Coffy

From nurse to bad ass avenger.

Pam Grier made many movies in the 1970s, but 1973's Coffy as much as anything, is the one role on which her reputation as the Queen of blaxploitation rests. After a bit part in a Russ Meyer movie (his classic 'Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls'), Jack Hill, former Roger Corman protege and director of the creepy cult favourite 'Spider Baby', "discovered" her and gave her two strong roles in his popular chicks-in-chains movies 'The Big Doll House' and 'The Big Bird Cage'. Then Hill wrote and directed 'Coffy', a hugely entertaining revenge thriller that really showcases Pam Grier's talent and charisma to the max. The movie was hugely successful and made Grier an exploitation superstar. Instead of a female James Bond character like Cleopatra Jones(our next review), Hill made Coffy a regular working class black woman (a nurse as a matter of fact), who must use her brains and looks to achieve her goal - revenge for the drug addiction of her kid sister. 

The movie crosses elements seen in the male blaxploitation classics of the period like 'Superfly' and 'Shaft'(I'm sorry fellow readers, we still haven't upload our reviews for each film, but soon we'll update our blaxploitation catalog massively) with the vigilante genre which would really kick off with the success of 'Death Wish' the following year (yup, 'Coffy' PREDATES 'Death Wish', so let's get that straight). Grier is sensational in this movie. She can act, she's tough, she pulls off the action scenes with credibility, and of course she looks great, and there is a fair bit of nudity. Grier went on to movies like 'The Arena', 'Sheba, Baby' and 'Drum' before the blaxploitation boom burst, but it's a pity that she only made one more movie with Jack Hill ('Foxy Brown' another brilliant piece that will be reviewed properly very soon) because they were a dynamite team bringing out the best in each other. 'Coffy' has some interesting supporting cast members including Allan Arbus (best know to fans of TV's 'M.A.S.H.') as Mob boss Vitroni, future 'Robocop' actor Robert DoQui as flamboyant pimp King George, and the brilliant Sid Haig as the sleazy Omar. Haig was a regular Grier co-star throughout the 1970s and Jack Hill's favourite actor ever since his breakthrough role in 'Spider Baby'. 

Say hello to my little friend!

She had a shotgun before shotguns were cool.

"Coffy" has got to be one of the slickest pieces of entertainment ever created, not to mention the penultimate "Blaxploitation" cinema experience. It's a credit to everyone involved in the film that the story could be so gratuitously nonsensical and contrived and still seem completely logical while it's happening. It's like a comic book come to life.

Pam Grier plays Coffy, a nurse who goes on a murderous rampage after her sister overdoses on drugs supplied by a "pusher" who knows that Coffy is sending her money. From the opening scene, where Coffy pulls a severely-sawed-off shotgun out of her macramé purse to blast a big-time drug dealer to hell, the frantic pace never lets up until the bitter, seething end.

After making her first "hit", Coffy's vengeance is further stoked when her do-good cop friend is taken out by the dirty dealers for not accepting a payoff. Coffy blows her top and takes some time off work to really go for the jugular, working her way through the city's drug cartel by posing as a Jamaican hooker named "Mystique". It's not hard--she gets the vital information in a hilarious scene involving a woman named Priscilla, whose "old man," Harriet, turns out to be more than Coffy bargained for.

Her body is her ultimate weapon.

White sluts do their part in Coffy too.

The genius in the film is in the way that Coffy manages to manipulate her way through all of these scenarios. Even the hardest criminals are putty in her hands, and she never looks more beautiful than when she is covered in scratches, grime, and wielding a shotgun. She has a seemingly endless bag of tricks, several of which involve weapons hidden in her astonishing afro. She's comfortable around a gun, but she'll use any old thing lying around to wreak her vengeance: a broken wine bottle, a hypodermic needle full of dope, a makeshift shiv, even a convenient rock lying on the side of the road.

