October Belongs to Horror #3: Army of Zombies (Kuutamosonaatti II: Kadunlakaisijat)

Army of Zombies (Kuutamosonaatti II: Kadunlakaisijat)
Filminor, Finland, 1991.

...And in Germany this is known as "Muttertag 3."

The first film "Kuutamosonaatti" was darkly fun agrarian horror cult film. Sadly the sequel loses the horror momentum and the result is a confusing mess.

Most of the Kyyrölä family died in the first film. Mother froze to death and Arvo burned to crisp. Only animal-like giant Sulo (Mikko Kivinen) remained. Sulo takes the remains of his family to a sauna, because if a good sauna won't help then nothing will. And so Mother (Soli Labbart) and pervy brother Arvo (Kari Sorvali) revive. Arvo is more slack-jawed than before (his jawbone falls several times), but that will heal over time. They can also revive Father Kyyrölä (Erkki Pajala) who drowned into swamp when he was smuggling moonshine. 

Sulo

Arvo

It is time for Arvo to go find a job in Helsinki. Nosy social workers come to the farm so the Kyyrölä's sink them into swamp. There is some recession era satire when Arvo tries several jobs. In Helsinki Arvo gets a job entertaining Russian tourists. A better job opens up as driver of street sweeping machine (therefore justifying the Finnish name of the movie: "Street Sweepers." Finally he starts living by selling moonshine. Beautiful singer Kata Kärkkäinen (former Playboy-model and nowadays writer, artist and media-persona) catches Arvo's eye this time, but compared to the first film the threat is mild. 

Arvo's bachelor pad

Kata Kärkkäinen

Mother Kyyrölä gets worried that Arvo is living a sinful life in the city. So Mother and Sulo have to find Arvo and put him under control As a funny detail everyone in Helsinki seems to originate from Kyyrölä-village (satirizing the movement of country people to the cities). On the way to find Arvo, the Kyyrölä's meet yuppies, inept cops and social workers who all look like Finnish actor Matti Pellonpää. So far so good. Even as the horror aspect was lost, there could have been some funny contrast to the first film when the hellbillies moved into big city.

Matti Tuominen as the leader of Red Guard zombies

Matti Pellonpää as social worker

But the focus shifts and it is difficult to say what the makers had in mind. Father Kyyrölä revives a squad of Red Guard soldiers who were executed during the Civil War. With their leader Edward Allan Kilpinen (Matti Tuominen) the zombie communists travel to Helsinki to continue the revolution. Bumbling around, they meet various people including the Minister of Culture (Miitta Sorvali, who is Kari Sorvali's comedian wife).

Minister of Culture (Miitta Sorvali)

And so on. Kyyrölä brothers sell hazardous moonshine, and cause a ruckus in Miss Helsinki contest (hosted by era's popular game show host Jorma Pulkkinen), chase Kata in amusement park Linnanmäki and escape cops. But the film is basically plotless and the story goes nowhere. Arvo still has some funny one-liners but everything is watered down. It is still recommended to watch once to see the further adventures of the Kyyröläs. However the experience is quite painful.

Jorma Pulkkinen

Finnish Ramopunk band 'Ne Luumäet' made a song inspired by the film with the chorus: "'You shouldn't stare too much at the street sweeper. He comes and kills. And when he kills, then you die.'

Rating: Bad

Starring: Soli Labbart, Kari Sorvali, Mikko Kivinen, Erkki Pajala, Keijo Komppa, Matti Tuominen, Ilkka Koivula, Esa Anttila, Seppo Juusonen, Jussi Tuominen, Katariina Souri, Mikko Nousiainen, Vesa Vierikko, Leena Rapola, Veli Tuomas-Kettunen, Olavi Tervahartiala, Veikko Tiitinen, Jouko Klemettilä, Matti Pellonpää, Juha Häkkänen, Toivo Tuomainen, Martti Kuisma, Anne Nielsen, Aulis Hämäläinen, Pentti Louko, Tauno Karvonen, Miitta Sorvali, Ulla Tapaninen, Jari Järvimaa, Jorma Pulkkinen, Sari Havas, Risto Aaltonen, Harri Hyttinen, Lina Ignatova, Pirjo Kotimäki, Sonja Lindén, Marjo Louhe, Pia Nolvi, Anne Pakkanen, Albena Petrova, Ranja Rannikko, Anne Styrman, Satu Tuuliluoto, Minna Aaltonen
Director: Olli Soinio

October Belongs to Horror #2: The Moonlight Sonata (Kuutamosonaatti)

The Moonlight Sonata (Kuutamosonaatti)
Filminor, Finland, 1988.

