31 (2016) #486

“31”, an original Rob Zombie film that fails to be all that original. Once again, it’s set in the 1970’s, yet again it stars his wife Sheri Moon, and while watching the film, it feels like you're watching a carnie version of The Running Man. This is also one time where Zombie doesn’t over explain things, leaving you wanting a bit more information about some characters, primarily the three aristocrats that seem to be running the event that’s taking place. Knowing this, the film is still to watch and is elevated by the performance of one individual.

The movie begins with a cold opening, black and white, with a haunting speech from Doom-Head, perfectly performed by Richard Brake (Mandy). This scene sets a high-level mark that the remainder of the film attempts and sometimes achieves. Here, Doom-Head is taunting his recent victim before finishing the job. He feels like an evolved version of Otis from "House of 1000 Corpses", just more methodical than maniacal; both are completely terrifyingly effective.

The next scene is a bright and sunny day, and we are introduced to the happy go lucky crew of carnies. The next few minutes are spent introducing this set of characters enough for the viewers to know their names and not much else. While driving at night, they come across a trap and are quickly overcome by unknown assailants, once again reminiscent of "House of 1000 Corpses". Some are killed while the others are tied up and driven off into the night. When the five carnies wake up, they find themselves as game pawns with odds of the survival being announced by three bizarre classically dressed aristocrats. These three explain that they are about to play the game 31 and all they have to do is survive the relentless onslaught by the various "Heads", beginning with Sick-Head, then the killer clowns Schizo-Head and Psycho-Head, and then Death-Head and Sex-Head, who was a rather inquisitive flirt earlier in the film.

The carnies are able to defeat the five "Heads" while losing two of their own. The aristocrats are forced to call in the sixth "Head", Doom-Head, who eventually agrees. He makes quick work of two of the carnies, which leaves Charly as the sole survivor, played by Shari Moon. Charly is able to survive the stated 12 hours of the game and Doon-Head is called off. Not caring about the rules, Doom-Head and Charly have a final stare down before the credits begin.

     

 

Leviathan (1989)

"Leviathan" was one of those cheesy monster movies that I loved to watch in the middle of a summer day when it felt to hot to go outside. It is one the several films that takes place deep underwater that came out in the late 1980's. It's a fun, stupid, and engaging monster flick with some memorable actors from that time including Peter Weller ("Robo-Cop" and "Buckaroo Bonzai"), Ernie Hudson ("Ghostbusters" and "The Crow"), and Richard Crenna (the "Rambo" series). The special effects were decent for the time and the movie holds up fairly well if you are looking for a cheesy monster flick. "Leviathan" is like "The Thing", but underwater but not nearly as cool.


Steven Beck is leading a mining crew deep underwater. During their six month long assignment, one of the miners, a dumb-ass named Six Pack, comes across a sunken Russian vessel named "Leviathan". The crew breaks into the vessel's safe and take the records showing how the crew died and the captain's video log; Six Packs pockets a flask of vodka that was also in the safe. Six Pack drinks the vodka which happens to be tainted with some sort of mutagen that the Russians were experimenting with. Six Pack dies and his body starts to mutate. The rest of the crew is now trapped after Six Pack's mutated body comes to life and begins to attack them. Even after they are able to "flush" out the corpse, a piece of him remains in the base and transforms into a murderous creature. The crew is trapped within as a storm rages above and time is running out....

Lords of Salem (2012)

Like every other movie Rob Zombie has directed after “House of 1000 Corpses”, “Lords of Salem” is a clever idea that fails to deliver. This time around, Zombie has written a story that has less gore, less out right violence, and tries to make his characters more grounded and believable. His penchant for focusing on the film’s villains is still present, as the main character is slowly seduced as she becomes the newest member of a modern day witch coven. While his wife, Sheri Moon Zombie, gives a better-than-expected performance in this film and the rest of the horror star-studded cast do a thorough job as well, the overall chemistry still falls flat somehow. This is Rob Zombie's first original film that is easily accessible to a mainstream audience.

Heidi is a DJ at a radio station in Salem, Massachusetts. She receives a mysterious record that she decides to play on the air, even though it clearly does not fit with the station’s normal style or rotation; the track is a recording of witches chanting. While Heidi is befriended and brain washed by three modern day witches, a local historian is following his gut feelings and trying to find out who the “Lords of Salem” really are.

Favorite moment - Realizing that one of the modern day witches is Patrica Quinn (Magenta from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show)!!! 

Modern Witches

A Salem Witch's Execution

Heidi and the Beast

A possessed Heidi

They Live (1988)

In 1988 John Carpenter teamed up with former wrestler Roddy Piper to create a very manly, macho movie about aliens that are taking over the world but can only be identified by wearing special goggles. The aliens look like zombies and the overall story arch feels like a variation concept of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”. The movie is best known for a particular scene which I will talk about later. Carpenter wrote and directed the film which turned out to perhaps be the high mark for Roddy Piper’s acting career.

Nada (Roddy Piper) is a drifter who finds work at a construction site, due to the fact that he had his own tools. He impresses some of the other crew members, one being Frank (Keith David from “The Thing”) who takes him to a homeless camp that is serviced by a soup kitchen. During the night Nada is woken up by a blind preacher yelling for people to wake up. Nada decides to check out the church and finds that it’s empty but has a recording of a choir playing loudly. He also finds boxes filled with dozens of sunglasses. He discovers that the sunglasses reveal that posters are covered with commands to obey and conform. He also sees the aliens, who are in positions of power and authority. It doesn’t take the aliens long to realize that he can see them and thus the bloodshed begins, with Nada killing two cops sent to arrest him. Eventually Nada finds Frank and attempts to make him try on the glasses, which Frank refuses. And thus begins one of the best, longest fight scenes in a movie. Ever. When Nada finally wins, Frank realizes that his friend wasn’t crazy. Now the two go forth and try to find a way to disrupt the radio signal that is blinding humanity from the truth….

Favorite moment – The fight scene! It even inspired on of the best episodes of South Park, (Cripple Fight)!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXFvq2ycilg