Revisiting Combat Shock

Director/ writer/ producer Buddy Giovinazzo's shocking cult classic Combat Shock remains one of the most nightmarish and shocking films of all time, even though it is now 25 years since it was released by Troma upon the world. It's nihilistic and gruesome power will shatter even the hardest of viewers. And, although, I had already seen it, it still struck me and struck me hard as a punch by Brock Lesner.



I first saw Combat Shock when I was in high school. I was very young at the time and the movie deeply disturbed and shocked me. I first heard about this movie was when I read about it in one of Chas. Balun's Gorezone columns. I clearly remember him mentioning that if you saw this movie with a girl, you weren't gonna get any afterwards. He wasn't kidding. This is one seriously nasty and depressing movie. You will feel like shit after watching it!



Anyway, I really figured it couldn't be that depressing. I mean look at the cover. It looks like some really kick ass action flick. I figured it's a Troma release and Chas. gave it his approval, it's prob some really bloody action flick. I'm a huge fan of action movies that get gory and bloody. At the time I loved (and I still love) stuff like Die Hard, Death Wish, and other shoot-em ups that let the blood flow freely, I figured this was like some Death Wish meets Rambo (two franchises I love) type flick. Man, that was mistake number two. Troma clearly wanted to sell it as an exploitation style action flick, which it ain't. In fact, said style of movie is as far from this film as you could get.



The movie opens up with our "hero" Frankie (Ricky Giovinazzo) in Vietnam (actually Staten Island). He guns down some pretty Vietnamese girl and soon wakes up screaming in the present. His pregnant wife is soon nagging at him that the toilet is broken and to get a job. Their Agent Orange mutant baby is wailing away. He heads out to unemployment where there is a long ass line. The day goes from bad to worse, as he talks to his estranged dad, sees coke addicted friend, is harassed by thugs he owes money to, sees an under-aged hooker, all while still being haunted by his past and tortured by his present living conditions. It all leads to one of the most jaw-dropping climaxes and endings in the history of cinema, that will haunt days afterwards.



If there are problems with the movie it's the budget. It's extremely low budget and cheap and it shows. But, at the same time it adds a feeling of sleaze and crudeness that works to its advantage, well at least some of the times anyway. The other major problem is the very slow pacing. Not much happens between the beginning and the climax. Which is further proof that the movie's poster was waaaay off.



The acting is good, though. But, let's be honest it's the gut punch that movie delivers that is it's strongest point. The FX are not the best, in particular the baby, which freaked me out when I was young. But, it looks really fake and cheesy in hindsight. The squib work is excellent and gory as fuck, though. And, the Nam flashbacks are filled blown up torsos and maggots.



One scene I simply could NOT watch as a kid was the coke fix scene. I hit the fast foward button (something I NEVER did or do). The dude uses a fucking coat hanger!!! The scene was said to have caused major walk outs during the original screening of the film. I was able to look at this time, but it is still fucking grotesque.



Nothing preceding the movie though prepares you for those last 15 min or so. I don't want to reveal them, because it would ruin the power of the moment. Some websites reveal it, I would rather you not know. But, I do want to make this clear, it is not for everyone. And, will test the limits of what you can take.



Revisiting it I liked it more, but this is not a fun movie. I didn't like it when I first saw (nor did I hate it). But, I think I appreciate more, now. I still am not a big fan of it, but I certainly understand it better. The most shocking moments of the film have lost NONE of their edge.



But, what is most "scary" is how more relevant it is today. With unemployment at all time high and so many of our young men and women coming back from the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it really hits harder than ever. It remains the single most harrowing Nam film, ever.



The DVD features the longer and more gruesome director's cut, AKA American Nightmares,(devoid of the tacked on war footage from the original release). That said the opening seems to drag more in this cut. The picture quality ain't the best, but extra features (which I am not done with) are excellent, though.



See it but only if you are truly, truly ready and prepared to see it.



*** out of ****

Final Destination 5

Title: Final Destination 5

Director: Steven Quale

Writer: Eric Heisserser

Cast: Nicolas D'Agosto, Emma Bell, Miles Fisher, Ellen Wroe, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, P.J. Byrne

Min: 92



Sam (Nicolas D'Agosto), who works alongside his best friend (Miles Fisher), in a paper company, has a vision in the bus as they are about to cross a suspension bridge heading off to a company retreat. Everyone, except his beautiful girlfriend (The Walking Dead's natural blonde hottie Emma Bell) dies horribly on the bridge, in said vision. He tells them, they got off the bus, and survive, for now... Soon, one by one they start to die in gruesome accidents. But, a new rule is added to franchise, if you kill someone you can take their life and thus death will skip you.