By the time the climax rolls around, the film has become deliriously exciting, building continuously upwards until you think it might collapse in on itself. But it doesn't. "Coffy" stands tall, even over the strains of a closing song that tells us "Revenge is a virtue." This film is nearly perfect in every way.  

Stay tuned for we will continue checking Pam Grier's amazing films and other blaxploitation classics that DO deserve room in a self-proclaimed "connoisseur" blog like yours truly. 

Classy pimps.

Oh, by the way! Happy holidays!

Here's the movie trailer:

The Flash at the CW

The fastest man alive comes to life!

Months before The Flash's pilot leaked people were already calling this new series as an Arrow's spin off, a spin off seriously? So far we've enjoyed 9 episodes of pure comic book action like TV hadn't seen in quite a while. While Arrow is slow motion CSI with a vigilante, The Flash is an evolution of superheroes, in the television show industry. 'Arrow' was created because WB/DC needed a product, similar to the chemistry of Batman and what better character than Oliver Queen/Green Arrow?. I mean billionaire playboy becomes vigilante? Come on, in comparison Green Arrow is a lot like Batman, it's uncanny. Let alone the fact, that Oliver Queen and Bruce Wayne share a few similarities in their characters. As for 'Arrow' the show, it has the same dark, realistic feel that The Dark Knight trilogy had, (and the same can be said for Man of Steel). And I love that WB/DC are going this way about it. The show has proved it's worth for being an epic adventure for Oliver Queen and an awesome introduction to the character, as well as a kick ass TV show on it's own.

Though in comparison between the Flash and the Green Arrow, the Flash is a much more involved and important character than the latter, in respect to the entirety of the DC universe(see the paragraph below). By this I mean, everything in some way is connected to The Flash e.g. "The Flashpoint" story arc for instance. He has more power in his tiny red gloves, than some people give him credit for. I mean, some fans of the comic books, might even say that the Flash is more important than Superman or Batman, (even though the majority of the mainstream public, look up to these defining superheroes more). I mean the Flash brought back comic books, at a time when they were deemed inappropriate for children! I am of course, referring to the beginning of the Silver Age of comic books, which began with 'The Flash'. He was the little guy, in the midst of all these other famous superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Captain America and The Human Torch. Yet 'The Flash' was the underdog, that inspired and defined superhero comic books and their franchises to this date.

Faster than diarrhea!

Quicker than a burp!

Why is The Flash so important in the world of comic books? (a 101 explanation for the unaware)

Back in 1940 Gardner F .Fox created a unique superhero who was the fastest man alive after breathing in the fumes of Hard water for over a 12 hour period Jay Garrick discovered that he was the fastest man alive and decided to use these powers to help those in need. He called himself the Flash. With a WWI soldiers helmet on his head a red shirt with a lightning bolt (Pearl Jam anyone?) on it he looked like Mercury. The Flash lasted in popularity until roughly 1952 when He and the rest of his team mates in the Justice Society of America made their last appearances. Afterwards the comics industry hit a massive slump...

Flash Forward to 1956. The comics industry is in a slump. Nothing is selling well except for Superman Batman Wonder Woman Aquaman and Green Arrow. Aquaman and Green Arrow only survive because they are the back ups to superman and Batman. but still something needs to be done. Enter Julie Schwartz. Schwartz is a young editor at DC Comics and he is toying with a idea. To bring back the superheroes. He wants to revive the Flash but not Jay Garrick. He likes the idea of a fastest man alive doing impossible things . So he turns to Writer Robert Kanigher and Artist Carmine infantino. together in a weekend the three of them plot the origin story of the New Flash to be seen in DC Comics SHOWCASE PRESENTS. Showcase issue four hits the stands featuring the Flash and a new age begins the silver age of comics. The New Flash is police scientist Barry Allen who was struck by lightning while standing in front of a rack featuring every known chemical known to man. The lightning bolt strikes the chemicals and creates a reaction in Barry Allen it rewrites his DNA to give him incredible speed. The Flash was a Hit, Barry Allen was a scientist and science featured a lot in the Flash stories. Now Flash forward to 1985 Barry Allen was killed during the Crisis on infinite Earths. And became DC's patron saint of noble heroes. During the early 90's a TV Show THE FLASH starred John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen as the Flash and it did well. but it missed the boat in terms of characterization turning Barry Allen into a hip guy who worked hand in glove with S.T.A.R. Labs and fought crime while sharing a love triangle with Two women. While the Shipp series was fun, it wasn't the most accurate rendition of the Flash ,Which leads us to year 2014 and the CW magnificent take on The Flash...

