Def-Con 4 (1983)

...aka: Defense Condition 4

Directed by:

Paul Donovan

Bleak sci-fi begins with three astronauts (Tim Choate, Kate Lynch and Maury Chaykin) who are forced to crashland on post-nuke earth after a nuclear holocaust. Much of the population has been wiped out, but those who remain are either savage mutant cannibals (who are first seen carving meat slices off of a severed leg) or unbelievably sadistic cretins who imprison innocent people in a slave camp and are led by a fascist Hitler clone (Kevin King). Some of the special effects (especially the space scenes at the beginning) are good, the cast try their best and a couple of interesting things happen, but overall this is grim, dull and just extremely, needlessly unpleasant. Recommend only to those who enjoy people wallowing around in their own filth. The director also scripted and the cast includes Lenore Zann and John Walsch.

Score: 3.5 out of 10

Deepstar Six (1988)

...aka: Deep Six

...aka: Deep Star Six

Directed by:

Sean S. Cunningham

I wonder what was going on in the late 80s to prompt so many ALIEN-inspired films set underwater? We not only got this one, but also THE ABYSS, LEVIATHAN, LORDS OF THE DEEP, ENDLESS DESCENT and others. Set sometime in the near future, a slew of scientists and others down deep in the ocean at an underwater military base face off against a giant, mutant crab monster. Doesn't hold up until the end, but it's OK entertainment and the monster designed by Chris Walas and Mark Shostrom in pretty good.

★★

Demon Wind (1990)

Directed by:

Charles Philip Moore

Review coming soon.

Score: 4.5 out of 10

Devil Rides Out, The (1968)

...aka: Devil's Bride, The

Directed by:

Terence Fisher

Christopher Lee and friends battle an evil Satanist bent on possessing innocent victims. Based on a Dennis Wheatley's novel of the same name, it was originally released in the U.S. as THE DEVIL’S BRIDE. Review coming soon.

★★★

Minaccia d'amore (1988)

...aka: Dial: Help

...aka: Love Threat

...aka: Ragno gelido

Directed by:

Ruggero Deodato

An "erotic thriller," or so says the video box, about a beautiful fashion model (Charlotte Lewis) in Rome who has the misfortune of dialing the wrong telephone number one day when she's trying to get ahold of her long-distance lover. Soon after, she's threatened by mysterious calls, then some kind of malevolent spirit starts using phones and phone cords to attack her and her friends. The storyline makes absolutely no sense, it's stupid, it's tame, the murders are unintentionally hilarious (such as a payphone firing coins at someone) and there's even a ridiculous theme song ("Baby, Don't Answer the Telephone"), but the movie at least looks decent thanks to cinematographer Renato Tafuri, has a good Claudio Simonetti score and seems to have been filmed in English, though the best special effect is undoubtedly the stunning Lewis lounging around in her lingerie or in a bathtub. With Marcello Modugno (DEMONS), Carola Stagnaro (TENEBRE) and William Berger as a paranormal expert.

Score: 3 out of 10

Disturbed (1990)

Directed by:

Charles Winkler

Mediocre, unpleasant black comic horror thriller features Malcolm McDowell (in a knockout performance) playing sex-crazed mental hospital psychiatrist Dr. Derek Russell, who gets his kicks by drugging and raping his better looking female patients. Sandy (Pamela Gidley, also good), a sex-obsessed, bitchy, suicidal ex-model arrives on the grounds, and strikes McDowell's fancy. But unexpected complications lead him to enlist the help of patient Michael (Geoffrey Lewis) to kill her, resulting in questionable sanity for Dr. Russell when Sandy's ghost seemingly returns to haunt him. I guess all of the imaginative, but overwhelming, camerawork is a plus (like following a flying needle through the air and a POV shot from a penis!), but a senseless ending is tacked on and the movie suffers from unlikable characters and standard institutionalized horror cliches. With Priscilla Pointer, Irwin Keyes, Clint Howard, Adam Rifkin and Dean Cameron as a singing telegram.

★★

Don't Answer the Phone! (1980)

...aka: Hollywood Strangler, The

Directed by:

Robert Hammer

A greasy, slobbering Vietnam Vet (Nicholas Worth - who must be seen to be believed) kills women. Avoid the DVD release distributed by Rhino and several other bargain companies, which is the horribly butchered 85 minute version missing most of the violence and all of the nudity. Unfortunately, that's what I ended up watching by accident. The full version, which runs 94 minutes, has been released by BCI Eclipse (on a double bill with PRIME EVIL). The original VHS release from Media is also uncut. Since I only saw the cut version, I'm going to hold off on doing a full review until I see the unedited one. Hopefully that will be an improvement.

Score: 2 out of 10 (cut version)