BOB'S BURN PIT #3

THE DEVIL’S SWORD (1984)

There are many times with movies that people will say it is bonkers, insane, over the top and so on, and then when you end up watching it you are let down because it was so hyped up as something sensational there is no way the film can live up to the hype and buildup.  For a while now this is what people were saying with the Indonesian movie “The Devil’s Sword.”  An amazing sword and sorcery style of movie but also mixed with so much more and loads of over the top action fused with Shaw Brothers influence as well.  The best part about all of this it never drags on and always has something new to keep your eyes peeled to the screen.  The kind of movie where you never check your watch.

The plot is very basic but let’s be honest here, we are watching this for the crazy action.  And as a warning, this movie is very low budget and the effects and costumes are not the greatest but also it shows its charm.  The film’s main story is about this town where every year they make a sacrifice to the Crocodile Queen with a male subject.  This year the Princess tries to stop her fiancé from being the sacrifice.  This does not go over well and the town is attacked.  In steps Mandala who literally flies into the battle on a giant rock he kicks.  A crazy over the top battle ensues with heads and limbs being cut off or pulled off.  People flying all over the sky and bouncing off tree’s and more.  Now remember this is all done before digital effects so there is tons of jump cuts to give this illusion but it works so well and there is so much charm in this scene that you can’t help but smile through all the carnage.  

Mandala agrees to help the Princess get her fiancé back and things get even more over the top as the two go on a quest to save her fiancé but first they will need the Devil’s Sword. The Devils Sword is a blade created from a meteorite that crashed in the area and forged into a mystical weapon of power.   This magical sword is wanted by many and soon other warriors appear on their own quest to get it.  Each have their own fighting style and skills which brings more crazy fights to the screen.  There is one guy with a flying guillotine and a few heads do get ripped off.  Like a lot of the old kung fu movies, alliances are made and broken and you can trust no one.

One of the best battles for laughs is when Mandala is on a boat and the crocodile warriors attack him.  The use of reverse photography is used to show them leaping out of the water and onto the boat.  The actors in these rubber suits are shown swimmingseconds away from drowning due to the heavy rubber suits filling with water before attacking the hero.  The charm here is you can see the passion of the film with making every penny count and putting it on screen for you enjoyment.  While the costumes are laughable but with imagination you easily overlook it.  Plus it also adds to the feel of the movie overall.

The final showdown is not as crazy as the rest of the movie but still wild.  The Crocodile Queen uses one of her robes as a weapon and anything it hits blows up.  The set for the showdown is great and almost dreamlike.  I think due to the final fight being in an underground cave under the water it makes it limited with flying around and jumping off things.  It still is a sight to see.  By the end you are wanting more and more or wish for once there was more sequels to see the further adventures in this world.

Now this is not a movie for just anyone.  If you love non-stop knuckle breaking action, sword fighting, cheap looking creatures, a wild assortment of cool weapons and a bad ass hero with strong ethics this is the movie for you.  Every scene offers something crazy and wild on a super low budget.  Don’t go in expecting to see state of the art effects or a deep story, or you will be disappointed.  But if you want a rollercoaster ride of mind melting action.  This is your movie.  “The Devil’s Sword” wins on all accounts.  The Blu Ray is available now via Terrorvision if you are looking to see this gem of a film.

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE (1976)

There are many hidden gems in cinema from the 60’s and 70’s that I wish more people would check out.  This was a time when story and acting was key and while at times slower paced movies, they all left you with an impact that would carry over for days and weeks and you could not get them out of your head.  The movie “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane” is one such film.  Based off a novel, this one is basically almost all told from one room outside of a few other quick location changes.  It is one of those movies where it is hard to tell others about since the story hits on very touchy topics.  It is really hard to describe what genre this would fall under because there are horror elements, thriller elements but overall it is the characters that shine through and pack the punch that’s needed.

Jodie Foster plays a thirteen year old girl who lives with her famous poet father in a small coastal Eastern town.  The kind of place where everyone knows everyone’s business.  Without giving any of the many twist and reveals away I will do my best not to spoil anything important here.  No one really has seen the famous father around town and Ryan , played by Foster, does all the house cleaning and errands for him.  The landlady snoops around one day and wants to go into the basement to get a few things.  More so to snoop than actually get stuff.  Ryan goes on the defensive and does what she can to not allow the landlady entry,  saying her Father is out of town.  The landlady leaves but comes back a day later and enters the cellar and something down there startles her and she rushes to get out but bumps the door and it falls on her head killing her.

