More letters on Page 2
Thanks, dawg
David Allen writes: I read your review of Dog Soldiers and was VERY VERY PLEASED! I am the producer of the film; I also completely financed it myself. You did a great review and I just wanted to thank you! Btw, did you know that the line from Spoon that you quoted, about "I hope I give you the shits" was written by me? I just felt that if you KNOW you are about to be eaten, shouldn’t you WANT to give the werewolf diarrhea as one last act of defiance?!? heehee Thanks again.
Give us a Hand
David writes: I have looked all over for The Hand for so long, that I was starting to think it was never really a movie to begin with. Love the reviews, and love genre. Thanks for doing this for those of us without the time or smarts.
Dog gone Region 2
Glen writes: Hey, nice Dog Soldiers review. I love that film. I saw that and Ginger Snaps in the same room about 6 months apart. For once, it ruled to be English. You mentioned in the review that it was a shame the director didn’t get offered a commentary track. This isn’t true. He was offered it. And so was the cast. And they accepted and it’s on the R2 disc and for some unknown reason it isn’t on the R1 disc. You’re press – start some shit!
Full Moon puppetry
Bobby writes: Hello, I saw that you knew of some fullmoon dvd releases. You didn’t happen to ask them about the puppet master series that has been in limbo for 3 or 4 years now. If you know anything about the series can you please let me know. Thanks I appreciate it.
Chiller Theatre Expo
Sue writes: I just recently viewed your web site and it is fantastic. My husband and friends were also at the Expo. This was our very first Expo, so you can imagine how thrilled we were. I had heard that it was unusally crowded, but somehow we put that past us and truly unjoyed everything!!! It was thrilling all those celebrities. Like my childhood coming back to life. I was truly disappointed when Jonathan Harris had to cancel. But now we know why. He was truly my favorite of all time. And he is missed. I enjoyed your photos and was happy to be able to take many of my own. We also plan on attending Chiller in April. I look forward to it. I would like to hear back from you and we could compare more Chiller notes!
Cheaters: Best of Season One
Producer Bobby Goldstein writes: You did Cheaters right! Thanks. You now have immunity!
Thank you
Stuart writes: I just wanted to let you know that I love the site and say a big "THANK YOU" for all the hard work you do to bring me(us) the readers info on movies we might not ever know about otherwise! Also…I’d buy a few of your tee-shirts if the logo was on the Back!!! Just an idea!
Slaughterhouse and the Art House
Jason writes: If my DVD collection is testament to anything it’s that for true film fanatics there’s more than enough room for both the Slaughterhouse and the Art House, and in fact if a few more "respectable critics (tm.)" learnt the stupid joys of Troma or axe weilding Santa movies or the schlocky greatness of the likes of Russ Meyer or Dario Argento or Stuart Gordon’s catalogue of films. CineSchlock-O-Rama at least gives me hope that there are others like me out there that can enjoy Martin Scorsese and Clive Barker with equal measure, so thanks for that. As for Most Wanted here’s three titles that I can’t wait to get on DVD, and should already be here if there was any real justice in the world:
Flesh + Blood: Probably my all time favourite Verhoeven film, with a cast that includes b-movie greats Rutger Hauer and Brion James, along with Jeniffer Jason Leigh, Bruno Kirby, Jack THompson, Susan Tyrell and Tom Burlinson this one has it all, sex, blood, violence, plague, dead babies, gratuitous lightning strikes. A classic deserving of the deluxe DVD treatment.
Class Of 1984: The film that started the b-movie trend of punk kids terrorizing fellow students and pushing their teachers over the edge into bloody acts of revenge, this is still the best of it’s sub genre, with great performances by the likes of Timothy Van Patten as the psychotic Stegman, the late, great Roddy McDowell as a teacher who can’t take it anymore and snaps in class and Perry King as the put upon teacher who ends up fighting back in predictably violent and bloody style. Not forgetting a great title track from Alice Cooper, plus which who wouldn’t like a film where Michael J. Fox gets himself stabbed for commencing a career playing ‘nice guys’.
Alone In The Dark: Jack Sholder of The Hidden fame delivered a great little under rated horror gem with this flick. I mean Jack Palance with a crossbow and a personality problem, Martin Landau as a pyromaniacal Preacher, A serial killer who has nosebleeds every time he kills called aptly enough "The Bleeder", and a fat child killer all escape whacky Donald Pleasence’s asylum to terrorize new doc Dwight Schultz and his family, whats not to like?
Melted dreams
Greg writes: Love your reviews! I know you’re a busy man (too many classics, not enough time…), so I’ll keep this short and sweet. Is there any updated word on an Ice Cream Man release? My wife doesn’t believe half the things I tell her about the movie, and I refuse to buy VHS! Also, I want to expand my collection of CineSchlock — Troma seems to be a great studio to start. What specific movies/collections do you recommend? Keep up the great work!
Rrrrrrrrrrated R
Jeff writes: Hi. I love your reviews. I buy a DVD a week and split between Criterion Collection and Schlock (although I prefer the category "Others.") Since the Criterion labels are pretty expensive, I depend on your reviews to maintain a level of quality 😉 and stay within my budget with my Schlock collection. I just bought a copy of ROCK N ROLL FRANKENSTEIN and noticed there were two different versions of the DVD. One listed the movie with no extras; the other listed the movie as the "uncut" version and also contained a few extras, including a commentary track. They both sold for $14.99. Are there two printings of this DVD that you know of? Thought you might want to warn the other CineSchlockers. Thanks.
Under the Rainbow
Lambchop writes: Normally I support any movie with a cast full of midgets, but if this is the flick where Chase says, "look Streudel, the Hindenberg," then I really need this on dvd…..(for 20 years, I’ve used "look, the Hindenberg" to distract people: no one gets it or thinks it’s funny, but that’s never stopped me from continuing to think it’s hilarious…)
Chomping for Chopping Mall
Ed writes: Hey, just wanted to drop a note saying that I love the site (as I love many sites who review the same type of "cult"/"schlock" films I enjoy). I like how you find the balance between writing a helpful review (as opposed to the millions of schlock haters out there whose reviews consist of "This movie sucked it wasnt scary at all!!!!") and over-analyzing and making every obvious joke … Anyway, I’m not just going to praise you, I’m going to comment on your Most Wanted list!
In regards to "Silent Night, Deadly Night" and its sequels, you’ve probably heard this before already, but I think Anchor Bay is releasing "Silent Night, Deadly Night 2" next year on DVD. I was a little mad that they got the rights to the sequel and not the original, but then I remembered the sequel has half the original spliced into it anyway. So yeah, just thought you’d like to know.
And now, the obligatory fanboy whine… where’s "Chopping Mall" on your list? I’ve been waiting for years for this to make an appearance in digital format. I read some time ago that a DVD commentary was recorded, but alas, no DVD was ever released (sure, JAPAN gets a limited edition DVD release, but even those are impossible to find anymore). Anchor Bay says they don’t have the rights, and I wrote New Concorde (who do have the rights) several times and they’ve never gotten back to me. We need to spearhead a movement or something… "Chopping Mall" is my favorite film (period) and has all anyone could ever want in a movie: killer robots, boobies, in-jokes, lasers, and explosions! I swear, one of these days I’m just going to take a loan from the bank, license it and release it myself. Can’t be THAT hard to license a film and press a DVD, right? Anyway, keep up the great work.
Back in time
Clyde Lucas writes: As the Producer/Director of "Time Machine: The Journey Back" I want to thank you for your kind words about the Journey Back, Rod, Alan, Whit, Bob, Gene, Wah and David Duncan put their hearts and souls into the project. Something I will never forget and honor to have worked with them.
Ripper: Plot From Hell
Emma writes: I just saw Ripper: Letter From Hell last night and I didn’t get the ending at all. Can you please explain it to me? For Example … Why is Molly smiling when she chops her friend up in the propeller of the boat. Why does Molly appear to be rich following the execution of Professor Kane, but then wake up in a mental institution (I think). It really bugs me when I don’t understand a film, though I didn’t think it would be a film like this that would stump me.
24-hour fever
Paula writes: I really, really enjoyed your review about the 24 DVD, I’m a huge fan of the show –and Kiefer–. In my opinion this is the best show on TV ever and Kiefer Sutherland performance is fantastic. He deserves the Emmy, don’t you think so?
Achtung!
Georg writes: Read your great Al Adamson Story.You got a feedback from a reader asking about his film "Carnival Magic" — I have a original german videotape (PAL) of this film — it is released by "SK VIDEOFILM – SAUERLAND KUNSTOFFE GMBH." Running time is 70 minutes (PAL). Condition is near mint !! If you are interessted in the video please contact me. I enclosed a scan of the front cover !!
All outta bubblegum
JT writes: I read your review of They Live and was wondering if there was any news about a special edition released in the future.
THEM! THEM! THEM!!!
Bob writes: Am I the only one who has not missed seeing Leonard Nimoy as one of theairmen/soldier in the telecommunications center after they put out theall-points bulletin? Naturally it’s an uncredited character. I cannotfind my VHS copy of "Them" to confirm the exact scene. But, as Iremember it he walks in and hands a message to a women center scene, andturns and walks away.
Rob writes: I just wanted to send a little note to you about Them!!! Don’t know if you’ve ever noticed this, but James Cameron’sAliens is eerily similar to this flick. It’s a good bet that a young, impressionable Mr. Cameron saw this on tv late one evening. The plot is similar and even some shots are uncanny in their similarity. Check out the "hive" with all the eggs. Or maybe I am just crazy.
Time crime
BMac writes: You basically ripped the The Time Machine remake to shreds. I dont really have a problem with that because I didnt think to highly of it either. However, you gave the ‘Recommended’ rating. I was just curious why you would recommend a movie that got low marks in the ‘Movie’ and ‘Replay’ categories. The audio and video received decent marks but four stars in those categories isnt saying a whole lot given the quality of recent dvds.
Memorable screams
Chaz writes: I just wanted to tell you that I loved your review of Empire of the Ants. Back in 1977, I was about 8 years old. My older sister took me to a doublefeature, of which one film was the stinky Jodie Foster flick "Nickelodeon"..At some point during the intermission, I had to go to the bathroom. Feelinglike I was old enough to go on my own, I headed for the restroom area in thetheater, which was a 4 screen quadriplex. I went, did my business, andexited the restroom area..I then headed back into what I THOUGHT was thescreen I was supposed to be in. When I entered the darkened theater, therewas action on the screen. I had assumed that they were playing previews. Iwas already a little put off by the fact that I couldn’t see my sister, butwhen I looked up at the screen it was right at the part where P. Shoop andJD Carson find the bloody clothing belonging to the old woman that I screamed"Mom!" and then they showed all the ants floating in air. I freaked out,and started screaming all the way back up the aisle and out the door. Icalmed down a little, looked up at the individual marquees, and figured outwhich one I was supposed to be in. As I started walking towards it, theusher grabs me and starts to tell me that I have to go back in and watch therest of the movie I was there to see. I started crying, and told her that mysister took me to the Jodie Foster movie, and that she was in there RIGHTNOW waiting for me..The usher started saying, but I saw you come out ofEmpire of the Ants…Anyway, my sister heard me screaming from within thetheater and came out to get me, end of story. Of course seeing the movie many years later, it was a hilarious crock…but, to an 8 year old, TERRIFYING! Again, I love your site, I’ve bookmarked it, and will no doubt continue to return to it, as I love schlocky movies…Many years of Famous Monsters magazine, Fangoria, Creature Features movie nights…lots of memories and experiences. Keep it up!
Three Days In Roswell
To be honest, I figured my travelogue and ode to Six Days In Roswell would be of very, very narrow appeal. Boy, was I wrong! CineSchlockers, of course, showed their usual enthusiasm, but the piece was literally DEVOURED when late-night radio icon Art Bell (and a personal hero of yours truly) featured it on his website. Also got lots of great mail, here’s a sampling:
Six Days producer Roger Nygard writes: That’s hilarious! I had a great time reading your report. Glad to see things haven’t changed much there. I love that you tracked down Norm and his Coachmen. Norm’s 15 minutes of fame starts now!
Six Days star Rich Kronfeld writes: Real cool! I hope you had a good time and I appreciate the pilgrimage you made in the honor of the film. What an honor to know that somebody went on a big trip like this in response in part to a movie I was in. Thank you!
Roswellien Mike writes: Just spent some time perusing through your pictures of Roswell during the recent festival — very nice job! Also, really got a kick out of the "comparison shots" correlating with the "Six Days" movie — what a hoot! Thanks for attending the festival, and hope you come back to visit soon!
Kevin writes: Well, I’m glad you had fun. … Your slide show was a good indication of how much fun you just had. Lots of wacky stuff some truth and some myth. … Make sure your protective head gear is in optimal operational condition cause as you know the government AND the aliens are after us !!! (That’s why we Canadians live so far North . . . it’s just too cold for them both.) They both want control over us so I’ve invented my own protective head gear. The tin foil works as a great heat insulator … confuses the hell outta the aliens and the government. [Note: Kevin included several bizarre photos of himself wearing a tin-foil chapeaux.]
Roswell!? Bah Humbug!
Joe writes: Ha! I live not that far from Roswell and the whole UFO thing is the best carny swindle since PT Barnum (I lived in Bridgeport, CT too the home of PT).
Fan’s Feast
Joel writes: Hey, just would like to say how much I enjoyed your diary of the Blood Feast 2 shoot. I really appreciated the in-depth coverage. I live in New Orleans and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t drive across the Pontchartrain Causeway and somehow weasel my way into the production. I would like to see the finished product. I hope I get to see it aside from the home video release. I’m originally from Peoria, Illinois… I’ve read it’s where the original Blood Feast premiered. Coincidence? Work of Ishtar? (I really should’ve made that drive!) In any case, lf you know of any future showings in the New Orleans’ area let me know. Thanks again!