Horror was for a long time a rare genre in Finland. In the 1980s tough film censorship comparable to British Video Nasty laws made sure that seeing many classics of genre films was only possible via smuggled bootleg video tapes. The Finnish horror films were countable on one hand's fingers. In 1988 director Olli Soinio made a cult hillbilly horror film in the vein of "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" being a rare example of Finnish horror of that era.

Disturbed Family Kyyrölä lives on the countryside. Puritanic Mother (Soli Labbart) and her son Arvo (Kari Sorvali) keep Arvo's animal-like brother Sulo (Mikko Kivinen) locked in the basement. During the full moon the boys get insane. One night Sulo escapes and joins a gang of wolves.

Mother

Arvo

Sulo

Fashion model Anni Stark (Tiina Björkman) has run into some kind of scandal and gets enough of publicity. Manager Carli (Ville-Veikko Salminen) thinks that maybe vacation on the countryside would be cool her nerves. Motel manager (Risto Salmi) is hesitant to take visitors. But he arranges a desolate skiing cabin for Anni and her dog Ebba. In no time perverted Arvo starts to stalk her even stealing her panties.

Anni

Carli

Johannes

Annis's little brother Johannes (Kim Gunell) comes to see Anni. For Arvo tractor is like a chainsaw for Leatherface, so the maniac chases them in the forest. The local people look only barely more normal than the folks from "Deliverance" and they do nothing to help. Getting away alive from the degenerate village is harder than it seems. 

Tractor from hell

Local hunks

There is no question that the film will mean more to the Finnish audience (it was never meant for international publication). For me it has always been a proof that we can do genre savvy horror in Finland too. Arvo's demented one-liners have become cult favourite's. "Let's do mittens out of the cat" says Arvo when he looks at Anni's dog.

Stylish wintery cinematography and Antti Hytti's creepy soundtrack create an unnerving mood. The dialogue is scarce and for the most part it is monologue of Arvo. Likewise the bodycount is very low for a horror film. Even so the Kyyrölä Brothers are enjoyably demented horror villains. One weird nostalgic event is the cameo of Toivo Tuomainen as a shopkeeper. Toivo was known from electronic store 'Musta Pörssi' commercials as bustling salesman Topi, but here even he looks creepy.

Shopkeeper

Tiina Björkman in the main role is pretty, but mostly her acting here consists of looking worried and running away. Still in the second half she learns to fight back. Too bad her movie career was short, she had roles only in six movies, and she pursued a different career. Other actors Ville-Veikko Salminen, Mikko Kivinen, Kari Sorvali, Risto Salmi and Soli Labbart have all had a long career in Finnish movies, theater and TV-series. For some reason the movie is known in Germany as "Muttertag 2 - Die Söhne sind zurück" (with no connection whatsoever to Troma's "Mother's Day."). There is also a sequel that goes more to the direction of horror comedy.

Rating: Very good

Starring: Tiina Björkman, Kim Gunell, Ville-Veikko Salminen, Kari Sorvali, Mikko Kivinen, Soli Labbart, Risto Salmi, Toivo Tuomainen, Esa Anttila, Masaaki Hashimoto, Juuso Ruohomäki, Arthur Fuhrmann, Kai Honkanen, Matti Kuortti, Rolf Labbart, Jouko Lumme
Director: Olli Soinio

Movie Review: Race with the Devil

Race with the Devil

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Saber-Maslansky Productions, USA, 1975.

Motorcycle salesman Frank (Warren Oates) goes to campervan/biking vacation with motorist Roger (Peter Fonda) and their wives Alice (Loretta Swit) and Kelly (Lara Parker). Apparently they haven't seen "Texas Chainsaw massacre", they should know to avoid American back countries. There are always inbred cannibals, monsters and stuff! Soon the nice vacation takes a nasty turn when a group of Satan worshippers begins to sacrifice humans on the nearby hill.

Roger and Frank

Kelly and Alice

Satanic ritual

The Sheriff (R.G. Armstrong) seems amused. It must be those damn hippies again having a drunken orgy again! Meanwhile the ladies loan some reference books for deciphering the ominous message that was left in the campervan. The freakish local residents begin to get on their nerves. Then the cultists start playing psychological warfare on them. Finally they have to drive like crazy to save their lives.

The Sheriff

Ominous message

Race With the Devil!

This is an weird mixture of car chase action movie, horror thriller and motorhome invasion- movie. Kind of fusion of "Wicker Man" and "Mad Max." It offers some good thrills and scares. Of course the story is quite silly with whole towns supporting the evil cult. Possibly it felt more believable in the seventies after the Manson murders and Jonestown cult mass suicide three years later in 1978. Also the side plots are left hanging as this is clearly horror flick meant to be watched drive-in theatres. Still watched in the right mood it has good cast, good tension and solid nightmarish plot development.

