What's with alll these Z movies?!!

[The One]

I've been noticing that there are a lot of Z movies. Now, there have always been these straight-to-video sci-fi flicks with bad CGI and a b movie star like Lou Diamond Phillips or Eric Roberts. But now these Z movies like "Mark of the Astro Zombies" are just people running around with video cameras. Has anyone seen the WitchCraft movies, Mistress of Seduction, Alicia, or The Strangers?! My gosh, how insulting, the WitchCraft films alone are insulting to pornos. Anyone with two cents to spare, I have to make a phone call to Mr. Corman.

[raj]

Ah, the WitchCraft series.  Shudder.  To be fair some of them are interesting, even if not good.  Others are downright wretched.  I think I stopped after #5 or 6.

As for Z movies down by people running around with video cameras, it is because they can.  Cameras are cheap, it isn't hard to get a credit card with a $10,000 limit (or  a couple with $5K). Plot? We don't need no stinkin' plot!

[AndyC]

I'm inclined to agree. If I see a review of a movie that looks like somebody's school project, I usually don't bother to read it. Cheesy B-movies are one thing, but guys running around with camcorders, trying to be cheesy, just doesn't do anything for me.

[Scott]

Just because you put something on film dosn't make it a movie.

A good B-Movie has something weird, strange, bizarre, or some uniquely entertaining moments good or bad, but some movies are just plain dumb and/or boring. The latter are what I try to avoid.

[KINGDINOSAUR]

The Z-movies have been around for decades.  Prior to videotape low-budget directors picked up expired film stock from the military and undeveloped "short ends" from major studios.  That's the reason movies like "Eegah!", "The Beast Of Yucca Flats", "The Sinister Urge" and "The Creeping Terror" exist.

I have a low tolerance for intentionally stupid movies like "The Double D Avenger" and most other T&A teen films.  Movies that go out of their way to say "Hey!  We've got no money and no idea what we are doing, but look:  Bare breasts and buttocks!".

[JohnL]

Has anyone seen a 'movie' called Voodoo Mardi Gras? I swear it looks like the producers went to a porno shoot and said "Hey guys, when you're done here, how'd you like to film a horror film?" At one point the stars go hiking through the "swamp" (mostly just grassy areas) wearing stiletto heels and skirts short enough to pass for belts.