Girl Boss Revenge (1973)

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Review:

Komasa is a newly appointed Banchō of a group of rag tag reform school escapees. Christened the gypsies.
Her looks and charisma garner her devoted allies. Unfortunately, most of her followers seem pretty inept when it comes to actually committing criminal acts. Most of the time the girls only truely suceed in enraging rival gangs and intruding on their turf.

Their beloved banchō eventually forms an alliance with an aspiring adult film director, Ichiro. After he attempts to scout Komasa for one of his adult films. His close ties to the most powerful gang in the region, the Hokuryukai. Make him a valuable ally.

Desperate for fresh faces to satisfy their pleasure seeking clientele. The Hokuryukai have taken a liking to kidnapping female members from rival gangs. And forcing them to work in their Turkish bathhouse. Immediately they set their sights on the gypsies and another female gang, dressed in seifuku. Lead by another fellow school girl runaway and fierce sukeban, Maya.

Pissing off delinquent girl gangs is one thing, but attempting to force them into sexual slavery or murdering their lovers and friends is only fuel for the ultimate revenge, sukeban style ;)

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In Conclusion:

A grand testament to female badassery.
Sukeban films are easily some of my favorite Japanese exploitation titles.
Complete with vicious girl fights, sleazy dealings and knife wielding beauties.
Notably the amazing, Reiko Ike!

What's not to love :P

I purchased this film as a double feature with the Sukeban title,
Delinquent Girl Boss: Blossoming Night Dreams (1970)
Another film I will be reviewing shortly.

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Rica (1972)

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Review:

Rica's life has never been easy.
Being a product of rape between her mother and an American G.I.
Forced to witness her mother's own troubled existence as a drug addict and prostitute.
Until she too becomes a victim, and is raped by one of her mother's suitors. The event leading her on a downward spiral to delinquency.

Now the head of an all girl gang, Rica ends up getting herself involved with many sketchy characters. Two timing mob bosses and violent sukeban covered in tattoos.
One of her members opts to commit suicide rather then give birth to a child fathered by a member from the rival Tachibana gang. Rica helps deliver the child, which is stillborn. Concealing the aborted fetus in a basket, for delivery to the child's father. Much to his horror and disbelief.

This obviously causes a feud between both gangs. Except her rivals have the upper hand, distracting Rica with a back alley brawl. Then kidnapping and violating the rest of her gang's members. Rica's only hope to save them is to appease the gang by paying an outrageous ransom. With conveniently placed loop holes that make her forfeit the deal. And her gang is sent away on ships to be sold into the slave trade.

Rica is then arrested and sent to an all girl's reformatory. Conveniently guarded by imbeciles, enabling her to escape multiple times. Hell bent on exacting revenge.

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In Conclusion:

Hidden amongst a frenetic mess of a plot, lies some pretty impressive violence and rock n' roll spirit.
I do think the film could've been condensed down into something pretty memorable, had it not been prolonged by unnecessary things. Namely random characters and confusing plot padding.
Although It's brief moments of surprising sadism make it worth checking out.

Our leading lady may be quite visually appealing and exotic. However, I think Rica lacks the acting abilities and charisma to truly carry a film like her fellow Pinky violence vixens. Even her singing voice is a bit...mediocre.
In the end though, the flick wasn't too bad and can be picked up on the cheap. Running at about 6-9$ for a copy in various conditions.

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Visiting Hours (1982)

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Review:

Controversial speaker & journalist, Deborah Ballin unintentionally triggers a mentally disturbed employee. During the filming of a television segment where she discusses a polarizing case, involving a battered housewife charged with murdering her husband, assumably in self defense.

Except Deborah's boss refuses to air the taping, on grounds that showing it live will only enrage millions of people. Prefering instead to just enrage one person, Deborah. Who storms out of the studio, and heads back to her home. Only to find a nice little surprise in the form a hulking, knife weilding psychopath draped with her jewelry...

The unknown assailant attempts to kill her. Instead he only wounds her in the scuffle before her battered body is found by a neighbor. And she is taken to a local hospital.

Even then Deborah is still unable to shake the lingering feeling that the man who attacked her was not a burglar. Now that he's venturing into the hospital after visiting hours, brandishing his trusty blade.

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In Conclusion:

Slasher film fans have seen this man before. Rendered impotent. Prior disturbances and trauma caused by his parents. Most notably his mother. Reducing him to an emasculated being that can only attain release by penetrating his female victims with some sharp, phallic object.
Yet despite being the typical slasher film stereotype, our killer still exudes creepiness.

I also think that this film contains one of the most horrifying on screen demises. Involving an innocent bed ridden elderly woman. Having a tube supplying her with vital oxygen sliced. While her killer sits on her bed, taking photographs as she slowly succumbs to a painful demise. That is why I was filled with such a child like glee when our woman in peril ends up being the one that penetrates.

Highly recommended!

Also note, that this film is now available as a double feature with the equally creepy, Bad Dreams (1988)
Which I will be reviewing shortly ;)

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Vampire In Brooklyn (1995)

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Review:

Max is a Caribbean vampire searching for the last female descendent of his tribe. A half vampire, currently residing in Brooklyn. The half human/vampire hybrid in question is Rita. A police detective, plagued by troubling dreams. Fueled by her mother's recent passing in an insane asylum.

A boat containing his coffin, along with myriad bloodless corpses. Crashes in the New York harbor. Where it is discovered by two men. One of the men is quickly ensnared by Max to do his bidding. But, for a price as his body begins to rot.

The spectacle at the harbor, leads Rita right onto Max's radar. Once she investigates the interior of the ship, discovering his coffin. The event triggers a foreboding vision. Sending her into hysterics. Then disappears from view when Rita's partner, Justice shows up to assist her.

