Death Wish Club

This movie is such an amazing achievement that I am struggling with what to say about it. No review or plot summary can ever even touch on the layered brilliance of this holy grail. As you may notice, I have had to invent the word 'cramfabulant' just to attempt to describe the emotional cocktail in which I was bathing while watching this cramfabulant film. Don't believe the poor star rating, or anyone who tries to explain this complex display of cramfabulessance. It simply needs to be experienced. But if I had to best describe it without mentioning the insanely amazing story, it would be something like "Imagine David Lynch directing the script of a low I.Q. first time screenwriting mental patient while both of them abused unapproved prescription meds in a closed garage full of open paint cans."

From King of Kings writer Phillip Yordon comes this strange and Haunting film about a young girl(played in Superb Fashion by Merideth Haze) who becomes entangled with a handsome stranger, a bizarre "Death Club", and a strange millionaire who wants her only for himself. This film never got to play in theatres(it went straight to video in 1985.) Yet somehow it grows on you. if your a fan of Mr. Yordon's work I recommend Cataclysm,Scream Your Head Off,Bloody Wednsday, and the downright frightful Night Train To Terror. Maybe someday Anchor Bay will release all these titles on DVD as "The Phillip Yordon Collection". Until then give it another look.

This film is acted and directed with just the right amount of tongue in cheek satire. I love watching it, especially the character of Mary Contrary. Paul Keefer, the actor playing this role stands out and really makes the film. A lot of films are just badly made and that is what makes them cult classics. However, this film is intentionally made to look and feel campy. John Carr does a terrific job of directing. However, the real star of the film, is (I hate to repeat myself) Paul Keefer as Mary Contrary. Every time he is in a scene, I just can't stop laughing. The one character that stands out however, like a sore thumb is William C Moore as Federico Lebuse. He tries too hard to act with a foreign accent and doesn't even come close to doing it with any type of ability. He isn't funny. He isn't clever. He isn't appealing. He just isn't an actor. In spite of his horrible job of acting and dragging the film down, it is a delightful film and a must see for anyone who appreciates fun comedy.

I saw this under the title GRETTA as a DVD extra on the NIGHT TRAIN TO TERROR disc. The feature-length GRETTA has a very different tone to it than the segment in NIGHT TRAIN. Meredeth Haze (in her only film credit) gives an incredible performance as Gretta. She's mesmerizing. It's easy to see why Glenn, played by Rick Barnes, is so taken by her. Barnes is a good actor, but 15 years too old for a part where he is referred to as a college boy. Worth seeing.

I first saw parts of this movie on the Night Train to Terror collection and this seemed to be the only one worth watching by itself. After I found the bootleg, Death Wish Club is truly bizarre but watchable.

A rich no goodnik named George Youngmeyer (J Martin Sellets) goes to a carnival and hits on a popcorn vendor named Gretta (Meredith Haze. George proceeds to put her in pornos. During a college re-union frat party, pre-med joe schmoe (Rick Barnes) named Glenn takes a liking to her and goes to meet with her. After he gets in her pants, soon George catches them and makes them join a secret society whose purpose is to put their lives on the line for the entertainment of the group.

The idea of a guy hitting on a carny is kind of weird but that was probably the most normal thing to happen the rest of the movie. Lola the drag queen gets beat up, Contessa gets a wrecking ball sinus infection and my favorite, a Jimi Hendrix lookalike fries (exscuse me while I smoke) I wish this movie actually came out for it wasn't that bad compared to other crap that came out during the time period.

6 out of 10