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32 Centimeters

After kicking off the year with Trace’s favorite Hellraiser film, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, we’re taking a hard left turn into camp, politics, and a German take on New York City with Killer Condom.

We’ve previously discussed director Martin Walz‘s film in our editorial series (here) and it was a delight to revisit the sly, subversive tale of prophylactics that bite off men’s dicks. The hero of the tale is gay cop Luigi Mackeroni (Udo Samel), who has a trans ex, a mildly homophobic partner, and a twinky sex worker love interest.

As police captains and politicians dispute the dangers of the penis-munching condoms, Mackeroni must use his considerable <ahem> talent to find Smirnoff, the Russian mad scientist, and the mastermind behind the plan to eliminate Germany…er…New York City’s gay population.

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We’re here about a mattress…

After wrapping up 2023 with look at New French Extremity in Inside (listen), horror musicals in Anna and the Apocalypse (listen) and the Best Horror Films of 2023 (listen), we’re kicking off our first official episode of 2024 with a lengthy discussion of Tony Randel‘s better-than-it-has-any-right-to-be sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), which just celebrated its 35th anniversary!

Hellbound: Hellraiser II picks up hours after the first film ended, seeing Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) confined to a mental hospital after she tells the authorities that her father was betrayed by his evil, adulterous wife, Julia (Clare Higgins), and is now being tormented in hell by sadomasochistic demons called Cenobites. Few believe Kirsty, except the thrill-seeking Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), who is so intrigued by her frightening stories that he teams up with a newly resurrected Julia. When they open the gates to Hell and unleash the Cenobites,...

The August 2023 lineup from Vinegar Syndrome was announced and put up for pre-order this afternoon, and as always you can grab individual releases or the entire August package.

First up, Vinegar Syndrome presents the world 4K Uhd and Bd debut of Martin Walz’ film adaptation of the beloved underground comic, Killer Condom! In addition to presenting the film in its never-on-disc extended director’s cut (along with the standard theatrical version), they’ve assembled a comprehensive selection of extras which reveal every sleazy secret surrounding this delectably debauched German sci-fi classic.

Next up, Mexico’s maverick auteur, René Cardona Jr. is back to unleash a quadruple threat of exploitation madness: Headlining the set is his notorious animal attack classic, Beaks! (aka Birds Of Prey). This jaw dropping sleaze fest, which features a surprise soundtrack by maestro Riz Ortolani, has been restored to its complete and uncut international version and offers...

Killer Condom (1996) Director: Martin Walz Stars: Udo Samel, Peter Lohmeyer, Marc Richter "The rubber that rubs you out!" Killer Condom is a strange beast. Despite every instinct your brain would suggest, it's not your average high-concept horror movie. It's not even typical for a braindead, no-budget Troma film. This is a movie about a psychotic prophylactic where the filmmakers actually tried. I know; it's weird. Probably the most interesting...

The gay-and-lesbian-themed Logo channel is premiering a brand new on-air and on-line Thursday-night film series called Graveyard Shift this week on December 4. Among the horror and cult films to be broadcast in this weekly midnight showcase is Dead Serious (pictured), from writer/director Joe Sullivan and writer/producer Michael J. Hein, showing Dec. 11.

Dead Serious, which has played numerous festivals but has yet to secure DVD distribution, tells of a religious zealot and his terrorist cult who take over a gay bar in New York City as part of a plot to rid the world of homosexuality. Little do they know, however, that they’ve incurred the wrath of the undead. Graveyard Shift, which is hosted by a group of late-night “interns,” begins this week with the television premiere of Jaymes Thompson’s The Gay Bed And Breakfast Of Terror, in which five homosexual couples vacationing at the Sahara Salvation...