Malibu High

This poster is a lie.

Continuing with the series of "movies that deserved a worthy review" we continue with one of my wife's personal favorites: Malibu High, a 1970 sexploitation tale that digs deep into a teen tramp desperate race for satisfying her darkest cravings. Directed by Irvin Berwick and written by John Buckley & Tom Singer, Malibu High AKA Death in Denim is probably one of the most interesting displays of how nasty the exploitation genre could get. Starred by Jill Lansing, this flick is about a high school senior tramp that is dumped by her boyfriend, making her grades fall drastically... so to avoid failing, she begins seducing her male teachers. Thus begins her downward spiral into drug addiction and prostitution, and ultimately assassinations for a kingpin mob boss, yes, my kind of movie. 

Kim Bentley, student, hooker & hitgirl.

The movie essentially deals with the adolescent need to fit in, only this time the "need" is more like a desperate obsessive craving. As I stated yesterday for the "Cindy & Donna" review, exploitation films do have a say about important issues sometimes. The problem is the film makers fail to let you understand their films actually had an interesting aproach about everyday life issues. I don't blame them though, cause in the sleazy 70's if you wanted to make it big (or at least trying to make it big) you were urged to use nudity, sex, clichéd topics and worst of all, urge to film with limited budgets, which eventually didn't allow producers to hire talented actors & actresses (no, they couldn't afford renowned names) So, the "need to fit in" I was talking about is transformed into the worst kind of craving you can think of. Jill Lansing leads playing Kim Bentley, a wicked teen whose hunger for success becomes her doom.

Put a dodge in your garage.

 So, what is Malibu High about?

An 18 year old with a rotten attitude and bad grades decides to use her body as a means to gain money and graduate from school..soon becoming a prostitute and hitwoman in the process! The shocking subject matter grows from sleazy to violent and the protagonist has a really lousy personality, quite a polarizing character that gets exactly what she deserves. She often makes decisions on a whim, without much thought of future potential consequences. Selfish, always focused on what she desires, not considering those damaged by her actions.

Let me swallow that cum for you dear teacher.

The film is far more serious than what you can actually think of about an exploitation flick, with a rather sordid atmosphere and unpleasant characters.. perfect 70's Drive-in fare certain to appeal to trash lovers everywhere. Lots of rather icky sex sequences where Kim rolls around with hairy old men, such as teachers she wished to score A's from in class(..like the history and physics teachers)and an unscrupulous mobster who uses her to bump off undesirables that affect those that he has relationships with. Jill Lansing as Kim, the lead character, sinks her fangs into the role..with quite a loud, confrontational voice, holding nothing back, Kim becomes impossible to handle, an independently thinking woman willing to commit unspeakable acts for her lover/employer.

Yes, I'm a hooker because fuck you!

There are priceless (..incredibly tasteless, I could do nothing but stare in awe at the boldness of the filmmakers) scenes in this movie such as Kim's work with various "hard-hat" types for sweaty, greasy pimp Tony (Alex Mann, the kind of sleazeball most teenage girls run away from) in his van (..nothing hardcore, but the idea itself is disturbing) before "graduating" to higher clientèle once she begins prostituting for Lance (Garth Howard). The assassinations themselves left me awestruck.. when you take into effect that she was sitting in a classroom wondering how to survive during her current situation(..to be honest, a lot of what happens to Kim is of her own doing, even if tragedy struck her earlier in life regarding the suicide of pops and mother's overbearing ways, not to mention the boyfriend left for a rich daddy's girl), and about thirty minutes later she's killing people assigned to her. And, that climax is something to behold, rather grim and depressing if you truly contemplate what brought Kim to this point, with credits rolling unapologetically. 

I give a blowjob and then I kill you.

