PUMP UP THE VOLUME

                                   Pump Up the Volume

I the year 1990 there was a great deal of controversy over free speech especially in the teenage world. High school was the place we were afraid to speak our minds too much but when a pirate radio station is seducing the world of teenagers at Hubert Humfrey High school by the DJ Happy Harry Hard on the school and its corrupt principal are thrown into a battle of freedom of speech and the barriers back then in this pre Internet era.

What a cast starring Christian Slater who's star was on the rise he had already shocked audiences with his over the top performance in Heathers.  Samantha Mathis in an amazing debut the two would later team up for Broken Arrow.  Also starring Annie Ross in a very convincing role as the corrupt Principal I mean come on we all had a principal we hated or could compare back in those days.  Scott Paulin ( The Right Stuff ) and Ellen Greene ( Little Shop of Horrors ) as a sympathetic teacher.  Look fast for Seth Greene now famous for Family Guy and Austin Powers movies as one of the teenagers. Being a teenager in these times reflected heavily in this movie and even hits home today in many areas interesting as well no Internet back then so a short wave radio compared to our today's social networking makes you aware of the problems of yesterday are still very much the problems of today.  I give this movie 5 mad stars for its impact on me then and now seeing it from the perspective of a renegade teem myself who is now a parent and a Child Youth Worker of over 14 years this movie still has a magic that it stands out on its own. Props to Christian Slater for making such an impact.

THE SENTINEL 1977

The SENTINEL

Time to take a look back at a classic contemporary gothic horror film from that infamous 1970s era.
Lets start with the MAD effects! hauntingly chilling and a very yucky ending that you will not forget.  A young model Christina Raines ( Nashville) rents an apartment in a gloomy New York brownstone she soon realizes her neighbors  are very eccentric and an old priest played brilliantly by horror movie legend John Carradine ( the Howling ). Unimaginable horrors await to be unlocked in this spine tingling supernatural edge of your seat horror film that will make you jump out of your seat. Director Michael Winner( Death Wish 1-3 ) directs an all star cast including Chris Sarandon ( Fright Night ) Martin Balsam ( Cape Fear ) Ava Gardner Arthur Kennedy Sylvia Miles Deborah Raffin Eli Wallach ( Circle of Iron) Jose Ferrer ( the Swarm) and Burges Meredith in possibly his most chilling role ever! also look for future stars Christopher Walken Jeff Goldblum Jerry Orbach William Hickey Beverly D' Angelo ( in a daring debut) and Tom Berenger also Richard Dreyfuss can be glimpsed in a street scene. Now for the MAD controversy, Director Michael Winner used real human oddities for the climatic dead rising scene truly horrific and this one rates five MAD stars on Mikes MAD movie scale! Based on the novel by Jeffery Konvitz who also co -produces the film. Don't watch it alone!