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Past Features
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Film Reviews
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The Video Dead column by Zombie Boy
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Written by Zombie Boy
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Saturday, 01 November 2008 03:41 |
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Page 3 of 4 | 3. Habit. Bringing us into the 90’s, we have a very young Larry Fessenden writing, producing, directing, and acting in possibly the best vampire movie you will ever see. It keeps a definite horror vibe, with Fessenden’s troubled Sam being preyed upon by Meredith Snaider as the super-creepy bloodsucker Anna, whilst maintaining a gritty, streets of New York style vibe. Sort of like if Marty Scorcese tackled the horror genre. A metaphor for drug addiction, flailing in the open waters of romantic relationships, and the ease with which violence can creep into your life, Habit offers no easy solutions and no happy endings. You will be sucked (haha) down into the muck and mire of every day people dealing with every day interpersonal problems, against the backdrop of a centuries-old monster trying to get fed. Also, there’s a decent amount of rough sex. |  |
| 4. Cold Hearts. Incongruously written as a sequel to The Lost Boys, this spec script was passed-on across the board, prompting filmmaker Robert Masciantonio to tweak it to be a standalone feature and shooting it indie-style. A little choppy and sometimes WB-ish, this gem in the rough still generally satisfies. Basically a relationship drama, new guy Seth comes to town, and sets his sights on Charles’s girlfriend, Viktoria. Of course Viktoria, Charles, and all of Charles’s friends are creatures of the night, and the prevailing thought is that Seth is going to get killed, horribly, and soon. He, however, has a plan of his own, and I think it is the twist at the end that keeps me thinking fondly of the film. I mean, I enjoyed it well enough for what it was, but that shit at the end just made me smile. But be warned, if you look it up at IMDb.com, and rollover the spoiler-protected keywords, it will ruin the end for you. So resist temptation and just watch the film fresh. |  |
| 5. Vampires in Havana. I decided to go wacky here for a minute, and throw in a recommendation for this Cuban animated film from 1985. Subversive politically and full of Fritz the Cat-style naughtiness, this delightful slice of weirdness looks like it fell whole out of the head of Mad magazine’s Don Martin (it also bears a striking resemblance to the current crop of Red Bull commercials). In it, the son of Dracula develops a formula that allows vampires to walk in the sunlight, and does a 15-year test on his nephew, Pepito, to the point where the poor kid doesn’t even know he is a vampire. That is, until two warring vampire factions, one from America and one from Europe, descend onto Havana to fight over control of the powerful drug (which is essentially a pina coloda). For those looking for something a little different, as well as some sweet jazz horn courtesy of Arturo Sandoval, this is a good bet for you. But be warned: even though the US version is supposed to be 80 minutes, the version Netflix has is only the overseas 69 minute cut, no matter what they say. |  |
| 6. From Dusk Til Dawn. I believe this was Quentin Tarantino (writer) and Robert Rodriguez’s (director) first collaboration, and it is a fabulously raucous one. Brothers and escaped convicts Seth and Richard Gecko (George Clooney and QT, respectively) commandeer an RV at the Mexican border, and hold the family hostage as they make their way to a rendezvous with some gangsters at a bar called The Titty Twister…which just happens to be a den of vampires. No ruffles, no romance, just straight up monster. Case in point: after all hell breaks loose, the vampire band can be seen playing guitars made out of human flesh. I mean, if that doesn’t rule, nothing does. And the cast is faboo. Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Danny “They Just Fucked With The Wrong Mexican” Trejo, Fred Williamson, John Saxon, and on and on. But the high points for most people are Salma Hayek as stripper Santanico Pandemonium and Cheech Marin in three roles, including the hilarious Chet Pussy. “Hey, if you can find pussy for less…fuck it!” |  |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 November 2008 02:07 )
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