All things Cult Cinema

[jenkins]

WHAT.

A MIDNIGHT TAXI ZUM KLO SCREENING AT THE NEW BEV ON DECEMBER 16. THE BEST MOVIE THING TO HAPPEN TO LA FOR THE YEAR, IS MY VOTE.

In the pioneering classic of German queer cinema, Taxi zum Klo, Frank Ripploh writes, directs and stars in a semi-autobiographical snapshot of pre-AIDS West Berlin. An elementary school teacher by day, Ripploh cruises for sex at night, grading papers in the john while awaiting his next anonymous hook-up. But his compartmentalized routine gets shaken up when he meets a commitment-minded new beau. Frank, fierce, explicit and funny, Taxi zum Klo was notorious at the time of its release. Don't miss this rare chance to see it back on the big screen in 35mm!

[BB]

I sought out Taxi zum Klo based on a recommendation from here (possibly you, jenkins) and it truly is astonishing.

[wilder]

Spectacle Theater's custom trailer for Indonesian director Arizal's American Hunter (1988) is one of my favorite things ever

[jenkins]

the history of Japanese cinema is so beautiful to read about via wiki. i crazy want to see a movie about a benshi. how has there not been a benshi movie, that's some major missing out on ripe material.

During the 1920s and 1930s, Japan was one of the world's two largest producers of motion pictures, along with the United States. Though the country's film industry was among the first to produce both sound and talking features, the full changeover to sound proceeded much more slowly than in the West. It appears that the first Japanese sound film, Reimai (Dawn), was made in 1926 with the De Forest Phonofilm system. Using the sound-on-disc Minatoki system, the leading Nikkatsu studio produced a pair of talkies in 1929: Taii no musume (The Captain's Daughter) and Furusato (Hometown), the latter directed by Kenji Mizoguchi. The rival Shochiku studio began the successful production of sound-on-film talkies in 1931 using a variable-density process called Tsuchibashi. Two years later, however, more than 80 percent of movies made in the country were still silents. Two of the country's leading directors, Mikio Naruse and Yasujirō Ozu, did not make their first sound films until 1935 and 1936, respectively. As late as 1938, over a third of all movies produced in Japan were shot without dialogue.

The enduring popularity of the silent medium in Japanese cinema owed in great part to the tradition of the benshi, a live narrator who performed as accompaniment to a film screening. As director Akira Kurosawa later described, the benshi "not only recounted the plot of the films, they enhanced the emotional content by performing the voices and sound effects and providing evocative descriptions of events and images on the screen.... The most popular narrators were stars in their own right, solely responsible for the patronage of a particular theatre." Film historian Mariann Lewinsky argues,

The end of silent film in the West and in Japan was imposed by the industry and the market, not by any inner need or natural evolution.... Silent cinema was a highly pleasurable and fully mature form. It didn't lack anything, least in Japan, where there was always the human voice doing the dialogues and the commentary. Sound films were not better, just more economical. As a cinema owner you didn't have to pay the wages of musicians and benshi any more. And a good benshi was a star demanding star payment.

Lew. In. Sky. Lew. In. Sky.

[jenkins]

Mondo Macabro fb posted about their upcoming releases








[The Deserter]

[wilder]

2018 TBD

David DeCoteau's American Rampage (1989) on blu-ray from Massacre Video



A rookie cop with her own way of doing things decides it's time to throw away the rule book when her partner is killed by drug dealers in a war for control of the Los Angeles market. Cinematography by Howard Wexler (Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Malibu Express).


(great looking)
Trailer - Vimeo

[wilder]

May 8, 2018

Andy Sidaris' Seven (1979) on blu-ray from Kino



A cartel of seven crime bosses unionize and plan to take over the state of Hawaii. Government intelligence agent Drew Sevano (William Smith, Any Which Way You Can) is hired to "handle" the situation however he sees fit. Drew enlists seven old friends to help, creating Sevano's Seven – the Playmate (Susan Kiger, H.O.T.S.), the Black-Belt (Ed Parker, Revenge of the Pink Panther), the Dragster (Christopher Joy, Big Time), the Cowboy (Guich Koock, North Dallas Forty), the Comic (Art Metrano, Police Academy 2), the Professor (Richard LePore, Stacey!) and the Indian (Barbara Leigh, Junior Bonner). Sevano's Seven – death is their way of life! This cult classic was co-written, co-produced and directed by Andy Sidaris (Malibu Express, Hard Ticket to Hawaii) and co-starred Martin Kove (Steele Justice) and Terry Kiser (Weekend at Bernie's).

A 12-film DVD collection of Andy Sidaris' other movies is available for $8. These are ridiculously entertaining.



