Help Fund Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Zombificador!

I have long been a fan of Mr. Herschell Gordon Lewis! His film The Gore Gore Girls was the inspiration for my moniker and the man’s nickname is the Godfather Of Gore! How could I not love a director whose nickname is the Godfather of Gore? Mr. Lewis’ films Blood Feast and Two Thousand Maniacs made my top ten lists for 1963 and 1964 respectively. I am also particularly fond of Something Weird (1967), Scum of the Earth (1963), She-Devils on Wheels (1968), Wizard of Gore (1970) and Blood Feast 2: All You Can Eat (2002)! Needless to say, I was beside myself with excitement when I learned Lewis was working on a new film! Zombificador is an anthology of five stories featuring among other oddities mutant insects, talking puppets, psychos and monsters. Actors Bill Moseley and Michael Berryman are already lined up for roles! Most of my favourite directors have already shuffled off this mortal coil. It is a big deal to me when a director I love releases a new film; especially when I can help fund it! Lewis is running a crowd-funding campaign for Zombificador! Yep! You can help fund the Godfather of Gore‘s next film! I contributed and received a 2000 Maniacs perk! The perk comes with a private link to see a rough cut of the film before anybody else and a DVD of my favourite Herschell Gordon Lewis movie and more! I am genuinely thrilled to have a chance to help one of my favourite directors get his film made! Mr. Lewis has given me countless hours of entertainment! You can read about the production plan and other details by going to Indiegogo and checking out the funding page here. I am excited and frankly honored that I helped fund a H.G. Lewis film…I can now die happy!

Taken from the Campaign page:
“Thank you in advance for visiting our campaign. Any help will be very much appreciated, from a donation to a shout-out in a social network. Tell everybody about our project if you like it, and remember you can be a part of legendary Herschell Gordon Lewis goriest, wildest and grossest movie!”
-HGL and Marc Fernandez

Happy Friday by the way!! I do apologize for the lack of reviews this week! It was entirely my intention to review three films; but alas the path to good intentions was paved with liquor and I slipped and fell! For your viewing pleasure here are trailers for a few of my favouritest Herschell Gordon Lewis’ films!

BLOOD FEAST TRAILER

TWO THOUSAND MANIACS TRAILER

SOMETHING WEIRD TRAILER

SHE-DEVILS ON WHEELS TRAILER

THE GORE GORE GIRLS TRAILER

Goregirl’s Dungeon on YouTube: Don Gere – Ritual 2

Music from Michel Levesque’s 1971 film Werewolves on Wheels; Ritual 2 by Don Gere. With a slideshow of WEREWOLF films! Apparently this video is BLOCKED in Germany and Canada? What the hell? I can not watch my own bloody video unless I am signed into YouTube!

The William Castle Blogathon Hosted by The Last Drive In and Goregirl’s Dungeon

Jo over at The Last Drive In and I have been simmering to do a project together. We have both been lifelong horror fans and as kids spent many a rainy Sunday afternoon on the living room floor watching monster movies and classic horror. One of my favourites when I was a kid was William Castle’s 13 Ghosts (1960). I begged my parents for ghost goggles and was incredibly disappointed when my dad told me that no such thing existed. The creative child that I was I transformed my dad’s swimming goggles with a little paint and glitter and voilà! Ghost Goggles! So who better for Goregirl and Monstergirl to celebrate than the lovable king of gimmicks Mr. William Castle?

I am too young to have enjoyed Mr. Castle’s films in a theatre, but I absolutely love this sort of showmanship and enthusiasm. I am a total sucker for fairs and circuses. To this day I can not drive past even the crappiest most rundown excuse for a fair without checking it out. That is right; I am that person in the horror movie whose foolish whims get everyone killed! Mr. Castle is the Ringmaster of B-Cinema! Check out the master at work: William Castle introduces’ his 1960 film 13 Ghosts and explains how to use The Ghost Viewer…“Do you believe in ghosts?”

Goregirl’s Dungeon is most pleased to be co-hosting The William Castle Blogathon with The Last Drive In July 29 – August 2! Thank you to Jo for creating the nifty banners and thanks also to everyone who has committed to contributing! It warms my heart to see this many fellow bloggers stoked to celebrate Mr. Castle and his entertaining library!!

“I am Frederick Loren, and I have rented the house on haunted hill tonight so that my wife can give a party. She’s so amusing. There’ll be food and drink and ghosts, and perhaps even a few murders. You’re all invited….” (Frederick Loren – played by Vincent Price in House on Haunted Hill)

