Thursday, March 04, 2010

Themroc - Claude Faraldo - France - (1973)




Plot: "An working-class man turns into a modern caveman."

Very enjoyable "revolutionary" and "arty" movie from Claude Faraldo and a bunch of cult actors from the 70's (Café de la Gare crew, Miou-miou, Patrick Dewaere, Coluche, etc...). You can watch it even if you don't understand french as there is no dialogues as such: everybody is speaking an invented/mumbled language, except Michel Piccoli, the main character that use the world "Themroc" during the entire movie, for everything. After an incident at the factory, Piccoli locks himself in his flat and brakes the wall, to make it more like a cave, the neighbors are mysteriously attracted to his regresive way of life and begin to join him. A group of policemen and some workers from the factory are joining below his flat to try to force them out of their asocial behavior. Doesn't really works as Piccoli goes hunting at night and comes back with a policeman that they'll use for diner ! Wonderfully free and hilarious at time, "Themroc" shows that another way of making movies is possible.


Extract:


Yi boh lai beng duk aka Ebola Syndrome - Herman Yau - HK - (1996)




Plot by Imdb: "A restaurant employee wanted for murder contracts Ebola by raping a woman in South Africa and starts an outbreak there and in Hong Kong when he returns home."
Have you ever seen a genre masterpiece ? Well, this movie is one. Not because of it's cinematography, nor its arty qualities but because of its unbelievably wackiness in ALL aspects. One other great thing is that it mixes several genres into one Cat III movie: sleazy sex/rape scenes, gruesome crimes, police chases, virus infection,  exotic elements (like a Mondomovie, in a way) and...Anthony Wong ! Shall I say it again ? The best genre actor in HK. Period. Thanks to him, the movie is holding everything together and is worth watching in the first place. The "over the top scenes" are working for real, as he never plays "tongue in chick". How talented should you be to do that, as he has some of the craziest moments on film ever: ejaculating in a piece of meat, raping a dying African tribal woman, giving some "human-meat-Ebola-infected" buns to the police, spitting on the biological police squad as a means to make them go away, etc...This late scene is one of the most hilarious thing I've seen in my entire life ! I stop there, there is no point talking about this movie, just go and watch it. But watch it in its UNCUNT version. And in Cantonese, of course. Go and enjoy this cinematic hemorrhagic fever !



Trailer:


Jack Brooks, Monster Slayers - Jon Knautz - USA - (2007)




Plot from Imdb: "As a child Jack Brooks witnessed the brutal murder of his family. Now a young man he struggles with a pestering girlfriend, therapy sessions that resolve nothing, and night classes that barely hold his interest. After unleashing an ancient curse, Jack's Professor undergoes a transformation into something not-quite- human, and Jack is forced to confront some old demons... along with a few new ones."

Joyful ride into the pulp world of Monsters and Fantastic beings, "Jack Brooks.." never takes itself too seriously and archive to be fun all the way. It's a bit slow at first but after the first half-hour exposition, things get into motion. Of course, as the plot unfolds, I grew more and more excited to see cult actor Robert Englund erratic behavior turned into a demoniac possession. Very funny at moment, it's also a real homage to our childhood first battles: kill all those repulsive monsters that threatened us in our nightmares. Strangely, some of our others "nightmares" were related to school, or to some professors. This movie does us justice, a bit like Robert Rodriguez's "The Faculty" did for the "alien conspiracy" genre. A nice homage to the fantastic literary genre. I specially love the ending that gives an almost mythical aura to Jack's.  
We want to see more.


Trailer:

Related Posts with Thumbnails