Barry is not alone in the race against crime.

Joe & Iris West: Barry Allen's family.

When I first saw Grant Gustin on 'Arrow', my initial thoughts weren't exactly promising toward his acting or charisma, let alone the fact that they hired a fairly unknown actor for such a big role. But how wrong I was, he's good at playing the little guy because that's what he is and that is who Barry Allen is. He's the little guy, who inspires everybody around him and it's only now that I can see the potential that the show, Grant Gustin and this incarnation of Barry holds. For every obstacle that this Barry Allen faces and overcomes, it deems himself even more worthy to becoming the definitive live action version of 'The Flash'. I mean in episode 6, "The Flash is Born" that punch was the first time that I realized and saw that this version of Flash could very well be 'The Flash'. It looked like he was nearly flying, like the very first superhero that 'Superman' is. Grant Gustin has really grown on me, I just love watching him now. He's just so believable as his character and as an actor. So cool... So, so COOL!

I want this show to do so well, that WB will consider these versions of the Flash and Green Arrow to being included in the upcoming Justice League films (something that at least today, doesn't seem to be going to happen). I mean jeez... I'm actually enjoying 'Arrow' and 'The Flash' more than 'Man of Steel'. That being said, I can't wait for 'Superman VS Batman: Dawn of Justice', Ben Affleck as Batman is going to be so cool!! I know many fans out there want  to see Stephen Amell and Grant Gustin in the Justice League film. I mean, by the time 'Dawn of Justice' comes out, Zack Snyder will only have 5 hours at best, to have shown his universe. In comparison to this, Arrow will have finished it's 4th season and The Flash will have had two seasons. By my calculations, that means that the TV show's universe will have had a total of 92 hours worth of stories and character development with a much broader universe to enjoy. 

Captain Boomerang.

Captain Cold!

OK, but what does the new Flash series has to offer? Why do I have to watch it?

Barry Allen is a Central City police forensic scientist with a reasonably happy life despite the childhood trauma of a mysterious yellow being killing his mother, and framing his father. All that changes when a massive particle accelerator accident leads to Barry being struck by lightning in his lab. Coming out of coma nine months later, Barry and his new friends at STAR labs find that he now has the ability to move at superhuman speed. Furthermore, Barry learns that he is but one of many affected by that event, most of whom are using their powers for evil. Determined to make a difference, Barry dedicates his life fighting such threats as The Flash. While he gains allies he never expected, there are also secret forces determined also to aid and manipulate him for their own agenda...

The latest take on The Flash has so many things in favor that even the fake comic book fans (you know, those assholes who think watching a superhero film turns them instantly into connoisseurs of the comic book world) would enjoy watching each episode. Just in case you're still one of the few who haven't caught the scarlet speedster fever here's a list of what you've been missing:

The good guys.

Friend or foe?

1. The Spectacular Flash Rogues Gallery.

So far with 9 episodes, we've seen many spectacular battles featuring well known Flash rogues like Weather Wizard, Multiplex, Plastique, Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang and yes, Reverse Flash among others. Each enemy features a unique power that will have Barry finding new ways to defeat these metahumans by either improving his powers or accepting the aid of his S.T.A.R. Labs teammates.

2. Character Development.

Each character in the series is there for a reason. Don't believe me? check these facts:

-Iris West is Barry Allen's love interest. In the comic book they get married and have Wally West as their son (he becomes the third Flash) However, she's engaged to Edward "Eobard" Thawne, a friendly cop who works with her dad and at least in the comic book becomes the Reverse Flash just because Iris chose Allen instead of him. This could lead to interesting mayhem but we yet have to wait a little longer to see if this can actually happen, since in last night's episode Eddy Thawne was actually fighting the Reverse Flash too.

-Caitlin Snow & Cisco Ramon are well known rogues in the comic book world of The Flash. They are known as Killer Frost & Vibe respectively. Will they go rogue in later episodes? Also, Caitlin's deceased boyfriend has now become Firestorm!

- Doctor Harrison Wells is a man of mystery. What are his intentions behind The Flash's evolution? Why does he keep every metahuman in his own super high tech design prison? Why does he know the future? Why is he playing cripple when he's not? What does he have to do with the military and Gorilla Grodd? and for those who've already seen last night's episode how the fuck can he be in two places at the same time? and most importantly why does he keep the Reverse Flash suite inside his secret cave? is he really a different version from Reverse Flash? is he really named Harrison Wells? fuck, this douchebag has secrets and The Flash will be seeing red very soon.

Now, there is another not so crazy theory going out there in the internet forums, is it possible that DR. Harrison Wells is actually Barry Allen from the future? Remember something, flash is part of the justice league....he would never kill anyone. Killing someone to protect barry would not be flash, he would incarcerate them instead....what about the fact that the captain received a threat after he revealed his intentions to only Harrison. My idea? That Harrison is eddie from the future. He killed Barry's mother for revenge...maybe iris dies cos Barry failed to save her (note Harrison claims to have lost a loved one) so he comes back in time to kill Barry's mom and allow his younger self happiness whilst in time finding out ways to reverse Barry's power using the front of being a friend to do tests and either control Barry's or end him. Anyways, after watching episode 9 we're clearer than ever that Wells, is not a good guy at all.

You're not ready yet Barry.

It's your destiny to be beaten by me!

3. A Strong Developing Plot Based on Actual Comic Books!

Since the pilot/episode 1 we were introduced to Barry Allen's troubled childhood. After he witnessed his mother death with unexplainable, impossible things, his dad was given the lifetime prison for a crime he didn't commit. Since then, Barry was raised by Joe West and his daughter Iris. Once Barry becomes The Flash, he realizes that the murder night was real, so he sets his mind to finding the yellow blur that murdered his mother in front of him. This plot has a lot to do with the original DC Comics New 52 story arc known as Flashpoint (also released as an animated home movie) On this story, Barry has developed his powers to a point where he can even travel in time at ease, and the first thing he does is travel back in time to save his mother's life, something he achieves unaware of how important this event was to the DC Universe. After saving her mother everything is changed forever (read the comic book) Will these story arc be fully developed within the next episodes and seasons? I do hope the answer is a strong yes! Unfortunately producers have already stated that it's not going to be possible to see major characters like Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman, so Metropolis & Gotham will be non existent places for the series, at least for now. However, in the near future, we may enjoy crossover events again with other characters like Arrow, The Atom, Firestorm, The Young Titans, and many more for sure (the rating of the Arrow/Flash crossover sky rocketed)

4. More unanswered questions! 

- Will Doctor Tina McGee aid The  Flash in his crusade against crime as she did in the original series? (this may not sound that crazy, since Barry will eventually find out Dr. Wells true intentions with him)  

- Will Henry Allen be finally set free? What did he mean when he told Barry to leave the Reverse Flash matter alone? Does he know something we don't? What if he is The Flash from another earth (you know, multiverse DC comics universe)

-Will we see  Hal Jordan's Green Lantern in future episodes? (remember the reference from the pilot episode)

-What other rogues are coming? Master Of Mirrors? 

-We already know Mark Hamill will return in future episodes, the question is, will he become The Trickster again?

-Why the Reverse Flash told Barry he knew who he was?

-What will Iris do after Barry told her he loved her?

-How is The Flash supposed to stop Reverse Flash?

-Why is doctor Wells keeping every rogue within his facilities?

Hopefully these questions will all be answered in the forthcoming episodes next spring.  

An early Flash poster.

Whoa! the episodes are getting better and better!

5. The Acting.

Another item that is usually overlooked is the acting. Each character here, has a personality of its own, and that is only possible thanks to each actor/actress behind. Grant Gustin (as above mentioned) is not only The Flash, he also portrays a realistic young Barry Allen who's in the way of learning how far can he go, and what it will take to defeat is inner demons thus, becoming a better hero. Tom Cavanagh (Doctor Harrison Wells) is to my liking the number one actor in the series. He literally steals the show when it comes to play his good side and dark side. Listening to his latest line "Merry Christmas" in that oh my fucking god evilish voice adds up to the look on his face. Jesse L. Martin (Detective Joe West) not only has the convincing look of a concerned and experienced father. He also plays a character that perspires goodness. Candice Patton (Iris West) who doesn't really have a lot of action per episode, is also a convincing best friend and love interest. Her infatuation with "The Streak" seems very real to me. In addition her relationship with Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) is very well executed. Last but not least, the S.T.A.R. Labs team Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) & Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdez) deliver very intense moment to each episode. While Snow is a more reflexive and romantic character who adds drama to the show, Ramon is a young genius thrilled to be sharing his job with a superhero and loves calling names each rogue The Flash battles.

6. The Special Effects.

 Considering this is a "made for TV series" we could predict below average CGI but this is not the case. The Special Effects department takes its job seriously. Watching The Flash come and go at super speed is definitely an enjoyable experience. Also, the fight sequences, the suits, the technology used all look very realistic, even for today's age of information. Watching the episode with Multiplex and the bullet time effect (the now forgotten Matrix trilogy) is a real visual orgasm. Michael Walls & Stefan Bredereck are the special effects coordinators and so far they've pulled a great job. There hasn't been a single scene that looks like 90's 3D.

Barry, I had an affair with your dad in the past.

Buy this action figure you must.

7. What's next?

After Episode 9 "The Man in the Yellow Suit" episode of The Flash, The CW released a sneak preview of the next episode, which is called "Revenge of the Rogues."

While an official synopsis has not been released for the "Revenge of the Rogues," the sneak preview shows Barry Allen pledging to devote every minute of his life to getting faster to stop the Reverse-Flash. Meanwhile, Heatwave and Captain Cold have kidnapped Dr. Caitlin Snow, and they are holding her hostage to lure out The Flash. The episode is set to premier on January 20th, 2015.

Here's that sneak preview:

Overall, The Flash has been an action packed series that features a strong plot based upon real comic books and not some stupid script writer's fantasy. This series is recommended to everyone! fans of the 90's series, fans of The Flash comic books, fake fans, posers, sci-fi lovers and mostly everyone who can appreciate a well executed piece that deserves a following, hell! even Marvel Comics fans like it!

Here's a 2014 Comic Con interview with the cast:

Here's Grant Gustin 101:

Here's Candice Patton 101:

The Kill, AKA, Blood Hunger & Reservoir Cats

The VHS version of the film.

The Kill, AKA, Blood Hunger & Reservoir Cats is an elusive 1968 sexploitation film that only runs for 45 minutes. The movie is written and directed by Gary Graver and there's actually only character with a name (Antoinette, played by Antoinette Maynard) 

 

Now, when they tell you "Don't judge a book by its cover" they certainly mean this rare sixties flick.By the looks of the VHS cover, which features a woman with her throat slit dripping blood(see picture above dummy), plastered in beautiful rental sticker warnings, you would expect this to be a classic crazy 80s slasher. 

I'm your suave detective.

"Here, let me show how it's done"

Being a movie from the 60's this is clearly way too far from resembling an 80's slasher. As a matter of fact this is one of the earliest sexploitation flicks that features a lot of full nudity (you know, titties, ass, bush, pink) for no reason. Also, and for no reason at all, someone unknown to me and most of the world has renamed the film as Reservoir Cats to make you think the film has something to do with Quentin Tarantino's debut film Reservoir Dogs film.However, this film has no resemblance to that of Tarantino and it has no resemblance to any decent piece in film making history. Watching Blood Hunger is like watching a collage montage of random scenes that hold little overall integrity. Still, it's fun to watch and I'll tell you why.

Blood Hunger opens with a dead cat on the side of the road for needless shock value (can’t say 100% for sure if it’s real or not, but it looks it). Great start to what I can only assume will be a classic cinematic masterpiece. There’s an overly long car chase that culminates in three men in black (galaxy defenders) beating the shit out of a woman with their fists, then dragging her back to a room with only a mattress and a bunch of film canisters to be raped (likely the director’s actual room, which is sad on so many levels). The sound effects for the punches are hilarious, as they sound like frozen meat is being hit with a stick. The girl’s screams go in and out, don’t match up, and sound like they are meant as score to the film rather than an actual sound effect. The sound of a guy unzipping the zipper on his pants in order to rape this poor woman is priceless (sounded like a bee buzzing in my ear). I cannot get over the effects they settled on. When the guy finished raping the girl there’s a literal lion’s roar and a car crash played. Then the sound of him zipping his fly back up is a creaky old door. I can only assume they had a library of effects to pick from and just tried to use every one of them randomly.

Let me fix yer snatch.

"C'mon! gimme yer love gun stud"

The rape victim goes to hire a private detective to help her catch these bad guys. As if his 40s/50s movie detective-schtick wasn’t obvious enough, they plastered a gigantic poster of Humphrey Bogart on the wall of his “office,” too. She talks to him, but all that comes out is a sped up Alvin and the Chipmunks-like effect over her voice so you can’t hear anything she says. Turns out this rape victim is a nympho who only cares about getting revenge on the guys who raped her and having sex with anything that moves. She bangs the detective and the detective says in his head, while they are both having sex, “I still didn’t trust her, she might be from the phone company.” Huh? Is this humor?

A hunchback/retarded janitor, who, because of his fake hunchback, can’t even button his shirt fully, gets raped by the girl who got raped. She throws him on the detective’s desk while he is gone, has sex with the guy’s hunchback, with the Lone Ranger music playing in the background (actually, it was an advertisement for the Lone Ranger playing), in front of the Humphrey Bogart poster. I could barely believe my eyes but it happened.

"psst, doggy, get me some wiener"

"Oh, hi, fuck me!"

While the detective is investigating, he gets caught by the thugs and gets tied up. Turns out these are heroin dealers headed by a man named Adolf Krueger (lol). He manages to call the rape victim to come save him in a hilarious scene featuring him struggling to get the phone and falling all over the place. She comes over and she has sex with him in the gangs’ room where she was raped… Classic.

There’s another WC Fields-like car chase (ala The Bank Dick) between the gang and the detective/nympho. The whole time this chase is going on she is giving him road head, I think. The scene was so disjointed and crazy that I can’t be 100% sure of anything that happened.

A few random simulated sex scenes followed (including one random death) and then both of the main characters were killed. The end. 

Are my boobs too big?

"Yes, I killed 'em after she swallowed his load"

Overall, a film that is not meant by any means to be a serious action packed thriller. This movie feels a lot like a sexploitation movie which only resides on a little plot to avoid the X rating. An entertainment film that is fun to watch while having a party with your friends. The only problem with it, is that it's nearly impossible to find. There's only a VHS release and that means it is a good time to visit your local thrift stores, flea markets and swap meets of sorts. 

Nevertheless, since it's public domain and nobody, but nobody has any intentions on releasing it on DVD, someone (not me google) posted it on youtube and here it is:

The Candy Snatchers

They want to still Candy's candies.

We know that lately we've been obsessed with Italian starlets and their signature movies but, today we'll give the ragazzas a rest and we'll add another entry in the exploitation classics category. 1973's The Candy Snatchers symbolizes the very essence of the perfect kidnapping plot going terribly awry, thanks to developing circumstances those responsible for putting it together weren't prepared for.Now, how many exploitation films are about the same story? many, but most of them aren't nearly as good as The Candy Snatchers.

