Description
Title: Guzoo: The Thing Forsaken by God – Part I (1986)
Alternate Titles: Life After Dead; Guzoo: La Creatura Dimenticata da Dio; Guzû: Kami ni misuterareshi mono
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Plot Synopsis: Four high school girls—Minako, Yuka, Katsuko, and Mayumi—decide to spend their vacation at a secluded summer home owned by Minako’s father, a professor of archaeology. Upon arrival, they are greeted by Tomoko Kujô, the professor’s assistant, who is conducting mysterious research in the basement. The girls notice strange occurrences, including a foul odor and missing mirrors. Unbeknownst to them, a horrific creature with tentacles, known as Guzoo, resides in the basement. This ancient being, abandoned by God and following a different evolutionary path, begins to prey on the girls, leading to a series of gruesome and terrifying events.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Kazuo ‘Gaira’ Komizu
- Writers: Kazuo ‘Gaira’ Komizu (screenplay), Hitoshi Matsuyama (story), Junzô Takagi (story)
- Cast:
- Yumiko Ishikawa as Minako Takamura
- Naomi Kajitani as Yuka Nagai
- Kyôko Komiyama as Katsuko Ôsawa
- Tomoko Maruyama as Mayumi Kawasaki
- Hidemi Maruyama as Tomoko Kujô
IMDb Link: Guzoo: The Thing Forsaken by God – Part I (1986)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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c h r i s – ★★★★★ “Very much my kind of Lovecraftian SOV Japanese monster flick clocking in under 40 minutes which in turn has plenty going for it.”
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Lou (rhymes with wow!) – ★★★☆☆ “A short-ish movie from Japan where four girlfriends encounter/fall victim to a tentacle monster, while vacationing in a secluded holiday home. Contains kills with lots of goopy gore and a monster that stepped straight out of a campy 50’s B-movie.”
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Ian West – ★★★★☆ “It’s hard not to admire a ero-guro Prince of Darkness. Needs more Guzoo… but I can’t fault this for that because this is the best kind of sleazy tentacle decadence.”
Meta Description: “Guzoo: The Thing Forsaken by God – Part I” (1986) is a Japanese horror-science fiction film directed by Kazuo ‘Gaira’ Komizu. The story follows four high school girls who, during a vacation at a secluded summer home, encounter a horrific tentacled creature in the basement, leading to gruesome and terrifying events.
Title: Conton (1987)
Alternate Title: Jûshin densetsu
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction, Drama
Plot Synopsis:
Goh, a college student, is plagued by recurring nightmares in which he is pursued by a grotesque demon. As his dreams intensify, they begin to blur with reality, leading him into a terrifying descent where the boundaries between his subconscious fears and the real world become indistinguishable. Simultaneously, Goh faces relentless harassment from yakuza loan sharks, further exacerbating his mental turmoil. The film explores themes of psychological horror, the impact of stress on perception, and the manifestation of inner demons.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Takuro Fukuda
- Writer: Takuro Fukuda
- Cast:
- Kazuhisa Kawahara as Yakuza Leader
- Katou Tadayoshi as Goh
- Kyoko Katayama as Emi
- Manta Yamamoto
- Noriko Irikura
IMDb Link:
Conton (1987)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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c h r i s – ★★★½
“Mega ultra sweaty rubber monster nightmare mayhem… just enough gross out moments involving melty-face and vomit regurgitation.” -
ELECTRICWIZARDx – ★★★½
“Japanese v-cin SOV gore and monster FX short leaning heavily into late 80s camp.” -
Ziglet_mir – ★★
“Conton portrays the dreams of a young boy melding into his reality… The grainy VHS quality of the rip only adds to the atmosphere.”
