Abominable, The Six Degrees of Helter Skelter & Basement Jack

You'd think Bigfoot would be the perfect fodder for some kickass horror flicks, wouldn't ya? Sadly, while ole Sassie has been the focal point of many a genre picture, he's never quite been done the justice he has long deserved. Bottom line being - most Bigfoot horror movies suck something fierce. While most reviews I have read lump Abominable in this same category of shitty Sasquatch on a rampage films, I simply cannot agree. To my surprise, I really enjoyed this movie and found it to be one of the better Bigfoot horror movies I have ever seen. It's not perfect and it's certaintly not without its flaws, but damn if it isn't fun. And it's not just gory mindless fun either, it also works really well as a Rear Window-esque thriller at times. Essentially, it's Rear Window meets a pretty damn solid Bigfoot flick and i'd say that's a winning combination. Keep an eye out for a nude Tiffany Shepis (that was redundant), Jeffrey Combs, and Bigfoot movie vet Lance Henriksen. Praise for this movie aside, i'm still waiting for Bigfoot to be utilized to his full cinematic potential.



I'll admit that although my fascination with Charles Manson knows no bounds, i'm kinda tired of documentaries about him and the Tate-LaBianca murders. They all rehash the same material and stories, but that didn't stop me from blind buying this one and giving it a chance - i'm very happy I made that decision. This is one of the best and most compelling Manson docs to date and i'd have to attribute that to the pure enthusiasm of the guy who hosts it, Scott Michaels. Michaels is a Hollywood historian with a deep and dark fascination with Hollywood death and it totally shows in this riveting and highly unique documentary. I thought I knew everything there was to know about Manson and the murders and even I was filled with tons of new information and insight. From never before seen autopsy reports to a step by step walkthrough of that fateful night in 1969 to visits to actual locations that are pivotal to the case and "the family", Six Degrees of Helter Skelter is a must see for all those with a sick curiosity about all things Charlie Manson. If you think you've seen and heard all there is to be seen and heard on the matter, you're in for a pleasant treat. If you know nothing about the murders, you might wanna start elsewhere and work your way up to this one.



Basement Jack, out November 17th on DVD, has been getting tons of praise of late and has won many an award and it's further proof that praise and awards do not a good movie make. This is not an "exciting, kick-ass old school slasher" or "one of the true horror highlights of the last decade", like the quotes on the back proclaim, it's a generic piece of crap with literally only 10 or 20 worthwhile seconds in the entire hour and a half runtime. Yes, there is one cool sequence, but that's about all Basement Jack has got going for it. It's just another generic tale of a damaged kid with a horrible mother going nutso and killing a bunch of people - nothing more and...well...maybe a little less. The absolutely dreadful effects - akin to ones you'd see in a 10 year old's homemade horror movie - make this one even worse than the typical generic bad horror movie. Talk about a let down....