Trancers 4: Jack of Swords / Trancers 5: Sudden Deth

Jack Deth is now back in the future and a Trancer trouble shooter working alongside the great android Shark (Trancers 3).  Shark is unfortunately no more and due to a mishap in the time travelling TCL Chamber, Jack finds himself in a mystical land called Orpheus ruled with an iron fist by Lord Calaban and his noble Trancers.

Jack finds allies in the group of rebels called the tunnel rats and they plot to overthrow Caliban and his cronies.  In this world, Jack's handy weapons don't work quite right and he has to use all his skills as the Trancer hunter par excellence to defeat the bad guys.

These were the final Tim Thomerson adventures and were both were shot back to back in Romania in a very familar castle setting (Subspecies series).  We get a cliff hanger ending for Part 4 and Part 5 continues where the previous film ended.  Does this work?  Well yes and no is the answer, there is some padding for the running time but both films are very enjoyable.  Thomerson is always terrific and owns every scene he is in.  Throw in a couple of good looking ladies, a menacing villain and you can't really go wrong.  The director of these two is one David Nutter, who later made many fine episodes of The X Files and now works on Game of Thrones.

The new DVD covers retain the original artwork from the old Paramount releases.  They can be picked up pretty cheap as can all the series including Part 6 which featured Jack's daughter and Thomerson in old footage on a TV which was made on a budget which would probably cover the price of a Happy Meal.

Jack Deth kicks ass and always will.

• Starring Tim Thomerson  Stacie Randall  Clabe Hartley  Stephen Macht
• Director David Nutter
• Distributor Full Moon Features

Hell Comes to Frogtown / Hellgate

The award winning folks at Arrow Films have got the rights to a couple of cheesy classics here.  Hellgate has magic, gangs and people coming back from the dead and the other one features wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper as the last fertile man on earth.  I saw it years ago and it's possibly one of the craziest films ever and all the better for it.  The frog mutants are simply brilliant!!

• Distributor Arrow Video

Captain America / Captain America II: Death Too Soon

 

Before Chris Evans picked up the shield and even before Matt Salinger wore the stars 'n' stripes, Captain America appeared in two made for TV movies from Universal.

Steve Rogers is an ex marine who after leaving the service decides to travel the country, chill out and do some painting. Unfortunately for him, he is targetted by some shady goons who knows he is a friend of someone who is double crossing them. Anyway, at the same time Steve is approached by Dr. Simon Mills who was a friend of his late Father.  Simon tells him of the super steroid his Father developed to enhance human performance.  After a successful attempt by the shady types, Steve is almost killed and as a last result Simon injects him with the serum.

Steve immediately doesn't become Captain America quite yet but is finally convinced when they build him a very cool bike and give him funky late 1970's bike leathers in the styles of the stars and stripes.

In Death Too Soon, evil terrorist Miguel played by Christopher Lee has kidnapped a top scientist who has developed and anti aging drug.  Miguel twists the drug to make it a fast acting aging drug and threatens the USA.  Of course it's up to Captain America to save the world.

The two films are simply quite charming as they are from an era (late 70's/80's) when action ruled the American airwaves.  The music is great and very 80's action, which you would expect coming from Mike Post and Pete Carpenter.  These guys are the legends behind The A Team and Quantum Leap themes amongst others.

A bit dated, but a lot of fun.  What's wrong with that?

• Starring Reb Brown  Len Birman
• Directors Rod Holcomb and Ivan Nagy
• Distributor 101 Films

House of Whipcord / Horror Planet

 

House of Whipcord is a minor classic from one of my favourite English directors, one Pete Walker.  Walker was responsible for quite a few gems over his directing career but 'Whipcord' was certainly one of his best.

The swinging 70's are well away and if you are female and morally corrupt, you should watch out because it's likely you will spend some time at the House of Whipcord.  This film is pretty vicious and the treatment of the beautiful young girls is pretty nasty and a little erotic as well (depending on your tastes).  Furthermore Ray 'Mr Benn' Brooks is in it as well!!!

A big thumbs up for the great cover art using the slightly censored (the girl has a bra on) original artwork.

• Starring Barbara Markham  Patrick Barr  Shelia Keith
• Director Pete Walker
• Distributor Cheezy Flicks

 

Horror Planet is a retitling of an early 80's gem this time from Norman J. Warren.  Originally titled 'Inseminoid' it stars some pretty well known faces such as Stephanie Beacham, Victoria Tennant and Judy Geeson.

Well made on a low budget, its not all that original...  alien on the rampage, distant planet etc, etc. but   Warren is a skilled director and you get a very watchable if dated movie.  I saw it when I was at school and although not as 'brilliant' as I remember it, Horror Planet is a place worth visiting.

