Lloyd Kaufman Movies
Lloyd Kaufman is many things: producer, director, screenwriter, editor, composer, actor, and, above all, a renegade fighting against the further conglomeration and homogenization of Hollywood. Kaufman is president and co-founder of Troma Entertainment, one of the last bastions of independent, low-budget exploitation films, the kind that bear titles such as Class of Nuke 'Em High (1986) and Stuff Stephanie in the Incinerator (1989). Often graphically violent, gory, sophomoric, deliberately un-PC, and seemingly aimed at audiences comprised of certain kinds of teenaged boys, Troma films are also free-spirited and often filmed with their tongues lodged firmly in their cheeks.Kaufman entered the film business after studying filmmaking. While in school, he started making low-budget films. He and long-time business partner Michael Herz launched Troma as a distribution company in the late '70s. It has since grown to include a production company, a merchandising outlet, and in the late '90s, a cable-television network. One of Kaufman's best-known and best-loved cult films is Toxic Avenger (1986), the bloody and terribly violent chronicle of a Long Island nerd's revenge against the townsfolk who tormented him. As a director, Kaufman occasionally uses the names Sam Weill and Louis Su. In the late '90s, he recounted his experiences and offered advice for other young independent filmmakers in his book All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned From the Toxic Avenger. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 2011
Years after seeing his father brutally murdered by depraved rapist/serial killer Chris Fuchman (Mackenzie Murdock), one-eyed Ahab (Adam Brooks) joins forces with his stripper sister Chelsea (Amy Groening), renegade priest Father Sullivan (Matthew Kennedy) and teenage male prostitute Twink (Conor Sweeny) to seek violent revenge against the maniac who made Father's Day the most horrifying holiday on the calendar. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A psychotic woman and her adult sons torment the new occupants of their former house in director Darren Lynn Bousman's remake of the demented Troma classic. In the wake of a botched bank robbery, three brothers race back home and learn that their mother (Rebecca De Mornay) has received a foreclosure notice. Flash-forward a couple of months, and the new owners of the home are throwing a housewarming party with a few close friends. In an instant, the brothers have taken the party guests hostage. But the real horror begins when their mother arrives. Sadistic, ferocious, and fiercely protective of her malevolent sons, she turns a happy celebration into a depraved nightmare of torture and death. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jaime King, Patrick Flueger, (more)
An average guy reacts to the frustration of losing his wife by adopting a crime-fighting persona known as the "Crimson Bolt," and targeting any criminal who crosses his path -- no matter how minor their infraction may be. Frank (Rainn Wilson) is husband to former alcoholic and drug addict Sarah (Liv Tyler), and he loves her with all his heart. Their wedding day was one of but two perfect moments in this Frank's life, but when Sarah runs away with charismatic drug dealer Jacques (Kevin Bacon), the loss was just too much for her mild-mannered husband to take. Subsequently transforming himself into the Crimson Bolt, Frank reasons that if he can take down Jacques along with the rest of the city's scum, his beloved wife will soon come running back. With his homemade suit and his handy pipe wrench, Frank goes to work cleaning up the streets and starts making headlines. But just as the Crimson Bolt becomes the talk of the town, sociopathic comic-store clerk Libby (Ellen Page) reinvents herself as "Boltie," and makes a play to become the controversial street hero's trusted sidekick. Perhaps by working together, the Crimson Bolt and Boltie can make an example of Jacques, and keep the streets safe for average citizens. But real life isn't like comic books, and sometimes when an average person tries to be a superhero, things can go very bad, very fast. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rainn Wilson, Liv Tyler, (more)
- 2010
Fifteen years after a failed clown viciously murdered his classmates at clown camp before vanishing without a trace, an attempt to reopen the camp yields predictably gruesome results. All Edwin ever wanted was to spread laughter and cheer to the masses, though upon graduating from clown camp he was so humiliated by his fellow classmates that something snapped deep inside, sending him on a blood-soaked rampage of bitter revenge. Now fifteen years have passed since that notorious night, and old man Bonzo is looking to get the get the camp reaccredited. But the old town drunk knows that Edwin's legend lives on, and wages a futile campaign change Bonzo's mind. As the new recruits waddle in and lessons begin, everything goes well until Sgt. Funnybone is found face down in a pool of blood and cream pie. Edwin is back, and he's disemboweling every red-nosed goofball that gets in his way. Should Edwin's trusty array of sharp implements fail in doing his victims in, his awful jokes will most certainly send them screaming into the hereafter. With the body count rising, the only one capable of protecting Bonzo's beloved granddaughter Valerie is Philbert, a friendly balloon-twister from Boston. Fleeing into the woods in hopes of cheating death, Valerie and Philbert discover that the worst is yet to come when they stumble directly into Edwin's lair, and learn the bloody truth about his diabolical plan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A mother and daughter arrive at a remote community for a relaxing holiday, only to realize to their horror that they may never make it back home alive. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
