Goodbye Uncle Tom (1971)

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Review:

We are first introduced to a varied group of individuals that are being documented for an inquest on slavery (some own slaves and others have a more progressive view point on the subject.)
First we see the captives as they are being stored for transport and eventual sale. The boat's captain describes the unfathomable stench of hundreds of bodies chained together in such a confined space, some of the prisoners experience terrible diarrhea caused by their poor diet (which consists mainly of molasses and beans) and bacteria. To stop their captives from defecating on themselves a painful device is forcibly inserted in their anal cavities.

On their arrival to land, all slaves are quarantined and considering the deplorable conditions these poor people are forced to endure, many are stricken with contagious skin infections, which leads to them to be placed in cages where they are gassed in an attempt to kill the bacterial infestation.
And that is not even the half of it.

The only semi-amusing part of the film involves a rich old biddy who is in denial about her husbands illicit affairs with their female slaves, resulting in mixed children, some of which the woman believes to have facial features that resemble her husbands. When asked why that is even possible the woman's husband attributes their traits to "symbiosis". The woman's husband is also interviewed and his affinity for deflowering his wife's slaves is explored further.

The film is equally informative and shocking, I will leave other key points and scenes for the viewer to discover

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In Conclusion:

A must see for those that like mondo style films or psuedo-documentaries.
Perpare yourselves for a viewing experience you will never forget.

Very highly recommended!

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

Human Lanterns (1982)

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Review:

Affluent rivals Lung and Tan challenge each other in an upcoming New Years Lantern making contest. Their announcements are made at a public ceremony Tan's throwing in honor of his upcoming engagement to the beautiful Yen-Chu (a known prostitute and Lung's former lover).

The thought of nuptial bliss between Tan his eternal enemy and Yen-Chu fills Lung with rage and entices him to request the services of a former opponent Chung-Fang, who was left humiliated and permanently scarred, after Lung challenged him to a fight when they both sought the love of the same woman. The woman in question (Jin) is now Lung's wife.

Chung-Fang is able to conceal his vengeful thoughts long enough to gain Lung's trust with the promise of the lantern's completion come the time of the contest, but he still seeks revenge, so Chung-Fang decides to use a special material for his award winning lanterns, the soft, youthful skin of various unwilling female victims, all whom have various relationships linking them with Lung's rival Tan.

Will Lung discover Chung-Fang's plot for revenge, or will all the beautiful women in this film meet a ghastly end!?

Let the skin peeling begin!

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In Conclusion:


This action-horror film is filled with atmosphere, beautiful scenery and equally beautiful women. Certain action scenes are well choreographed and exciting, while the film does occasionally slip into long winded tangents that detract from the viewing experience.

Overall it is a pretty decent watch, I would recommend as a possible rental before purchasing.

I am however, looking forward to the release of another Shaw Brother's Film "Seeding of a Ghost".

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

Mondo Cane (1962)

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Review:

A thoroughly informative and equally entertaining showcase of various cultural oddities. From scenic beauty to savage customs where the authenticity of certain footage is questionable, yet fascinating nonetheless.

From voracious crowds of randy female natives participating in a man hunt. To a tribe in New Guinea that places it's most desirable females in cages only to gorge them on tapioca root, so that they can attain a form covetable to the tribe leader who weights a meer 92 lbs.

There is shock footage aplenty as the viewer witnesses the brutal beheading of a bull, and in the final frame a bull gets it's revenge as it reeks havoc through the streets and takes out curious spectators.

I will say that with the popularity of certain cooking shows (such as Top Chef), I was starting to wonder what Foie Gras actually was. And after seeing how it is made (by force feeding a duck or goose so that it's engorged liver can be extracted for Gourmet aficionados.) I have absolutely no desire ever to try it. (To each their own, I suppose :P)

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In Conclusion:

This is the Shockumentary that started it all, and is an absolute viewing necessity for those that are looking for landmark points in exploitation films.

Highly recommended!

