Sonny Chiba, Kriminal and Cinema Nocturna

Just a small update this cold Scottish Sunday evening to say that some new reviews are on the way. I'll be taking a look at one of Sonny Chiba's early offerings "Terror Beneath the Sea" from DarkSky Films.

Also being a big fan of Diabolik fumetti and Bava's movie, I recently picked up some Satanik and Kriminal fumetti at the aforementioned "Memorabilia" which I really enjoyed. This has led me to order Umberto Lenzi's movie of "Kriminal" from Thrauma and the sequel "Il Marchio di Kriminal" from Xploited. Reviews of both will up soon.

I have also been kindly given the opportunity to contribute some reviews and articles to Cinema Nocturna by the moderator there, Steve Genier. Thanks for the opportunity Steve.

They have some great articles and reviews that are well worth checking out and then discussing on the Nocturnal Forum.

Memorabilia 2005 - Glasgow

I attended Memorabilia at the SECC in Glasgow over the weekend. Loads of DVD stalls selling your favourite horror and exploitation favourites. Picked up a few bargains myself, a couple of Fernando di Leo classics and even a few giallos that an expert (!) like myself had not heard of.

Midnight Media were also there selling DVD's and some of their own publications. They had the latest issues of Uncut magazine plus new publications by Nigel Burrell and Paul Brown, namely "Giallo Scrapbook" and "Hispanic Horrors". I picked both of these up and I cannot recommend them enough. Indeed "Hispanic Horrors" contained a few titles that seem well worth tracking down.

One DVD stall in particular seemed to have two crazy Dutch guys drinking Tennents Super (a really strong Scottish lager that Glasgow's homeless tend to favour, but is held in high esteem in Europe) and trying to push Cannibal Holocaust onto every punter. They were boasting how cheap their DVD's were and I asked why this was. Turns out they were the owners of EC Entertainment who have produced some good discs in the past and whose edition of Cannibal Holocaust, while not the best looking or boasting lots of extras, is truly uncut!

However, main highlight for me was meeting Al "Sex Gore" Simpson from the SexGoreMutants site. SGM was one of my first points of reference along with DVD Maniacs when I was first getting into horror and exploitation movies. Their reviews determined what I would spend my student loan on next. So I urge you all to check it out especially as they are about to bring out a new publication entitled "Living Dead: Glasgow". One to look forward to I'm sure.

Cult Movie Babe of the Month - Brigitte Lahaie

A personal favourite of mine! Brigitte Lahaie, perhaps the prettiest adult cinema star of all time. Totally natural, nothing fake and definitely no tattoos. They don't make them like this anymore.



For more info:

Brigitte's Movies at Sazuma

Internet Movie Database

French Biography of Brigitte Lahaie

Brigitte Lahaie Phototgallery - Rapidshare

Brigitte's DVD's at Xploited Cinema

Review - Sex and Fury (1973)

Sex and Fury (1973)

The Film:

What a blast this movie, just what a blast! Stop reading now and go buy this. Still here? Right, let’s get down to why this is one of the best genre releases of the year. Reiko Ike (from the “Sukeban” or Girl Boss series) plays Ocho, a gambler and pickpocket from Meiji Era Tokyo. After helping a local anarchist escape she encounters three bad guys who may be responsible for the death of her father years earlier, and on top of this she has the Yakuza after her as well after a card game goes badly wrong.

Adding to this extraordinary mix is Christina Lindberg (Thriller, A Cruel Picture) playing a European spy (also called Christina) with a real dodgy accent. Later in the movie Ocho has to play her at cards in order to stop a young virgin from being pulled into a life of prostitution.

We’ve got a nice complicated plot now, but does it matter? Hell no! There is just so much to enjoy including Ocho’s naked bloody swordfight which is worth the price of the DVD alone. Director Norifumi Suzuki has put together a fantastic piece of exploitation cinema, but a very classy one at that. The locations, costumes and cinematography are of a very high standard and you forget it’s an exploitation movie until the screen is full of naked flesh and ultra violence. When watching "Sex and Fury" at certain points you’ll be thinking “Ah, that’s where Tarantino’s influence for that scene in Kill Bill came from.”

Downsides? Not many, but its fair to say that if were not for the exploitation element that the film might get too complicated for its own good and our attention could wander. Also there is a comedy character that does not seem to fit in with the overall feel of the film. However we’re never far away from the next swordfight or flash of flesh and Ike and Lindberg are both a total joy to look at. So as the Clear O-Sleeve says “It’s the best film you’ve never seen.” I totally agree, highly recommended.

Video:

The anamorphic 2:35:1 image is a joy to behold with its strong and vivid colours. The original negative that this print was taken from must be in nigh on excellent shape as there is no visible print damage, and it looks like it was made yesterday.

Audio:

Just one audio option here and it’s the original Japanese Mono (clear and concise English subtitles are included). Once again it seems to be in great shape as the dialogue comes across very clearly and there is no sign of any hiss. In fact I’ll go so far and say its one of the best mono tracks I’ve heard.

