MartinHafer Why, oh why did I see this horrible film? Well, it was purely because I am trying to see the films of the great auteur, Ray Dennis Steckler--one of the most craptastic directors/producers/actors in motion picture history. I fact, I have, on a lark, decided to see as many of the films of a group of craptastic film makers--including Al Adamson, Arch Hall (Junior and Senior), Larry Buchanan, Ed Wood, William Grefe and a few others. These men all shared many wonderful traits--the ability to make films for almost nothing and a complete ineptness that makes many of their films unintentional laugh riots. However, not all of their films are laughable messes--some are just nasty, horrible films--like THE Hollywood STRANGLER.What makes this film so unpleasant and non-funny is that the film, though inept, is also a bit like being inside the mind of a sex pervert murderer--and seeing his depravity up close and in person. Sometimes seeing crime is interesting--this is more like being and experiencing the murders first-hand--a nasty proposition indeed. Some may like this but mostly it just felt sleazy and sick. And, there were lots of assorted murders (stabbings, suffocations, etc.) and tons of gratuitous nudity--with women who looked rather skanky.Overall, the entire film was handled so poorly, even the voyeurs out there will be disappointed. That's because when Steckler made the film, it was silent! Sound was added later as well as a voice-over dialog as well as occasional "Popeye Speak". In other words, voices were added in some scenes and the voices were too soft and rather garbled--sort of like the way Popeye talked to himself in cartoons! It all is very bizarre and very cheap. The only saving grace to all this is that the film is rather short.A terrible film in every way. And, for that matter, I worry about anyone who would actually get enjoyment out of this thing. It's just nasty and stupid--a rare combination.

chaos-rampant OK you probably know Steckler as the mastermind behind The Incredible Strange Creatures that Stopped Living and Became Mixed-up Zombies!, but this turd is probably without peer in the world of b-movie schlock. OK maybe not. But it's probably the first silent movie to be made in the 70's! Steckler dubs dialogue whenever quote unquote actors are not facing the screen and there's a constant grating monologue by Pierre Agostino running in the background. In the true nature of serial killers, he uses the exact same order of shots every killing! Pure genius. Anyhow watch this with the Joe Bob Briggs commentary on and a six pack, and you'll be pleasantly amused. Trash heaven. Long live Steckler.

vigilante407-1 After waiting nearly twenty years to see The Hollywood Strangler Meets the Skid Row Slasher, I was not disappointed. This is one of Ray Dennis Steckler's best films, rivaling his classic cheapies from the sixties.A lot of people probably look at this one as a cheap slasher flick (emphasizing the cheap, since it was filmed without sound). I suppose the slasher film fans found it disappointed because the slasher aspect was pretty limited (and the blood was rather obviously fake), but I found it to be rather entrancing for some reason, maybe because of that. The cinematography was great, the choice of locations was excellent (seeing all those old porn shops and what not that you really don't have anymore to provide local color to an area was enjoyable). There's a surreal reality to it all, from the nearly-glowing red blood on the slasher's victims, to seeing all of the movie memorabilia in the used book store that Carolyn Brandt's character works in (that poster for Last of the Wild Horses is something I'd slash someone for too).This has to be one of the quirkiest "love" stories you will ever watch. For some reason, about the only movie I can think of compare it to is Daughter of Horror (without all the Dali-esquire imagery, of course).This film is definitely worth a viewing, whether you're a Ray Dennis Steckler fan or not.

tedg I slum a lot, impulsively watching cheap movies. Sometimes, I'm pleased to find one that really is interesting or challenging or intelligent almost in spite of itself. "Attic Expeditions" is one such.This isn't, though I appreciate the idea. Lets suppose all men are stranglers who hate women while being attracted to them. And all women are bitches who see men as insects that need to be killed.In such a world, men and women do couple. What then?A small matter of interest is that the woman in this case is both the star and sponsor. One wonders: if you had one movie you could make, what would it be. This is her answer.The exemplar for this type of movie is the wonderful "Oscar and Lucinda," though it deals with obsessions and compulsions other than death. As with Cate Blanchett, the woman here is redheaded and something is made of that: hair unfurled in beach breeze.But the execution is dead. They killed it.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.