DR. SHOCK'S TALES OF TERROR
PLOT-Horror host Dr. Shock presents four short films by producing/directing team Douglas Agosti & Lance Otto Smith.
VIOLENCE-Body parts get cut off (and made into pizza), people are shot, vampires drink blood, and I counted 2 decapitations.
SEX/NUDITY-None that I recall.
WHY I WATCHED IT-This is a Brain Damage Films release, a company that's been doing a great job making independent horror films available to a wider audience. I totally support what they do, and they've released some awesome flicks like TERROR TOONS, DEATH FACTORY, and GOTH.
THE DOPE-The worst thing about this movie is the cover box. Don't get me wrong, it looks great, but in no way does it accurately represent the movie inside. First, a little history. Dr. Shock used to be on Fox 36 briefly in the late 80's, showing low budget horror movies on late night TV. Afterward, the people involved in making the show jumped into doing their own horror movies, four of which are on this tape. The image on the cover is based on the first segment entitled BULLET FOR A VAMPIRE. It's about an old fortune teller who uses a vampire to get revenge on the mafia. Like the others, it's shot on low-quality video, but BULLET differs in that it's serious in tone. Agosti and Smith definitely know how to film and edit a movie, their costumes and effects are cool, and their actors all do a great job. But the picture and sound quality are some of the worst I've seen on an official release. For BULLET, this works against the movie itself. But for the other 3 segments, which are more amateurish and comedic, it's not so bad. They seem like something homemade and fun, which they are. DEMONS DAY is about the cloning of Satan, and has an awesome-looking epic battle between the two demons at the end. Lots of fire and explosions! Definitely a highlight of the movie. Next is THE GARDEN TOOL MURDERS, which is what you'd expect. I salute the brave actors for allowing a guy to chase them carrying a functioning (and running) weed whacker that could easily fuck you up bad. But I was disappointed they did nothing with the "nerd" character at the beginning. He was hilarious. Last up is THE TOWN THAT LOVED PIZZA, which is like BLOOD FEAST and FARGO put together. I liked the acting in this one the best! Dr. Shock introduces each movie, and is having way too much fun saying "HUH!" over and over. They should've put him on the cover box, and used brighter images to showcase the fun and gory nature of the program inside.
MEMORABLE SCENES-A guy is buried up to his neck in the yard, and then run over with a lawnmower. The killer then adjusts the mower to the "low" setting to chop up what's left of the head.
NOTES-Visit DR. SHOCK'S WEBPAGE for more info on the people who made this stuff.
(August 2003)