Blu-ray Review: The Vampire Bat

The Film Detective continues its series of restored films with a special edition of the 1933 horror film The Vampire Bat, starring Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Melvyn Douglas and Dwight Frye. The Vampire Bat is about a series of mysterious deaths which the superstitious and frightened townspeople believe are the work of a vampire. Skeptical inspector Karl (Melvyn Douglas) investigates the deaths.

The film opens late at night, with a single figure making his way through a street. He is startled by a noise and looks up to see a man on the roof of a nearby building. The camera then moves up to a window of that building, and as we hear a woman scream, the light in that room is extinguished. Several bats on a tree outside then fly off. Not a bad opening, eh? We learn that six people in the town have died, their bodies drained of their blood, puncture wounds found on their necks. Unlike more recent vampire films, most of the men gathered to discuss the crimes in The Vampire Bat immediately come to the conclusion that they are dealing with a vampire. The inspector is the only one who mocks this conclusion. One of the other men says to him: “But the bats, man. The bats!” There is some good dialogue in this scene, as when they talk of an earlier account of local vampirism. The burgermeister says, “Why, this record from the town archive proves it.” Karl responds, “Says it, not proves it.”  And then as he leaves, the inspector teases the others: “Good night, gentlemen. Don’t let the vampires get you.”

Of course there is a science laboratory, and it is in the basement, where all good science laboratories should be. But it is kind of a surprise when we see it is a woman working down there, Ruth (Fay Wray), who assists Dr. Otto (Lionel Atwill). By the way, this film was released the same year that Fay Wray and Lionel Atwill appeared together in Mystery Of The Wax Museum, and the same year that Fay Wray starred in King Kong. As Karl takes Ruth in his arms and kisses her, the cork in a beaker pops like champagne, a nice bit of humor. And in fact, there are some good humorous touches in several scenes of this film. I love when Aunt Gussie enters and asks Karl how he’s doing. As he begins to answer, saying he is quite well, Gussie interrupts, “Well I’m not,” and goes on to complain about various imagined ailments. It’s a delightful moment, and begins a recurring joke.

Dwight Frye, who played Renfield in Dracula, here plays Herman, a strange and creepy fellow who likes bats, and so course is suspected by the townspeople of being the vampire. He likes them because they’re soft, reminding me of Lennie from Of Mice And Men. Herman at one point even puts a bat in his pocket so he can stroke it. Interestingly, this movie came out a few years before Of Mice And Men was published. Did John Steinbeck see this film? This movie features some nice camera work. I like the shot when Martha is attacked; the camera moves swiftly to the windows, as they open, then over to the bed, as if following a not-quite-visible character. The movie is presented in black and white, but has an interesting moment when the torches of the search party are in color. A note before the film starts tells us, “Hand-color sequence restoration by West Wing Studios, Inc. Fotokem.” By the way, the picture in this restored edition looks excellent.

Special Features

This Blu-ray disc includes a commentary track by Sam Sherman, a film producer himself, responsible for Independent-International Pictures. He starts by talking about superstitions, and how they affect our lives. He also talks about producer Phil Goldstein, and about meeting some of the cast members. He mentions Bronson Canyon, and offers information about the tinted torches of the original print, and about that tinting process. He also gives some thoughts on the film’s music.

The special features also include Becoming The Son Of Melvyn Douglas, featuring an interview with Gregory Hesselberg who says, “I never connected emotionally with the man on the screen until very late in life.” Through watching his father’s old movies, he gets closer to his father. His father was not really present during his early childhood. He mentions that it was Melvyn Douglas’ performance in Inherit The Wind that first made him impressed with his father’s acting. This featurette features several still photographs.

This special edition of The Vampire Bat is scheduled to be released on April 25, 2017 through The Film Detective, in collaboration with UCLA Film & Television Archive.

DVD Review: Mia Madre

Mia Madre is a wonderful and emotionally engaging film about a woman who must balance her time between work and her ailing mother, both of which often feel out of her control. It stars Margherita Buy (A Five Star Life) as Margherita, a film director whose new film goes into production at the same time that her mother is hospitalized, and John Turturro as Barry Huggins, her project’s troublesome leading man. The film also stars Nanni Moretti, the film’s director and co-writer, as Margherita’s brother Giovanni.

