Blog Archives
Clapboard Jungle | Do you have what it takes to survive the modern independent film business?
If you have ever thought about becoming an independent film-maker, then you must check this out first. Justin McConnell, who writes, directs and features, has worked as a film festival coordinator, as well as being a cinematographer and editor on heaps of featurettes you’ve probably seen as bonus content, and also directed a number of documentaries and helmed two features. But he has still yet to make his mark in this riskiest of businesses, where it has become harder and harder for independents to make a living due to media giant monopolisation and a market oversaturated with product.
Featuring interviews with a vast range of industry luminaries, Clapboard Jungle (which is available on ARROW from Monday 19 April) follows Justin’s personal journey over a five year period, exploring not only the nitty-gritty of the film business (from pitch to product) but also the physical and emotional strain that comes with it. It’s a fascinating insight and something of a survival guide for anyone brave enough to attempt themselves.
Once you have watched the documentary, I strongly urge you to check out the extended interviews which feature a roll call of some of our favourite cult heroes who all discuss their career highs and lows, and their place in the independent film world today. Poignantly, among them are Dick Miller, George Romeo and Larry Cohen, who are no longer with us – so these are very special indeed.
Clapboard Jungle is available from ARROW from Monday 19 April
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Audio commentary with Justin McConnell
• Crew commentary: Justin McConnell, co-producer Darryl Shaw, executive producer Avi Federgreen and editor/associate producer Kevin Burke)
• Guest commentary/panel discussion: Barbara Crampton, Richard Stanley, John McNaughton, Gigi Saul Guerrero and Adam Mason
• Deleted scenes with optional commentary by Justin McConnell
• Extended interviews: Anne-Marie Gélinas, Barbara Crampton, Brian Trenchard-Smith, Brian Yuzna, Charles Band, Corey Moosa, Dean Cundey, Dick Miller, Don Mancini, Frank Henenlotter, Gary Sherman, George Romero, George Mihalka, Guillermo Del Toro, John McNaughton, Jon Reiss, Larry Cohen, Larry Fessenden, Lloyd Kaufman, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Michael Biehn, Jennifer Blanc-Biehn, Mick Garris, Paul Schrader, Richard Stanley, Sam Firstenberg, Tom Holland, Tom Savini, Vincenzo Natali
• Documentaries: Working Class Rock Star (2008) and Skull World (2013)
• 13 short films with optional commentaries and intros
• Trailers, promos, photo gallery and Easter eggs
• Artwork by Ilan Sheady
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing by producer/director Brian Yuzna
Basket Case – The Trilogy | Schlock king Frank Henenlotter’s gross-out cult slashers get the Second Sight treatment
From Second Sight Films comes the midnight movie favourite, Basket Case, remastered on Blu-ray using the original 16mm master. If you still own the old VHS or have a dodgy TV recording on DVD, then now is the time to chuck it.
Schlock director Frank Henenlotter‘s madcap 1982 horror parody follows vengeful Siamese twins Duane and Belial as they set out to kill the doctors who separated them as children. While Duane (Kevin Van Hentenryck) is a normal-looking teen, his brother is a hideously-deformed monster. Featuring a host of zany characters, hilarious death scenes and the longest screen scream ever, this is one film that deserves its cult status.
The two sequels, made eight years after the original, finds fugitives Duane and Belial hiding out with Granny Ruth (played by reknowned jazz singer Annie Ross) at her home for deformed individuals and doing battle with tabloid journalists and corrupt police officials who want to cash in on their infamy at the Times Square Freak Brothers. While the sequels are a much more slapstick comic affair, possessing an Addams Family air, with a creature menagerie that look right out of The Monster Club, its great to have Henenlotter’s warped trilogy together in one box-set. Mind you, watching Belial having sex with a fellow freak is still a bit of a gross-out.
The extras on the Second Sight Films box-set trilogy include a making of featurette with the director and stars; outtakes; trailers; a photo gallery; and an interview with illustrator Graham Humphreys who did the ghoulish artwork for the box-set.
Bad Biology (2008) | An outrageously twisted horror sex comedy from cult director Frank Henenlotter
If you loved director Frank Henenlotter’s bonkers 1982 cult Basket Case or his trippy 1988 frightfest Brain Damage, then you’ll wet yourself over Bad Biology – an outrageously-twisted horror comedy about an insatiable nymphomaniac’s search for sexual fulfilment.
Born with unusual anatomy, photographer Jennifer (Charlee Danielson) has a real problem dating. Seems every time she has sex, she gives birth to a mutant baby. Meanwhile, across town a young man called Batz (Anthony Sneed) has his own sexual hang-ups – his injection of steroids has increased his manhood to mammoth proportions and now it’s got a life of its own. But are Jennifer and Batz destined to meet – and mate?
Deliciously-perverse and jaw-droppingly offensive, Bad Biology is welcomed addition to Henenlotter’s body-horror cult oeuvre. The climax – no pun intended – is an hilarious homage to William’s Castle’s The Tingler as Batz’ member breaks loose and goes on a sexual rampage. Prudes beware!
Bad Biology also screens on The Horror Channel in the UK with the next showing on Thursday 6 February at 10.45pm.
Frankenhooker (1990) | Frank Henenlotter’s bodged boob job explodes onto Blu-ray
Back in the 1980s, one of the best midnight movies doing the rounds was 1982’s Basket Case, a low-budget horror comedy about a teen and his monstrous half-aborted brother who seek revenge against the doctors who separated them. This deliriously warped exploitation won its director, Frank Henenlotter, a legion of fans thanks to the newly emerging home video market. The maverick followed the monster hit with 1988’s addictive Brain Damage and then 1990’s Frankenhooker, which would prove to be his most challenging and – according to the director – a disaster from beginning to end.
Here, we find science geek Jeffrey Franken (played by Basket Case‘s Kevin Van Hentenryck) reanimating his dead girlfriend using the body parts of dead prostitutes. Only his creation is a foul-mouthed freak looking for her next John.
Henenlotter literally threw this twisted tale together while shooting his Basket Case sequels – and it shows. But its saving grace is seeing the cast of real-life New York streetwalkers and porn models blow up before your eyes after getting hooked on the super crack that Jeffrey uses to obtain his body parts.
Frankenhooker may be silly, but its inspired pyrotechnics certainly make up for the terrible script, amateur dramatics and lack of gore. Arrow’s 2012 HD transfer of the film really makes those explosion scenes roar, and the host of extras have been lovingly put together by real admirers of Henenlotter’s work, so there’s some tasty treats in store for midnight movie fans.
Frankenhooker is available on Blu-ray and DVD through Arrow Films in the UK, and screens regularly on The Horror Channel (Sky 319, Virgin 149, Freesat 138). Next showing is Friday 31 January at 9pm.
Kultguy's Keep 