Alien Horror Week!
So, this week is dedicated to Alien Based Horror movies. I expect a few possible turkeys, but I believe it’s going to be fun anyway. I am a fan of Science Fiction (Sci-Fi) and horror, and the two mix reasonable well at the hands of competent film makers… and some horribly awesome films when created by bad film makers. I hope we get to see both sides of the coin this week.
We haven’t filled the roster of films yet, so if you have a suggestion or two, feel free to send them on over by using this link:
Battle of the Damned (2013)–Dolph Lundgren Kickin’ Zombie (like) Butt With Some Cool Robot Sidekicks
Well, this was surprisingly fun. 2013’s Battle of the Damned stars Dolph Lundgren as Major Max Gatling, who with his small group of mercenaries are hired to extract a rich company boss’ daughter from within’ a zone of a city overrun with zombie like (fast zombie like) disease victims.
This movie was another that I just didn’t expect much at all from, but was actually surprised by how entertaining it actually was. The story: A guy is hired, along with his mercenary buddies to save the industrialist daughter, endangered by zombies (sort of) from withn’ a city full of those beasts. She’s found refuge with a group of survivors, lorded over by a well meaning but jerkish leader by the name of “Duke.” Duke is convinced no one can make it out alive, and tries to make sure that Gatling doesn’t risk any of his group, going so far as to leave him handcuffed to a post, exposed for the zombies to get… But of course Gatling is too bad ass to die that way. Escaping (with help), they of course run into some robots who are very happy to take orders from Gatling. Next up: Robot versus Zombie action.
Okay, silly? Maybe but awesome? Definitely. If you like a good action movie, Zombies and Robots, well this movie has it all. Does it deserve any awards? Oh hell no – but is is fun and I heartily recommend it! Check out the trailer below:
Westworld (1973)–When Will Mankind Learn That Robots Always Go Rogue and Destroy Their Human Keepers?
Imagine a time when you you can vacation as a gunslinger in the Wild-West, or as a Roman citizen. Imagine being able to indulge in all the vices that a certain age was known for. Want to shoot a man for cheating at cards? Go ahead. Want to take part in a huge Roman orgy in the Emperor’s palace? No problem. Well, the movie 1973 classic Science- Fiction movie, Westworld, takes us to a future where all this and more is possible through the use of complex, very human like robots (well, Androids to be more accurate).
Starring James Brolin and Richard Benjamin as two friends, John Blane and Peter Martin, who have decided to vacation at the Delos Amusement park. For $1000 a day each, they will live as if they are in the Wildwest in Delos’ Westworld, the wild west recreation. John, having been here before, is showing Peter the ropes as he is not convinced of the authenticity or value of the Delos park. Soon Peter is engaging in a shootout in a western bar with an intimidating Gunslinger, dressed all in black and played by the naturally menacing Yul Brenner. Quickly dispatching the gunslinging android, Peter starts getting an feel for the place, though it does take some convincing to make sure he knows he didn’t actually kill a human. An amorous encounter with a female ‘droid later further cements Peter’s buy in to Westworld. Occasionally we see the people overseeing the operations of the park. We hear of little malfunctions here and there, minor at first, but increasing in severity. One of the main operators argues for shutting down the park until the issues are corrected, but is voted down. Eventually the issues become so severe that the safety of the park’s guest is in danger – and eventually people start being killed. Sh… Stuff has hit the fan.
This is a great example of Science Fiction that is smartly written – in fact it’s written and directed by the great Michael Crichton. The movie isn’t perfect, but it is good. One warning: there are quite a few “Porn-stache” moustaches in this movie! lol.
Check out the trailer below, and then head out to your local seller of DVDs/Blu-Rays and get yourself a copy of this Sci-Fi masterpiece.
Forbidden World (1982)–Pretty Generic Monster Sci-Fi
I watched Forbidden World not expecting much – I wasn’t disappointed.
A generic feeling early 80’s Sci-Fi movie, this is a dark and visually muddy movie. A specialist is sent to a planet where experiments in creating a high protein food source has gone awry when the creature the scientists have created (a mutant, hybrid between human and whatever), goes rogue and starts killing and transforming the crew of the outpost.
The mature creature looks a little like an obese version of the Alien from, well.. Alien, and it’s pre-transformation looks a little like a you might see inhabiting the thermal vents of the Marianas trench. The actors are people I’ve never heard of, there’s a little bit of 80’s breast and that’s it.
