“Morris County” DVD (director: Matthew Garrett)

Powerful and intelligent indie drama/horror

Man, this indie trilogy really hits hard. Director Garrett here weaves a series of three distantly-related tales that could almost function as “lost” “Tales From The Crypt” stories, but with more emotional resonance and less gratuitous gore and sex. “Morris County” could be broadly considered horror, but it’s not so in conventional sense. I give great credit to the smart storytelling or Garrett, who takes these “everyday” lives into unseen and often horrifying sides, without evoking any supernatural or serial killer stereotyping.

The first story, “Ellie”, presents a rather unfortunate day in the life of teenaged Ellie, who withstands a series of poor judgement calls. Without putting out any spoilers, let’s just say it’s a riveting and painful journey to experience. Ellie is played exceptionally by Darcy Miller, conveying an unspoken air of trauma and confusion. "The Family Rubin” is a story of an upstanding Jewish family with plenty of ghosts in their closet. Startlingly similar in spirit to “American Beauty”, this is the lower point of the film, if only due to its similarity to that better-known film. The final story, “Elmer and Iris”, is a sad story of a seemingly happy elderly woman who, upon being cut from her office job of many years, finds herself painfully alone when her husband dies. Suffice to say, it gets weird, but remains very human and absolutely memorable.

As mentioned earlier, “Morris County” isn’t horror, but a well-scripted and well-acted trilogy of dramas that reflect a breakdown in traditional life in the suburbs. All the tales here are harrowing and edgy, but realistic. The portrayals are believable, as are the stories themselves. This is the ultimate strength of the film. Kudos to everyone involved, as this is a powerful movie that lingers in the psyche long after the disc has stopped.

As well, it should be noted that there is a plethora of bonus materials, including a creepy short film by Garrett called “Beating Hearts”. And the subtle electronic score by David Kristian is masterful, too.

Unearthed Films

“A Dark Place Inside” DVD (director: Mike O’Mahony)

(Serial) killer micro-indie

So, my expectations here were quite low, I don’t mind stating. The other films that arrived at Goatsden HQ from Sector 5 were pretty, shall I say, hideous, derivative, and unwatchable. Not the case here. “A Dark Place Inside” is a supremely sick and repugnant serial killer flick, with a believable villain (played well by newcomer Chris Dalbey), great camerawork, and a story that’s harrowing yet magnetic. 

So, the gist of “A Dark Place Inside” isn’t too complex. Loner Andy (played by Dalbey) works a menial job, has no social life, and spends his spare time stalking and brutally murdering women, some of which he dismembers and brings home to “admire”. Sure, some of the gore effects are a bit cheesy and visibly low budget, but the point is driven home well that Andy is one troubled individual. We’re shown interspersed clips of Andy’s childhood, and his brutal torture at the hands of his abusive father, so as to explain his predilection for cruel and inhuman acts.

Along the film’s trajectory, we meet some of Andy’s annoying coworkers, and even get a brief glimpse of something that could almost resemble a flirtation with romance, before our anti-hero lapses again into his murderous ways. Director (and writer and producer) O’Mahony does an admirable job with this one, and I actually enjoyed it. Well-done serial killer horror on a shoestring budget.? See, it can be done.

Sector 5 Entertainment

“Zombie Isle” DVD (director: Robert Elkins)

Living dead stinker

I hope George Romero is filthy rich. Or at least very comfortable these days. After all, he's been ripped off so many thousands of times, he deserves more. Or maybe he just has an awful lot to answer for? Regardless, this micro-budget indie further recycles the tired formula into a virtually unwatchable mess of scratchy digitally enhanced  "70s film" stylings, and a nonexistent storyline involving a group of students "researching" an abandoned and forgotten island, only to find military quarantine signs and, you guessed it, zombies!

To give some credit where it's due, some of the gory flesh eating is suitably foul and repellant. And the electronic soundtrack is actually well done. But that's where my accolades end.

Doesn't any good trash film require some sex, nudity, or at the least some breastage? Sure, this attitude will have me labeled a sexist. Oh well. Purists and serious horror fans will agree with me. So forget about cheap titillation during "Zombie Isle". You'll get no.such satisfaction here, despite the cast full of attractive ladies.

A shame that this has to fail on nearly every level. "Zombie Isle" does nothing but nail shut the coffin on a genre that, though trendy, hasn't seen any innovation or creativity in a very long time. Let the living dead rest and avoid this stinker!

World Wide Multi Media

“From Inside” DVD (director: John Bergin)

Superb apocalyptic animation

Written, produced, animated, and directed by John Bergin (of the industrial band Trust Obey and creator of the soundtrack to “The Crow” graphic novel), “From Inside” is an imaginative and contemplative journey through a futuristic post-apocalyptic landscape from the point of view of a tragically alone pregnant woman whilst traveling via train. Her ruminations waver from sad and regretful to strong and driven. It’s a harrowing journey, to be sure

The animation is unique, stylish, and gritty, while the script is immersive and interesting. Bergin’s stark artwork is fittingly dark and uniquely drawn, rather than a full-on CGI style. I applaud this effort, as it makes the film that much more original and personal.

As well, there’s an appropriately dark electronic industrial soundtrack by Gary Numan and Ade Fenton that brings mood, atmosphere, and tension to the visuals. It’s never intrusive or even so noticeable, which only lends to the starkness of the film.

This is an excellent piece of dark animation for the apocalyptic-minded, and one I’d be keen to watch again. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.

