The Bloody Pit #113 - PRIMAL RAGE (1988)

The late 1980’s were an odd time for Euro-trash exploitation filmmakers. The slasher genre was played out and no other type of horror film was considered a sure bet so, what to do? Why not find a way to somehow piece several sub-genres together to see if, combined, they will make a coherent film and rake in the profits! So they took a little from the animal attack sub-genre with a dash of mad scientist then added in some biting rage zombies and rape-happy frat scumbags to see what would happen. And then they sold it as if it were a slasher film! Madness, thy name is PRIMAL RAGE (1988).

Joining me to talk about this bizarre mixture is Bobby Hazzard who starts things off diving deep into the Claudio Simonetti produced collection of songs that pepper this film. This was released back when a major selling point for a movie was the multi-artist soundtrack album featuring hoped for hit tunes and at times film’s the dialog is often less noticeable than the music. We argue about which song is worse and I sprinkle samples from most of them into the show. You’re welcome/I apologize!

We discuss the film’s ‘rage virus’ and how it, at times, feels a little like a dry run for 28 DAYS LATER (2002). Bobby takes great pleasure in noting the motor vehicles that this film shares with that other Florida-shot Italian-made horror film NIGHTMARE BEACH (1989) made by the same team. We lament the lack of Umberto Lenzi’s directorial touch and wonder about the song this movie shares with a certain Dario Argento film. Of course, we comment on the clothing choices and the odd hairstyles because the 80’s were a dead space for taste and this film is a document of those sad times. My favorite moment in the show is when Bobby rattles off a detailed list of every mad costume he could spot in the chaotic Halloween Party climax. Luckily this entertainingly sleazy, bloody mess moves at a good pace, making talking about it fun.

Let us know what you think about this film or our overlong conversation about it at thebloodypit@gmail.com or over on the show’s FaceBook page. We’d love hear your opinion of this jumbled Italian horror mess.

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Direct MP3 Download LINK

The Art of Mexican Wrestling Movie Posters

What I Watched in August

I've been catching the Lucha Libre films that the El Rey channel has been running for the past couple of months and really enjoying them. Most of these I had already seen with subtitles as they were never dubbed into English but it was fun to see these new versions. It seems that El Rey has sprung for a new soundtrack for each film which provides a 2020 English dub to make the movies easier for casual fans to absorb. I don't think these dubs are very good - in fact they are little more than serviceable - but if it opens more eyes to the joys of El Santo and the Blue Demon (plus the female wrestlers) then they have done their jobs well.

The List 

CANDYMAN : FAREWELL TO THE FLESH (1995) – 6 (rewatch on Blu) (better than I remembered)

SANTO & BLUE DEMON VS DR. FRANKENSTEIN (1974) – 6 

PANIC BEATS (1983) – 7 (rewatch)

THE BEAST IN THE CELLAR (1970) -7 (rewatch on Blu)

THE WESTWARD TRAIL (1948) – 5 (standard PRC B western with Eddie Dean singing)

THE GIRL WHO KNEW TOO MUCH (1963) – 8 (rewatch on Blu – Italian version)

SAN ANTONIO (1945) – 7 (Errol Flynn western)

SANTO AND BLUE DEMON VS DRACULA AND THE WOLFMAN (1973) – 6 (rewatch of the newly dubbed version)

THE DARKNESS (2016) – 6 (well done but unremarkable horror film)

GASLIGHT (1940) – 8

RIDERS TO THE STARS (1954) – 6 (low budget near-documentary SF about getting to Earth orbit)

THE LADY KILLS (1971) – 5 (French rape-revenge film)

SPACE AMOEBA (1970) – 6 (Toho SF monster film)

A BELL FROM HELL (1973) – 8 (rewatch)

SHADOW OF THE CAT (1961) – 7 (rewatch on Blu)

BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT (2018) – 8 (animated adaptation)

SHE-WOLVES OF THE RING (1965) – 5 (lucha drama)

BUCHANAN RIDES ALONE (1958) – 8 (excellent Randolph Scott western)

NIGHTFALL (1988) – 6 (Interesting low budget attempt to tell this Asimov tale)

BLOODY SECT (a.k.a. Secta siniestra) (1983) – 6 (mad Spanish horror film)

SKINNER (1993) – 4 (serial killer film with an interesting cast)

SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979) – 7 (rewatch of the long version on Blu)

DER ZINKER (a.k.a THE SQUEAKER) (1963) – 7 (krimi fun on Blu)

CENTRAL PARK (1932) – 7 (slight but good crime tale with Joan Blondell)

In Memoriam - Paul Naschy (1934- 2009)

Yesterday was Jacinto Molina's birthday. He is missed but his flame still burns. 

Re-visit - SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979)

I recently rewatched this low budget indie horror film and enjoyed it even more this time. Part of that might be because this time I was watching a much better print on the Code Red Blu-Ray meaning that I was seeing an improved image with more sharpness and detail. Shot on location in Louisiana it was inspired by the success of various other regional filmmakers like Charles B. Piece (LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK, TOWN THAT DREADED SUNDOWN) and Joy Houck (CREATURE FROM BLACK LAKE).

The setup is a classic! On a dark night a group of vacationing college friends tell each other several different stories while at a cabin in the woods. There are the various stereotypes on display from practical joker to lothario to different shades of bland white guy. The ladies are even less well defined with only one of them given much to do but the actress in question really digs into things. The thing is, the stories that they tell are fun. They are mostly variations on the standard campfire tales used to scare people for decades if not centuries and they generally work well. You’ve probably heard a version of at least one of them yourself in your youth but a well done scary story can get the job done regardless of familiarity.

For this viewing though, the real draw for me was that this Blu-Ray has the rare, longer version of the movie that included an entire excised tale. This story is about a couple of guys that encounter some spooky entities lurking in a graveyard after dark. Now, this film is a perfect example of 1970’s PG rated horror in that it is more creepy and fun than frightening or scary. It has its chilling moments but there is little to bother an old horror hound like me. Except…. This new story got to me. And it got me even though the method used is as simple as an old spook show or a cheesy William Castle Emergo stunt. I won’t ruin it for new viewers but there were a couple of moments that actually got under my skin and made me start checking the shadows for stalking creatures! It was so effective I was still creeped out a while later when I went to sleep. “Are those things flitting around the end of the bed? Better check.” How cool! And unexpected.

SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT (1979) isn’t some undiscovered classic but it is a very well-done little movie that has a few surprises up it’s sleeve. It might get to you the way it got to me. Or it might get to you in a completely different way. That’s one of the joys of anthology films – debating which segment is best! 

Ralph Bakshi's LORD OF THE RINGS (1978) Poster Art and Lobby Cards

I'm feeling the desire to rewatch this one. 

Alternative Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Art