Thursday, July 24, 2025
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
What I Watched in June 2025
28 YEARS LATER (2025) is one of the best films I've seen all year. In many ways it was an unexpected surprise. I did not expect this mostly forgotten series to suddenly spring back to life with possibly its best entry so far and I did not expect the story to be so emotional or touching. I did expect the violence and action which was very well handled in all cases. And I certainly did not expect that bizarre final scene setting up another film. But I'm onboard after this one! Bring it on.
The List
BRING HER BACK (2025) – 8
BARBARA (1970) – 5 (interesting if meandering coming-of-age, sex drama)
UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) – 5 (rewatch)
PREDATOR: KILLER OF KILLERS (2025) – 8
THE PHOENCIAN SCHEME (2025) – 8
MOUNTAINHEAD (2025) – 7 (dark comedy about tech billionaire scum)
TERROR OF THE BLACK MASK (a.k.a. The Invincible Masked Rider) (1963) – 8 (rewatch)
BALLERINA (2025) – 7
ROGUE ONE (2016) – 8 (rewatch after ANDOR)
THE NIGHT THE WORLD EXPLODED (1957) – 6 (small sci-fi disaster tale)
THE UNDERWATER CITY (1962) – 6 (interesting science fiction story)
THE VISITOR (1979) – 5 (rewatch) (so aggressively strange)
THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025) – 9
NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST (1958) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)
THE CURSE OF THE YELLOW SNAKE (1963) – 7 (excellent krimi)
FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (2025) – 7
28 YEARS LATER (2025) – 9
TALK TO ME (2022) – 8 (rewatch)
A FAMILY AFFAIR (1937) – 7 (first Andy Hardy film)
STRAIGHT-JACKET (1964) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
The Bloody Pit #217 - THE VISITOR (1979)
In the Cult Italian Movie category THE VISITOR (1979) stands out for many reasons. It is made up of equal parts science fiction, thriller and religious high strangeness shot through with touches of CARRIE and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. For years it was considered one of the least comprehensible movies ever made but with the restoration of the full running time in 2010 it is now only mildly incomprehensible. Indeed, with enough squinting and reading between the lines it is almost possible to find a narrative thread that only occasionally feels absurd. Ridiculous to the point of silliness THE VISITOR defies rational concepts and logical progression of story. Let some other movie have police investigations that go somewhere or examples of simple cause and effect in human reactions to inexplicable events. This film scoffs at such needless exercises. And don’t get me started on the exploding basketball that everyone ignores!
Troy Guinn, Bob Sargent and I (Rod Barnett) are the three intrepid film nuts that stutter-step their way through this Euro-madness. We wrestle this monster to the ground, fight off seagull attacks, ponder the eternal battle between good and evil and marvel at the cast of Hollywood stars the producer conned into being in this thing. What other movie of this type can boast John Huston, Franco Nero (playing a blonde, blue-eyed Jesus), Glenn Ford, Mel Ferrer, Shelly Winters (playing Mary Poppins’ cousin Mary Slappington), Lance Henricksen and an out-of-his-depth Sam Peckinpah? Is this the most bizarre film ever shot in Atlanta? Was the city’s mayor bribed to indulge the film’s production? How many times will we reference A Flock of Seagulls? Is the amazing prop that Troy dubs ‘Switch-Beak’ silly or brilliant? I cannot promise answers but we will at least pose the questions. Lots and lots of questions.
If you have anything to say about THE VISITOR or any other film that we’ve covered thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon.
Monday, July 14, 2025
Wild, Wild Podcast - ZORRO AND THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1963)
What is Zorro doing in Spain, thousands of miles away from home? Why are they called the Three Musketeers when there's actually four of them? Why does the King of Spain sound like he was voiced by Paul Frees? Why are the Musketeers always so damned happy? Some of these questions may or may not get answered in this thrilling installment of Wild, Wild Podcast!
You can get in touch with us (we love hearing from you!), follow us on social media, buy our merch, and all that stuff, through our LINKTREE. Enjoy!
Sunday, July 13, 2025
Thursday, July 10, 2025
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