Fascination (1979)

There’s something prototypical about a Jean Rollin film, in that it can be classified as what people would think of when it comes to ‘Euro-horror’ (nude women, vampires, castles). And yet, there’s something distinct, which probably helps when you’ve seen a few other 1970s exploitation movies. That there’s something slow and atmospheric, which feels very […]

Golden Queen’s Commando (1983)

As a Taiwanese action film, Golden Queen’s Commando (1983) aka Seven Black Heroines is an explosion at the cliche factory, producing a very entertaining smash-up of World War II mission movies and spaghetti westerns. This was such a fun time, that I could forgive the pan and scan VHS rip version available on Tubi (I think there’s […]

Dudes (1987)

Memories of the Dudes (1987) VHS cover in the Comedy aisle of a video store, Jon Cryer and Daniel Roebuck with their hands up next to a cactus, promising fish-out-of-water laughs with two punkers in a western, radiating Bill and Ted comparisons, or even Wayne’s World (not knowing as a kid that they were from the same director, Penelope […]

Thrilling Bloody Sword (1981)

Bless Justin Decloux and Gold Ninja Video as I would never have come across the Taiwanese martial arts adventure Thrilling Bloody Sword (1981) without their blu-ray release. The title gave me a different impression of what this film would be, which I bought sight unseen from Gold Ninja Video, as some violent wuxia swordsman action […]

The Store (1983)

I’ve only seen two Frederick Wiseman documentaries, and I tend to forget the rhythms of them. Moments brought together in montage and then staying with one scene, before moving onto the next. Cataloguing an institution by shifting around, sometimes faces will reoccur and appear again, others will be forgotten and moved on from. The Store […]