[psycho d]

El Callejon de los Milagros (1995). This is a story of humans and their not so selfless desires and shenanigans. The more we come to know and feel for our players, the more we come to despise them. I love that! The cast is strong, with Salma Hayek leading the fray as a character whose amorous doubts, when showered with gifts, evaporate like tears on a dusty Mexican road. Their are no slouches here, but instead top-notch performances in a story adapted from an Egyptian novel center in Cairo. The nadirs of human nature respect no boundaries. With great directing and cinematography, this compelling flick is sure to poke the wrong buttons in all the right ways. Merci beaucoup.

Thriller: The Call Her One Eye (1973). This lovely flick was neat. By this I mean that if you are looking to appreciate a flick with a mean streak, with funky acting, hilariously fake blood, and a revenge sequence whose reality is only topped by its audacity, then this "neat" flick is for you. For the real sickies out there, check out Thriller: A Cruel Picture, which has added some unnecessary stock footage of hardcore porn to this cult classic. Getting back to our story, how could such drudgery get any respect? Through all of the corniness, goofy action, and contrived story-telling, this classic creates an atmosphere that must be seen to be believed. The gritty camera work, the psychotic score, the painful attention to detail gives this flick repose in unimaginable realms of respect. Not for everyone, this exploitation flick has earned its way through ethereal means that might hint of genius. Or not. Late.
derek