The film opens with a protest, the police lined up facing those protesting, when suddenly violence erupts. After several moments, Margherita runs out, shouting, “Cut!” The shot doesn’t look right, and she is concerned because one of the cameramen seems to identify heavily with the police rather than with the protestors. While the film seems off to a slightly troubled start, her personal life seems to be somewhat in disarray as well. In addition to her mother being in the hospital, we see Margherita breaking up with her boyfriend, gathering her possessions from his apartment, and learn that her daughter Livia is off skiing with the girl’s father and isn’t following Margherita’s instructions regarding her studies. She seems like a person who must do everything herself, who must be in control. It was her decision to break up with her boyfriend, not his, as he later makes a point of telling her. But when the doctors tell her that her mother is dying, this is something that Margherita cannot control.

She likewise seems to feel her film slipping from her control. When she picks up the film’s star, she tells her brother on the phone, “I can’t tell if he knows I’m the director.” It is said in regards to Barry perhaps not realizing just who it was that picked him up, but it will turn out at moments to be a genuine concern of hers. Barry can be overbearing, a character larger than his own life, and has trouble remembering his lines. After messing up yet another scene, he lashes out: “I want to go back, back to reality! Take me back to reality.” For Margherita, it’s not as easy as all that, for the reality she must face in the hospital is difficult to come to terms with.

Though the film had me nearly in tears at moments, there is a gentle humor infused throughout, and there are some moments that had me laughing aloud, like when Margherita attempts to get certain driving shots to look less fake. I love the honesty of the performances. And I appreciate that we do see Barry’s vulnerability as well.

Special Features

The DVD contains quite a bit of bonus material. Just A Movie: On The Set Of Mia Madre is a behind-the-scenes look at the movie. It begins with the last moment of production, and then director/actor Nanni Moretti takes us back to the project’s origins, talking about his childhood, visiting his parents’ place with the costume designer. We see work on the model for the set design, and it’s soon clear what a personal story this film is for him. This featurette shows us the process of making the film, focusing on certain scenes.

There are also several deleted scenes, including one where Margherita tries to describe her film’s plot to a fan, and some more material with her daughter, Livia. In addition to those deleted scenes, there is a separate bonus feature focusing on deleted and extended scenes of Barry Huggins, including a funny scene where he talks to the film crew about his previous work. The Actor’s Torture shows outtakes of Nanni Moretti, who is acting in the scene, giving direction to another actor, take after take. Also included in the special features is the film’s trailer.

Mia Madre was released on DVD on November 15, 2016 through Music Box Films.

Film Review: Live Cargo

Live Cargo is an unusual and fascinating film about a young couple who arrive at small island in the Bahamas to regroup after a personal tragedy, and soon discover the people there have their own troubles. It is presented in black and white, which instead of capitalizing on the island’s beauty, on the setting, focuses our attention on the people and their daily activities. The film has a quiet intensity, helped by some excellent performances by the main cast members, including Dree Hemingway as Nadine, Keith Stanfield as Lewis, Leonard Earl Howze as Doughboy, Sam Dillon as Myron and – perhaps especially – by Robert Ray Wisdom as Roy.

The film opens with images of nature – a gathering storm, powerful waves crashing on the shore – mixed with close-ups of human faces, and the unspoken drama contained within those faces. It has an intense feel right from the start. Nadine and Lewis arrive on the island and stay at a house that her family owns there. We’re introduced to Doughboy, who owns the boat shuttling people to the island, and Myron, a young and vulnerable man who feels out of place, but who works for Doughboy. And we meet Roy, a friend of Nadine’s family, and by far the most immediately likeable character in the film. You sense straight away that he is the character we’ll rely on to get us through the storm.

We learn that there is some trouble with Doughboy taking business from others on the island, but that may be the least of his transgressions. And before we learn precisely what he’s doing, there is a scene with Doughboy and his young daughter, in which he tells her, “You know, everything I do, I do for you.” It’s interesting to see him as a father, though the scene comes out of nowhere and leads nowhere, and so feels added in. Yet, it does make us wonder if he feels guilty about what he’s doing. There is another moment later on, where Doughboy mentions to Myron that everyone looks out for himself, which seems like he’s justifying actions that give him feelings of guilt.

The mood of this film is unsettling and compelling. There are lots of quiet, personal moments, showing a lack of communication among characters. There are some great scenes where the images and music tell the story and convey the mood, with no dialogue. (There are also some wonderful underwater shots, including footage with a shark.) And it all leads to one event that will change things for every character.

Live Cargo was directed by Logan Sandler, who also co-wrote the script with Thymaya Payne. It premiered in New York on March 31, 2017, and in Los Angeles on April 7.

DVD Review: Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXVIII

Every time I watch footage from a press conference or an interview with any member of the Trump regime, I wish the Mystery Science Theater 3000 folks were at the bottom of the screen, poking fun at the absurdities. How can we make that happen? Well, until they figure out how to tap into those press conferences, we can enjoy revisiting some of the best episodes from the series. Volume XXXVIII contains four episodes, and this time around they are all Mike Nelson episodes (but the good people at Shout! Factory still managed to find a way to get Joel Hodgson in there). Three of the four episodes are from 1994. Each disc contains special features.

