Mar 2018
Because I mean hello, there has to be one at a place called trash epics. Troma made some SOV threads singling out a few particular movies, but I figured one big fat free-for-all post that either celebrates or lambasts this supremely niche sub-genre of bottom-feeding white trash horror deck would be appropriate.
I myself love these movies. I can't quite put my finger on why, since, in some cases, even on an entertainment level (we already know on a technical level this is about as bad as it gets) they can be pretty boring. Maybe what appeals to me most is that aesthetically, these movies are ugly. They remind me of the old home videos my parents took when camcorders were becoming readily available and more common back in the '80s.
Something about cheap video quality just appeals to me; the documentary-like look, weird and dated "state of the art" computer effects, the faint buzzing sound in the background, and to say nothing of chintzy homemade gore fx, bad synth scores, everyday, average people who ordinarily would never be in a movie otherwise (hello: old aunt in Splatter Farm), and the decorum of people's homes where many of these movies would solely take place, looking as plain and brown and depressing as can be, wood-panelled walls, linoleum flooring and all. There ain't no fancy schmancy set dressers here! Porn-staches and tube socks also need apply.
My whole life I've naturally flocked toward all things retro and outdated and simple. I don't like big expensive productions. I like amateurism, mistakes, and things that are corny or trashy. I may seem like a walking contradiction typing all this on my cellular telephone, and hey, that's OK. Where am I going with this? I dunno. I think I lost my train of thought a bit. Oh yeah, SOV! Talk about it here if you'd like.
I think my favorite SOV might be Sledgehammer. There's something strangely wrong with this movie. It sorta seems to take place in its own little world where, while Halloween and Friday the 13th are the film's obvious influences, somewhere along the way things went seriously astray. It walks a fine line between total garbage and surrealist arthouse horror. The scenes where the hulking beast of a killer can barely stand up straight without hitting his head on the ceiling in the director's real apartment, stalking his victims down narrow, sad little hallways that seemingly stretch on forever, is the stuff of nightmares.
I showed my girlfriend a few clips of Black Devil Doll from Hell and she thinks it's hilarious, but sitting down to watch the movie in its entirety isn't really worth it. Every now and then we like to go, "Biiiiiitch" and "Wake up, bitch! Wake up!" because it's just the best, you know.
Anyway, imma stop now, because my fingers are tired from typing.
I myself love these movies. I can't quite put my finger on why, since, in some cases, even on an entertainment level (we already know on a technical level this is about as bad as it gets) they can be pretty boring. Maybe what appeals to me most is that aesthetically, these movies are ugly. They remind me of the old home videos my parents took when camcorders were becoming readily available and more common back in the '80s.
Something about cheap video quality just appeals to me; the documentary-like look, weird and dated "state of the art" computer effects, the faint buzzing sound in the background, and to say nothing of chintzy homemade gore fx, bad synth scores, everyday, average people who ordinarily would never be in a movie otherwise (hello: old aunt in Splatter Farm), and the decorum of people's homes where many of these movies would solely take place, looking as plain and brown and depressing as can be, wood-panelled walls, linoleum flooring and all. There ain't no fancy schmancy set dressers here! Porn-staches and tube socks also need apply.
My whole life I've naturally flocked toward all things retro and outdated and simple. I don't like big expensive productions. I like amateurism, mistakes, and things that are corny or trashy. I may seem like a walking contradiction typing all this on my cellular telephone, and hey, that's OK. Where am I going with this? I dunno. I think I lost my train of thought a bit. Oh yeah, SOV! Talk about it here if you'd like.
I think my favorite SOV might be Sledgehammer. There's something strangely wrong with this movie. It sorta seems to take place in its own little world where, while Halloween and Friday the 13th are the film's obvious influences, somewhere along the way things went seriously astray. It walks a fine line between total garbage and surrealist arthouse horror. The scenes where the hulking beast of a killer can barely stand up straight without hitting his head on the ceiling in the director's real apartment, stalking his victims down narrow, sad little hallways that seemingly stretch on forever, is the stuff of nightmares.
I showed my girlfriend a few clips of Black Devil Doll from Hell and she thinks it's hilarious, but sitting down to watch the movie in its entirety isn't really worth it. Every now and then we like to go, "Biiiiiitch" and "Wake up, bitch! Wake up!" because it's just the best, you know.
Anyway, imma stop now, because my fingers are tired from typing.
Some years after that, I came across Cannibal Campout and finally started to come around. This is around the same time I realized that there is more than one version of Redneck Zombies, so, that's two I like, now. I eventually did some research and started collecting, which led me to Black Devil Doll From Hell and eventually Venus Flytrap, which I might try to write about soon.
I have noticed that the best quality SOVs are sometimes the most boring. Blood Cult is the best example I can think of. Then there's Video Violence. Not my favorite but to me, that one is best of both worlds. Best all around sov from the hey day, imo.
Nowadays, the only thing I like more than an 80's sov is a 90's sov, as they're more rare and unique, often surreal like Shatter Dead or Gore Whore. I love Tim Ritter's shitty Truth Or Dare sequels too But Todd Sheets is where it's at. I do wish more of his early stuff was available. Hopefully, there will be some kind of mass dvd release at some point. 90's sov is a whole other world which has barely been tapped into.
Chris Seaver made a bunch of movies a few years ago which are about as authentic as a throwback is gonna get. Death-O-Lantern and Stoinky were right outta the 80's. Several directors are trying to carry on the tradition and not doing a terrible job...