Saturday Night at the Movies 12/31/11!

Who cares what picture we see?


John Saxon very well could, so we'll close out 2011 with this one.

My very favorite martial arts movie of all gives us prime Bruce Lee, with terrific support from John Saxon and Jim Kelly. It can get just as entertainingly silly as any Asian martial arts movie, but it has the gloss of early 70's Hollywood; fewer people dubbed than usual; and the fun of trying to spot young Jackie Chan among the hordes on Han's island. What more could anyone ask?


And it resides in the video vault in a fine special edition DVD - and could be watched anytime - even tonight - should you care to come by!

Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Salmon Dave!

Humanoids from the Deep  (New World Pictures, 1980)

Before the Camera:


Hi, he's Doug McClure - you may know him from such films as Warlords from the Deep, and The Land That Time Forgot!
Ann Turkel  (Ravagers)
Vic Morrow  (1990: The Bronx Warriors)
Cindy Weintraub  (The Prowler)
Anthony Pena  (Porky's II: The Next Day)
Denise Galik  (Get Crazy)
Lynn Theel  (Without Warning)
Meegan King  (Blue Sunshine)
Breck Costin  (The Man with Two Brains)
Hoke Howell  (Kingdom of the Spiders)
Don Maxwell  (The Bees)
and
Linda Shayne  (Screwballs)
as
Miss Salmon 1980




Behind the Camera:


Directed by Barbara Peeters

Produced by Martin B. Cohen, Hunt Lowry, and Roger Corman

Written by Frederick James

Story by Frank Arnold and Martin B. Cohen



From the wondrous days of Roger Corman's New World Pictures comes this drive-in classic about creatures attacking a small community in the Pacific Northwest. Starting off with a terrific cast of old pros, this one gets off to a pretty quick start and never lets up. It's local salmon fisherman against the Native Americans in the town of Noyo - apparently they put out a statute against Yogurt and it really caught on... The fishermen, led by cranky Hank (Morrow) are working for themselves but supplying all their catch to the local cannery, and they're perfectly willing to go to any lengths to keep fishing the waters around the town. The Native Americans, led by Johnny Eagle (Pena) are protesting, as the delicate ecosystem the fish live in is being destroyed by overfishing and by the cannery's scientific efforts to produce more and larger salmon. Thrown into the mix are good guy fisherman (McClure) and his new pal, the cannery's lady scientist (Turkel), who realizes that apparently some of those experiments have proven a little too successful as large, fishy bipedal things start attacking any townspeople they run across. And while they are nasty and deadly, they don't just want to rip your face off. Oh no. They're looking to get to know the ladyfolk better. A lot better, if you take my meaning and I'll bet you do. (And if you don't, just read that poster tagline up there.) So even as the humans in town are at each others' throats, the humanoids outside of town are massing for an all out attack. Who will survive, and what will be left of them?



That's right, Ann Turkel - bring a camera to a gunfight!

This is definitely one of the best to come out of the Corman stable from any of his many different periods of production. It takes some good actors, puts them in a plot that mixes racial drama with a little nugget of message inside (definitely a part of the blueprint for any Corman New World picture) and then throws in gory attack scenes from some impressively realized man-in-suit monsters created by the incredible Rob Bottin. There's copious blood and nudity, and bonus features like a brief appearance by Linda Shayne as a beauty queen in the carnival climax.

Miss Salmon 1980

I was always impressed that a movie this graphic - including the attacks on the ladies - was directed by a woman. The bonus features on the disc, however, make it clear that while the ever-shrewd producer put a woman at the helm at least in part to stave off critic and protestor attacks on a flick with several scenes of monsters raping women, the initial end result did not provide all the necessary intensity that Corman knew would make the movie work. I don't want to spoil the featurette for those who enjoy them, but he does say that while the initial director's cut did provide horrendous bloody death for every attacked man in the movie, it then shied away from showing anything at all when a woman was attacked. And although I'm sure it hurt ol' Rog right in his wallet to do it, he went ahead and ponied up enough dough for a second unit to go out and shoot much more graphic shots to be used in the attack scenes. The end result of these disparate elements is a gleefully nasty trash classic that takes the old "monster chasing the female hottie" trope and shows it. All of it. Right there on screen. As a result, I understand this one isn't for everyone, but if you want to see a perfectly formed example of Roger Corman's factory product mixing exploitation with social commentary, here's one you'll want to pick up.



