Recent Viewings, Part 2

[M.10rda]

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR (1936):
This is a very short silent Poe adaptation that reminds me of the first couple of primitive 16mm b+w projects I made as a Freshman film student in the mid-90s....... primarily in how this film (like my own) gratuitously utilizes one redundant shock/reaction shot/CU after another during its climax, 'cause the filmmakers paid good money for those reasonably exposed and in-focus takes, so darn it they're gonna' get their money's worth and use 'em! (That was my philosophy, at least.)

I'd barely bother even discussing this except for its historical significance... other than the famous eyeball shot (of uncertain/uneasy provenance) from UN CHIEN ANDALOU, VALDEMAR now takes the cake as the earliest film I can think of to boast legitimate "gore" FX. At its climax, the title character deteriorates (melts, really) in a quite fabulously gooey fashion, which probably would look more or less the same fifty years later if orchestrated by some teens in their garage with karo syrup, chunks of old BBQ ribs, and granddad's dentures. It's impressive and noteworthy, even if the rest of the film is barely an event.

3/5
I never watched Dwain Esper's MANIAC - any actual "gore" in that one?

[Rev. Powell]

I never watched Dwain Esper's MANIAC - any actual "gore" in that one?

No, lots of violence but nothing you could call "gore." A guy eats an eyeball ("not unlike a grape"). But it's not bloody or anything, it's clearly an unsophisticated prop.

[FatFreddysCat]

"Jack-O" (1995)
On Halloween night, drunk teens disturb the resting place of "The Pumpkin Man," a murderous demon who goes on a rampage in a small town.
This extremely low budget knock-off of "Pumpkinhead" has a cool looking monster but everything else about the movie (script, acting, FX) is strictly amateur night. AVOID unless you have an extremely high tolerance for Z-movie pain.