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!

THE GIANT BEHEMOTH (1959) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

 

Latest Patreon Audio Post - Dancing Among the October Views

Brief reviews of THE PRIMEVILS, SMILE 2 and a smattering of other movies.

 

Video - An Ode to Stop Motion Animation

This fantastic collection of bits of stop motion work stretches from the silent era to the 1990's. It demonstrates the effectiveness and the pure fun of the form. 

DINOSAURUS! (1960) - Poster Art and Comic Book!

I caught up with this minor dinosaur tale last night and found it to be on the low end of entertaining. It was produced by the same team that made THE BLOB (1958) a few years earlier but is a less endearing bit of science fiction. A construction team working on a Caribbean island accidentally unearth a couple of frozen (?) dinos who thaw and start butting heads, A local jerk also finds a frozen caveman who proves himself helpful as the action limps along. Much more screen time is spent with the caveman than the dinosaurs which is reflected in the French poster art. 

As soon as I made mention online of watching this film Hunter Goatley pointed to the strange synchronicity of the World of Monsters blog posting a scan of the Dell comics adaptation on the same day! Sometimes a silly monster movie is on everyone's mind at once, I guess. In several ways the comic book is a better version of the story!

World of Monsters LINK