Let's Get Out of Here ?


At around 36:20 Breck Costin doesn't want to know who's come to see him. And then at approximately 47:28 he doesn't seem to be happy anywhere.



Eye Candy ?

In a cast with quite a few attractive ladies - we're welcoming two to the list:




Lynn Theel - for wearing the sexiest lingerie during a
fishman attack I've ever seen:



Linda Shayne - for making such an impression
with forty seven seconds of screen time.

Welcome aboard, ladies!

Buddha Man's Capsule Review

Buddha Man says "Humanoids from the Deep is the Catch
of the Day, if you're looking for fun entertainment on the
trashy side..."

Thanks as always, Mr. Man. Until next post you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

PSA A Go Go 12/28/11!

In the interests of serving the public with an announcement - here's a public service announcement courtesy LGOOH and artist Rob Kelly!

Thank you Harry. Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Maniacal Movie Poster Monday #49!

2011 is almost over - and as we close out this department for the year it seems we might as well make it one last theme week...with three movies set on December 31st...



Get Crazy  (Embassy Pictures, 1983)

This crazy comedy came onto my radar when I saw a preview for its debut on my pal Brad's HBO back in high school - we watched it and were knocked out - it's director Allan Arkush's Valentine to his days at the Fillmore East - the wild rock palace run by impresario Bill Graham - this highly recommended flick gives us a crazy New Year's Eve at a venue where a concert headlined by the biggest names in rock are going to usher in that amazing year - 1983! Check out that cast up there, and add Roger Corman stalwarts Mary Woronov, Paul Bartel, Dick Miller, and Jackie Joseph; plus Fabian, Bobby Sherman, Lou Reed, Ed Begley Jr, and Robert Picardo. What are you waiting for? Get Crazy!












Repeat Performance  (Eagle-Lion Films, 1947)

I haven't seen this one - but it sounds interesting - a woman murders her cheating husband at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, then wishes she could undo her deed - and suddenly finds herself at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve - the previous year! With 365 days to relive and to redirect her life, can she prevent the murder from occurring again when that December 31st comes back around for the second time?








The Poseidon Adventure  (Warner Bros, 1972)

Probably my favorite disaster movie from the 70's takes the time to set up the whole plot for you - right on the poster - including that it takes place on New Year's Eve! Forget the TV movie remake; forget the theatrical remake - see this one! Hell! See it upside down!








The blog might have another post or two this year, but that's all for 2011's Maniacal Movie Poster Mondays - see you in 2012! Until next year, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Merry Christmas!

From everyone at Let's Get Out of Here - the very happiest of Yuletides!

Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Saturday Night at the Movies 12/24/11!

Who cares what picture we see?


Well, you know Santa Claus does - and this being Christmas Eve, and LGOOH - there's pretty much only one choice:

Say what you will about this supremely goofy kids flick - it remains the only movie I've seen in Space Blazing COLOR. Back in the 80's, there was a woman famous for fifteen minutes named Pia Zadora - kind of the Paris Hilton / Kim Kardashian of her day - she did a couple of movies, and won a Golden Globe for Best New Star that was paid for by her then very rich then husband. After that she faded back into obscurity - but she gave SCCtM a real shot in the arm at that time, garnering it more late night TV play around the holiday, because she was in it as a child actress!



Pia in
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

 

Pia at the height of her fame in the early 80's

SCCtM seems to have fallen into the public domain, so it is available on scads of bargain DVDs - it can also be found in its entirety on YouTube, should you care to make that YuleTube and add this movie to your holiday gathering.

Of course, I own it several times, so you could always come watch it with me - even tonight!




