Alan Abelew Movies
- 2005
- R
Prolific B-movie director Albery Byun (Dollman, Omega Doom) takes the reigns for this tale of a small town overtaken by a highly contagious alien plague on the night of the senior prom. As the local teens party their way through prom night, a meteor crashes to the earth in a small California town, rattling Lawton rancher Larry Jenkins. When Larry puts a call in to the local police, Inspector Bardo is immediately dispatched to the scene to investigate. Upon arriving on the scene, Inspector Bardo is terrified to find that a horrific alien virus has infected the unsuspecting Jenkins. Before he can react, Inspector Bardo is savagely attacked by the rampaging rancher. Now, as the two unwitting hosts make their way into Lawton while viciously attacking and contaminating everyone in their path, adolescent lovebirds Cheryl and Timmy sit perched high atop Lover's Lane completely unaware of the approaching terror. When Timmy is infected, Cheryl is left to fend for herself in the darkened forest. Perhaps if Cheryl can make it to the authorities in time, she can prevent the infection from spreading to LA. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 1997
Crashing his DeSoto Sportsman into the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign and proclaiming, "Home, sweet home," viewers meet the vampire named Spike (James Marsters), along with his equally sardonic vamp girlfriend, Drusilla (Juliet Landau) -- a fitting introduction for two vampires who will become among the show's most memorable and reliable villains. Apparently a vampire couple -- a first for the show -- these love bats have a history with Angel (David Boreanaz). The audience learns that Spike (aka "William the Bloody") is a 200-year-old vampire sired by Angel, who earned his name by killing his victims with railroad spikes. He is utterly devoted to "Dru," who is sickly, possibly insane, and subject to psychic visions. At a meeting of vampires with the Anointed One (Andrew J. Ferchland), Spike brags about having killed two slayers in his "life," and manages to slide in some of his soon to-be-characteristic humorous asides. Unable to contain himself until the Festival of St. Vigeous, Spike and some vampires attack Sunnydale High on Parent-Teacher Night; Buffy fights them off with some help from her mom, who repels Spike with an ax. In the aftermath, Principal Snyder (Armin Shimerman) discusses the need to hide the real story from the press -- a hint that he might know something about the supernatural occurrences in Sunnydale. ~ Rovi
Nearly identical to the first two installments in the Meatballs series, the fourth is set around a summer camp fighting for its life. Here, though, a water-ski instructor (Corey Feldman) needs to stop a greedy developer from a rival camp (Sarah Douglas) who is trying to take over his Lakeside Water Ski Camp. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- Starring:
- Corey Feldman, Jack Nance, (more)
- 1985
- R
In an "urban cowboy" story, a father decides to take a stand against neighborhood gangsters even at risk to his life. After Louis Thibadeau (Charles Durning) witnesses a gangland-style execution he agrees to help the police nail and jail the murderers, knowing full well the gangsters will not idly sit back and allow him to testify. When a female lawyer friend (Pam Grier) runs across one of the hoodlums in a court case, she warns Louis that he doesn't stand a chance of collecting social security at the moment. Louis sends his children away for the duration and digs out his supply of weapons from his days as a Marine, waiting at home for the assault to come. Following more or less the same build-up as Straw Dogs, this is a milder version of the same theme. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Starring:
- Charles Durning, Pam Grier, (more)
The owner of a financially foundering skin-flick production company decides that the only way to save it is to put on a Busby Berkeley-esque pornographic musical -- sort of a Broadway meets Times Square affair. Ribald humor, bawdy songs and plenty of skin abounds in this sophomoric satire that while unabashedly trashy, has developed a bit of a cult following. Songs include: "The First Nudie Musical," "The Lights and the Smiles," "Lesbian Butch Dyke," "Five Dancing Dildos," "Perversion," "Honey, What Ya Doin' Tonight," "I Don't Have to Hide Anymore," "Where Is a Man." ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Stephen Nathan, Cindy Williams, (more)
- 1972
The Fergusons are a family of nomadic con artists, led by the father-son team of Angus (George Voskovec) and Albert (Michael Ansara), who have managed to bilk an entire San Francisco neighborhood in their latest scam. The newest addition to the clan is greedy son-in-law Josh Evans (Christopher Jones), who adds murder to their litany of crimes. With Stone (Karl Malden) and Keller (Michael Douglas) breathing down their necks, the Fergusons' family solidarity is rapidly disintegrating--and in the process, the lives of several innocent bystanders are placed in jeopardy. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