The deformed survivor of a botched coat hanger abortion returns to seek revenge against the pimp who murdered his mother and tore him out of the womb in this grimy horror yarn from Gutterballs director Ryan Nicholson. Low-rent prostitute Rose (Debbie Rochon) was nine months pregnant when her pimp attempted to give her a back alley abortion. Though the fetus, nicknamed Hanger, was thrown in the dumpster and left for dead, he somehow managed to survive. Now Hanger is all grown up, and the streets are about to run red with the blood of society's garbage. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Debbie Rochon
Reality and video games merge in this high-concept sci-fi action thriller from Crank creators Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. In the not too distant future, mind-control technology allows humans to control the actions and movements of other humans, allowing reclusive billionaire Ken Castle (Michael C. Hall) to create the ultimate video game. It's called "Slayers," and it's a mass-scale, multiplayer online first-person shooter that's as controversial as it is popular. In the world of gamers, Simon (Logan Lerman) is a rock star; miraculously managing to keep his character alive week after week, he racks up frags like Billy Mitchell jumps barrels. But unlike Mitchell's Mario, Simon's video-game avatar is a living, breathing human being named Kable (Gerard Butler). Defying the odds to keep Kable running and gunning though even the most explosive battles, Simon captures the imagination of a global audience. Torn from his family, thrown into prison, and forced to fight against his will, Kable realizes that his only hope of ever seeing his family again is to somehow escape the game, reclaim his identity, and expose Castle's dehumanizing technology on live television. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, (more)
A lonely, socially maladjusted young man attempting to recover from the recent loss of his parents finds his already tenuous grip on reality steadily beginning to slip in director/star Kim Sønderholm's paranoid psychological thriller. His parents having recently died in a tragic fire, Craig clings to his childhood friend Cliff after losing the only people he ever loved in one devastating blow. But Cliff has his own problems to contend with, and when Craig loses his Lithium, his sanity quickly follows. Now, as the voices in Craig's head call on him to seek violent retribution against the women he believes have wronged him in life, the unstable loner finds himself powerless to resist their dark demands. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2008
A bachelor party planner learns that nothing comes for free after gaining access to a posh Hamptons bungalow and preparing to celebrate his best buddy's marriage with a wild weekend of drugs and debauchery. Chuck is about to get married, but before that happens, Sammy is going to make sure he has the time of his life. In order to gain access to the ultimate party pad, however, Sammy is obligated to invite prude yet sexually ambiguous caretaker Gordon to take part in the festivities. When the three sexy strippers Sammy hired show up on their doorstep, it appears that the evening has gotten off to the perfect start. But no one expected Chuck's fiancée to show up, too, and when that happens, all hell breaks loose as the children of the damned come out to play. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Mardi Gras is supposed to be the ultimate party, but when the employees at a local Voodoo tourist trap begin turning up dead, it's up to a group of vacationing college kids to cast off their beads and catch a killer. Who could be responsible for this bloody killing spree? As the streets of New Orleans fill with revelers, the list of suspects continues to grow. Of course preventing the body count from getting out of hand is their top priority, but it isn't ever day that you get to party hearty at the biggest bash on the planet, so why not suck down a few Hurricanes before setting out to stop the bloodbath? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brunilda Zekthi, Chris McDaniel, (more)
- 2007
A group of campers fight for their lives against a ruthless killing machine in this independent shocker featuring scream queen Tiffany Shepis. When Mr. and Mrs. Krupp fail repeatedly to conceive a child of their own, they turn to an enigmatic woman who claims she can make their dreams of parenthood come true. Years later, the miracle child has become the stuff of urban legends, a powerful creature who lives amongst the trees, feasting on anyone foolish enough to venture into the forest. When a group of unsuspecting campers venture into the wilderness for a little weekend fun, they quickly discover that urban legends aren't restricted to the city limits. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Natalie Hart, Roger Horn, (more)
