This second volume of musings and ruminations on the most beloved cult films of all time falls just short of the heights that its predecessor hit. That comes as a bit of a disappointment too, seeing how it focuses on my favorite genre, horror (and sci-fi, too). Still, there’s plenty of good stuff here to keep you watching, even if some of the stories behind the films feel a tad overly familiar this time around.
The horror films showcased are Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Evil Dead, The Devil’s Rejects, The Human Centipede (First Sequence), Re-Animator, and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Sci-fi is represented by the likes of Death Race 2000, A Clockwork Orange, Blade Runner, Brother from Another Planet, Liquid Sky, and Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension. Other than maybe Brother from Another Planet and Liquid Sky, this is a pretty solid list. Some may bitch about the inclusion of such recent fare like The Devil’s Rejects and The Human Centipede, but there is no denying they will have staying power among cult movie fan circles for years to come. It also helps that directors Rob Zombie and Tom Six make for enlightening and entertaining interview subjects.
While this collection is a little uneven in places, it should still be a fun time for horror and sci-fi enthusiasts. The film also serves as a nice tribute to the late masters of horror, Tobe Hooper and George Romero, who were both interviewed here shortly before their death. As with the first installment, the big-name commentators offer lots of insights. Sure, you might’ve already heard Bruce Campbell’s stories about the making of Evil Dead a hundred times if you’re a fan, but the way he tells them is never less than entertaining. Besides, hearing Malcolm McDowell telling tales about Kubrick on the set of A Clockwork Orange and Jeff Goldblum criticizing his own performance in Buckaroo Banzai are worth the price of admission.
No comments:
Post a Comment