Happy Halloween, TCM 2 Special Edition, RIP Tobe Hooper

 Earlier this year, the horror world lost another pioneer. Tobe Hooper made it alright to terrify and alienate your audience in new ways. I thought I would take this opportunity to eulogize Hooper by reviewing my favorite of his films. When I heard that he had passed away, I went online and ordered the blu-ray special edition of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 (1986). Don't get me wrong, I love the original Chainsaw (1974), but I reviewed that one back when we lost Gunnar Hansen. As a matter of fact, I just went over the weekend to a screening of the 4K remaster of the original TCM and it is still a disturbing and effective horror film. But I will argue that Part 2 is a better film.

   Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 is the story of a retired Texas Ranger and a radio DJ that are both searching for the people responsible for a particularly gruesome murder that happened during Stretch's live radio show. This is how the audience gets to catch up with the cannibal family from the original film, who are now called the Sawyers...get it? Part 2 is where I feel Hooper really shines as he adds a heavy dose of black comedy with the horror. Aside from the humor, the other thing that will always make this film stand out is the amazing effects created by Tom Savini and his exceptional crew of the cream of the crop. I was delighted by the featurette on this set that introduces us to each of the artists and shows what they created. I also appreciate the in-depth documentary about the trials and tribulations of the film from pre-production to post. An especially enlightening featurette is the interview with stunt man, Bob Elmore, who reveals just how much of the film is really him behind the Leatherface mask. And it was pretty cool to see the deleted scene that featured Joe Bob Briggs.

   As for re-watching the film itself, I have to admit that I felt a little different about it this time. I tend to remember it as a fun romp with over-the-top gore effects, but this time it felt a lot bleaker and less funny. Overall the movie seems more brutal than I recall, but still effective. I want to stress that I still enjoyed the film and appreciate both the humor and gore, but I walked away with a stronger sense of dread than I used to. Perhaps it is me getting older and digging deeper or maybe as the film ages it will mean different things at different times.

   Going through the film, it was great to re-visit its classic moments. That backwards car chase on the bridge with the yuppies is the moment that you, the audience, realize that these guys mean business. Watching the glee that Dennis Hopper has buying and testing out the chainsaws is an awesome moment when notice that some of the good guys may be pretty screwed up too. And how can you not laugh at the joke of the Sawyers entering the chili contest...The secret's in the meat! And who doesn't feel sorry for LG long before the killers even show up at the radio station? Poor guy is just looking for love.

   I can't forget to talk about the scene that Stretch and Leatherface share. It is definitely an intimate moment. It is hard not to interpret it as a metaphor for sex in slasher films, a kind of thumb at the nose to people who feel horror films are anti-woman. You have to appreciate the way Stretch handles the situation with child psychology, because that's what Leatherface really is, a child trapped in the massive body of a killer. While the scene may come off as over the top and even silly, I get it and think it took some guts to poke a little fun at the bad press that horror movies get.

   Then there are the great moments that pay homage to the original Texas Chainsaw. There is, of course, the repeat of the dinner sequence complete with Grandpa and his hammer. I have to say how excellent the makeup job is on Grandpa for this film. In some ways it looks similar to the makeup from the original film, just with the volume turned up to 11. I remember that as a teenager watching the original I was so worried that I would have nightmares of Leatherface chasing me, but it was the sound of Grandpa sucking on Sally's finger that haunted my dreams. Re-watching both of these films this month, I have to say that Grandpa still creeps me out.

   How did I go this long without mentioning the greatest character that TCM 2 brings to the world? Choptop is the most insane member of the Sawyer family in many ways and Bill Moseley plays him perfectly. Filling Ed Neal's shoes from the original film was not going to be an easy task (You want some head-cheese??) but Moseley pushes the envelope even further with his messed-up one-liners (Lick my plate, dog dick!) and tripped out hippy-isms. And watching him scratch away at the skin around the plate in his head, that is some sick self-cannibalism going on there.