I'm not going to say the obvious thing to sign off - after all, I have to leave myself something to say tomorrow, right? So until then, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

I WON AN AWARD!!!

WOWSERS!!!

Thanks to a lot of very cool people, I have won TheMovie411 Blog Award for Best Post for my Friday the 13th retrospective titled "Voorhees a Jolly Good Fellow!"






And you can go look at a page much like this by clicking here


I would like to thank everyone over at TheMovie411 - Dempsey Sanders, Christian James, MindofMine, and especially Melissa Bradley - a hell of a blogging pal - and now an award winning sexy one too!

I would like to thank my fellow nominees - Alex J Cavanaugh, Cool Ass Cinema, FilmMattic, and SonSation - it truly was an honor to be nominated in such company.

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me - and anyone who spread the word to check out the posts and vote!

And lastly I would like to thank LGOOH Official Blog Celebrity Adrienne King, for starring in the first movie that inspired the post series - and for voting for me and spreading the word among her online fan base - she calls us her campers - that there was a cool Friday the 13th post they could check out - and vote for, if they liked it! She is a hell of a lady!



Hmmm, which self serving diatribic phrase should I use to destroy all the goodwill that got us here?

"You like me! You really like me!"

or

"I'm the King of the World!"

Vote in the comments below if you care to...and until next time, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Maniacal Movie Poster Monday #48!

It's the most wonderful time of the year...



Santa Claus (K. Gordon Murray Productions, 1959)

Wow! If you were a parent in the early 1960's and saw that poster at your local movie house - you'd be all about taking your kids (or dropping them off or letting them go by themselves - it was a very different time) and little know you were going to be subjecting your children to a batcrap crazy dubbed Mexican movie courtesy the amazing K. Gordon Murray. Even better - he kept trotting his aging cinema prints out every year into the 1980's!

Featured Santa:



Jose Elias Moreno






Ernest Saves Christmas  (Touchstone, 1989)

There is a very great affection in my heart for Ernest P. Worrell. And this is one of his best flicks, knowhutImean?

Featured Santa:



Douglas Seale







Santa Claus: The Movie  (TriStar Pictures, 1985)

The Salkinds leave Superman alone for a while and turn to another guy wearing a lot of red. Torpor ensues.

Featured Santa:



David Huddleston







Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Ain't That a Psychic in the Head!

Psychic Experiment  (Lionsgate, 2011)

Before the Camera:


Adrienne King  (Friday the 13th)
Reggie Bannister  (Phantasm)
Glenn Morshower  (Dead and Buried)
Debbie Rochon  (Bikini Bloodbath Christmas)
Kathy Lamkin  (Texas Chainsaw Massacre '03)
Denton Blane Everett  (TV's Lone Star)
Eryn Brooke  (Imago)
Natali Jones  (Zombie Campout)
Brad Maule  (TV's General Hospital)
Brandi Price  (Grim)
Melanie Donihoo  (Possum Walk)
Krystn Caldwell  (Jacob)
James LaMarr  (Begging Your Pardon)
Peyton Wetzel  (Witchcraft 13: Blood of the Chosen)
Mel House (the movie's director, pulling a Hitchcock!)
and
Katie Featherston  (Paranormal Activity)
as
Elspeth




Behind the Camera:


Directed by Mel House

Produced by Mel House and James LaMarr

Written by Mel House


I first became aware of this movie when I was compiling a special Maniacal Movie Poster Monday theme post featuring Adrienne King movies to tease my Friday the 13th Coast to Coast Toast Post (which, by the way, is a lot of fun to type) and I added the poster for the movie - then called Walking Distance - to the posters for Friday the 13th Parts 1 and 2. I then mentioned it when Adrienne called me for my winning photo in Crystal Lake Wines' contest, and she told me it wasn't out yet, but had played a few film festivals and was scheduled for video release under the new title Psychic Experiment in December. It's good to know the right people, knowhutImean?
     The story kicks off with newspaper clippings over the opening credits. I was trying to keep an eyeball on them and on the cast and crew credits, so I couldn't read much past the headlines, especially since they clippings are burning as we see them. So, between the flames and the glimpses of the articles we get the gist that a small city somewhere is experiencing a strange variety of weird and unusual occurrences and disappearances and deaths. Into this freaky situation comes young Doctor Cole Gray (Everett), starting work with Dr. Louise Strack (King), the head of a scientific research firm right smack in the middle of the plagued city. Hmmm, do you think the scientists at the research joint might have something to do with the weird things going on?