First off, this is a FD film, and as such it sticks to the material. No new ground is broken, although, the added rule is pretty cool. It is fairly interchangeable with the other entries as far as execution (pun not intended) and deliverance. But, the series fans know what to expect and this film delivers all of those accounts.



The opening accident is the best in the entire series since the second one's car crash scene. The 3D (something that started in the last one) is really cool, moreso in the aforementioned opening. As I may have said in the past, I am NOT a fan of 3D, but it works in this movie and makes it more fun. I recommend to see it in 3D. The death scenes themselves are wild and very gory. I liked all of them, but it's the beautiful Jacqueline MacInnes Wood who delivers the best death. It will make you think twice about getting lasik surgery!! It's quite simply a perfect mix of black humor and gore. Both the CGI and practical FX are good, so everything in that department just works.



The acting is decent enough. As always Tony Todd is great, while the rest of the cast is adequate enough. There also enough eye candy to keep your peepers happy. Bell is a beautiful real blonde, while Wood combines glasses and rocker babe for a particular delicious mix. Fellow Asian lovers will apperciate Chasty (Supernatural) Ballesteros in humorous but small role in an Asian spa scene.



The movie moves at nice, fast pace and is always entertaining and total good time to be had. The climax is particularly exciting. But, it's the ending that is the movie's best payoff, in particular to long time fans of the series.



Final Destination 5 is a highly enjoyable entry in the franchise and is superior to the last one (although, I like all the movies in the series). If your a fellow fan of these films, see it. If you're not this one won't change your mind.



***1/2 out of ****



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Horror Crush: Jill Terashita

This new feature on my blog will focus on a horror babe that I had/ have a major thing for. Let's begin with this stunning Japanese beauty from two horror flicks: the beautiful Jill Terashita!

I first saw Jill in the cult favorite Night of the Demons. This highly fun and totally entertaining gore flick about a group of teens getting possessed by demonic forces had lots of hotties (all candidates for future installments of this feature). Jill played Frannie. She gets topless (!!!!!), has sex (!!!!), and then gets her neck snapped. She comes back possessed by demons. This is my fav role of hers, by the way.

Her next role, and final horror film (at the time of this blog) was Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland. While, to me, this is the weakest of the first three movie it does have it's share of moments including a kick ass ending. Jill, as tough street kid Arab, is another one of my favorite things about it. Jill looks fucking gorgeous and while she loses her top and her head (at different times, though)!

Movie Videos & Movie Scenes at MOVIECLIPS.com

If there were more girls like her at camp, I would have actually care enough to go to camp!

Ms. Terashita has also done stunt work, as well, but ain't had an actual role since 1990's Why Me? (which I never seen). But, she did appear at Monster-Mania a few months back. Sadly, there was no way of me getting out there, so I missed her. Sucks, cause I was/ am dying to meet her. She is still gorgeous, and I hope she does Chiller or Saturday Nightmares someday.

Some Love for Jason on this Friday the 13th

Ahh, it's Friday the 13th, dear friends and readers! And, to me and many fans, it means that it's time to show some love for one of the greatest horror villains, ever, Jason Voorhees!

I've given tons of love for the series, in the past, including reviewing just about the whole franchise. But, this time I just wanna throw-out some random thoughts and love for it.

The first one I ever watched was Friday the 13th pt. VII: The New Blood, as a kid, on video. I fell in love with the series right then and there! Admit ably, the movie is sort of brain-dead, but it is fun. Plus, I developed a total crush on it's heroine Tina (Lar-Park Lincoln) and the bitchy Melissa (Susan Jennifer Sullivan). While, Lincoln did other films and TV and does cons, many wonder what has happened to Sullivan. Man, she was such a babe!

The best entry is still the original, which also happens to be one of the finest slasher movies, ever made. The ending is still totally killer after all these years. The worst? Easy. Jason Takes Manhattan, the eighth one in the series. But, it does have it's moments, including a dude who boxes Jason, a blonde babe who marks all her best parts for her teacher, Jason actually being in NYC, and the GORGEOUS Kelly Hu! It's still shit, though.
Jason's look always changed, but from the awesome Jason Lives (the 6th entry) and beyond, he was pretty much a zombie. The aforementioned New Blood had the best Jason look, while Jason Takes Manhattan had his lamest look. And, his lamest death! Death by toxic waste? What the fuck? So, we can beat him by sending him to a New Jersey dump?! =\ His best death scene? To me, it is his slide down the machete and the further chopping with it by Corey Feldman in the fourth entry, The Final Chapter.

