Fred Olen Ray Movies
The remarkable thing about those who work the B-quickie end of the movie business is how much they love films, how much they love to work, and how much they're willing to give up to create their ribbons of dreams. Director/screenwriter/makeup artist Fred Olen Ray hocked virtually everything he owned to make The Alien Dead (1978). Never mind that, as a graduate of the Brown University School of Engineering, Ray could have named his own salary in practically any job in his field: Celluloid was in his blood, and there it would remain from 1978 to the present. Often shooting four or more films per year, Ray occasionally turns up something that transcends the exploitation film genre and his miserly budgets; if you look at them objectively, films like Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers (1988) and Beverly Hills Vamp (1989) are heaps better than most of the dreck clogging up the video stores' R-rated shelves. If nothing else, few other bottom-barrel filmmakers outside of Fred Olen Ray can boast an acting talent pool that has included the likes of Lawrence Tierney, Buster Crabbe, John Philip Law, Jan Michael Vincent, P.J. Soles, Britt Ekland, Martine Beswick, Julie Newmar, David Carradine, and Martin Landau. ~ Hal Erickson, RoviA massive, primordial shark goes on a bloody killing spree after being set free during an offshore drilling mishap in this saltwater shocker starring John Schneider and Jimmie "JJ" Walker. As the tide runs red with blood, marine biologist Kat Carmichael (Sarah Lieving) finds her efforts to destroy the giant killing machine repeatedly foiled by shameless corporate shill Roger Wade (Schneider) and his scheming sidekick Stewart (Jerry Lacy). But when the beast begins using its flippers to walk on land, Kat recruits fearless Skipper Chuck (Tim Abell) and wisecracking DJ Dynomite Stevens (Walker) to blast it back into the ocean. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sarah Lieving, John Schneider, (more)
A glitch in the system of a revolutionary airline autopilot sends the passengers on a crowded airliner flying directly into a major storm in this white knuckle thriller starring Casper Van Dien, Nicole Eggert, and Patrick Muldoon. In the wake of a major airline catastrophe, Tom (Van Dien) and Samantha Woodward (Eggert) create the CD70, a powerful new form of autopilot that will make humans in the cockpit obsolete. Should it work, Devain Industries will be on the cutting edge of a new era in aviation. Eager to get the new system up and running, billionaire Richard Devain (Brad Dourif) and his impetuous son Charles (Muldoon) send a 747 into the clouds with a full load of VIP passengers, and a prototype version of the CD70. But somewhere during the flight from Los Angeles to New York City, a complex computer virus infects the system, sending the aircraft directly into the heart of a major electrical storm. As communications with the ground suddenly cease and the Pentagon begins drawing up plans to shoot the plane down, Tom comes up with a heroic plan to rescue the desperate passengers from their nightmare at 30,000 feet. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

- 2010
- PG
- Add American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James to QueueAdd American Bandits: Frank and Jesse James to top of Queue
George Stults, Jeffrey Combs, and Peter Fonda star in Fred Olen Ray's historical western exploring the mythology of legendary outlaw brothers Frank and Jesse James. Jesse (Stults) has been mortally wounded, forcing Frank (Tim Abell) break up the gang. With a plan to rendezvous in four days, the outlaws attempt to stay one step ahead of the Marshalls, but soon discover there's a traitor in their midst. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- George Stults, Tim Abell, (more)
As a group of intrepid explorers descend upon King Island in search of elusive female heroine Tarzeena, an evil scientist schemes to use his revolutionary radio brain control devise to transform her into the ultimate love slave. With her loyal gorilla Tabonga by her side, Tarzeena stands as the undisputed queen of King Island. But the malevolent Dr. Mortimer is eager to have this island queen all to himself, and he's willing to resort to some hi-tech tomfoolery in order to make that happen. Of course all's fair in love and brain surgery, and as Dr. Mortimer attempts to capture Tarzeena so that he can insert the device in her head, a group of bold adventurers arrive on the island to find out once and for all whether this feral female heroine truly exists. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A disgraced scientist becomes the planet's only hope after a series of rogue nuclear tests by the Iranian government causes serious damage to the Earth's magnetic field. David Terran is the author of numerous bestsellers concerning the dangers of Earth's magnetic fields, yet his highly controversial theories have made him the laughing stock of the entire scientific community. Even Martin Ward, David's best friend and former lover, has completely rejected the author's ideas as outlandish and unfeasible. Realizing that he will never get the respect that he's due, David abandons his career in science and disappears into a secluded cabin to live with his elderly father. Meanwhile, in Iran, the government begins conducting a series of nuclear tests that upset the delicate balance of nature. Suddenly, solar radiation levels are spiking and earthquakes are causing monumental damage across every continent. Left with no other choice than to assume that David's bizarre theories may somehow be coming true, the U.S. government tracks him down and implores him to save the planet. But in order to succeed David will need the help of the one person who once mattered most to him, the same man who would never believe him. Perhaps if David and Martin can finally mend the wounds of the past, they can summon the strength to save all of mankind. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Shaughnessy
The only thing more terrifying than Snakes on a Plane is "Snakes on a Submarine," and that's exactly what we get in this claustrophobic, sub-aquatic thriller starring Luke Perry. Lieutenant Commander O'Neill (Perry) was piloting a retired submarine to its final port when Admiral Wallace (Tom Berenger) diverted the crew for one last mission: rescue an imperiled army research team before they meet a watery death. In order to reach the researchers and their top secret cargo while avoiding detection by a hostile enemy fleet, Lieutenant Commander O'Neill orders his crew to "run silent" in the depths. That silence is soon broken, however, when the cargo proves to be two genetically altered leviathans. Now, far beneath the ocean floor, a new kind of predator emerges to prove just how vulnerable man truly is when there's nowhere left to run. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Blast into action with the most sensual superhero ever to battle the forces of evil as sexy heroine Super Ninja Doll attempts to prevent diabolical arch-villains Gorath and Tantella from escaping the comic book realm and conquering all of mankind. The citizens of planet Earth are in great danger, and now their only hope for survival lies in the hands of a lusty crime fighter whose formidable superpowers are only exceeded by her insatiable carnal desires. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christine Nguyen, Nicole Sheridan, (more)
A hurricane on a collision course with a nuclear reactor threatens to unleash a devastating force of destruction unless the employees at the plant can find a way to avert disaster. As the storm builds, the nuclear reactor grows unstable. Should these two powerful forces collide, the result would be a catastrophic. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Glass Trap is another take on the giant monster movie. This time around, mutant ants have cornered a group of humans in a giant skyscraper. The humans must figure out how to escape before the ants get hungry enough to eat all of them. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
At a secret laboratory in the Mojave Desert, a renegade scientific unit of the U.S. military is working on a top-secret project that involves breeding poisonous rattlesnakes that develop a highly contagious virus. But enemy terrorists, in a botched effort to steal the snakes, destroy the lab, releasing the rattlers into the wild. Years later, an earthquake unleashes hordes of aggressive, virus-infected rattlesnakes on a remote town. As the viral epidemic begins killing town doctor Henning's (Treat Williams) friends and family, corrupt military officials plan to blow up the town with a massive firebomb to cover up the incriminating source of the diabolical disease. With the Stealth plane carrying the bomb headed Dr. Henning's way, and with the town littered with dying citizens, Henning has to find a way to save the day -- and perhaps the planet. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
Ed Raymond's science fiction disaster film Black Horizon concerns a group of astronauts who become stranded in space when a meteor strikes the space station onto which they have docked. They must escape before the limited amount of oxygen they have left disappears. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Dudikoff, Ice-T, (more)
In this horror opus from director and cult hero Fred Olen Ray, a group of teenagers visit a travelling carnival and encounter the mysterious Dr. Graves (Phil Fondacaro). As Graves lures the unsuspecting visitors into his spell, they soon learn the horrible secret of just how he finds the human curiosities that populate the carnival's freak show. Jamie Martz, Michael Amos, and Jesica Keenan are among the hapless teenagers, and scream queen Brinke Stevens makes a brief appearance as Madame Voloasca.