Cole is advised working for this lady will bring him to Strack and ruin...

Well, you're not the only one, as several people, including investigative TV reporters, FBI agents, and crusading college students are teaming up in various configurations and coming at the place from all angles, trying to figure out just what's going on. And they all discover that a lot of the events are occurring around one man: Joseph Webber (Bannister); a convicted child molester trying to get back to a normal life, but now plagued with visions even worse than those his bad impulses used to bring on. As the mysteries deepen for the characters, things take a turn for the icky as horrific burned apparitions - still on fire mind you - begin appearing out of gruesome bloody organic bags that pop up right out of walls near several unfortunate characters. These creatures do all kinds of terrible things to their victims, from a simple torching using their own burning limbs to stripping faces off, and even melting people into globs on the ground! At first these seem to only be visions the victims are having, until other characters begin seeing the beasties and fighting them. It becomes obvious - from the title if nothing else - that someone is using this burg as a giant petri dish for a horrific experiment. Paging Dr. Strack...


Reggie Bannister really hated the wardrobe socks he was provided.

So, almost thirty years after she last appeared on camera playing a fictional character, Adrienne King returns to movies for this interesting low budget science fiction horror flick., having been enticed by writer/director Mel House's script. And it is wonderful to see her again - with her characterization of the coldly clinical Louise Strack a highlight of the movie. It's also a lot of fun to see horror luminaries Bannister, Lamkin, Rochon, and Featherston stopping by - as well as old pro Morshower. Some are in the movie more than others - Featherston, in particular, is really just a cameo - but it's still cool to see everybody. The rest of the cast are less seasoned, shall we say, but everybody works hard to keep the movie on track. There are some great squishy moments with lots of blood and gore, and a smidge of nudity too, all pluses. The effects are a combination of well done physical prosthetics with some CGI; which works fairly well. Of course, no CGI is perfect - it has a built-in visual look that often calls attention to itself; but then so does stop motion animation, which I love, so I'll cut the computer effects some slack. House has some big ideas to show here, and he's not daunted by a medium low budget, with effects work happening in almost every scene and some fairly big setpieces involving burning buildings and city streets under siege as scads of extras try to evacuate. And I say more power to him. Too many filmmakers with the same resources would have either given us a by-the-numbers slasher movie - you know, the kind with too much talking and too little killing - or a standard issue CGI monster movie like MegaDinoOstrich. These filmmakers are trying something a little different; and if they are somewhat hampered by budgetary limitations, or an occasional CGI effect that is a little shaky; or a performance here or there that is a little more enthusiastic than polished - this is still well worth a look. I also appreciated the movie's serious tone - another thing that happens too often in movies on the lower end of the budgetary scale - far too much ironic and snarky humor. Psychic Experiment is a dark movie, and it stays consistent in tone; there are no winks to the audience, which is just how this story should be told. I did find myself having a chuckle at one major character's eventual fate, but I won't take up "space" spoiling it here - and it's not played for laughs, it was just so unexpected and cool that I laughed in response. On the negative side, this is a very densely plotted movie, and there were times I lost track of who was working for who, and there are a lot of characters to keep up with - but as the burning beasties reduce the cast list this problem eases, and the movie never derails despite carrying a heavy plot load.
    If you enjoy movies where reality is coming unravelled, and nightmarish imagery threatens to rule the day, you'll probably enjoy this movie. All others need not apply.







Let's Get Out of Here ?

I'm not entirely sure, but I think I might have heard The Line during one of the crowd evacuation scenes. More research is required.






