Student Bodies

Student Bodies (1981)

Runtime: 86 minutes

Directed by: Mickey Rose… and Michael Ritchie

Starring: Kristen Riter, Matthew Goldsby, Jerry Belson, Joe Flood, Joe Talarowski

From: Paramount

Horror comedies are always welcome during Spooky Season, even if they are only rarely viewed. A spoof of slashers while the Golden Age of those were still ongoing: fascinating alone. I’ve never heard much discussion surrounding Student Bodies but after viewing the first minute or two, I was sold on viewing the picture wholesale.

Immediately, there’s a note on screen stating this proclamation: "This motion picture is based on an actual incident. Last year 26 horror films were released... None of them lost money." While hyperbole, their profitability was why major studios like Paramount made their contributions. Amusing that they released this soon after putting out Friday the 13th. The plot sounds stock-standard: a killer known as The Breather starts stalking the students at Lamab High School; the awkward name is because they filmed at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas but for reasons I can probably surmise, that was changed at the last minute rather than using the real name.

To my pleasant surprise, the movie was funnier than expected. Of course not all the gags landed but there’s some absurdist moments for those that get hot & bothered over such humor. Furthermore, the satiric barbs over the cliches already present in slashers were usually on-point; in fact, virginity is a key plot point. A key point in general in terms of managing expectations: those expecting plenty of vulgarity and gory kills, this ain’t here; go w/ Tucker & Dale vs. Evil instead. There’s minimal language (the spectacular way the one F-bomb is achieved won’t be spoiled) or violence yet that was irrelevant to me in this case. Note that there are still some off-color moments and the movie is NOT chaste.

I was entertained by many of the running gags (a kill count on screen, the tropes literally spelled out) and didn’t mind the occasional spotty acting; just like in a typical slasher, most of the actors had a small resume, at times only appearing in one film. Even the odd ending didn’t bother me too much; more of a complaint was how it seemed to start sputtering & slowing down in the final act. The score was synth goodness; it sounded like the Halloween 2 soundtrack, which was odd as that came out a few months after this. It shouldn’t have been a surprise to have seen Alan Howarth’s name in the end credits for his electronic music contributions, but… 

My tastes are different from the norm-especially when it comes to comedy-yet some may have been as pleasantly surprised by this ahead of its time picture as I was.

 

Legend of a Ghost

This is a 1908 silent horror short from a name famous... at least to me: 

For variety’s sake, last night I decided to check out a silent short. In the past during Spooky Season I’ve experienced shorts from both Georges Melies and his contemporary Segundo de Chomon; both created pictures full of camera/editing tricks along w/ plenty of phantasmagoria as there were wild sets, usually bizarre creatures, demons, ghosts, etc. I’ve seen less of Chomon so this was selected.

As for the plot of this 14 minute long short… no one can quite figure it out! I guess it wasn’t that important; ostensibly, a woman living by a graveyard is tasked with going on a quest to retrieve an item. What it’s all about seems irrelevant when we see Hell, various creatures on the 1908 version of parade floats, an underwater kingdom—as many though not all the footage is color-tinted and the version I saw on YouTube had an avant-garde score played live, the surreal factor only intensified.

Oh, and there were several people dressed as reptiles & amphibians, can’t forget that. In addition, at one point one of the costumed gentlemen slips and falls, but as I imagine it’d be a nightmare to cut it out or film that scene again, the unintended pratfall was left in.

Whatever the throughline of Legend of a Ghost is purported to be, the main reason to check this out is for The Vibes ™.

Two Evil Eyes

Two Evil Eyes (Due Occhi Diabolci) (1990)

Runtime: 120 minutes

Directed by: George A. Romero/Dario Argento

Starring: Adrienne Barbeau, Ramy Zada, Bingo O’Malley, Harvey Keitel, Madeleine Potter, John Amos (RIP)

From: A few different Italian/American companies

RIP John Amos

In this special early Wednesday post, I mention how Good Times was before my time but hearing that he passed away in late August-the news just breaking yesterday-still made me a little melancholy. It was always nice seeing that familiar face on TV shows and in movies, not all of which have been reviewed by me. One day I should check out Coming to America for the first time since my youth… it was Letterboxd that reminded me he was in Two Evil Eyes, an anthology I’ve known of for years and its easy availability gave me that final push.

Originally, Argento wanted to do this anthology w/ Romero, Carpenter, and either Craven or Stephen King-I’ve heard both. Only the two that worked together on Dawn of the Dead were able to participate yet I can’t complain about getting to see those famed horror director do modern versions of Edgar Allan Poe stories where each story gets time to breathe. The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar and The Black Cat are the two cases adapted; the former revolves around an old man on his deathbed, his much-younger gal and a shady doctor--while the latter features a photographer, his gal, and the titular black cat. It is a magnificent-looking beast but those that don’t like animal deaths, please beware.

The first half was directed by Romero; it was low-key yet still fascinating seeing the story slowly unfurl w/ several people from Creepshow, including Adrienne Barbeau and E.G. Marshall. The second half was flashier, for sure; it not being shown first was the right decision. Harvey Keitel was about what you’d expect as a crime scene photographer; in fact, he YELLS on several different occasions. He also has a hysterical appearance in that-among other things-he wears berets. Not as legendary as the all-timer appearance he has as a pimp in Taxi Driver, but…

Both segments had different vibes which could be seen as a detriment by some-I didn’t mind too much. Both were shot well and had distinct scores from Pino Donagigo which fit the material. The Tom Savini gore effects were in fact effective when used. The second segment having Keitel, Amos (memorable in the few scenes he was in), Martin Balsam and Kim Hunter as a couple… wild that they all did an Argento film involving the unfortunate myths surrounding felines that happen to be pitch-black in color.

Opinions on the film are mixed; myself, it had enough macabre delights to make me believe it was pretty good.

Space Monster Wangmagwi

Space Monster Wangmagwi (Ujugoe-In Wangmagwai) (1967)

Runtime: 82 minutes

Directed by: Hyeok-Jinn Gwon

Starring: Random Korean actors from this era, none of whom you’ll know anyhow

From: Century Company

Even stranger than what I expected from “late 60’s Korean kaiju movie.” Like with most people around the world, the movie was entirely unknown until SRS Cinema released it on disc in the United States. Social media chatter back then made me aware of the movie; finally there was the opportunity to stream it and it is different from all the other genre efforts I’ve experienced.

It’s a bog-standard alien invasion plotline where a giant monster was used in an attempt to take over the world by invaders resembling Dr. Who’s Cybermen, to steal a quote. The effects are—well, “incredibly quaint” is a charitable description. The human factor-what an interesting direction they chose. Think “comic vignettes.” This includes the woman whose wedding day is ruined because her beau is in the air force combating the monster (isn’t it ironic?), two buffoons agreeing to a competition where the prize is either one’s life savings or the other’s wife-don’t ask-a rambunctious little boy and an adult male who couldn’t control his bowel movement so he went in a corner as if he was a cat pooping in a litter box!

I wasn’t sure what to think at first; after awhile, it all became oddly endearing once they focus on a few characters. The plot going in different, unexpected directions yet still maintaining a fun spirit that entertained me; this made it easier to swallow the shoddy nature of the movie compared to the Japanese efforts that are far more polished. Presumably the monster was designed to be hideously ugly; if not… the movie is not filled with destruction yet what we do get is passable. Thus, genre fans shouldn’t feel trepidation about ever giving it a shot.