Tony Todd Tiffany Shepis, Daniel Roebuck, and George Wendt star in this thriller inspired by the true story of a well-known Arizona cult. Small town therapist Jonathan has recently formed a strange fixation on a local cult that worships a mythological figure who was brutally murdered. With every step that Jonathan takes towards understanding the true inner-workings of the dangerous cult, his chances of escaping with his belief system intact diminishes. Perhaps Jonathan was destined to become yet another covert to this warped belief system from the very beginning. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tony Todd, George Wendt, (more)
Inspired by the bizarre Black Dahlia murder case, The Devil's Muse tells the tale of a beautiful young actress who's cast to play the tragic victim in an upcoming film, and whose nightmares gradually fuse with her desires as she delves ever deeper into the script. The moment Lisa Small (Kristen Kerr) is cast as the Black Dahlia, her reality is transformed into a mysterious dream world in which nothing is as it initially appears. The 60th anniversary of the high-profile Hollywood murder is fast drawing near, and somewhere on the streets of Los Angeles lurks a killer who's collecting and killing women in order to commemorate the grim fate of the Black Dahlia. Meanwhile, Lisa does her best to prepare for the role by becoming better acquainted with the screenplay. But with each turn of the page, Lisa comes two steps closer to discovering the truth behind the murder that continues to baffle investigators to this very day. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kristen Kerr, Gidget Gein, (more)
- 2007
- Add Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead to Queue Add Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead to top of Queue
For anyone who has ever felt genuine fear while pondering what's really in that oddly shaped chicken nugget they're about to consume, director Lloyd Kaufman offers a simultaneously horrific and hilarious parody of the zombie genre that takes on the one thing scarier than the flesh-eating legions of the undead -- America's love affair with fast food. Arbie (Jason Yachanin) is a nostalgic romantic with little luck in romance and a bad case of puppy love. When Arbie's high-school sweetheart, Wendy (Kate Graham), returns home after her first year of college, the lovelorn teen attempts to win the object of his affections back by taking her to the site of their first romantic encounter. Unfortunately for Arbie, the ancient Tromahawk Tribe Indian burial grounds have been bulldozed to make way for an American Chicken Bunker restaurant, and Wendy has turned into a left-wing lesbian with a penchant for protesting.
Subsequently beaten to a pulp by Wendy's rough-and-tumble girlfriend, Micki (Allyson Sereboff), and in desperate need of a steady job, disgruntled Arbie applies at the Chicken Bunker despite the fact that Wendy and Micki have launched a tireless campaign against the restaurant. But something supernatural is stirring in this poultry paradise; the spirits of the dead are not pleased that their eternal slumber has been interrupted. As the employees of the American Chicken Bunker begin dying a series of increasingly gruesome deaths, restaurant owner General Lee Roy (Robin L. Watkins) does his best to cover up the scandal and keep his customers in the dark. Meanwhile, the restless demons of the Tromahawk tribe vow to take revenge on the fast-food-loving masses by infecting every last piece of genetically modified poultry that is served at the Chicken Bunker. Perhaps if Arbie can prevent their curse from reaching beyond the drive-through window, he can save the world from a fate worse than trans fat and finally win back the girl of his dreams. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Subsequently beaten to a pulp by Wendy's rough-and-tumble girlfriend, Micki (Allyson Sereboff), and in desperate need of a steady job, disgruntled Arbie applies at the Chicken Bunker despite the fact that Wendy and Micki have launched a tireless campaign against the restaurant. But something supernatural is stirring in this poultry paradise; the spirits of the dead are not pleased that their eternal slumber has been interrupted. As the employees of the American Chicken Bunker begin dying a series of increasingly gruesome deaths, restaurant owner General Lee Roy (Robin L. Watkins) does his best to cover up the scandal and keep his customers in the dark. Meanwhile, the restless demons of the Tromahawk tribe vow to take revenge on the fast-food-loving masses by infecting every last piece of genetically modified poultry that is served at the Chicken Bunker. Perhaps if Arbie can prevent their curse from reaching beyond the drive-through window, he can save the world from a fate worse than trans fat and finally win back the girl of his dreams. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jason Yachanin, Kate Graham, (more)
This documentary travels behind the scenes of camp classics such as Plan 9 from Outer Space to visit the life and career of onetime horror star and TV horror hostess Vampira (aka Maila Nurmi). The title figure was previously portrayed by Lisa Marie in Tim Burton's picture Ed Wood. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maila "Vampira" Nurmi, Forrest J. Ackerman, (more)
