A few weeks back David Z. cited the sleazy exploitation film Mad Foxes as his choice for a rare gem. I was sold even before he mentioned that Krokus was on the soundtrack. Now you too can enjoy those smooth, metal sounds, as soundtrack site Skunkape’s Crap has posted both of the songs from Mad Foxes by the mighty Krokus for your enjoyment. And hey, while you’re there take a look around. Skunkape has a plethora of trash and art house treasures awaiting your perusal.

Eli Roth. Some people like him, others can’t stand him. And a few seem able to both like him and dislike him simultaneously. Considering the fact that I named Hostel my favourite horror movie of the past seven years, it’s probably a good bet that I fall into the former category. Now it seems you’ll be seeing a bit more of him next year with the release of Grindhouse.

Quentin Tarantino has cast Michael Bacall (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation), Eli Roth (Hostel) and newcomer Omar Doom in his half of GRINDHOUSE, the highly anticipated double feature he is making with Robert Rodriguez, which will include two films joined by faux ads and trailers. Rodriguez’s movie is called PLANET TERROR, while Tarantino’s movie is DEATH PROOF, a slasher flick. Bacall, Roth and Doom are cast in DEATH PROOF alongside Kurt Russell and Zoe Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Marley Shelton, Tracie Thoms and Mary Elizabeth Winstead who were previously announced in July at the 2006 San Diego Comic Con International.

Roth’s return to his role as Justin from Cabin Fever in 2001 Maniacs was arguably the best part of that movie, so I’m looking forward to this.

I didn’t realize just how much news comes flying out of the San Diego comic convention. It’s like having Halloween sneak up on you.

“We’re going to make two, sleazy grindhouse movies that will deliver on the posters… and beyond! This isn’t some Twilight Zone the Movie fucking thing. This is not a faux double feature. This is two fucking movies for the price of one! Your $10 will be well spent at the Grindhouse, baby!” - Quentin Tarantino

The most exciting news to come out of San Diego is a batch of Grindhouse announcements. Clips from Rodriguez’ zombie portion, Planet Terror, were shown, a description of which can be found here.

Tarantino’s segment, Death Proof, is not yet in production. He made up for a lack of clips by revealing the name of the actor playing the villain in his piece, previously believed to be Mickey Rourke. Instead, Kurt Russell will be taking the role. As ridiculous as that may seem to some, this is a man who actually kept his Snake Plissken costume for decades just so he could wear it in the sequel. In related news, Rodriguez is in talks with fellow director/composer John Carpenter about creating music for the film.

And with that piece of news my initial excitement is alternating with the fear that a heavily contrived faux-grindhouse flick just can’t match the sleazy intensity of the real thing. Only time will tell.

Poster courtesy of Bloody Disgusting’s excellent coverage of the convention.

Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Over the past half-year I’ve been obsessing over the Grindhouse experience. Between Sleazoid Express and issues of Cinema Sewer I’ve attempted to relive those days, if only in my mind. I love the idea of a condensed circuit of movie theatres that allowed for the creation of cheap yet audacious fare and the importation of strange films from around the globe. New York wasn’t just a testament to the idea of the melting pot in society at large, but in the cinema as well.

Now, with the video above, you can experience the tail end of those sleazy, wonderful years, if only for a moment.

In a touching obituary, Tim Lucas says farewell to one of grindhouse cinema’s greatest icons, Audrey Campbell.

One of the joys of writing this blog is discovering films and personalities who I may not have run across otherwise. Such is the case here. I hadn’t heard of Audrey Campbell until just recently with the purchase of Bill Landis and Michelle Clifford’s book Sleazoid Express. There they devote an entire chapter to the three sexploitation films Campbell appeared in as Olga, a precursor to most of modern cinema’s hardened, voracious dominatrices. Upon reading the book, and seeing how so many of my favourite modern films grew out of the innovations brought on by the efforts of earlier exploitation filmmakers, I have a greater appreciation for the work that people like Audrey Campbell accomplished.
Rest in peace, Audrey Campbell.