Knock knock! Who's there? Crazy cultist!

As a trivia Tom Hanks is watching this movie in "The 'Burbs."

Rating: Good

Starring: Peter Fonda, Warren Oates, Loretta Swit, Lara Parker, R.G. Armstrong, Clay Tanner, Carol Blodgett, Phil Hoover, Ricci Ware, Paul A. Partain, James N. Harrell, Karen Miller, Arkey Blue, Jack Starrett, Wes Bishop, Joyce King, Paul Maslansky, Dan Hewitt Owens, Tommy Splittgerber
Director: Jack Starrett

Movie Review: Thunder Road

Thunder Road
D.R.M. Productions, USA, 1958.

Lucas Doolin (Robert Mitchum) is a Korean War veteran who makes his living smuggling whisky with his cousin Jed (Mitchell Ryan). It is a family business as his Papa (Trevor Bardette) distills the moonshine. Luke's little brother Robin (Robert's real life son James Mitchum) is a mechanic and wants to become a moonshine runner also. The cops are always after Luke but there are also worse problems. Gangster Carl Kogan (Jacques Aubuchon) wants to recruit the free moonshiners to his gang killing everyone who opposes. Lucas declares war on them. Treasury agent Barrett (Gene Barry) tries to turn Lucas into a snitch against Kogan - unsuccessfully. The world is changing and Luke does not like the Yankees meddling with the Southern way of life.

Lucas Doolin

Papa

Robin

Luke has a romance with singer Francie (Keely Smith) but also local girl Roxy (Sandra Knight) adores him. When the cops start a campaign to destroy the distilleries, Luke decides to make one final run. But Kogan has set a trap for him. Either Kogan or the cops will get Luke. Luke's friends try to stop Luke but for him it is freedom or death!

Carl Kogan

Francie

Roxy and Jed

This is the prototype for the moonshine smuggling chase movies and it gained cult reputation in drive-in theatres. Robert Mitchum wrote the story and also produced it with director Arthur Ripley. Mitchum also wrote and sung the theme song. Originally the role of Robin was written for Elvis Presley, but his manager demanded too much money. This is notably different from the 1970s moonshine films, as this is a serious and noirish crime story. The 1970s moonshining films were more or less comical with jestful smugglers playing tricks on stupid cops. The disappearance of old American way of life has almost "Easy Rider" style tone. Robert Mitchum is very cool in this, and the chase scenes look good for their age."The X-Files" actor Jerry Hardin has a small role in this as unlucky smuggler Niles Penland.

Jerry Hardin as Niles Penland

Rating: Very good

Starring: Robert Mitchum, Gene Barry, Jacques Aubuchon, Keely Smith, Trevor Bardette, Sandra Knight, James Mitchum, Peter Breck, Charles Elledge, Jerry Hardin , Charles Hendrix, Betsy Holt, Peter Hornsby, Francis Koon, Christopher Mitchum, Jack Perry, Robert Porterfield, Mitchell Ryan, Randy Sparks, Dale Van Sickel 

Director: Arthur Ripley

Movie Review: The Egg and I

The Egg and I

Universal International Pictures, USA, 1947.

The movie is based on humorous memoir by Betty MacDonald.

Betty MacDonald's (Claudette Colbert) husband Bob (Fred MacMurray, who later played the original inventor of Flubber in "The Absent Minded Professor") buys a chicken farm. Of course it needs a bit furnishing first. Or maybe a bit more. The work is hard and the neighbours are eccentric. City girl Betty is clueless about the animals. The pig is stubborn and the chicks are too cute. Luckily scary and ferocious hunting dog Sport is really a coward. 

Betty and Bob

Farm needs some work

Cleopatra the Pig

The neighbouring family Kettle has smart son Tom (Richard Long) who helps them to get the chicken farm running. Ma and Pa Kettle (Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride) are lazy and loan items without ever returning them. They have over dozen kids and they do not remember everyone's name. However the MacDonalds find them nice and friendly.

The chicks

Ma and Pa Kettle

Tom Kettle

Harriet Putnam (Louise Allbritton) from Bella Vista Dairy Farm helps them get an egg contract from Mr. Henty (Donald MacBride). Miss Putham is a bit too friendly, thinks Betty. The farm life is stressful to Betty. There is a joke referencing Claudette Colbert's previous film career: while eating ham made from pig named Cleopatra, Betty remarks that she is not a cannibal (Claudette Colbert played Cleopatra in 1934 film).