Extras:

Included here are Poster and Stills galleries, a Bio for Norifumi Suzuki and Reiko Ike, a Bio and gallery for Christina Lindberg, the original theatrical trailer and some production notes. The audio commentary is provided by Chris D, author of the book “Outlaw Master of Japanese Film”. Panik House have encased all this in one of the best DVD cases ever. A transparent amaray houses the DVD with a “Clear O Sleeve” outer slipcase that goes over the main case. Also included is a sticker of Reiko Ike. Overall, a great film and cool DVD package that you simply must pick up. With the sequel “Female Yakuza Tale” out already (review coming soon) and the “Pinky Violence Collection” forthcoming, Panik House have set the bar very high and I for one cannot wait to see what they have for us in the future.

More info at Panik House Entertainment

Copyright © 2005 Nick Frame. All Rights Reserved

DVD Trash Upcoming Reviews

I will finally get round to putting some reviews online this week as this is my main aim with the site. So get ready for Panik House's "Sex and Fury" followed by Sergio Martino's "Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I have the Key" from NoShame.

Have been checking the stats sent to me from SiteMeter and DVD Trash is getting more and more traffic on a daily basis, so any comments or suggestions from you guys out there would be most welcome.

Cannibal Holocaust (R1) - October 25th

Well, its drawing closer, the official Grindhouse (owned by cult film fans, Bob Muraswski and Sage Stallone, yes Sly's son) Region 1 release of Cannibal Holocaust. The Italian Cannibal Classic from Ruggero Deodato will be released on October 25th. There have been versions released before in Spain, Holland and Italy, but not in the US. So US exploitation fans will be rubbing their hands in anticipation. In fact the new R1 version has many features that were on the AYP Italian release, including the new hour long Italian documentary, which will now be subtitled. Being of Italian stock I have this AYP DVD already and the documentary is excellent and full of interviews with the cast who all have much to say about this extraordinary film.

The Grindhouse DVD will include:

Limited Edition of 11,111

2 Disc SE
Hi-Definition Digital Restoration
Uncensored Director's Cut
Anamorphic Widescreen
Digital Stereo Re-Mix or Original Mono Soundtrack
Audio Commentary by Ruggero Deodato and Robert Kerman
Making of - 1 Hour Italian Documentary featuring rare behind the scenes footage
On Camera Interviews
Shooting Script
Liner Notes by Chas Balun
Trailers, Still Galleries and much more.

You can preorder from:

Amazon

Diabolik DVD

Xploited

For UK/Europe: Thrauma

Cult Movie Babe of the Month - Asia Argento

Will try and keep this a regular feature...

So for October, we'll start with Dario Argento's finest creation, no not Profondo Rosso, but his daughter, Asia, currently starring in George Romero's "Land of the Dead"

Pinky Violence, a Giallo classic and Gothic Horror

3 DVD's arrived this week from DVD Pacific:

• Sex and Fury (R1 - Panik House). Directed by Norifumi Suzuki and starring Reiko Ike and Christina Lindberg (Thriller, A Cruel Picture). Not watched this yet, but its been described as the best film you've never seen.
• Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key (R1- NoShame) Giallo classic, Directed by Sergio Martino and starring Edwige Fenech (drool) and Anita Strindberg.
• A Whisper in the Dark (R1 - NoShame) Directed by Marcello Aliprandi and starring Joseph Cotton and the great John Philip Law (Diabolik)

42nd Street Forever: Volume 1 (US R1) - Nov 15th

I picked up a DVD a while back called “42nd Street Forever – Horror on 42nd Street” from Ban-1 Production. It was DVD full of exploitation and horror trailers from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Usually the trailers were better than the films themselves, but that is true today as well. Trailers included on the DVD were:

FREAKS
THE CRIPPLED MASTERS
THE MUTATIONS
AROUSED
SKIDOO
THE WILD SCENE
THE WILD EYE
THE ANIMALS
HOOKER'S REVENGE/PHOTOGRAPHER'S MODEL
VIGILANTE FORCE
DIXIE DYNAMITE
FIGHTING MAD
WELCOME HOME, BROTHER CHARLES
SHANTYTOWN HONEYMOON
THE HOUSE OF MISSING GIRLS
SINS OF THE DAUGHTER
SCHOOL GIRL BRIDE
JOSIE'S CASTLE
CHATTERBOX T
HE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE/I DISMEMBER MAMA
CARNIVOROUS
THE FOOD OF THE GODS
TALES OF THE BIZARRE
THE DEVIL'S RAIN
BLACK CHRISTMAS
THE CREATURE WITH THE BLUE HAND
MARK OF THE WITCH
MARK OF THE DEVIL PART 2
VIRGIN WITCH
WOMEN AND BLOODY TERROR
THE REVENGE OF THE BLOOD BEAST
WONDER WOMEN SAVAGE SISTERS
SALO, OR THE 100 DAYS OF SODOM

Unfortunately this DVD went OOP quite a while back as it was limited to only 1500 copies. BUT there is good news as Synapse Films have teamed up with Ban-1 to produce “42nd Street Forever: Vol 1”. If you are a fan of exploitation and horror movies (why else would you be here) then I urge you to pick up this DVD when it’s released on November 15th.
There are 2 early reviews for the DVD at DVD Maniacs and Mondo Digital so check them out.