Eye Candy ?

Because there were several attractive ladies in the movie, and because it is the Christmas season, I'm throwing membership out to a gaggle of the female cast members! Welcome to the list, ladies!








Katie Featherston - already a member,
but any excuse to run a picture...yowza!

Melanie Donihoo



Debbie Rochon - MILFeriffic!



Eryn Brooke

Natali Jones





And of course horror hottie
Adrienne King!

Buddha Man's Capsule Review



Buddha Man says "Psychic Experiment certainly has
ESP - Entertainment Solidly Provided."

Thanks very much Mr. BM, and until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Saturday Night at the Movies 12/17/11!

Who cares what picture we see?

I have a feeling Eric Da Re wouldn't give a flip - but considering the season, and our new blog pal Kaijinu's love of the red stuff - we're going with this one:

In those wild direct-to-video sequel-crazy days of the late 80's, there were scads of part 3s and part 4s popping up - here's one that gets particularly out there - after suffering apparently terminal head trauma in the climax of part 2 - Santa Claus killer Ricky is believed dead - but oh no! A mad scientist has repaired the damage and gotten Ricky back on his feet - with his cobbled together brain stored in a clear glass serving dish on top of Ricky's dome (!) From there it's pretty much business as usual - or unusual when the filmmakers are this nuts - but check out these cast tidbits - Ricky is played this time out by Bill Moseley - of Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2 and The Devil's Rejects fame! You got LGOOH Ultrafave Robert Culp (TV's The Greatest American Hero) as the cop on the case! And in a weird bit of perfect timing synergy - you have Richard Beymer and Eric Da Re among the cast - two actors who were at the time of this movie's video release costarring on the hit ABC series Twin Peaks!



And this movie resides somewhere in the video vault - not sure if VHS or DVD - or both - but I could find it in ten minutes or so - if you wanted to come watch it...even tonight...




Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Maniacal Movie Poster Monday #47!

It's time for a theme week - and this time you're getting the SHAFT!





Shaft  (MGM, 1971)

Man, what a cool movie! Starting off with Isaac Hayes's incredible score, this one hits it out of the park. Richard Roundtree is amazing, and kudos to director Gordon Parks for introducing one of the great movie Tough Guys in this one.







Shaft's Big Score  (MGM, 1972)

A year later, here comes a sequel that brings back pretty much everybody in the same jobs - and turns into a fine sequel that is another good time.








Shaft in Africa  (MGM, 1973)

Another year later, and this one is the least of the three - with a change of writer and a change of director, something is lost - but Roundtree's screen presence keeps the movie on track and the movie is definitely watchable. I never saw the brief TV show that followed this one, but with the R rated elements scrubbed for The Tube, I doubt I was missing much.



I always liked Richard Roundtree, even moreso when I discovered we had both attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, although a couple of decades apart.




A few years later, I managed to get Shafted when I worked with Richard Roundtree on the movie Once Upon a Time...When We Were Colored. He was a joy to work with, totally professional and easygoing and I got to mention we both had attended SIU-C, which was fun. It was 1994, and we were shooting at an ice factory in downtown Wilmington NC.

There was a Shaft bonus working on this movie too - it also had Isaac Hayes in it! Sadly, my aging camera kinda crapped out on me, and although I did get a picture with Mr. Hayes, the focus is off and we look like we're being shot through gauze, so we'll skip that one.




Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Saturday Night at the Movies 12/10/11!

Who cares what picture we see?

It's up in the air if Bret Halsey would, but while we wait for the answer I'll pick this one:

Now here's some salacious silliness, courtesy our old pals over at American International! I first saw clips from this in It Came From Hollywood, and loved the part where the hellcat throws her switchblade into the chalkboard...I managed to pick this one up on VHS, and it still resides in the video vault in that format. I could pop it right in if you want to watch it with me...even tonight!



Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Maniacal Movie Poster Monday #46!