~ Mark Deming, Rovi
~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- 2000
- Add Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit to QueueAdd Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit to top of Queue
Writer/producer/director Fred Olen Ray takes a look at small-time independent wrestlers in Southern Discomfort: Wrestling on the Indie Circuit. The documentary's opening sequence shows the promoter, David F. Friedman, as he prepares to hold an event in a high school gymnasium in Anniston, AL. Featured wrestling personalities at the event include the Iron Sheik and Rick Montana. ~ Rovi
One of America's bravest military men finds himself pushing the limits of his abilities in this action-thriller. Senator Stuart Davis (David Hedison), a U.S. Congressman running for president, is travelling to the Balkins, hoping to speak with political leaders there to stop a civil war that threatens to become a major conflict. While on board, Davis decides to check out a computer disc which was handed to him shortly before his flight took off, and to his surprise, he discovers it contains damning evidence which proves Vice President Pike (Cliff Robertson), who is facing off against Davis in the upcoming election, is the leader of a secret plan to encourage the war in the Balkans so that American arms dealers will be able to sell weapons to both sides. It isn't long before Pike learns that Davis knows his secret and he's willing to use his power and his agents to bring down Davis' flight (and the innocent civilians on board) to cover his tracks. One of Davis' passengers is Capt. Jack Tyree (Brian Bosworth), an Air Force anti-terrorism expert, and it becomes obvious it's up to him to fight off Pike's goons and bring the jetliner safely to the ground. However, there's a catch -- despite his daring, skill, and military training, Tyree has never learned how to fly a plane. Mach 2 also stars Shannon Whirry, Michael Dorn, and Bruce Weitz. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brian Bosworth, Michael Dorn, (more)
A soldier sets out on a mission of mercy only to discover he's a pawn in a deadly game in this action thriller from cult hero Fred Olen Ray. Veteran U.S. Air Force pilot Murphy (Daniel Baldwin) and his superior, Captain Reynolds (Fred Williamson), are kidnapped by members of a Central American drug cartel as they escort an American congressmen traveling abroad. Murphy and Reynolds are able to signal for help, and a squadron frees the captured soldiers, but Rifkin (Hannes Jaenicke), Murphy's friend and comrade, goes missing in action. A year later, Murphy learns that Rifkin is being held captive by the cartel's leader, Salvatore (Joe Lala), and with Reynolds' help, he sets out on a secret rescue mission using a state-of-the-art stealth aircraft to avoid detection by either Salvatore's gang or government troops. However, Murphy eventually discovers he's walked into a trap -- Reynolds and Rifkin are in cahoots with Salvatore, and they've staged Rifkin's capture to steal the jet for Salvatore's illegal purposes. Active Stealth also stars Shannon Whirry as Murphy's wife, Lisa Vidal, Chick Vennera, and Tim Abell. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Daniel Baldwin, Fred Williamson, (more)
A boy makes the acquaintence of a 500 pound gorilla, and the two become fast friends. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Gil Gerard, Kevin Dobson, (more)
An ordinary man find out that he's been turned into a weapon in this sci-fi thriller. Robert Dean (Michael Dudikoff) is an engineer with Gencom, a multi-national technology firm. Dean enjoys an ordinary life with his wife and family, until he suddenly begins losing most of his memory. As Dean tries to figure out what is happening to him, he makes the shocking discovery that Gencom has actually been programming him to commit violent crimes for their benefit, and then forget what he's done. Now Dean must find out who is responsible and how to stop them before he can kill again. Directed by cult favorite Fred Olen Ray, The Fugitive Mind also stars Michele Greene, Heather Langenkamp, David Hedison, and Ian Ogilvy. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Dudikoff, Heather Langenkamp, (more)
In this spooky comedy for the whole family, Billy Frank thinks he's an ordinary kid, until his family inherits an old castle and Billy learns he's a distant relative of the infamous Dr. Frankenstein. Billy's folks decide to visit their family estate, and Billy soon discovers they're not alone in the old, dark house. Tommy Kirk, Vernon Wells, and Darran Norris star in this story directed by cult hero Fred Olen Ray. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Vernon Wells, Daran Norris, (more)
Martial arts star Don "The Dragon" Wilson stars in this action/suspense story. A child is recruited to take part in a secret government experiment which results in him being able to see into the future. Years later, the child is an adult and is working for the government; his latest assignment is to find the other people who were part of the same project. Before long, he discovers the other test subjects usually pop up murdered shortly before he can talk to them, and he realizes he may well be the next target. Horror film legend Barbara Steele highlights the supporting cast; cult figure Fred Olen Ray directed. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Don "The Dragon" Wilson
A young orphan is adopted into a somewhat bizarre family, primarily due to the fact that his new mom has a tendency to vanish from sight. When the child's cousins show up to get a bit of the youngster's fortune, his new mom saves the day. ~ Rovi




















