You Don’t Have To Go To Texas For A Chainsaw Massacre!
Well, that’s helpful to know. It also helps to know this:
“While we out fiddling with that music, the lousy bastard was in there killing her! BASTARD! BAAAAASTAAARD! BASTAAARD!”
And with that classic dialogue, it is time to celebrate day #7 of “Shocktober 2016” with the incredible over-the-top bad taste and great grind house entertainment that is:
“Pieces!” It’s Exactly What You Think It Is!
How can you go wrong with a poster like that! And look at this one, which includes a special line underneath the title on the left:
“AN IMPORTANT FILM”
Indeed!
“Pieces” is a notorious shocker from 1981 that was banned in several counties, and included some of the bloodiest scenes in motion picture history! In fact, look how they chose to promote the film:
It always begins with a young boy who is traumatized…flash forward to college, when young co-eds are being cut up by a chainsaw killer! The madman is attempting to put together a human jigsaw puzzle made from body parts – “PIECES!”
In the 80’s, horror films turned very violent, with slasher movies turning screens blood red:
This era may not have produced great films, but they were shocking and fun to watch, perhaps no more so that this classic:
Linnea Quigley was a big star of 80’s horror, and you can read more about her here:
If you love this era of film, then the newly remastered Blu-Ray version of “Pieces” is for you!
Grindhouse Releasing has a great special edition of “Pieces” on Blu-Ray, including the U.S. theatrical and Spanish versions of the film, and a bonus video of American horror director Eli Roth presenting a theatrical screening of Pieces to a Los Angeles cult audience!
Roth most recently directed his homage to the 80’s cannibal films, “The Green Inferno.” You can read about it here:
Perhaps the greatest extra bonus on the new “Pieces” release is this:
42ND STREET MEMORIES: All-new feature-length documentary about the legendary “Grindhouse” era of New York’s 42nd street, including interviews with Bill Lustig, Larry Cohen, Frank Henenlotter, Buddy Giovinazzo, Jeff Lieberman, John Skipp, Lynn Lowry, Terry Levine and other exploitation icons!
This was a fascinating era in movie history: Time Square lit up with theaters playing the wildest sexploitation movies of the time, suavely 24 hours a day!
I can’t wait to see this new documentary, and if you want to see some of the greatest “grind house” films of the era, you can check out my story here:
https://johnrieber.com/2015/08/06/sexy-honey-dirty-brine-grindhouse-classics-prurient-style/
Folks, these were some wild wild films!
42nd Street was a seedy, dangerous place in the 70’s and 80’s, and the movies had to deliver!
Here are some more of the classic movies of that era:
You see, the films were full of sex and violence, and legend has it that the movie theaters of Times Square were as well! That meant you need films like this to keep the customers satisfied:
Lurid, pandering, and usually hilariously bad, these films are worth checking out just to see how gullible the public was at the time! Here are a few more great examples:
So much scary stuff to share, but perhaps nothing as shocking as this:
Yes, “real life” clowns are terrorizing America! It’s one of the most unsettling things to happen right now – read about it here:
I prefer my horror to be confined to a movie or TV screen – not outside my door!
So celebrate the month of “Shocktober” – let me know if you are falling to “Pieces!”
Categories: Action Films, Books / Media, Cult Movies, Exploitation films, Film Fight Club, Grindhouse, Halloween, Hollywood, Horror films, Independent Cinema, Movies, New York, Obscure Movies, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, TV Show, Uncategorized
johnrieber 
Reblogged this on johnrieber and commented:
#shocktober #31daysofhalloween some classic 80’s horror as the Halloween countdown continues
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I’d never heard of pieces before, but it looks like something of a shocker.
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The blu-ray has a two hour documentary about New York’s grind house era, which makes it a great purchase! PIECES is kind of bad but in a very entertaining over the top way!
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I am interested in exploring the grind house movement. So bad it’s good eh?
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Yes! That era in New York’s history is fascinating movie lore….also see “That’s Sexploitaiton” by Something Weird video – here is a story I posted about it – https://johnrieber.com/2016/04/20/thats-sexploitation-terrific-documentary-captures-the-seedy-majesty-of-grindhouse-cinema/
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Appreciate the link, bookmarked it to read when I get time.
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What a fun and ridiculous movie, this is. The final moment might be the greatest in slasher history.
I grew up in NY during the 70s and 80s. I was too young to go into the theaters on 42nd Street, but they oozed sleaze from the outside. Great write-up.
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Thanks for your note – the grindhouse documentary that comes with the film is a great freebie!
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I have never even heard of ‘Pieces’, though from the others mentioned, I have seen ‘Prom Night’.
‘Pieces’ looks like a blast, so I may just have to check it out.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Pete, the best part is the grind house documentary that comes with it! – “Pieces” is bad in a fascinating to watch way, but the documentary that comes with it is great! Thanks for the comment!
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