Available now in the 101 Films x AGFA (American Genre Film Archive) collection: a wild shot-on-video horror anthology from Baltimore, a double bill of ’70s adult movies with the stories brought to the fore, an ultra-violent slasher from Toronto that tackles the toxicity of early 90s society, and a violent and histrionic psychodrama that represents an overlooked early entry in the canon of queer cinema.
Scary Tales (1993) proves that the films of John Waters and Don Dohler aren’t the only genre miracles from Baltimore. A shot-on-video horror anthology that plays out like a public access version of Creepshow, this is what happens when Satanic necklaces, bloodthirsty slashers, and Dungeons & Dragons-styled live action role playing collide with cool dads, neon lightbulbs, and dungeon synthesizers.
AGFA and Bleeding Skull! are thrilled to present this charming, gore-filled dreamscape that has been meticulously pieced together from its original S-VHS master tapes. This movie was shot on VHS and edited on tape. Please approach the technical quality of the transfers with empathy.
Beneath the dumpsters of America, a netherworld of “adults only” genre movies lurks in the gutters. But what if these movies were less about the smut and more about everything else? “Smut Without Smut” is X-rated genre movies with the X-rated bits removed. In other words, your perception of reality will never be the same again.
A future dystopia dream-epic shot in San Antonio, Things to Come (1976) finds Julie leaving her marriage to investigate a mysterious sci-fi cult on behalf of frustrated women everywhere. With a soundtrack that feels like it was cribbed from A Clockwork Orange, ambitious sets that look like leftovers from Star Trek, and no lack of robots, computers, and bloody violence, Things to Come is a truly unique Texploitation headtrip.
Coasting on the fumes of the Manson murders, The Dirty Dolls (1973) follows psychopath Johnny and his cultish gang of women as they embark on a bizarro crime spree filled with stolen diamonds, senior citizen drag, grimy sex, and cold-blooded murder. Directed by Stu Segall (Drive-In Massacre) under his adult-movie nom de plume “Godfrey Daniels,” this is a sleazy summer-bummer from the wilds of California.
In 1989, filmmaker Barry J. Gillis and friends renewed the world’s faith in Canada with the horror brainbomb known as Things. But that was only the beginning. Virtually unseen until now, Wicked World (1991) is not only Gillis’ follow-up to Things – it’s also a new form of genre anarchy. Grant Ekland (Gillis) is a cop who is haunted by the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a psychotic slasher named Harold. When Harold is released from an asylum, there’s only one option for Ekland: revenge!
Filled with metal riffage, gnarly ultra-violence, and experimental techniques, Wicked World feels like what would happen if Salvador Dali injected acid directly into his brain while staring at a Cannibal Corpse LP cover. This is a highly personal treatise on the toxicity of society from one of the most singular filmmakers in trash-horror history. If you survive Wicked World, you’ll never forget it. This movie was shot on 16mm film and edited on tape. The transfer is taken from the original 3/4″ master tapes.
Dropping somewhere between Pink Flamingos, Blood Feast, and an episode of The Brady Bunch on acid, Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things (1971) is a histrionic psychodrama that could only have originated in the alternate dimension known as Florida.
After robbing a bank in Baltimore, cross-dressing Paul (aka Aunt Martha) and his partner Stanley hide out in a Florida town. But it’s only a matter of time before Paul’s paranoia forces him to embark on a demented killing spree. AGFA is thrilled to present one of the most unforgettable exploitation movies of all time – and an overlooked chapter of early queer cinema – preserved from the only 35mm theatrical print in existence.
For more information on 101 Films x AGFA, please visit 101-films-store.com
