Rob Dimension's Shock & Wrestling Podcast #10

Rob Dimension's Shock & Wrestling Podcast #10

This week on Rob Dimension's Shock and Wrestling Podcast, Rob and Matt start the show by discussing some of the notorious disturbing films in Horror, both Underground and wider commercially released. Then the conversation switches to Q'doba, The Office and finally some wrestling chatter.

Probably a more in-depth look at what these two really talk about on a daily basis.

"Superfights" is a Martial Arts Masterpiece!

SuperFights

(1995)

You ever stumble upon a movie that, only You talk about, so you try to tell more people just to share the sheer awesomeness? Me too!! That's my plan with this review...I plan to hype this film so huge, that once you watch it, you will want a Jack Cody Tattoo or maybe wish that Superfights was on TV weekly.

For years, growing up in the 80's I was glued to the television every Saturday afternoon, watching Shaw Brother's Kung Fu theater, then through the power of VHS, watching Enter the Ninja, Gymkata and even No Retreat, No Surrender (which has never been released on Dvd and IS a real crime). The fast paced, high energy martial artists, kicking, punching with the "smack" sound effect and story lines that seemed like backdrops for the action was why I loved those movies. The outrageous, ridiculousness of the punch power of the Boy with the Golden Arm or superfeats of the Crippled Masters (yes, you bet your ass I have this movie) was what movie magic was all about. You know the stories of the pupil that always wants to surpass the master....actually that sounds like almost every movie I enjoy! (I really need therapy)

Fast forward to 1995 and a 25 yr old, young Dimension is up late at night, flipping the channels of cable tv and I stumble upon this movie, the movie that inspired this write up, Superfights. I quickly look for the next showing because I HAVE to record this on a VHS tape. Using a book they called "The TV Guide", I set my VCR to record and everything is set. For the next several years I'm able to watch this throwback to corny, zany Karate action and I love every minute of it.

Let me give you the synopsis : Simple box boy Jack Cody is a karate dreamer. On his way home, Jack prevents a mugging and is thrust into stardom, instantly. Being offered a contract into the "Superfights", quite honestly, likened to WWE, that is all glitz and fame...on the outside. Cody quickly realizes it's an underground world of crime, drugs and a battle of good and evil.

That synopsis does not do this film any justice. With a really fimilar cast of Martial Arts veterans of 80's Kung Fu films, plus an appearance of a very young former ECW, WWE star Rob Van Dam and International Wrestling star Jim Steele (yep, Jungle Jim) this movie delivers on the action....and the cheese. Steroid usage, sex, shake downs of business owners and low level drug dealers (oh yeah...I said Shake Down) from this crooked Superfights promoter (geez, this kind of sounds like the Vince McMahin story) all make Superfights a plethera of happiness. Clearly not meant to be a comedy, it comes across so silly but for me, that's the charm for this movie.

From the amazing Kung Fu elderly master (all I could think of was Remo Williams) to the outlandish fellow super fighters. The fight scenes are what makes this movie so good, I'm serious about this. This movie is a must see! I wish I could could find Brandon Gaines, the lead, who only did this and not really anything else after, to sign my dvd.

 

Keep in mind, this movie will not be for everyone. In fact, I might be the only one this movie is for, but if you remember the action flicks that were built around fun, then you might really enjoy this one. It's a winner!!

S&Man reviewed - Mr. Sandman...bring me a dream....and stop peeking in my window

S&Man 

reviewed by: Michael K. Snyder 

After hearing a lot about JT Petty’s newest film, S&Man, I decided to get my hands on a copy and see it for myself. The film starts out in a narrative documentary style, exploring the culture of underground horror films. Petty travels to a horror convention where he meets up with a new young filmmaker who goes by Eric, and is the filmmaker behind the S&Man series of films. 

Things start to get weird, as Eric grows more and more partial to Petty and his crew, but the more Petty pushes to get into Eric’s mind, the more defensive Eric gets. It becomes clear that something is wrong with Eric, and the film takes a turn away from fact and into fiction, while still providing a lot of insight into voyeurism and extreme filmmaking. 

Petty interviews a few different doctors who specialize in voyeurism and sexual deviants. He also gets a lot of insight from cult filmmaker Fred Vogel and Toe Tag Pictures. Vogel is responsible for some of the most graphic films to date that are the closest you can legally get to snuff. He provides JT with a firsthand account of a snuff film he watched and the effect it had on his life. These real accounts are interlaced with insight from scream queens and filmmaker Bill Zebub along with fictionalized stories from Eric about his S&Man films. 