From Inside site

Lakeshore Records

Rye Coalition - “The Story Of The Hard Luck 5” DVD (director: Jenni Matz)

Comprehensive look at indie rock "could-have-beens"

This documentary details the rise (and fall, in some sense of the word) of the not-famous indie rock act Rye Coalition, who in the 90s were poised for greatness, or so it seemed. Having recorded with Steve Albini and toured with Foo Fighters should’ve been the start of something bigger. Having Dave Grohl himself produce their to-be-major label debut would’ve put them over that edge, surely. But just then, their label dissolved, and Rye Coalition found themselves with nowhere to go, their stride towards greatness broken, and their record in limbo for years.

The band, intent on playing out and recording for almost no financial rewards, finally folded due to pressures both internal and external. “The Story Of The Hard Luck 5” is a thoughtful and serious documentary of the band’s times from then until now, with full band participation, as well as interviews with cohorts and supporters like Albini, Grohl, fans of the band, and their families and associates. It’s a fascinating look at some nice New Jersey boys who never aspired to much, yet got so very close to indie rock “star” status. Albini’s comments that the band were considered the best of the “Jesus Lizard wannabes” is both apt and unfair. Rye Coalition shared much with Chicago’s finest post-jazz aggro-scuzz outfit, but the differences were plenty, as evidenced by the many live clips here.

Director Matz has done a masterful work encapsulating the band’s history, and this 78-minute film is fascinating even for Rye Coalition novices like myself. Thumbs up here.

MVD Visual

Rye Coalition movie site

Revolting Cocks - “You Goddamned Son Of A Bitch” 2xCD + DVD

All-time great electro-rock

Ah, this is classic Revco, recorded live at the Cabaret Metro in Chicago in 1987. Originally released as a single disc by Wax Trax!, this double-CD format simply adds a couple of live tracks from the later “Beers, Steers, & Queers” CD single, and expands it all over 2 discs. It’s basically the same package as Rykodisc’s 2004 reissue, but with most of the original artwork restored. The distinct lack of liner notes, and some glaring errors (like the back stating that Chris Connelly is from Killing Joke. Hah!) are both unforgivable and lazy. It’s this lack of historical notes or credits, and the fact that it’s housed in a cheap case that’s easily broken signals a quick cash job on the part of Jourgensen (who recently sold the rights to this to notoriously shoddy Cleopatra Records) and MVD Audio (whose label and name is attached to the packaging, rather than Cleopatra’s, oddly).

Anyway, the music sounds as good as it ever has. This was Connelly’s inaugural release with the band, and thus began a long partnership with Cocks/Ministry members Jourgensen, Barker, and Rieflin, all of whom feature prominently here alongside Belgian pop star-slash-madman Luc Van Acker. 

Opening with the droning noise and murderous caterwauling of the title track, the band pushes into the massive “Cattle Grind” — a sinister, murderous rampage that also showcases a young, brash, and hungry Connelly (literally and figuratively — check out how skinny he was in the video counterpart. Hah!). A series of punishing electronic rock assaults follows, with iconic cuts like “38”, “TV Mind”, and “No Devotion” being even more aggressive live than their studio counterparts. This, as I’ve said already, is seriously classic industrial rock, both hypnotic and stomping with a perfect melding of live instrumentation and electronic programming. 

The huge, pulsing “Union Carbide” opens the second disc, and the wild rampage continues through “Attack Ships On Fire” and “No Devotion” before giving way to the 1991 live tracks that do flow rather seamlessly, despite the difference in venue, era, and personnel. Mr. Connelly’s impersonation/performance “as John Lydon” on the cover of PIL’s “Public Image” is perfect and spot-on!

The DVD release (oddly sold separately from the music) also shows a curious and alarming lack of care and attention. Having never been available on DVD, this was always part of a Ministry/Revolting Cocks fans’ bucket list. But MVD (or Cleopatra)’s shoddy packaging again seems slapdash and careless. The transfer is merely adequate, possibly from a VHS source (most certainly not cleaned up in any way), and the art and labeling echoes the same misinformation as the CD (Connelly being from Killing Joke, etc.). 

All said, a lackluster treatment given to an album and video that remains, at least to me, a near-perfect representation of everything the Cocks ever stood for — unbridled hedonism, excess, and stainless steel precision. It’s a shame to see this great album and video treated so poorly, though I am quite happy to have an “YGDSOB” on DVD officially after all these years.

MVD Audio

Al Jourgensen's official site

“Not Another Celebrity Movie” DVD (director: Emilio Ferrari)

Fun parody with star value (kind of...)

This low-brow comedy throws some really entertaining curves, even if the comedy itself falls a bit flat. Surely, the plot and story are secondary here, though, as Ferrari’s absurd and over-the-top collection of celebrity impersonators keeps this one pretty engrossing, especially as he parades out a virtually continuous array of them. In short, this is a fun and really 

Suffice to say, Charlie Sheen (alongside his many porn-star girlfriends) meets up with his “dealer”, Johnny Depp, and thus begins to plot a big “Oceans 11” style kidnapping of Justin Bieber. Along the way, Sheen (and cohorts including Brad Pitt and George Clooney) meet up with Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, Donald Trump, Robert DeNiro, Usher, Paris Hilton, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Daniel Craig, Ashton Kutcher, Oprah, and more. Sure, some of the impersonators are a wee bit “off”, but others are marvelously “spot-on”, making this one a real hoot.

Forget the silly dialogue, as you could do a lot worse with more “mainstream” comedies. “Not Another Celebrity Movie” is a fun and memorable film, and one worth seeking out if watching a full-length film of celebrity impersonators sounds like a good time. You may just be pleasantly surprised.

MVD Visual