I've mentioned in previous reviews that slasher films aren't my favorite sub-genre of horror movies, as I prefer the gialli and supernatural horror films from the 1970s that influenced them. Or maybe I just prefer movies from the 1970s in general because even my favorite slasher films were made before 1980. That isn't to say that I dislike '80s slashers, I just usually prefer to watch films which belong to other sub-genres of exploitation and horror. Having said that, The Burning is probably one of the better slashers that I've seen which came out after Friday the 13th. But I'm no connoisseur.
This movie is kind of like Friday the 13th (1980) meets A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) meets the Weinstein brothers - even though The Burning came out several years before Wes Craven's movie and Bob Weinstein claims he helped write the script for this movie before Friday the 13th came out. Anyway, Harvey Weinstein produced the film and Bob was one of the writers and they eventually went on to establish a movie making empire with Miramax Films and then The Weinstein Company. Tom Savini also did the special effects for The Burning so, you know, it has that going for it. It also features a young George Costanza a.k.a. Jason Alexander.
A group of kids at summer camp play a prank on the crusty old janitor but it goes horribly wrong. His cabin catches fire, he's engulfed in flames and he becomes a disfigured, murderous monster known as Cropsy. Years later, Cropsy is released from whatever institution he had been staying at and returns to the camp to do some killin'. With a pair of hedge clippers he starts hacking up of all of those damn teenagers... with their long hair and their make-out parties. It is a slasher after all so there really isn't much of a plot, and there doesn't need to be.
In my opinion, the two hallmarks of a good slasher film are quality boobies and lots of blood and The Burning has an ample amount of sweet teenage funbags, and some of Cropsy's kills are simultaneously gruesome and entertaining. The raft scene, for instance, put a smile on my face. So overall, I give this movie a thumbs up even though I'm not the biggest of slasher fans. Just make sure you get the uncut version.
Violence Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Booby Rating: 3 out of 5
Watch this trailer and see if it reminds you of a certain fake one from Grindhouse (2007).
"Well, the Jerk Store called, and they're running out of you."
The Games...The Romance...The Spirit...Camelot is a state of mind.
Instead of featuring one of George A. Romero's zombie classics, I thought I'd give you my opinion of one of his lesser known films, Knightriders. From the looks of the poster art it seems that this is another cheesy movie to watch only for it's comedic value. But no my friends, this is an outstanding film.
I first saw this piece of grindhouse gold during an extended movie marathon with a friend of mine. Some of you may know him as Zoltan. He writes reviews here sometimes. It was already after midnight and I was tired and ready to go home but Zoltan convinced me to put Knightriders on for a little bit just to see how bad it is. I stayed until the movie was over and it's 145 minutes long.
This film draws you in because it tells a unique and interesting story and makes you genuinely feel for the characters. A young Ed Harris shows off his acting chops, Tom Savini gets to be in front of the camera instead of doing his usual make-up and special effects and there is even a cameo by Stephen King and his wife.
Billy Davis (Ed Harris) who is also known as King William to the lords and ladies of his court, leads a traveling renaissance show throughout Western Pennsylvania, but this show is different, for the knights joust from the saddles of their motorcycles. Billy is bound to an Arthurian code of honor and humility which is strained by the financial necessities of the show and the yearning of some of his knights for fame and fortune, especially by the most skilled of the court - the black knight, Morgan (Tom Savini). Billy even refuses to give an autograph to a kid because that's not what the show is about. In fact, it's not about the show at all.
Ed Harris: Dragon Fighter
When a promoter arrives and promises to take the show national, the troupe is split. After a scuffle, the black knight takes his followers on the path to commercial success and wine, women and song, while King William remains behind with his honor and broken band of traveling knights.
After much infighting among his knights, Morgan realizes that there cannot be two kings and he returns with his men and their fancy new outfits to challenge Billy for the throne. And of course there's lots of action, romance and probably too many subplots along the way.
Sure it looks silly, but it's worth checking out. It's another one of my grindhouse favorites.
Anyway, I'm sure everybody knows by now what "2 girls 1 cup" is. If not, where the hell were you in 2007?
Here is legendary special effects and make-up artist, actor, stuntman, and director Tom Savini's reaction to the "2 girls 1 cup" video. Honestly, this guy has seen so much gore in his day that I didn't think a little scat and vomit would even phase him. I was incorrect.
Instead of featuring one of George A. Romero's zombie classics, I thought I'd give you my opinion of one of his lesser known films, Knightriders. From the looks of the poster art it seems that this is another cheesy movie to watch only for it's comedic value. But no my friends, this is an outstanding film. I first saw this piece of grindhouse gold during an extended movie marathon with a friend of mine. It was already after midnight and I was tired and ready to go home but my friend convinced me to put Knightriders on for a little bit just to see how bad it is. I stayed until the movie was over. This film draws you in because it tells a unique and interesting story and makes you genuinely feel for the characters. A young Ed Harris shows off his acting chops, Tom Savini gets to be in front of the camera instead of doing his usual make-up and special effects and there is even a cameo by Stephen King.
Sure it looks silly, but it's worth checking out. It's another one of my grindhouse favorites.
