The Deepest Cuts: ‘THIRST’ (1979)

October 21, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Retrospectives Tagged Horror, The Deepest Cuts, Thirst 70 Comments

The Deepest Cuts is a weekly invitation into some of the sleaziest, goriest, most under-explored corners of horror and cult film online. Every title will be streamable and totally NSFW. Whether it’s a 1960s grindhouse masterpiece, something schlocky from the 90s, or hardcore horror from around the world, these films are guaranteed to shock, disturb, tickle, or generally blow your mind.

I hate to make generalizations, but having seen a number of amazing, totally fucked up horror movies from Australia, I can’t help but think there’s something up down under – and I’ll tell you right now, whatever it is, I’m into it. After watching 2009’s The Loved Ones (a viewing inspired by the 13 Most Disturbing Horror Movies of the Last 13 Years list) I was looking for some righteous Ozploitation to stream, and I found it, in spades, in Thirst.

Out in Theaters: ‘THE FORBIDDEN ROOM’

October 12, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Out in Theaters, Reviews Tagged David Foster Wallace, David Lynch, Guy Maddin, The Forbidden Room 1 Comment

When a postmodern film premieres, there’s often a rush to condemn (or praise) its lack of coherence, leaving filmgoers huffing (or cheering), “It doesn’t make any sense!” I submit that this reaction is often misplaced, one recent example of such an instance being Paul Thomas Anderson’s adaptation of the novel (by the seminal postmodern author, Thomas Pynchon) Inherent Vice. If, as a viewer, you’re attempting to square everything that happens with a singular narrative or, more significantly, an overarching meaning or sense, you’ve failed to grasp the “point” of postmodernity in literature, which includes (but is not limited to) that “reality” and “meaning” are no longer monolithic values locatable outside of the interpretive act (or anywhere at all). Paranoia is the organizing principle in that particular film, in that nearly everything that happens appears to have some hidden significance or to indicate a larger organization, malevolently, though no such broader scheme will ever be revealed/provided to the reader.

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: HOTEL, Episode 1: “CHECKING IN”

October 9, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Reviews, TV Reviews Tagged American Horror Story, Denis O’Hare, TV Reviews Leave a comment

Here’s the thing about camp today: pure examples of it are extremely rare. First of all, we know too much; Sontag’s “Notes on Camp” was published in 1964 and has been assigned in humanities courses at liberal arts colleges ever since, so the possibility for an uncritical reception of a “new” camp object is fairly limited. Then, of course, the descriptor “camp” is generally applied to older things; in the moment, we are too caught up in the seriousness of whatever it is that we will come to see as over-serious and excessive and exuding mostly style. But the real sticking point is the all-pervasive cynicism ruling so much of art, fashion, character, life today. Cynicism is the killer of camp, it is the self-knowledge, self-irony and most importantly, general disdain that refuses the possibility of the ebullience of camp.

The Deepest Cuts: ‘THE BURNING’ (1981)

October 7, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Retrospectives Tagged Horror, The Burning, The Deepest Cuts, Tom Savini Leave a comment

The summer camp slasher happens to be one of my favorite sub-subgenres, for a number of reasons: the woods are inherently creepy, particularly after dark; the lone nut seeking bloody vengeance is a great set-up for suspense; and then you’ve got all the sweaty group dynamics that develop among pubescent youths in short shorts, left to their own arts-and-crafts-related devices. And while Friday the 13th and Sleepaway Camp, just to name the most popular two, are undeniable gems, The Burning gives them both a bloody-good run for their money.

Documentary Dossier: ‘RACING EXTINCTION’

September 25, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Documentaries, Out in Theaters, Reviews Tagged Documentaries, Louie Psihoyos, Out in Theaters, Racing Extinction, Reviews 2 Comments

Racing Extinction, Louie Psihoyos’ second documentary following 2009’s Academy Award winning The Cove, is a call to action regarding humanity’s role in the currently-unfolding extinction event. As various experts explain, we are living in the so-called Anthropocene epoch, named for the measurable effect of human beings’ behavior on the various life forms and habitats on earth.

