The excitement was palpable October 24th as hundreds of mouth breathing mutants gathered to revel in the degenerate haze we call the EXHUMED FILMS 24 HOUR Horrorthon! I have written many words about Exhumed Films for this very website: you can find most of them here. While places like Austin or LA have a regular venue or many which run a healthy slice of repertory films, Philadelphia does not have that same outlet. Instead, we have a few small DIY programmers and venues which slog away creating a few amazing events for us. Exhumed Films has been doing this for 18 years, and their amazing power shall not be fucked with. Besides programming an insane lineup, helped by Harry having one of the most impressive film collections in the world, the Exhumed folks have also become experts at creating a community event.
Folks have been coming to this marathon for 9 years, selling out tickets often in less then a day. The films start rolling at noon on Saturday and do not end until noon on Sunday. NO ONE is told in advance what will play: we simply sit and experience. We are given a list of exceedingly vague hints which then folks use to try and guess the films for prizes. There is also a random prize give away at the beginning of the event. These prizes are no joke, often sold out limited edition posters signed by various famous people. It is always impressive, and always fills me with intense jealousy. There are also vendors like Diabolik DVD as well as Hauntlove, Grindcore House, Little Baby’s Ice Cream, and other food vendors.
This year my podcast, CINEPUNX, was also able to set up a table. We have been running horror content all October, such as my Journal of Fear column as well as a run of horror themed episodes. I was set up to record for an on site episode, and was able to record some with good friend Jacob Knight. We also had shirts for sale (shoot us an email at cinepunx@gmail.com to grab one). For this writeup I was joined by Cinepunx staff writer Jon Martello and Cinapse staff writer and honorary Cinepunk Sean Bennis-Sine.
WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU
Clue #1: Gruesome, insane, Hong Kong horror/comedy.
Liam: For me, this was the perfect way to start the fest. They began with an apology that they were showing such a wacky film to begin with, but I was so glad they did. We Are Going to Eat You is such a cool amalgamation of American horror tropes, Hong Kong kung fu and Hong Kong slapstick humor that I was immediately in love. It managed to balance some real gross out stuff with a sense of the goofy.
Sean: This was the discovery of the ‘Thon for me, though not at the level of Raw Force or Ninja Busters. I had never heard of it and am very unfamiliar with Chinese horror from this era. We Are Going To Eat You is not a pure horror flick by any means but rather a wonderfully entertaining mix of kung fu, cannibalism and humor. The opening sequence had some very effective gore and the fight choreography was better than expected. There’s not much really to say other than this was the film I had the most fun with.
Jon: When I explain the Horrorthon to people I explain how one completely loses their concept of time; similar to committing yourself to an all night bender in a casino. Usually a film like this is shown in the wee hours of the morning when everyone’s state of consciousness is somewhere between exhaustion and intoxication. Opening the ‘Thon with a wacky movie like this immediately thrusted me into the 3:30 AM mindset and seeing how I was still harboring some rage from recently seeing the travesty known as The Green Inferno, this kung fu cannibal concoction immediately put my mind at ease.
SILENT RAGE
Clue #2: Totally awesome action/horror/sci-fi amalgam.
Sean: Chuck Norris. Yeah, I think that covers it.
Liam: I sometimes forget that almost half of Chuck Norris’ filmography is not rah rah America conservative propaganda, though much of it is. The rest is some real gritty exploitation and Silent Rageworks that angle. The film is light in plot, but it makes up for it with some ridiculous slasher sequences and strange science. Granted, at times it felt as if the film was a fever dream in which someone just wanted an excuse for Chuck to fight a big freaking guy, oh wait, an immortal big freaking guy. Yet, despite some rough edges, this movie works.
Jon: The actual title of this film should be Silent Rage or: How Chuck Norris Emotes a Feeling. I swear, my personal appeal to any of this man’s movies is due to his total lack of effort. A cinder block could do a better job smiling. Still, a great movie to laugh at with your friends.
GODZILLA 1985
Clue #3: Giant monster movie.