The production values and technical proficiency are rather sub-par (..this is a low budget exploitation feature, after all)..to be honest, when I choose to watch a film like Malibu High I often expect to see "deficiencies" in all areas, because these movies were made(..and acted) primarily by amateurs you never see or hear from again. This film has a malicious tone I wasn't expecting..I wasn't for sure how it would develop but the idea of this girl, buried in a type of an emotional malaise, evolving from a tramp providing sexual favors for teachers to popping bullets into victims certainly surprised me. How malignant Kim becomes is another startling aspect with her going as far as causing her principal to suffer a heart attack by hiding his pills just because he was a threat towards her possible graduation! The dress for these characters should induce chuckles reminding us of the hideous seventies' fashions (..and the discoteque scene reminds us of the ghastly music as well). Lansing bares her breasts throughout the movie very seldom hiding them under her shirts. Lansing's not the kind of girl I'd go for (..and as a "goddess of desire" she doesn't quite fit the bill, in my opinion), but it's a spirited, daring performance. Blunt, often foul-mouthed, and unpredictable script. 

You know Principal, you kind of turn me on.

Is Malibu High worth the try?

Yes, yes it is. So much have been discussed around the internet world about the actual value of the exploitation films that I just don't want to repeat hundreds of theories that basically state the exploitation genre lacks originality, both directing & acting talent and frantically abuse of women exposing them to excessive nudity & sex, and bla bla bla.

Get up you lazy bitch, it's time to get your face covered in cum for some cash.

Good stuff about Malibu High

Jill Lansing convingcingly performs the lead role of Kim Bentley, and that is not because she's a top of the line actress, but because she physically portrays the character looks: Unattractive, dirty, looking cheap and dressing up like a street hooker. 

I'll suck your dick dry if you promise me an A.

The plot is not the most original of all times but it does keep you entertained from start to finish. I mean, the idea of turning a regular high school student into a mean hooker and eventually a hitgirl  does seem appealing at times.

Bad Stuff about Malibu High

The supporting cast is terrible. None of them can render a fair performance for each of their assigned roles.

The sex scenes are awful. Knowing the main actress is alredy a let down, and seeing her "perform" with old fats at odd places, like a very uncomfy van don't help improve things by a longshot.

This skinny bitch is Kim's ultimate inspiration.

There's a lot of silly dialogues that start nowhere and end nowhere. Now why is that? 

The origin of the whole story is ridiculous! how can Kim become a hooker, fuck teachers and kill people just because she is jealous of her ex boyfriend's new girl!

I rule.

Anyways, here's the full movie for your guilty exploitation pleasure:

Cindy & Donna

a Story of two sinful sisters.

Continuing with movies that "deserved a way better review treatment" Today we continue with a great 1970 flick known as "Cindy & Donna". What happens when you're a bored teenager in the middle of a disfunctional family whose parents represent the living chaos of not making it in your life? Believe it or not some exploitation films do have something to say besides merely displaying nudity, sex & scene sequences per se. Cindy & Donna comes desguised as a teenage sex discovery movie, but beneath each costume we find the reasons why it is so important to have a functional family where our parents roles are clear and defined to help us achieve what society  (fuck society) thinks is fair enough to make a living. That is on the one hand, cause on the other, we do get to see some heavy stuff, that can be a bit shocking at times, thankfuly it is just a movie and we don't have any of those pervs character in real life (you wish)  

Cindy & Donna, is nothing but a sexploitation drama fairly directed by Robert Anderson and magnificently written by Barry Clark. The issues or topics the movie deals with are basically, a disfunctional family with absent parents more concerned about getting the kicks out of booze and sluts rather than sitting with their kids having tea. The film also explores sexual discovery, drug use (and abuse), divorce, cheating, alcohol, underage prostitution and incest. Some recipe!

Characters & Topics:

Cindy Weeks, is a 15 years old teen in the path of self discovery, well, mostly in the path of sexual discovery. She's always looking forward to follow her step sister's step. Her topic is definitely sex & drugs discovery. Debbie Osborne plays a quite convincing sex hungry teen.

Cindy Weeks.

Donna Weeks, is a 17 years old teen who's been around the world of sex, booze and drug use. Her topic is definitely not giving a shit about anything and getting wasted no matter the cost. Nancy Ilson plays the role like natural.

Donna Weeks, a 17 years old slut.

