The Song Remains the Same (1976).
The Scoop:
Led Zeppelin’s definitive concert film finds the band at its sprawling, bluesy best. Chronicling the Madison Square Garden stop of its 1973 world tour, Zep offers classic versions of some of their biggest hits, including “Stairway to Heaven,” “Whole Lotta Love,” “Black Dog” and “Dazed and Confused.”
The problem comes with the rest of the film — the not-very-interesting glimpses of backstage life (these should have been so much better, considering Zep’s hard-partying reputation) and music video/fantasy sequences that consist mostly of a jumbled mix of oddities. (But hey, if mystic warriors on horseback, Vikings with broadswords, or mobsters shooting Nazi werewolves are your cup of tea, this might be up your alley.) These sequences, especially the opening scene without musical accompaniment, just drag the film down and leave you with that WTF feeling. Unless, of course, you use the film as it was meant to be used — a late night stoner timewaster. In that case, I’m sure you won’t go home disappointed.
In short, this is a must-see for the music. And if you’re into the extraneous mystical shit, that’s just icing on the cake.
Best Bit:
Their performance of the title song.
Side Note:
Jimmy Page’s fantasy sequence was shot on the shores of Loch Ness in a house formerly owned by Aleister Crowley.
Companion Viewing:
If you want to go the late night stoner route, there’s “Heavy Metal” (1981) and “Pink Floyd’s The Wall” (1982). Or, if you prefer classic concert films, try the Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense” (1984) or The Band’s “The Last Waltz” (1976).
Links:
IMDb.
Take a Look:
Performing “The Song Remains the Same”:
The Blob (1958).
The Scoop:
As screen monsters go, a giant ball of jelly isn’t the most terrifying image imaginable, but it works well in this low budget drive-in classic.
In his first starring role, Steve McQueen plays the obligatory misunderstood teen who, along with his girlfriend Jane (Aneta Corsaut), finds a meteorite crash site that unleashes the title creature on their small Pennsylvania town. When the police and parents don’t believe their fantastic tale, they round up some other kids and tackle the monster themselves.
While the acting isn’t top-notch, the storytelling is economical and the pace is brisk. It’s got just about everything you’d want from a ’50s-era teenage horror flick — excitement, a cool monster, kids in souped-up cars, hysteria, and even a nifty little theme song. You can’t go wrong!
Best Bit:
The iconic image of the Blob chasing the screaming teenagers out of the movie theater, a classic case of breaking the fourth wall that made this film such a touchstone with its audiences.
Side Note:
The theme song is “The Blob” and is credited to The Five Blobs. That wasn’t an actual group, of course, but a phantom group of studio musicians led by Burt Bacharach, who wrote the song.
Companion Viewing:
“Beware! The Blob” (1972) and “Earth vs. the Spider” (1958).
Links:
IMDb.
The Blob Site.
Hollywood Gothique.
Hollywood Teen Movies.
Blobfest 2002.
Take a Look:
The trailer:
The groovy opening theme:
Braindead (a.k.a., Dead Alive) (1992).
The Scoop:
This has been billed as the goriest film of all time, and for once, the hype does not lie. Early on, it manages to out-gross (and I don’t mean box office here) everything that came before it, and it doesn’t let up. The gore is pounded into you, becoming the ultimate parody of the genre. Reducto ad absurdum. By the end, when the hero is cutting down zombies left and right with a lawnmower, the gore has reached new comic heights. You gotta have a strong stomach for this one. (The movie has a strong stomach of its own, in fact — and strong intestines that attack and devour anything that cross their path.)
Those New Zealanders are weird people.
But there’s more to this early film by Peter Jackson than just the gore — there’s also a wonderfully funny script, a swashbuckling visual style and a bunch of head-long performances by a group of unknown actors. This one is a must for every horror aficionado, and a real eye-opener for those latecomers who only know Jackson for “Lord of the Rings” or “King Kong.”
Best Line:
“I kick arse for the Lord!”
Side Note:
There are a few edited versions of this floating around which cut out the best parts, so double-check the box and accept nothing less than the full, uncut version.
Companion Viewing:
“Bad Taste” (1987) or maybe that helicopter scene from “28 Weeks Later” (2007).
Links:
IMDb.
Peter Jackson Online page.
Peter Jackson Fan Club page.
The Movie Cynics drinking game.
Take a Look:
Messing around in graveyards at night is always a bad idea. Shouldn’t these kids know that by now?
Look out for that man with the lawnmower!
The Monster of Camp Sunshine (1964).
The Scoop:
This entry from the 1960s nudie cycle is somewhat of an oddity, featuring less nudity than expected, a semi-competent stab at a plot, a strange silent movie whimsy, and some fine black-and-white photography on location in New York City.
The story involves two young roommates trying to make their way in the big city — one is a fashion model trying to decide whether to model a topless bathing suit, and the other is a nurse at a hospital that inexplicibly has a lot of caged rats hanging around.
First the nurse introduces the model to the swinging life of Camp Sunshine, a nudist colony upstate, then accidentally spills chemicals on the rats, turning them into killers that chase her out a window. Her doctor boss, being the responsible sort he is, disposes of the dangerous chemicals by throwing them into the ocean. The plot just gets more ludicrous from there, culminating in the filmmakers trying to destroy the monster with parachuting scientists, a couple different armies and an entire stock footage library. One of the goofiest things you’ll ever see.
Best Bit:
The rat attack!
Side Note:
This was the first effort for producer Gene R. Kearney, who went on to a more respectable career as writer and director in television, working on such shows as “Night Gallery,” “Kolchak the Night Stalker” and “Lou Grant.”
Companion Viewing:
“The Thrill Killers” (1964).
Links:
IMDb.
Take a Look:
This purports to be the trailer, although it’s just a randomly edited bunch of shots. (Warning: Thar be boobies ‘n’ booties ahead!):
Desuko Movie Spot. 