“Coleman Francis uses edits like blunt instruments. He uses blunt instruments like blunt instruments. His major themes are death, hatefulness, death, pain, and death.”
-Kevin Murphy, writer: Mystery Science Theater 3000
The man, the myth, the legend: Coleman Francis
For many schlock movie fans, the cult television series Mystery Science Theater 3000 is often incorrectly seen as the ultimate barometer of what is or is not a bad movie. This is unfortunate for fans of really bad, z-grade cinema because, while there are many excellent reasons the series is so well-regarded, most of the films the show aired weren’t really all that bad when compared to the countless films the show’s writers rejected as not being suitable for their purposes. Because watchability was such a big concern for the show, most absolutely wretched films were dismissed in favor of better, goofier, and more watchable fare. The show’s former head writer, Michael J. Nelson, has said in several interviews that his little puppet show really only scratched the surface of the truly horrible films which are lurking out there.
However, there were several occasions during the show’s ten-year run where exceptions were made. A few episodes of Mystery Science Theater 3000 did feature some of the most awful films ever made, such as Monster A Go-Go (this critic’s official pick as the worst theatrically-released film of all time), Manos: The Hands of Fate, and all three films produced and directed by an obscure character actor-turned-director by the name of Coleman Francis.
Born in Oklahoma on January 24, 1919, Coleman Francis’ road to b-movie infamy was as plodding and painful as the very films for which he would eventually become (in)famous. Arriving in Hollywood sometime in the 1940s, Francis found work in the film industry doing mostly uncredited bit parts in films such as Killers From Space, This Island Earth, and Twilight for the Gods, and the occasional TV role on shows like Highway Patrol, and Dragnet.
Eventually deciding to take a chance and make movies of his own, Francis set out to find a financial backer for his unique creative vision. Eager to get Tor Johnson on board for his first film, he contacted welder, part-time film producer, and former Ed Wood associate, Anthony “Tony” Cardoza. Cardoza, who had become friends with the former pro wrestler after financing the ill-fated (as in, not to see official release until twenty-three years after filming!) Ed Wood production, Night of the Ghouls, secured Mr. Johnson’s services and formed a partnership with Coleman Francis which would ultimately produce three of the most bleak, depressing, and unwatchable films ever made. In 1961, the team of Francis-Cardoza would release their first, and arguably worst, effort, The Beast of Yucca Flats.
Part 2: The Beast of Yucca Flats
Part 3: The Skydivers
Part 4: Night Train to Mundo Fine, aka. Red Zone Cuba
Part 5: Conclusion
What is The B.C. Butcher? How about I let seventeen-year-old writer/director Kansas Bowling explain it in her own words:
“The B.C. Butcher” is a girl-gang slasher film set in prehistoric times. It is feature length and shot entirely on 16mm color negative film. My name is Kansas Bowling and I am the director. I have loved horror films all my life, and now at age 17, I am directing my own. With a script written by Kenzie Givens and I, a great cast, and a rock ‘n’ roll soundtrack provided by The Ugly Kids, the first slasher to ever be set in prehistoric times will be unlike any horror film ever made!
The video below is the first scene of the film. It features the tribe of cavewomen sacrificing one of their members, Dina, for betraying them. Later on in the script, a monster finds Dina’s dead body and falls in love with her. The monster wants to avenge her death and spends the film picking off the cavewomen responsible for Dina’s death one by one. But the fun won’t end there! Not only will this film have cavewomen and a prehistoric creature, it will feature amputations, decapitations, buff men in loincloths, psychedelic dream sequences, a live performance by The Ugly Kids, and much, much, much more!!!
But first… we need the funding!
I have to admit, between the thoroughly-ridiculous premise (The Wild Women of Wongo meets Friday the 13th) and the fact that it is being helmed by a seventeen-year-old young woman, I am very intrigued by this film. It will be interesting to see if the young director can produce a film which lives up to the potential of the wonderfully-absurd premise.
So if you, like me, are interested in helping the young Ms. Bowling make The B.C. Butcher a reality, head on over to Indiegogo and kick in a few bucks.
Additional B.C. Butcher links:
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Full disclosure: BadMovieRealm.com contributed $25 towards the funding of this film.
Big news from our friends, Flesh Roxon!
Zombie Rock band Flesh Roxon settles in Zombie Road Trip, chart-topping mobile game
The band, signed to Live Nation Finland, presents a special bundle inside the app, allowing gamers to slay zombies with a branded saw launcher under the catchy lines of their song “Suck My Chainsaw.”
The hit mobile game app Zombie Road Trip, currently featured in the special Zombies section of the Apple iTunes App Store, released a new update this week featuring Live Nation Finland’s “Zombie Rock” band Flesh Roxon. The app for iPhone and iPad can be downloaded for free from the App Store. An updated Android version of the game is coming out soon.
“Zombie Road Trip and Flesh Roxon are basically a match made in… well, hell. And we mean that in the best way possible.” – says Ryan Holowaty, COO of Noodlecake Studios, publisher of the game. “Running and gunning zombies to the punk rock stylings of Flesh Roxon’s music has put a permanent smile on my face. We can’t wait for everyone to play the new update!”
Zombie Road Trip is a ragdoll-based arcade game available for iOS and Android platforms where the gamer is driving a car while constantly performing tricks and shooting zombies in order to survive. Every shot zombie nets you zombie coins, which you can spend on hard earned things like different cars and weapons.
The just released Flesh Roxon update is available for free to everyone who “likes” the music trio’s Facebook page. The themed bundle consisting of a devilish vehicle and chainsaw launcher gun have been developed specially for the band. While driving the branded car, the gamers will be listening to the two songs from the band’s debut album, Flesh To The Bone. Titled “Lonely Rider” and “Suck My Chainsaw,” these zombie killing anthems fit the gameplay perfectly.
“We’re happy to have Flesh Roxon included in this addictive game and invade other fascinating areas of the entertainment industry with our bands.” – said Mikko Haapala, Business Development Manager at Live Nation Finland.
“I can hardly wait to kill zombies myself. Slaying zombies is always nice!” – added Nicky, the lead singer of the band.
If you like what you see and hear while playing Zombie Road Trip, catch Flesh Roxon on tour or download their full length album at http://fleshroxon.com/.
http://spokko.com/zombieroadtrip/
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Splattering hordes of the undead against the windshield of your tricked-out, anti-zombie mobile, while listening to the sweet sounds of Flesh Roxon’s “Suck My Chainsaw.” What’s not to love?
