Doudou
There’s nothing worse than bad comedy. Unless that comedy is so horribly unfunny that it becomes the funniest thing ever. In this scene from Faceless, Jess Franco demonstrates his comedic chops with perhaps the most painfully unfunny scene ever, which of course makes it the funniest scene ever. Franco gives us a wailing homosexual stereotype,...
Tender Flesh (1997)
I’ve always been a little too nervous to delve into Jess Franco’s post-80s output. I’ve heard terrible, terrible things about these latter day efforts, even from the toughest of Francophiles. But surely, surely, with so many films from this period, there must be a few good ones. Killer Barbys (1996) has its share of supporters...
The Music of Jess Franco
News of Jess Franco recent death has hit many cult films fan hard. Of his truly epic directorial output, I have personally seen a paltry amount. Of those I’ve seen however, a mark was definitely left. Films such as Vampyros Lesbos, 99 Women, The Awful Dr. Orloff and A Virgin Among the Living Dead were important...
Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein (1972)
I’ve decided to use Franco Week, Mondo Exploito‘s week long tribute to the late Jess Franco, as an opportunity to watch some Franco films that have been gathering dust on my “to watch” list. Kind of selfish, yes, but I also don’t think that any Mondo Exploito reader needs to read an article telling them...
Jess Franco
Like many horror and exploitation fans, I was saddened to hear of the death of the legendary Jesús “Jess” Franco last week. While I’ve haven’t enjoyed everything the man made, his unbelievable output of almost two-hundred films has always impressed me. Among that incredible stack of films, there’s many gems – far more than most...
The Marriage Manual – US poster
I am smitten with this poster for the 1970 Sexformation film, The Marriage Manual. It is both provocative and subtle. The minimalism here is gorgeous. Movie: The Marriage Manual Director: Gerard Damiano Country of movie: USA Year of movie: 1970 Country of poster: USA
Best delivery of “FUCK!” ever?
I’ve been making my way through Girls, Guns and G-Strings: The Andy Sidaris Collection, easily my favourite DVD purchase of last year. Every film has been fucking hilarious and full of explosions, boobs and guns – what more could you possibly want? This week I watched Hard Hunted (1992), and this pained and awkward delivery...
Herencia diabólica (1994)
A Mexican shot-on-video horror film from 1994? You have my attention. A midget dressed as toy clown murdering and molesting people? I’m salivating. HERENCIA DIABÓLICA USA, 1994, Alfredo Salazar Tony (Roberto Guinar) and his wife (Holda Ramírez) move back to Mexico from New York after Tony’s recently deceased aunt leaves him her mansion. Arriving...
Czech New Wave film posters
Often the most suppressed environments yield the greatest examples of artistic expression. When there’s an oppressive force to legitimately kick against, every opposing shout rings with more vehemence. Consider Czechoslovakia in the 1960s. Having been under a none-too-popular communist regime since the late forties, there was plenty to be upset about. The economy was in collapse, food...
Pinku triple bill at Ueno’s Okura Theater
When I interviewed Jasper Sharp, author of Behind the Pink Curtain, last year, I mentioned that I was visiting Tokyo soon and whether there were any pinku theatres still in operation that I could visit. Sharp mentioned Ueno’s Okura Theater; an OP Eiga owned theatre recently reopened and refurbished with a steady stream of clientele....