Max immediately senses a brewing chemistry between Rita and Justice. Which forces him to take extreme measures to discredit him, even going so far as to possess the bodies of a foul mouthed mobster and a preacher. Doing anything he can think of lure her into his web.

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In Conclusion: 

It's a shame that successful and effective "urban" horror films are pretty few and far between. For every Candyman (1992) or Tales From The Hood (1995) there's a Leprechaun In The Hood (2000) or Vampiyaz (2004) that totally ruins it. With non-existent budgets, crappy derivative plots  and shoddy performances.

I still happen to really love Wes Craven's previous effort at "urban" horror, The People Under The Stairs (1991). This film however, despite it's intentions and potential. Increased considerably by Angela Bassett's performance. Still fails on so many levels. Maybe not to the point of being totally unwatchable. But, it walks a fine line and stays there.

The jokes usually fall flat, with a rare exception. Making the film a failure at being an outright comedy. There are occasional, albeit brief moments of atmosphere. Yet the film as a whole isn't scary. Even with notably competent make-up effects. Making it a failure as a horror film. Leaving us with one confused cinema oddity. Capable of occasionally stirring a chortle.

Evil may be necessary, but this film is not.



Happy New Year, everyone!
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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Groper Train: Search For The Black Pearl (1984)

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Review:

A mysterious and valuable black pearl, discovered by a wandering soldier in Vietnam. Is taken back to his home in Japan. Where he hides it in a very inconspicuous place. Even with his nubile wife, Matsuko's persistent solicitation of the valuables whereabouts.

While the two make love, Yamamori is finally coaxed to reveal a little snippet of a hint to his beloved. Before death overtakes him mid-climax. His final words, "pussy print". Are the only clues left for Matsuko. So the bereaved widow hires an unorthodox private detective, Kuroda. To help her find the missing treasure.

Using his detective agency as convenient cover to participate in various sexual acts. Not limited to ravishment of female train passengers and his bouncy assistant. Kuroda enjoys his job a little too much. Once Matsuko gives him the only viable clue. An inked print of Yamamori's missing niece Yuko's nethers. Kuroda suits up and hits the local train. Where he is determined to ink and make prints of as many vaginas as he can. Until he finds a match.

Although with the personal turmoil surrounding Matsuko and Yamamori's son, Harou (the only attractive man in this entire fucking film!) Things are not as they would seem.

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In Conclusion:

First off. Almost EVERY male participant in this film is hideous. I can see why the actresses were positioned in ways to detract from their unsightly counterparts. I am sure I would probably prefer to sit on a guys face opposed to having to actually look at him, if he happened to resemble a fucking catfish with glasses.

Yet despite that minor grievance. I thought this flick overall was pretty entertaining. Managing to be hilarious, titillating...and disgusting. All at the same time.

Highly recommended!

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Wicked City (1987)

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Review: 

For those who wish for a harmonious coexistence. A proposed peace treaty is enacted to improve relationships between inhabitants from human and demon worlds. Unfortunately a rival faction of demons stand in opposition. Feeling that they are a superior race.

Taki is an electronic salesman and secret agent for an organization known as the "Black Guard". Along with his newly acquired demon partner, Makie. The duo become appointed guardians of a 200 year old demon missionary, Guiseppi Mayart. A lecherous pervert with significant duties to uphold to insure a successful treaty signing.

With a gaggle of bloodthirsty demonic terrorists hot on their trail. Taki and Makie will be confronted with more then just their romantic feelings for each other. We're talking demon rape and enough hideous creature transformations to leave a lasting impression ;)

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In Conclusion:

I fondly remember renting this nasty little feature from our local video store, Shapter Video in the mid 90s. I still miss that place and the various assemblage of Hellraiser models. That would glare menacingly at me while stationed at the tops of the movie shelves.

I was immensely  pleased to find this title to be as filthy and sublime as I remember it being.
Plenty of soft core sex, nasty creatures with tentacled appendages. And just an overall nightmarish and bleak vibe. Yet, despite the absence of penetration. Mutilated and monstrous vaginal openings are a reoccurring vision.

A murderous spider lady that possesses a venus flytrap reminiscent vagina with teeth, being one of my favorite animated creatures.

This anime is very highly recommended. And definitely not for kids ;)

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)

Bloodsucking Pharaohs in Pittsburgh (1991)

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Review:

A serial killer with a fetish for power tools, turns their sights on ladies of the night. Leaving the girl's battered bodies for the police to discover. Two detectives, Joe and Sweeney are assigned to the case.

Parts are taken from the deceased assumably for usage in bizarre rituals.
The methods in which the victims are dispatched mimics a similar series of crimes committed in another state, where Joe was once stationed. He contacts a former partner, Deke Taylor to assist in solving the case.

Using the departments money to purchase a plane ticked for his old comrade. Only to have his daughter, Dee Dee arrive in his place, claiming that her father had gone missing. Puts Joe and Sweeney in an unfavorable light with the already volatile, trigger happy chief of police.

With Dee Dee's assistance, they manage to appease the Chief with the possibility of an newly discovered suspect. A man with affiliations to the original suspect of the first series of murders.  The man in question, Jackie Cairo has relocated to an unlawful part of Pittsburgh, known as Egypt Town.
Where the team will have to venture to pick up the pieces.....literally.

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In Conclusion:

I thought there was a successful blend of comedy, demented characters, gore and power tools. I adore the overall campy charm.

This is definitely one of my favorite films of all time.

Oh, glorious b-grade fodder. How you entertain me, while simultaneously liquifying my grey matter!

Very highly recommended.

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Screen Captures: (All Screen Caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission)