I don’t know why I never got around to seeing the THE CROW sequel from the director of SIX-STRING SAMURAI. Always was curious. Still took me 19 years. Lance Mungia’s THE CROW: WICKED PRAYER, just like the previous one, was meant for theaters, but I think it only played somewhere around here? Wiki(dprayer)pedia says its theatrical run was only in Seattle and only for one week, and I do remember seeing an ad for it and being confused, but I was thinking it was in Eastern Washington. Anyway, I didn’t go.
Two Halloweens ago we discussed Tobe Hooper’s first masterpiece. This is his second. He didn’t even want to direct it at first, sort of got pushed into it, but damn did he rally. In many ways THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 is the Tobe Hooperest movie ever made.
I don’t blame you if you’re skeptical during the opening scene where two obnoxious “senior boys at Wheeler High” calling themselves “Buzz and Rick the Prick” drunkenly drive a Porsche, fire guns, and harass the K-OKLA request line until they receive a drive-by chainsawing on a bridge that must’ve been built by the same people who made that endless runway from the climactic chase in FURIOUS 6. (read the rest of this shit…)
I gotta confess coming to this one from a place of cinematic ignorance. I’ve seen the original Godard movie, but I don’t remember jack shit about it. I thought it was pretty good, I believe. That’s about all I got. Still, I’m sure less people could tell you anything about the remake than everything about the original. So this makes me smart. (read the rest of this shit…)
These last couple weeks have been tough on my mental facilities. I reviewed that great new “ULTIMATE” edition of the original TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, I also revisited parts 3 and 4 in that original series, then on Thursday I reviewed the new prequel to the remake. So by that point I’d studied and written about pretty much every angle to the whole Texas Chainsaw deal. You’d think I’d be done with it by now, but there is one final chapter: the one spinoff of the original movie that achieves its own level of True Greatness. I am talking about Tobe Hooper’s 1986 sequel, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2. It’s been available on DVD for a couple years in a bare bones edition (get it, that is a pun because of all the skeletons they have) but Tuesday it comes out in a much deserved special edition with new commentaries, featurettes and deleted scenes. (read the rest of this shit…)
WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT THE SHIT OUT OF VERN & OUTLAWVERN.COM
if that's your thing:
1. Patreon
Toss me a couple bucks a month, support the good shit, also get access to a bunch of exclusive writing. This is my primary source of writing money that has allowed me to cut down to part time at the day job. Thank you!
2. Buy my books from your local bookseller or somebody
(NOTE: My ten year contract has passed on the Titan books, so I don't get residuals on them like I do WORM ON A HOOK and NIKETOWN, but I would love for you to read them because I'm proud of them)
EXTRA CREDIT: Review them on Amazon! That would really help me out. Unless you didn't like them, in which case forget I said anything.
3. If you ever buy from Amazon, go through my links or search engines
(you pay the same amount you were gonna pay anyway they cut me a little slice)
I also have an Amazon UK one:
(I can't get the search box widget to work anymore, so click on MOONWALKER and then search for what you want.)
4. My exciting line of fashion and leisure products
(I get a couple bucks per item, you get a cool t-shirt, mug or lifestyle item)
5. Spread the word
Tell your friends about my reviews and my books and everything. Only cool people though please, we don't need a bunch of suckers and/or chumps around here.
THANKS EVERYBODY. YOUR FRIEND, VERN
* * * *
Recent commentary and jibber-jabber
Dreadguacamole on Thunderbirds: “Hans Zimmer was pretty into electronic music before he made it big! He played synth for The Buggles (Video Killed…” Feb 27, 15:05
grimgrinningchris on Thrashin’: “Despite having a rich, famous dad and his kinda jockish looks, Brolin was actually very involved in the Southern California…” Feb 27, 14:50
Glaive Robber on Thunderbirds: “I give mad respect to the actual job of TV director, but I admit I’m a little shaky about TV…” Feb 27, 13:51
RBatty024 on Thunderbirds: “I was only vaguely aware of this because of the Jonathan Frakes connection. And I remember seeing clips of the…” Feb 27, 09:53
CJ Holden on Thunderbirds: “Yup, even in the age of “prestige TV” people still look down on TV directors, but let’s be honest: That’s…” Feb 27, 07:16
Glaive Robber on Thunderbirds: “Holden, interesting point about Frakes. Being a “hot director” probably involves waiting around a lot for the right project to…” Feb 27, 05:29
Glaive Robber on Dragon Blade: “Appreciate the context, Contentment! On a similar, terrible note, R.I.P. Gene Hackman.” Feb 27, 05:18
Franchise Fred on Thunderbirds: “Haven’t seen this since I covered the press junket. All I remember is Sir Ben was completely committed and considered…” Feb 26, 23:22
CJ Holden on Thunderbirds: “Ah yes, the movie that sadly killed Jonathan Frakes’ theatrical directing career. Remember when FIRST CONTACT made him for a…” Feb 26, 11:15
Winford Brennan on Barton Fink: “That makes perfect sense to me, Jojo. If the key to success is supposedly mastering the art of faking sincerity,…” Feb 26, 04:04
Two Halloweens ago we discussed Tobe Hooper’s first masterpiece. This is his second. He didn’t even want to direct it at first, sort of got pushed into it, but damn did he rally. In many ways THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 is the Tobe Hooperest movie ever made.
Boys, boys, boys–