The minions of the devil come up from their grave to feast on the flesh of all God's creatures in a low-budget zombie epic directed by Chris Watson and featuring a long list of cameos that reads like a who's who of genre film history. With appearances by Tom Savini, Edwin Neal, Linnea Quigly, Felissa Rose, Brinke Stevens, Robert Z'Dar, Lloyd Kaufman, Joe Estevez, and Joe Estevez, and clever, machine-gun dialogue that skewers genre stereotypes, this undead bloodbath will have horror fans howling with laughter. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Flesh fuses with cannabis to create the most potent pot man has ever known in the tale of a southern ganja plantation with a deadly secret. For smokers of the herb, Meatweed Manor is a heaven on earth. A remote paradise where farmers utilize human flesh in producing pot that makes Acapulco Gold look like Ohio Brown, Meatweed Manor is a name known to quality-minded smokers the world over. Forget about the munchies, because the maryjane grown at Meatwood Manor sends any woman who smokes it into a sex-fueled frenzy known to the locals as "MeatWeed Madness." ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
The creators of The Killbillies are back, and this time nothing is off limits as they weave a morally reprehensible tale of vampire lust, well-endowed werewolves, and bloodsucking mutants. Count Bloodspit and his children have returned from the Vampire Mirror World, and the time has come for the feast of virgins. But legendary vampire hunter Dr. Ludvic isn't about to let the innocent suffer. After Dr. Ludvic steals the family crest off of Count Bloodspit's coffin, the vampire fiend becomes trapped in the human dimension. Dr. Ludvic has been hunting Count Bloodspit for what feels like an eternity, and now he's finally got a chance to drive a stake clean through the bloodsucker's black heart. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
Aspiring genre filmmakers and horror fans alike will want to check out director Christopher P. Garetano documentary exploring the colorful world of independent fright cinema. With subjects including Wisconsin-based auteur Mark Borchardt, Las Vegas-based "method director" Ron Atkins, and New York drive-in junkie David Stagnari, Garetano shows how, with a vivid imagination, a dash of innovation, and some staunch determination, even filmmakers who lack adequate funds and resources can create compelling and entertaining horror films. Additional appearances by iconic horror figures Joe Bob Briggs and Herschell Gordon Lewis drive home Garetano's point by highlighting precisely how low-budget horror take the kind of risks needed to keep the genre fresh and exciting. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
A man learns the hard way just how bad he's been to his girlfriend in this independent drama laced with dark humor. Conrad (Michael Rodrick) is a high-strung, impulsive man who shares a home with his fiancée, Jennifer (Debbie Rochon). While their relationship has not always been cordial, Conrad crosses a line when he discovers a pornographic videotape has been left at his front door -- and that Jennifer is the female lead in the movie. A violent quarrel follows, ending with Conrad raping Jennifer. Furious, Jennifer soon gets revenge by cutting off Conrad's penis with a pair of scissors, and then holding his member for ransom. While Conrad is told by a surgeon that his penis could possibly be reattached, Jennifer wants 10,000 dollars for the organ, money he doesn't have, and he discovers she fully intends to use this situation to settle a large number of old scores. Nowhere Man also features a cameo appearance from Troma Team Pictures head Lloyd Kaufman in a rare non-comic role. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Rodrick, Debbie Rochon, (more)
Prison A-Go-Go!, Barak Epstein's gonzo homage to/parody of women's prison films stars Laurie Walton as a woman who must infiltrate a women's prison in order to find out what happened to her missing sister. She soon discovers that the warden (Mary Woronov) is conducting hideous experiments on the prison's population. Rhonda Shear co-stars as one of the inmates. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Starring:
- Rhonda Shear, Mary Woronov, (more)
For those who find Lars von Trier's film movement Dogma 95 too highbrow, the folks at Troma films created Dogpile 95. Tales from the Crapper, the first production to wear the Dogpile label, stars softcore queen Julie Strain in a frenetic omnibus of gore and nudity. Allegedly shot over three years with six directors and 15 writers, the film is hosted by Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman and also features fat guys, talking penises, lesbian love scenes, vampires, UFOs, and appearances by infamous porn star Ron Jeremy and rockers New Found Glory. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
A series of brutal murders leaves the future of the Vans Warped Tour in question in this punk rock-fueled horror comedy from director Doug Sakmann. As the bands on the tour fall prey to the murderous menace one by one, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman tries in vain to keep the tour rolling while simultaneously fending off the advances of a shady record executive (played by Troma's Lloyd Kaufman). With the body count steadily rising, reporter Heather Vantress does her best to unmask the killer as such featured musical acts as Andrew W.K., Kids of Widney High, Pennywise, and Tsunami Bomb entertain festival-goers while nervously peering over their shoulders in mortal fear for their lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Kevin Lyman, Heather Vantress, (more)
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