• Starring Judy Geeson  Robin Clarke
• Director Norman J. Warren
• Distributor Cheezy Flicks

King of the Rocketmen / Zombies of the Stratosphere

 

As many of you know in the early days of cinema (well, the 30's 40's and 50's) weekly serials were seriously popular.  We all know about Flash Gordon and his battles with Ming but a specialist in these serials were Republic Pictures.  I actually remember watching a few of these during school holidays and with every every episode ending with a 'cliffhanger' you couldn't wait until the next day to see what happened.

Two of these popular serials were the films above.  King of the Rocketmen is a real favourite of mine and I hadn't seen it in probably 30 years.  I remember the guy with his rocket pack and the weird noise it made whilst flying, but that was about it.  I couldn't remember the 'plot' which basically is the bad guy Dr Vulcan up to all sorts of villainous escapades.

Now, Zombies of the Stratosphere features another Rocketman fighting off strangely dressed martians.  This I had never seen and although I felt it isn't as classic as 'King' it's fun escapism.  It also features an early role for Mr Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy.

One thing for sure, even now decades later, that rocket suit is still incredibly cool and it's put me in the mood for watching The Rocketeer again with Bill Campbell and Jennifer Connelly.  The Rocket suit also crops up in Radar Men from the Moon where Republic created a character in the name of Commander Cody.  That's also great fun as well.

I personally recommend picking all the above titles up if old fashioned heroics is your thing.  King of the Rocketmen is my personal favourite and although very dated it is terrific entertainment.

• Starring Tristram Coffin (King)   Judd Holdren (Zombies)
• Director Fred C. Brannon
• Distributor Cheezy Flicks

A Candle For The Devil and The Fiend

Now I am really beginning to like Odeon Entertainment and the people who go throught the archives.  These guys have dug up some real forgotten gems.

A Candle For The Devil is a naughty horror movie set in Spain, complete with lots of excellent 70′s cliches such as our old favourite, nudity and blood.  Judy Geeson is the main star of this one and to be fair, it’s completely bonkers but has a rich atmosphere and plot wise it’s your standard missing girl stuff but executed bloody (pun intended) well by director Eugenio Martin director of one of my favourite films of all time, Horror Express.

• Starring Judy Geeson  Aurora Bautista
• Director Eugenio (Gene) Martin

The Fiend however is a different story, totally disregarded on it’s original release it’s one of those films that only us British could produce.  Scary Vicars, weirdos, the list is endless.  The film has a brilliant central performance from Patrick Magee and is supported by the outstanding Tony Beckley as his twisted son.  I do prefer the original title “Beware My Brethren” as “The Fiend” is a bit boring but apart from that I do feel I have a real forgotten classic on my shelf and that’s possibly the best recommendation I can give.

• Starring Patrick Magee  Ann Todd  Tony Beckley  Suzanna Leigh
• Director Robert Hartford-Davis

A great ideal double bill to watch at home.  Forget the beer, get down your shops and get yourself a dodgy old hotdog and some Butterkist……..get into the 70′s groove!!!!

• Both films distributed by Odeon Entertainment

Frightmare and Die Screaming Marianne

Right, I will cut straight to the chase.  Normally I won’t review two films in the same review but today I will make an exception.  Also I will let you all know that I am a serious Pete Walker fan and have been a fan since the days I saw ‘The Comeback’ on Betamax.

Firstly, Die Screaming Marianne is the oldest of the two and stars Susan George and Barry ‘Mind Your Language’ Evans.  ’Marianne’ is a neat little thriller set mainly in Portugal and has a couple of little twists and turns involving that old chestnut, warring family members.  Obviously as it was made in the early seventies, the film is definately a product of his time but Walker has a knack of getting good value for his small budgets and this film is no exception.

Die Screaming Marianne also has possibly one of 70′s greatest title sequences ever with a terrific soundtrack, well done Mr Walker.

Now onto ‘Frightmare’….

Our film begins by a very familar face known to millions as a Spanish waiter and also the fellow who caused a certain Jonathan Ross some problems.  Murdered, the film cuts to the culprits being sentenced.  Now things really get interesting.  The film is certainly pretty twisted and Walker’s ever dependable leading lady Shelia Keith is simply wonderful.  Keith would go onto make other films with Walker but this one I feel is her best.  It’s quite gory and disturbing but surely thats a recommendation!!

I have intentially not revealed too much about the films as the best way to enjoy them is together.  Imagine them as a double bill at your local ABC, arm yourself with some popcorn, a carton of Kia Ora and enjoy two little minor classics.

Lets hope Odeon pick up some more Walker films, personally I would love to see Tiffany Jones.

• Both films directed by Pete Walker
• Die Screaming Marianne stars Susan George and Barry Evans
• Frightmare stars Shelia Keith and Rupert Davies        
• Distributed by Odeon Entertainment