FACES OF DEATH, the emblematic title of the shockumentary cycle
FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE, a superior Last House clone
FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN, aka Andy Warhol's Frankenstein
FOREST OF FEAR, a cheaper-than-cheap US zombie pic
FROZEN SCREAM, a tawdry tale of cryogenics zombification
THE FUNHOUSE, routine shocker from Tobe Hooper
 

 
 
 

FACES OF DEATH  aka Junk (Jap.); Aquarius, USA, 1978; (running times vary widely)

 
Probably the most famous — and certainly one of most sickening — of the highly distasteful new wave of shockumentaries that appeared during the period, Faces of Death was mercifully abridged by its distributor by around half an hour for a limited video release in the UK in the early eighties.
    Finally seen off by the Video Recordings Act, there was never much interest in this reprehensible cycle anyway (Brutes & Savages (1975) and Shocking Asia (1979) were the only others to make it to these shores). In the USA however, Faces of Death with its graphic combination of fabricated and actuality footage of executions, autopsies, and animal slaughter was a smash hit for MPI Home Video, spawning a number of increasingly tedious sequels, each presented by the ludicrously straight-faced “Doctor” Francis B. Gross. In Japan, where movies of the most nauseating kind enjoy alarming success among mainstream audiences, Faces of Death out-grossed Star Wars at the box office (no pun intended)! In the USA, amid a prolonged barrage of complaints, MPI eventually withdrew the series, only to begin a new one with the video release of Of the Dead (1972).
    Oddly enough, a brand new British addition to the cycle, Executions, did manage to generate some interest in the shockumentary when it was controversially passed for video release by the BBFC in 1995. By claiming their film was not tasteless exploitation but in fact a valid documentary using actuality footage, the makers were able to work the same scam Franco Prosperi and Gualtiero Jacopetti had used to get Mondo Cane past the Italian censor in 1961. Nevertheless, many British retailers refused to stock it and after disappointing sales it quickly passed into obscurity.

Dir. Conan LeCilaire; Prod. William B. James; Scr. Alan Black; Star. Francis B. Gross (Michael Carr)
 
UK Vid. Medusa Communications Ltd (CBS Fox) (unrated), Beta & VHS
 
 
 

FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE

aka Held Hostage (US); USA, 1979; 89 min

In this better than average reworking of themes from William Wyler’s Desperate Hours (1955) and Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left (1972), three escaped convicts take a black clergyman and his family hostage and subject them to torture and humilation. Eventually, the preacher is forced to abandon his ideals and fight back against another manifestation of white oppression.
    Despite the occasionally gratuitous depiction of graphic violence during the protracted torture scenes (the hallmark of the Last House cycle), and the questionable racial twist, the film is sufficiently well made to lift it head-and-shoulders above its stablemates like Ruggero Deodato’s House on the Edge of the Park (La Casa Sperduta nel Parco) (1981).

Dir. Roberts A. Endleson; Star. Robert Judd, William J. Sanderson, Lela Small; With Reginald Blythewood, Daniel Faraldo, Bonni Martin, Catherine Peppers, Yvonne Ross, Peter Yoshida

UK Vid. Vision On Video, QRT 89 min (unrated), Beta & VHS
 
 
 

FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN

aka Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein (US & GB), The Devil and Dr Frankenstein (US),Frankenstein (US & GB), The Frankenstein Experiment (US), Il Mostro E In Tavola...Barone Frankenstein (It.), Carne Per Frankenstein (It.) and others; CC Champion/Carlo Ponti-Jean Yanne-Jean Pierre Rassam Production, Italy/France/W.Germany, 1973; 95 min

