Coinciding nicely with Allan Arkush’s High School Confidential commentary is the publication of a new book by Rick Bragg, Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story. And a wild story it is. Here’s a small sample from a recent Salon story: “That first tour was me, Johnny, and Carl, and Sonny James, Marvin Rainwater, Wanda Jackson. We put…
Submitted for your approval… well, actually submitted for our approval. We’re happy to announce the Trailers From Hell Twilight Zone Holiday contest and we’re giving away what might be the greatest thing we’ve ever given away: Twilight Zone episodes. All of them. Every. Single. One. Yep. A lucky and loyal TFH reader will receive (cue…
Golfers love wine – after they are done golfing. While they are golfing, it’s beer. Those inconsiderate showoffs who can shoot in the 80s probably guzzle Gatorade, or Red Bull or something called “water.” Who cares what those inconsiderate showoffs drink, though? Golfers love “Caddyshack,” too. Even non-golfers love “Caddyshack,” but let’s stay on the…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Teenagers battle giant monsters in tame, inept fantasy thriller that will get by on drive‑in duallers, kiddie matinees. Rating: GP. EQUINOX harks back to those…
What kind of wine would Don Corleone drink? When that question came to mind, I turned to the one and only source for factual information – the internet. I found that someone had already been curious about that topic, and had asked Yahoo Answers the very same question. There was a scant response to the…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Familiar grade‑B horror tale delivers the grue in time-honored fashion. Minor item will serve as exploitable dualler for action, neighborhood and drive‑in situations. Rating:…
“The Man From Hong Kong” is cited as the first Australian/Hong Kong production in cinematic history, as well as the first Australian martial arts film. Trailers From Hell guru Brian Trenchard-Smith got his directorial start with this film, and he has some nice tidbits to offer in his TFH clip. A martial arts movie with…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Grand fun with Vincent Pries eliminating victims via Old Testament curses. Bizarre, well‑made and often clever horror spoof with good prospects for intended market…
When talk turns to Louisiana, we don’t really think of wine. Mint juleps, sure. Falstaff beer, of course. Absinthe, it makes the heart grow fonder. But, be honest. When you think of Louisiana, you think of crooked politicians, complete with prison sentences. Willie Stark is the main character in “All The King’s Men,” and he…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Exciting car chase action bolsters wildly confused, pretentious allegory. Exploitation of stunt driving aspects should give b.o. prospects a lift in action markets, particularly…
Danny Kaye was one of my family’s favorite entertainers when I was a kid. His movie career was (mostly) before my time, although I relished seeing his films on television. His variety show in the mid-’60s we never missed. It was a bittersweet joy when he skipped that giant circle around the soundstage. It was…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Corny melodrama has tame sex and drug angles for passable ballyhoo value in drive‑in and sex markets. Rating: R. Ads for this exotic potboiler,…
When I was in college – way back when – the student center had a room where a different video each week was piped in and played continuously. I would plop down between classes – when we weren’t drinking something horrible at the school newspaper office – and catch fifteen minutes or so of whatever…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Kung‑fu import features the usual nonstop brawling and a female karate expert. Shoddy, but popularity of the fad lends enough ballyhoo value for this to…
When I first saw the classic sci-fi movie, “Them!,” I didn’t know the meaning of needing a drink. Today, I do. It’s a wonder this film didn’t make me seek out my parents’ wine stash years earlier than I eventually did. Water Is Never Enough. The trailer blazes the words: Terror – Horror – Excitement…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Disappointing suspenser from Italy about murders at a research institute. Contrived and plodding, but has sporadic gore and violence for the action markets. Rating:…
So you meet your friends for some wine before the movie. You allow plenty of time, so you can relax and have several glasses before walking over to the cinema. You settle into your comfy movie chair with some of that $20 movie food, let the promos wash over you, and then… The movie is “Alien,” and…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Imprisoned girl inspires sadist to go straight in Italian sex bondage import. Offers enough titillation and melodrama to satisfy the less demanding sexploitation audiences….
One of our favorite writers, Dennis Cozzalio, is with us again for today’s Saturday Matinee. Dennis, not coincidentally, presides over one of our favorite film blogs, Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule. The occasion is the premiere of Allan Arkush’s commentary for John Landis’ Animal House which will run this coming Monday. Dennis happened to be an extra on…
Pairing wine with certain movies requires a leap of faith. How would you really feel having fava beans and Chianti while watching “Silence Of The Lambs”? Arsenic And Old Lace presents a similar difficulty. Frank Capra’s film rendition of Arsenic And Old Lace stars Cary Grant as a newlywed who discovers his two sweet, old aunts are…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Poor cycle‑psycho moiler exploits vague similarities to Sharon Tate murders. Passable exploitation value for ballyhoo markets. No Rating. This ineptly produced but exploitable motorcycle‑maniacs‑on‑the‑rampage…
All the Warwick Davis LEPRECHAUN movies are coming out in a new Blu Ray combo pack. The commentary tracks offer some memories of my two contributions to the guilty pleasure franchise. Here are a few more. I grew up enjoying the absurdist humor of the Monty Python’s Flying Circus TV series. So why not Absurdist…
We’re giving away two pairs of tickets to this Saturday’s presentation of Election at the TFH/Barnsdall School Nights series! Ron Yerxa, the film’s producer will be there to introduce the screening. The tickets include the wine and beer tasting portion of the event. Just e-mail us at tfhcontests@gmail.com to drop your name in the hat….
To make the return to late night study sessions a little less painful, Trailers From Hell has partnered with Barnsdall Art Park Foundation to present a screening series of classic and cult films set in high school (including TFH Guru Allan Arkush’s Rock ‘n’ Roll High School). Here’s the official lowdown from the fine folks at Barnsdall: Adolescent angst. Raging hormones. Twisted teachers. Barnsdall Art…
The troubled young British director Michael Reeves was credited with only three films and then, just as his star was ascending, died at the age 25. But the James Dean comparison doesn’t end there; Reeves’ signature work, Witchfinder General (released in the US as The Conqueror Worm) is a cry for justice from an angry young rebel,…
Here’s another installment featuring Joe Dante’s reviews from his stint as a critic for Film Bulletin circa 1969-1974. Our thanks to Video Watchdog and Tim Lucas for his editorial embellishments! Well done haunted house chiller offers plenty for the shiver‑and‑shock fans. A fitting swan song for [AIP co-founder] Jim Nicholson, this could roll up good…