Top Ten: Exploitation Cinema Documentaries
|
Exploitation cinema and Grindhouse have produced some of the best cult classics in cinema history. There are hundreds, if not thousands of low-budget gems to be discovered. Produced mainly from the later 50s through to the 80s, these low-quality, low-budget, badly acted movies have found cult status among cinephiles. Many going down in cinema history as influential works on modern directors and film-makers. Probably one of most famous of these, that is a classic example of a low-budget movie that has gained such a cult status and has gone on to influence a whole genre of its own is George A. Romero's Night Of The Living Dead (1968). Modern director's like Quentin Tarantino have openly exploited exploitation cinema in their own movies. Paying homage to a genre of cinema that did never really quite make it to mainstream. There many more movies that remain relatively undiscovered by the mainstream viewing public.
|
So where does a fan start? Weird Retro presents its Top Ten of the best documentaries about exploitation and Grindhouse cinema. Documentaries about influential genre directors like Herschell Gordon Lewis, to genre documentaries about Blaxploitation and Women In Prison Films, from Hollywood to the Out-back of Australia. These ten documentaries a perfect starting point for any fan of cult cinema.
Schlock-O-Rama: The Gimmicks Of William Castle - The king of the gimmick, Castle used outrageous ballyhoo and tricks to draw in audiences to see his hokum horror movies.
|
Copy-Cat Cinema: The Turkish Superman Movies - The crazy world of Turkish low-budget movies that attempted to copy Hollywood movies. We look at the many Superman variations.
|
|
American Grindhouse (2010): A good jumping off point for fans of trashy grindhouse cinema. The documentary gives interesting overview of the history of exploitation cinema from the early days of cinema at the turn of the century, through to the 1970s. Jam-packed with interviews with key film-makers, and with reference to dozens of movies, American Grindhouse is a perfect place to start.
The documentary packs the whole of exploitation cinema down neatly into its running time, from the silent era, through to latter glories days of exploitation in the 1970s. The documentary also looks briefly a modern cinema, that is following in the footsteps of the great and the gruesome of grindhouse. For any film fan wanting to delve into the murky depths of American independent cinema, this documentary is perfect springboard. |
|
Midnight Movies: From The Margin To The Mainstream (2005): An in-depth look at the development of Midnight Cinema, during the early to late 70s. Focusing on six key movies that developed a cult following from being shown at midnight in arthouse cimenas in the USA. The key movies featured are El Topo (1970), Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Harder They Come (1973), Pink Flamingos (1972), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), and Eraserhead (1977).
The documentary predominately focuses on the big six of the midnight movie circuit, and references a number of other cult films that became regulars at midnight movies showing, like Harold and Maude (1971) and Tom Browning's Freaks (1932). Even though the midnight movie circuit the documentary refers to is quintessentially American, and localised to a few independent cinemas, the documentary still delivers an entertaining insight to exploitation and cult cinema. |
|
Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001): A great history of the other-side of Hollywood, from exploitation and grindhouse to low-budget sc-fi and horror. Schlock! Tells the story of drive-in double features, and the rise of cult cinema. How the mavericks of cinema turned their backs on the Hollywood machine, to create some of the most influential cult movies of cinematic history.
Like American Grindhouse, Schlock! Takes us through a behind the scenes history of the other side of Hollywood, and independent movie making. Covering wider genres of b-movies than just exploitation, the documentary shoe-horns in a lot information into its hour and a half. Only scratching the surface, and offering up many movies that film fans will all too well be aware. However its a wonderfully entertaining slice of schlock and awe. |
|
Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation! (2008): The little known story of exploitation cinema that came out of Australia during the 70s and 80s. Known as Ozploitation, the documentary focuses through many interviews the New Wave of Australian underground cinema during that time. A time that produced cult classics such as Patrick (1978) and Mad Max (1979).
Much of Australia's new wave and underground cinema goes unrecognised, and often that's for good reason. A lot of it, especially the early stuff is terrible, and not in a good way. But in among the misses and some very cool hits.. Ozploitation cinema is a genre that's well worth exploring, and this documentary helps you to sift out the shit, and find those rough gems that the Aussies seemed to do so well. From the country that brought you the bleakest of road movies, and the most misogynistic of sex comedies. |
|
Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore (2010): One of the king's of exploitation cinema, Herschell Gordon Lewis claims to have invented the idea of 'gore', circumventing censorship laws at the time on nudity, and presenting what became a signature brand of movie. The director of the all time classic cult gore movie Blood Feast (1963), this funny documentary looks at his career from the late 50s as a nudie-cutie film-maker, to his rise as the 'godfather' of gore.
