Are You In A “Sad Clown” Movie Mood?
Well, time to cinematically cheer up and enjoy some of this!
Time For A “Happy Blue Face!”
Someone asked me recently who were the most interesting – or WORST – Directors of all time! Well, here is one of each! You will be “fascinated” by this!
If you’ve never heard of French Director Jean Rollin, you have missed out on some very atmospheric, haunting, nudity and blood-filled – yet somewhat slow-moving – European art-film horror!
Meet Jean Rollin!
Jean Rollin was a French film director, actor, and novelist – best known for his films in the “fantastique” genre, as they say in France. He specialized in atmospheric horror of the 70’s – when relaxed censorship rules in cinema allowed Directors to push the envelope!
Jean Rollin’s are very interesting to watch: moody, atmospheric and did I mention that his films were filled with BLOOD!
Jean Rollin’s Cult “Artsploitation” Is “Redeemed”!
Thanks to the terrific “Redemption” series of releases – from the “Redemption Films” group – these movies are now available again – and gives each film a newly remastered look, plus tons of extras like documentaries, audio commentaries and trailers – a terrific job.
Requiem For A Vampire
Here is an early classic: on the run from a reform school, two young women commit crimes dressed as clowns.
Yes, they commit crimes dressed as clowns. How can you argue with that? Here is the clown-filled trailer:
Of course, the two “fleeing female clowns” seek refuge in a haunted castle, and end up trapped with no escape!
Because, as happens too often, this haunted castle is ruled by a hoard of sexy, blood-crazed vampires and their leader, an evil immortal creature who is the last of his kind.
Another of Rollins films is this classic:
Fascination!
Considered by many to be his masterpiece, “FASCINATION” follows a swaggering thief who hides out in a lavish chateau, holding the female occupants at gunpoint.
You can sense a trend here: Rollin’s films usually involve women who are kidnapped or held against their will – and who wreck revenge against their abductors – usually men. And they always end up in a deserted castle.
Women With A Thirst For Blood!
When night falls, the “Fascination” captor realizes that these two maids are not only deadlier than he imagined, but are gatekeepers to a ring of women with a thirst for blood.
Once again, the film is filled with hynotic imagery like this:
And what I think is his most dynamic image ever captured in one of his films – the blonde on the bridge with the sickle…
This action sequence, while fairly slow moving – it is, as you know, Jean Rollin – this sequence is beautifully done and hypnotic…
Here is part of the sequence:
You must go out and buy this blu-ray to see the entire sequence, the movie as a whole, and all of the terrific extras! Then, you have to see THIS:
The Living Dead Girl
This is one of his last films. Here is the trailer:
“The Living Dead Girl” is a melancholy, moody bloodfest – it is certainly Rollin’s bloodiest film…
Director Jean Rollin died in 2010, but all of these releases have extensive material with him, as he actively participated in these great remasters. He introduces some of the films, takes part in commentaries, and discusses his work with passion and pride.
You can read about all of his films by clicking on my story here:
Now, you also asked about the worst Director of all time – which I think is unfair, since anyone who makes a movie deserves credit – even this guy!
Grindhouse Lives!
Meet Andy Milligan, who may just be Staten Island’s greatest filmmaker! Here are some example of his “masterpieces”!
These are films that you can savor over and over again, especially when they include dialogue like THIS:
Dusty Cole: How’s your mother?
Cherry Lane: She threw me out. I guess she got tired of me using all her hairspray.
Shooting on budgets that hovered around $10,000, Milligan turned out 29 movies between 1965 and 1988 – moves that were
“In Dripping Blood Color!”
While the posters were classic grindhouse “come ons”, his movies were appallingly shot, often ludicrously plotted shock films – but that’s what played in 42nd Street grind houses, drive-ins and avant-garde film festivals in the late 60’s and 70’s…
Milligan churned out film after film, with some of exploitation’s greatest movies titles!
Torture Dungeon! (1969)
Bloodthirsty Butchers! (1970)
The Body Beneath! (1970)
Guru, the Mad Monk! (1970)
The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! (1972)
“EXPLICIT BEYOND BELIEF!”
And they weren’t just horror films – no, Milligan knew how to sex it up as well!
Fleshpot On 42nd St. “Erotic, Sensual and Smoldering!”
That’s right, they weren’t all horror films, Milligan also loved deviant sex – and blew the lid of 42nd Street’s sleazy sex trade!
The plot was simple: A street whore desperately seeks love and acceptance against the backdrop of the criminal element of early 1970s Times Square.
The film featured classic Milligan dialogue like this:
Cherry Lane: Didn’t your mother ever tell you that you shouldn’t go out with strange men?
Dusty Cole: Bob’s not strange. He’s dull.
Wel, enough sex, let’s get back to what Milligan REALLY liked – movies that he filmed:
“In Cranium-Cleaving Color!”
How can you resist a movie that offers this tagline!
The Ghastly Ones!
You are seeing a trend: classic grindhouse poster art – sex, violence, SHOCKS BEYOND BELIEF! – c’mon in suckers, the water’s fine!
First, check out the “Doctor’s Warning” on the poster – a classic “come on” for the suckers at that time…love it! Now, back to “The Ghastly Ones” plot: Three married couples are forced to spend the night in a Victorian-era house where they start getting killed off by a deranged psycho who’s bent on claiming an inheritance they are all entitled to.
Here’s a great bit of trivia, thanks to IMDB: In several of the fight scenes of the film, the crew and their cameras and sound equipment are visible. There are also moments when the director can be heard softly reminding the actors of their lines.
Now THAT”S film making! Here’s another example of Milligan’s madness:
The Body Beneath!
In this movie, Milligan captures the eerie horror of-, ah who’s kidding who? Do you REALLY care what it’s about? It’s slow-moving and laughably bad in a dementedly fun way! I mean, you have to watch it in order to find out why these women look like THIS!
There is so much more on Andy Milligan to share, including a book that tells the hilarious, and ultimately sad story of an awful filmmaker who managed to make a number of movies that are still being enjoyed today!
Click on my story here:
And remember, “clowns welcome!”
Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Art, Awards, Books / Media, Cult Movies, Exploitation films, Foreign Films, Great Films, Grindhouse, Halloween, Hollywood, Horror films, Independent Cinema, Memoirs, Movies, Movies About Movies, New York, Obscure Movies, Revenge Movies, Sexploitation Movies, Talent/Celebrities, Uncategorized
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