Electra Glide in Blue  (United Artists, 1973)

This might be my favorite Robert Blake project. It's one of those low key 70's dramas, with an excellent cast and some solid filmmaking on view. This was the only directorial effort for James William Guercio, but it's well worth checking out.









Crime Zone  (Concorde, 1988)

Here's a Bonnie and Clyde re-do with sci-fi trappings courtesy producer Roger Corman. In the mid 90's I worked with a key grip named Mark who had worked on this movie down in Peru. Mark was having a hard time finding film equipment to rent, and called Corman to complain.

"I can't find a camera dolly anywhere in this country!" Mark kvetched.

"Mark, do they have grocery stores in Peru?" Roger Corman asked.

"Well, yeah, Roger, of course they do."

"Do those grocery stores have grocery carts?"

"Yes."

"Then you have your camera dolly."

I love Roger Corman.







The Corpse Grinders  (Geneni Film Distributors, 1971)

Here's a typical production from the ever eclectic Ted V. Mikels - horror on a budget - less than $50,000 if the IMDB is to be believed - with a crazy plot about cat food manufacturers using purloined human corpses to stretch the meat in their kitty kibble - leading to the whole of Southern California being plagued by kitty cats with a taste for human flesh! Keep that low budget in mind, however, as there are no mass attack scenes or anything like that. Actually, Mikels' offscreen life is probably more interesting than any of his movies - pursuing his art from the late 60's right through to today - and at 82 years of age he lives in a castle in the Nevada desert outside Las Vegas with an ever rotating stable of live-in lady loves - up to ten of them at the peak of his charm! Take that, Hugh Hefner!






Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Nominated for an award!

WOW!


Thanks to a very kind someone (or someoneS), Let's Get Out of Here has been nominated for Best Post in the TheMovie411 Blog Awards!

Huzzah!

The post in question is part one of my three part retrospective on the Friday the 13th movie series. You can check it out at Voorhees a Jolly Good Fellow!

The other two parts are the next two posts - in case you want to read them too...


I am truly honored to be nominated for this award. I hope you'll check out my nominated post, and vote for it at this link.

Or you can follow this:




http://411movienews.blogspot.com/p/themovie411-blog-awards-2011.html

While you're over there, check out all the blogs and posts - vote for your faves in all the categories.


Thanks again to everyone involved in these wonderful awards!


Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Saturday Night at the Movies 12/3/11!

Before we get down to business - I would just like to point out that as of today -

Let's Get Out of Here!

has reached

50,000

Page Views!

Woohoo! Thanks to everyone who has ever dropped by!

Now, back to your regularly scheduled blog post...

Who cares what picture we see?

I'd like to think Michael Bates would - ergo - we'll head to the cinematic spice rack for some...

Man, this is one hip and happening flick! You got two members of the Rat Pack; you've got one of the original stars of the incredibly long running Britcom Last of the Summer Wine; you've got action, comedy, songs, and drollery right in the middle of Swinging England, and it's all written by the older brother of the third incarnation of Doctor Who; plus direction by Richard Donner, who shows he could marshall a racially diverse duo through lighthearted action hijinks two decades before Lethal Weapon! And check out that awesome poster, with art by EC Comics and Mad Magazine's legendary Jack Davis! What more could anyone ask?



Funny I should ask, as this groovy movie shares shelf space in the video vault with its sequel and you know what that might mean - I think we should go one more time - because that will get us a...

Saturday Night at the Movies Double Feature!

Okay - this time out the shagadelic direction is by none other than Jerry Lewis - you get another great Jack Davis poster; you get your returning Rat Packers; you get cameos from Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and it is once again written by the Third Doctor's bro, yo!

And now that we've completed the set here - these two sit side by side on DVD in the video vault, ready to get down and groovy anytime you might like to come see them - even tonight!

Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!

Celebrity Interview: Eric Spudic!



Headshot a go go





In action!