The Guest List…

(Lindsey)-The Motion Pictures -Tribute
(Gwen) Movies Silently- The Crime Doctor & The Whistler
(Dorian) Tales of the Easily Distracted- The Spirit is Willing (1967)
(Vinnie) Tales of the Easily Distracted -Zotz! (1962)
(David Arrate)- My Kind of Story-Images – Shanks (1974) & Masterson of Kansas (1954)
(Brian Schuck) Films From Beyond The Time Barrier- Strait-Jacket (1964)
Furious Cinema
(Kristina)-Speakeasy
(Paul)-Lasso the Movies- The Tingler (1959)
(Ruth) -Silver Screenings- The Old Dark House (1963)
(Rob Silvera) The Midnight Monster Show- Homicidal (1961) & House on Haunted Hill (1959)
(Aurora) Once Upon a Screen – The Night Walker (1964)
Classic Movie Hub- The Busy Body (1967)
(Karen) Shadows and Satin- Mysterious Intruder (1946)
The Nitrate Diva
Forgotten Films-Macabre (1958)
(Heather Drain) Mondo Heather- 13 Frightened Girls!(1963) & Bio
(Barry) Cinematic Catharsis -13 Ghosts (1960)
(Misty Layne) Cinema Schminema – Project X (1968)
(Ivan) Thrilling Days of Yesteryear- I Saw What You Did (1965)
(Rich) Wide Screen World
(Steve Habrat) Anti-Film School – Mr. Sardonicus (1961)
(John LaRue) The Droid You’re Looking For
(J. Murphy) Basement Screams

If you are involved in the blogathon or want to help promote it feel free to use one of these ginchy banners Jo created…

Goregirl’s Dungeon on YouTube: Lubos Fiser – The Magic Yard

Music and images from Jaromil Jires’ lovely and hypnotic 1970 film Valerie and Her Week of Wonders music by Lubos Fiser – The Magic Yard.

Goregirl’s Dungeon on YouTube: Yvon Gerault – Blue Doll Baroque

Yvon Gerault – Blue Doll Baroque from Jean Rollin’s 1970 film The Nude Vampire with a Marie-Pierre and Catherine Castel slideshow.

FASCINATION (1979) – The Dungeon Review!

Jean Rollin’s Fascination was another film I had not seen when I did my top ten lists for the 1970s. It bugs the hell out of me that I left a gem like Fascination off of my 1979 list. Jean Rollin is a master of style. Vampirism, gothic backdrops, woman in sets of two, gauzy dresses that expose women’s naked bodies and the beach is imagery often repeated in Jean Rollin films. These things along with amazing locations, haunting music and appealing performers are what make Rollin’s beautiful films so ethereal and dream-like.

The Parisian privileged visit the abattoir to drink ox blood in an effort to cure anemia. Meanwhile a gentleman by the name of Mark escapes some fellow thieves with a bag of gold coins. He happens upon a mansion where he meets Elisabeth and Eva. Mark attempts to take charge but the two beautiful women flirt with him and eventually seduce him. They are more than happy to let him take cover from the gang of thieves waiting nearby. The mysterious Elisabeth and Eva are preparing for the arrival of the Marchioness and Mark would be the perfect addition to the guest list.

Fascination begins with the opening of a large tome that looks ancient and important; a hand turns the pages delicately and gently caress its pages. Two woman are seen dancing on a bridge as a phonograph plays. Than a visit to an abattoir. The floor of the abattoir is soaked with the blood and gore from the animals slaughtered there. A woman dressed completely in white seems particularly out-of-place. Beside the woman in white is another dressed completely in black. The woman in white dips her finger in the blood and flirtatiously rubs it over her lips much to the delight of the butcher. This was the first few minutes of the film and I was already completely engrossed.

There is some violence in Fascination but it is not terribly graphic. Rollin has mentioned in interviews that he isn’t crazy about the gore; he is definitely more about the sexy ladies than the horror. Well sexy ladies and mood and atmosphere which Fascination’s pot is boiling over with! Fascination does have its violent moments, two of the best feature a particularly blood thirsty group of women in sheer gowns and a rousing scythe versus knife fight. Eva and Elisabeth are sophisticated, eccentric, sexy, violent and confident and Brigitte Lahaie and Franca Mai are the perfect leading ladies to pull it off effortlessly. I also enjoyed the hell out of Jean-Marie Lemaire who plays the handsome and cheeky Mark. Fascination is not a vampire film at least not in the traditional sense. It is about blood thirst and there is drinking of blood but these women are not living dead creatures, What these women do is unnatural but not supernatural. There is not a fang to be seen, there are however a fair amount of breasts. There is all sorts of nudity in Fascination and a few sex scenes too. I would advise taking a pass on Jean Rollin’s library if that sort of thing offends you.

Fascination is a beautiful, sexy, haunting film full of lovely images complimented by a melodically eerie soundtrack, an intriguing premise and devilishly delightful performances from Brigitte Lahaie and Franca Mai who are complimented nicely by a well-suited leading man in Jean-Marie Lemaire. Fascination has been one of my favourites from the dreamy and surreal world of Jean Rollin. My highest of recommendations; a perfect score.

Dungeon Rating: 5/5

Directed By: Jean Rollin

Starring: Franca Maï, Brigitte Lahaie, Jean-Marie Lemaire, Fanny Magier, Muriel Montossé, Sophie Noël, Evelyne Thomas, Agnès Bert, Cyril Val, Myriam Watteau, Joe de Palmer

Goregirl’s Dungeon on YouTube: Philippe D’Aram – L’Interieur Des Ecuries

As promised more Jean Rollin! Tomorrow I will have a review for the deliciously mischievous Fascination. Music and images from Jean Rollin’s 1979 film Fascination. Music Philippe D’Aram – L’Interieur Des Ecuries.