Third Clue: September's Screening

Clue #3: September's movie is one of the 80s exploitation movies that features a cameo by Michele Soavi, the director of Cemetery Man.



Tape Freaks Presents: September's Mystery Movie! at the Trylon microcinema, Wednesday, September 7th@ 7:00pm, only $5!

****Purchase advance ticket here****

Mindless Action Movies: The Raid

Nothing washes a bad day away like watching this movie, it's so satisfyingly wall-to-wall action! We first saw The Raid as a bootleg a co-worker lent us and the dubbing was a little... off. Clearly it was a DIY job by the bootlegger, but they didn't have a full grasp on how to translate Indonesian to English. There were a few key points where the subtitles suddenly were in what I assume to be Indonesian and plot points that revolved around things like animal hospital drugs... Though it did make for an interesting watch, were happy when we could buy it on DVD with professional translators supplying the subtitles!


The plot unfolds something like this: A group of tactical police officers are on their way to raid an apartment complex run by a notorious drug lord. Halfway to the top floor, the drug lord finds out they're in the building and offers free housing for life to the person who brings him an officer's head. The games begin.

Sounds familiar: Anyone who's also seen Dredd might think that one of these films ripped off the other, but that's not true. They were filming simultaneously on completely different continents, completely unaware of the other's existence. And even though the physical landscape of each film is similar, each is very much so a different movie and both are in our top five favorite action movies.

The action: This movie is the definition of non-stop. There is little story here, but that's only because they didn't leave any time to give you any.

The sequel: The Raid 2: Berandal is also very good. Not nearly as mindless, but just as action packed and about 100x more stylish.

Mindless Action Movies: Death Race 2000

(Spolier!! If you've not seen this one yet, don't watch any trailers...)

Like a lot of people, I first heard of this movie when people who were older and cooler than me started pointing at pedestrians out a car window while assigning point values. And although it could be argued there is a social commentary in this film, it's pretty shallow. The main reasons to watch it is the total fucking carnage.

The plot unfolds something like this: In the year 2000 the streets are opened for an annual free for all, cross country, death race. Each contestant must score points by killing pedestrians while also winning the race... or something... But each contestant must also have a ridiculously themed driver and navigator team with an equally ridiculously coordinating car. (We assume that's in the rules, it's universally followed, so if it's not it's kinda weird...) With the entire country tuned in, the stakes are high and the competition is cut throat. Let the blood bath games begin!

Things to watch for: Asinine car designs, asinine costumes, asinine characters, asinine plot, asinine contest rules... But also, the worlds most annoying television host, a babyfaced Sylvester Stallone, a smoking hot Mary Woronov, loads of gory deaths and car stunts.

We would like to thank this scene for containing
as many mostly naked men as it does women. 

Some things that were possibly influenced by this movie: Hunger Games, The Purge, Mad Max, Running Man.

Spoiler Alert: The original trailers for this film give away a major spoiler from the film which leaves me wondering, why? I'm pretty sure the Corman knew he was going to have to reveal that David Carradine was in the film (as Kung Fu was in full swing and he would have some box office draw) in the trailer, so why make his character the one with a big reveal? 

He get's his, don't worry.

Bouns: Everything Wrong With was challenged by Roger Corman to EWW one of his movies, that challenge was pretty amazingly met.

Mindless Action Movies: The Expendables 2

If ever there was a movie franchise made for mindless consumption it's The Expendables. And although we haven't seen the third installment (for shame, we know) it's the second in the franchise that has our hearts. It's pretty much a slash/shoot/blow 'em up action fest with little to no memorable plot, and that's a-ok with us. Plus Jean Claude Van Damme is the villain, Jean Vilain. (No seriously, that's the name of his character! This movie has absolute zero shame.)

 The cast:

I mean seriously, how can you go wrong?

Our fave is problematic: Better to it's women than the first installment (which is not saying much), it still has it's problems. Like for instance, is there a woman in this movie? If so, where is she in the promo material? Oh there she is, on her very own super special separate poster. (I mean, I love Adkins, but does he need to be in the main promo material? Does anyone who's not seen a 2000s JCVD movie even know who he is?)

How many times did we see this movie in the theater: Only once. But we saw it at the drive in at lease three more times! And we're not even sorry.

Mindless Action Movies: Ozploitation List

These fit the tone of our movie this month as they are all exploitation action movies. However these are all specifically Ozploitation exploitation, and the Australians are really good at mindless action, especially when there are cars involved.

Chain Reaction: A nuclear waste storage facility suffers a breach after an earthquake and nuclear waste is headed straight for the ground water. One facility engineer sees the danger and tries to save the thousand of people in harms way, however his boss would rather just keep the whole thing hush-hush. This movie is at it's core a car chase movie, though it tries desperately to convince you otherwise. Bonus: it has a killer score!

Stunt Rock: A sort-of mockumentary about stunt man Grant Page and the theatrical hard-rock band Sorcery. You'll see a trailer for this gem at this month's screening, but allow me to explain it a bit without ruining a single second of that: This movie was literally made to highlight the unrivaled stunt man that is Grant Page, the band is a total after thought to tie the movie together. This is a movie made of pointless action, frosted with ridiculous band antics.

Man From Hong Kong: I have written about this movie before and I don't often say this but, you really should just check out that post. There's too much so much to say and I've already said so much of it!

Turkey Shoot: A human hunting movie mashed up with an exploitation prison movie, this one's got it all. (I also wrote about this one before, if you're interested.) Over the top characters, asinine plot points, and actors in actual danger while filming. It's not to be missed.




Bonus movie:

Mad Max: There are few Ozploitation movies that reach the action heights that Mad Max does, though this movie isn't so much mindless perse, but you can tune in and out and still enjoy it.

Second Clue: September's Mystery Movie

Clue #2: The director of September's movie also directed an 80's cannibal exploitation film.



Tape Freaks Presents: September's Mystery Movie! at the Trylon microcinema, Wednesday, September 7th@ 7:00pm, only $5!

****Purchase advance ticket here****

Mindless Action Movies: Action Mixtape

Tim has put together another mixtape of madness, this time it's action action action! Take a listen and get amped up for our September Mystery Movie!

Tape Freaks Presents: September's Mystery Movie! at the Trylon microcinema, Wednesday, September 7th@ 7:00pm, only $5!

****Purchase advance ticket here****