Disc One: Invasion USA

Mike builds an evil destructive robot, then destroys it. And Dr. Forrester dresses Frank as a pin cushion. This episode includes not just the feature film, but one of the best of the series’ shorts, “A Date With Your Family.” Mike quips, “I like my family as a friend.” And when the short’s narrator says that Brother “helps Mother to her chair as he would his best girl,” Mike comments, “The less said about this, the better.” The gang adds, “And be sure to make a plate for the narrator.” Later, during one of the break segments, Mike and the robots have their own date with the family.

When Invasion USA gets off to a slow start, Tom Servo says, “Will somebody please invade something?” And when parachuters begin dropping from enemy planes, Tom Servo comments, “Ah, plane poop, the worst kind.” Mike adds, “You know, this is how my mom dropped me off at school every day.” The movie is about World War III, but it uses stock footage from World War II, leading Mike to quip, “At least everyone who lived through the Blitz can rest assured it’s been immortalized as filler for this movie.” I think Donald Trump would love this movie, as its message is the importance of increasing military spending. This episode contains references to Edwin Starr, John Denver, Tony Bennett, R.E.M., Fawlty Towers, Hart To Hart, Red Dawn, Dr. Strangelove and The World According To Garp.

As for bonus material, the first disc contains Zugsmith Confidential, a featurette about producer Albert Zugsmith. The Invasion USA trailer is also included.

Disc Two: Colossus And The Headhunters

The opening segment of this episode reminds me that I need to do my taxes, with Tom Servo singing a relevant Beatles song. Mike gets a new pet, which happens to be Frank’s old pet, leading Frank to later sing a song of longing (which is hilarious). As is often the case, the worst movies make some of the best episodes. And Colossus And The Headhunters is certainly a terrible movie. As cavemen are being clobbered by large fake rocks and falling into holes, Tom Servo says, “Goodbye, John Entwistle and Mick Fleetwood.” As others escape to a raft, the gang quips, “I know we’ll be welcome on the shores of Miami.” And as their island sinks into the ocean, Crow says, “I think that may affect the tourism industry.” The queen character says, “They cut off the heads of their enemies and use them to decorate their villages,” and Crow responds, “Neat!” The queen continues: “Once we saw them perform this ceremony. It was terrible.” Tom Servo adds, “And the tickets were forty bucks.” Colossus And The Headhunters is not the most exciting film, and Mike comments, “We must avoid action at all costs.” There are references to Casablanca, Hair and Planet Of The Apes. This is the movie that will have you demanding, “More cheesesteak!”

The bonus feature is Mike By Joel. Yes, this is how they got Joel Hodgson into this DVD collection. It’s an interview with Joel about Mike Nelson – how Mike joined the show and so on.

Disc Three: High School Big Shot

At the beginning of this episode, it’s a case of bigger living through chemistry for Tom Servo on the Satellite of Love. Then we’re treated to a short about a devil, an angel and a bread delivery guy. The opening scene of the feature film, showing a close-up of a guy speaking directly to the camera, has the gang asking, “Is this the screen test?” and “Is this a Warhol film?” When Marv’s father takes Marv’s money, Mike says, “Oh, and son, I ate the last can of dog food.” Later, when Marv talks to his inebriated father, the gang asks, “Are those voices in your head or mine?” And when Marv’s father says, “I want you to know I tried to be a good father to you,” Tom Servo asks, “Do you have any specific examples?” This episode has references to Johnny Cash, Tina Turner, The Fugitive Kind, Welcome Back, Kotter and Midnight Cowboy. “Hey, I’m fake-walking here!”

The special features include the original film, as well as the film’s trailer. I love it when MST3K DVDs includes the regular versions of the films.

Disc Four: Track Of The Moon Beast

This is the one episode in the set that is not from 1994. It’s a later Mike Nelson episode, with Pearl. This is what Pearl has to say about Track Of The Moon Beast: “It stars nobody and features nothing.” As Paul takes Kathy home, the gang jokes, “All this, and he lives with his mother?” Tom Servo later quips, “I’m trapped in a loveless one-day relationship.” When a cop says, “Harris was killed by some kind of thing that-” Mike finishes the sentence, “That killed him.” During a random shot of a sunset, the gang jokes, “And now from all of us here at Track Of The Moon Beast, good night.” Then, during what is obviously a still shot of the moon, Crow exclaims, “That’s just a picture of the moon.” Tom Servo adds, “Yeah, the moon backed out of this movie at the last minute.” There are references to M.A.S.H., Star Trek, The Beatles, Eric Carmen and David Bowie. The “Fame” reference had me in tears, I was laughing so hard.

