21 January 2018

Hot Rods to Hell (1967) – A mini review of one CAMPY movie


Just like today there are movies that are great and movies that are….well…not so great.  In this case we have a not so great movie that falls under the category of “It’s so bad that it’s kinda cool!”.  The DVD branding is “Cult Camp Classics” and that’s exactly what we get.  Campy over and under acting that is kinda dodgy yet so bad that its kinda funny and cool.  The cars are kinda neat and that hip boppy 60’s music is, to be honest, great!  
The movie is basically about a family who move to the Californian desert to run a motel but they get on the bad side of some young Hot Rod drivers who are determined to run them out of town.  We have some good car action that shows off some neat Hot Rods but some of the driving is sped up and there is a reasonable amount of rear projection use in some of the driving scenes.  The clothing and setting is SO 60’s so if you go into watching the movie with expectations of bad campy acting you’ll enjoy it.
The DVD reviewed is a Warner Bros. release imported from the USA for about AUD $10 and is under the designation of “Cult Camp Classics” so the movie was so well known for its campy feel that they decided to label it that way!  So go into it expecting nothing but that and you just might enjoy it!

A few of the car chases are here below:




Overall the DVD video quality (1.78:1 aspect ratio and is anamorphic) is really good as is the sound quality, certainly something you wouldn’t really expect for a movie that is not top notch and in a way, reminds me of the Bluray for Plan 9 From Outer Space (a 1959 Sci-Fi that has often been dubbed as the worst movie ever made – its really not that bad lol but don’t expect anything half decent either!) in that it’s a bad movie but effort has been made to give a really good visual presentation.   The only extra are trailers.

Anyway, if you want to know what “Campy” acting is check this puppy out and as mentioned above, go into it with no expectation and you might half like it, especially for the cars and music!

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2 comments:

  1. Is this a comedy? Dana Andrews is one of my favourite noir actors (Laura; Where the Sidewalk Ends), he is also excellent in The Best Years of Our Lives! But I've never seen him in campy films like this one, gotta check it out!

    Hey the girl in the film poster really looks like Sandra Bullock! Don't you reckon? 😊

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    1. Nah its more of a serious movie but the comical campy acting doesnt give that serious feel. Dana, I think, did pretty poor in this case and is over acted and weak, hence the campy feel so i certainly wouldnt say this was his peak in acting haha

      Yes i guess she does look like Sandra a bit but certainly doesnt act like her hehe.

      As weird as it sounds its a shame ya cant get the soundtrack anywhere hehe

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