Ted Weeks, is Cindy & Donna's father. His marriage is definitely not going well as he spent most of his time and money following the steps of a stripper prostitute. His topic is avoiding responsibilites and being loyal to your own selfish interests. Max Manning is a natural to the role, he  looks like & sounds like the original Ted Weeks.

Dad of the year, drunken at the bottom.

Harriet Weeks, she's an alcoholic woman who has lost all of her self-esteem. She represents the idea of "losing everything & not fighting back"oh by the way, she's Cindy & Donna's mum. Sue Allen plays the little role fair enough.

Mum was always with a drink in her hands.

Alice, she's the stripper and prostutite that drives all of the attention at her local bar. Ted Weeks is madly in love with her ,but she's just doing it for the money. Her topic is "temptation is around the corner" Gorgeous Alice Friedland plays this role wonderfuly. She spends most of her time naked and believe me she has got one of the greatest bodies I've ever seen on films.

Sex godess Alice.

What is Cindy & Donna about?

Cindy and Donna Weeks are two teenage half sisters who live with their dysfunctional parents ( a booze hound mother and a lecherous, infidelity-prone father). While Donna is an "experienced" girl marching toward woman-hood with a boyfriend, younger red-haired sis, Cindy is conflicted and hesitant but still curious about sex. She spies on her sister and listens to her best friend, Karen talk about sex. She also spies on her drunken father as one night he falls into bed with her half sister, his stepdaughter, Donna. 

Two sisters getting some sun.

Two sisters diddleing their skiddles.

Basically there's no real plot that's worth following. It's just these three girls falling into sexual situations to the soundtrack of some "groovy" music (it's hilarious how the script has them drop these hip soundbites of the day like 'far out', 'can you dig it?' and 'I'm hip' every five or ten minutes). The editing is what you'd expect for a low-budget movie from 1970. It's choppy and the film is a little grainy in spots. But this isn't the type of movie you watch for the craftsmanship of filmmaking. However, as I stated above, the film does have interesting topics, that are underdeveloped due to the abuse of sex scenes that kind of, you know, diminish the amount of time the film makers could have spent explaining the topics from start to finish, rather than constantly interrupting the plot with a good old fuck.

Alice the Stripper.

How much for a blowjob Alice?

Sex is good though, in fact, every female featured in the movie seems to be involved in the liberation of the sexual revolution with even Mrs. Weeks throwing herself at her husband's friends. The younger girls are all gorgeous and have no problem disrobing and one girl dances almost nude for a full 30-40 seconds with the camera ogling her naked body. This reminds me why this is one of my favorite periods. The mini-skirts and dresses these girls wear are so short, they can't even lift their arms without giving a show. And the drug use is in full effect. The girls all smoke pot and mom and dad are drunk-a-holics. 

Little Cindy.

Watch out for that hand Cindy!

Sisters share everything.

Essentially the film follows Cindy Weeks steps into becoming a more experienced under age adolescent, understanding "experienced" by becoming a sex & drugs open minded expert. Cindy doesn't have a mum & dad to learn from, as they're mostly concerned with their own fucked up adulthood issues, so there is only one role model to follow: Her stepsister Donna Weeks a daredevil always looking forward to partying hard. So, as Cindy learns from Donna, she eventually starts smoking pots, and fucking every guy that comes handy for the sole purpose of cumming like mad. Once Donna finds out her little sister is interested in her routine, she has no problem entering Cindy into her world and circle of weird friends. Once our two main characters are lost forever the plot begins to unravel a non stop frantic race to see which sister is the more slutty & druggy of them all. Unfortunately there is a fatal twist that changes the two sinful sisters life forever.

Old fart does the Teenie good.

Car sex, a true american classic.

it's masturbation time Cindy!

Mr. Weeks is a pimp.