The special feature is Tracking A Moon Beast, an interview with Leigh Drake, the actor who played Kathy in the film. She talks about her co-stars and about getting the role, which was her first film job. She gives her candid opinion about the film and about the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: Volume XXXVIII was released on March 28, 2017 through Shout! Factory.

Blu-ray/DVD Review: Bloodrunners

Bloodrunners is an unusual horror film that takes place just before the end of Prohibition, in a town with a corrupt police force, a brothel, and a speakeasy that is run by vampires. A title card at the beginning tells us: “Average citizens break the law, live in the shadows. People are not what they seem.” A perfect setting for a vampire film, no? And as the title is a play on the word rumrunners, you have a pretty good idea of what they’re up to at that speakeasy.

The film begins with some good jazz music played at the club, and there is Ice-T as the band’s leader. It looks like he’s almost smiling, something I’ve never seen before. Perhaps it’s a trick of the light. But no, Ice-T is smiling, and his performance as Chesterfield, the owner of the club, is one of the best I’ve ever seen from him. Joining him are Michael McFadden as Jack, a corrupt police officer with a rough past, and Peter Patrikios as Victor, the face of the club.  Early on, we see that Chesterfield is not someone to be messed with, as he has a collection of fingers, and keeps them in a nice box. Hey, everyone needs a hobby.

Meanwhile at the brothel, a stranger who calls himself George Washington arrives and asks the madam, Rosie (Kerry McGann), if he can enter, and she of course invites him in. A close-up of his foot crossing the threshold warns us that he is probably a vampire. This also tells us this film is going to use the traditional vampire elements and attributes. And while Jack speaks with Rosie downstairs, Mr. Washington engages in some vampire behavior with Violet upstairs. It’s not long before Violet begins acting differently, and the tension begins building. Then, when the police stage a roadblock to stop a shipment of alcohol, they discover something odd about the bottles’ contents. And that’s when things really start getting weird.

The film has an unusual and interesting tone. It’s kind of playful without drifting into comedy, but with hints of something sinister beneath. It’s scary, while rarely gory. And there is also a love story here as well, between Willie (Chris James Boylan), a young man who just landed a job at the speakeasy, and Anna (Airen DeLaMater), Rosie’s daughter. These are the story’s two most likeable characters, the people you’ll likely find yourselves identifying with and rooting for. Bloodrunners is actually a quite enjoyable and original vampire film, with plenty of nice touches. There are also little references to other vampire stories. For example, at one point Jack reminds Rosie of how she used to call him “From Dusk ‘Til Dawn.” And we learn that Victor’s last name is Renfield, which of course is a reference to Dracula.

And be sure to watch the end credits, for there is another short scene there.

Special Features

This package contains several special features, which are on both the Blu-ray and DVD. There is a commentary track by director Dan Lantz and cast member Michael McFadden. They talk about the importance of details when shooting a period piece. They talk about the locations, including an old farm house which became the brothel. They actually shot a lot of the film in an empty store, which is wild. The film was shot almost entirely in Pennsylvania. Dan Lantz offers some tips for independent filmmakers.

There also a few deleted and extended scenes, including an alternate opening and a scene where Jack and Sam talk a bit about the political landscape of the time. The special features include a five-minute blooper reel and the film’s trailer.

Bloodrunners was directed by Dan Lantz, and was released as a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combination package on March 7, 2017.

DVD Review: Slasher.com

Slasher.com is a horror film about a couple who, on their first date, rent a cabin for the weekend from a strange family in rural Missouri. It stars Ben Kaplan as Jack and Morgan Carter as Kristy, people who met online and now are finally meeting in person to see if they are right for each other.

The film starts with the sounds of sex while we see close-ups of a cell phone and clothes and so on. But the sounds of pleasure soon turn to sounds of terror, and we see that this date has taken a turn for the worse. We learn that the woman is the thirteenth victim of a serial killer who meets his victims through online dating sites. A spokesman for the investigation recommends that people stop using online dating services until the guy is caught. But another guy comments, “Some people just have a hard time meeting people.” Indeed.

