Cat In The Brain

Director: Lucio Fulci

Starring: Lucio Fulci & David L. Thompson



In 1999, Grindhouse Releasing released "Cat in the Brain" on Laser Disc and the years that followed showed that region 5 DVDs of "Cat in the Brain," or any other region that wasn't 1, could reach up to $200 dollars on ebay and amazon.com.

Needless to say back in January of this year when Grindhouse Releasing announced they were going to release "Cat in the Brain" on DVD with a ton of bonus features on March 31st of this year, I was way, way excited and even more when I received my pre-ordered copy on April Fools Day.

In "Cat in the Brain," Lucio Fulci plays himself, and for those who do not know, Lucio Fulci is known by some as the "godfather of gore." So in "Cat," Fulci has to start seeing a psychiatrist because he is starting to have trouble distinguishing reality because he has directed so many gory horror films. In addition, bodies starting piling up and Fulci doesn't know if it is he that is committing the murders.

In one scene, a man is grinding up the body of a woman he recently murdered. During the film's lunch break, Fulci can't eat because he keeps imagining the scene were the man is grinding up the woman's body.

In another scene, Fulci arrives on set late and the producers have already started filming because he is so predictable and they know what his fans want. I felt with this scene, and a couple others in "Cat," that Fulci was poking fun at himself, making that one of the film's stronger attributes.

And of course we can't forget that "Cat in the Brain" is a exploitation film and a Fulci one at that. So that means there is going to be a ton of gore and nudity that doesn't make any sense. In fact, there is a Nazi orgy sex scene and you know what? That is only something that Mr. Fulci can make happen and you accept it.

"Cat in the Brain" actually recycles scores from previous Fulci films by having them in "Cat" and recycles clips from previous Fulci films by having them in "Cat" as well. When I read that, before I watched "Cat," I thought that was a bummer. But after watching "Cat," I feel as if that actually worked for the movie.

I also feel that "Cat in the Brain" makes a great party movie. Throw it on when friends are over and laugh at all of the plot holes that are covered up with gore. In closing, I am a strong Fulci fan, so I am going to give it a higher rating than what "Cat in the Brain" is actually worth.

For Fans of Fulci, Gore, and Italian Exploitation Films
7 out of 10.

Trailer for "Cat in the Brain:"

"Cannibal Holocaust" Ripout! Barbeque! Devour! How long can you take it?

Director: Ruggero Deodato

Starring: Robert Kerman



Cannibal Holocaust is one of those films, I think, that you just have to watch to see if it actually lives up to all of it's hype.

Did the director really go to jail upon the film's release?
Were the actors really killed?
Did they really kill real animals?
Is the film really banned in several countries?

To keep the hype level high for those of you that have yet to watch "Cannibal Holocaust," I will tell you that the answer is yes to three of the four questions above.

Cannibal Holocaust is about a documentary crew that heads deep into South America to film a documentary on a cannibalistic tribe. The thing is, the documentary crew never returns. So Professor Harold Monroe of NYU sets out to find them, but only returns with their footage. The majority of the film is the "real" footage of the documentary crew.

Possibly too much for sensitive viewers, Cannibal Holocaust may have you sitting on pins as you witness murder, rape, and cannibalistic rituals.

Upon the completion of my first viewing of Cannibal Holocaust, I felt like I should have been awarded some type of award for making it all the way through it. The second time I watched it, I saw a cut, censored version of it and it did not have that same impact on me like after my first viewing. I decided to watch it a third time and since I own the "Deluxe Edition" of Cannibal Holocaust (from the fine folks over at Grindhouse Releasing), I decided to watch it uncut (the Grindhouse Releasing version gives the option to watch it censored or uncut). I still found it to be brutal, but I guess I wasn't shocked since it was my third time going into "Cannibal Holocaust."

There is probably worse out there, but make up your own mind and watch "Cannibal Holocaust" at least once.

Recommended
For fans of Italian, Cannibal, and Gore Cinema
7 out of 10

Trailer for "Cannibal Holocaust:"

"Pieces" You Don't have to go to Texas for a Chainsaw Massacre!

Director: Juan Piquer Simon

Starring: Christopher George & Linda Day George



Pesky serial killer at your university?

Rest assured, the fine folks at the Boston University that "Pieces" takes place at, had to deal with the same thing.

At the start of "Pieces," a child putting together a puzzle of a nude woman is caught by his mom only to be slapped and asked something among the lines of "Do you want to end up like your father?!"

Apparently the little boy does. When sent from the room by his mom to bring a trash bag to throw away the rest of his pornographic goodies, he returns with an axe and shows her how much that puzzle meant to him.

Fast forward 40 years and now there is a madman (with a yellow chainsaw) roaming a Boston College campus, killing girls and only taking the body parts he needs to make his own female body.

As a movie, "Pieces" can work two ways.

In order for it to work the first way, you have to be a fan of the genre. If you are into the genre, you will light up with glee every time you watch it. Nudity? Check. Gnarly Gore? Check. Terrible dubbing? You bet!

The other way "Pieces" can work is as a party movie.

Call up a few friends, buy a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper, and just have fun watching "Pieces." You and your friends can laugh at the terrible dialogue, gawk at some boobies, or cringe at the gore.

Is it the overly male student that finds it easy to get laid?
Is it the homosexual anatomy professor?
Is it the all-to-eager-to-help Dean?
Or is it the creepy maintenance man (with a yellow chainsaw)?

Watch "Pieces" and find out. With several "OMG WTF?!" scenes (particularly the very end), the only thing you stand to lose by not watching "Pieces" is a good time.


Highly Recommended
For Fans of Exploitation, Sleaze, and Cult Cinema.
8 out of 10

Trailer for "Pieces":