Being a horror fan who lives in Queensland means there is only one movie topic that cuts: State Government Censorshit, in the form of the redoubtable Films Review Board.
   For the uninformed, this board of brainwipes, under the ethereal guidance of the Films Review Act, banned all films deemed by them to exhibit "more graphic, un-necessary violence." Some of the lucky winners were Day of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Near Dark, Hellbound: Hellraiser II (cut version), The Dead Pit, The Toxic Avenger (cut version), Street Trash and Elm Street III. Hundreds of others are on the list.
   But the end is in sight thanks to a change in Government. It's just as well, too. In a final death-spasm of stupidity they banned an edited version of that Kiwi delight Bad Taste after it had run for two weeks here in Briz! FUCK ME!!

Recently got me-self down to the Hoyts-8 multiplex here to see the once every two or three month horror release. This time it was Shocker, and have you ever liked and hated a movie so much? The 1st half was excellent. The 2nd half...wasn't so excellent (it sucked). Too bad Wes, it could have been the one.

Damn near the best film I've seen so far this year is Black Rain from Ridley (The Master) Scott. If you missed it at the cinema then why?? See it on video, Period. His brother Tony's newie Revenge with Kevin Costner is good too. Let's hope Ridley gets Alien III or another 8-figure sci-fi pic.
   Blade Runner fans in Oz should hunt down Warner's sell-thru copies; only $29.95 brand spankers. Also CBS/Fox has Alien for sale and in the U.K. and U.S. (and hopefully O.Z.) they are re-releasing Aliens with 17 minutes added! These include the Alien's landing on Archeron/LV426, cut off to sneak the movie under the 2 hour mark.
   Final byte of sci-fi news: a friend in the U.S. says Total Recall with Arnold S. is worth seeing. Now why am I not surprised?

Your fave cult director and mine David Lynch is back in action with Twin Peaks and Wild at Heart. Great to see Jack Nance from the black and white masterpiece Eraserhead again in Twin Peaks (he Still looks a bit befuddled). Wild at Heart contains a scene where a couple make love beside a headless corpse! I liked Nekromantic, but some people who got their typewriters onto this film gave away the ending. Although I can't talk because I've been guilty of the same crime too!

A few months ago I saw the numbing Apocalypse Now for the first time (now you know why I'd never do a film zine). Bloody impressive!! Leaves today's glossy efforts bleeding in the gutters. Tho' I liked Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket more than most people/critics did.

It's strange the same country responsible for the Poof and his small, irritating band of religios called the Catholic Church can also claim fame to a genuinely horrifying film such as Cannibal Holocaust! An experience to be cherished. Does anyone know if the piranha scene exists?

– Review –

The Driller Killer
(1980 – uncut version)
Directed by Abel Ferrara

An instant favourite!
  I wasn't expecting much from this, despite the fact it's been heralded as a cult/art picture, not to mention having a notorious reputation for sparking or contributing to the British Video Nasty bullshit (loved that Young Ones 'Nasty' episode) in the early 80s. Either way, expecting movies to be shitfull is usually a good thing because usually they end up being better. The Driller Killer is better than better.
   Abel Ferrara directs and, as I found out later (I also try to avoid reading reviews of films that sound promising, therefore leaving the plot and any suspense in the dark – at the moment I'm allergic to anything on Total Recall stars as Reno. He lives in a decrepit city ghetto populated by drunken bums and wasted scraps of human refuse (Melbourne?). Surprisingly he turns out to be an artist (and a good one too), trying to pay the rent he never pays, so he has to rely on his girlfriend who reluctantly provides the bread.
   Another irritation Reno acquires is the rock (or stoned) band that plays/practices 25 hours a day. Reno complains to the flared landlord, only to be rebuffed with "I like them!" Large chunks of the film simply shows the band rehearsing; funky groupies try out for harmonies, drugged out losers just stick around to listen or act weird. Terrific mellowy stuff.
   By degrees Ferrara's Reno is driven up the wall. After seeing an ad for the Amazing Portable Power Pack on TV, he buys one and together with his drill (an early strange/funny scene introduces us to the drill's effectiveness as it burrows into a door in close up) goes out to kill – violently. I haven't seen the Australian cut version so can't really say whether it's as effective as the uncut item (probably not). In any case, Reno's purely random and sometimes sadistic drill kills on wandering lowlifes approaches The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for sheer greasy (but non-explicit) violence. You truly believe he is drilling the crap out of some of them...and enjoying it too. The ending seemed a bit arbitrary to me, but somehow doesn't spoil the film. Now is that rare or what?
   The talented Ferrara went on to make Angel of Vengeance aka Ms .45 in 1981, then Fear City in 1984 (starring Tom Berenger). Recently he made The Gladiator (1986) and China Girl (1987), and found his way onto primetime TV by directing some Miami Vice episodes and the pilot for the other Michael Mann jaunt Crime Story. I wonder if The Driller Killer will ever be shown on the box – perhaps just before Full House or Doogie Houser M.D.?