Girls, Guns, & G-Strings: The Andy Sidaris Collection - Amazon

[jenkins]

[moved from the death thread. this is from 2012. this isn't a celebration of Lewis as a murderer, but rather an acknowledgement of the dark paths that people can find themselves traveling down; the utter darkness of this story. because certain aspects of this murder/death will always, always be a mystery, it's different from other types of murders/deaths. because of his association with cinema, Palo Alto in particular, Johnny Lewis belongs to cult cinema.]

Johnny Lewis was an actor on The OC, Sons of Anarchy, and other shows i never watched. he was in the movie Palo Alto, The Runaways, some more, supporting roles. i'm going to summarize his tragic death, which can be read about by clicking his name and going to wikipedia, or this Los Angeles Magazine article, which is commented on by Johnny's father through a practical perspective, and his practical perspective is replied to by another practical perspective.



Johnny Lewis was an actor who considered himself an artist; specifically, a writer. he died within a semi-expensive artist compound in Los Feliz, Los Angeles. the compound was called Writers' Villa and he lived in the Red Suite: first when he was 23, then when he was 26 and after he'd been released from prison.

between the first and second time he lived in Writers' Villa, Johnny Lewis went through life difficulties of this sort: he suffered head injuries from a high-speed motorcycle accident; he broke into a condo to protect someone, except the condo was empty, and while in the condo two people arrived, he smashed bottles on their heads, they retaliated and called the cops on him; he served jail time.

he didn't appear to have a drug addiction, and a rather hilarious sidestory relates to people trying to blame anything on pot. in fact there's the story that in rehab Johnny switched to calling himself an alcoholic because that sounded like an actual problem. he didn't appear to be an alcoholic either. his father insists that Jonny had a TBI (traumatic brain injury) which was never treated (Johnny refused), although there are signs that Johnny's personality was becoming more aggressive before his motorcycle injury (and his father blames both the motorcycle accident and the break in and Johnny's jail time, and Johnny's father is a scientologist, which would be a separate story).

no one can quite describe Johnny's overall problem as a person.



pictured: Cathy Davis and her cat. Cathy was the owner of Writers' Villa.  what happened was, five days after his release from prison, Jonny was living in Writers' Villa, and he killed both Cathy and her cat, then he either fell or jumped from a second story height onto a concrete driveway.

there's a photo of his blood on the driveway, which is such a sinister photo, an unnecessary photo imo.

the cat was found in the shower, its skull cracked in. Cathy Davis was beaten to death. there was a hammer with dried blood found in Johnny's room.

there are some good guesses about why Johnny was mad at Cathy (because she was mad at him for shutting down the fuse box, which he did because he didn't like lights), but the story of what transpired between them can only be speculated upon. no one guessed this, no one saw it coming.

[wilder]

August 14, 2018



Written and produced by exploitation demigod Renee Harmon (FROZEN SCREAM) and directed by the legendary James Bryan (DON'T GO IN THE WOODS), this is the story of Linda, a tough-as-nails karate cop on the trail of the ruthless scumbags who murdered her twin sister. From the outrageous fight scenes to Harmon's incredible outfits, LADY STREET FIGHTER is a joyous blast of no-holds-barred chaos from one of the most important lady filmmakers in genre history.

Lady Street Fighter (1981) - Amazon

[jenkins]

wilder

have you seen Mondo Macabro is going wild?

Ready for something new? We'll have 4 new title announcements (!) to make next week, but in the meantime here's something brand new you can pre-order now from our friends at DiabolikDVD.com!

The Austrian cult film THE INHERITORS! Coming to blu October 9th!

A CHILLING AND TIMELY LOOK INTO THE TWISTED WORLD OF THE EXTREME RIGHT

On his way home from school, 16 year old Thomas helps Charly, an unemployed teenager, escape from the police. Despite their differing backgrounds the boys become good friends and Charly persuades Thomas to join a neo-Nazi youth group. Intrigued and confused by his new friends Thomas, who is experiencing trouble at home and school, is drawn deeper into a web of sex and violence that leads to a tragic end.

In 1979, Austrian film director Walter Bannert was among a group of Vienna cafe patrons beaten up by a gang of young neo-Nazis who wrecked the place. Researching the burgeoning movement in West Germany and Austria for 3 years, Bannert infiltrated their private meetings by convincing party leaders that he wanted to make an objective documentary. His film The Inheritors is the result, a disturbing and timely fictional drama based entirely on real characters, events and conversations that Bannert came across in the neo-Nazi camps. The film was highly controversial on its original release and theatres screening it were threatened with violent action by neo-Nazi sympathizers. Although it is now over thirty years old, the film remains incredibly relevant as we witness, across the world, the rebirth of right wing extremism using exactly the same lies and tactics exposed so powerfully in this film.

The Inheritors was not screened in its native country for many years until it was rediscovered at the 2015 Viennale Exhibition where it was praised as a rare and powerful example of Austrian genre cinema with a strong political message.