The series has always had a it's share of hotties, both victims and heroines. Aside, from the aforementioned honies, who doesn't love Part 2's Kirsten Baker's ass or the 4th flick's twins? As far as final girls go, part five's Melanie Kinnamon is my all time favorite. She's so beautiful! Though, as far as spunkyness goes, Amy Steel from 2 is awesome! And, cute, too!

Finally, we all lover the kills and gore, don't we? Whether it's an ax to the face, arrow through the neck, sliced in half, bashed against a tree, frozen and shattered face, etc. We watch these movies for the gore, no doubt!

And, so today I say enjoy this day with your friend from Camp Crystal Lake!

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The Best Horror/ Exploitation Trailers Vol. 1

I'm a HUGE fan of trailer collections like the 42nd Street Forever series. To me the old school trailers are an art-form long lost. Back in the day, gore and nudity was happily showcased in them. The narration was awesome. And, sometimes these trailers out-shined the movies being advertised.

I hope to post more volumes as times passes, for now here is the first batch. Each is followed by my thoughts. Hope you enjoy my picks (please note: they are in NO particular order whatsoever)



This might be my all time fav trailer. The narration is awesome! "But, you cannot escape from Suspiria!" "The only thing more terrifying than the last 10 min of Suspiria are the first 92!" That's fucking classic right there! As, is the skull coming her hair and the breathing title letters. This , by the way, is my all time fav Argento film. A remake from the director of Pineapple Express is STILL threatened. God, please help us all and don't let it happen!



This controversial and infamous cult fav really knows how to sell itself. While, it is said to be vaguely inspired by true events, this movie is, I'm pretty sure, far from the actual truth. But, the trailer makes this film sound as morbid as they come. The nudity and gore shown in it is a reminder of a day gone by. Love the last line in it. The movie itself is OK. I actually enjoyed it more the second time around, though it suffers from pacing problems. The blu-ray release to this, by the way, is simply amazing. Get it!



This most recent of this group of trailers. I love it cause it promises (and the movie delivers) lots of action and kick ass stuff. "But it's gonna be one hell of a night!" Great line! Plus, the use of the Aliens score is all win, in my book. This remains my fav Rodriguez movie and my fav movie that Tarantino has anything to do with.



Here is another trailer that claims that it did happen, in real life. While director Meir Zarchi did say he was inspired by something, he saw in his life, this film, itself never really occurred. Nor those the movie, itself, claim that it does. The way the narrator says the title of the movie is just awesome. The movie has never lost it's power to shock and disturb. A flawed and mean-spirited classic all the way.



Wes Craven's debut movie remains a disturbing and shocking classic. This trailer is so fucking good! The "It's only a movie" campaign is fucking classic. Considering how brutal this one is, for once, it actually delivers fully on what it says.



I actually never seen Snuff. From what I hear I am NOT missing much. But, maybe some day I will see it. But, I just LOVE the trailer. First off, any trailer, or movie, for that matter that opens up with a warning is just plain awesome. Why don't movies do that nowadays? Anyways, the best line in it is "This could only be made in South America where life is cheap". HAHAHA! That's fucking priceless right there!

So, what did you think of my picks? Are there any you would like to see in a future installment? Let me know! Till then, go see these movies, themselves!

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How to Celebrate Labor Day, Master Style

Last time, I told you how to have a better 4th of July. Today, I help you with your Labor Day Weekend! It's nice to get a break from the hard work, or for those unemployed, a break from the break! Cause, we all need that! Those of you who work on Labor Day weekend, can still enjoy these things when they get home or at least fantasize about enjoying them.

First off, I am sure there are those of you who will be enjoying a nice BBQ. But, remember this is the last day for many, like say those of us on the East-Coast, to enjoy the beach or pools (for those of you who live in beautiful, warmer weather and get pools open for longer periods of time, please keep it to yourself, I don't wanna fucking hear about it!). If you hit a pool make sure it is one filled with hot babes. Cause otherwise there is just no fucking point! Well, not in my book anyways. Actually, writing this makes me miss the pool at Harrah's in Vegas. Please, give me some time while I cry and reminisce.... :*( OK, I'm back! Unfortunately... Anyways, if you have no pools like this, then be sure to get your ass to a beach and enjoy the lovely ladies, there.

