UNK SEZ: We're lucky to have as guest host today the always amazing TENEBROUS KATE of the sensationally superior and awesomely eclectic LOVE TRAIN FOR THE TENEBROUS EMPIRE! You guys know KATE, she's been a favorite guest around these parts since back in the days when the Kindercastle was a mere lean-to! Ya'll listen to KATE's advice, I know I've already started work on her fine recommendations!
TENEBROUS KATE SEZ: One's movie diet should be approached in a similar fashion to one's diet-actual: strike a balance of sweet, savory, and nutritious in order to cultivate a healthy appreciation for all things cinematic. It's in this spirit that I've selected the following films. Also, it demonstrates that I have next to no respect for rules, since there are six titles here instead of the traditional three!
RED RIDING TRILOGY: 1974, 1980, 1983
These British crime dramas are as gritty, dark and captivating as they come. Spanning a decade of serial murder, police corruption, and political turmoil in England's northern countryside, the "Red Riding Trilogy" weaves in real-life events like the Yorkshire Ripper killings with fictional but entirely believable characters. This is chilling stuff that provides some tough commentary on the people who investigate and perpetrate crimes. The series earns bonus points for beautiful production values and artistic cinematography that enhance the noir-ish mood.
MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000: POD PEOPLE
If you've watched all five hours of the "Red Riding, Trilogy" you're probably looking for a bit of a mood-lifter! What better way to wash away the gloom than with a good laugh at the foibles of low-budget sci-fi? The teevee show "Mystery Science Theater 3000" is controversial in cult-film circles since some folks feel that its snarky commentary track ruins the joy of exploring little-known genre films. I can see where the nay-sayers are coming from, but I will testify that some of these movies are almost unwatchable without Joel, Mike and the ‘Bots. My fave episode of the show is "Pod People," which features a Spanish-French "E.T." knock-off with a whiny child star, hillbilly poachers, an ALF-like alien creature, be-fringed 80s fashion and a wayward rock band stranded in the woods. If you don't laugh when Joel and his puppet companions sing "Idiot Control Now" to the tune of the movie's feature song, then I weep for your barren, stony heart.
BLOOD FOR DRACULA & FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN
While not related by the traditional movie-sequel relationship, "Blood for Dracula" and"Flesh for Frankenstein" were made back-to-back by director Paul Morrissey and feature the same cast members. Often mis-attributed to financier Andy Warhol, these are the most off-the-wall, graphic, and witty versions of the classic monster tales you're likely to see. Genre vet Udo Kier stars as the titular villain of both films, delivering outrageous and semi-improvised performances as the vampire and the mad scientist. The heavy in both films is a muscular, virile working-class character played by Joe Dallesandro, who has one of the thickest Noo Yawk accents recorded on film, making his turns as Mittel European farm-hunks even more unlikely. Look close enough and you'll find some clever political subtext about class, wealth, and culture—or ignore all that and enjoy the infinitely quotable, blood-soaked mayhem. And just in case you question the art pedigree of these movies, keep your eyes peeled for a cameo by director Roman Polanski in "Blood for Dracula."
Thanks again Kate! I think I'm going to start the Red Riding series this afternoon! It looks absolutely grim and morose and perfect for a rainy Sunday. I also have to admit that Pod People is my all time favorite ep of MST. Actually I think I love all E.T rip offs as they were all insane. For example "Nukie"…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC8hAWGcF4s
Someone needs to make an Avengers type movie that involves all the interstellar shorties…ET, Mac, Nukie, Alf and Anteater face from pod people. The movie could be called "Idiot Control Club" and I would pay thousands of dollars to witness it.
Also, I was very surprised to find out that "Blood For Dracula" was once sold as the wacky comedy "Young Dracula" ?!
http://static.zooomr.com/images/7237642_481fbcf012_o.jpg
The "Red Riding" series I'm not familiar with but I'll look into them.
As some of you know I'm a big time MSTeK fan. "Pod People" is one of my favorite MST3K episodes. {My two faves are the Sci-Fi era "Jack Frost" and the Comedy Central era "Manos: The Hands of Fate". The latter is one of those "unwatchable" films that are better off with Joel & the Bots poking fun at it.}
The two Udo Kier films do have comedy elements in them. Kier's Dracula keeps pronouncing virgins as "were-gins"! The films also have a few notable horror stars. The Dracula film has Stefania Casini who played Sarah in "Suspiria" which also featured Kier in a small role. "Flesh for Frankenstein" has Nicoleta Elmi as one of the children. She was in "The Night Child", "Deep Red" and "Baron Blood" (uncredited).
1974 is simply awesome on both a visual and a narrative level. The other two installments were good but I felt never quite topped 1974. One thing though: I watched them on DVD and found the option of subtitles almost a necessity during some of the more Mancurian portions of dialog. Streamers will obviously not have this option.
As a kid, I remember seeing Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula back to back on USA's Night Flight and being fairly disturbed by the copious arterial spraying. It was probably my first introduction to Udo Kier, Paul Morrissey, and (oddly enough) Andy Warhol. I was shocked years later to find both films included in the Criterion collection…
Curse you Kindertrauma! If can use it to get MST3K, now I have to get Netflix.
I love Warhol's Frankenstein soooooo much that I would copulate with it's gall bladder. And Blood for Dracula has the best puking-blood-into-a-bathtub scene ever filmed. I mean, sure, there are others, but this one tops them all.
"Trumpy, you can do STUPID things!"
God, that episode is classic. XD
Agree with Pinchy. I've tried the Red Riding Trilogy twice but gave up both times because I needed subtitles.
Lance, have you seen the Turkish "ET" knock-off "Badi" yet? I can hook you up. It's truly amazing–the bike scene is recreated with an ox cart (I cannot make this up). The "Blood for Dracula" poster is kind of amazing. I like the one where Drac is being stabbed by a carrot quite a bit, too:
http://originalvintagemovieposters.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Andy-Warhol-Dracula1.JPG
WRT "Red Riding," subs would be handy–I watched the movies with headphones & found it helped a lot in terms of concentration. It was worth the effort for this kid but can understand where it'd get to be too much! This SNL parody should ring true to anyone who struggled with the dialect bits 🙂
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RJfHIg9iTQ&feature=related
Thanks for the invite, Unk and Aunt John! I had a blast putting together the list, though there are so many awesome choices, it was hard to pick only three… erm… six…
Kate,
I forgot about little Badi the Turkish ET! He should star in my dream project "The Idiot Control Club" too. I have only seen his magnificent scenes on Youtube and not the film in it's entirety so I have missed out on the inspirational ox cart scene! If it's anything like this bit though, I'm on board…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl3a6-sxPqQ
I do have the Turkish Exorcist "Seytan" which is only slightly less insane than Exorcist II: The Heretic…
It's sometimes hard to tell the difference between the original and Turkish versions of Blatty's novel but luckily someone has made a film exploring the subtle differences …
It's in 5 parts and starts here…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMEN5PxrJ-A
Thanks again for your great picks Kate! Please come back and give us some more suggestions soon!
Somehow I was lucky enough to see 'Flesh for Frankenstein' in a revival showing of its original 3D format… the first 3D movie I'd seen as an adult and to this day the best 3D theater experience I've ever had…
That scene with the long pole… impalement… with guts on the end… dropping off over the heads of the audience… great stuff.
It also remains the only horror movie to ever make me nauseous, not because of the 3D (though that may have helped) but that scene where the fellow eviscerates himself… that really got to me.
Jo Dallesandro…TASTY. The gore was rather impressive too!