    The finale of the film involves our protagonists Stretch and the double chainsaw wielding Dennis Hopper following the Sawyer family to their lair, the deserted Texas Battle Land amusement park. Stretch literally falls through the ground into a series of tunnels that definitely hearken back to Alice falling down the rabbit hole to Wonderland. Here we truly understand just how unstable Hopper's character is as we end up with a massive chainsaw duel. This pushes the absurdity of the film to a whole other level. Couple that with Leatherface hiding Stretch by making her wear her friend's face just proves we are truly in a mad house. I do love how the score of the film matches this with it's funhouse-like feel, making the audience start to feel a little crazy too.

   Speaking of music, let me not forget that LG and Stretch work at a rock radio station in 1986. Thanks to this background motif, we are treated to tracks by Oingo Boingo, Concrete Blonde, Lords of the New Church and The Cramps. This has to make for the best horror soundtrack since Return of the Living Dead.

   Overall, I want to emphasize that if you have only seen the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre or (God help you) only seen the remakes or lesser squeals, I implore you to give Part 2 a chance. At the time of the release, there was a feeling that the film was a total flop since audiences were disappointed that the squeal was not more similar to the original film and the dark humor fell flat. It is a film that found appreciation years later on video and dvd releases. This is definitely the case of a film that was ahead of its time. This is a true post-modern horror film that sums up the 80s in a capsule that pokes fun at teen films (that classic poster of the Sawyers posing like The Breakfast Club), slasher flicks and the tropes of the genre. It is a film that can one minute make you laugh and a moment later horrify you and what more can you really ask for in a movie? Also, if you are already a fan of this film, I highly recommend this blu-ray edition as an excellent addition to your collection.

  Well have a Happy Halloween everyone and I truly hope that you too will remember the deranged genius that was Tobe Hooper. And remember, the saw is family!

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 on iMDB

Goodbye, George A. Romero

One week ago we lost my cinematic hero, Mr. George A. Romero. What can I say to eulogize him that hasn't already been said? Romero's films were for the thinking viewer, but told using the working class monsters. In many ways, he legitimized horror.

Please don't be offended. Let me explain what I mean. You know when people ask you what kind of movies (or books or videogames) you  like and your answer is horror? You know how they roll their eyes and start judging you? How you can tell that they now think you are some kind of depraved psycho that burns ants with a magnifine glass or tears the wings off of butterflies or kicks puppies and makes babies cry? Well to me George was always the answer to that look. "But have you ever actually watched Night or Dawn or Day and their deep metaphorical looks at the problems with our society? Yes, his films have featured gore from day one, but did you pay attention to the dialogue and way it shows how humankind deteriorates under pressure?" These films go so much deeper that the average audience would anticipate. But not us horror fans. We understand what George is telling us. And this is part of the reason that he is my hero.

I was honored to meet George Romero a handful of times over the years. The first time was in the late 90s at the Fangoria Weekend of Horrors in New York City. At the time I was an undergrad and had really become quite obsessed with his movies. I remember nervously waiting with my sister in the halls of the New Yorker Hotel.They had George sequestered in a suite upstairs, away from the convention floor. It felt like we were waiting for an audience with the pope. I was so nervous, but when I finally had my turn to meet the man, he instantly made me feel at home. He told me to have a seat next to him for the photo and so we could chat a bit. I thanked him and gushed about how much I love his work, which was pretty obvious in my Martin t-shirt. He asked me what I do and I said I was going to school at a small New Jersey college for filmmaking. "Oh, you make films too!" He said he had heard of my school and I said I know he probably hadn't, but it was so sweet for him to say so. Then we smiled for the camera and he signed my 8x10 photo with "Stay Scared!", like he always did, and sent me on my way. This small interaction meant so much to me and I cherish it to this day. How could a man that had made such important films take the time to make his fans feel so welcome and important? It boggled my mind.

About ten years later, when I was pursuing my Masters Degree, my husband and I attended the Horrorfind Convention is Hunt Valley, Maryland. I was working on a documentary project about the importance of independent cult and horror films of the 60s, 70s and 80s and had been collecting interviews with filmmakers and actors for a year. When I heard Geroge was going to be the guest of honor I wanted to go down to the show so that I could ask him for an interview. He was the epitome of my thesis, afterall.

