Magnum Milano

The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)

Netflix four-parter that I've watched over the past week.  While the subject matter is the David Berkovitz Son of Sam murders, the documentary is from the point of investigative journalist Maury Terry who believed that Berkovitz wasn't working alone.  In a sense it reminded me of the I'll Be Gone in the Dark doc about the Golden State Killer and Michelle McNamara's obsession with the case, Terry being every bit as obsessed over this one as she was with that.  The evidence did seem to point to more than one killer, but the NYPD were content that they had their man so didn't feel the need to investigate further.  Terry does have a fascination with trying to link the kills to a cult and I'm not convinced on that one, and even when he does finally interview Berkovitz himself you get the impression he was telling Terry what he wanted to hear,  I enjoyed this although a friend who has also been watching it found it hard going.

I read the Observer and use a couple of forums and that more than satisfies my needs.  I occasionally listen to WOR if there is a subject or guest I'm interested in, but that is no longer a regular occurrence any more.

I've mentioned it previously but I unfollowed all wrestling related accounts on Twitter a long time ago and immediately felt better about it.  I have little interest in the current product so have no need or desire to find out immediately what's going on in the world of wrestling from some scoopster like Satin or Sapp who sit on Twitter all day.  I also find Sapp a bit of a hypocritical joke if I'm honest.

Just now, Matthew said:

and UK entering an actual decent song that’s probably their best entry since Flying The Flag For You (Scooch).

It's My Time by Jade Ewen is better, and the only UK entry in the last 12 years I can actually remember.

Hendry will have to improve a hell of a lot on that performance over Patsy Fagan if he's wanting to do anything on the main tour, let alone make it back to the Crucible, which is his aim.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if he jacks it in if he can't play to a standard he deems acceptable or to where he is unable to be competitive.  He's not going to be content with turning up at all the events and going out in the last 128 like Jimmy White is.

I've been reading some old Observers from 1996 and have just found out that Igor Vovchanchyn was scheduled for UFC XI but they couldn't get him into the country over a Visa issue.  Him, potentially, versus a primitive Mark Coleman, four years before the Pride 2000 Grand Prix Finals, would've been an interesting fight at the time.

This week's batch of horror/slasher fare.  Some real stinkers here.

Hollywood Meat Cleaver Massacre (1977) (YouTube)

Students attack a college professor in his own home, leaving him for dead and killing his family. Paralyzed and confined to his hospital bed, he then uses psychic powers to exact revenge. This occult stuff is not for me at all. Pretty awful. Oh, and where was the meat cleaver?

Drive-In Massacre (1976) (YouTube)

Amorous couples get slaughtered and killed at the Drive-In. Didn’t think this was as bad as the reviews I subsequently read, although the lack of definitive conclusion is disappointing (it probably played better to those watching at the theatre). FX are primitive.

Bog (1979) (YouTube)

A mysterious creature lurks beneath Bog Lake, attacking and killing humans and sucking out their blood. Low budget, cheap looking flick goes from boring to laughable when you finally see what this creature looks like. Dreadful.

Nightmares (1980) (YouTube)

Australian psychological slasher set predominantly in a theatre. The killer’s identity is supposed to be a secret but it’s obvious who it is from their first kill. Poor editing throughout and some very explicit sex scenes featuring a nude Pam Willis in one! Below average.

Pledge Night (1990) (YouTube)

Sid Scheider is killed in a hazing prank, 20 years later he returns to the fraternity house to torment a new batch of pledges and brothers during “hell week”.  Low brow, fun slasher that is pure Animal House before the horror part begins. Egg whisk down the throat is my new favourite creative kill!

Sleepaway Camp (1983) (YouTube)

Ricky and his cousin Angela go to a Summer Camp, soon after their arrival on the site bodies start turning up dead. Not the Friday the 13th rip-off I was expecting. The end will catch you totally off guard and is something you won’t forget in a hurry, if ever. A strong recommendation.

Three on a Meathook (1972) (YouTube)

Billy Townsend invites four girls back to his farm house after their car breaks down, during the night all four are murdered. Slow moving, padded, grainy, proto-slasher. While you can probably work out where this is going, the reasoning is quite shocking. Really dug the musical interlude at the bar.

I've been seeing this guy everywhere recently.  Surely he must be paying YouTube to get his videos promoted?  I've got one YouTube account that is for nothing but just watching films on and he came up in my recommendations there too!