I hesitated, at first, over whether to include “so-called” or any other indications of controversy surrounding the fact-claims of the film; there is some question, limited mostly to the far right in this country, of whether or not “global warming,” for example, exists, and further whether it is the result of our behavior, or simply a natural development; however, I’d rather not sport with your intelligence, fine readers, and I think we can get to what really matters: the quality of the film itself.
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The Deepest Cuts: ‘SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE’ (1982)

September 23, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Retrospectives Tagged Horror, Slumber Party Massacre, The Deepest Cuts 2 Comments

Movie nerds of a certain age will recall fondly the days of wandering the aisles of their local video store, pondering the VHS tapes on the “Staff Picks” shelf and pining for a glimpse into that forbidden zone, the “adults only” back room. In the horror section, some of the cover art is planted so firmly in the horror fan’s psyche, it’s a wonder the films themselves aren’t viewed more often, from the painted decomposing, disembodied hand ringing the doorbell on the cover of House, or the demonic-looking monkey-and-cymbals toy of Monkey Shines. One of the most memorable, for me, has always been Slumber Party Massacre. With a title like that, and the image of scantily-clad teens cringing up at an drill-wielding killer, all in colors reminiscent of a Babysitter’s Club cover design, it should be immediately obvious that Slumber Party Massacre is not your typical slasher film.

The Deepest Cuts: ‘I DRINK YOUR BLOOD’ (1970)

September 16, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Retrospectives Tagged Horror, I Drink Your Blood, The Deepest Cuts Leave a comment

True surprises are rare for the horror aficionado, but every once in a great while, a film comes along that shows you that they really can do more and go further. I Drink Your Blood is just one of these films. It’s a totally batshit, schlocky masterpiece that must be seen to be believed.

TIFF ’15 Review: ‘WOMEN HE’S UNDRESSED’

September 15, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Festival Coverage, Festival Reviews Tagged Darren Gilshenan, Documentaries, Gillian Armstrong, Orry Kelly, Reviews, TIFF, TIFF 2015, Women He’s Undressed 1 Comment

Women He’s Undressed, Gillian Armstrong’s new documentary about Hollywood costume designer Orry Kelly, opens over an unnaturally-saturated view of a blue sky, with a quote from actress Fanny Brice: “Let the world know who you are because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose; then where will you be?” The stage is thus set for a bio-documentary that will reveal some hidden aspect of its subject, guaranteeing an interested viewer who will surely be surprised – and likely touched – by the revelation to come. Read More

The Deepest Cuts: ‘SHIVERS’ (1975)

September 10, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Retrospectives Tagged David Cronenberg, Horror, Shivers, The Deepest Cuts

One of the threads running through horror history is that of the intellectual or artistically-minded auteur who turns away from their earliest works, claiming to always have wanted to do other work. Wes Craven is perhaps the prime example of this, whose bitterness toward the genre was always palpable in Q&As; one of his peers, David Cronenberg, similarly avoids discussion of his first films. However, his debut feature, Shivers, like that of Craven (The Last House on the Left), is a fantastic entry in the genre – and it features a parasite that is both fecal and phallic. Clearly, it’s a must-see.

Out in Theaters: ‘BLOODSUCKING BASTARDS’

September 4, 2015 by Madelyn Sutton Posted in Out in Theaters Tagged Bloodsucking Bastards, Brian O'Connell, Fran Kranz, Out in Theaters, Reviews Leave a comment

With this year’s very successful science fiction hits Mad Max: Fury Road and Turbo Kid already being referred to as “cult classics” in the making, the definition of the B-movie in the digital era must fit a different rubric beyond, for example, the use of practical effects or references to earlier films and aesthetics. The horror comedy has always been a genre prone to B-status – but can they all achieve the love that the ironically-adored low-budget classics of the past have? That’s the question facing a film like this week’s new release, Bloodsucking Bastards. Read More