Bare Knuckles (1977)

Directed by Don Edmonds.

Starring Robert Viharo and Gloria Hendry.

IMDB

Pretty much a perfect trailer. I haven't seen this film so I can't comment on its quality but this type of clip is what this site is all about. It's so perfectly of its time that it could have been one of those fake trailers as seen on Tarantino's "Grindhouse" film.

Don Edmonds is the guy who directed the notorious "Ilsa" films: "Ilsa, She Wolf Of The SS" and "Ilsa, Harem Keeper Of The Oil Shieks", so you know that exploitation cinema is his stock-in-trade.

Gloria Hendry, of course, was a big star in some of the biggest and best blaxploitation films of the 70's such as "Black Caesar" (with Fred Williamson), its sequel "Hell Up In Harlem" and "Black Belt Jones (with Jim Kelly).

Anyways, enjoy. This is what it's all about.

Endgame (1983)

Directed by Joe D'Amato.

Starring Al Cliver, Laura Gemser, George Eastman and Gordon Mitchell.

IMDB

More Mad Max inspired madness from Italy. The wildly prolific D'Amato (Antropophagus, Buio Omega) helmed this one and he brought back favourite George Eastman and Lucio Fulci regular Al Cliver (Zombie, The Beyond, The Black Cat).

Also look for spaghetti western and peplum star Gordon Mitchell.

This is not the best example of the genre - nods would go out to Enzo G. Castellari's "1990: Bronx Warriors" and Sergio Martino's "2019: After The Fall Of New York", but it's a great little diversion and at least on par with Fulci's similar "The New Gladiators".

Absurd (1981) aka Antropophagus 2 aka Monster Hunter

Directed by Joe D'Amato.

Starring George Eastman and Edmund Purdom.

IMDB

Veteran Italian director D'Amato directed this, although in the English speaking prints he went under the pseudonym Peter Newton, which was a common practice back then. American distributors were wary that their drive-in audiences wouldn't give European films a chance so many Italian and Spanish names were Anglicized along the way (D'Amato probably used more pseudonyms over the years than any other director in history!)

This is D'Amato's follow up to his notorious Antropophagus from 1980 (D'Amato was credited with directing 9 films in 1980 alone!) and it is as much of a gorefest as the first one.

George Eastman (Rabid Dogs, 1990: Bronx Warriors, Baba Yaga) returns from the first film to play the psycho and he hacks and chops his way through this grindfest. He also wrote the screenplay. Edmund Purdom (Pieces, The Fifth Cord), who just passed away on New Years Day of this year, plays a small role as well.

Not surprisingly, this was on the list of banned films in the UK during the 80's making it a so-called "Video Nasty".

This film has not officially been released on DVD yet so good luck finding it without spending some bucks for the Monster Hunter on Wizard Video edition on Ebay for the VHS.

Two Thousand Maniacs! (1964)

Directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis.

Starring Connie Mason and William Kerwin.

IMDB

H.G. Lewis' best film in my opinion and one that doesn't get old. I've had that banjo song in my head ever since I first saw this movie on late night cable TV.

Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966)

Directed by Don Sharp.

Starring Christopher Lee.

IMDB

One of my favourite Hammer Horror films thanks to a nasty and memorable performance by the classy Christopher Lee. He is just so convincingly evil that he more than makes up for a somewhat lackluster plot and lack of atmosphere.

The only more menacing character I can think of is Spencer Tracy's take on Dr. Jeckyll in the 1941 version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (make sure to check that one out, even if you're not a fan of older horror films.)

The Vault of Horror (1973)

Directed by Roy Ward Baker.

Starring Dawn Addams and Michael Craig.

IMDB

A top-notch anthology from Amicus studios, following up their succesful Tales From The Crypt release from the previous year. In fact, you can get both on one DVD and they make for a good night viewing back to back.

The two of them were easily the best horror anthologies until Creepshow came along in the 80's.

Shake 'n Bake Commercial (1972)