1 minute ago, Factotum said:

Anyone having a bit of trouble getting into it this year? Maybe its because I still think the last Worlds as only having ended a few months ago. I don't know, its lacked a bit of something for me. Some great snooker of course

For better or worse, O'Sullivan going out early always seems to take something away from the tournament for me.

I was hoping for a Robertson victory, but there is something about him and the Crucible for some reason and his record since winning the title back in 2010 is shockingly bad for someone who has won so much and who can look unbeatable out there at times.

Anyone bar Selby winning now will do.

Still watching random 80s horror/slasher movies that I find on YouTube.

Killer Workout (1987) (YouTube)

Members of a Fitness Gym are targeted by a killer and their oversized safety pin. Bordering on a softcore movie at times. Usual suspect acting, terrible fight scenes, but some surprising plot twists towards the end that keep you guessing. Better than average B-Movie.

Sorority House Massacre II (1990) (YouTube)

Five Sorority sisters move into a house with the hope of restoring it, all bar one, unaware that it was previously the site of a massacre. Doesn’t take itself too seriously (unrelated flashback scenes to Slumber Party Massacre), the women spend most of the film in their underwear) and a vast improvement over the first film. A bit of a surprise.

Stage Fright (1987) (YouTube)

The cast of a musical production find themselves locked inside the theatre during rehearsals with an escaped killer. Atmospheric score with violent and brutal kills which are made all the more sinister by the fact the killer is wearing a giant owl’s head (a prop from the play). Good slasher fare.

The Dorm That Dripped Blood (1982) (YouTube)

A group of students stay on campus over Christmas to clear out one of the buildings that is being sold off. Bad VQ on the YouTube upload means this probable deserves a rewatch. Ending is excellent though, completely different and quite unlike “the norm” you would expect from a slasher.

Hell High (1989) (YouTube)

Troubled by an incident from her childhood, a teacher takes revenge on a group of students who are harassing her.  Okay, but takes a while to get to the meat of the film (to the point I thought the movie had been misleadingly named) and then when it does, everything is all too rushed.

Cutting Class (1989) (YouTube)

A killer is on the loose in a high school...and for once it’s the obvious suspect. Tries to toe the line between comedy and horror (Roddy McDowall is great as the lusty principal) however overall this is below average and the acting (notably Donovan Leitch) falls off a cliff at the climax. Also Brad Pitt’s film debut.

Death Screams (1982) (YouTube)

This must have the longest opening credits ever. Interchangeable “teens” hang out at various locations. The last ten minutes isn’t bad when most of the action happens but it’s a slog to get to that point as everything is so uninspiring.  Still no idea who the actual killer was! Bottom level stuff.

Summer Camp Nightmare (1987) (YouTube)

Counselors in Training take a dislike to the new Camp Director and revolt to take over the running of things themselves. Very Lord of the Flies. Also goes to some very dark and unexpected places (murder, rape, a lynching). Good film and more thriller than the horror I had anticipated.

Just now, SuperBacon said:

O'Sullivan-McGill was the quintessential "game of two halves Clive".

From a dog shit morning session, where Ronnie looked like he had given up, he was awful. But then pulled it back in the evening, only for McGill to hit a wonderful 130 odd and power through the last to nick it. Turned into a belter.

McGill held himself together exceptionally well in those last two frames considering how badly he had played all evening.

O'Sullivan will be pig sick though.  A kick on the final red he potted left him straight on the blue, rather than top-side, and that seemed to completely throw him off his thinking.

11 minutes ago, Pork Pie said:

May be worth putting a bet on Lisowski. It's doubtful he'll hold it together for two weeks but it can't be long until he wins his first tournament. If he gets on a good run you never know

Carter is an awful first-round draw for him though (Bingham is the only trickier qualifier).  Then he's likely got an in-form Robertson in the second round.

I'm sure it is only a matter of time before Lisowski wins something, he's got a slim chance of winning this though.

Gregory's Girl and then a bunch of B-level slasher/horror films.

Gregory’s Girl (1981) (BBC iPlayer)

Coming of age Scottish comedy. Gregory (John Gordon Sinclair) is smitten with Dorothy (Dee Hepburn), however unbeknown to him, Susan (Clare Grogan) is quite taken with Gregory. Wonderful film where every character brings something to the plate. Very funny. Takes you back to simpler more innocent times. Why Gregory had to think about going out with Susan I'll never know. 

Girls School Screamers (1986) (YouTube)

After a wealthy benefactor leaves his estate to the local girl’s college, a number of the students stay overnight to catalogue his wares ready for sale. No prizes for guessing what happens next! Proper B-level fare. Dodgy as acting and with killings that don’t start until the final third. Poor.

