Source-Joe Bob's Last Drive In Airing
Oh man another year and another great batch of episodes from Joe Bob. This is one of those films that was whispered about on the school yard. Somehow one kid had gotten to see it. And he told everyone. Which lead to other kids claiming "Yea I saw it the other night on HBO." or my favorite "You know Channel 15 shows uncut movies at 2am Sunday morning? Yea They showed Blood sucking Freaks and I spit on your grave last week. They dont list they right films in the tv guide so Channel 15 doesnt get in trouble with the cops." Man I'm betting you don't have crazy stories like this now on schoolyards. Kids can just pull out their cell and look stuff up now.
But back to Blood Sucking Freaks,Sometime in 94 or 95 we found a copy to rent at this great video store. You know the kind of video store,was ran by a dude that loved horror and cult movies. The kind of store that in that timeframe made sure to stock copies of Nekromantik and Traces of Death. The store where once the owner got to know you he would recommend films. And to top all that his extremely cute tall hippie daughter worked there.And she was a hardcore explotation film nut.
So yea we rented it. Called everyone over to watch it. Made it a BYOB movie watching event. Had a houseful of people. And sure if anyone got grossed out and had to leave the room they caught some shit.
While it was great to finally see this much talked about film,the tape looked like ass. Not only was it the normal fullscreen crap. Cause the tape was older and had been rented many many times the picture and sound was badly degraded.
The brainsucking thru a straw scene had that look to it which told ya many people had rewound,slow motioned and paused that scene. Kinda like how back in the day when you rented Fast Times at Ridgemont High and you got to the Phoebe Cates pool scene,the picture quality took a major drop from all the pausing and slow moing that had been done to that part of the tape.
Here I am happy that I finally got to see this cult classic film. Then disappointed that the tape looked so bad. When I returned the tape I asked the hippie daughter if they could order a copy."I know tapes aint cheap but I really want to see it fresh out the shrinkwrap." She took down my home number and a few weeks later she called. Told me the tape was currently out of print. "I can get you a like new copy from Video Oyster up north for 80 dollars." Yea ain't gonna drop that much on the film. Thanked her and hung up.
And pretty much forgot about Blood Sucking Freaks for decades. Ended up getting the Troma DVD. So got to see a slightly better version of the film. What was up with so many of the Troma DVDs looking janky?
The film is pretty much a series of gore set pieces. Sure there is a skeleton of a plot. A crazed maniac puts on an way way way off Broadway stage show. Like the Grand Gungol in France. But he is really maiming and killing people.
The gore is well done for the era. And is the main reason this film developed a devoted cult following. Then add in the wackiness of the cast.
With the midget being the stand out. So many metal/punk/alt rock bands have used quotes from the midget in their music.
The Joe Bob Last Drive In airing looks and sounds great. Way better than the Troma DVD or that old ass VHS. And it is obvious that Joe Bob is a huge fan of the film. He provides plenty of info about the film. As a neat bonus Joe Bob had on Chris Jericho. For those that don't know who Jericho is,he is a pro wrestler that also is the lead singer of the band Fozzy. Jericho is a huge fan of Blood Sucking Freaks. And even wrote a song about it that he premiered on Joe Bob's Last Drive In.
I like Blood Sucking Freaks.And want a nice blu ray of it.But I also know it isn't a film for everyone. And it is a film I feel the need to see at most every 5 years.
Joe Bob's Last Drive In airing of Blood Sucking Freaks is a solid A.Between Joe Bob and the normal cast's info and thought on the film and the added bonus of Chris Jericho they took a slightly above average film and made it much better.
With out all the stuff from Joe Bob and the gang... Blood Sucking Freaks gets a B-.