Meta Description:
“Conton” (1987), directed by Takuro Fukuda, is a Japanese horror film that delves into the psyche of Goh, a college student tormented by nightmares of a demon. As his dreams encroach upon reality, Goh’s life spirals into chaos, confronting themes of psychological terror and the thin line between dream and reality.
plus Bonus:
Title: Thriller Zone (1995)
Genre: Horror
Plot Synopsis:
“Thriller Zone” is a horror anthology comprising three distinct segments:
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The Last Hand: After surviving a heart attack, Morty returns to his regular poker game, only to be confronted by a sinister figure he thought was dead. As guilt consumes him, Morty begins to experience disturbing hallucinations.
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The Final Hour: Set in the year 2213, a convicted murderer is transported for an appeal trial and forms an unexpected connection with the ship’s pilot.
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Fanatical Extreme: A condensed version of the 1982 film The Last Horror Film, this segment follows taxi driver Vinny Durand as he obsessively attempts to cast his favorite actress in his horror movie, leading to unsettling consequences.
Cast and Crew:
- Directors: David Winters, Glenn Takakjian, Lawrence L. Simeone
- Cast:
- William Forsythe as Marcus Deerfield (segment “The Final Hour”)
- Carol Kottenbrook (segment “The Final Hour”)
- Robin Leach as Second Reporter (segment “Fanatical Extreme”)
- Caroline Munro as Jana Bates (segment “Fanatical Extreme”)
- Joe Spinell as Vinny Durand (segment “Fanatical Extreme”)
IMDb Link:
Thriller Zone (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Kaijuman – ★½
“No joke, the final 50 minutes in this horror anthology is a condensed version of The Last Horror Film (1982). It’s the highlight of the entire damn movie because it’s a legitimate cult classic and Joe Spinell rules.” -
Bruce Rogers – ★★★½
“The first two shorts are both okay in that mid-nineties SYFY channel story with a twist way, but the truncated The Last Horror Film that rounds out the trilogy was a real treat and surprise.”
Meta Description:
“Thriller Zone” (1995) is a horror anthology featuring three segments: The Last Hand, exploring guilt and hallucinations; The Final Hour, a futuristic tale of a convict’s journey; and Fanatical Extreme, a condensed version of The Last Horror Film (1982), delving into obsession and the dark side of fandom.
Title: Shock: Evil Entertainment (1984)
Alternate Title: Shock – Diversão Diabólica
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Plot Synopsis:
After a rock concert, Samu and his friends find themselves trapped inside a remote music venue. Unbeknownst to them, a psychotic killer is stalking their every move. As the night progresses, the group must confront their deepest fears and fight for survival against an unseen menace. This film is notable for being one of Brazil’s earliest entries into the slasher genre, blending traditional horror elements with subtle political commentary reflective of its era.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Jair Correia
- Writers: Jair Correia, Gertrude Eisenlohr
- Cast:
- Cláudia Alencar
- Aldine Müller
- Elias Andreato
- Kiko Guerra
- Taumaturgo Ferreira
IMDb Link:
Shock: Evil Entertainment (1984)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Filipe Furtado – ★★★☆☆
“This is usually called the first Brazilian slasher, despite having no actual slashing and much of any emphasis on murders. It has a very good sense of dread and director Jair Correia makes a lot out of the house the action is set.” -
Marcelo Miranda – ★★★½
“Formaria uma linda sessão dupla com ‘Black Christmas’ do Bob Clark. Dá pra ver o filme aqui: [YouTube Link]. Fiz uma entrevista com o diretor Jair Correia falando todos os detalhes sobre ‘Shock’ e ficou incrível.” -
S̶ ̶Y̶ ̶S̶ ̶T̶ ̶E̶ ̶M̶ ̶T̶ ̶E̶ ̶R̶ ̶R̶ ̶O̶ ̶R̶ – ★★½
“This is a Brazilian whodunnit giallo-esque slasher that is apparently one of their first. It is pretty generic and very boring. Most of this movie is just them sitting in one barricaded room talking and then occasionally one of them gets unceremoniously strangled.”