My favorite part about this film is the way it makes you think. Petty does a great job at making you feel weird about watching extreme horror films. He drives deeply into your psyche and then rips it apart when things turn out for the worst. Are we all just voyeurs? Do we all have that little voice in the back of our heads urging us to look into the fire just to catch a glimpse of a burning corpse? Petty does a great job of convincing us that as humans each of us has a yearning to view violence, but he also reminds us that when you see so much violence and chaos on screen you become numb and eventually, for some people, the only way to feel the rush of horror films, is to act out in violence. Do we all secretly lust for blood?

ToeTag Inc's Sella Turcica review and then some...

Sella Turcica review

by Rob Dimension

Over the past 8 years I have watched ToeTag grow leaps and bounds. From the once small renegade, underground film crew to a full fledged, movie and special effects leader in the Horror genre.  From the early incarnations of shock, point of view, in your face films like August Underground to highly polished, well developed features like Redsin Tower. They, to me have always delivered the goods in the Horror and Gore departments.

This past Sunday I was given, what I felt was a chance of a lifetime, a private screening of there newest, yet released feature Sella Turcica at ToeTag studios with Writers and Director Fred Vogel, Don Moore, Shelby Vogel (not pictured) and Lead Star, Damien Marusca. How could I resist? Simple answer...I couldn't. I will share my thoughts on the overall experience at the end of this, but here is enough about Sella Turcica to wet your appetite.

Plot Synopsis - Sgt. Bradley Roback (Damien A. Maruscak) returns home from active duty after a mysterious accident leaves him paralyzed. Awaiting his return, his mother, Karmen (Camille Keaton), and younger sister, Ashley (Jade Risser), remain unaware of the details of the accident and severity of Brad‘s condition. Once he arrives, though he looks sickly, his family members are pleased to see him alive and don’t bring attention to his ill appearance. Over the next twenty-six hours Brad’s condition terribly worsens, barreling down to a gruesome conclusion that will change the family forever.

Okay, first let's get a definition of what exactly Sella Turcica is (credit Wiki) - The sella turcica (literally Turkish saddle) is a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone at the base of the human skull. Are you more confused? I bet your thinking, what the hell does this have to do with anything?? I think that's what ToeTag does best....they make you think.

This film is different than anything ToeTag has put out to date, this shows how Fred and company have really grown. This film is a Drama with horror mixed in perfectly, where needed. The gore is kept to a minimum and this film is carried by the acting. The cast does a tremendous job in developing a relationship with the viewer, a rarity in today's cinema. Camille Keaton, (I Spit on Your Grave) pulls off a great role as a concerned Mother who simply is happy her son is home from war but, won't admit there is a problem. Damien A. Maruscak, for me, steals the show.....his portrayal of a soldier who just wants to keep his family protected, plus going to great lengths to hide what is truly happening is fantastic (his physical performance is something you will all be talking about...guaranteed).

If it sounds like I am being vague, I have been sworn to secrecy (can't really reveal much plot detail) and will fully review the film once it hits DVD. This film, to me, carries a few heavy political messages - I really can see possible frustration on the writers about the way our soldiers are treated once they are home. Our soldiers that fight for our freedom, when injured, are often just cast aside in our busy lives. Many times the families are left to clean up the mess. 

I also can see what the writers perceive as a modern family, and how it's often dysfunctional. You have two brothers who are mismatched but have a great connection, they also, both protect their younger sister. A Mother who just wants her children happy and will always try her best to keep the peace. The arrogant boyfriend of the younger sister, who is (at least to me) a massive douche bag.....played perfectly on film. I fell for all of these characters, hook - line and sinker.

ToeTag Studios was a great place to visit: Jerami Cruise's laboratory of monstrous creations was a sight to see...props from past films and replica's that he has made. Just awesome. Fred and Shelby have plenty of collectibles of their own...Frankenstein's of every size and shape, chainsaw's signed by the entire cast of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (actually 2 of them) plus countless prints of different feature films. 

Did I mention I raided the ToeTag store? I had too...how often do you get this chance? 

In closing...HUGE Thank you to the entire ToeTag Ink crew for the hospitality. Knowing Fred and Shelby for over 8 years now, for me as a friend and fan, this was a fantastic day.

For more info - Visit www.ToeTag.Biz