I first became acquainted with Eric Spudic over on the late lamented Retromedia Forum formerly run by LGOOH fave filmmaker Fred Olen Ray. At that time he was acting in and working on films for Ray in addition to helping out with Ray's distribution business Retromedia Entertainment. Spudic was also running a video store in Los Angeles called Spudic's Movie Empire specializing in used VHS and DVD sales. He posted a lot at the Forum, and he seemed like a pretty funny guy. He agreed to let me fling some questions at him, and he actually answered them!



































Craig Edwards: When and where did the world gain an Eric Spudic?

Eric Spudic: In the late 70's in Mt. Olive, IL, which is near St. Louis, MO. Right at the beginning of VHS! Talk about perfect timing.

CE: What are your earliest pop culture memories?

ES: I'm remember watching Madonna and Devo on MTV. Grew up on movies like The Brood, Revenge of the Nerds, and Cat's Eye. Have fond memories of playing Pole Position and Pitfall for Atari.

CE: When did you know you wanted to work in the entertainment industry?


ES: When I was about 13 years old. The family had just purchased a VCR. I'd wanted to be on the SWAT Team and my dad asked, "Do you have a fascination with death or something?" He assumed that all cops and SWAT members just get killed somewhere along the line. Then, I thought, "Hmm.....in the movies, people can die over and over and still be alive!"

CE: How did you go about breaking in?


ES: I was a giant fan of Full Moon Entertainment, especially Demonic Toys and Dollman. Had those posters on my bedroom walls. I wrote a letter to David DeCoteau, because I enjoyed Dr. Alien so much. We chatted and he asked to see a copy of my first movie, Attack of the Bathroom Creature. He thought I was a pretty good actor and said he was making a movie in a month. I flew out to Hollywood and they gave me a little 3-line role. Got paid $750!




"Why yes, I DO have all the
ingredients for chocolate milk..."




CE: What was that first project you worked on?
ES: It was Micro Mini-Kids....filmed as Microscopic Boy. 10-day shoot, produced by Charles Band. A childrens/sci-fi movie. That was in 1999.

CE: And since getting that start you've been an actor; worked in crew positions; you've been a writer; a producer; and a director across more than 40 productions. Which job do you enjoy the most?


ES: I actually enjoy acting the most. I never even set out to become an actor, but to be honest, I hate crew work. With the exception of being a boom operator perhaps, because you can listen to everyone's conversations! I would place screenwriting at #2. Love to write as my head is crammed with ideas.




As "Timmy" in Dead Clowns.




CE: Which project are you most proud of being associated with?

ES: So far I gotta say Killers by Nature. It's probably the lowest-budgeted and has maybe the worst picture quality, but turned out pretty fun. I had a lot of control over that movie. We were laughing the whole time, having a blast doing that flick.

CE: Any you wish you could sweep under the rug forever?


ES: There's a reason I leave Evil Unleashed: The Mummy and Deadly Culture off my resume. As a writer, there's not much I can do after I type "The End" unfortunately.





Low budget and batcrap crazy, but a fun watch.





CE: Who are your idols in pop culture?
 ES: Charles Band, Roger Corman, David DeCoteau, Clint Howard, Richard Norton, Fred Olen Ray, George Romero, Cynthia Rothrock, Cirio Santiago, Adam Sandler, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Alicia Silverstone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Jim Wynorski.




Hanging with the stars of director
Fred Olen Ray's Glass Trap.




CE: Greatest unfulfilled ambition in the industry?

ES: Right now I'm so itching to do a starring vehicle. I have a project called Turds, which is a remake of my first movie. It would probably cost a few million in the real world. The ultimate ambition is to get it made properly and then played in theaters.

If that doesn't get made, I have a film I want to direct called Dead Evil. It's got killer dolls, zombies, and a warlock. Not to mention a killer car chase sequence!

CE: Pop culture character you'd most like to play?


ES: Billy the Kid.

CE: Would you be right for it?


ES: We're about the same height and weight. Sort of similar facial features. I like shooting guns, too!

CE: What about one you wouldn't be right for, but would love to play?

ES: Pete Rose. I don't look like him, but I sure do admire those 4,256 hits.

