The Bloody Pit #233 - ROBOT JOX (1990)

Our series following the films directed by Stuart Gordon continues with ROBOT JOX (1990)! After three horror films in a row this was certainly a left turn for the man best known at the time for inventive, darkly humorous gore. The intended audience for this one is very different as the film aims for a broader appeal without quite so much blood and dismemberment. Instead, we get giant robots fighting for territory in a post-apocalyptic world. You know – family friendly! Other than the drinking and brief nudity. And we should issue a spoiler alert as we talk about everything up to the end credits.

John Hudson and I gather around his dinner table with Troy Guinn joining us in a brand-new way. Next time we may have to use a Quija board! We discuss the production of the film and the hardships encountered in crafting the special effects. The cast and their backgrounds are part of the conversation with Gordon regulars getting shout outs for their welcomed return. We talk a little about screenwriter Joe Haldeman and recommend a few of his excellent science fiction novels. The obvious similarities to PACIFIC RIM (2013) are discussed along with another key comparison to director Guillermo Del Toro’s career. So join us for dubious Russian accents, stop-motion animation and men beating each other to death for the joy of the soon to be squished crowd. Oh – and a very suggestive chainsaw! Whew.

 

If you have any comments about the films of Stuart Gordon or anything else we’ve covered on the show thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. Thank you for listening and we’ll be back soon!

Trailer - DOUBLE TARGET (1987)

Here's the trailer for the Mattei/Fragasso action film DOUBLE TARGET that stars Donald Pleasence and Bo Svenson. Oh, and noted thespian Miles O'Keeffe! We'll be covering it soon on Wild, Wild Podcast so you have been warned. 

CAT WOMEN OF THE MOON (1953) Poster Art

I'm not claiming this is a good film but it does have......not much, I'll admit. It's pretty bad, really. 

 

QUEEN OF OUTER SPACE (1958) Poster Art

I don't claim it's good but I will admit that I've watched it more than once!

 

Patreon - DISCLOSURE DAY (2026)

My viewing of Steven Spielberg's newest science fiction film leaves me overall disappointed with a few caveats. My suspension of disbelief was not often engaged. I discuss the question of it being partially my own fault for having seen too many Spielberg movies.

Elric of Melniboné - Cover Gallery

Elric of Melniboné is the tragic, brooding antihero and sorcerer-king created by Michael Moorcock and is recognized as the blueprint for the dark fantasy protagonist. The pale, albino ruler of a decadent, ancient empire, he relies on magic and herbs to survive using the horrifying soul-eating rune blade Stormbringer. The black sword grants Elric immense strength, speed, and magical power in combat, but requires him to constantly feed it the souls of his victims which often leads him to inadvertently murder those he loves. I have read and reread the original six novels and I find my desire rising to revisit them again. I still hope for someone to take a stab at a live action adaptation. 

 

What I Watched in May 2026

Damian McCarthy’s most recent film HOKUM (2026) is an excellent supernatural tale and as a follow up to ODDITY (2024) seems the perfect continuation of themes that he is addressing through horror. Both films use grief as the catalyst for actions taken by the main characters. In each story this grief leads to violence but in HOKUM the focus is not on revenge but on how grief can stunt the ability to move forward, twisting emotions into their darkest forms.

 

In the film successful author Ohm Bauman is dealing with writer’s block and decides to take his parent’s ashes to Ireland to spread them in a place they loved. Adam Scott’s phenomenal lead performance brings a cynical, layered desperation to the film that allows for shifts in tone a few times. When we get to know the character in the first act he is an offensive, unlikeable bastard with a pitch-black worldview. We are shown a visualization of the story he is currently working on and its darkness is clearly born of deep misanthropy. We follow him into the second act because the mysterious old inn with its tale of a haunted honeymoon suite is fascinating, not because we find him appealing. The folklore of the place and the odd individuals working there are interesting enough to keep us watching even as we have doubts about our main character’s personality. Slowly we become aware of his feelings of grief which mitigate some of the harsher judgements we are tempted to ascribe to him but we’re then distracted by odd occurrences with his place as an avatar for our curiosity  sufficient to stay engaged. Then the corpse shows up and all bets are off! Luckily, as the story unspools, we learn more about Ohm’s tragic history with his parents making him less of a jerk while never completely softening him. This is a smart, gorgeously photographed tale of the evil that we are capable of laced with enough hope to make its ending satisfying. I eagerly await McCarthy’s next film. 

 The List

SPECTERS (1987) – 6 (rewatch on Blu)

HOKUM (2026) – 8

 

MOONLIGHT SWORD & JADE LION (1977) – 6 (Angela Mao searches for her master’s brother)

HELL HAS NO BOUNDARIES (1982) – 7 (well played Hong Kong horror)

ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE LEE (2023) – 9 (excellent documentary)

DEAD MEN DON’T WEAR PLAID (1982) – 7 (should have watched this years ago)

DJANGO STRIKES AGAIN (1987) – 7 (rewatch)

THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026) – 8 (heartwarming, funny and a good mystery as well)

MALOMBRA (1984) – 5 (dull Spanish softcore gothic)

ANTIVIRAL (2012) – 8 (Brandon Cronenberg’s futuristic thriller)

IN THE GREY (2026) – 7 (another well made action film from Guy Ritchie) 

OBSESSION (2026) – 8 (disturbing analogy for mental illness in romantic relationships)

THE SNOW WOMAN (1968) – 8 (excellent Japanese supernatural tale)

THE SLIME PEOPLE (1963) – 3 (rewatch on Blu) 

MALOMBRA (1942) – 8 (Italian gothic novel adaptation)

THE CRAWLING HAND (1963) – 4 (rewatch on Blu)

THE MANDALORIAN AND GROGU (2026) – 7

 

TEX AND THE LORD OF THE DEEP (1985) – 5 (fumetti adaptation that should be better)