Meta Description:
“Shock: Evil Entertainment” (1984) is a Brazilian horror-thriller directed by Jair Correia. The film follows a group of friends trapped in a remote music venue, stalked by a mysterious killer. As one of Brazil’s pioneering slasher films, it combines suspenseful storytelling with underlying political themes.
Title: The Birth of Eros (1989)
Alternate Title: Рождение Эрота
Genre: Animation, Fantasy, Short
Plot Synopsis:
A surreal and symbolic animated short exploring themes of love, desire, and the birth of passion. Using fluid, painterly animation, the film depicts the mythical emergence of Eros, the Greek god of love, in a dreamlike sequence that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. With a poetic visual style and atmospheric narration, The Birth of Eros delves into the nature of attraction and the timeless influence of love in human existence.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Anatoliy Petrov
Writers: Anatoliy Petrov, Elena Nikitkina
Cast:
Timothy Spivak – Voice
Armen Dzhigarkhanyan – Voice
Alexander Beliavsky – Voice
Yuriy Yakovlev – Voice
Tamara Syomina – Voice
IMDb Link:
The Birth of Eros (1989)
Meta Description:
The Birth of Eros (1989) is a Russian animated short film directed by Anatoliy Petrov, visually portraying the mythical birth of Eros in a surreal, dreamlike narrative. Using poetic animation, the film explores themes of love and desire through striking artistic imagery.
Title: Polyphemus, Acis and Galatea (1995)
Alternate Title: Полифем, Акид и Галатея
Genre: Animation, Romance, Drama
Plot Synopsis:
The Cyclops Polyphemus falls in love with the beautiful nymph Galatea, but she rejects him in favor of Acis, a shepherd. Furious, Polyphemus seeks revenge against Acis. This animated short film explores themes of love and sexuality within the Greek myth of Galatea and Acis.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Anatoliy Petrov
- Writer: Anatoliy Petrov
- Cast:
- Armen Dzhigarkhanyan as Satyr (voice)
- Tamara Syomina as Aphrodite (voice)
- Tatyana Kanaeva as Eros (voice)
- Vadim Kurkov as Acis (voice)
- Nikita Dzhigurda as Polyphemus (voice)
- Tatyana Chernopyatova as Galatea (voice)
IMDb Link:
Polyphemus, Acis and Galatea (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- Sasha Stepanenko – ★☆☆☆☆
“Wow, this is basically a p0rn0.”
Meta Description:
“Polyphemus, Acis and Galatea” (1995) is an animated short film directed by Anatoliy Petrov. It retells the Greek myth of the Cyclops Polyphemus, who falls in love with the nymph Galatea, only to be spurned in favor of the shepherd Acis. The film delves into themes of love, jealousy, and revenge.
Title: Woman of the Night (1973)
Alternate Title: 夜生活的女人 (Ye Sheng Huo De Nu Ren)
Genre: Drama
Plot Synopsis: “Woman of the Night” presents a triptych of stories exploring themes of obsession and love. The first tale centers on a voyeuristic student who spies on his female roommates. The second narrative follows an office manager’s infatuation with his secretary. The final story delves into a family drama where a debilitated father forces his family to leave him, leading to a bittersweet reunion when his daughter’s life is threatened.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Yu Kuan Jen
- Cast:
- Chin Han as Su Bo-Xuan
- Margaret Hsing Hui as Su Xiao-Qi
- Lee Hsiang as Zhou Jing-Wen
- Lin Sheng Tao as Zhou Wu-Xiong
- Tanny Tien-Ni as Lin Yu-Jia
Reviews from Letterboxd:
- MrDilophosaurus – ★★★☆☆ “Woman Of The Night, with its serious pretensions and ambitious formalism, is anomalous as both a Shaw Brothers release and as a Yu Kuan Jen film.”
Meta Description: “Woman of the Night” (1973) is a Hong Kong drama directed by Yu Kuan Jen. The film comprises three stories exploring themes of obsession and love: a voyeuristic student’s fixation on his roommates, an office manager’s infatuation with his secretary, and a family dealing with a father’s debilitating condition leading to a poignant reunion.