Intruder (1989) (YouTube)

A group of employees working the late shift at a supermarket become the target of a killer. A very good late 80s slasher that manages to overcome some subpar acting (Danny Hicks). Gruesome kills (head squashed in the hydraulics, head in the meat slicer, butcher's hook through the neck), nice sight gags, a unique setting and a grand job done in hiding the killer’s ID.

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) (YouTube)

A mass murderer escapes from prison and goes on a killing spree, primarily targeting students at a slumber party. What this lacks for in gore it makes up for in gratuitous nudity. The attempts to build suspense are poor and the killer is like some comical 60s Batman villain. Dull script, dull film.

Slumber Party Massacre II (1987) (YouTube)

Is this a horror, a comedy or a musical? What it is is confusing. Courtney, one of the survivors from the first film, is haunted by nightmares of a killer dressed like a rock & roll guitarist. Then he shows up out of nowhere and starts killing her friends. But I think it was just another dream. Utter garbage.

Slumber Party Massacre III (1990) (YouTube)

Another sleepover, another spate of killings. Now this actually feels like a horror film. Some red herrings before the reveal of the unexpected psycho killer, plenty of tension and the usual T&A for T&A’ sake! Went in expecting the worst but turned out to be my favourite in the trilogy.

Microwave Massacre (1979) (YouTube)

A browbeaten husband kills his wife in a drunken fit of rage. After chopping her up and storing her in the fridge, he accidentally eats her hand, getting a taste for human flesh! Awful acting, lousy looking prosthetics and corny one liners. Laughed plenty though! So bad it’s good?

The right side of the flyer is far, far, too crowded, and is also pretty hard going on the eyes.

Is there really any need for a photo of the referee to be on there?

Just have a photo/photos of some of your most impressive looking wrestlers, those who'll grab someone's attention, or those who already have a bit of a name.

*EDIT* Also, it's a struggle to make the wrestlers out from your photo and I imagine the flyer is going to be a fair bit smaller than this.

6 minutes ago, CXwrestling said:

Thanks , 

the grudge match is between two performers who have had 3 matches around the country already . 

But you're audience aren't going to know that (and three matches hardly constitutes a grudge). 

I notice there isn't a single one-on-one match on the card, every match has a gimmick, why not build to the grudge between the two performers for a subsequent show down the line?

I also don't see the point of two Battle Royals.  Surely you could just have one 15 man Battle Royal with the final two participants then meeting for the title in the main event?  I am guessing that some people will be doing double duty and wrestling in other matches, but you will be paying some people just to wrestle in a Battle Royal, its a needless expense.  Plus, if people are drawn to come to your show to see the Battle Royal, a second one will not draw any additional spectators.

1 hour ago, CXwrestling said:

British rounds grudge match 

Only a small thing, but how can something be a "grudge" match on your debut show?  Surely the two wrestlers involved have to have been involved in some sort of dispute/rivalry to build a grudge?

Good luck though.

37 minutes ago, Mr_Danger said:

Game Night is one of the best comedies of the last ten years you swine!

I did find it funny (especially Rachel McAdams and Sharon Horgan), and the early cameo of John Francis Daley from Freaks & Geeks (who also directed) gave it instant plus points but it got unnecessarily convoluted for me.  Plus points were lost when Jaxson Ryker showed up, but then restored on his demise!

A week's worth of viewing, including the other Yaphet Kotto film I downloaded after seeing it recommended in Devon's thread.

Across 110th Street (1972)

The Harlem mob are gunning for revenge after a criminal gang steal from them , while two diametrically opposed policemen have been assigned the case. My first blaxploitation flick is a cracker, very violent, Quinn, Kotto and Franciosa, as the ruthless D’Salvio, are all superb.

Holmes & Watson (2018)

Sherlock Holmes has four days to prevent the Queen being killed. Confirms that I don’t find Will Ferrell funny in the slightest. The laughs are few and the film is all over the shop. I only watched this because I saw it had Rebecca Hall in.  I shouldn't have bothered.  Bad.

The Damned United (2009) (BBC iPlayer)

A largely fictitious dramatization of Brian Clough’s 44 day tenure as Leeds United manager, a job he never really stood a chance with. Sheen is uncanny in his portrayal of Clough and Spall and Meaney are excellent as the support . Lovely scene at the end where Clough and Taylor reunite.