Overall, Cindy & Donna can be quite an entertaining film if you're ok with an underdeveloped plot & plenty, believe me, plenty of sex scenes that add little or no consistency to the plot at all. The main characters seem to be a bit underdeveloped also, as we only see both sisters getting high & getting laid, we don't even see a glimpse of what they have to say about their parents issues. Mum & dad are also underdeveloped, especially Mum which only appears in the film for about five minutes at most. Dad is not actually underdeveloped, he's more like, a tool to display a gorgeous chick naked in several scenes. However, there are a couple of disturbing scenes you may find shocking. One scene where Donna has sex with her father/stepfather (that is not clearly explained in the film) and the other scene being, Cindy having a lesbian sex scene with her step sister Donna (holy!) Also ,if you're not ok with actresses portraying "underage teens gone wild" you may not find this movie to be your cup of tea.

Donna fucks anything that moves, even her father!

Cindy likes to take a shower everyday.

Cindy & Donna like to go to orgies from time to time.

I wish I had a friend like Cindy, she's always horny & willing!

If I had to rate this film I'd say 5/5 for astonishing actresses having sex and 2/5 for unfinished businesses with the plot. Definitely director Robert Anderson was more into filming a softcore sex film with little interest for plot development. Anyways, Cindy & Donna is a product of its time, the late 60s and early 70's films did evolve from erotic content to softcore content, and if you wanted to make your way in Hollywood, you had to do something, even if that meant filming, writing, producing & starring movies that were mostly about young & naked cuties doing their thing.

Yes Cindy, to become experienced you gotta fuck harder!

Cindy & Donna was re-released in 2005 by Millcreek Entertainment in the "Drive-In Cult Classics" DVD series. Later it was re-released in the "32 Drive-In Cult Classics" DVD box set, which is currently out of print, and it has recently being re-released for the third time in the "Big Screen BombShells" 12 movie pack, also produced by Milcreek Entertainment. The edition you should want to watch is found in the later DVD box set as the image & sound quality seem to have been improved from the earlier releases.

Here's the opening sequence where Cindy Weeks is sharing a walk on the beach with her prince charming. Pay close attention to the lyrics in the song:

Here the gorgeous Alice Friedland displaying her incredibly perfect hot body. Big boobs, big tight ass, and let's not forget about her dancing talent:

Little Cindy tired of seeing Donna getting all the dicks & semen to herself, decides it is time to give herself the pleasure she deserves with some classic fingering before going to sleep:

Pick Up

The ultimate underrated hippie movie.

Looks like we're stuck in 1975, since today's entry was also filmed in 1975 in a 14 month non stop working time. Originally the film was to be called "Swamp Lord" and/or "Pazuzu" but both titles proved to be non commercial, so once the movie was sold and distributed to nationwide drive-ins it was retitled as "Pick Up" an apparently much more attractive title that would drive audiences to actually care about the drive-in movie while getting a killer blowjob from their current escort lady.

Anyways, Pick Up has been negatively criticized in the internet circles, regarded as a softcore sexploitation show that lacks substance to be actually called a movie, and I say "Fuck them" we're talking about sexploitation and those reviewers should show some respect for the genre.These guys got it wrong, I didn't so I will tell you why Pick Up is a great film. The film is obviously low budget...but not in a bad way whatsoever! They made with what they had...the acting (for that time), was very good, the directing was great, and I would just like to point out the editing...excellent! You know, back then it wasn't easy like it is now, and there's some trippy stuff you see in between shots as well. Oh, and both of the girls...absolutely beautiful. 

The groovy opening font.

RV of hippie doom.

Pick-Up, actually about a hippie trip with drugs, sex & mother nature.

The film, like someone said at IMDB, plays like a "trip"....and I absolutely gotta agree with them! Definitely a trip I would love to be on that's for sure. I WILL NOT give away the ending, but to this day it's stuck with me and I always think about it. The pacing is great, both of the girls are excellent (as characters and actresses)...the guy that owns the RV place always cracks me up lol

Seriously though, the other reviewer did a top notch job, and I can't think of anything else to say other than this:

Want to see a film that is original and unlike any other film you have seen? Tired of the films that try and pass as "grindhouse" films nowadays and want the real thing? Pick up "PICK-UP" today and go on one hell of a ride =)

I'm so high I could fuck a horse.

