Change Your Image
Gabitsch
Reviews
The Ghouls (2003)
Who are the ghouls? The monsters? The reporters? Or us?
Tonight, I saw a screener of Chad Ferrin's new movie, "The Ghouls." It's about a freelance crime reporter (Timothy Muskatell of Ferrin's "Unspeakable") who gets footage of actual murders, doing nothing to help the victims. One night, he sees a woman ripped apart by ghouls, and tapes it, but the tape turns up missing. He goes back with another reporter (Trent Haaga, in a complete 180 from his work in his "Terror Firmer" and "Citizen Toxie"), and that's when the real mayhem starts.
Chad Who-in, you ask? Ferrin makes low-budget movies, but with good stories, great performances, and absolutely no regard for anyone's sensibilities but his own. "The Ghouls" and "Unspeakable" may not be big-time audience-pleasers, but they have a place in any serious horror fan's collection, somewhere between trashier stuff like "Sleepaway Camp," and artier stuff like "Man Bites Dog." Ferrin lives in Hollywood, but is completely outside the system. His new movie has great performances, and was clearly made with heart.
And hey, Joe Pilato's in it, so you can't go wrong there!
The Joe Spinell Story (2001)
Spinell was more than just a "Maniac"
Joe Spinell is best-known for writing, producing and starring in William Lustig's gritty, legendary horror movie "Maniac," the DVD of which showcases this documentary. "The Joe Spinell Story" plays like an A&E Biography, but more interesting because you really feel like you're unearthing something new here. A&E and the E! Network wouldn't even consider airing something on a "lowly" character actor. Too bad for them, but bully for you if you pick up the "Maniac" DVD. Spinell was an outstanding actor, who played all sorts of strange, diverse characters. His career is covered in this doc, but more importantly, you get a portrait of Spinell as a real person, with stories from Lustig, Jason Miller ("The Exorcist"), Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown"), plus other friends and family. The doc is funny, poignant and sometimes downright sad, but in the end you feel like you met the guy, perhaps even had a couple drinks with him. Watch it, then watch "Maniac" again. And then, search out Spinell's other work.