Video Store Nightmares

This week, join us as we take a disturbing trip into childhood trauma and its aftermath in The Witch Who Came From The Sea. This one plays like a true nightmare and succeeded in disturbing us with its realistic suggestions of child abuse and the series of castration-killings that our grown-up protagonist commits. On this episode: beach-side bodybuilding, idealized father figures, a scary tattoo parlor, casual bondage and mutilation, missing time, addiction to painkillers, the reality of television and the Little Mermaid.

This week, join us as we dive into the world of Russ Meyer, certainly a requisite for any cult cinema show. Meyer released Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (an all-time great movie title) on his independent VHS label - Bosomania - and it lives up to the title, with three buxom go-go dancers giving into their violent fantasies. On this episode: the violence in women (and men), Russ Meyer's cinematic influence, politically incorrect descriptive names, siderodromophobia (fear of trains), 60s aesthetics, shifting tenets of feminism, and the Meyer trio: big breasts, fast cars and sudden death!

This week, join us as we go back to Italy for a zombie-cannibal-mad scientist mashup film filled with rank xenophobia, in which we learn that "all primitive societies practiced cannibalism!" We actually watched different versions: the American Dr. Butcher, streamlined for maximum carnage, and the European Zombie Holocaust, chock full of those pesky plot details. Spoiler alert: the plot differences didn't get in the way of our story, whatsoever. On this episode: the Italian obsession with New Yorkers, the strength of upper-story hospital windows, heart-eating, gut-eating, eye-eating, zombie mind control, baseless suspicions, a sexy nurse-anthropologist, the infamous cult of Kito, and Ian McCulloch to the rescue!

This week, join us as we discuss a true grindhouse double feature: Andy Warhol's Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula. Both of director Paul Morrisey's films use the same crew and cast and offer radically different takes on these works of classic literature. They're probably as high-brow as we'll get here on Video Store Nightmares. On this episode: the sexual allure of Joe Dallesandro, Udo Kier's histrionics, a gall-bladder fetish, Serbian ideals, incestual marriage, virgin meat, vegetarianism and the merits of socialism in the face of vampiric aristocracy.

This week, join us as we discuss the 1977 low-budget oddity - the Child. This flick plays like an amateur cross between Night of the Living Dead, the Omen and that Twilight Zone episode about the family terrorized by its evil kid. Effective in spots (and decidedly not in others), this film even includes proto-Evil Dead techniques in its extra-foggy dreamscape. On this episode: stage-acting for the camera, disorienting camera work, unseen forest creatures, disappearing dogs, poisoned boy scouts, unnecessarily long chase scenes, childhood hit lists, zombie friends, a useless heroine and - of course - one evil child.

This week, join us as we discuss Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz's first film: the low-budget, art-house, dream-like Messiah of Evil. Although, it remained unfinished by the film-makers and was edited and scored under the direction of disgruntled investors, this produced some of the eeriest scenes in horror history. On this episode: an isolated gas station, albino truck driver, dueling voice-over narratives, travelling companions, beach-side bonfires, myth collecting, beach-rat delicacies, and zombies at your local town square, grocery store and movie theater.

This week, join us as we discuss the debut film of Rinse Dream AKA Stephen Sayadian. This is an avant-garde theater piece with an X rating and some of the strangest set pieces you're likely to find in any movie. On this episode: nuclear-enforced chastity, a rat milkman, mutant babies, a scary secretary, celebrity impersonations, lots of fog, new wave music and clothes, scandalous virginity and the one-and-only Johnny Rico!

This week, join us as we discuss the debut movie of Italian master Lamberto Bava (son of Mario), who would go on to helm the notorious Demons franchise. This twisted psychodrama is a slow burn until all its drama comes to a head in an especially nasty climax. On this episode: diagnosing personality disorders in children, indifferent parenting, sexual trysts, a car accident beheading, sadistic teasing, unique masturbation techniques and one freezer surprise!

*Due to technical difficulties, this episode has some sound problems, such as crackling in the background. We apologize for this and will be working to resolve the issue before next week's episode.

This week, join us as we discuss the notorious Wizard Video release and Video Nasty: 1971's The Headless Eyes. Like the films of Frank Henenlotter and Abel Ferrara, this film captures the grungy and sleazy - yet oddly charming - atmosphere of 1970/80s New York City. Watch as our protagonist runs crazily through the streets and gouges out eyes to add to his avant garde art. On this episode: the brilliant library music of Roger Roger, irritating audio loops, the appeal of financial self-sufficiency, apathetic news reporters, eye gouging, eye scooping, eye freezing, eye art, intermittent voice-over narration and blossoming romance between misanthropic introverts.

This week, join us as we discuss John Michael McCarthy's 1995 homage to the sexploitation films of the past. Imagine the films of John Waters, Russ Meyer, David Lynch and Jack Hill all rolled into one, with a rockabilly sheen and '90s spirit. On this episode: pregnancy confirmation by mail, mother-daughter feuds, manhating lesbians, undiscovered twins, magical realist tattoo sessions, a mysterious school bus abode, small town alienation and lots and lots of bare breasts.