Whatever your opinion on Herschell Gordon Lewis movies, there is no denying his impact on horror and exploitation cinema. This documentary is a frenetic ride through the mind of this movie making madman and self-publicising marketing genius. After William Castle one of the most hokum film makers on the exploitation circuit. The man who claims to have invent gore, and spawned a genre that is beloved of horror fans everywhere. |
|
Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (2011): When we think of low-budget B-movies, the name of Roger Corman comes up time and time again. Strongly independent, many of the most famous directors and film-makers of today learned their craft and got a break producing movies for Corman. Famous Hollywood names such as Jack Nicolson, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, Ron Howard and Francis Ford Coppola all got their first breaks through Corman.
Corman is regarded as one of the most influential movie producers outside of the Hollywood mainstream. As this documentary shows the talent that passed through the Corman studios, learning Corman's style of production, which many of them took with them when they became Hollywood big players. |
|
Machete Maidens Unleashed! (2010): Looking at the exploitation movies made in the Philippines in the 1970s and 1980s, where film-makers churned out cheap movies. From Blaxploitation to Women In Prisons, and mini-karate-kicking super spies. Featuring interviews with the directors that braved the jungles of the Philippines to bring in low-budget drive-in fillers from Manilla, such as Roger Corman, Joe Dante and John Landis.
Many independent film makers exploited the cheap production costs of filming in the Philippines, despite the dangers to the cast and crew. With directors cut their way through the jungle, with a shoe-string budget, and a flying-by-the-seat-of-your-pants attitude they created a whole sub-genre of exploitation cinema. |
|
Baadasssss Cinema (2002): An examination of Blaxploitation cinema of the 70s. From the landmark movie of the genre, Director Melvin Van Peebles's Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song (1971) this documentary looks fondly at the genre that inspired modern directors like Quentin Tarantino.
The documentary puts the development and growth of the blaxploitation genre in its social, political and cultural context. Looking at some of the key movies of the genre, and the actors who became screen regulars of the genre. The documentary also interviews contemporary film makers, about the influences that blaxploitation has on their movies today. Over all an interesting insight into not only a genre of exploitation cinema, but also the racial landscape and cultural tensions of the period, that makers went through to produce these films. And how decades on, many are finding a new appreciation for the genre. |
|
Blood, Boobs & Beast (2007): A documentary about the little known film-maker, Don Dohler. His extremely low-budget movies often featuring a cast of friends and family, have been called everything from oddly brilliant to some of the worst films of all time. Dohler has made only 9 movies in his career, but has influenced luminaries like J.J. Abrams and Robert Crumb.
The title comes from the idea that any young film maker, trying to make his or her way through the difficulties of producing a successful sc-fi or horror movie, they must include three things. Blood, boobs and at least one beast. The documentary is a personal love-letter to one such film maker. It traces Dohler's life, from underground comics and special effects specialist magazines, through his film career to him still plugging away at to this day. |
|
Famous T & A (1982): A rare find, but well worth seeking out. This documentary has attained cult status in and of itself. Hosted by the scream queen of B-movies Sybil Danning, the documentary is a collection of clips and trailers from some of the best/worst exploitation movies ever made. But in reality, it's just an excuse to show loads of boobs.
An exploitation movie about exploitation movies, is maybe the best way to describe Famous T&A, rather than as a documentary in any sense of the word. As Sybil Danning slinks around the screen, in superfluous segments between the clips of tits and ass from a whole array of often now forgotten exploitation movies. More America's Funniest Home Videos (or in the UK, You've Been Framed!) You won't learn anything from Famous T&A, but it is a great piece of 80s schlock in itself. And for that alone it deserves its place on the list. |
Tentacle Sex In The Movies - From Japanese historical drama, via Lovecraft inspired b-movie nonsense, to possession and alien abduction. A slip and slide through movie tentacle sex.
|
Why Modern Extreme Cinema Has Nothing On European Arthouse - The most disturbing films ever made aren't from the new wave of Extreme Cinema, but old from European arthouse.
|
Hype & Hysteria: The Gory Story Of Video Nasties - Early 80s UK, as home video machine became popular, there was moral outcry at the horror titles that were hitting the shelves.
|
Begotten: Once Seen Never Forgotten - Often described as one of the most disturbing films ever made, Begotten is an utterly stunning piece of film-making. A must see for any cult film fan.
|