I’ve seen worse, but I’ve also seen much better. This movie seems to have a little bit of a cult following. I wonder if that is due to people who saw the movie at a young and impressionable age.
Anyway, I watched it on Netflix.
Here is the trailer:
Hardware (1990) – Interesting
I watched 1990’s Hardware back in 1990 and remember it being a weird but interesting sci-fi film with cool music. After re-watching it today, I can safely say my memories of this movie holds up.
Dylan McDermott stars as Moses Baxter, a Space Marine who’s returned from action and picks up some scrap electronics and metal for his artist girlfriend, Jill (played by Stacey Travis) to incorporate in her work. Little do either of them know that included in the pile of scrap is the functioning head of an experimental killer military robot hell bent on destroying everything around it.
Late at night, the head, starts reassembling itself into a killer robot, armed with tools from Jill’s studio. It’s final form is a crazy. deadly, concoction of wires, steel and saw… and violence. Ad to the mix a creepy neighbour that spies on Jill… and falls victim to the robot as well as some secondary characters played by some familiar faces – look for Iggy Pop and Lemmy Killminster, among others, make this film more interesting than one might expect. This is a simple, weird film that has a dated look to it, but carries a coolness. The music is a combination of late 80’s/early 90’s hardcore/metal and back in the day, I kinda’ though the movie was made in order to expose the music – I’m still not convinced this isn’t at least partially true.
It’s all a sort of world has gone to hell and the machines are rising up against us sort of movie and is very confusing, but I still found it interesting. I can easily say that I’ve never seen another movie like it. If you haven’t seen it, or like me haven’t seen it for a long time, then I suggest checking it out.
Chopping Mall–Bad and Entertaining… Badly Entertaining? (Watch the Whole Movie Below)
So, while going over a list of cheezy movies from the 1980’s, my buddy suggested we watch Chopping Mall, a Sci-Fi horror from 1986.
Well, we watched Chopping Mall, and though I remember seeing the cover art on a video cassette sometime in the past, I really had no idea what it was a bout – I thought, with a name like Chopping Mall, that I was about to watch a slasher movie – I was wrong.
Chopping mall tells the story of a group of people who decide to have what appears to be a make out party in a furniture store where a couple of them work, after hours. Little did they know that the mall was deploying their state of the art robot security force that night… and that a lightning strike would be causing issues, turning the ‘bots into all out killers. Using what was designed to be non- lethal devices (Tasers and tranquilizers), the malfunctioning ‘bots head out to secure the mall.
One by one we see a couple of the partiers taken out by the ‘bots until the remaining people clue in as to what is happening and try to stop the ‘bots. Loading up on weapons from the sporting store in the mall, they soon learn that the ‘bots are tougher that they thought. It’ll take more than just a shot gun shell and some anger to destroy these machines. Managing to destroy one by tricking it into a booby-trapped elevator spurs on out partiers… but one bot kill is not a trend and this won’t be easy.
Luckily this movie isn’t very long (72 minutes in total), and while not good, is entertaining, if you are like me and can stomach cheezy movies. Make sure you keep an eye out for B-Movie girl. Barbara Crampton (from Re-Animator as well as many more horror films of the 80’s). If the movie went longer though, I doubt I would have liked it. It has a weak premise, the characters are not ones I sympathized with, but I still found it watchable. Check it out yourself if you are so inclined. Here’s the trailer to help you decide, and if you like what you see, just below that is the whole movie (let me know of the link stops working, please).
Chopping Mall (1986) – The Trailer
Chopping Mall (1986) – The Whole Movie:
Manborg (2011)is Out On DVD And You Should Buy It… A Couple of Times
Manborg, a low budget sci-fi film made by Astron-6 has just been released. Should you care? Yes… The movie is freakin’ awesome. Made for $1000 dollars, and yet they kept me enteretained throughout.
Trying something different this time folks: What follows is my attempt at a video blog post. Short and boring, let me what you think.
Mutant Hunt (1987)–I watched It So You Don’t Have To
1987’s Mutant Hunt is a piece of crap. It’s really bad.
Cyborgs, fed some sort of narcotic get loose and start killing.
Yeah… Watch this movie only if you want to see how bad it is.
Okay… maybe it’s the best movie I’ve seen about robots that are given drugs and kill people. Show me one more movie like that and I bet this would immediately be relegated to the worst movie about robots that are given drugs and kill people.
Oh, and the poster? That scene doesn’t happen – kind of like how this movie doesn’t happen.
Maybe the best thing about this movie is that it isn’t very long.
Here’s the trailer:
I Like Bad Movies 