Tagarchief: David Carradine

Cult Radar: Part 11

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

FilmDungeon.com is glad to explore the video trenches to find that oddball treasure between the piles of crap out there. Of course, a treasure in this context can also be a film that’s so shockingly bad it’s worth a look, or something so bizarre that cult fans just have to see it. Join us on our quest and learn what we learn. Hopefully we’ll uncover some well-hidden cult gems.

Researched by: Jeppe Kleijngeld

Q: The Winged Serpent (USA, 1982)

Directed by: Larry Cohen
Written by: Larry Cohen
Cast: David Carradine, Michael Moriarty, Candy Clark, Richard Roundtree

A series of unexplainable crimes occur in New York City: a girl sunbathing on a rooftop vanishes, and a window cleaner at the Empire State Building is decapitated. Two NYPD detectives (David Carradine and Richard Roundtree) investigate a ritualistic Aztec murder and soon discover that these crimes are connected. This entertaining supernatural fantasy-horror film by Larry Cohen (Black Caesar) was produced by legendary B-movie mogul Samuel Z. Arkoff and grew from a single idea by Cohen: what if the Chrysler Building housed the nest of a giant prehistoric bird? The special effects are mostly reserved for the film’s climax and they’re not even that bad. The characters are also surprisingly engaging. All in all, Q: The Winged Serpent is an enjoyable B-movie that will certainly appeal to fans of Arkoff’s cult film library.

A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin (Italy, France, Spain, 1971)

Directed by: Lucio Fulci
Written by: Lucio Fulci, Roberto Gianviti, José Luis Martínez Mollá
Cast: Florinda Bolkan, Stanley Baker, Jean Sorel

A Lizard in a Woman’s Skin is a strong example of the giallo genre – an Italian cinematic style that blends elements of slasher, thriller, psychological horror, and sexploitation, and that predates the later wave of American slasher films. The story follows the daughter of an influential politician (Florinda Bolkan), who dreams of an orgy at her ‘liberated’ neighbour’s house and of killing her after having sex with her. She recounts this dream to her psychiatrist, only to discover that the murder actually occurred exactly as she described. I initially took the film’s title literally and expected a Cronenberg-style body horror, but it turned out to be more of a lesson in Freudian dream analysis combined with a murder mystery set in London in the Swinging Sixties. One of the film’s most notorious moments is a dream sequence in which a dog is cut open so convincingly that director Lucio Fulci and his special effects artist were taken to court to prove it was fake. It’s a well-crafted film – stylish, atmospheric, and intriguing – though at times a bit slow and uneventful.

Street Trash (USA, 1987)

Directed by: J. Michael Muro
Written by: Roy Frumkes, J. Michael Muro
Cast: Mike Lackey, Vic Noto, Bill Chepil, Mark Sferrazza

Just how trashy is a movie called Street Trash? Renowned Steadicam operator J. Michael Muro directs this body-horror comedy about hobos – an often underrepresented group in movies. The story centers on a cheap liquor called Viper that causes anyone who drinks it to melt. This independent production is a prime example of the curious horror subgenre known as ‘melt movies’ (The Blob is another prime example). The film has little in the way of a traditional plot; instead, it’s a series of loosely connected vignettes linked by the effects of the Viper drink. Among the recurring characters are a psychopathic Vietnam veteran terrorizing hobos and a mobster played by Tony Darrow (GoodFellas, The Sopranos). Street Trash has understandably gained quite a cult following over the years, though I didn’t enjoy it much myself. The scene in which a bunch of hobos toss a severed penis around with the owner running after it was a bit too much for me.

Requiem for a Vampire (France, 1972)

Directed by: Jean Rollin
Written by: Jean Rollin
Cast: Marie-Pierre Castel, Mireille Dargent, Philippe Gasté

This French cult treasure begins intriguingly: two girls and a man dressed as clowns are chased by a car and shot at. They fire back. The man doesn’t survive the pursuit, but the two girls manage to escape, eventually hiding near an abandoned water tower. They’re clearly on the run, but from whom? No explanation is given. It feels like a deliberate play with mise-en-scène that nonetheless holds your attention. Only after a while does a plot emerge, when the girls stumble upon strange rituals taking place in a remote château. The film is captivating – almost like a silent movie. The two leads don’t speak until they’re hypnotized by a vampire, who commands them to lure in victims for the resurrection of an ancient race. To do so, however, they must first lose their virginity. The lead actresses are well cast, and the combination of eerie locations, sensual imagery, haunting music, and dreamlike camerawork creates a mood that never lets go.

Quatermass and the Pit (United Kingdom, 1967)

Directed by: Roy Ward Baker
Written by: Nigel Kneale
Cast: James Donald, Andrew Keir, Barbara Shelley, Julian Glover

This Hammer production is more of a sci-fi mystery than the studio’s typical brand of horror. During the excavation of a new subway tunnel, workers uncover skulls and skeletons of ancient apemen. Professor Bernard Quatermass, a space scientist, is called in to investigate. When a strange metallic object is found nearby, he begins to suspect an alien origin and searches for the missing link in human evolution. This Quatermass film, the third based on a BBC television serial, feels very much like an old Star Trek episode, complete with familiar sci-fi elements such as telekinesis, telepathy, and alien insects. Though the pacing is a bit slow, several production aspects – especially the sound design – are excellently executed. The film also presents some intriguing science-fiction ideas, including the notion of recording the memories of a susceptible brain, revealing visions of insect wars that once took place on Mars.

TV Dungeon: Kung Fu

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

(1972 – 1975, USA)

Creators: Ed Spielman, Herman Miller
Cast: David Carradine (Kwai Chang Caine), Radames Pera (Young Caine), Keye Luke (Master Po), Philip Ahn (Master Kan)

3 Seasons (63 Episodes)

Kwai Chang Caine, a soft-spoken Shaolin priest exiled from China, wanders the savage American West of the mid-19th century. In each episode, he faces conflicts and hardships – whether injustice, violence, or intolerance – and relies on the teachings of his Shaolin monastery to navigate them. Through meditation, wisdom, and only when necessary, martial arts, Caine brings a sense of peace to a world ruled by chaos.

The show’s brilliance lies in its concept: placing a man trained in Taoist philosophy and Shaolin kung fu in the lawless, brutal Old West. The contrast is striking – while the West is filled with bandits, bigotry, and corruption, Caine embodies patience, serenity, and justice. His presence suggests that even a land steeped in violence can be redeemed through wisdom. The Taoist teachings interwoven throughout the show are its greatest strength, offering insights into paradoxes, balance, and a way of seeing the world differently. This depth of philosophy is what makes Kung Fu one of my all-time favorite series.

Yet, there is even more to appreciate. The sweeping American landscapes provide a breathtaking backdrop, immersing viewers in the setting. David Carradine, though regrettably not of Chinese descent (a disappointing yet unsurprising casting decision for the time), delivers a performance that is both mesmerizing and quietly powerful. His portrayal of Caine is nuanced, capturing both his gentleness and his underlying strength.

The series also boasts an impressive lineup of guest stars, many of whom later became household names, such as Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Barbara Hershey, Don Johnson, Carl Weathers, and many others. Their early appearances add to the show’s charm, making each episode a delight to revisit.

In today’s turbulent and uncertain world, Kung Fu remains a source of comfort and inspiration. While we may not be able to solve all of the world’s problems, Caine’s approach teaches us how to handle our own struggles with patience and wisdom. He fights only when absolutely necessary and never to kill, making this series a rare example of an action show that is fundamentally about non-violence.

Watching Kung Fu is an enlightening experience – it calms the mind, expands the spirit, and offers a guiding philosophy for life. It’s a show that doesn’t just entertain; it makes you wiser. I’m forever grateful for the lessons it has taught me, and I remain a lifelong student of Taoist philosophy because of it.

Read also: The Tao of Kwai Chang Caine

The 20 Greatest Ultra Villains in Movies

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

20. Bill the Butcher

Played by: Daniel Day-Lewis
Film(s): Gangs of New York (2002)
Line: ‘Ears and noses will be the trophies of the day. But no hand shall touch him.’

Nothing goes too far for William ‘Bill the Butcher’ Cutting in his personal mission to oppress the new immigrants whom Bill sees as mere cockroaches. His name is very appropriate: whenever he joins the street fights, he slaughters enemies by the dozens using his vast set of knives and stabbing weapons. He shows a softer side around Amsterdam, who he sees as the son he never had, but in the end, Bill is a bad man. Played to perfection by Daniel Day Lewis.

19. Mr. Joshua

Played by: Gary Busey
Film(s): Lethal Weapon (1987)
Line: ‘See, Martin, we have a problem. Since we have Murtaugh, we don’t really need you. But I believe in being thorough.’

The ultra blond Mr. Joshua is pretty much a badass. He shows his macho behavior in his intro-scene by letting his employer hold a lighter under his arm for a pretty long time. Riggs and Murtaugh have a lot of trouble with this ex-commando. In his mission to smuggle heroin into the United States, he lets nothing or nobody get in his way. He scores extra points for his pretty good fighting skills.

18. The Terminator

Played by: Arnold Schwarzenegger
Film(s): The Terminator (1984)
Line: ‘Your clothes – give them to me, now.’

Schwarzenegger is perfectly cast as a killing machine. The Terminator is one scary motherfucker. ‘Sarah Connor? Yes. Boom!!!’ He is efficient and unstoppable. The perfect invention really. James Cameron (director) and Stan Winston (special effects) have really outdone themselves. The highlight? There are many, but Schwarzenegger barging in the police station killing everybody is pretty damn exciting.

17. Amon Goeth

Played by: Ralph Fiennes
Film(s): Schindler’s List (1993)
Line: ‘Ah, an educated Jew… like Karl Marx himself. Unterscharfuehrer! Shoot her.’

Can a psycho Nazi killer still be charismatic? Leave it to Ralph Fiennes to pull it off. Even though Goeth commits horrible acts and certainly deserves to die for it, he can be touching in a strange and remote way. A truly remarkable bad guy, right up until his ‘Heil Hitler’ sent off.

16. Judge Doom

Played by: Christopher Lloyd
Film(s): Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)
Line: ‘Soon, where Toon Town once stood will be a string of gas stations, inexpensive motels, restaurants that serve rapidly prepared food.’

Christopher Lloyd who nailed the ultimately sympathetic ‘Doc’ in Back to the Future, plays a really scary dude here. Judge Doom is one malicious bastard and the type of villain we could use more of: wacky, evil-lookin’ and carrying a dark secret. Brilliant character in a brilliant movie.

15. Anton Chigurh

Played by: Javier Bardem
Film(s): No Country for Old Men (2007)
Line: ‘What’s the most you have ever lost in a coin toss?’

Chigurh is one weird psycho killer for sure. Armed with an oxygen tank and a shotgun he makes life very difficult for the people in the wasteland of the Texas-Nevada borderlands His entrance in No Country for Old Men alone is enough to earn him this position. Add to that his terrible haircut, his deep voice and his seemingly random killing spree and you got an A-grade villain that’s just hard to forget.

14. Freddy Krueger

Played by: Robert Englund
Film(s): A Nightmare on Elm Street series (1984-2003)
Line: ‘I’m your boyfriend now, Nancy.’

The child murdering Freddy literally gives his victims nightmares. Both his burned face and his evil mind tricks can make everybody crap their pants. Freddy is without a doubt the greatest supernatural killer to ever appear on the white screen.

13. Annie Wilkes

Played by: Kathy Bates
Film(s): Misery (1990)
Line: ‘You! You dirty bird! How could you?’

Pour Paul Sheldon. Being captured by his greatest fan is a nightmare beyond imagination. He is constantly walking on eggshells as the slightest provocation will set off Annie Wilkes big time. It’s hard to say what kind of disorder she actually ‘suffers’ from, but there is no doubt that she is completely batshit.

12. Skeletor

Played by: Frank Langella
Film(s): Masters of the Universe (1987)
Line: ‘I am Skeletor.’

Masters of the Universe is no masterpiece, but Frank Langella really elevates the movie with his highly enjoyable appearance. His portrayal of Skeletor, who was already a favorite villain in cartoons, became a most memorable bad guy. His looks are spot on, and he rules his underlings with an iron fist. It’s a total shame that He-Man kicks him into a dark, deep shaft at the end of the movie.

11. Saruman

Played by: Christopher Lee
Film(s): The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 / 2002 / 2003)
Line: ‘Hunt them down! Do not stop until they are found. You do not know pain, you do not know fear. You’ll taste men-flesh!’

While Sauron may be the real bad guy in The Lord of the Rings, Saruman makes a far greater impression. His voice is perhaps his greatest asset. The way he utters spells and commands is just the ultimate in evil cool. Christopher Lee, almost 80 when he played this, is remarkable in the role that he was born to play. When it comes to evil old wizards surrounded by Orcs, Saruman is the man.

10. Agent Smith

Played by: Hugo Weaving
Film(s): The Matrix (1999) / The Matrix Reloaded (2003) / The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Line: ‘I will enjoy watching you die…Mr. Anderson.’

Who ever thought a software application could be this menacing? Smith may be funny with his monotone voice and robotic locomotion, but he can be vicious as well. It’s really hard to relax with this guy around, and he is always around. When you think he’s finally gone, he returns with clone abilities. Smith is an unstoppable force of destruction and can ultimately be only stopped by himself. Now that’s pretty bad.

9. Clarence Boddicker

Played by: Kurtwood Smith
Film(s): RoboCop (1987)
Line: ‘Can you fly Bobby?’

It’s not exactly his looks that make Clarence Boddicker ultra villain material. It is his ruthless and merciless attitude. He first shows his vileness, when he kicks one of his wounded cronies out of a moving truck. Soon after, he displays a real sadistic streak when he brutally murders Murphy. Although he’s a street level boss, he meets personally with Dick Jones, Vice President at OCP (Omni Consumer Products) showing he is also an intelligent and competent gang leader.

8. T-1000

Played by: Robert Patrick
Film(s): Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Line: ‘Thank you for your cooperation.’

Robert Patrick as the liquid metal T-1000 is an example of perfect casting. This unstoppable and constantly morphing killing machine is pretty scary at times. The fact that he is wearing a police uniform makes this even worse. Rather than ‘protect and serve’, he fanatically chases John Connor around while killing everybody that gets in his way. Glad to have Schwarzenegger around, the only one with a remote chance to stop it. Now that’s pretty telling.

7. Bill

Played by: David Carradine
Film(s): Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) / Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
Line: ‘Do you find me sadistic?’

Bill is a murderous bastard, but he can be honorable as well. When the Bride arrives to take revenge on Bill for shooting her in the head, he grants her one night with her daughter, who she had presumed to be dead. Make no mistake though, in the duel that follows he would have killed her without mercy if it hadn’t been for her special skills. A classic villain who gets extra points for his great knowledge of martial arts and pop culture.

6. Major Arnold Toht

Played by: Ronald Lacey
Film(s): Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Line: ‘You Americans, you’re all the same. Always overdressing for the wrong occasions.’

The boring communists in The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull showed again what great villains Nazi’s can be. Major Toht is an absolute favorite. A very unpleasant appearance and an equally disturbing voice can make someone cringe. It’s a true relief when his face starts melting towards the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

5. Emperor Palpatine

Played by: Ian McDiarmid
Film(s): Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
Line: ‘Welcome young Skywalker. I’m looking forward to completing your training. In time, you will call me…master!’

While the Ewoks made Return of the Jedi just a little too child friendly, Ian McDiarmid restored the balance with his dark portrayal of the Emperor. Allegedly, serial killer Jeffrey Damner was a huge fan of Palpatine. This figures, because Palpatine is a true incarnation of evil. Every line he utters comes out as pure poison. He is often underestimated because of his fragile old appearance, but make no mistake! When Palpatine starts using his dark side force techniques there is nobody who can stop him. Well there’s always one.

4. Hans Gruber

Played by: Alan Rickman
Film(s): Die Hard (1988)
Line: ‘Nice suit. John Phillips, London. I have two myself. Rumor has it Arafat buys his there.’

Another German villain to make the list. It is just hard to ignore their bad guy potential. Hans Gruber is the perfect baddie against Bruce Willis’ hero John McClane. He is both ruthless and smart, but certainly not without a sense of humor and style. You gotta hand it to this guy. Up till now, the Die Hard creators haven’t yet found a suitable replacement for him as the villains in the four sequels all made far less of an impression.

3. Frank

Played by: Henry Fonda
Film(s): Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Line: ‘I could crush you like a wormy apple.’

Not a businessman but ‘just a man’. If that is true, humanity is truly fucked. Look at Frank’s sins: killing a young boy in his first appearance, raping Jill McBain and off course the thing he did to royally piss off Harmonica. Nobody figured the sympathetic Henry Fonda could play a bad guy this well. He proved them dead wrong. Frank is one of the most accomplished villains ever, and Fonda should have won an Oscar for the part.

2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter

Played by: Anthony Hopkins
Film(s): The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Line: ‘I’m having an old friend for dinner.’

