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…)
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Recent commentary and jibber-jabber
VERN on Flow: “Well, it won the Golden Globe for best animated feature and now the Oscars nominated it not only for that…” Jan 27, 18:44
Glaive Robber on Dracula Untold: “I feel like sometimes, Hollywood picks certain guys to be stars, and every once in a while, they miss. Luke…” Jan 27, 18:28
KayKay on Dracula Untold: “And…..I sent that one out blissfully unaware Vern has reviewed it: https://outlawvern.com/2010/11/11/solomon-kane/ So, am happy Vern’s one of the 15.” Jan 27, 16:30
KayKay on Dracula Untold: “SOLOMON KANE? I believe I and 15 other people saw it, but it’s really a lot of fun. Good action…” Jan 27, 16:29
Andrew Sharp on Dracula Untold: “Would I, Frankenstein be considered to be in this genre Vern?” Jan 27, 15:55
Mains on Flow: “It’s quite the point of discussion all over Riga :), we like the film, we are proud of it (not…” Jan 27, 14:03
Aktion Figure on Dracula Untold: “It’s not out yet (I think) but A Knight’s War looks like exactly what you are grooving on. Bonus: directed…” Jan 27, 12:03
Kevin W on Dracula Untold: “Actually scratch that, I missed the “not YA-oriented” part.” Jan 27, 11:51
Kevin W on Dracula Untold: “I also enjoyed The Mummy so maybe I should give this one a shot, too. As to your request, I…” Jan 27, 11:49
Sternshein on I did Larry’s podcast!: “Thanks for everybody who has listened. I also have episodes you might be interested in with: Mark Polermo – https://shows.acast.com/reel-early/episodes/mark-polermo-screenwriter-and-podcaster…” Jan 27, 10:44
SydCarton on Dracula Untold: “Another one that comes to mind is Jack the Giant Slayer.” Jan 27, 09:49
Timmy on Dracula Untold: “SydCarton – Great pick! Totally forgot about that one. Also HANSEL & GRETEL: WITCH HUNTERS” Jan 27, 09:44
Timmy on Dracula Untold: “I am pretty sure you have covered all of his movies, but I feel like Stephen Sommers fits into this…” Jan 27, 09:42
SydCarton on Dracula Untold: “Vern, you may have already checked this one out but I couldn’t find a review and this fits the bill…” Jan 27, 09:32
emteem on Dracula Untold: “Movies in that vein I can think of, and don’t currently have reviews on the site are the aforementioned Immortals…” Jan 27, 09:22
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–
