Hey everyone… Jonathan Moody back again for another write up! Well it isn’t July 4th right now but last year when we did this podcast it was for July 4th! And what better way to celebrate the holiday than watch a Fourth of July horror film? And the only one that really came to mind was, “Uncle Sam”… eeek! That’s kind of sad considering this isn’t the best representation of the holiday in horror form. But alas here we are! In this episode I had to chat with both Paul A Presenza and John Ward. I think it might have been a little bit since John and Paul had been on the show together. Well last one they were on was Maradonia and that was separate. So this NEW EPISODE on IFC was fun.
Here is the plot from IMDB:
Desert Storm vet who was killed in combat rises from the grave on July Fourth, to kill the unpatriotic citizens of his hometown, after some teens burn an American flag over his burial site.
On paper it sounds so much fun. But the execution wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been. Especially considering the director was William Lustig, the Director of Maniac, Vigilante, and Maniac Cop among many others. And the writer was Larry Cohen who did It’s Alive, God Told Me To, Body Snatchers, and much more as well. You would think that the two of them could come up with something pretty freaking cool. I mean that premise alone could have made something awesome.
I think the major issue here was he wasn’t Uncle Sam really. Sure he was an Uncle named Sam who was a military guy but he never set up this real love for the country and his disdain for everyone who isn’t patriotic on the holiday. We really needed to see Uncle Sam himself having that love for the country before he died. So when he died for his country and came back to kill it would be a perfect transition.
Also I think I was expecting more humor. I mean the fact that the movie takes itself so seriously should come off cheesy and fun but really doesn’t. Just kind of comes off as run of the mill boring type of stuff. Someone dies and comes back as a killer spirit needs more cheese than what they were able to deliver. I think maybe there might have been an issue with William and Larry’s views on the tone of the film. I know William is a little bit more on the serious side than Larry probably was. Sadly Larry is no longer with us anymore.
The coolest thing is this movie is on Blu Ray. This is the last movie that William Lustig directed and then later he started Blue Underground a DVD/Blu Ray/4K boutique label. I am working on getting alllll the movies that Blue Underground has to offer. All of them come with special features like commentary tracks and behind the scenes stuff that is def. Well worth owning the movie.
But aside from the Blu Ray this movie is not much to write home about. Not even in my opinion could William Smith or Bo Hopkins save the film. They were just there but there was no real connection to most other stuff. Just having some good actors in your film can’t save it from being sort of a stinker. This movie is probably one of my least favorite Lustig flicks and I hope he makes one more movie. I would not want this one to be his last if he can make something better.
Well we have gone to that time where we talk about the Stinkometer score. And the Scores are in…. I gave it a 7: it’s not nearly as stinky as some of the movies we’ve seen here. Paul agreed with me and also gave it a 7. But John Ward liked it a little better and thought it wasn’t nearly as stinky as we did and gave it a 6. Putting it at a total Stink Score 20, and a Stinky Average of 7.7. That puts it on the Ladder of Stink with A Crack In The Floor, Killer Tongue, Robo Chic, The Karaoke Kid, and Mega Python VS Gatoroid. Not too bad.
Well another movie is done… but have no fear I shall be back with a brand new write up coming very soon. But until then everyone lets let Paul tell ya where ya can get it… Tell em’ Moo Cow….
Well, we gots your trailerage right HERE. You can also watch it for free, you cheapskates, at Youtube, Tubi, and Shudder – at least for 7 days free. Udderwise you gotta go to Uncle Amazon for the VHS (yep, still have ’em), DVD, and Blu Ray versions. It is also at Oldies.com, Amoeba, and of course Blue Underground. Nach, you can get it re-sale at Ebay. CineMaterial.com has 4 different digital versions of the poster, while the Movie Data Base has a few digital ones too. No tee shirts or coffee mugs for this moovie specifically, but I dids find a kewl zombie Uncle Sam you can rock HERE. Udder places with reviews include DVD Review.com, Frightfully Forgotten Horror Movies, the Horror Guys, Apocalypse Later, and Dr. Wulfia. Uncle Amazon has the SOUNDTRACK too.
The Indie Film Cafe Movie Reviews! 