The film was selected at the 1984 Cannes Film Festival for the prestigious Directors Fortnight section, in the same year it won a jury prize at the Montreal World Film Festival.
SPECIAL FEATURES

Brand new 2k scan from film negative
World Blu-ray premiere
Region free
Exclusive 12 page booklet with essays by Michael Gingold and film maker Paul Poet
Original theatrical trailer
English/German audio choice
Newly created subtitles

also:

this movie is titled Where The Day Takes You so i like it, plus on top of that it's a movie version of Decline of Western Civilization Part Three

it's out of print but frankly BigAl'sCollectibles came through with an $8.95 dvd via amazon, cheap titles remain, that's just good movie stuff imo

[wilder]

Bannert infiltrated their private meetings by convincing party leaders that he wanted to make an objective documentary. His film The Inheritors is the result, a disturbing and timely fictional drama based entirely on real characters, events and conversations that Bannert came across in the neo-Nazi camps.

Wow, intriguing.

Ordered! Thank you for the heads up.

[wilder]

From the blu-ray.com forum:

Knowing that there's 5 titles coming that haven't had any sort of US release... I'm going to ask a question that has always sort of interested me.

How does Mondo Macabro discover all of these super obscure titles? Especially movies that have never had a US release. Does Pete just sit through stacks of foreign films all owned by one foreign body or individual? Or are referrals made from owners that Mondo has previously dealt with?

I'm fascinated by how these titles must find their way into the Mondo Macabro consciousness...

It's mostly pretty simple. We are just huge movie fans and are personally drawn the more obscure end of the spectrum, and to movies from around the world.

Pete's been into this stuff forever, having literally written the book about it (twice!) back in the 90s. He has long, long lists of films he would like to release.

My knowledge is not nearly so encyclopedic, but my interests still lie very much in the weird, the obscure and the foreign. I ran the Worldweird Cinema blog back in the 2000s, which was dedicated to that sort of thing. I too have a list of movies I'd love to do.

Basically we just know what we want and then look for the rights and materials. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.

But some films also just land in laps, seemingly out of nowhere. LOVERS BEYOND TIME was one. The director liked what we were doing and got in contact. INHERITORS is another. That came as part of the deal for BLOOD LUST. Neither Pete nor myself were familliar with it. But Pete thinks it's pretty good. I still have yet to see it myself.

That's it. No big mystery!

I used to read the Worldweird Cinema blog, but never made the connection to it being written by one of Mondo Macabro's co-founders. Jared has compiled a list of over 300 films covered on it, on Mubi, which may be a hint of what's to come from the label in the future.

[wilder]

[jenkins]

ANNOUNCEMENT #1 - DANGEROUS CARGO (1977)
This is one where you'll probably want to take a shower after you watch it. From the degenerate director who brought you TANGO OF PERVERSION and THE WIFE KILLER (both available now on DVD from us!) comes another Hellenic sleaze-fest, DANGEROUS CARGO! DALLAS' Debbie Shelton stars, in a role she'd probably rather forget, as a woman taken captive when pirates take over a ship carrying weapons and ammunition to the far east. These pirates are very much the grimy 70s kind, and not the fun-loving, 18th century "yo ho ho, and a bottle of rum" variety. Quite a bit of ugly, sweaty, and hairy sex and violence ensues. Ms Shelton gets nude A LOT. And it doesn't end well for anyone involved.
MM is proud (?) to present the US home video debut of this nasty bit of Greek exploitation, as part of our ongoing exploration of genre films from that neglected country. And yes, this will be on BLU-RAY, god help us all. Keep an eye out for promo teaser trailer sometime in the next couple of months. We hope to unleash this film unto the world around the end of the year or maybe early next. It will likely have a "straight to retail" release, with no 'red case' limited edition.



ANNOUNCEMENT #2 - LA PUNITION (1973)

A.K.A. THE PUNISHMENT, is a very 1970s French arthouse/exploitation crossover that pre-dates such hit Euro S&M-themed films as STORY OF O and THE IMAGE. Karin Shubert stars as a prostitute who has failed to please a customer and so finds herself locked in a room by her pimp to receive her "punishment". Although filled with unpleasant violence and disturbing sex, LA PUNITION is a psychedelic marvel, an "evil gem of a movie" as one IMDB reviewer puts it, a ravishingly visual film made around a decidedly seedy story. This movie is often compared to the 70s films of Alain Robbe-Grillet like EDEN AND AFTER or SLOW SLIDINGS OF PLEASURE, but it hits much harder than those.

Coming to Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro probably sometime early next year from a new 2K restoration from the original negative.



ANNOUNCEMENT #3 - WOMAN CHASED BY A KILLER BUTTERFLY

A.K.A. THE GIRL WITH THE BUTTERFLY TATTOO or simply THE KILLER BUTTERFLY (probably the title we'll use).