Harriet Putnam

Bob being open minded

Pa Kettle's moonshine still causes a fire that threatens to burn their farm down. The friendly community helps them rebuild the farm. Bob is too enthustiastic about the farm and neglects Betty. Betty's nerves are tight and their marriage gets in crisis. How will it end?

A country comedy classic does not follow the original book very faithfully, but adds new characters and omits the fact that in real life Betty and Bob divorced. Also middle-aged Claudette and Fred look old for their roles, in the book they were about twenty. As a stand-alone film it has good old fashioned situation comedy and the Kettle family steals the scenes. The style of the comedy brings in mind the comedies of Lucille Ball, where the heroine gets into awkward situations. The film inspired many rural TV-comedies and it was followed by series of nine films focusing on the adventures of Ma and Pa Kettle.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#2. Movie that is based on a book)

Rating: Good

Starring: Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Marjorie Main, Louise Allbritton, Percy Kilbride, Richard Long, Billy House, Ida Moore, Donald MacBride, Samuel S. Hinds, Esther Dale, Elisabeth Risdon, John Berkes, Victor Potel, Fuzzy Knight, Isabel O'Madigan, Dorothy Vaughan 

Director: Chester Erskine

Movie Review: Every Which Way But Loose

Every Which Way But Loose

Warner Bros., The Malpaso Company, USA, 1978.

Philo Beddoe (Clint Eastwood) is a truck driver with hard fists. Philo has pet orangutan Clyde (Manis). In the house next door lives his best pal Orville Boggs (Geoffrey Lewis, he was Juliette Lewis' father) and tough as nails Ma (Ruth Gordon). Philo makes some extra bucks in backyard fistfights while Orville takes care of the business side of his fights.

Clyde and Philo

Orville

Ma

In local bar new talent night Philo meets pretty singer Lynn Halsey-Taylor (Sondra Locke). She needs money to start a bar and a band. Later Philo gets in argument with motor cycle gang The Black Widows. He beats them up and takes their bikes. Philo uses the money to fund Lynn's career. However Lynn leaves without warning, so Philo, Clyde and Orville decide to go after her. Orville picks up a girl named Echo (Beverly D'Angelo) with them. Echo becomes integral part of the team.

Lynn Halsey-Taylor

Just cruisin'

Echo and her cantaloupes

The Black Widows and cops Putnam (Gregory Walcott) and Herb (James McEachin) have a bone to pick with Clyde. Clyde must also have a match with fighting legend Tank Murdock (Walter Barnes). Also Lynn isn't what Philo thinks she is.

The Black Widows

Herb and Putnam

Kreegah bundolo!

Story goes on leisurely with Country & Western music, beer drinking and fistfights carrying the tradition of 1970s redneck comedies. Clint Eastwood is fun in one of his relatively rare comedic roles. In some scenes Clint makes fun of his Western movies. He is still tough guy but in parodical way and in some way more vulnerable than his other hero characters. Considering Clint's filmography this is one of his lightest movies and has a feeling of Burt Reynolds comedies. IMDB trivia knows to tell that Burt was first considered in the role of Philo. However the story has a lot of slack and feels plotless at times. Little shortening could have made the story more fluid. Manis the Orangutan should have won an Oscar.

Part of The 2016 Movie Watching Challenge (#25. Movie that was published in your birth year)

Rating: Good

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Geoffrey Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, Walter Barnes, George Chandler, Roy Jenson, James McEachin, Bill McKinney, William O'Connell, John Quade, Dan Vadis, Gregory Walcott, Hank Worden, Ruth Gordon, Jerry Brutsche, Cary Michael Cheifer, Janet Cole Notey, Sam Gilman, Chuck Hicks, Timothy P. Irvin, Tim Irwin, Billy Jackson, Joyce Jameson, Richard Jamison, Jackson D. Kane, Jeremy Joe Kronsberg, Fritz Manes, Michael Mann, Lloyd Nelson, George Orrison, Thelma Pelish, William J. Quinn, Tom Runyon, Bruce Scott, Al Silvani, Hartley Silver, Al Stellone, Jan Stratton, Mike Wagner, Guy Way, George P. Wilbur, Gary Davis, Scott Dockstader, Orwin C. Harvey, Gene LeBell, Chuck Waters, Jerry Wills, Manis the Orangutan, Phil Everly, Bob Golden, Harry Guardino, Clay Hodges, Harry Middlebrooks, Frank Noel, Charlie Rich, Thomas Rosales Jr., Judson Scott, Mel Tillis, Roxanne Tunis

Director: James Fargo