Blue Underground in October

Blue Underground are following up their Blind Dead Collection with 3 more great titles this month.

First up is Dario Argento's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage.

Color • 2.35:1 • 16x9 • 1970 • 96 Mins • Not Rated • $29.95 • Region Code: 0 • Disc 1: DVD9 • Disc 2: DVD5 • UPC 827058200899 • BU2008DVD • English: 6.1 DTS-ES; 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX; Dolby Surround 2.0; Original Mono • Italian: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround EX; Dolby Surround 2.0; Original Mono

Director: Dario Argento
Stars: Tony Musante, Suzy Kendall, Enrico Maria Salerno and Eva Renzi

Disc 1:
Audio Commentary with Journalists Alan Jones and Kim Newman
International Trailer
Italian Trailer
TV Spots

Disc 2:
Out Of The Shadows - Interview with Co-Writer/Director Dario Argento
Painting With Darkness - Interview with Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro
The Music Of Murder - Interview with Composer Ennio Morricone
Eva's Talking - Interview with Actress Eva Renzi
Languages:
English
Italian
Optional Subtitles: English

Also we have Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eye from Antonio Margheriti.

Color • Dolby Digital Mono • 2.35:1 • 16x9 • 1973 • 95 Mins • Not Rated • $19.95 • Region Code: 0 • DVD9 • UPC 827058106696 • BU1066DVD

Director: Anthony M. Dawson (Antonio Margheriti)
Stars: Jane Birkin, Hiram Keller and Anton Diffring

Extras:
Murder He Wrote - Interview with Co-Writer Giovanni Simonelli

Finally there is Strip Nude for your Killer from Andrea Bianchi which is one I have been really looking forward to. Its been available for a while from X Rated Kult DVD in Germany, but I've held off for the BU version. It's an excellent Giallo and it stars the lovely Edwige Fenech as the damsel in constant distress.

Color • Dolby Digital Mono • 2.35:1 • 16x9 • 1975 • 98 Mins • Not Rated • $19.95 • Region Code: 0 • DVD9 • UPC 827058106795 • BU1067DVD

Director: Andrea Bianchi
Stars: Edwige Fenech, Nino Castelnuovo, Femi Benussi and Solvi Stubing

Extras:
Strip Nude For Your Giallo – Interviews with Actress Solvi Stubing and Co-Writer Massimo Felisatti
Theatrical Trailer

NoShame DVD Titles on the way...

Italian DVD company NoShame have some great recently released titles that I urge you to pick up.

Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key is one of Sergio Martino's best gialli starring the lovely Edwige Fenech, Anita Strindberg and Ivan Rassimov.

A Whisper in the Dark is a long lost Italo-Gothic classic directed by Marcello Aliprandi, starring Joseph Cotton and John Philip Law (Danger Diabolik, Sinbad). Looking forward to seeing this as it's a film I've heard much about yet never seen.

These are both on the way from DVDPacific and I'll put my thoughts about both on the site very soon.

NoShame have released some amazing DVD's over the last few months and DVDTrash will be looking back over them and seeing what is worth picking up (I'll give you a hint, just about all of them.)

Mondo Macabro Titles Finally Arrive

My 4 Mondo Macabro discs have finally dropped through the letterbox. A long wait from DeepDiscountDvd but at the price the wait was worth it. Each Mondo Macabro title has something unique and interesting about it and each one is worth taking a look at, even if it's just to see if the film itself can live up to it's title. MM is the brainchild of 2 British TV documentary makers, Pete Tombs (quite an apt surname!) and Andy Starke, whose work appeared on Channel 4's late night 'B' movie show Exploitica! They then moved into the DVD market after running the Pagan Films label for a while. Anyway check out their website and then goto DDD to order some of their weird and wonderful titles.

Dr Blog

Just a quick update today. My brother, a soon be renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon, has started his own blog detailing the daily trials and tribulation of being a Doctor in Britain. Scrubs it definitely ain't. Anyway, you can check it out by clicking here or by clicking Dr Blog from the Links section. Any thoughts much appreciated.

The Blind Dead Collection (R1 DVD)

Just got the new Blind Dead Collection boxset on DVD from Blue Underground.
Too be honest its a series of films I know very little about, but I've heard so many good reports, I decided to check them out. Will update my thoughts on this (very cool coffin shaped) boxset later on. This is a US release, quite expensive (around $70) so import duty comes into play. BUT I got this from www.DVDHorror.co.uk for around £44 and next day delivery, so if you want to get this then DVDHorror seem the way to go.

Hey!

Welcome to DVD-Trash, my new Cult DVD and Movie site.

More to follow...