Sean: My first rewatch. The last time I saw this film was on Beta (look it up kids). Godzilla 1985 was my portal into giant monster movies as a kid. I loved the shit out of this movie. To me, the film remains a decent reboot for a franchise that was approaching 30 at the time. Nowhere near as entertaining as some of Toho’s best but clearly above the franchise’s worst (like last ‘Thon’s Godzilla’s Revenge); Godzilla 1985 succeeds in bringing some of the menace back to the big guy missing since the earliest films of the franchise. It also manages to echo the original, with nuclear tensions between the US and USSR replace the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as the political commentary. On the other hand, the whole “Godzilla will just follow random bird sounds anywhere, even into a volcano” plot device was, well, bad. It was really bad. Give the screenwriter more than five minutes next time, please.
Liam: I love this movie but I was just NOT in the mood for it so I skipped and tried to grab some interviews for the episode.
Jon: I have quite a nostalgic bond to Godzilla films, they were my James Bond series as a child. I love both the serious tone the 1954 version takes as well as the over the top wackiness from every sequel that followed. Godzilla 1985 is interesting in the sense that it wipes the slate clean. I will say however, that the bombardment of Dr. Pepper ad placement certainly worked on me as I felt my mouth become parched. It’s so hard to pick and choose your Wawa runs during these things sometimes.
It claims itself as the true sequel to Gojirra, as if he had never became a hero and has since been feared in Japan. One of my favorite aspects of this version is the choice to keep a lot of Godzilla’s scenes in dark lighting, emulating the general sense of dread that original did so well. The cinematographer actually makes an attempt to shoot the miniatures at dramatic angles unlike many of the previous films in the series which are mostly shot from afar and really do nothing to hide the fact that it’s a dude in a rubber suit smashing models. But regardless of whether its tongue and cheek Godzilla as the hero or the harbinger of Tokyo’s doom; I will always hail the king of all monster…except that 1998 bullshit, go home Beuler.
MARTIN
Clue #4: Innovative, intellectual horror classic from a genre legend.
Jon: This was my first time seeing Martin and I loved every moment of its awkward glory. Regardless of whether he’s actually a vampire or if his family just has a long line of mental illness, the one trait we can all empathize with in these stories is the feeling of desperate loneliness. Martin is the small town loner in all of us yearning to break free, seeking an understanding.
I think Romero did a great job of balancing tone by using subtle bursts of comedy. The crazy Uncle shouts “Nosferatu” at him; his late night calls to the talk radio station; even Romero’s hilarious cameo as the suave wine-loving priest. These instances help ground us in reality which allows us relate to Martin even more. He is a murderer who kills for blood yet we want him to have relationships in his life. We want him to fall in love with the woman because they seem to sense one another’s despair but we know he can never have this life. He is cursed and with a curse the audience must empathize to feel it’s ramifications.
Liam: This is now one of my favorite Romero films. I think I may have seen parts of this before, but I am not sure. I do know that I have never managed to see the whole thing, and certainly never on 35mm before. I got very excited when the title rolled. Martin is a moody, and meditative film. It explores not only the experiences of its titular character, a different kind of vampire, but the general depression and malaise of living in Braddock PA. Yes, that Braddock, the nearly abandoned one which was almost turned into some sort of progressive and punk rock mecca though that seems to have gone wrong. Well, Braddock’s problems seem to go way back, and Martin is a perfect encapsulation of that. To say the film is nihilistic would be to ignore both the deep ironies and the seething frustration with religion and superstition. Martin is, of course, everything in some ways they say he is. Yet, he is also nothing like they say he is. Romero strokes a master balance in creating a cretin who we feel bad for, we feel his frustration. We understand his loneliness, his sadness, his confusion. We find his relationships, especially to his fanatical Uncle, painful. Yet, he is a murderer, a parasite. The layers are so thick, attempting to say there is a direct metaphor here to anything specific would be too much. I felt this movie though, and it was awesome.