It was simple, three hooligans decide to kidnap this school girl, hoping to receive diamonds from who they believe is her father. The girl's name is Candy(played by Susan Sennett of Big Bad Mama fame), and the man these goons expect to shake is her stepfather, and he's not the jewelry store owner they think he is. Eddy(played by Vince Martorano), Candy's stepfather hopes these three kill Candy so that he can get her father's inheritance(..Eddy purposely married Candy's mother for this sole reason). This turns the plans of Jessie(Tiffany Bolling, glammed down in a plain button shirt and pants, and still looking HOT), the mastermind, and her associates, Avery(Ben Piazza)and Alan(Brad David)upside down and inside out. 

They're after Candy's snatch!

...Unfortunately, someone got there first.

Susan Sennett, who is quite critical of the movie and her treatment in it,  claims that the terror you see on screen is 100% real. What terror you say? well, poor Candy remains bound, blind-folded, and gagged, with little dialogue, for large parts of the movie. Candy is actually buried alive twice(did Tarantino got his inspiration for Kill Bill Vol 2 from here?), and raped viciously by psychotic Alan(gee! did this film also inspire Thriller, A Cruel Picture?), a smug, narcissistic, arrogant scumbag who loves pulling his switchblade knife. Avery, who seems less hostile, attempts to help Candy, and is successful for quite a while, but it was only a matter of time before Alan had an opportunity to sexually molest her. Jessie is pretty much unstable, at times reserved, and most of the time in control, and, in a radical shift regarding movies in the exploitation genre, often dictates the terms of their party. She only loses control when Avery can no longer withstand his sexual urges, rushing her into a wall with no where to escape...what makes this scene so eye-opening is Jessie's eventual allowance of Avery's advances despite a valiant effort to free herself from his grasp.

Like a lot of films of this type, there are few characters to sympathize with..The Candy Snatchers is almost entirely made up of despicable people looking out for their own financial success and personal gain(wow! isn't society a lot like that these days?) Such as a sub-plot featuring an Autistic boy who doesn't speak, Sean, and what he must endure concerning a loud, contemptible monster of a mother who is always angry at him..his inability to communicate has caused a definite stress and lingering hostility in his parents' marriage, even blaming him for their unsuccessful attempt at a dream promotion. Sean is the only one who can help Candy, and contributes in a haunting finale(..knowing that Candy is buried under the earth, will he return to help her like he does the first time?)at silencing a nagging voice that has badgered him for quite some time. 

"She must suffer to her last"

"C'mon Candy, let's play a game"

As these films tend to turn out, our trio are on the cusp of securing the desirables only for a sequence of events to spiral out of control. Very violent conclusion ends in guns going off, with lots of bullet wounds and blood. Candy's fate is rather troubling, considering the absolute hell she goes through for 80 minutes. Director Richard L. Bare,  maintains a rather over-the-top, warped presentation, with all these loathsome cretins getting their comeuppance, but not after inflicting some damage on others along the way(..like this electrician they attempt to assault, with the guy getting the upper hand until Jessie smacks up side the head multiple times with a block of wood). 

The exploitation genre has many "shocker" films that make The Candy Snatchers looks like a Friends' episode. Nevertheless, what defines this film as a good film is the quality put in the acting (something only a few exploitation films have, let's be honest) something that allows us, the viewers, to believe that such cruelty can actually be shared by a group of subhuman creeps. Also, the director knows how to display the right amount of onscreen awfulness, to avoid negative reactions that could make the viewer stop watching the film (try sharing I Spit On Your Grave with your girlfriends to see what I mean)

This kid holds the key to Candy's destiny.

Do you have some Red Apples?

Watching The Candy Snatchers according to today's standards of explicit cinema may turn the experience into a disappointing one but that's not the way any connoisseur watches a movie. This is an early 70's film that carried a lot of shocking stuff for the time being, thus its tremendous value as a classic piece. Unfortunately, finding the DVD can be a pain in the ass since it's long out of print. Fortunately, there are other places you can look for it. 