Ernest Borgnine and Eric

CE: Which actress would you most like to have as a leading lady, with love scene?


ES: Carmen Electra. Yowza!



Thanks for the excuse Eric!
Here's Carmen Electra!




CE: In addition to working on productions - are you a film buff?



ES: Yes, indeed. I don't limit myself to one genre either. I read a lot of books on movies and have the urge to know everything for some reason!

CE: Favorite movies?

ES: Romero's original Dead trilogy, Hard Target, Billy Madison, The Blob remake, Tremors, Avenging Force, Toxic Avenger, Evil Dead trilogy, Commando, Predator, and From Dusk Till Dawn.

CE: Do you have a movie collection?


ES: I have about 2,000 currently, but have owned roughly 40,000 movies over the years.

CE: Crown jewel or two of the collection?


ES: I own a time-coded copy of The Girl I Want, which has never been released on VHS or DVD. I have a brand new/sealed laserdisc of Attack of the 60 Ft. Centerfold. Plus, assorted movies autographed by Ken Foree, Heather Langenkamp, Jeff Burr, etc..

"Love you. Mean it."

CE: Three words: "Spudic's Movie Empire" Now you give me 25 words about that.


ES: The ultimate place to buy movies on vhs, dvd, or laserdisc. New or used. All genres, 30's - present. http://www.spudicsmovieempire.com/

CE: We met on the Retromedia Forum. Describe that and tell me what you miss most about it being gone.


ES: That was the greatest hangout. Filmmakers told of their secrets and their new projects. Fans could ask all kinds of questions. I guess it was a product of its time. Facebook took over!




Eric and Retromedia Forum guru Fred Olen Ray




CE: What are you up to these days?



ES: Just moved to Louisiana this year to take advantage of their 30% tax incentive. There is production galore here. Shot a movie in Biloxi, Mississippi last month. Played a sniper in that one. DinoWolf, a movie I played a hunter in, hit dvd on October 18th. I'm trying to get back into the director's chair, so I'm shopping around scripts left and right.

CE: What's the perfect Eric Spudic breakfast?


ES: A banana, bowl of Cheerios, and maple-flavored sausages. I follow this up with a 20-minute rigorous workout. Gotta keep in shape for that upcoming Carmen Electra sex scene.




Joe Pilato (Day of the Dead) shows Eric how to hold
someone at fingerpoint.




CE: Last movie you watched?

ES: I watched Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star in the theater a not long ago. I laughed my ass off and thought it was decent. It dwindles down toward the end, but I watch anything Adam Sandler produces so I had to see it. Nick Swardson is a great actor. I have a crush on Meredith Giangrandes, whom I worked with on Werewolf in a Women's Prison, and she shows off her hooters in it.


Last movie I saw on DVD was Hatchet 2. I'm always a bit late, but just bought this one. Super gory, almost cartoonish, lots of death scenes, and great cast. It was pretty good. Looking forward to part 3, which I hope to get into.

CE: Police Academy - Can't believe they made that many, or why did they stop?



ES: They should have kept going. The fans are loyal, we'll watch them as long as you make them. Part 7 reeked, but I wouldn't have minded if they made two or three more. Who doesn't wanna see Leslie Easterbrook in a tight white t-shirt? Big, big fan of Tackleberry. I was saddened when he died. In his memory, I've painted my truck camouflage.

CE: Best piece of advice you can give to someone starting out in the entertainment business.


ES: The absolute best advice is to never give up if it's what you really want to do. I've been working hard at it for 15 years and still haven't made it. I've worked on 70 features and still survive check-to-check, which is tough. A lot of folks quit after a year or two.

Keep at it, keep things interesting, and have a job on the side to help with the grocery bill! And if a woman asks to tag along on your vacation so she can "interview" a band, don't fall for it. It's a trap!

"The future lies...that way!"

CE: Fair enough. Thanks for your time, Eric, and we'll be watching for your upcoming projects!
 
 
 
Until next post, you Can Poke Me With A Fork, Cause I Am Outta Here!