When it was time for us to get online for his autograph, I couldn't decide which laserdisc to get signed, so I had them all in my arms. I figured I would decide while we waited our turn. Of course when the time came, I still hadn't really decided, but figured I would go with the Dead trilogy of films. When we were called up I told George about my project and handed him the three discs. I clearly remember him telling me, "Why don't I sign all of those you're holding so we can have more time to talk." He invited me to come up to Toronto where he would be starting to work on his new film, Land of the Dead, and I could film the interview while on the set. I was instructed to speak to Greg Nicatero (also a guest at the con) and send an email to Christine Romero.

I was on cloud nine! Of course when I spoke to Nicatero I found out that George had invited a few hundred people to come to the filmming, but to still contact Chris. I got an email back saying that basically it wouldn't be possible. There were just too many people coming up from the States to comply with Canadian film crew rules. But I still appreciated George's invitation and fondly remember our little chat.

Years later I finally did get that interview when George appeared down in Cherry Hill, NJ for the Monster Mania Convention. This time I was starting work on a new documentary project that focused on the evolution of women in horror and science fiction. This time George was promoting his new film, Survival of the Dead, and his manager granted me five minutes and three questions. Ever gracious, George kept talking and it ended up being more like fifteen minutes in all. I cherish that footage and hope the world will see it one day.

Geroge A. Romero made smart, thought-provoking movies set within the horror genre which showed the true horror of the human condition. He loved and appreciated his fans and embraced each of us as if we were part of the family. In fact his movies have formed a kind of family that includes not just us diehards, but also the people that starred in and worked with him to make these movies. We all have this everlasting bond of being touched by the importance of his work. While I may be just a distant cousin that can only come to visit on the big holidays, I know that I am welcome to the table with the rest of the family. And while George may be gone, his films will last forever as we all stay scared.

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey (2005)

   About ten years ago we used to watch a lot of VH1 Classic in our apartment. I worked for the cable company back then, so we had all those digital channels. What reeled us in to the network was their retro programming that included music videos, concerts and on the weekends they would play music documentaries. One of the gems from this period was 2005's Metal: A Headbanger's Journey. A while back I picked up the 2-Disc DVD edition that featured bonus interviews and the like. I was happy to have the chance to finally re-watch this great documentary.

   What makes this movie stand out is that the host/interviewer, Sam Dunn, is not only a lifelong metalhead, but also a trained anthropologist who had just finished his Masters Degree. This adds an extra level to his research and the ability to analyze each of the separate movements from a sociological perspective.  What's great about this is an ability to look at the environments the musicians came from as well as show how their music affects their audience. There is quite a bit of discussion of why we choose to listen to heavy music and identify with the subculture. This level of study legitimized his work while he takes time from the beginning to prove his fan status as well, which is just as important. 

   The centerpiece of the film is a diagram that Dunn uses to establish subgenres starting from classic rock to Norwegian Death Metal. This grid helps to categorize key bands and see what led to them and what they eventually caused. Pretty cool work in my opinion. 

   What I really loved was seeing our fearless filmmakers interview some of metal's biggest icons. You feel like we all got together and picked the smartest fan and decided he should be our spokesperson. Watching him talk to Dio, Toni Iommi and Alice Cooper, just to name a few, you can just imagine how amazing it must have felt to sit down with these true legends. 

   The fact that the documentary is an oral history by the right people (because of how serious and important they treat the subject) makes me happy that this film exists. Knowing how many of the musicians interviewed aren't with us anymore makes me proud of them for making this film at the right time and so well. It does a great job of justifying what most of us already know, which is that heavy metal is more than a fad or musical trend that will disappear when it is no longer popular. Like horror films, metal may wax and wane in the public eye, but the die hard fans are forever.

   I highly recommend the bonus footage and interviews on the special edition. The highlight is an extended version of the section dealing with Norwegian Death Metal and the rash of church burnings that surrounded its origins. Considering this is a branch of metal music that I have only a little knowledge of since I have no interest in it musically, I learned quite a bit from this more in depth look.

