Category: Horror films

Really Awful Movies: Ep 203 – The Psychic

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Lucio Fulci’s The Psychic, while not nearly as gory as the canonical Fulci films, nonetheless bears some of the same trademark weirdness, and features…of course…a creepy house.

And in this house…bones are found!

We have a murder mystery on our hands, and blood is on someone’s hands…but whose? The house is owned by Francesco Ducci…and the bones are that of a young woman. Mr. Ducci is a womanizer, once dated the deceased, and that alone is enough to cast suspicions his way.

His sister Gloria, and wife Virginia (the titular Psychic) have to clear his name. And really, all they have to go on are some visions…clues that come to Virginia in a dreamlike state…

It’s these visions which, while not accurate, are accurate enough to get the plot rolling. There’s another married womanizer who dated the deceased, and was seen with her some time before she went missing. Is it him?

The Psychic, also known as Seven Notes in Black, and Murder to the Tune of Seven Black Notes, was filmed two years before Fulci blew our collective minds with his awesome, Zombi 2.

But you needn’t be a Fulci die-hard to appreciate the oddball film that is The Psychic.

Tune in as we discuss the film, and remember, subscribe to the Really Awful Movies Podcast!

Really Awful Movies: Ep 202 – The Fly II

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The poster says it all…Like father, like son. The Fly II did gonzo box office but badly with the critics. And that’s a bit of a shame as this one is fun as hell.

Sure there’s no Cronenberg, Goldblum, Davis, etc. And those are big-time names. But director Chris Walas is game and gives us a solid oddball sequel that’s a smashing good time.

Martin Brundle is the son of Goldblum’s Seth. He’s birthed in Bartok Industries in spectacular fashion. Since Gina Davis wasn’t back, the folks behind this sequel did as best they could replicating her…and that was quite ingenious when you think about it.

Martin prematurely ages and is the subject of experimentation. Gradually, he starts to feel more and more fly-like (like pa) and when granted his freedom starts to explore.

The Fly II (1989) then goes really crazy and gory. Much more of a monster movie than the first, a psychological slow-burn, there is nonetheless lots of fun to be had here. And on our show too. Check out our Really Awful Movies Podcast for genre film discussion that’s smart, and mostly sober.

Really Awful Movies: Ep 201 – New Year’s Evil

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It’s that time of year…a time for…New Year’s Evil!

Thank you, thank you, thank you Cannon Films. What would we do on the Really Awful Movies Podcast without the charming movies put out by the cousins, Yoram Globus and Menahem Golan?

New Year’s Evil is a bit like Hospital Massacre, another Cannon piece of cinematic cheese which was also centred around a festive time of year (in that case, Valentine’s Day).

The film was seemingly made to capitalize on the nascent New Wave music scene at the time of its release. And as a result, there’s some period-awesome music. The New Year’s Evil soundtrack foot-stomper was co-written by Roxanne Seeman, a New York City-born songwriter who penned hits for Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, as well as The Sisters of Mercy (one of these things is not like the other). The track is absolutely top-notch (Phantom of the Paradise kinda vibe) and the music really elevates this, which is essentially a standard stalk-and-slash.

In New Year’s Evil…There’s a killer on the loose…and he’s timing his killings to coincide with the ringing in of the year new in different American time zones. Neat premise, huh? It’s something worth considering as you belt out Auld Lang Syne three sheets to the wind…

And the killer, who calls himself EVIL, has his sights on the host of a New Year’s Eve television broadcast for punk music aficionados.

Of note: the punk host is played by Roz Kelly, the Fonz’ girlfriend on Happy Days. And also of note: the killer adopts disguises with varying degrees of effectiveness.

Be sure to tune in to the Really Awful Movies Podcast, a celebration of genre cinema.