It wasn’t that long ago since I last wrote about The Last Horror Film, but I feel I need to write down a few words about it again now when 88 Films new blu-ray is out for everyone to make out with. With the exception of a few short sequences the transfer looks gorgeous. Sure, there’s a few scratches here and there, a little bit of dirt and a few seconds is obviously sourced from a normal VHS or a very crappy looking video master. But that’s all, and like my buddy Jason often say: It’s just more grindhouse! I’ve been a fan of The Last Horror Film as long as I can remember, holding on to my tape and later DVD and now finally in HD. Even if I consider Maniac a fantastic film, I’ve found myself returning to TLHF more times over the years, and I think it’s because the very evident guerilla style it’s shot - like a semi-serious Borat or Brüno, with a horror twist of course - but never taking itself too serious.
Not sure that last thing was the point from the beginning, because there’s enough disturbing images in there to make you stop smiling and carefully look around you to check so your mother or partner doesn’t see what kind of filthy trash you’re watching. Yeah, it’s filthy trash. Just read the beginning of my last review, and you’ll catch a glimpse of the atmosphere during the shoot: "I never seen a hooker run so fast" says Luke Walter, Joe Spinell's best friend in the interview featurette on the DVD of The Last Horror Film. The running prostitute has just seen Joe sitting on the toilet, in his robe, with hundreds of lit candles around him, showing his cock while demanding "Blow me!".
Like a scene from Maniac.
It’s a mindfuck, a mindfuck more than I thought before. Even if I hate movies that’s set in the imagination or hallucination of a person, I’m starting to think everyhing in The Last Horror Film is a fantasy in the head of Joe Spinell’s character Vinny Durand. I mean, the whole set-up is bizarre. How could a taxi driver from New York afford a fancy trip to the Cannes film festival. have several different sets of very specialized clothes, get up and close to celebrities, shoot tons of film and in the end actually cast Jenna Bates (Caroline Munro) as the lead in his movie? The last shot “in real life” is used as the last shot in the movie he and his mother watches at the end - while smoking pot - which just gives the pot-esque script another high boost.
I mean, the story even begins with a film can with the title written on it. This is the last horror film, in many different ways. Once deconstructed there’s no need to make any more of ‘em.
The coolest thing - except the nifty murder sequences - is without a doubt the footage from the festival. You can spot Karen Black there, posters for Possession and Cannibal Holocaust and lots and lots more. I wonder if anyone took the time to just write down every single film being referenced in the background? How many filmmakers which names we know but faces we don’t know is running around in the background? It was almost one year since Karen Black left us, and her uncredited appearance here made a fitting tribute to her in my case.
I love the wilderness of this film, the shameless exploitation of this pretend-o-art called film, a world where artists are celebrities on a whole different level than in other art forms. Is this film art? I don’t know, but somewhere down the line it’s satire, a glimpse of the insanity of filmmaking. Even if it’s not real and just the figment of the imagination. Hey, wait a minute. Movies aren’t real, they ARE imagination and The Last Horror Film is probably a film about imagination of making something in the field of imagination. Just with a little bit more gore and sleaze.
I’ve said it before, but somehow I think The Last Horror Film is a masterpiece. It’s an oddity, a dirty weirdo, a story flying high on grass, champagne and cocaine. Like reminder of the primitive animals we are.
"It wasn’t that long ago since I last wrote about The Last Horror Film, but I feel I need to write down a few words about it again now when 88 Films new blu-ray is out for everyone to make out with."
I definitely think you should compare editions, I know, it´s lot of extra work but I would like that....think about it.
"I’ve been a fan of The Last Horror Film as long as I can remember, holding on to my tape and later DVD and now finally in HD."
I have never seen this film.
"I mean, the story even begins with a film can with the title written on it. This is the last horror film, in many different ways. Once deconstructed there’s no need to make any more of ‘em."
Some sorta meta film as well?
"I wonder if anyone took the time to just write down every single film being referenced in the background?"
It is possible someone did just do that....
"How many filmmakers which names we know but faces we don’t know is running around in the background? It was almost one year since Karen Black left us, and her uncredited appearance here made a fitting tribute to her in my case."
Films with famous cameos usually gets some kind of recognition....and Black deserves a tribute.
"I’ve said it before, but somehow I think The Last Horror Film is a masterpiece."
I guess I have see it someday, good review and thanks Fred.
Posted by: Megatron | July 31, 2014 at 20:00
Yes, metafilm. And the cameos aren't real cameos. They're just filmed without permission - so they couldn't credit those people :)
Posted by: Fred Anderson | July 31, 2014 at 20:49