42nd Street Forever: Exploitation Explosion

It's simple, really. If you're a devotee of b pictures, you're probably also a fan of 'trash,' 'grind house,' and just plain cheesy cinema. Don't let such derogatory terms miss-lead you: many 'bad' films are wonderful on their own subjectively warped terms, exchanging plot continuity and characterization for sheer action, bad taste, and that certain 'something' that, while indefinable, stems from a true craftsman's soul. The good, the bad, and the just insane are covered in the most recent trailer compilation from Synapse Films, guaranteeing an explosive evening of exploitative rarities and double bill Drive In fodder. This "mind-numbing, ball-busting, fist punching and horror filled collection" is everything that its lurid promotion promises, showing the same extreme showmanship as the eclectic trailers.

A more than worthy follow up to their previous three collection, Exploitation Explosion guarantees the adventurous film fan dozens of tasty previews, many of which are unsurprisingly more entertaining than the films they represent. The actors sport laughably dated hairdos, the girls are enticing, and ninjas share the stage with naughty nurses and maniacal children -- all in the time it takes to fix a sandwich. What more could you want !? Similar to a flashback (without the cost of acid), this compilation is akin to a time capsule, revisiting yesteryear with its captured mannerisms, close fashions, dialogue, and dated attitudes. At the risk of sounding too serious, these trailers are as educational as they are fun, documenting in their haphazard, commercialistic manner both the cinematic and cultural attitudes of past decades. That's right, they're GOOD FOR YOU! Marvel at the ridiculously long murder scenes of the underrated Devil Times Five! Thank God that you're watching only the trailers for High Ballin' or Candy Stripe Nurses, and not the entire features! Giggle with admiration at unashamed hyperbole!

Aiming to please, Synapse packs this disc with something for everyone. Is your kink guys in their pjays hopping around screaming mucho mancho dialogue? We got you covered with Sudden Death, The One Armed Executioner, Lightning Swords of Death, and Five Fingers of Death. The god awful Jaguar Lives! even looks interesting, and for those folks who don't like people laughing at their mule, The Stranger and the Gunfighter spot is just the tonic to sooth your itchy trigger finger; this trailer is so captivating in its showmanship that you feel like slapping spurs on (and, hey, maybe that's your thing anyways)! Giddeyyup!

My personal favorite was the diverse play list of nightmares on display, including the wonderfully sleazy and atmospheric Beyond the Door, Demonoid (a rough classic much maligned), The Night Child (Satan's possessing your children!), Devil Times Five, the Australian sleeper Patrick, Jennifer, Phase IV, The Uncanny, and Blood Beach. A handful of nature amuck goodies round out this section, featuring Alligator, Killer Fish (this one is so bad It reaches sublime levels), and Shark's Treasure.

But wait, there's more . . .

Next up is a generous selection of 'naughty' previews geared at the teenage market (perhaps too generous, as these softcore romps never seem as exciting as the horror or chop suey spots). Hot T-Shirts, Cheerleaders, Wild Weekend, Summer School, Teachers, Gorp, and King Frat hit us over the noggin with young duds looking to be studs and numerous rip offs in the Animal House vein. Midway through the floor is ripped out from under us and we land in Prison Girls (well, not quite in them . . .), 1000 Convicts And A Woman, Chain Gang Women, The Penthouse, and The House By The Lake -- deliciously deviant WIP films.

With a tear in my eye, I left these gals behind for the less substantial but laudable air headed hysterics of the 'sex comedy,' including Night Call Nurses, The Young Nurses, Candy Stripe Nurses (see a theme here?), The Life And Times Of Xaviera Holander, and Happy Hooker Goes Hollywood.

Finally, the spot for Survive announced that we'd reached the final destination of our trip down movie maniac lane -- the high octane, simple brained but always fun actioneer. On the plate this time out are Guyana- Cult Of The Damned, Seven, Scorchy, Savage Streets, High Ballin', From noon Till Three, Lies, Tattoo, etc.

The disc is featured in 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen, and the trailers are in surprisingly good shape considering the rarity of many of them. Overall colors are sharp, imagery crisp, and damage neglectful. Of course there are instances of grain, line damage, etc., but what the hell do you want?! Part of the fun here is recalling the experience of seeing these bad boys in their prime. With this in mind, the occasionally dark and grainy spots are welcomed! Audio is Digital Mono English, and, again, the quality is fine for the most part, with minor popping and hissing in some spots but certainly nothing to deter from the entertainment -- which is, after all, what this is about. Extras are a handful of additional trailers, this time TV spots, with additional/optional commentary by Fango scribe Michael Gingold, Film Historian Chris Poggiali and editor Edwin Samuelson.

Sometimes you're in the mood for a steak, and sometimes you can only handle the appetizers. These compilations are tiny helpings of sin and skin, tasty and to the point. From the obscure and forgotten to cult classics and cinematic turds, Exploitation Explosion is a bloody good treat!

Review by William Simmons