Recently made available (at last!) on video in the UK as part of a collection of Andy Warhol films, Flesh for Frankenstein was in fact the first of two camp gothics by Italian genre director Antonio Margheriti. The second, Blood for Dracula (Dracula Cerca Sangue) (1973) is very much a companion piece and also stars Udo Kier and Joe Dallesandro).
    The Warhol connection is the cause of much confusion, most of it caused by the film’s alternative title Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein, and being erroneously credited to Warhol’s leading acolyte Paul Morrisey (original Italian credits confirm that story aside his was, at most, an advisory contribution). Originally filmed in eye-popping 3D as an outrageous black comedy, the picture was a success with audiences during its original US release and when re-released in 1982.
    Kier plays a manic Baron Frankenstein, obsessed with the goal of creating a master race of Serbian supermen. Having created a beautiful female creature (Dalila di Lazzaro), he sets about assembling the perfect mate to start a breeding programme. Unfortunately, the handsome local farmer (Srdjan Zlenovic) who is forced to donate his head to the project turns out to be an impotent failed monk, thus scuppering the Baron’s ambitions. On hand to lend their assistance are a Lorre-soundalike Otto (Arno Juerning), Frankenstein’s nymphomaniac sister (Monique Van Vooren), and an oversexed shepherd (Joe Dallesandro). Needless to say the film soon degenerates into bloody chaos.
    More a gory 3D sex-comedy than a horror film (John McCarthy’s adjective “splatstick” could not be more appropriately applied), Flesh for Frankenstein stands up well even when viewed flat on home video. Filmed back-to-back with Blood for Dracula, both films offer two of the best examples of the kind of gothic Margheriti was capably producing in Italy in the sixties and seventies before his subsequent decline. His later work consisted principally of “me-too” ripoffs of successful US imports.
    Accurately described by Phil Hardy as “an upmarket Herschell Gordon Lewis film”, this is a picture which it is impossible not to enjoy if you’re in the right mood. Fans of Blood for Dracula will love it.
    The excellent soundtracks to both films have recently been re-released on one CD.

Dir. Anthony Dawson (Antonio Margheriti); Prod. Andrew Braunsberg; Scr. Paul Morrisey; Star. Joe Dallesandro, Arno Juerging, Udo Kier; With Nicoletta Elmi, Cristina Gaioni, Dalia di Lazzarro, Marco Liofredi, Carlo Mancini, Monique Van Vooren, Srdjan Zelenovic

UK Vid. VIPCO, QRT. 95 min (unrated), Beta, VHS & V2000
 
 
 

FOREST OF FEAR

aka Bloodeaters (GB), Toxic Zombies (US), Blood Butchers (US); CM Productions, USA, 1979; 84 min

Filmed in Pittsburgh, the home of George Romero and birthplace of Night of the Living Dead (1968), this 16mm film plays like someone’s home movies.
    A group of young thugs are busy harvesting a marijuana patch cultivated in a remote woodland area. However, an experimental herbicide is being spray-tested there which turns the group into rampaging zombies.
    The film is wholly unconvincing, and especially disappointing is the usually impressive John Amplas, star of Romero’s Martin (1976).

Dir. Charles McCrann; Prod. Charles McCrann; Scr. Charles McCrann; Star John Amplas, Charles Austin, Paul Haskin, Dennis Helfend, Harriet Miller, Beverly Shapiro

UK Vid. Monte Video, QRT 84 min (unrated), Beta & VHS
 
 
 
 

FROZEN SCREAM

It takes a series of inadvertently comic voiceovers to explain what the hell is going on in this wretched film about cryogenic zombification which is yet another entirely spurious entry on the DPP's 'video nasties' list.
    It's no good, but by heck it's short.

Dir. Frank Roach; Prod. Rene Harmon; Scr. Doug Ferrin, Celeste Hammond, Michael Soney; Star Rene Harmon, Lynne Kocol; With Sunny Batholemew, Thomas Gowen, Lee James

UK Vid. Intervsion/CBS, QRT 77 min, Beta & VHS
 
 
 
 

FUNHOUSE

Some excellent Panavision photography coupled with a striking use of Dolby stereo help to lift this otherwise disappointing Tobe Hooper picture off the bottom of the barrel.
    In a plot derivative of (among others) The Hills Have Eyes, a bunch of all-American teenagers come up against a dysfunctional carnival family in a sleazy funhouse. Things pan out pretty much as might be expected and the film never quite manages to make the most of its highly exploitable setting.
    Two features and a major TV movie after he re-wrote the rules of the genre, Hooper had still failed to make good on the promise of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
    Despite appearing on the DPP's 'video nasties' list the film was eventually certified 18 without any fuss.

Dir. Tobe Hooper; Prod. Derek Power, Steven Bernhardt; Scr. Larry Block; Star. Elizabeth Berridge, Miles Chapin, Cooper Huckabee; With Shawn Carlson, Largo Woodruff

UK Vid. CIC, QRT 89 min (unrated & BBFC:18), Beta & VHS