Vampyros Lesbos (1971)

After Jessica Grace’s terrific cover art and review about it for VHS Tracking Issue 5, I finally watched Vampyros Lesbos (1971; Las Vampiras). Directed by Jesus Franco (aka Jess Franco who turns up in the movie playing a creep), the story follows Linda (Ewa Stromberg) who becomes obsessed with nightclub dancer/undead Countess Nadine (Soledad Miranda). […]

A Bay Of Blood (1971)

Here’s something for Halloween. I watched A Bay Of Blood (1971; Ecologia del delitto) for the first time (one of the many alternative titles is Twitch Of The Death Nerve – what a title!). Directed by Mario Bava, this film is considered very influential in spawning the ‘slasher’ genre with many of its ‘kills’ copied […]

Switchblade Sisters (1975)

Switchblade Sisters (1975) is directed by Jack Hill, and is a title that has come up a lot as an exploitation drive in classic (Tarantino re-released it on his Rolling Thunder label in the late 90s, I think). A teen gang of girls led by the intense Lace (Robbie Lee, delightfully gnashing at the scenery) […]

Caged Heat (1974)

Caged Heat (1974) was written and directed by a young Jonathan Demme for Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. Working within the lurid ‘women in prison’ genre with all that entails, the movie is a cut above due to its singular characters (such as Barbara Steele’s imposing yet strange warden), surreal dream sequences, broad jokes, and […]