One of the most underrated actors of our time is the king of B grade films Bruce Campbell. Â I’m not sure he would have it any other way to be honest because even though he is probably considered a B actor to lend a phrase from Army of Darkness ‘in his own way he is king’.
So to open the QYDJ Film Festival one of my favourite actors and two must see genre classics: Â Army of Darkness (Evil Dead 3) and Bubba Ho-Tep.
Army of Darkness
This is the third movie in the ground breaking cult classic Evil Dead series, a lot lighter in tone to the first two films, with less gore and more emphasis on the humour this film delivers some of the greatest lines ever to be uttered on screen and then later copied by numerous sources, most notably Duke Nukem.
Campbell is given the opportunity to really shine, he is one of the most amazing physical performers around and can carry a three stooges bit all by himself. Â I particularly love the Day the Earth Stood Still nod with the magical words he has to say being the famous ‘Klaatu barada nikto’.
There is some great stop motion footage which is occasionally refreshing given all of the CGI work out there today. Â I honestly think this film holds up even after ten years.
Bubba Ho-Tep
I was a late comer to Bubba Ho-Tep, only seeing it a couple of years ago long after the internet hype surrounding its genius died down to a low roar. Â It is just a wonderful personal piece, exploring more context than just what happens when a soul sucking Mummy feeds off of a nursing home.
It’s about old warriors not lying down and waiting to die. Â This film is small but epic, truly amazing soundtrack and one of Campbell’s best performances.
So grab yourself some popcorn and a big cup of watered down cola, turn off the lights and drop these two films into the DVD player, if you’ve never seen them before I so envy what you’re about to experience and for those of us that have it’s a welcome visit to an old friend.
What else could the Friday five list be on a Friday the 13th? Â Obviously my top five horror movies, I will however point out that these aren’t the scariest movies. Â I don’t go into all that freaky deaky Ring and Grudge type of horror that the kids are all digging now days. Â Nor do I enjoy mutilation films like Saw and Hostel (in fairness to both I haven’t seen either but I don’t really have any intention on it, well maybe Saw if it’s on late one night).
No my favourite horror movies are all probably considered old school today and lame by current standards but I grew up on these ones and it is my list. Â You write your own list. Â Give me credit. Â Or money.
Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors - there are reasons why I chose the second sequel, it brought Wes Craven back into the Elm St fold after the left of centre Elm St 2 and it was banned in Queensland, something I had trouble wrapping my head around when I first moved into the state. Â I still chuckle at the reasons why it was banned too, not because the main character slashes teenagers to their death in their sleep but because there is drug use??? Â Freddy was always my favourite character in the 80s/90s horror films. Â I wasn’t so keen on Freddy vs Jason but I found a lot of depth in those films, especially as a teenager who used to average a couple of hours of sleep per night at best. Â The characters avoiding sleep always appealed to me. Â The art direction of the films always impressed me.
Evil Dead 2 - Bruce Campbell is a living god. Â The evil got into his hand and he lopped it off and replaced it with a chainsaw, I mean dude!?! Â Groovy. It had plenty of gore, plenty of innovative sequences and a dead girlfriend who dances in the moonlight and loses her head.
The Creature from the Black Lagoon - I had to put a Universal monster in the list and Gill-man is my favourite of them so he gets the nod (the other Universal monsters are all awesome though). Â It was a very clever film for its time too, the underwater photography was brilliant, that suit must have been unpleasant under the water like that.
Friday the 13th VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan - Sigh. Â OK now just give me a chance here and I’ll try and explain, yes there are probably better instalments, no it isn’t Jason X, you’ve all made that very clear. Â But I have to have one of the franchise in here and I choose this one because Jason uppercuts a boxer and sends his head flying off into the distance. Â Classic. Â If I had to choose another I would say part three (the 3D one) it was nice standard edition.
Hellraiser - Clive Barker is an amazing writer, his Books of Blood are just mind numbingly great and so it comes to no surprise that I really enjoyed Hellraiser. Â Pinhead is a horror icon and the Hellraiser box has got to be one of the coolest props. Â The second film was banned in Queensland also (so was Near Dark) I’m not sure why but it may have been because of sexual content? Â I even enjoyed part three that starred a pre Star Trek Terry Farrell and had a Cenobite DJ that throws killer CDs.
Oh man there are a lot of films that could be on the list ranging from Jaws to Halloween (dig that Shatner face mask).
Check out my guest post over on Aussie Bloggers (after 6.30 Aussie time) too as I talk about truly awful Australian horror films.
I saw the ads for Burn Notice and thought two things:
Channel ten don’t know how to advertise stuff
I’m not watching that
Funny enough tonight I found myself watching it. Who should show up playing a drunken old navy seal??
Yup Bruce Campbell and apparently he’s a regular so now I have to keep watching.
If you are into flash games and Bruce Campbell then visit his Sam’s Stash game and prepare to laugh, look out for his hair gel, man’kini and bowling ball. Don’t use the cigar or eat the cyanide pill (you would think that would make sense).
Just in case you are not convinced that Bruce Campbell is a god amongst men enjoy and try to deny wanting to buy Old Spice after these ads:
I was a late comer to Bubba Ho-Tep, only seeing it a couple of years ago long after the internet hype surrounding its genius died down to a low roar. Â It is just a wonderful personal piece, exploring more context than just what happens when a soul sucking Mummy feeds off of a nursing home.