   In the end I would highly recommend Metal: A Headbanger's Journey to all fans of music in general, but especially metal. You might even learn something while you bang your head along to the soundtrack. 

imdb listing for Metal

Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

   If you are anything like me, you collect things. I know I started collecting books when I was pretty young (probably thanks to the Scholastic catalog at school). As I got older it became records and tapes. Then I found comic books and eventually I started collecting movies. Of course my original format was VHS tapes. Now if you collect movies like I do, you probably upgraded at some point for Laserdisc, then DVD and maybe even Blu-ray. That is not true for the guys in this movie. And once you find out how much room, time and money they invest into their collections, you may even feel better about your own collecting.

    Adjust Your Tracking (2013 by Dan M. Kinem and Levi Peretic) is a documentary that further investigates the recent trend in VHS collecting. Yes, it really is a thing that people do. While partially based on the nostalgia driven hording of movies that remind of our youths spent at the local Mom & Pop video store, there are some further motivations for this hobby. While there were literally millions (maybe billions or more) titles available on video tape, not all of those movies made the transfer to digital mediums. Most notably, the world of "direct to video" and extremely low budget horror films suffered a massive loss, especially the ultra low budget "shot on video" movies that came out during the video store boom. Some also collect VHS so that they can revel in the cover art and large packaging of the movies. The bigger the better in a world of slipcovers, clam shells and big box (or what we used to call porn box) variations.

   I found myself mesmerized as these collectors discussed video tapes as if they were fine wines as they made sure they found the right editions to add to their collections. Showing off the rooms devoted to their tapes and sharing war stories from browsing through garage sales, flea markets and closing stores, the viewer can't help but relate to their own collecting, no matter what it is you collect.

   The real kicker is the discussions about what came to be considered the rare gems, those crown jewels in the collections of the true aficionados. It is unreal to hear first hand accounts of eBay sales that went up to $700 by the sellers, the buyers and the other bidders. This is truly one of the most bizarre success story of the ages. For those gamers out there, hearing these guys talk about their quest for Tale of the Quadead Zone just made me remember the eBay debacle years ago back when Nintendo's Stadium Events went for thousands of dollars.

   All in all, the story of these collectors, which includes a few filmmakers from that era, is like any other fan-base around an extinct medium. Records and 8-bit video games also give us those warm and fuzzy memories of the first times we encountered the things that became precious to us. They may be outdated, but these tapes can help us to remember simpler times...before Amazon and Netflix. Back in the day when you had to get of your couch to drive down to the store to see if they had the movie you wanted or, heaven forbid, you may have to travel to a different store, even further away if your store didn't carry it. Then you may have even have been out of luck if someone rented it before you got there. These were tough times, people!

   As someone who worked for years at a local video store, I particularly appreciated the portion of the documentary when they asked people for their opinions of Blockbuster Video. They were the big monster that was slowly eating up all of the little guys that made up their competition, only to be devastated a decade later by mail order and now the streaming services of today. But nothing compares to the shared hatred of the interviewed than the topic of Red Box, those heartless vending machines in grocery stores and outside of 7-11. In an age where this small group of die hard collectors are trying to keep hope alive that one day video stores will make a comeback, Red Box even more than Netflix, seems to embody everything they feel is wrong with society today. I get it. I miss the days when I could walk into a store and browse the boxes till I found something that sounded entertaining and then talk to a clerk for a few minutes about movies. As much as I would love for that to happen again, I know it is a part of the past.

   If you find this documentary as fascinating as I did, I recommend the Two-Disc Edition. Disc two has a few short docs on the fall of the video store as well as a piece where the crew gets sidetracked and tries to find the famous spot of the Bigfoot sighting which has a statue commemorating the event. There are also extended cuts of each interview that include even more horror stories and antidotes from the wild and crazy world of VHS collecting.

  I really enjoyed this movie and would highly recommend it to horror fans and collectors of all kinds. If you frequent comic cons or horror and scifi events looking for that piece de resistance for your own collection, you will appreciate this film too.

imdb listing for Adjust Your Tracking