Satan's church.

Twisted politician V/S hippie guitar bitch.

But, what is Pick-Up about? 

 

A young man is transporting a lavish bus across Florida (the film was actually shot in Florida) to a specific destination, picking up two female oddballs from California, getting lost and trapped within the Everglades swamp after a detour sends him off route.

The remainder of the film details the trio, how both girls enter sexual relations with their male transporter. We also see inside the psychology of all three. How astrology spiritualist Maureen(Gini Eastwood), rambling on about Pazuzu and the goddess Apollos, was molested by her Catholic priest. A look at Carol's(Jill Senter) first sexual experience. Or, how living in an oppressive environment with his domineering, demanding, overbearing mother shaped Chuck(Alan Long)into the free-spirit he soon become. Each character has reasons for the type of person they are.

Outdoors sex goddess.

Carol, with all of her expressive sensuality, seems to have stopped maturing psychologically at the age of 13. Carol takes to this tiger doll as if it's real, chatting and toying with it as if she were an adolescent.

Chuck just doesn't adhere to the pressures exhibited across the phone from his employer(Tom Quinn)who pleads with him to get the bus to it's desired location on time. Chuck's past with a mother(..there's a hint of possible incest) seems to have deprived him of pleasures he now seeks after, without a care about societal demand.

Embrace mother nature's sex call.

Maureen is wrought with troublesome dementia, receiving visits from a clown and politician, not to mention this goddess. There's evidence throughout that practically all we see within the landscape of the enchanting Everglades setting could be a product of Maureen's mind.

The RV driver knows how to cash.

This movie is way out there("Woah, far out man")..I would certainly classify / categorize this as "weird cinema", probably deriving from some sort of drug-induced state. A collection of dreams / fantasies culled from the use of some kind of trippy acid. Unlike other films of this type(..if there's a film as oddball as this), director Bernard Hirschenson has serious talent, his cinematography and editing quite impressive despite the enigmatic nature of John Winter's script..there's a kind of power the movie has due to the visual work and alluring location. Injecting an assortment of strange situations and characters(..who may or may not be real, perhaps a product of Maureen's mental state), accompanied by musical interludes, accentuates the dream-like spirit Hirschenson seems to be striving for.

Oh dear, fuck me once more.

The leads are quite beautiful and Hirschenson's camera worships their every pore. I do forewarn future viewers interested in Pick Up, it's not exactly worried about forwarding a plot to you in the usual fashion, opting instead to leisurely explore the dynamic of relationships and the environment of an otherworldly place.

RV sex ride.

Pick-Up Trivia:

 

The films original working titles were "Swamp Lord" and "Pazuzu", however when the film was purchased for distribution it was renamed "Pick-Up" as the distributors felt it would be more marketable under that title.

 

The film was shot in 14 days. 

Fucking outdoors, what a hippie thing that is.

The environment is also important in this movie.

According to star Gini Eastwood after shooting scenes deep in the swamps she spent weeks picking chiggers off of her skin.

Don Penny, who plays the politician in the film, also played the part of the bizarre clown that Maureen sees in the swamp. 

 

Did you notice girls spend most of their time naked & fucking?

Sex is all over baby.

During an interview Gini Eastwood said that while shooting the surreal "alter" scene one night in the swamp a group of poachers wondered onto set and were quite confused by the whole weird scene. Eastwood also added that at one point the crew stumbled upon a group of armed Cuban Commandos while shooting in the swamp. 

 

Overall, a great entertaining film that focuses its efforts in bringing you the ultimate acid trip experience, and believe me, it doesn't fail on its attempt, in fact it'd make you want to have an acid trip and fuck strangers in the road for sure.

 

Here's the movie trailer:

 

Best Friends

It's 1975 and friends are forever?