Sean: I think this is my first time with this film all the way through and it now replaces The Crazies as my favorite non Dead Romero film . I thoroughly enjoyed the slow, cerebral nature of the film as we meander with Martin wondering whether or not he’s really a vampire. The isolation of being different from those around you, and how it shapes one’s perception and reality comes across very naturally. Hauntingly sad, we see Martin attempt to define himself against the rules, or magic, as he calls it, of being a vampire. Yet he is powerless to escape them and the results are predictable and tragic. A wonderful film and a great choice for the ‘Thon, one which I would not have expected.
SHOCK VALUE
Clue #5: Horror anthology featuring works by influential genre filmmakers.
Sean: A collection of student films from icons like Carpenter and O’Bannon, this film was a true joy to be able to see. Someone read Shock Value and loved it so much they hunted down all these films and now we, the lucky audience, got to see them. Though the quality was not consistent, you can see the beginnings of some truly great filmmakers. The last one in particular (I believe called The Demon ( I think THE DEMON was the first one –Liam) may be wrong) seemed to preview the shift from gothic era horror to the new horror coming in the late 60’s. The modern setting and unexplained nature of the horror clearly went against the grain of the horror genre up to that point. This change would, of course, become huge in films like Night of the Living Dead and change the genre forever. Getting to see this was a true treat and I am grateful to the fine folks at Exhumed for showing it.
Liam: I loved seeing this. Talk about a unique opportunity for a film education, and on the big screen as well? Amazing. I hate to get on a high horse about this, but just because this was shown in DCP doesn’t mean it was any less awesome than the other things we watched at the ‘Thon. I was glad to have the opportunity to see it and really learn a bit about the early work of some of my favorite creators.
Jon: At this point of the Horrorthon, I had to get up. My ass was somewhere between going numb and horrible sharp pain, if that makes any sense. Not to mention, I’m the type of asshole who gets fidgety without a cigarette every couple of hours. So I traversed to the Wawa across the street to pick up a giant coffee.
I headed back just in time for The Demon, which I thought was a cool little flick that was reminiscent of Night of the Living Dead with a bit of Ingmar Bergman flare. It was probably my favorite out of the other short films that I caught. My second being Judson’s Revenge, a play on the old urban legend of the creep stalking the babysitter from inside the house. It seemed to be a total precursor to Halloween. Really enjoyed seeing the student films of some of the genre’s legends.
NIGHT OF THE DEMONS
Clue #6: Cool Halloween-themed fan favorite from the 1980s.
Liam: I managed to catch parts of this in my past, but never really had the opportunity to sit and watch it before, and I was so glad I did. First off, in a rare extra program note, Exhumed managed to bring in the writer of the film. He is an old school Philly guy named Joe Augustyn. That was awesome. It was also super cool because I found myself listening in the film for elements that reminded me of Philly, and I think they were definitely there. Regardless, I love this movie. It is not perfect, but it is a lot of fun. Sort of a mash up of other films, but done with a lot of fun and spirit and attitude. It shares some of the obvious punk influences you see in Return of the Living Dead, but with its own style as well. There are not as many scares, but the film slowly amps up a nightmare quality that really works well. I loved the gross ways the demons came to be, I loved the music, and I loved the fact that some characters actually survived. I dug the fun of it, and while it was not particularly scary, it was a cool movie to see at the ‘Thon.
Sean: Having just seen this less than a week ago I got food. Though not a personal favorite, Night of the Demons is clearly the type of film that belongs, and plays well, at the Horrorthon and was a solid inclusion in this year’s lineup.
Jon: One thing my friends and I were chatting about as we walked to IHP was our affinity for punks in 80’s movies, and I was thankful that Stooge, in his Pig-nosed splendor, popped up on the screen. Night of the Demons is akin to movies such as A Christmas Story or Frosty the Snowman in the sense that it perfectly embodies and owns the holiday that surrounds it. It’s punk-rock, gory, funny, sleazy vibe makes us remember what we all love about the holiday. Halloween wouldn’t be the same without a bit of nudity from Linnea Quigley.
BRAIN DAMAGE
Clue #7: Strange, funny and slightly disturbing monster movie that serves as an allegory for addiction.
