Entertainment Earth

7/18/2021

Brides of Satan (Review)

Director: Joe Bizarro
Writers: Joe Bizarro, Noel Maitland 
Cast: Mindy Robinson, Anastasia Elfman, Ari Agbabian, Joanna Angel, James Balsamo
Year: 2020
Min: 80

A couple are spending their anniversary at a strip club, when a trio of satanic, exotic dancers come in. They kidnap them both, eventually killing the hubby. The wife Mary (Mindy Robinson) is the only one that survives. She gets some help from a sweet, old man, named Lenny, who has also run afoul of the same evil crew. He is accompanied by his cute doggy, Rufus. Lenny trains her, as she gets ready to have her revenge on the Satan worshipping baddies.

Brides of Satan s an exploitation/ action/ revenge/ horror movie. It marks the directorial debut of co-writer/ director Joe Bizzaro. He gives us a good looking movie, and not just cause of the lovely cast. It has a stylish visual aspect and feel that is clearly influenced by 70's exploitation movies, music videos, Robert Rodriguez, and, even David Lynch. 

The film, itself, is broken up into chapters. Thanks to this and its revenge plot, it feels very much akin to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. There is even a Rocky, influence, what with its training montage and cheesy, accompanying rock music. Speaking of music, the soundtrack is pretty, fucking good. X-Ray Death, who actually appear in the movie, itself, are particularly cool.

This flick is filled with beautiful babes. Do you miss seeing copious amounts of T&A onscreen? Well, so do I, and clearly so does Bizzaro, cause he gives us lots of that. In fact, props to him for starting off the movie with hot, tattooed women, including adult superstar Joanna Angel, pole dancing. That is certainly one way to grab my attention from the get-go. 

There is some good gore here, including throat slashing, bloody squibs, and eyes gouging. Also worthy of mentioning is some good monster FX done by Josh Wasylink. Another plus is that Bizzaro handles the action scenes pretty well. Or at least as good as the very low budget would permit him to. For example, one scene where our heroine is fighting a group of baddies, starts off strong. But, it ultimately goes on too long and feels a little clunky. The movie, overall, also suffers from a bit a of a pacing problems, with the slower parts being, at times, less interesting. This all serves as the best way to sum up this flick, IE fun, if wholly uneven.

The acting is kind of hit or miss, too. A couple of the stars like the guy playing Lenny is great, as is his adorable, little doggy. In fact, they are my two favorite characters in the entire flick. The beautiful Mindy Robinson, as our heroine Mary, is also quite likable in her role. Still, some of the other acting ranges in quality and isn't quite as strong.

But, to its advantage, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. So, that the weaker acting doesn't hurt it that much, adding a bit of campiness to it all.  There is a lot of humor contained in the movie. And, a couple of the jokes really work and managed to bring a smile to my face. 

Done with a love of exploitation horror and revenge movies, Brides of Satan, is quite fun. It can be a bumpy ride, though, especially in terms of its pacing. But, for the most part, I found enjoyment in watching it. Hot girls, nudity, and violence help to keep things rocking, as does the soundtrack. Some of the cast is good, and I liked seeing leading lady Robinson kick ass. It all results in a likeable and admirable low-budget affair that doesn't always hit its mark but is entertaining regardless.





7/17/2021

At The Gates- The Nightmare of Being (Album Review)


 Musicians: At The Gates
Album Title: The Nightmare of Being
Genre/ Subgenre: Melodic Death Metal
Label: Century Media
Release Date: July 2, 2021 

The gods of melodic death metal, At The Gates, are back with their seventh studio The Nightmare of Being. And, in it, they have given us a brave, exciting, and technical masterpiece, that will blow you away from the second the very first track plays.

The band are their prime, delivering complex, dark, and bold sounds that add much depth and clearly sets themselves apart from others in a sub-genre. Which is one that can sometimes suffer from a rather sameness and predictable sound.

This opening track is the thundering and driving "Spectre of Extinction". It's a pounding song that starts off with a beautiful and tranquil guitar note, that soars and builds up as the drums come into play. It then thunders and stampedes across, with an absolutely killer and slicing riff. It's an energetic way to start off a masterful release. Another memorable song is the title track, which starts off in a manner that is beautiful, tranquil, and haunting. The song, itself, is dark and melodic with a strong atmosphere that makes it one of the album's most exciting songs in terms of how daring it is. It also has some of Tomas Lindberg's best vocal work, perhaps ever. "Touched By The White Hands Doom" is a pounding and energized song that starts off somberly until it explodes with energy. I could honestly praise every single song here, but the last one I will touch upon is the closing track, "Cosmic Pessimism". There is a calming start to it that is striking and atmospheric, until its half mark where the energy levels up but still manages to keep the same feeling that the track started with. It ends in a haunting manner that stays with one well after the song, and by extension the album, has finished.

Production is clear with crunching guitars and clear and powerful vocals. This is prime sounding sounding melodic death metal that you feel into your very soul.

The Nightmare of Being is At The Gates finest album since their comeback period. It even manages to surpass the amazing At War with Reality. In fact. the only album in their discography to top it is the influential masterpiece that is Slaughter of the Soul. Destined to be a genre defining classic, this is an easy contender for album of the year. 





7/10/2021

Horror Crush: Kelly Nichols


It is that tine again, dear readers, to induct another beautiful actress to this site's hollowed Horror Crush section. This time around the honor is bestowed upon the gorgeous Kelly Nichols, only the second adult actress to ever be inducted!

Nichols was born in Covina, California on June 8, 1956 and was the only female of six children. She began her career posing for adult mags like Oui, Hustler, and Penthouse and would make her skin flick debut in Bon Appetit. But, her inclusion into our Horror Crushes is due to her genre work, of course.
Her first venture into our genre is one that I have been a fan of since childhood and had no clue she was in: King Kong (1976). I have to say that the recent. superlative Blu-ray release from Scream Factory has reinvigorated my love for this one. Nowadays, it's become my second or third favorite Kong film (well above the bloated Peter Jackson take). Anyway, I had zero clue about her involvement in it, but it turns out she doubled for the equally beautiful Jessica Lange in it!

Her next horror flick, though, is where I first saw her and what I honestly know her best from: The Toolbox Murders (1978). I have discussed this well made and sleazy late, 70's slasher before. And, I stand by what I said, it's a nasty, well acted affair that will please fans who like their stalk and slash with a meaner edge. In it, a masked maniac kills beautiful women who he deems are "sinners" using things one would find in a toolbox. 


Nichols plays one of victims, a beautiful woman who appears fully nude and is masturbating in her tub. Our killer chases her down, threatens, and kills her with a nail-gun, in the movie's most infamous and controversial scene. She even appears in the poster art, as you can see a little above. 


She is quite good, and looks breathtaking, in this small but memorable scene. And, it is easy to see how this scene became so talked about, even appearing and getting mentioned in talk shows as an example of misogyny in horror movies. Such accusations are always favorites of anti-horror people aren't they?
So famous is her scene that it is only natural, that she appeared in Blue Underground's excellent Blu-ray release of the movie (which, by the way is getting a new upcoming 4K release from Blue Underground early next year!) in an interview. Released in 2010, she still looked gorgeous in this extra feature.

In 1984, she appeared in her third and final horror flick Deathmask. It also stars another porn legend in the lovely form of Veronica (One-Eyed Monster) Hart, as well, as not the a porn star but definitely legendary Danny Aiello. I had not even heard of this until writing this article, but I am definitely intrigued! Any of you seen it? Let me know in the comments section below.

Kelly Nichols has long been retired from porn and these days is a happy grandma. But, I many other horror fans will always remember and love for her work in the genre, especially The Toolbox Murders. A beautiful and stunning legend, it is with great honor that I officially induct her into Horror Crushes!