Motel Hell

Motel Hell centers around one of my favorite cult movie topics; cannibalism. A strange set of siblings run a roadside motel (Motel Hello - the "O" on the neon sign is on the fritz) and a smoked meat business. Their "secret recipe" jerky is world famous and people come from miles around to get the stuff. But, what exactly makes their meat so special? If you haven't already guessed, some motel patrons check-in but they don't check-out.

The movie has a nice balance of comedy and horror along with a twisted romance. Like Psycho, House of 1000 Corpses and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, after viewing this film you'll most likely think twice about entering a roadside business in the middle of nowhere, because they're probably owned by sociopathic entrepreneurs. 

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Duel

Terror on the road. After this movie you may never want to drive again.

Duel stars Dennis Weaver, who plays an average salesman that's just trying to travel from point A to B. However, what he didn't plan on was, between these points, the open road can be a dangerous place. He unwillingly becomes part of a cat and mouse game, where the terrorizer is an enormous truck. Dennis Weaver masterfully portrays his role with pure terror, confusion, comedy and lots of sweat.

Duel was Steven Spielberg's full length feature debut and has common threads to his later films. Even in this early work, Spielberg was able to build tension without showing too much. He offers us a character that we immediately can identify with, which draws us into the story and causes us to sit on the edge of our seats.

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Blood Feast

The first gore film, filled with bright red blood, severed limbs and a crazy dude with bushy eyebrows and a limp.

Blood Feast was directed by the godfather of gore Herschell Gordon Lewis; a true Renaissance man who filmed and scored the movie as well. 

Although there is never an actual feast, there is still plenty of blood. Herschell is a master of setting up grotesque shots of bright red blood and severed limbs. The movie centers around Fuad Ramses who spends the film gathering up victims and dismembering them. The acting is appalling, but that adds to the appeal and charm of Blood Feast. 

The film was groundbreaking for its use of blood and gore; even with today's standards this film still holds up as gruesome.  

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