Sean: This was a fucked up, funny ass film. From the same director as Basket Case (who has a wonderful cameo in a late subway scene) comes the deranged tale of a young man and his giant worm monster/mind control creature. The creature injects some sort of blue fluid into the main character’s brain which causes him to see all sorts of light and shit, causing him to be hooked. In return he brings the creature with him so it can feed on human brains. The highlight was the creature shooting out of his pants as an 80’s movie punk prepares to give him some head in a Freddy Kruger looking boiler room. So tasteless and awesome.
Liam: I skipped this. I have never seen it. Folks say it is awesome, but I ditched. My primary goal was to get some more interviews for the episode which should be posting soon. However, it doesn’t matter. I skipped it also because I kind of guessed what the next movie was and I wanted to be ready. I will admit, however, reading other’s thoughts on it makes me want to watch it. Luckily, it is on streaming so I will watch it for sure.
Jon: This was one of my favorites from this year’s horrorthon. I guess the message of this movie was that drugs can destroy your life as well as the lives around you and this is your brain on drugs..yadayadayada. The whole time I was just wondering why I didn’t bake a batch of special brownies for this, especially since Altered States sort of made it a Mind-fuck Double feature.
I almost burst into tears when the creature spoke for the first time since the only voice I could compare it to in my mind was the Frosty the Snowman cartoon. How could you resist befriending a brain slugs with such a welcoming disposition? He just wants to be your friend by kicking up your dopamine levels past their limits. He only asks that you throw a bro a few fresh brains every now and again. How does the old saying go? “You scratch his back he’ll insert his proboscis into your cerebellum…?” I think that’s right.
ALTERED STATES
Clue #8: Surreal, cerebral science fiction film with a dash of good old-fashioned monster movie thrown into the mix.
Liam: This was for me, personally, the biggest disappointment of the night. When I was a kid, this film really found its way under my skin. I think it was the end, when the reality of William Hurt’s mind starts to invade the reality he experiences with others. That switching between his normal physical form and his mutated physical form really messed me up. There was also something very intense about the religious imagery. The veneer of science laid over wacky mythological ideas made this seem like some sort of strange mystery, a deeper kind of fear, pulsating with self discovery.
Turns out Altered States is kind of boring. I am still glad I saw it on the big screen, on film, but so much of it is just a snore. The characters, both William Hurt and Blair Brown do not feel real. The goals that Hurt is pursuing do not make sense, his experiments are ridiculous, and most of the interesting moments feel rushed in at the end. I want to love this movie, but sometimes you just have to accept that The Devils is the only great Ken Russell film.
Sean: Yo, this shit did not make any god damn sense. I love me some existential sci-fi, what is life type stuff but this feels like that movie made by tea party d-bags trying to prove how stupid these movies are. I mean one time William Hurt goes into a sensory deprivation chamber and is turned into a primitive pre-human; the next time he’s turned into a fucking galaxy being born. What the shit? What. The. Shit.
Jon: As someone who loves the idea of different states of consciousness induced by rare drugs used in tribal rituals, I found this to be one of my favorite movies of the horrorthon. It was a proper hour of the evening to show this film. A time when all of our brains were mounds of mush; processing on wave lengths somewhere between sanity and the metaphysical.
Altered States takes us on an odyssey through one man’s search for the meaning of everything. Eddie Jessup (William Hurt) is a scientist who succumbs to his own obsessions for the unknown by putting his life at risk for the sake of the truth. He’s willing to gamble his well being for the furthermost universal knowledge and embodies the true Faustian nature that boils inside of us all. What is ultimate wisdom truly worth?
Brimming with some of the most bizarre visuals ever put to film, it’s as if Ken Russell willingly fell into a bad LSD trip before tipping his hat to Kubrick’s 2001. We see both the “dawn of man” and the star child being born; from our own beginnings to the far reaches of the cosmos.
TERROR VISION
Clue #9: Bizarre sci-fi satire/schlockfest starring a who’s who of cult movie icons.
Sean: Talk about counter programing. This is as fun and unserious as sci-fi horror can get. Loaded to the gills with gross effects, over the top characters and genre legends, Terror Vision is a true schlock masterpiece.
