Zero Budget Production

Monday, February 15, 2010

Red Riding Trilogy - Epìsode 1980 - James Marsh - UK - (2009)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1260581/

Plot from Imdb: "Police corruption interferes with the search for a killer in Yorkshire, England. Based on David Peace's novel "Nineteen Eighty".

Nice following to the impressive first installment. Not quite as thrilling as the first one but still in the same vein: a descent into the dark underbelly of police corruption in Yorkshire. Less of a conspiracy in this one, more of a "Serpico" kind of tale. Acting is excellent, direction is discreet but good and the plot works well. Less gripping than the opening one but really still worth the viewing. If only, half of the current movies had the quality of theses "tv movies", we would be blessed. Another indication that british tv can create the most amazing shows. Can't wait for the third installment.

Trailer of the 1980 episode:

The Brother from Another Planet - John Sayles - USA - (1984)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087004/

Plot from Imdb: "A mute alien is chased by outer-space bounty hunters through the streets of Harlem in this thought-provoking cult classic."

I thought I was in for another Blaxploitation movie and I found instead a great little SciFi movie, with a real atmosphere and a lot of social content. Our heroe is mute, witch gives us a great oportunity to hear the others characters rumbling about their lives all they want. Classic story of the stranger introducing us to the social reality, in this case Harlem in the 80's...Our heroe has healing powers, including fixing machines and a few other special skills. The main character is played by Joe Morton, who also played the genius programmer form Cyberdyne in Terminator 2, and he's perfect in a difficult mute role. Lot's of great scenes all along, in the bar or in the subway with the "magician". The space bounty hunters looks like two cheesy MIB and act as such. The bar brawl is really lame but, hey ! It's a b-movie, by all means. Strange steel drum music all along, that adds weirdness to the lot. This one is really something else in the great genre of blaxploitation. Watch it if you can.

Trailer:

They Bite - Brett Piper - USA - (1996)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0140614/

Plot from Imdb: "They came from beyond the stars to spawn in the sea, they're hungry and..."

Whoa ! It's exactly what I am looking for in a B-movie ! Swimsuits ladies + Sea monsters in suits + cheesy fx + ugly lightning + Ron Jeremy...Made by veteran Brett Piper, it delivers exactly what it intended to: be a really fun moment. Of course, the framing, the lightning and other technical stuff are not that impressive...but it's not the point at all.The point is...Well, have fun watching a b-movie flick that doesn't dream to be a Blockbuster !

Trailer:

And I had to share the false Trailer from the porn movie they're making: "Invasion of the Fish Fuckers"

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Pivot - Anime short - Netherlands - (2010)

http://pivotthemovie.com/

Zaat - Don Barton - USA - (1975)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072666/

Plot from Imdb: "A mad scientist transforms himself into an aquatic killer"

Apparentely also known as "The Blood Waters of Dr. Z," "Attack of the Swamp Creatures" and "Legend of the Zaat Monster.", this is a campy, cheap, bad 70's monster B-Movie...A cult classic for some. Just a bad movie for the rest. I found it myself rather entertaining. The fact that the crazy scientist transforms himself is rather funny, but that he transforms himself into a giant catfish is just hilarious ! Look at the monster face, it really is coming from another dimension. Basically, the movie is a remake of "Creature of the black lagoon" without the poetry of the original. The rest is identical: bad monster suit, under water sequences, women in bikinis and heroes that are, of course, the worst actors of the lot. There is a lot of involuntary funny scenes in that movie, so it's the perfect kind to watch with a six pack and some friends around. Enjoy you plastic lovers ! PS: I've read that there is a scene where the monster wears tennis shoes...yes, tennis shoes !! But I haven't found it, please help !