Of course, you could always hit the movies. One of my most anticipated movies just the big-screen this Friday, I'm talking of course, about Robert Rodriguez's Machete (best said in a Latin accent!). I ain't seen it, yet, but me thinks I might on Labor Day, itself. It promises to have lots of gore, action, babes, and a great cast. Best of all it gives Danny Trejo his first lead role. I been a Trejo fan for years. The guys just fucking rulz! He's a a real badass and cool as fucking hell. Plus, according to Attack of the Show's Alison Haislip he hit on her at San Diego Comic Con. Trejo, you are my fucking hero!!! From what I hear, Ms. Lohan bears her tits (I can't fucking stand her, but regardless...), so there is that for you celeb skin fans. Here is the red band trailer filled with all the blood and boobs you could fucking ask for:



You're also gonna need some kick ass music. So, let's get some metal in there. I've been playing the shit out of Five Finger Death Punch as of late. Their music gets me all pumped up and ready to whoop some ass. They're just a straight-up, badass metal band!! And, I FUCKING LOVE their cover of Bad Company's Bad Company! I think it is one of the greatest cover, ever!!! Here is the cool as hell video:


Finally, if all else fails there is always porn. May, I suggest some from the beautiful Korean goddess that is Tia Ling? I been watching a lot of her stuff as of late and thoroughly enjoying her performances. She's amazing! And, I think I might just be in love with her! I would also go with some Mika Tan, as I been enjoying a lot of her stuff, as of late, too. Actually, I'm always enjoying a lot of Mika Tan, but that's a different blog. And, hey if your ass is in Nevada, remember you can enjoy the gorgeous Mika Tan at the Bunny Ranch! If you got the cash, of course! If so, know that I envy you, but you are officially having THE best Labor Day Weekend, EVER!

Anyways, I wanna wish you all a happy, fun, and safe Labor Day weekend. Take care and I'll be blogging more soon!

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The A-Zs of Horror, Pt. 2 (N-Z)

N is for NUDITY- Few genres, outside of sex comedies or porn, rely so heavily on nudity as many horror films do. This is particularly true when it comes to low budget movies or slasher films. Didn't it suck ass when in the 90s, there would be all these hot babes in slasher movies like Scream or I Know what You Did Last Summer, and yet none of them showed skin? That was an epic fail, dear readers! Thank God, movies like the Hostel films and My Bloody Valentine 3D (whose beautiful and fully nude Betsy Rue is pictured to the left) are giving us fans skin in horror movies that are released on the big screen, again! Yay!


O is for OLD SCRATCH- As in Lucifer, Satan, the Prince of Darkness, the Lord of Flies, the Devil, etc. Satanic horror is probably one of my favorite subgenres. He can possess a little girl, have a child with Mia Farrow or a jackal, battle two heroic brothers or the Governator in hopes of succeeding in defating them and bringing forth the end of days, wage a fight with a heavy metal signer, etc. Point is whatever he is planning is not good for mankind. Nope, cause when horror's ultimate villain is behind the evil deeds, you know shit is gonna go bad for us people.

P is for PSYCHO- Hitchcock's best movie is one of the greatest and most influential horror films ever made. It shocked people back then, and while tame today, it still holds up excellently. It also gave us the first human monster to eventually get his own franchise in the form of Norman Bates, played by the late great Anthony Perkins. plus, it also made taking showers a lot more scary!





Q is for Q (QUETZECOATL)- Q is Larry Cohen's cult favorite about Quetzecoatl, the Aztec god that has made his home at top of the Empire State building (giant monsters love it there, apparently!). It's a great example of how despite a low budget great talent behind and in front of the camera can make for an awesome film. It's also considerably bloodier than most giant monster films. If you have never seen it, you need to get your fucking ass off of the couch, chair, bed, whatever and see it now!





R is for RAPE/ REVENGE- Perhaps the most infamous of all of horrors' sub-genres. Films like Ms. 45, The Last House on the Left, House on the Edge of the Park, Irreversible, and, the most infamous of all, I Spit on Your Grave rank among the most controversial movies ever made. The premise is simple enough, a girl (or girls) get raped, and either she or a loved one(s) exact the frequently bloody vengeance. What makes this different, than say a slasher film, is the fact that those getting it clearly deserve it.

S is for SHARKS, SNAKES, SNAILS, AND OTHER KILLER ANIMALS- Killer animal movies have been with us since the Hitchcock classic The Birds and are, thanks in large part to the Syfy channel, WAY over done in nowadays. That said Jaws remains the best of them all. But, thanks to these movies birds, sharks, snakes, snails, killer whales, rabbits, roaches, frogs, rats, dogs, cats, etc. have all been made into our enemies. And, yes, some of these are pretty ridiculous and ludicrous choices to threaten mankind!