Liam: This is so much fun, but I was not in the mood for fun. I enjoyed it, but I was ready for something more intense. Still, this continued our theme for the night of random actors from Phantom of the Paradise which is a cool trend for sure. I loved the practical effects on the creature. I just, I wasn’t feeling it, no in this time slot. Sorry Terror Vision, another time perhaps.
Jon: I love Terror Vision but I needed a break so I could make an unhealthy decision at Wawa. HEED MY WARNING: never eat Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese after 2am. HEED MY WARNING… AGAIN: IF you do make this decision and they tell you they’re out of chicken and offer cheesesteak meat instead, at all costs DECLINE this alternative. Your colon will thank you later.
SUPERSTITION
Clue #10: Stylish, gory, and under-seen shocker that feels like a Euro-horror film, even though it was produced in the US.
(I think this clue is wrong and it was produced in Canada)
Sean: A mostly typical 70’s era Satanic horror film wherein the lead Priest doesn’t believe in “true evil” and is then confronted by said true evil. The local church moves a new family into a haunted house they own and things go predictably wrong. Some good kills, competent camera work and solid work building up a sense of dread managed to keep my interest throughout. The lead priest is the worst at saving people though. Seriously everyone fucking dies. Dude has the magical cross, learns from a history book it’s a magical, uses the cross to explode a demon locked door and still forgets to use in the climactic fight.
Liam: This movie, on paper, is beyond average. Just a satanic, possessed house sort of story. There are the similar themes around folks without faith not realizing what is really going on. There is the strange woman in the cabin, the mentally handicapped fellow who is somehow connected to the evil and, of course, gender issues. It is all paint by numbers really…well, on paper. In reality, this film plays like some sort of Euro nightmare. It has Fulci flavor, and that combines with its somewhat ridiculous Canadian cast to create a heady brew of gritty with silly. This is a film that needs to be seen by any who appreciate the strange mutations in horror. Why is this film so fun, so intense, so kinetic? Why does it oscillate so easily between the effective and the comically goofy? No idea, but I loved it.
Jon: Superstition aka The Witch was a film I discovered last year during my search for the 31 days of October challenge. It’s a super fun gore fest, scored with music that would fit nicely in any Italian horror flick from the 70’s. During the film’s final moments I couldn’t stop thinking about how much the priest regretted his entire life. From his first second on screen it seemed like he’d rather be chasing tail and flipping through an Eddie Bauer catalog. I’d bet that he wouldn’t have given two shits about the family that moved in the house if they didn’t have hot daughters, which is a bit creepy but it somewhat reminds me of Tom Atkins’ motivation in Halloween III so he’s forgiven in my eyes. There is only one true God and He is Atkins.
HORROR OF PARTY BEACH
Clue #11: Infamous, goofy, B-grade 1960s monster movie.
Sean: I was not in the mood for a 60’s beach party movie and instead opted for coffee #12 and a trip to Wawa with Liam.
Liam: Not my style of camp so, yeah, what he said.
Jon: I felt awkward watching sea monsters with hot dogs for a mouth without the silhouettes of Mike Nelson, Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot lining the bottom of the screen.
NEAR DARK
Clue #12: Quite simply one of the best vampire movies of all time.
Sean: Near Dark in 35mm is a wonderful treat at any time, but when the print is as good as this one was then it’s fucking delightful. Billed on the “guess what movie we’re playing” printout that Exhumed passes out at every ‘Thon as “Simply one of the best vampire movies ever.” That statement is very accurate. On this watch I was intrigued by the notion of a vampire movie taking place in a world with no vampire mythology. I am almost positive this is the only vampire movie with no use of crucifixes. After being turned Caleb, our main protagonist, asks the vampire leader what they are. The response, “We don’t know”, is one I have never encountered in another vampire flick. It’s an idea I wish they were able to further explore. Other than that, Near Dark still works as an old fashioned, ass kicking good time.
Liam: One of the greatest vampire movies of all time, and a truly great movie. So exciting, and yet also meditative. I fell asleep. This is life at a 24 hour fest. I can say that the darkness and pace of this film may have aided me in reaching sleepy oblivion, but let’s not blame the victim.