Overall, an interesting film that delivers what promises in its promotional posters. Not for the faint of the heart though, there are some portions that may not appeal everyone's taste.

Here's the movie trailer:

La Ragazza Di Trieste: The Girl From Trieste

A must watch.

It's been a while since we left Ornella Muti's filmography behind. Today, we continue with one of her best films. La Ragazza Di Trieste AKA The Girl From Trieste, is a 1982 softcore erotic drama with a solid story that guarantees  not only a good time for Muti fans but to all quality film making fans. In the 70's Ornella Muti would star many sexploitation films that were hit and miss, but once she entered the 80's her career would go a step further. 

In her past she surely  was recognized as an Italian sexploitation starlet (along with Gloria Guida, Laura Antonelli, etc) due to her astonishing natural beauty, but in the late 70's, film makers would also acknowledge her tremendous acting skills, namely, Marco Ferreri who would have her as his star in 1976's controversial art film La Derniere Femme. In 1981 they'd team up again for another great piece based upon Charles Bukowsky's life "Tales Of Ordinary Madness" (a review is coming soon) So today's entry is another masterpiece in her career. 

La Ragazza Di Trieste is based on a novel written by Pasquale Campanile Festa, who also happens to direct the on screen adaptation.

 

The artist meets the goddess.

Nobody knows who I am.

The story of today's film in review follows the life of Dino Romani, a middle-aged artist (Ben Gazarra) that while sketching on the beach, witnesses a young woman (Ornella Muti) being rescued from drowning. He borrows her his blanket to keep her warm. As promised, she returns the blanket later and "in return" they spend the night together making the beast (Yes, I'm a Shakespeare fan) Such night would happen again several time making things become more complicated as Dino begins to fall in love with this mysterious bombshell  who leaves right after sex leaving no trace of her whereabouts.  After doing some research Dino finds out her real name is Nicole and that everything she told him about her life seems to be a lie.

Muti (above mentioned) is excellent in this movie, but it's really hard to believe her role is about a girl who's searching for everlasting love without any luck at all. Watching someone who has been chosen several times as the most beautiful women in the world in scenes where she has call men attention at the risk of her life makes you think  the producers should have chosen another actress in order to deliver a more believable reality but then again, movies aren't perfect.

If life gives you lemons.

"C'mon, one more facial for the good ol' times"

With her beauty set aside, we find out Nicole is an escapee from a mental institution suffering from bipolar disorder, nymphomania and pathological lying disorder. However, Her gorgeous body and amazing bedroom skills allow poor Dino  to forgive her. Nevertheless, things aren't that simple when it comes to establishing a relationship with someone who isn't healthy in the head.

By the time Dino arrives in Trieste he has no clue about who this sexually appealing character is but if you pay close attention to the opening scenes, the beach pub baristas seem to know her very well as they say something like "there she goes again playing drowning for random strangers" So that single line is screaming at you "she's a crazy bitch, she's done it before and she'll do it again, so wraiths be warned"

Lesbian action.

Where's  the next man I will  suck dry?

The climax of the film sets a different, darker more sinister mood to it, very unexpected I might say but it works wonderfully as we finally face the truth as it is: Nicole is completely insane, she does what she pleases and she doesn't care about hurting other people's feelings, hell! she doesn't even care about hurting herself!

Overall, an entertaining but serious film that teaches us that appearances can be deceiving, and that being as beautiful as Ornella Muti is, isn't necessarily going to get you your prince charming as easy as 1,2,3. Also, this film greatly explores the concepts of madness, self-esteem, infatuation and sexuality. Unlike her previous films (mostly the ones from the 70's) this film is not a comedy so if you're expecting a good laugh, skip this one. Now, if you're looking for one of the few sexploitation films that actually have a content that is well developed this is definitely for you.

Here's the magnificent film for your viewing pleasure, courtesy of the public domain law: