Rising Dobermans

     This week- a pair of films about unexpected criminals.

     Three less than competent criminals come up the perfect plan- train a pack of Dobermans to rob a bank. Posing as a journalist one recruits an Air Force dog handler to assist in their training and a waitress to assist in their care. Will the handler realize there's something no quiet right going on? Will the bestest boy robbers be able to pull off the heist and make a clean getaway? Was this all just a waste of time for our original trio? The first of a four film series, with the first film score composed by the legendary Alan Silvestri, The Doberman Gang.
     Akemi is the dragon tattooed leader of the Tachibana yakuza clan. When she accidentally hurts an opponent's sister, who threw herself in between the fighters, a black cat appears to lap up the blood. Years later, the cat and injured girl show up again and Akemi's world begins to fall apart. Can Akemi get rid of this curse before her clan falls to ruin? Are there really human hands behind these events? What will become of the local restaurant run by reformed yakuza? Is that cat up to date on its shots? An early film staring the amazing Meiko Kaji and directed by Teruo Ishii, a prolific and eccentric filmmaker who specialized in ero goro sexploitation films, Blind Woman's Curse (original title: Kaidan Nobori Ryū, lit. Ghost Story Rising Dragon).
     All that and Tyler contemplates adding to his personal pantheon, Craig contemplates pants, Dave feels an ethereal disappointment, and our special guest, AC who can be found at https://www.youtube.com/@HORROR101withDrAC or wherever you get your podcasts, wonders why he wanted it this way.
   Episode 430- Rising Dobermans

Ballad of Vengeance

     This week- films about people escaping prisons of both the emotional and physical varieties.

     Herb McGwyer arrives at a remote island off the coast of Wales for a lucrative gig for a small group of fans. When he arrives he finds a stage that is just a pallet on the beach and the group consists solely of widowed superfan Charles Heath. Soon Herb will learn that isn't the only surprise Charles has planned... he's forcing a surprise reunion show with Herb's former partner, Nell Mortimer. Will the concert proceed as planned? What is Charles motivation for this scheme? Who will hear The Ballad of Wallis Island?
     Nami Matsushima is set up for a brutal assault by her police detective boyfriend, Sugimi, to get a Yakuza payout. After failing to get revenge, Nami is sent to a prison run by sadistic and lecherous guards. After a failed escape attempt, Sugimi and his yakuza connections plot to use the inmates to eliminate Nami. Will Matsu get her revenge? Can the tenuous hold of the guards keep the simmering tensions from boiling into a full riot? An expressionist exploitation that ranks among the best women-in-prison films, Female Prisoner #701: Scorpion. 
     All that and Tyler makes Dave feel old, Kevin embraces cottagecore, and Craig gets the warm fuzzies. Join us, won't you?
   Episode 424- Ballad of Vengeance

A Confederacy of Dunstes

    This week- teenage rebellion and racism. 

     Jay takes the bus 2-hours each way to get a better education so he can fulfill his dream of carpet bombing the Middle East for the US Navy. Nicole is a Congressman's daughter in the middle of a pretty average teenage rebellion with an added layer of unaddressed trauma. When they get together... stuff happens... kinda... and a lesson is learned... sorta... Crazy/Beautiful.
     Kazuma is searching for his lost sister. He finds help from Mako, leader of the girl gang The Alleycats. Unfortunately, he arrives just hours before Baron, leader of the Eagles, decides to rid the town of its mixed race population. Will Kazuma find his sister? Will Baron succeed? Where will Mako and the Alleycats stand when caught between the two? Stray Cat Rock: Sex Hunter.
     Also Dave jumps into the Holidays, Kevin Hallmarks the days, and Tyler joins the local Reign in Hell Deer biker gang to burn all festive festoonery.
    Join us, won't you?
  Episode 288- A Confederacy of Dunstes

Varying Degrees of Peril

    This week a women in varying degrees of danger and distress.

     Biker Ako joins Mei and her all girl gang, The Stray Cats/Alleycats, for a knife fight. Meanwhile, Mei's boyfriend is so desperate to join the right-wing nationalist Seiyu Group. He takes the assignment of talking an old boxer friend into taking a dive. Things do not go as planned, which places Mei and the girls firmly in the group's sites and on the run through the youth corridors of Shnjuku, Tokyo. What will happen to Stray Cat Rock: Delinquent Girl Boss (aka Alleycat Rock: Female Boss)?

     Mr. Wilson works for the US government hunting a Nazi war criminal, Franz Kindler, who erased all records of his existence. Following a known associate of Kindler's to Connecticut his path will soon intersect with those of Mary Longstreet, daughter of a Supreme Court Justice, and her fiancé Charles Rankin, prep school teacher and clock enthusiast. The first feature to use real Holocaust concentration camp footage. What secrets will be unearthed by The Stranger?

     After a tragic accident bereaves them of a child, Rachel and Anthony take their surviving child halfway around the world to the Finish town Anthony grew up in. Soon unusual things begin happening to Rachel and her son. Does something demonic and evil lurk under their feet? You will probably figure it out early and have to endure the remaining 70 or so minutes with teeth gritted. Better yet- just do not watch The Twin.
     All that and Dave paints a letter while Kevin learns just how long he can sit before his butt goes numb. Join us, won't you?

Episode 256- Varying Degrees of Peril

In A Snowy Grove

 This week two Japanuary staples return. 

     The Jidaigeki psychological crime film that dragged Japan into the international film stage, kicked (with The Bicycle Thief and Monsieur Vincent) the Academy Award doors open for international films, innovated narrative structure in a way that had been endlessly imitated but never rivaled, changed the way films are shot and edited, and its title has become the term for different points of view and interpretations of the same event across all fields of study. A monk and woodcutter take refuge from a storm under a decaying gate outside Kyoto. They have just been witnesses in a trial and are still trying to understand what happened in that sunny forest grove between the dead samurai, his bride, and an infamous bandit. Is there a definitive truth in Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon?
     11 years after having her bloody revenge, Yuki Kashima better known at large as Lady Snowblood, is finally taken into custody and sentenced to death. Her transport is overtaken on the way to the gallows and Yuki is offered an out by the head of the Secret Police. If she infiltrates the home of an enemy of the state, finds some dangerous documents, and executes the traitor she will be given immunity from her previous crimes. Before long Yuki begins to question her mission and must choose between her freedom and the freedom of all. Based on the manga by prolific author Kazuo Koike. Lady Snowblood: Love Song of Vengeance
     All that and Kevin isn't afraid of no ghosts, Dave eats too many marching marshmallows, and Tyler plans his escape from yet another basement sex dungeon. Join us, won't you?

Episode 240- In A Snowy Grove

Harold and Yuki

      This week Dave takes it upon himself to amend two grievous oversights. After learning about gaps in cohost viewings, and making some small sacrifices to Meiko Kaji for guidance, a vision was given unto Dave and he cheated the random pick pull to bring everyone to deliverance.

     Born to avenge her family, trained through her entire childhood, finally unleashed and hell bent on gory revenge. Yuki seeks out those who killed her father and brother and spent days raping and torturing her mother. Raising standard samurai exploitation to the highest of visual poetry, not even death can keep Lady Snowblood from her satisfaction.

     Harold is bored and the only thing that keeps him entertained is a light spot of dramatic suicide. His mother, uncle, and therapist don't understand him and he can't live the life they proscribe for him. Then one day, at another crashed funeral, Maude drifts into his life. A dark comedy about existential anxiety and what might be found when you embrace it. One of cinema's greatest love stories, Harold & Maude.
     All that and Kevin gets dirty in Cape Town, Tyler spirals in nostalgia, and Dave runs out of places to hide his sacrifices. 

Episode 205- Harold and Yuki