DARK ANGEL vs. DEATH SPA

Hello again. Back with another fine selection of Z-Grade gems. I'll make this brief today as there is a large batch of Japanese VHS to choose from this round. Starting off with action, we have I COME IN PEACE aka: DARK ANGEL starring the ever towering DOLPH LUNDGREN, the car crash spectacular from H.B. HALICKI... THE JUNKMAN, HEATHER THOMAS in the super-bike sci-fi schlock actioner from FRED OLEN RAY entitled CYCLONE, HK assassin gem BLACK CAT starring SIMON YAM, and a Western all-star epic BITE THE BULLET featuring the talents of JAN-MICHAEL VINCENT, JAMES COBURN, and SALLY KIRKLAND. What else? Sleaze you ask? How about DEATH SPA, the notorious gore and sleaze gem about a hi-tech work-out gym gone awry. Some classic horror is available as well including the gothic tale THE OBLONG BOX from '71 starring CHRISTOPHER LEE and SALLY GEESON and the 80s sequel to the '70s classic, THE HILLS HAVE EYES PART 2. And my favorite of this batch, the charming TOUCH OF DEATH directed by maestro LUCIO FULCI. Lots of dismemberment and bloody grue on hand for this one. Well, I'm sure I've left out quite a few choice VHS tapes in this post, so just check out our listings for yourself. Just click on any of the rotating VHS tape images in the widget shown above. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS ever with Z-Grade!

THE BIKINI SHOP tops this latest batch of VHS gems!

Welcome back my friends to this week's latest batch of Z-Grade VHS goodness. Sorry for the lateness in getting this post out as the missus and I were in the Big Apple. Anyway, let's get right into this since there is only 2 days left on these babies! Topping the list this week is the fashion-challenged T&A cinematic masterpiece known as THE BIKINI SHOP. If you like neon colors and granny panties... this wrong-headed 80s exercise in schlock sex comedy 101 should be right up your alley. Pick up SCHOOL SPIRIT and you can have a matching pair of jiggle features. Also available this week is the Hong Kong Cat. III sleaze horror sequel to THE UNTOLD STORY, uninspiringly titled... THE UNTOLD STORY 2. Strange thing on this rare Japanese VHS letterbox release, as there is no optical pixelation or censorship on any of the nudity! Pubic hair fans rejoice! There is also a fine varied horror selection including CREEPSHOW 2 (a guilty pleasure of The Chooper's) along with monster-themed features BLUE MONKEY along with the purposely schlock Troma feature... MONSTER IN THE CLOSET. Also, the interesting 70s GORDON HESSLER POE-based gem, MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE starring JASON ROBARDS, LILLI PALMER, and MARIA PERSCHY. Odder esoteric fare includes the strange live action/anime hybrid from Japan entitled THE TWILIGHT OF THE COCKROACHES as well as the BRAD PITT & CATHERINE KEENER pseudo art house vehicle... JOHNNY SUEDE! And don't forget the near religious propaganda horror rarity, the ultra low-budget direct-to-video period piece... A DAY OF JUDGMENT along with super explosive drug-fueled kidnapping action of PRIMARY TARGET starring JOHN ERICSON and the oddball karate schlock GYMKATA starring ex-gymnastics champ KURT THOMAS. If I forgot to list any other titles, just check out the widget posted here and get all the info on this week's latest batch of gems. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS EVER with Z-Grade.

The latest Z-Grade VHS gems on eBay!

Here is a selection of the latest batch of rare factory original Japanese VHS Z-Grade collectibles currently on auction this week on e-Bay. On tap this week is some rare J-horror (The rarest JIGOKU film version from '79) to a Pink exploitation gem (MOMOJIRI MUSUME: LOVE ATTACK - part of the PEACH BUTT GIRL film franchise by NIKKATSU) along with some assorted horror (GHOULIES and NIGHTLIFE), schlock comedy (BABY LOVE aka: LEMON POPSICLE 5), and sci-fi (the stupendously stupid SPACE MUTINY starring the late JOHN PHILLIP LAW). Z-Grade pick of the week has to be the extremely rare WHISTLE DOWN THE WIND (1961) starring a young HAYLEY MILLS (fresh off her starring role in THE PARENT TRAP) in glorious black & white and presented in widescreen. A twisted strange religious-themed UK drama, based on a novel written by Hayley's mother... MARY HAYLEY BELL. Check out the widget posted here and get all the info on this week's latest batch of gems. And remember... NO BOOTLEGS EVER with Z-Grade.

KAGE NO KURUMA

1970 {aka: THE SHADOW WITHIN}
This is an interesting subversive psychological film from the MATSUMOTO SEICHO SERIES of VHS releases in Japan. MATSUMOTO SEICHO is a very famous and gifted writer from Japan, and this series of VHS tapes utilize the best films based on his novels and screenplays. This particular movie starts out like an adultery-themed melodrama, but as the story unfolds, it becomes a strange and twisted tale of deception. In the beginning we meet middle-aged Japanese salaryman Hamajima (GO KATO) who is not very satisfied with his life and marriage at the moment. He is a good husband, kind of shy, and has a steady yet tedious job as a travel agent. One day, a beautiful lady named Taiko (SHIMA IWASHITA) recognizes him on the bus home and they start chatting. It turns out that this woman is actually his childhood friend from his hometown. Soon, they start developing a relationship that is closer than just friends. Taiko is a widow and lives with her 6-year-old son Ken-chan (HISATO OKAMOTO) in a small house, and Hamajima starts spending more and more time with his new-found adopted family, coming over evenings for dinner after work and even on weekends. Of course, during all of this, he is continually lying to his wife who is busy at home with her own business and hobbies, so she barely notices that he is gone.
In time however, Hamajima begins to suspect and believe that the 6-year-old Ken-chan wants to harm and perhaps kill him. Strange occurences like... the gas is left on for the oven while he is napping... and all the windows are locked shut, poisons in his drink, and more. At one point this little terror is even wielding an axe!
Is it just his imagination? Or is it real? The kid actor in this film is fascinating as the menacing and creepy little boy. And as you watch the film, you never really are clear as to whether you are watching imagined (and paranoid) scenarios inside Hamajima's head, or actual situations and events that are taking place. And then the twist in the story begins to take shape. The music score for this gem sounds like something from a European film of the era, with a groovy lounge-style atmosphere. And for you sleazehounds, this film does contain some nudity as well. You naughty people out there! This is a very artistic film with beautiful cinematography... it has that grainy soft & faded 70s look to the film stock. A highly recommended Z-Grade film that works quite well, even if it is lacking English subtitles. If you're interested in checking this gem out, click here.