier than Le Duc, or is he actually a psychotic killer?

The roommate played by Hart Bochner no less, eighties heartthrob at one time but he’s great in this. You get a view of the talent that Colin would become from early on here. You are treated to a huge helping of attraction and chemistry between Firth and Bochner. This is similar in tone and look to Polanski’s The Tenant but it still completely stands on it’s own. Beware though, it is painstakingly slow moving and you need great patience as it is also long. The cat and Continue reading »

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Boot Camp (2007)

 Action, Adventure, Crime, J. Holderness, Thriller  No Responses »
May 212010
 

DVD Release

At risk teens are shipped off to what their parents believe is a rehabilitation center for teens with behavior issues on an island in Fiji. The boot camp run by a so-called doctor is just advocating abuse and brainwashing as his rehabilitation program.

Here we are treated to another one of these based on real incident films. This part is for real there really are boot camps that are rife with abuse on all levels coming from multiple aggressors and boatloads of brainwashing going on as well. The fact that this film is based on probable real incidents doesn’t make the viewing any better though. This film turns over a very average if not on the ridiculous Continue reading »

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Jen Holderness’s 05/10 Film Recommendations

 Articles, J. Holderness  10 Responses »
May 162010
 

Grace – This horrendously grim, psychological study of extremely wounded people is so well acted that I highly recommend a view. You’ll also get an entirely new take on the effects of zombie baby vs. motherhood’s nurture, no matter what the circumstance. In my opinion, this is Jordan Ladd’s performance of lifetime. Well worth it if you prefer more psychological, mind-bendindg in your horror but make no mistake, this is indeed a horror film.

Rent / Purchase Continue reading »

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The Baby (1973)

 Exploitation, Horror, J. Holderness, Thriller  5 Responses »
May 042010
 

Theatrical Poster

A social worker visits one of her assignments, a case where a 21 year old man is being kept in an infantile state by his matriarchal family complete with diapers and a crib.

Sex, drugs and babies, oh my! This completely exploitative film is so politically incorrect that I don’t think there would be a snowball’s chance in hell it would be made in this day and age. The mother played by the grand dame Ruth Roman is on target in her campy, over the top performance and she appears here in those popular muumuus worn by the women of the seventies, ahh nostalgia! Baby, as he is aptly named, played by David Manzy in a career-killing role Continue reading »

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The Graves (2009)

 Horror, J. Holderness, Thriller  No Responses »
May 042010
 

DVD Release

Two sisters, Megan and Abby Graves embark on a pop culture/attraction road trip before Megan leaves for New York City to start a new job. They end up taking a detour at the roadside attraction Skull City Mines, an abandoned and purportedly haunted town on a self guided tour. Will they make it out alive?

I thought this was actually a worth while entry into the After Dark Horrorfest. I know a lot will disagree with me here but hear me out on this one. Yes, the plot is a been there and done that Texas Chainsaw/ Tourist Trap and it definitely falls into that sub-genre of the crazy, backwoods, religious fanatics. The script writers do throw in a Continue reading »

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Film Review: The Commune (2009)

 Comedy, Exploitation, Horror, J. Holderness, Thriller  No Responses »
Apr 212010
 

Screener Review

A young girl is caught in the middle of a custody battle and is sent to live with her absentee father who is now the leader of a strange cult. With her sweet sixteenth birthday coming up, little does Jenny know that her cult leader father and his followers have a birthday surprise in store for her.

It seems to me after watching this film director Fies, is standing at a precipice built by The Commune. All she’ll need to do is jump down and I am certain she’ll land on her feet. This psychological slow burn filmed in eighteen days really took me by surprise. It is darkly sinister and yet very engaging. Reality horror is what is given to us via this tale of ultimate betrayal. Still, I was Continue reading »

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