Ryan now has to hide what happened or allow her secrets to be revealed. She does everything in her power to hide this from everyone.  Soon the landlady’s son played by Martin Sheen stops over.  He is looking for his mother and is suspicious of Ryan.  But also he carries a dark secret which is never said but heavily implied throughout all his visits.  He seems to enjoy the company of young, very young girls. (In other words, a typical politician...Dr. M)  He plays the part perfect...just seeing him roam the room creates chills on knowing his intentions anytime he is around Ryan.  It is like watching a cat and mouse game with the two via dialog and body language.  He tries to trick her into revealing more on where her Father is at and his mother as well..

Ryan does make one friend in another young nerdy boy that she seems to trust and like.  He helps her with hiding the landlady’s car and visits her often.  She eventually reveals some of her past and how she has come to kind of live on her own in this huge house.  Without giving to much away let’s just say her Father gave her a gift with a jar of cyanide to always help her get out of a tight fix if needed.  Ryan is very smart and clever and not your typical dumb teenager.  She has a perfect life built for herself with the house paid off for 3 years and able to do what she wants.

A lot of twist and turns with the police, the landlady’s son and her new friend all hit.  While the movie does not have any action, fights, or chases or even scares, this will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time.  The last scene with Foster and Sheen is amazing.  He is there for one thing and one thing only and Foster is not going to let him have it.  It is a battle of wits and dialog that will make you squeeze your fist in tension waiting for what each characters fate will be.

Each character in this movie is so well written and deeply played that you can’t help but get heavily involved with the story.  While a slow burn, this one never gets dull or makes you check your watch.  Sheen plays the son so well and with a creepy vibe but never over played where it becomes cartoonish and the way he delivers each line you can feel his eerie vibes when on screen knowing his dark perverse intentions.  Foster plays her character as just and smart.  She knows deep down that she has crossed many lines but does so since she does not want a normal life and prefers one almost as an adult.  Each side character adds to the flavor of the story and helps get you to learn more about each of the main players.  I cannot recommend this hidden 70’s gem enough  while it one that may not appeal to all or even horror fans. But there is enough horror theme’s in this movie to make it worth a watch.  While you may not get it all on a first view, it is the type of moody movie that sinks in much later.  I highly recommend visiting “The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane” but beware of overstepping your stay if you do or else!  Just saying.

SHALLOW GRAVE  (1987)

Here is another kind of forgotten movie from the 80’s with a name that has been used over and over.   “Shallow Grave” is a rare mix of slasher, thriller, back woods horror and even college party type movie all in one.  While the name of the movie is key to the plot, I think under a different title it would have caught on more and made a mark.  This very low budget film really packs a lot in and with almost no gore as well.  How can a slasher type movie have no gore you say?  Well when the story takes a hold of you, it is something you don’t even realize is missing from the movie till later.

The story is very simple.  It starts out with four college girls who are known for pulling pranks and are finally caught.  They are told after Spring Break they need to turn in essays the Monday they are back.  The group is not happy since they are going to Florida to party all week and having to do homework will ruin a lot of the trip.  The four girls race off down to Florida and meet up some guys in a local restaurant and they agree to meet up the next day.  The next morning the girls’ car breaks down on the side of a small road.  Miles from anywhere one of the girls goes off to find help and another wanders off into the woods to go to the washroom.  She hears a couple having sex and she goes over to watch.  The couple then get into a huge fight and the guy murders the girl.  The girl hides but her two other friends come looking for her and stumble upon the guy digging a grave to bury the body.  He attacks the two and the chaos begins.

Now the film kind of turns into a slasher film with the man tracking down each girl and killing them to cover his tracks.  But here is the twist.  He is the town’s sheriff.  The girls end up getting arrested while looking for help and the deputy who also has a crush on the girl the sheriff was having sex with and killed.  He wants to believe the two girls that they witnessed a murder but this type of small town never has that type of stuff happen there so he ignores their cries for help.  Later the sheriff does come and the girl who witnessed the murder was so far away she never saw his face.  But later she sees a scarf and realizes now they are in deep trouble because the one guy who is in charge of them getting out of jail is the one they know murdered the girl in the woods and probably her other friends.  

While this is going on the two guys who met up with the girls are also looking for them as well.  The local hunters are out in the woods looking for the murdered lady but they only think she is just missing.  So there are players in the movie all out doing stuff and crossing over and finding out clues to a larger issue in the town.  Can the two girls locked up get out and save the day?  Will the sheriff with a dark murderous past get caught?  Will the two horny guys hook up with the survivors of this mess?  Will the not the brightest deputy finally stop and think and put all the pieces together before it is too late?

This is what makes this small film a great little gem of a movie.  It blends in so many genres so well and gives you a nice little rollercoaster ride of a film.  The acting is pretty good and story is very believable as well.  The movie moves a