We are then introduced to Jack and Kristy, who are meeting for the first time in person. Kristy meets Jack at his place, which initially makes us think Kristy isn’t all that bright. Yet it is he, not she, who seems nervous. She says: “It’s an adventure. Our first real date’s a weekend trip to a cabin, no menu to hide behind, nature, fresh air. It’s a great way to get to know someone.” Wow, she is certainly forward! A weekend in a cabin seems an insane choice for a first date, but she comes across as a take-charge, kick-ass kind of gal, which is actually refreshing. “Do you always take guys who you’ve just met out to the middle of nowhere?” Jack asks during the drive. But now Kristy has mellowed a bit and seems a bit more normal, and quite likeable.

The family that owns the cabin strikes Jack and Kristy as a bit odd, particularly Momma (Jewel Shepard), who immediately shoves some food into Jack’s mouth and urges them both to call her Momma. Her husband, Jesse (R.A. Mihailoff), is a big man who enters with a machete. He looks dangerous, of course, but what I love is that Mihailoff doesn’t play that up. Jesse actually seems quite affable and friendly when Jack and Kristy meet him. (Of course, you might remember R.A. Mihailoff from Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, and realize his character could very easily turn out to be not-so-nice.) Their daughter (Rebecca Crowley) Caitlin seems a bit off herself.

Jack and Kristy have a good time, and seem to hit it off quite well. But after a while, things turn darker. This is, after all, a horror movie, and they are out in the woods with some strange people. But I love that the film takes its time, building the atmosphere and developing the characters and giving us a chance to wonder just when and how things are going to go bad. And then we learn a bit more about Jesse and Momma’s relationship, which is interesting and unusual. Usually at that point in a horror movie, the viewer stays with just the perspective of those trying to get away.

There is some fun when Jack confronts Jesse, and then things get more interesting when Jack and Momma get to know each other. Momma sure is one kinky lady. This movie does borrow a bit from Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and there is a nod to Halloween in that the family’s last name is Myers. There are a couple of problems, of course, a couple of questions that I had at the end. But this is a quirky, fun and fairly satisfying film. It’s much better than I’d expected from its awful title. And the cast is good. Morgan Carter in particular delivers an excellent performance that feels quite natural.

Slasher.com was directed by Chip Gubera, and was released on DVD today (March 7, 2017) through Cinedigm and ITN Distribution. The DVD includes the film’s trailer.

DVD Review: Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon

Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon is an animated feature film about a group of friends who work to help Wally after he uses a new invention to add some daring to his personality and accidentally exchanges bodies with a caterpillar. That mishap leads the group on an adventure involving a strange tribe and an ancient legend.

The film opens with a bit of narration making fun of opening with a bit of narration: “Once upon a time, there was a handsome narrator. He opened a movie by telling the story of a jungle tribe, happy and carefree and generally idiotic.” So right away I am on board with this movie. The narrator speaks of a prophecy of tragedy for the tribe, the shaman’s intern adding that the tribe will be saved by a golden dragon. It’s a cute and rather funny way of opening the film.

We are then introduced to Wally and his friends, who are playing video games. Wally is a nervous, unadventurous, talkative soul, particularly when compared with Krash and the others. When another friend needs to use the computer, Krash protests that he still has another life left. Krash is told: “But you’re wrong. You only have one life, and you shouldn’t waste it playing video games.” That’s a good message for kids these days (and for adults, come to think of it). So the friends go outside, looking for real adventure. Wally stays behind, lamenting his lack of bravery. So when Dokko demonstrates a new invention that will transfer one person’s skills and talents to another, Wally sees his chance to become braver.

So later Wally sneaks into the flying contraption where the device is stored (the next day Dokko is scheduled to show the device to other scientists), but something goes wrong and he finds himself now in the body of a caterpillar, while the mind of the caterpillar clearly occupies Wally’s own body. Switching back proves no easy task, especially as when he wakes, he finds they’re airborne. After parachuting to safety, the group has to find Wally’s body and find their way out of the strange jungle, and they need to do it before the caterpillar begins turning into a butterfly. Complicating things is a nearby tribe that believes Wally’s body is the Golden Dragon come to save them.

This is a fast-paced movie with bright, appealing colors. Children should enjoy it, and there are enough little jokes and references to please adult viewers. The movie contains references to 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Muppet Show, The Tempest, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, and even Franklin D. Roosevelt. There are plenty of silly lines, such as “This place is a lot darker at night for some reason” and “That pineapple is trying to steal Wally” and (probably my favorite) “Sound the alarm – do we have an alarm? – Build an alarm!” Yes, it’s a cute film. By the way, the narrator is only used at the very beginning.

Special Features

The DVD includes character profiles and the movie’s trailer.

Kikoriki: Legend Of The Golden Dragon was directed by Denis Chebnov, and is scheduled to be released on DVD on March 7, 2017 through Shout! Factory. The film is presented in English.