The Blob (1988 remake)

I love the remake of 1958's The Blob starring future superstar Steve McQueen. The original was cool and creepy, when I was 6 years old. I just remember thinking never pick up a homeless person who is running around with a "thing" on his arm. The sequel has almost super star Kevin Dillion at the height of his career. It also has some very intense monster attacks that take no prisoners . Everyone gets killed in this flick; some actors who make appearance include IO legend Del Close, Jack Nance, Candy Clark, Donovan Leitch & Bill Mosely. Then of course we have the main star horror & teen comedy stalwart Shawnee Smith I am still in love with to this day :) This is a flick worth checking out if you have not already. A fun fact, the special effects team used McDonald's apple pie filling for the blob in some scenes. I heard when they tried to remove the filling it pulled up 8 inches of concrete. Interesting!

13 Assassins

I first became aware of 13 Assassins because of director Takashi Miike involvement, it seems that any time he releases a movie the web fan boys go crazy. I finally got to see it at the 2010 AFI Film Fest. I watched with three of my good buds and a packed audience. This movie did not let me down, it's the samurai movie that I always hoped would be made. The plot involves the real life assassination of a mad feudal lord in the 1840's. The first half of the movie is the team of assassins being formed and preparing ala Oceans 13. The last half of the movie is pure samurai action with the 13 going on a suicide mission against an army of 200. It's 300 with samurai swords and much better acting. For a Takashi Miike film it's rather subdued, I would say there is only one scene that really throws on the gnar factor. Throw this one with your boys.

American Movie

I don't watch allot of documentaries, but if I watch one I enjoy I make these people my family. With American Movies family doesn't get any more dysfunctional, but that's not a bad thing. The main star is mid 30's Wisconsin native Mark Borchardt; who spends two years on film trying to finish and screen his 35 minute opus "Coven". Coven is a horror film about a recovering alcoholic (Mark) who enters the wrong 12 step program. Shooting on 16mm (this is 96-97, I was in high school) is expensive, Mark does not have allot of money. For anyone who is ever worked on their own films (hand up) everything costs and everything that's free is so tough! Mark has two good friends; Mike Schank and Ken Keen, who also do just about everything on Mike's films. Mike has done WAY to much acid and Ken gets arrested mid way through the film. Please watch this movie you will enjoy it!

Check out the link below about the special 15 year anniversary screening they had for American Movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The event happened last August, I missed it because I was on a trip that weekend.

http://www.sundance.org/festival/article/next-weekend-kicks-off-with-american-movie-at-hollywood-forever-cemetery/

Timecrimes

With Timecrimes Spanish native Nacho Vigalondo has made one of my favorite time travel movies, it's up there with Primer and Back to the Future. This movie has allot going for it, a scary looking dude, a very terrified main star, a time loop and an amazing twist! The other thing about Timecrimes is they had no money what so ever and yet they still made an awesome flick! Please watch this one!

How awesome is the cover of this flick!!

Rubber

Rubber is a film about a tire that comes to life, rolls around and blows peoples heads up with it's mind! I know how that sounds ad guess what, it's even weirder than that. This film is from French director Quentin Dupieux/ French electronic musician Mr. Oizo. If I only had one word for Rubber it would be absurd, besides that it's equal part black comedy and satire. Please watch this one if you want a one of a kind experience.