SPACECAMP (1986)

A group of teenagers attend NASA's Space Camp program.  Things are going pretty well and it looks like that one dude might get to sling some ding-a-ling at Lea Thompson, but then whiny kid (Joaquin Phoenix) mentions that he wants to go into space.  Normally that would be a safe thing to say, especially at goddamn Space Camp, but since he says it within earshot of the extremely literal and sweetly sinister robot Jinx it means he's going into space whether he likes it or not!  Because they are friends foreveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrr.  Next thing you know Jinx has manipulated a test on the Space Shuttle into the real thing and the kids blast off into orbit...with only a few hours worth of oxygen.  Note to self: never befriend a well-meaning, but extremely stupid robot.

Released just a few months after the heartbreaking Space Shuttle Challenger disaster SPACECAMP was pretty much destined to fail at the box office and it did with only $9 million at the box office...I have no idea what the budget was though.  But is it a good movie?  Ehh, it's alright.  The story is silly and from what I could tell during the Space Camp scenes all of the kids were a bunch of fuck-ups but then suddenly when they get into space they suddenly become way smarter.  I guess that's what being faced with death will do for ya.  Anyway, their efforts not to die are mildly interesting and the special effects are probably above average for the time, but I still found myself apathetic towards their dilemma.  Which is kind of surprising since I usually like trapped in space adventure movies.  Unfortunately though, with just an average director and an average script SPACECAMP itself turned out boringly average.

976-EVIL (1988)

Twenty-four year old high school student Hoax is an introverted nerd who lives with his overbearing mother and his bad boy cousin, Spike.  Hoax and Spike get along, but Hoax is jealous of Spike's ability to defend himself and bang chicks with his penis.  Both cousins get involved with calling the "horrorscope" phone number 976-EVIL.  Spike quickly grows tired of it, but Hoax is hooked.  Soon he becomes possessed by a demon and goes on a killing spree.

I had vague memories of watching 976-EVIL back in the day and watching it just now, I fully understand why I couldn't remember much about it...it's a boring ass movie!  The build up to the demon possession takes forever and when it finally does happen it's nothing special.  Just Hoax running around looking like a dried out lizard with pointy fingernails slashing people.

Very little blood, split second topless scene that wasn't even worth taking a screencap of, tons of awesome horror posters, interesting graffiti, dingy looking sets, 80's clothes, slow pace, unsatisfying ending.  976-EVIL is just cheesy enough to be mildly interesting, but slow enough to be boring as fuck!  Skip it.

Part 2 - 976-Evil II (1991)

BLACK MARKET BABIES (1945)

Made by Poverty Row studio Monogram Pictures and directed by one of the most prolific directors of all time (William Beaudine), BLACK MARKET BABIES tells the story of a small time gangster who teams up with a crooked lawyer and a somewhat unwilling alcoholic doctor to start a small private clinic that caters to poor expecting mothers free of charge.  Free because a number of the girls give their babies up for adoption and the clinic is more than willing to quickly find the baby a good home...that is if the new parents "donate" enough.  As unethical as that is, it actually skirts the law just enough to be legal.  The big trouble comes though when an especially important baby that's been pre-ordered is stillborn.

Despite the low budget all of the actors turn in performances fitting for the serious subject matter.  I was especially impressed by Ralph Morgan as the sad, drunken doctor and Kane Richmond as the scumbag brains behind the operation.  This dude was a total butthole.  He was positively giddy at conning chicks out of their babies and selling them to the highest bidder no questions asked!

BMB is not for everybody, but for a Poverty Row quickie I found it to be an enjoyable watch and mildly shocking when you think about the subject matter.  Of course, nothing sinister is shown or even implied, but when you think about how quickly this dude was selling babies it's just horrible to think about what could have happened.  Recommended.