p e n g u i n d e v i l

I braved the out of doors for another film at the Clinton Street. It seems to be the only theater that I go to anymore… I mean, yes, they have beer, but it’s not the best, and the sound is guaranteed to be quite bad, and I got the largest hunk of old gum that I’ve ever seen stuck to my shoe (at least a cubic inch!), but it’s a great place. For as long as I can remember and through a stream of owners, they have continued to play obscure, unusual and cult films, frequently for very small audiences (I’ve seen as small as 3). I imagine that they have stayed afloat due to nearly 30 years of continual Rocky Horror Picture Show playings, but I’m glad that they have continued to play whatever they feel like. I dare you, go ahead and click their name to check out their offerings!

This week it was another old classic, Blood Feast! From 1963, its an early classic ‘gore” film from Herschell Gordon Lewis and David Friedman, The story of a woman looking to have an exotic party for her daughter when she comes into contact with a odd fellow who is a exotic caterer who also seems to be looking for the opportunity to stage an Egyptian feast (the sort that hasn’t been served for 5000 years!) to bring his beloved goddess Ishtar back to life. Of course, this feast involves body parts from numerous young ladies (including a friend of Suzette, the guest of honor)… So the path to this party is littered with bloody dismembered corpses.

The killings are quite fun and gory in a terribly fake sort of way, but entertaining none-the-less. The overacting by Mal Arnold as Faud Ramses the evil caterer, is quite entertaining, but he is a bit ridiculous as an Egyptian (certainly no Omar Sharif), and his statue of Ishtar seems to be a mannequin covered in gold spray paint, but he is certainly quite naughty and remorseless in his focus on Ishtar. Of course, the police come along, following the trail of bodies, and here is one of the high points of the film. While the terrible acting of the police captain is moderately entertaining, William Kerwin does a great job as Detective Pete, who is working hard on the case, and who conveniently is dating Suzette. All leading to a not too dramatic climax, but one that is well worth seeing!

Lewis and Friedman pack a lot into barely over an hour and manage to be fun the whole time. While it is quite campy by our standards, I can’t help but think that in 1963 is was intended as a serious scary gore film, rather than the corny movie it is by our standards.