ZZZombie Lake

While having a conversation about Jean Rollin (as one does) last weekend, I realized that I hadn't yet watched my Wizard VHS of his 1981 flick Zombie Lake. This has since been rectified.

A group of murdered Nazis spring up from a local pond to reap revenge on the townsfolk that ambushed them many years before.

During said discussion, I described his filmography as “running the gamut between Hammer art house and soft core porn” for which Zombie Lake feels closer to the latter. It sure doesn't waste any time in that regard, as a young nymph almost immediately strips before going swimming in the titular lake/barely disguised swimming pool before being pulled under by a zombie. I'd have felt bad for her if she hadn't literally pulled down the no swimming sign earlier.

A little history. I first became acquainted with Rollin back when the Scream channel was a thing back in the aughts. They used to play double bills of his films late on Friday nights, but I actually had to start taping them to watch the next morning because though his work is pretty, it is often like cinematic Ny-Quil. Zombie Lake was no different, as the first half was barely a movie and more of a thin construct to get from one nude scene to another and as I'm typing this I'm wondering why this sounds like a complaint... Eventually the essence of a story emerges, but it's more of a sloppy patchwork of better pictures – think 2000 Maniacs without the gore or personality.

Jean Rollin's Shock Wav-- I mean, Zombie Lake!

I read that Rollin was embarrassed by this movie, having been a last minute replacement for Jess Franco so I guess it was doomed from the start. I wager most of the budget went to the Nazi uniforms, vehicles and flamethrowers and everything else was just fly-by-night. Did I mention there were a lot of naked ladies in this? Because there are. If only they had some decent gore to go with it, they'd have really had something to hang their hat on here, but sadly it was of the green and red paint variety.

Only thing missing from this scene is a flower...

Apart from the sky high skin ratio, Zombie Lake was a snooze-fest. However, I came away from this with one burning question about that scene with the frolicking basketball team. In 1981, did Europeans (or at least the people who dubbed this movie) not know what basketball was?

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Hey all. This is a pre-recorded Messenger post, as I am currently recovering from my Shock Stock pilgrimage. Here's hoping I made it back from London okay after that midnight screening. Anyhoo, a lot happened this week...

R.I.P. Richard Brooker.

Richard Brooker 1954-2013.

We lost yet another icon in the horror community this week. Stuntman Richard Brooker, best known for portraying Jason Voorhees in the third Friday the 13th movie, died this week at the age of 58. He was, of course, the first to wear Jason's trademark hockey mask and the only one to kill in 3D! Here below is a sample of his handiwork.

Bellissima!

Here are two things that caught my eye this week. The first is some lovely weaving from artist Sabrina Parolin.

The second is this bad-ass action figure from a company in Japan.

Awesome, right? Yeah, it will only set you back one-hundred-sixty bones!

VHS Drama.

So, a few months ago, Charles Band posted a video about finding a bunch of original VHS big boxes in his warehouse, which he is now selling on his website. It was a find that seemed too good to be true. Well, Paul from VHSCollector.com is maintaining that is, in fact, the case. Earlier this week, he posted this video.

After this damning evidence, some came forward to defend Band, including Fangoria editor Chris Alexander. He posted a video of his own comparing Demoniac releases, as well as getting in touch with Band himself for comment. Soon after, Alexander posted a voice mail of Band addressing the validity of his claims.

In response to this, Paul posted another video, which pretty much shot down those points, as well.

In the end, you have to take Paul's advice and just “look at the evidence and decide for yourself”

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Well, that was one hell of a storm. The last time we had a snowfall like that, this blog was in its infancy. Life, however, must go on and now that we're all dug out, here's the news.

He's A Big Box Wizard.

Charles Band is a man who needs no introduction to anyone who would read this blog. He began his career at the dawn of home video and has either directed, produced or distributed hundreds of horror titles over his long career. Recently, while cleaning out one of his old warehouses, he came across something truly remarkable. Here below, is the story straight from the man himself.

I love this video because it also serves as a mini-documentary about the genesis of home video, as well as a promotional piece to hock his wares. For more info on the sale, click here.

The Dead Return.

The Walking Dead returns from its mid-season hiatus this evening and all week AMC has had their hype machine cranked to eleven. For the last several days, Toronto's Union Station has been host to this little display.

For a closer look, check out this video courtesy of sajak551.

Michonne McFarlan'd.

Staying on the topic of TWD, McFarlaneToys recently unveiled this little piece of awesomeness.

Right click to enlarge.

This 14.5” Resin statue is limited to 1500 pieces and will set you back three-hundred bones. Pre-orders start tomorrow, so click here if you want more info.

That's it for now. If you'll excuse me, I have some necromorphs to strategically dismember.