Jon: I had somewhat of strange experience during this film. As much as I struggled to keep my eyes open, the effort was useless. Much like the inevitable demise of vampires avoiding the sun, I could not escape the fatigue and I fell into a deep sleep. I’m aware of what I must have looked like when it happened. I’m sure all of us know how awkward people look sleeping at these things. They’re always sitting up with there head teetering towards the floor just on the brink of falling forward. Anyway, I dreamt. Yes for the first time ever in my seven years of coming to Horrorthon I dreamt.
I was walking down Shewell Ave. in Doylestown, the sky seemed to be in a permanent state of gray dusk. It started raining. Not just your run of the mill fall shower but a full blown monsoon. I pulled my hood over my head and quickened my pace. I started trudging through overflowing gutters and the current bearing street when I noticed a woman staring at me from her porch. She waved me over and I ran towards her to escape the heavy downpour. Suddenly we were in her house, she had her back turned to me. The only light in the room emanated from the fire place and all I could see was her silhouette. Then suddenly, she whipped around and faced me. At that moment I noticed she had become the rotting tub lady from The Shining.
Then I woke up. The movie was about to end and everyone on the screen was bursting into flames. I started to make my way outside of IHP for a cigarette when I noticed the sun had come out. I was unbearable and I went back inside to watch more movies.
PIRANHA 2: THE SPAWNING
Clue #13: Non-traditional “animals attack” movie filling the traditional “animals attack” Horror-Thon timeslot.
Liam: Following a Bigelow movie with a “James Cameron” film? Ok y’all, I see you. For real though, this film is bad. I usually love this kind of ridiculous animals attack film. Plus it occurs on an island with lots of bathing suits? Nothing like unjustified nudity to make this portion of the fest more tolerable. This movie is a total snooze fest though. Some laughs can be had at the flying piranha (yup) effects, but not enough laughs to get one through it. I feel like, with enough sleep, and room full of friends laughing, I might be chill with this. As it was however, I was annoyed.
Sean: At this point I was tired of sitting in my seat and had been up for approximately 26 hours. I made my plans to head home but caught roughly half of this uninspired sequel. Dull and over the top at the same time is a bad combo. Didn’t finish and doubt I ever will.
Jon: I like the first Piranha. It’s essentially a Jaws ripoff but I don’t care because it has that Joe Dante touch that we all love so much. The sequel however, is just an oddity worth viewing because it’s from an Academy Award winning director and that’s about it. Do yourself a favor, watch Plankton (1994) It’s a lovely piece of over dubbed garbage that looks like it was made in the 80’s and handles flying fish with much more class.
ARMY OF DARKNESS
Clue #14: Wacky horror comedy that, shockingly, we have only screened once before over the course of eighteen years.
Liam: As a bit of an elitist dick, I definitely prefer both Evil Dead films to this third movie in the series, but I am wrong. YEAH I SAID IT! While not a great a movie, Army Of Darkness does have the most Bruce performance from Bruce ever put on screen, and I love it for that. The practical effects are genius, and while some images are maybe rough around the edges, overall it works. Besides, what a triumph in indy film making, not that this film is independent, that these guys convinced a studio to let them make a fun horror adventure comedy follow up to the Evil Dead films. This is how you end a Horrorthon, with something so kinetic and satisfying that even in your fugue state, you cannot help but be invigorated by it. I love this movie so much, and it made my entire experience feel amazing.
Sean: Army of Darkness is an awesome way to end the fest but I was on my way home to play with my daughter and wife and eat real food. I assume everyone who stayed enjoyed the shit out of it of course. All in all I felt like this was a strong lineup, maybe the best of any Horrorthon I’ve attended and I really enjoyed myself. Exhumed Films continues to be the light in the darkness that is the Philly film scene.
Jon:The Evil Dead trilogy was my introduction to the horror genre when I was about 12 years old. I love all three in their own special ways. I was completely thrilled to see this at the end of the list because I watch them all every Halloween season anyway. Bruce Campbell is a man of myth and legend and I can’t wait to see him strap on the chainsaw and bust out the boomstick one more time in the upcoming series.
THANKS FOR READING
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