THE DANMAN CAN

A pretty unremarkable blaxploitation (I haven't seen all that many films in the genre but this is easily my least favorite), Black Shampoo (1976) lacks finesse, lacks a strong lead, lacks action until the finale, has poor acting, poor characters, boring/laughable sex scenes, and weird editing. Even the cinematography is unexceptional, which is odd since it was (co)lensed by legendary DOP Dean Cundey —though it was only his 7th film and still 2 years before  Halloween  ( review ) so forgivable.  The songs are pretty groovy and there is some fun to be had, but overall BS  is a lackluster experience. Also, the title is clearly meant to cash in on Hal Ashby 's Shampoo from the previous year (a film of his that I still need to see) but Mr. Jonathan  would have been a good (probably better) one. Director  Greydon Clark made better "bad" films, including  Uninvited   (1988) ( review ),  Without Warning   (1980) ( review ), and  Satan's ...

If you're in the mood for a mutant cat climbing in and out of a regular (?) cat, terrible acting, the same two sound effects library cat noises (even when said cat's mouth is closed) more times than you can count, atrocious editing, piss poor creature effects, bikini butts, and bad dancing, then Uninvited (1988) is very,  very much your film. Plus, you get character actor legends Clu Gulager  (of 1985's  A Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge  [ review ] and  The Return Of The Living Dead   [ review ] ) and George Kennedy (the same year he starred in one of his most famous roles in  The Naked Gun ). That, my friends, is one good time at the movies. Seeing this killer-cat-on-a-yacht Z-grader with an audience was a hilarious experience, particularly the ending—the theater absolutely erupted with laughter. You can't polish a turd but when the turd is this tasty, maybe you shouldn't. * for quality, ***** for fun = *** overall. Greydon Clark ...

Without Warning (1980) has a very solid first two thirds but falls apart in the last one when it becomes a snooze fest. The ending almost saves it but not quite. It's a by-the-books horror/sci-fi film in a lot of ways (there's even a Halloween  (1978) rip-off (homage?) at the end, but  Dean Cundey  did shoot both films). But there is still a lot to appreciate (i.e. laugh at)—a Marty McFly prototype (another Dean Cundey connection), some gooey, goofy f/x, some pretty cool "electronic music realization" by Dan Wyman , a striking theatrical poster, and, most importantly, Jack Palance and Martin Landau out crazy-old-man-who-knows-something-the-other-characters-don't-but-should-they-trust-either-one-of-them? ing   each other. Greydon Clark Films Ranked

Satan's Cheerleaders  (1977) is recommended if you're in the mood for a live-action Scooby-Doo   episode with some nudity, loads of double entendres, and atrocious line readings. It also helps if you don't mind not knowing what's going on half the time. Fun fact: this was one of legendary cinematographer Dean Cundey 's earlier efforts, made the year before Halloween (1978) (look him up—he shot some of the most classic '80s and early '90s movies). Greydon Clark Films Ranked