Game Night (2018)

A group of friends’ game night turns into a real-life game of life or death when one of them is kidnapped. Starts out promising but loses its way about halfway through becoming unnecessarily convoluted and completely unbelievable.

The Business (2005) (Film4)

Drugs, guns, geezers and lots of bad language! An English fugitive out in the Costa del Crime takes the young Frankie (Danny Dyer) under his wing and into his criminal empire. Basic gangster flick, the sort of film where you can leave your brain at home. Quality 80s soundtrack.

Shutter Island (2010)

A U.S. Marshall (Leonardo DiCaprio) investigates the disappearance of a patient from a highly secure psychiatric facility on Shutter Island. Or does he? I found this hard going, even when it’s explained I only just about understood.

Graduation Day (1981)

When Laura Ramstead dies at the end of a track race, someone starts killing her team mates. Good slasher and a nice change from the humiliated student out for revenge trope for that was prevalent in these high school setting horrors. Didn’t pick the killer at all and proper creepy towards the end.

I also watched Lover's Rock (2020) from the Small Axe series on the iPlayer.  A joyous way to spend seventy minutes.

On 3/27/2021 at 12:48 PM, Frankie Crisp said:

Just finished watching the first of three episodes of Football’s Darkest Secret on the iPlayer. It looks at the uncovering of the sexual abuse of kids at professional football clubs over a number of decades, those who spoke out and the legal cases that were subsequently raised.

It’s a must watch but absolutely horrendous, so don’t go into it lightly. If you’ve suffered any form of sexual abuse as a child please be warned this will be deeply upsetting, but it may help you draw strength to speak up. There’s a short part towards the end regarding a young lad who texted the BBC when he saw one of the victims speak up which knocked me sideways. The episode covers some abhorrent abuse which made me feel physically sick, but it’s still an important watch.

I was close to tears on a couple of times watching this.  Paul Stewart especially was heartbreaking, the guy is absolutely broken, then torn between not wanting to tell his parents what happened because he knew it would crush them, but having to in order to try and move on with his life somehow.  David White too.  Then that poor lad who got hung out to dry when they originally tried Bob Higgins back in the late 80s, only for the jury to find Higgins not guilty.  Yeah, this was tough.

Datblygu - Am (1990)

Heavenly - Our Love is Heavenly (1990)

3 minutes ago, WyattSheepMask said:

The latest episode of Jericho’s podcast (which I still on a case by case basis) has Dean Malenko on it. I’ve not listened to it yet but I’m sure it will be solid enough.

In the description is says that Dean talks about his diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease, which he’s been dealing with for the last 6 years. Is that something that was reported at the time? Because I had absolutely no idea he’d been diagnosed

I can't remember if it was reported when he was first diagnosed, but Meltzer has certainly written about it in the past, so it is not like it was something that Malenko was keeping secret/hidden.

Blue Collar (1978)

Watched this last night purely due to @Devon Malcolm's recommendation in the Yaphet Kotto thread. Basic storyline is that three factory line workers decide to rob their Union HQ offices to ease their money issues, however they find themselves out of their depth and in over their heads. Great film. Excellent performances from all three leads (Richard Pryor, who is a revelation here, Harvey Keitel and Yaphet Kotto), the scene with Kotto in the spray room will stay with you for a while.

And from a few night's earlier.

Roadgames (1981)

A truck driver engages in a game of cat and mouse with a man he suspects of a series of hitch-hiking abductions and murders only to become a suspect himself. A smart script, a good twist at the end and suspense is maintained despite it practically being a Stacy Keach one-man show. Recommended.

Former footballer Frank Worthington at the age of 72.  

Towards the end of his career he made a few non-league appearances, and one of them was against the non-league side I followed and supported (pretty sure it had to be Weymouth he was playing for).  Anyway I rushed onto the pitch at the end of the game so he could sign my programme, only for my pen to have been upside down in my jacket pocket since we left the house and all the ink had ran out and leaked onto my jacket/top etc.  Even with no ink he still signed for me and somewhere I have a programme with an indent of Frank Worthington's autograph on! 

Any excuse to post this clip which I imagine will be all over social media today.

The Hade Vansen being groomed for a Wrestlemania match with the Undertaker is still one I struggle to get my head around, and for a number of reasons.

I was going to post this Matt Lindland one yesterday but ended up getting sidetracked.  Same show has a great Paul Daley KO of Scott Smith.

Robbie Lawler vs Matt Lindland

With some artistic license: