150 Movies You Should Die Before You See - Miller Steve [47]
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Acting Award goes to … The entire cast. You can actually see them looking off camera for their cue cards.
And the Worst Picture Award goes to … George Breakston. Even by low-budget standards of the 1950s, this two-headed man looks cheesy.
They Really Said It!
Ian: Do you realize that your behavior lately has had every aspect of a man flipping his lid?
Larry: What are you trying to say, Ian?!
Betcha Didn't Know
Star Peter Dyneley was a British actor who was best known for his stage work, but he appeared in a number of crime dramas and sci-fi films over the course of his career.
Kenneth Crane is sometimes mistakenly credited with directing one of Edward D. Wood's final science fiction films — The Double Garden (aka Venus Flytrap) in 1970. He did, however, not direct such a movie. Crane spent most of his career as an editor, and directed only four low-budget horror films during 1958–1959, the most notable being this one and The Monster from Green Hell.
Trivia Quiz
What famous horror comedy has a sequence that was clearly inspired by this film?
A: The Evil Dead (1981)
B: The Grudge (2004)
C: The Boogey Man (1980)
D: Army of Darkness (1992)
Answer: D. The scene in Army of Darkness in which Ash is split in two-Good Ash and Evil Ash-is a clear and obvious echo of the transformation and eventual doubling of Larry.
MONSTURD
4321 Productions, 2003
PRODUCER Rick Popko
WRITERS Rick Popko and Dan West
DIRECTORS Rick Popko and Dan West
STARS Paul Weiner (Sheriff Duncan), Beth West (Agent Hannigan), Dan Burr (Dr. Stern), Dan West (Deputy Dan), Rick Popko (Deputy Rick), and Brad Dosland (Jack Schmidt)
Serial killer Jack Schmidt (Dosland) is reborn as a living turd, after mad scientist Dr. Stern (Burr) dumps bioengineered bacteria in the sewers. Now, Schmitt is killing the residents of the town as they Do Their Business, and growing bigger and bigger.
Why It Sucks
Well … hmmm … I'm at a loss for words. It does more with “Number Two” than any other movie has ever done before — and hopefully ever will again. Of course, if you enjoy scatological humor, you'll have a great time. (Confession: I enjoyed this film very much.) That said, it was a first-time effort and it shows in the uneven editing and choppy camera work.
Thumbs Down Rating:
The Crappies
The Worst Actress Award goes to … Beth West for her flat (we might almost say, flatulent) and uninspired performance as Agent Hannigan.
And the Worst Director Award goes to … Rick Popko and Dan West for using jump cuts and the “shakey-cam technique” to excess.
They Really Said It!
Agent Hannigan: You've been watching too many crappy horror movies, Sheriff.
Betcha Didn't Know
Monsturd was the first film effort from Popko and West. They were inspired to make it by the crappiness of Jack Frost.
The movie was successful enough to spawn a sequel in 2008, RetarDEAD, that saw Dr. Stern attempt to turn a bunch of “special” children into geniuses, unleashing a zombie plague instead.
Trivia Quiz
What horror movie has monsters bursting from the backside of victims?
A: Dreamcatcher (2003)
B: Ghoulies (1985)
C: It (1990)
D: The Stuff (1985)
Answer: A. Dreamcatcher. From a novel by Stephen King, this 2003 horror movie has as one of its highlights a man being killed by monsters while sitting on the crapper.
THE MUMMY'S SHROUD
Hammer Film Productions, 1967
PRODUCER Anthony Nelson Keys
WRITERS John Elder (story) and John Gilling (script)
DIRECTOR John Gilling
STARS André Morrell (Sir Basil Walden), Maggie Kimberly (Claire de Sangre), David Buck (Paul Preston), John Phillips (Stanley Preston), Elizabeth Sellars (Barbara Preston), Roger Delgado (Hasmid), Michael Ripper (Longbarrow), and Catherine Lacey (Haiti)
When British archaeologist Sir Basil (Morrell) and his obnoxious American financier (Phillips) ignore the warning of a crazed tomb guardian (Delgado) and move the mummified body of an ancient child-king to