Over the years we've released some pretty strange movies here at Mondo Macabro. But this might very well be the strangest yet. Directed by Kim Ki-young, director of the original version of THE HOUSEMAID, often called "the best Korean film of all time", BUTTERFLY is a horror-tinged psychotropic melodrama freak-out about nothing less than death itself and the will to keep living. After a young man survives being poisoned by a girl at a picnic he falls into a deep, suicidal depression. But standing in the way of his desire to kill himself is a Nietzschean bookseller who refuses to die even though he's killed several times, an ancient mummy who is revived in the form of a beautiful woman who happens to be a cannibal, and an insane anthropologist who wants to keep his daughter alive by getting her laid. And also, of course, butterflies. KILLER BUTTERFLY is the most eccentric work in the filmography of the very eccentric Kim Ki-young, made at time of crisis in the Korean film industry when he was running out of hit movies but not bizarre ideas.

MM is incredibly excited to bring this amazing film to the US for the first time ever in a world-premiere Blu-ray release sporting a new 2K restoration from the original negative and loaded with tons of exclusive extras. Hopefully we'll have this one available before the end of the year, though early next is possible as well.



ANNOUNCEMENT #4 - QUEENS OF EVIL (1970)

And finally, this wonderfully bizarre bit of hippy horror from Italy!

QUEENS OF EVIL stars Ray Lovelock as a freelovin' dude just tryin' to get away from it all, who stumbles into a seemingly perfect situation: a very stylish home isolated in the countryside inhabited by three extremely beautiful young ladies (played by Silvia Monti, Evelyn Stewart, and Haydee Politoff) who are totally into him and his free-love ethos. But of course, things don't go exactly as he would hope, and soon enough things take a bizarre turn into the realms of pagan ritual and witchcraft!

A wonderfully stylized example of late 60s/early 70s counterculture exploitation cinema with lots of artsy touches and an occult horror payoff, it's a real mystery than QUEENS OF EVIL has never gotten a US release before now.

[jenkins]

this is recent but being placed in the appropriate thread. as stated previously, the rationale behind dark news in the cult thread involves lives taking unforeseen paths that lead to tragic consequences. Rest in Peace Vanessa Marquez. this news is developing



Former 'ER' Actress Vanessa Marquez Shot and Killed by Police

Vanessa Marquez, an actress best known for her role as a nurse on "ER," was shot and killed by South Pasadena police on Thursday, authorities confirmed on Friday.

Officers were called to Marquez's home in the 1100 block of Fremont Avenue by a landlord to check on her welfare. When the officers arrived around 12 p.m., she was suffering from seizures and appeared unable to take care of herself. Officers called out paramedics and a mental health clinician, and continued to talk with her. After about 90 minutes, Marquez, 49, armed herself with a BB gun and pointed it at the officers, causing them to open fire, said Sheriff's Lt. Joe Mendoza.

South Pasadena, a municipality separate from neighboring Pasadena, is eight miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles.

Mendoza told reporters that Marquez appeared to be going through "mental problems" and seemed to be "gravely disabled."

She appeared as Ana Delgado in the Edward James Olmos-starring film "Stand and Deliver" in 1988, and in 27 episodes of "ER" as nurse Wendy Goldman. Her other credits include the series "Malcom & Eddie" and "Wiseguy."

Last October, Marquez alleged that she was blacklisted from "ER" by co-star George Clooney after complaining of racial discrimination and sexual harassment.

"Clooney helped blacklist me when I spoke up abt harassment on ER.'women who dont play the game lose career'I did," she wrote on Twitter.

Clooney issued a statement at the time saying he had nothing to do with casting on the show.

"I had no idea Vanessa was blacklisted," he said. "I take her at her word. I was not a writer or a producer or a director on that show. I had nothing to do with casting. I was an actor and only an actor. If she was told I was involved in any decision about her career then she was lied to. The fact that I couldn't affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that I wouldn't."

Marquez also wrote on social media that she was suffering from immune disorders, including celiac disease. She said several times that she was diagnosed as "terminal," was suffering from chronic pain, and was "homebound."

Marquez had alleged she was groped on the set of "ER" well before the #MeToo movement last fall. She claimed that when she complained to the producers, she was exiled.

"I was blacklisted and my career was over at 26," she wrote on Facebook in January 2017. "Why are women afraid to speak up 'at the time?' Because everything they've ever worked for is RIPPED away from them. For being a goddamn victim and expecting protection."

She also wrote extensively about her health problems and said she was entering "that Norma Desmond stage that some actors do. Watching their old stuff on tv."

"A person only has so much strength and I'm afraid I've used all mine up," she wrote. "Why couldn't my dream have lasted for more than just those few years?"