T is for THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE- This remains the single scariest movie ever made. Introducing us to Leatherface and his cannibalistic family, it gave us a damn good reason to never go to the Lone Star State. It would go on to give us lots of sequels, a remake, and a prequel to the remake, all with various degrees of success. Regardless, none of them can touch Tobe Hooper's relatively bloodless and utterly terrifying classic.


U is for UNWATCHABLE- Man, there sure are lots of bad movies out there. These include some truly terrible, terrible horror movies. The worst of which (the Leprechaun movies, most of The Howling sequels, The Witchcraft series, remakes like Psycho, One Missed Call, The Fog, etc.) can make you feel like ripping out your damn corneas, just to put an end to the fucking horror.


V is for VAMPIRES- Perhaps the oldest of horror subgenres, vamps have been featured in countless of horror movies for the longest of time. From Nosferatu to Horror of Dracula to From Dusk Till Dawn to 30 Days of Night bloodsuckers have terrorized, seduced, and drank blood on the big screen. They have been villains, lovers, heroes, killers, and/ or lost souls as so many have interpreted them in their own way. While, this has led to some terrible and questionable inclusions, like the shit sucking Twilight series, it has given continuous life to the undead. The fact that they have been in comics (even battling superheroes like Superman, The X-men, Spider-Man, The Punisher, etc.) , books, and TV (including some of the best horror shows like The X-Files, Supernatural, and of course, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Angel, and True Blood), means that they far out weigh all other horror monsters in appearances.

W is for WEREWOLVES- The natural counterpart to the vampire. If vamps signify our sexuality, then werewolves represent the animal inside. There are three basic looks for them: the ones that look more human (The Wolfman, Curse of the Werewolf), the ones that turn into actual wolves or wolf like beasts (Wolfen, True Blood, An American Werewolf in London), and, my personal fav, those that become hulking beasts (Dog Soldiers, The Howling, The Underworld Trilogy). No one has ever really explained this, expect to say that it is up to the filmmaker to decide which he likes. In the case of Universal's classic Wolfman both the the actual Wolfman and the wolf creature (who, in fact, bites Talbot) are featured. And, like vampires. they too, have been shown to have the potential be both hero and villain.

X is for XXX-RATED HORROR- Porn and horror seem like a natural combination due to the fact that sex and nudity play such a large part of the genre and the fact that the conservative minded have damned them both. And, while there are quite a few pornos that feature sexy witches or vampires, few have actual violence and gore, since that is usually considered a no-no in the industry. Thankfully some have the, er, balls to do it. From Joe D'Amato's work like Erotic Nights of the Living Dead or Porno Holocaust to more modern movies like The Wicked or BurningAngel's Re-Penetrator and The XXXcorsist show that hardcore fucking and sanguinary spillage go hand in hand. So, you can jerk-off and be amazed by the bloody spectacle all at the same time!

Y is for YUCK- Yes, horror movies can be gory, but some are down right gross. And, while it all depends on the tone of the film (from movies meant to be funny to those that are serious in tone to those that are down right disturbing), they manage to make us reach for barf bag by including acts of gross-out action such as: bums that melt like piles of slime, a human fly that barfs corrosive liquid on you, Devil possessed little girls spewing pea-soup, guys and/or a girl into corpse fucking, or being connected ass to mouth. In all good times for those of you with weak stomachs. BLARG!!!!!!

Z is for ZOMBIES- My absolute favorite sub-genre in horror. While, the living dead have been with since the golden age of horror with White Zombie it was George Romero that defined them in Night of the Living Dead. From there we got the modern, traditional version of them. They are the resurrected dead hungry for human flesh. The only way to stop then? Shot them in the head or destroy their brain some other way. Of course, if we are talking about Return of the Living Dead only dismemberment can stop them. It goes without saying that slow zombies rule. Fast zombies are lame idea, I think. Just remember that once you get bit, you become a zombie, yourself, meaning that like vampires (although depending on what you are watching turning might involve more than just that with bloodsuckers) and werewolves, they can spread their condition. Oh, and to be a true zombie you MUST BE DEAD! End of fucking story.

Hope you enjoyed this. I know I had fun writing it. I might do something similar for porn and pro-wrestling somewhere down the line. For now, here is the first half, in case you missed it: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2010/06/a-zs-of-horror-pt-1-m.html

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