Troll 2 (1990) - 1993 South Korean Saekyong Video Production VHS

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Oh my goooodddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd...

Strike Commando (1987) - 1987 U.K. Avatar Film Corporation VHS

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Still Alive...

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Sorry that I've such a lazy ass lately with BoGD. Nothing is really going on and I'm continuing to collect and sell tapes over on Facebook. Just taking an impromptu break while trying to reorganize the collection to figure out what I can part with after years of collecting. Like I've noted before, friend me on FB and access my tape sale folder. I'm flexible on pricing, ship promptly with provided tracking, and cut deals on multiple orders. Still have a bunch to add as well! As far as collecting goes, I'm still going nuts for Japanese tapes!

XTRO II: The Second Encounter (1993) - Tokuma Communications Co. Japan VHS

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This is a great example of a severely lacking Aliens rip-off, even by Aliens rip-off standards, made to appear vastly more exciting by cover art. The director of 1983's Xtro, Harry Bromley Davenport, returns with this sequel apparently only in order to maintain the franchise rights and delivers near-comatose killer-alien-in-locked-down-research-facility sci-fi action garbage starring a barely audible Jan-Michael Vincent. My expectations were appropriately in check being at about the level of the somewhat similar Shocking Dark (see here) master crafted by Bruno Mattei the previous year.

With all prospects of being taken seriously jettisoned like the Queen Alien, there's a sore lack of stupid fun in Xtro II. Virtually zero emotion or suspense register as people speak while things happen around them. I mean, the least the cast could do is wink at the camera in the face of chokingly bad lines and cardboard sets. Yet no, the plot progresses in fits-and-starts while disinterested editing chops shots and scenes within inches of their lives. The effect is jarring and gives the impression much material was cut away for pacing (and the benefit of the viewer). The action is sloppy to the point characters can be seen firing machine guns full bore without the expected accompanying sound. Dialogue is also sometimes hard to heard if an actor even slightly tilts his head downward. Finally, it's better that we don't mention how the Xtro is burnt to a corn flake and 'xploded with a falling elevator of C4 only to be ultimately blasted into paper-mache by some measly bullets and a grenade. Well, at least this cover is pretty damn cool...

Midnight (1982) - TDK Super Video Japan VHS

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Even though I totally ripped apart eternal self-promoter John Russo's languid Midnight (thoughts here), written and directed by John Russo and based on a novel by John Russo, I couldn't resist the amazing condition of this rare Japanese slipbox. Complete with the usually discarded information pamphlet and survey card. Big thanks to terror fantastic over on eBay for the opportunity to snag this awesome tape!

Jigoku (Hell) (The Sinners of Hell) (1960) - Nikkatsu Video Japan VHS

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Cheap $6 grab from eBay last week. In case one didn't already know, Nobuo Nakagawa's Jigoku marked the first on-screen portrayal of gore effects, predating Herschell Gordon Lewis' Blood Feast in 1963. I know exactly zero Japanese, but I have a hunch this release commemorated the film's 35th anniversary judging by some the text on the cassette and its labels being in gold foil.