Anthony Hopkins delivers a wicked and Oscar-winning performance as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Charming, extremely intelligent, psychically strong: Lecter has it all. One of the few baddies in this list who actually survives the films he is in, Lecter stands above the regular laws of good and evil. He just does what he does. His character has been exploited a little too much in modern cinema and literature, but his turn in The Silence of the Lambs remains one of the most chilling and spellbinding performances ever in cinema history.

1. Darth Vader

Played by: David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice)
Film(s): Star Wars Trilogy (1977 / 1980 / 1883)
Line: ‘If you only knew the power of the dark side.’

Its villains have always been the best thing about Star Wars, but Darth Vader is the baddest motherfucker of them all. It is hard to say which is cooler; his voice (and breathing), his name or his appearance. His introduction in A New Hope alone makes him the best movie villain ever. But he also has a fair share in fighting skills, force power and strategy. Just a fantastic character altogether.

Bill’s meest masochistische moment

Posted on by Jeppe Kleijngeld

Het is alweer twintig jaar geleden dat de eerste Kill Bill: Vol 1 werd uitgebracht. Ik zag de film destijds in Parijs. Nadat Tarantino na Jackie Brown zes jaar geen nieuwe film had uitgebracht, waren de verwachtingen hooggespannen toen Kill Bill in de bioscoop verscheen. Ook ik was erg benieuwd naar zijn hommage aan diverse genres als martial arts, samoerai films en spaghettiwesterns en ik was aangenaam verrast. Vanaf de eerste scène zat ik op het puntje van m’n stoel. En toen ik na zo’n twee uur de bioscoop uitliep, was ik vol lof over QT’s nieuwe meesterwerkje.

Empire publiceerde onlangs de hommage: ‘88 Reasons We’re Still Crazy About Kill Bill’ over alle fantastische momenten in het tweeluik. Er zitten veel momenten in de eerste Kill Bill die ik tot mijn favoriete scènes kan rekenen; de bitch fight met Vernita Green, de zwartgallig komische scène in het ziekenhuis, de ultra-bloedige confrontatie met de Crazy 88 in House of the Blue Leaves, het climactische duel met O-Ren Ishii, en de fantastische cliffhanger op het einde. Toch kies ik voor het meesterlijke begin als mijn favoriete scène, een scène die gek genoeg ontbreekt in het Empire overzicht.

Het is hét moment waarop ik direct in de film werd gezogen. Het is een redelijk simpele scène. Eerst komt het Shaw Brother logo, gevolgd door het campy titeltje: Our feature presentation. Een heerlijke verwijzing naar de jaren 70’ grindhouse films waar Quentin in zijn jeugd zo van genoten heeft. En dan volgt de zware ademhaling van een vrouw.

Er verschijnt een nieuwe titel ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’, – old Klingon proverb -, een Star Trek referentie waarmee QT zijn handtekening al zet voordat het eerste beeld verschenen is. En dan komt dat fantastische eerste beeld. We zien een close-up in zwart/wit van een bloedende, toegetakelde bruid (Uma Thurman), en we horen dat iemand haar nadert. We zien cowboylaarzen over de houten vloer lopen die bezaaid is met kogels. De man stopt voor de bruid. En dan komt die perfecte eerste zin: ‘do you find me sadistic?’. Terwijl de ongeziene man zijn monoloog doorzet, veegt hij het gezicht van de bruid af met een zakdoek waar ‘Bill’ op geborduurd staat. De twee belangrijkste personages zijn hiermee op onvergetelijke wijze geïntroduceerd.

Nadat Bill zijn monoloog heeft afgerond vertelt de bruid dat ze zwanger van hem is, maar nog voordat ze haar zin volledig heeft uitgesproken schiet Bill haar door het hoofd met een oorverdovend schot: BLEM!!! Een waar schrikmoment. Zelfs de tweede keer toen ik de film keek, en bewust op dat moment zat te wachten, schrok ik me nog te pletter. De korte intro-scene wordt meteen gevolgd door een typische Tarantino credit sequence, ondersteund door het toonzettende ‘Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)’ van Nancy Sinatra. Vanaf dat moment wist ik het al zeker; deze film wordt een favoriet van me. Als je zo intens geniet van een begin, weet je dat de film je goed ligt. Verder kon ik niet wachten om meer van Bill te zien (David Carradine heeft een geweldige stem), maar wijselijk wordt zijn gezicht pas getoond in het tweede deel, terwijl hij wel in aardig wat scènes in volume 1 zit. Nog een meesterlijke zet van de meester.