Films and Swearing: A Movie Podcast
The foul mouthed movie podcast that records straight outta Fife, Scotland
You know, if you stab a man in the dead of winter, steam will rise up from the wounds. Indians believed it was his soul escaping from his body…
Extended Cut (64 minutes): https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-cut-ep-6925916
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Vamp tells the frightful tale of two freshmen Keith (Chris Peacemaker) and his buddy AJ (Robert Rusler) trying to play it cool with fraternity. Whilst talking a good game, AJ puts his foot in it’ when he admits to the frat leader that he could get them; anything! Much to Keith’s chagrin they’re tasked with finding a stripper for their ‘brothers’ frat party.
After little success at finding local, they guys enlist the help of the overwhelming/loaded loaner Duncan (Gedde Watanabe), Duncan agrees to lend them a car to drive to a strip joint in the city – on the condition; he can come with them.
When they reach their destination; After Dark strip club they’re allured in by beautiful women, when they’re introduced to the alluring Katrina (Grace Jones) – they soon realise – ‘they’ve bitten off more than they can chew’!
First time feature film director Richard Wenk delivers a delightful slice of 80’s horror comedy! It’s like the mixture of Van Wilder/Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets Fright Night – I know Weird Science and From Dusk ‘til Dawn are the obvious comparisons, but I can see the confidence shining through our leading characters really channels the likes of Ryan Reynolds Van Wilder and Broderick’s portrayal of Ferris Bueller. It was my first time watching Vamp, my history with 80’s horror/comedy was kept to a minimum unless you count for the last couple Police Academy movies.
Interject the lovable, bubble-gum sweet Dedee Pfeiffer as After Dark waitress; ‘Amaretto’, a character who as a past relation with Keith – but for some unforgivable reason he doesn’t remember her!
This will sound a little silly if you haven’t seen Vamp, but I loved the funky neon lighting! Rather than turning a drab street lit white, the city walls and buildings were coated in bright pink and green lights which makes for some trippy visuals. Think of lighting and colour schemes you saw in the likes of Batman Forever/Batman & Robin – yes that loud.
Arrow Home Video have suited and booted Vamp into the future by celebrating the films 30 year anniversary with a Blu-ray and DVD release with new special features. The main joy is of the 45 minute documentary One of those Nights: The Making of Vamp – which showed us the cast, crew and director Richard Wenk quip back to their memories of being on set – from the sounds of it the production was more entertaining than the film and everyone interview seemed to have had their own story about working with the Grace Jones.
Other special features include Richard Wenks directorial debut; Dracula Bites the Big Apple (1979), a 22 minute short film from the late seventies. The standard set of Trailers, TV Spots, a wealthy Image Gallery (everything from stills to newspaper clippings) and some rather steamy Rehearsal footage where our director is sexually accosted by an overzealous Grace Jones.
Vamp was a pleasant surprise of a film – I didn’t have high hopes going into something I was completely unaware of and noticing Grace Jones attachment actually detracted my initial expectations going in. The special features were pretty decent, but it’s the joy of the cast talking lovingly of the film that just pushed my enjoyment of this experience as a whole to the next level.
Vamp On DVD & Blu-Ray from Monday 3rd Oct. 2016.
Hey there, feller. This here’s Pappy, and it must be your lucky day ’cause I have some words of wisdom just for you. Listen up, now, you hear? A closed mouth gathers no foot! Yep, yep. That’s right. It’s a whole lot better to say just a little bit than to say too much and wish you hadn’t. You know what I’m saying? Now, don’t you be a stranger. I got lots more to say to you.
For a extended cut of the podcast (88 minutes); https://www.patreon.com/posts/fas115-v-h-s-cut-6901075
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Set during summer in the 70’s the story follows a group of travelling carnival workers. After passing through a small rural town they’re abducted and awake to discover that they’re the latest contestants in a game of “31”. Under the instruction of mysterious people in powdered wigs (led by Malcolm McDowell), the workers are equipped with a weapon each and have to survive 12 hours in a desolate warehouse tricked out with tricks, traps and half a dozen weapon wielding blood thirsty clowns!
I don’t normally follow Rob Zombies work, especially after watching The Lords of Salem – but my pal explaining the plot sold me on it; “Folk get kidnapped and forced to a running man type game against clowns”. I love these competition/survival themes in film (Battle Royale, The Condemned) it always hooks my attention – my only worry was how scary were the clowns!
Set during the seventies it was only right that Zombie treats this feature with the full Grind-house/Video Nasty treatment. The score to the film is excellent it reminds me of Escape from New York and Planet Terror; dropping those deep notes coming from an electric keyboard. Even the sound effects are turned up to 11, the sounds of people chowing down on succulent ribs to being struck in the gut with a spiked baseball bat – everything sounds extra squishy.
Zombies camera work comes across as intimate and intense, close, close shots of our heroes faces as they’re being hunted and attacked. The only downside when they’re under attack the footage becomes shaken and disorientating after a while. There’s only so much footage shaky of Sheri Moon Zombie one can handle. Whilst we’re talking about what I didn’t like, the acting at the start was a little cringe-worthy, just all the Rasta stuff was hammy – but by the time the cast of characters were in jeopardy everyone become very serious.
The collection killer clowns that are on display were surprisingly diverse, the midget wielding blades, chainsaw twins and our main antagonist; Doom-Head (Richard Brake) is a very intense character, his transformation from man to Doom leaves you frothing with anticipation on his first kill. You know nothing good could come from this man, although that was obvious after the films opening monologue.
Overall, I find myself enjoying the film more after watching it – it was good, nothing great – but just such a fun concept that can easily capture a persons imagination – who expected to see a midget dressed up like a knife wielding Hispanic Hitler or Malcolm McDowell in a powdered wig! It is defiantly worth watching for movie fans, essentially for Rob Zombie fans.
Did… you… see… the body?
I ASSUMED he was DEAD!
Assumption is the MOTHER of all fuck ups!
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