Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on November 5th, 2007
The name of this double-pack is slightly misleading, but that is not to suggest the film and television mini-series on offer are in any way bad. Quite the contrary, in fact. It’s just that they aren’t exactly “action” films per se. So don’t pick this up hoping for something in the vein of The Road Warrior. Instead, these are brutally intense dramas with strong action elements. Both titles are excellent.
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on May 9th, 2006
Synopsis
Spanning 1966 through 1995, these are six short features covering David Lynch’s career from is very beginning to his current position as one of the most important voices in American cinema. The shorts are, in order: “Six Men Getting Sick,” “The Alphabet,” “The Grandmother,” “The Amputee” (two versions), “The Cowboy & The Frenchman” and “Lumière.” As one might expect from Lynch, there is a pretty heavy nightmare quotient here. The first three films have a lot of animation, and the result is n…
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on April 29th, 2006
Best guess, this is David Lynch’s way of showing how crude and tasteless many modern animated shows are. Maybe by creating one of these shows at the truly lowest possible denominator, Lynch is trying to make an artistic comment on what the American public freely accepts as quality entertainment. Shows such as Beavis and Butt-Head have been mocked for their poor animation quality. South Park has frequently been mentioned when strong language is the topic of discussion. This series hits an all-new low in…
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on March 21st, 2006
Synopsis
After the mysterious death of his former employer, perpetually shirtless gardener Joe Dallesandro is taken on by the rich and rather twitty Katherine Houghton. He works wonders with her garden, wonders so miraculous, in fact, that the rest of her staff becomes very suspicious. Unfortunately, Houghton is falling more and more deeply under the gardener’s mesmeric spell, and anyone who stands in his way runs into strange botanical fates.
This is not a rescue on par with Subversive’s < ...
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 12th, 2005
Synopsis
Donald Pleasence (doing a bad Peter Lorre impression) is a university professor convinced that he can create plant/human hybrids that have the benefits of both species. He acquires unwilling human subjects thanks to erstwhile Doctor Who Tom Baker, here the deformed leader of a freak circus, who kidnaps young men and women, having been promised a cure for his condition.
The case boasts that his is a 70s version of Freaks, and the comparison is not inapt, since we are presente…
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by Archive Authors on October 6th, 2005
Synopsis
A trio of low-lifes led by Tiffany Bolling kidnap innocent young Candy (Susan Sennet). They bury in the hillside, and the only witness is mute, autistic little boy. They inform Candy’s father that he must deliver a load of diamonds from the shop he runs, or Candy dies. Their plan appears foolproof. But then the father doesn’t show up. Confusion and dissension in the ranks breaks out, and the plot moves inexorably towards a terrible ending.
I will say no more of the plot, and leave …
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on January 12th, 2005
Synopsis
Molly (Millie Perkins) is seriously disconnected from reality. She tells her two nephewswonderful tales about their grandfather, whom she declares a saint, even though we see (indisturbing flashbacks), that he repeatedly raped her. She also enjoys ogling well-built men andfantasizing about their violent deaths. But she doesn’t stop at fantasizing…
Well! Here she is, Anne Frank herself (from the 1959 film) all grown up and castrating menwith safety razors. This is …
Read More
Posted in Disc Reviews by David Annandale on July 25th, 2004
Synopsis
One year after the brutal murder of a family, an old woman and her silent granddaughtercome to live with some relatives. We know from the opening that these are the killers, and thatbad times lie ahead. This is especially true for the wheelchair bound Yasu. His father is gone forthe week, his siblings are likewise mostly absent, and they ignore his warnings that the newarrivals are weird. As soon as the house is empty of any who might interfere, the torture sessionsbegin. M…
Read More