Continuing with movies I "own them a fair review" today we have a very interesting aproach into friendship, growing up, settling down & not wanting to quit partying hard. "Best Friends" AKA "Fatale Freundschaft" is a 1975 Crown International Pictures production directed by Noel Nossek and written by Doug Chapin & Arnold Somkin. However, the film has nothing to do with the exploitation/sexploitation genre, I believe it is more like a standard drama movie, although the film was back then categorized as a grindhouse and/or exploitation experience it really doesn't belong to such genre. Anyways, the film is being sold as if it was an exploitation movie by Milcreek Entertainment on their "32 Drive-In Cult Classics" DVD collection.  Now, just you don't get confused, the movie poster tag line says "she became the ravaged victim of a century of revenge" and in the background of the poster you find a group of indian american natives that kind of imply there will be a great battle among the natives and our main characters, but, no, the movie has nothing to do with the tag line and I believe that's the only exploitation trick film producers used to promote the movie.

Jessie & Pat to friends for life.

So, Best Friends is about Jessie (Richard Hatch) and Pat (Doug Chapin) have been friends since perhaps childhood. And they've done everything together. In the beginning we get a montage of pictures showing they've been through everything to the prom to the war. And this is how the movie gets it's edge. Jessie came home from Vietnam before Pat did, and it's pretty obvious the war has affected Pat, not Jessie. But, anyways, Jessie and his girlfriend Kathy (Susanne Benton) decide to drive to California to meet Pat when he gets off the airplane. See the thing is they want to take a cross country trip/vacation, and along comes Pat's estranged girlfriend Jo Ella (Ann Noland).

The movie starts off perfectly normal, when everyone see's each other again, it seems like this is going to be a fun road movie. But, soon tension starts to amount. Kathy is clingy to Jessie, and Pat is jealous. Plus, Kathy and Jessie has a much better, loving relationship, then Pat and Jo Ella. Pat is stilted and wants to enjoy life, Jo Ella wants to settle down and be married.

Kathy, willing to have anal sex once she's married.

Things get even more heated when Jo Ella makes a fool out of herself by taking her top off at an Indian bar and a fight emerges with the group. Pat wants to protect Jessie (who was hit) but Kathy won't let him. It seems like Pat is becoming more and more obsessed with getting Kathy completely out of the picture and having Jessie to himself.

Then, the film takes a hard left turn. Pat sits Jo Ella down and tells her he has no intention on marrying her. Her life is immediately shattered. He then lies to her and tells her Jessie has been interested in her all this time and she should try to sleep with him. And then another turn comes when Pat sees Kathy alone and tells her Jessie would be a horrible husband and would probably cheat on her.

Jo Ella, willing to have her mouth filled with cum, no matter single or married.

Jessie and Jo Ella sleep together, Pat tries to rape Kathy, and Jessie beats the holy hell out of Pat. This sets up the last half of the picture where Pat and Jessie try to regain their friendship, through what else, trying to find younger girls to have sex with.

In an ultimate turn of events in the movie (which I won't reveal for you loyal readers out there who will go see this), each one of the four's life are effected by the horrible tragedy that occurs at the end. It's a moment full of empathy, regret, and sadness. Pat ends the picture by saying "We've been together for so long.....we can have it all....." "Best Friends" was mismarketed as a grindhouse/drive-in film in 1974, so the company that released it decided to release it in theaters in early 1975, and I'm sure if it had the proper advertisement and some Academy members actually took the time to see it, it would have got some kind of Academy recognition.

The part of "Best Friends" that keeps coming up is, Ann Noland. She easily gives one of my favorite performances of all time as Jo Ella.

Winnebago sex.

70's stripper.

Jo Ella can be a stripper too!

Kathy likes to keep her body clean for her man.

Ann Noland's Jo Ella is multi-layered. She is seemingly happy and carefree, yet she worries about her future nearly every day. She stays "Best Friends" most interesting character. The scene right before her and Jessie have sex where she throws leaves on him and seems playful, then starts crying and says "We're not getting married..." She is heartbreaking! For it's mellow and tense atmosphere, hippie soundtrack, and surprisingly great acting, including Ann Noland's shattering Jo Ella, makes "Best Friends" one of the most interesting Drive-In films that are actually not just meant to be skipped until the ending while having some car sex.