Title: Blood Brothers (1989)
Genre: Horror
Plot Synopsis:
In 1986, teenage filmmaker Mike Diana, using his younger siblings as actors, created Blood Brothers, a gore-filled horror film inspired by the videos he admired. The story follows two drug-addicted youths who embark on a violent killing spree in their suburban neighborhood, showcasing themes of youthful rebellion and unchecked aggression.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Mike Diana
- Writer: Mike Diana
- Cast:
- Matt Diana as Brother
- Jerred Assonio as Brother
- Brian Bartlet as 1st Victim
- John Paul Piazza as 2nd Victim
- Michelle Zito as Car Victim
IMDb Link:
Blood Brothers (1989)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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Scumbalina – ★★★★★
“Florida boys with mullets ride wild like feral Bart Simpsons on a PCP killing spree.” -
Bleeding Skull – ★★★★
“BLOOD BROTHERS is a seven-course meal for connoisseurs of bad taste. It’s disturbing, inconceivable, and hilarious.” -
belial_carboni – ★★★★
“A truly diabolical and lo-fi gore spectacle of youthful debauchery.”
Meta Description:
Blood Brothers (1989) is a horror film directed by Mike Diana, depicting two drug-addicted youths on a violent suburban killing spree. The film explores themes of youthful rebellion and unchecked aggression, featuring a cast led by Matt Diana and Jerred Assonio.
Title: Virtual Seduction (1995) Extended Cut
Alternate Titles: Cybers&x, Addicted to Love
Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller
Plot Synopsis:
Liam Bass, devastated by the murder of his fiancée, Paris, becomes a test subject for a virtual reality experiment designed to recreate past experiences. Through this technology, Liam reunites with a digital version of Paris, blurring the lines between reality and illusion. As his obsession with the virtual world intensifies, he begins to withdraw from those around him, including his supportive friend Laura. The film explores themes of grief, obsession, and the ethical implications of virtual reality.
Cast and Crew:
Director: Paul Ziller
Writers: Michelle Gamble-Risley, William Widmaier, Paul Ziller
Cast:
- Jeff Fahey as Liam Bass
- Ami Dolenz as Laura
- Carrie Genzel as Paris
- Meshach Taylor as Anderson
- Frank Novak as Dr. Grant
IMDb Link:
Virtual Seduction (1995)
Reviews from Letterboxd:
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single white femalien – ★★★★☆
“Wow, this movie is actually really cool. Jeff Fahey, you hot…!” -
MarkAlanMiller – ★★★☆☆
“Part of the ‘ordinary guy Jeff Fahey meets a supernatural force dressed up like a hot babe that tries to…’” -
Bruce Rogers – ★★★☆☆
“I needed to wash the Criterion out of my eyes and this low stakes syfy type thriller was the perfect eyewash…”
Meta Description:
“Virtual Seduction” (1995), directed by Paul Ziller, is a science fiction thriller that follows Liam Bass, who, after the tragic loss of his fiancée, becomes entangled in a virtual reality experiment allowing him to relive past moments. As his obsession with the digital recreation grows, he faces challenges distinguishing between the virtual and real worlds, raising questions about the consequences of escaping reality.
Title: A Clockwork 0rgy (1995)
Plot Synopsis:
An outrageous gang of four vicious ladies clean up the streets. Their main goal is to destruct the male perverts on the streets. They drink milk, get in an ultraviolet shape, and they’re a menace to society.
Cast and Crew:
- Director: Nic Cramer
- Writer: Nic Cramer
- Cast:
- Kaitlyn Ashley
- Rebecca Lord
- Nicole Lace
IMDb Link:
A Clockwork 0rgy (1995)
Meta Description:
A Clockwork 0rgy (1995), directed by Nic Cramer, is a wild comedy-fantasy following a gang of fierce women as they take to the streets to eliminate perverts. With outrageous style and a satirical edge, this film plays with themes of rebellion and over-the-top action.
