Tag: B-Movie

The Giant Gila Monster Special Edition, A Sweet Throwback to the B-Movies of the 50s

Although the movies of yesteryears are largely forgotten by today’s audiences, some movies like The Giant Gila Monster Special Edition (and Killer Shrews) are worth revisiting.

The Giant Gila Monster blu-ray caseThe B movies of the 50s almost always have a familiar formula to them: they’re often populated with rock n roll teens getting into crazy situations and feature giant monsters. It’s a formula that works and despite the bad acting or lacklustre direction. And whether fans of today can appreciate them, it depends more on getting introduced to the film. Thankfully Film Masters 4k restoration and release of The Giant Gila Monster Special Edition (and Killer Shrews) proves that we don’t need MST3K to discover them.

Sometimes we hear that at the theatre anyways when there’s a rowdy group attending. At home, we can avoid that and admire just why these two films have a modern cult following. It’s not so much about why they are reflective of the era and how teens and adults behave way back when. instead it’s about how they react is nothing like modern horror. I get amused when they’re more golly gee, and dare to take on the threats. Whether they die isn’t the question.

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Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar. It’s All or Nothing in a Desperate Search….

What’s presented in Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar makes for a great drive-in movie too.

Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar Movie PosterUncork’d Entertainment
Available on VOD

The 70s and 80s were an interesting time for fans of episodic science fiction. Whether that’d be on the big screen or small, what Space Wars: Quest for the Deepstar offers is a lot of nostalgia because it brings all that ethos into a fairly entertaining SyFy Channel style movie of the week.

Filmmaker Garo Setian most likely had a limited budget, and to cast Michael Paré as the lead only brought fond memories of when he was Dante Montana in Starhunter. Here, he’s Kip Corman, a space scavenger, and his co-pilot is his daughter Taylor (Sarah French). Together, they are looking for a big score. They’re wanting to make enough money to pay for bringing back the wife / mother from the dead.

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In A Kingdom of the Dinosaurs, Who Can Survive?

Kingdom of Dinosaurs tries to honour the Jurassic Park formula. Instead of a thoughtful film, it’s more of a popcorn style B-flick in the same vein as a Michael Bay product–but minus the explosions.

Kingdom of the Dinosaurs

Available on Google Play

Kingdom of the Dinosaurs won’t fill the void that’s missing for fans of this genre. Jurassic World is over. In order to get a proper giant reptile fix these days requires searching digital services for indie works or simply subscribing to Discovery Plus. Scott Jeffrey‘s movie shows a world ruled by the said species, and humanity is just trying to escape becoming some behemoth’s next meal.

The year is 2030 and World War III has forced many people to hide. If they haven’t died from the radiation, then starvation will. After two years, one group is running out of supplies and has to leave their bunker to scavenge. Daniel (Clint Gordon), Drew (Mark Haldor) and Mia (Antonia Whillans) head out to find a world not run by humans anymore, and Louise (Chelsea Greenwood) is alone–she’s pregnant. This woman doesn’t sit around for too long since a non-moving target is easy prey.

But in what this group finds is a government experiment gone wrong. The dinosaurs they’ve created are loose, and they now rule the wasteland that was once North America.

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It’s Better to Stay Behind than Escape From Area 51 …

Escape From Area 51 is a spoof on various genres and is comparable to Lost Skeleton of Cadavra as a cheap sci-fi comedy.

Escape from Area 51 (2021) - IMDb
Available to purchase on Amazon USA

Cleopatra Entertainment
Release Date: Sept 7th 

Not every movie about UFOs deals with conspiracies. The sci-fi stoner comedy Escape From Area 51 momentarily plays with the storm Area 51 movement–which was what caught my attention–before dealing with the plot at hand. This movie’s story pairs well with Shae Sterling’s Alien Addiction for its low brow humour. I’m certain there is no family connection with David Sterling, the producer behind this work. It’s doubtful that director Eric Mittleman, who also co-wrote with Ted Chalmers, Carlos Perez and Robert Rhine, even knows of the New Zealand made film.

Curiosity seekers may well be hard pressed to find something to like about this work. It’s basically a T&A schlocky feature with a lot of sexual innuendo that will get fans of Donna D’Errico (Baywatch) giggling. She plays the alien who was locked up at the facility and when she makes the mistake of using her alien tech; it draws Sklarr’s attention (Chris Browning, Sons of Anarchy). He’s been scouring the galaxy because there was a War of the Worlds between their civilizations in the past… Well, maybe; I had to make this joke somehow.

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Victoria, BC’s Bathing in Summer Bliss with the Free-B Film Festival

 

Free-B Film FestivalThe organizers behind Victoria Film Festival is pleased to announce that the Free-B Film Festival is back in business! (under current BC Health Guidelines). It’s changed location so everyone can enjoy a clear view of the screen, and make out behind the bleachers (for those who are vaccinated) like Danny and Sandy from the movie Grease–the ultimate Summer movie–and have fun in the final days of summer. The new venue is at the Royal Athletic Park at 1014 Caledonia Ave.

Summer lovin’ is a blast, but to be safe, the company suggests bringing a blanket and booking a space well in advance. There’s only 500 seats available. Doors open at 8 pm.

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Jumping the Shark Encounters of the Third Kind

Despite the various highs and lows, Shark Encounters of the Third Kind is not destined to sink or swim in the world of B-Moviedom.

Shark! Encoutners of the Third Kind PosterWild Eye Releasing
Available on Amazon PrimeShark Encounters of the Third Kind

Coming to DVD
on March 2021

Admittedly, the movie poster for Shark Encounters of the Third Kind is slick. The title will even nap the attention of many a B movie enthusiast, and Stephen Spielberg may well just simply shrug and laugh along to this shlock produced/directed by Mark Polonia and from a script by John Oak Dalton. It’s campy as all hell. Had it been given the budget of a Michael Bay film, I’m sure what’s realized in concept art can look far nicer.

Instead, this filmmaker’s shark fueled resume tells all. Previous works include Land Shark, Sharkenstein and Snow Shark: Ancient Snow Beast (short Video). instead of realism, he goes for foam latex and Georges Méliès attempts at cinematic special effects. Back then, they would impress, but today, the work is laughable at best.

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