The DVD I rented had special features, including commentary by Raimi. I learned, after torturing myself by watching the film, that this first movie of the series was actually meant to be serious. It was an homage, in part, to the “classic” horror flicks. I definitely saw parts that reminded me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Night of the Living Dead, and (of course) The Exorcist.

I was especially disturbed and disgusted by the forest rape scene. If the remaining films of the series proffer such as entertainment, I will not bother with them at all. There was really little camp in this film to enjoy, and as a serious horror movie it failed me on all counts except two: Raimi’s camera usage was phenomenal, and he knows how to build suspense.

Things that made me laugh:

(1) Sumerian burial rituals in rural Tennessee
(2) The mocking of the demon possessed woman in the cellar “I don’t wanna die!”
(3) Beheading the demon possessed girlfriend, creating a demon possessed talking head
(4) Moving the desk away from full length window in cabin in order to block the door
(5) Removing stave from demon possessed best friend’s abdomen, resulting in a cork-removed-from-bottle sound followed by the whoosh and gurgle of escaping blood, gore, and bile.

“Just so you know, SgtWebb… I never doubted you. I already suspected that you are a sick, sick man.”

My hypocrisy knows no bounds.

I mean really. Hot Lesbians beating the shit out of each other. Does it really get any better than that? If the Taliban had that movie on BluRay, they’d just give up their AK-47s immediately. Virgins in Paradise can’t equate with quality cinema featuring naked flesh.

I develop Video OnDemand systems. I have to watch lots of movies to test our software. About a year ago the fellas in our back office removed all our content save one movie: “Vampiyas”. I was forced to watch this film 8 hours a day for more than a month:

review: http://www.mattniemi.com/archives/2004/11/bad_movie_monda_13.php
stills gallery: http://www.vampyres-online.com/vampiyaz_stills.html

PS. Just rented Evil Dead and will watch it sometime before the weekend is over.

You are a sick, sick man.

I’m not making it up. Check IMDB if you doubt me.

I think that is the essence of camp… taking a subject or premise that is normally serious, or at least not comedic, and creating comedy that turns inward, poking fun at the movie (or genre) itself. I think that the more serious the title or premise, the funnier the campy-ness becomes.

I guess I’m going to have to rent a few movies this weekend. Bubba Ho-tep sounds like a good start.