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

Flower & Snake (1974)

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Review:

Businessman Makoto, forever traumatized by events that occurred when he was a child, is rendered impotent and is unable to have casual sex with a female. His doting mother who he happens to reside with, only aids in her son's impairment by filming pornographic bondage films in their basement.

Senzo, the owner of the company Makoto works for, happens to request the services of his young employee, when he finds explicit photos of women in various stages of bondage at his desk. Discontent with his own marriage and his inability to have relations with his beautiful, prideful wife Shizuko. Senzo asks Makoto to train his wife in the art of submission, so she would bend to his every command, rather then force him to take his sexual frustrations out on the maid.

Senzo puts sleeping pills in Shizuko's drink, rendering her incapable of fighting off Makoto's advances.

What is in store for the unfortunate Shizuko is a plethora of fetish staples, including Shibari, enemas, and other various perversities.

Will she become the wife that Senzo desires, or is her will too strong to break?

You will be amazed at the various depraved relationships that unfold before your eyes.

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In Conclusion:

Oh, my what a pervy film! For those unfamiliar with another sub-genre of Pink film, known as the "Roman Porno", this is an example of such film. A low-budget Japanese film that tends to focus more on sex.

This film also helped film distribution company "Nikkatsu" from going completely bankrupt.

For those that love their smut as much as I do, this would make a worthy purchase.

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

Love Me Deadly (1973)

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Review:

She lingers in the back row of the funeral home, waiting for her chance to caress the embalmed, cold flesh of the dead cradled in their coffins. She knows nothing about the deceased or their grieving families, all she knows is that her lust for the dead is too great to be denied.

Her corpse fetish may derive its potency from her deceased father, with whom she shared a rather odd relationship with. As a kid her father treated her more like a lover then a child. Their bond was so strong that once he passed away, Lindsey could not help but become fixated with his corpse. Her inability to have a normal relationship with various potential suitors, only exacerbates the situation, when she finds herself unable to become intimate with them.

One day after having a random encounter at a funeral parlor she finds herself interested in a living man (Alex), who's uncanny resemblance to her late father leads her to lust secretly after him. His mutual interest in her leads the two to form a seemingly normal relationship. Yet, Lindsey still cannot give up her compulsion to visit the funeral home, where the owner of the establishment (Fred) begins to notice an increase in her attendance.

A fellow necrophile himself, he offers to invite Lindsey to join a special group of individuals that happen to share in her affinity for the dead. Little does she know that the group happens to be a gaggle of devil worshiping deviants who kill their playmates before partaking in sexual acts with their corpses.

Will Lindsey ever allow herself to have a normal relationship with Alex, or will she be "Forever doomed to love only the dead?"

Just watch and see.

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In Conclusion:

If Lifetime Television for Women where around in the 70s and happened to produce a sleazy film about Necrophilia, Love Me Deadly would be that film. There are many moments filled with unnecessary melodrama, yet at the same time the movie has such great atmosphere.

Despite the sappy romance, there is still a lot of distasteful subject matter taking place.
I really enjoyed the film, and after multiple viewings I find myself liking it even more. Don't let the Lifetime comment dishearten you, you'll still be in for a unique viewing experience.

It's also interesting to note that this film pre-dates other notorious corpse love films, such as (Nekromantik 1 & 2, Lucker The Necrophageous, and Kissed)
Not bad for 1973.

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Screen Captures: (All screen caps are taken by me, please do not use them without my permission.)

Female Prisoner # 701: Scorpion (1972)

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Review:

After yet another attempt to escape the confines of prison, Nami and a female accomplice are caught and thrown into solitary confinement. As a precautionary measure to further deter any more inmates from escaping, the guards decide to punish the entire female prison populace with food depravation and extreme laborious acts.

We find that three years before her incarceration, Nami was in love with a corrupt narcotics officer (Sugumi). Who after deflowering the willing Nami, manages to persuade her to aid him in a sting operation involving the Yakuza. Unable to convince the gangsters of the legitimacy of her presence, she is beaten and raped by the thugs, before Sugumi makes an appearance.

She finds that all along he was only deceiving her, using her as bait to extort the Yakuza for financial gain. The sequence of events fills Nami with such rage that she seeks retribution for her dishonor and attempts to attack Sugumi in the middle of the street with a sharp knife, before police intercept her and throw her in prison.

Still content in further torturing his ex-lover even though she is safely behind bars, Sugumi hires a fellow inmate and former drug mule (Katagiri) with promises of a reduced prison sentence if she murders Nami.
Unwilling to get her hands dirty, Katagiri decides to turn all the inmates against Nami, blaming her for their suffering and constant abuse. Until finally the cruel punishment forced on the inmates becomes too much and they start a revolt against the prison guards.

Will Nami ever escape and get her revenge, or will she become just another plaything for her disgruntled fellow prisoners?

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In Conclusion:

I love the visuals in this film, all of the dramatic lighting and the way many scenes play out almost like the manga that is was originated from.

It still retains the characteristic sleaziness and violence of a WIP film, perhaps not as over the top. Regardless it is filled with beautiful visuals and a rather addictive opening song.
Highly reccommended, to fans of Pinku Eiga and WIP films.

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

Sweet Movie (1974)

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Review:

The film revolves around two female leads, Miss Monde Winner: Miss Canada, and murderous boat captain, Anna Planet.

For the Miss Monde (or Miss World) competition, each contestant is asked to endure a gynecological exam, live on national television to prove their chastity. (One of the only requirements necessary to win the competition.) The winner of Miss World is to receive 50 billion dollars, and is to be wed to the competitions financial backer Mr. Kapital who's empire thrives on the production and distribution of milk.

The winner of the competition, Miss Canada is whisked away with her new spouse, who when consummating their marriage thoroughly sanitizes his bride with his favorite product, iso-propylene alcohol, before traumatizing the girl with his golden member.

Unable to satisfy her partner, and dissatisfied with the current state of things, Miss Canada after mentioning the possibility of divorce, Mr. Kapital's mother has her stuffed into a suitcase by a bodybuilder and ships her off to Paris. There she falls head over heels for a famous Latin singer, whom she entices and has sex with on the Eiffel Tower before a group of Nuns try to photograph the singer, causing the man to spasm with embarrassment, forcing the two to remain stuck together mid-coitus.

After such an embarrassing display, Miss World is left in a catatonic state and finds herself in a bizarre commune, where its members partake of mass quantities of food, followed by group vomiting and defecation which then leads the participants to proudly display their stool on plates for an excited audience. (A sight that has to be seen to be believed.)

As for our other character, Anna Planet, who's impressive boat resembles the likeness of Karl Marx, and on the inside houses baskets full of candy and a bed made entirely of sugar. (A novelty she uses to lure men and boys on to her ship, before seducing them and dispatching them.)

Anna happens to be a product of lust for a local sailor who after myriad attempts to board her ship, finally catches her attention when he drops "trou" and pisses in full view of the female captain. The two become lovers, before Anna eventually stabs him and buries him in her sugar bed.

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In Conclusion:

Unfortunately, Anna's story was a little bit more difficult for me to follow, and had a resounding political tone. I recommend multiple viewings of the film to ensure that nothing is missed and for clarification of any nonsensical things that occur (which there are many.)

There is a lot of symbolism that unfortunately, because arthouse films are not a common purchase for me, come off as a bit difficult to decipher, but that does not mean that a casual film oddity fan cannot enjoy this film purely based on visuals alone.

It can be appreciated for it's brand of absurd comedy and shocking imagery. (The footage of Anna Planet seducing a group of young boys with an erotic dance, is something many people may find offensive.) Also, almost all bodily functions are on display in this film, so if the sight of fecal matter, vomit, snot, etc, disgusts you, perhaps this film should be avoided.

Overall, I still thoroughly enjoyed this film. I have never seen anything like it, and now that I have I would love to see more films of this kind.

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Screen Captures: (Please Note, all screen caps are taken by me, please do not use without my permission.)