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So far, the American Larry Blamire has completed five features, achieving in my opinion an admirable and likable body of work, beginning with the well-received Lost Skeleton Of Cadavra (2001). Of the four I have managed to see, each has the distinctive style of its writer-director-actor: genial and humane humour, consistently amusing parody of older genres, allied with use of an increasingly familiar stock company - all of whom seem to be enjoying themselves as much as director and audience.Blamire writes, directs and frequently acts in his own films, his careful scripts reveling in non-sequiturs and deliberate longueurs whilst eschewing coarse dialogue. The surreal Trail Of The Screaming Forehead stands the most apart from its fellows I have seen, being made in colour, perhaps more expressly silly, with increased special effects work and the inclusion of special guest players (Dick Miller and Kevin McCarthy). Perhaps because of that, whilst still very amusing, it seems a little less characteristic and considered. However, this said, I have to report that after seeing it again lately I chuckled just as much as the first time - something which is entirely in line with those who revisit Blamire's films, which have a quiet quality all of their own and which never grow stale - which is ironic, as they constantly reference dated genres.I think Blamire is an auteur to treasure, one who gives the art of parody back its name and quality - especially after the dismal, bigger-budgeted attempts of the likes of Jason Friedberg and the Wayans, directors who seem to have no affection for the films they imitate and always aim for the obvious. Their films are, arguably, hardly films at all - merely narrative clothes pegs on which to hang cheap laughs, slapdash and vulgar in equal measure, where Blamire is neither.Speaking for myself, a sure-fire indication of a good parody is my willingness to revisit the work when the original joke has been seen and gone; this is true of most of Blamire's films, which grow more amusing and endearing upon re-acquaintance. And while the film types Blamire affectionately references have typically long since left our screen, I think his own work set around them remains fresh and original.Lost Skeleton was the first I discovered and still has a special place in my affections; but there's not much between it and Dark And Stormy Night - the finest ensemble piece in Blamire's work. Only The Lost Skeleton Returns Again I think a slight disappointment - even though it too has its moments, if only because inevitably there's a sense of deja vu in any sequel of this sort while the narrative flow seems a little forced. (I hope to rent a copy of Johnny Slade's Greatest Hits (UK: Meet The Mobsters) soon, as that undoubtedly adds another dimension to Blamire's output albeit one far more commercial.) Although the liking, or not, of any film is always a matter of taste, I would recommend a discovery of Blamire's small but extremely likable oeuvre, filled with charming nonsense, endearing featured players, and quotable moments of dialogue, to anyone. In a world of CGI, bloated superstar egos and coarse humour passing as wit this all comes a pleasant discovery.

I accidentally found Lost Skeleton of Cadavera while channel surfing one day. It became one of my top five favorite movies. I anxiously awaited Lost Skeleton Returns Again and found it to be trying hard to recapture the magic of its predecessor. Trail of the Screaming Forehead seemed to me to be doing the same. I did get a few chucks and one or two "laugh out louds" but I think that was because I knew what to expect. Now I get Larry Blamire and his "so stupid its funny" approach, however in this movie sometimes it worked and sometimes it just didn't. The actors seem less straight faced and tend to get a bit silly at times, even leaving the motivation within motivation that the actors used in Lost Skeleton (Andrew Parks is quoted as saying he imagined himself as an actor who viewed as his most important roll ever).All thing considered I did enjoy the movie because this is the kind of humor that I enjoy. It will have a cult following I'm sure, and I will watch it again just to notice those little gems I'd missed the first time, just like the first two that I've seen.

The scuttlebutt is that apparently, as of late 2010, the film has gotten distribution and will be released to DVD shortly.The version I saw was the one screened on the Independent Film Channel. According to director Larry Blamire, he stated in a Facebook post that this is NOT his approved cut of the film, so I am curious to see the differences between the two presentations. Any comments I am making here relate to the cut seen on IFC. The only way it could have been seen otherwise was at a film festival, which the film played several of since 2007.I still loved the film, even if Larry had some problems with it.You get his usual company of players, and "play" is the appropriate word here, since they all seem to be having a great time, playing around and coming together to pay tribute to a wide variety of classic cinema tropes.This time, the target is medium budget almost major studio sci-fi extravaganza of the late 1950's or early 1960's. The studio has decided to spring for the indulgence of color film for a sci-fi genre picture, and the art department is told to make the most of that extra investment: costumes, sets and cars are highly colorful, with that saturated technicolor look of films such the Hitchcock productions of the period (like "The Birds," the closest thing Hitchcock ever did to a science fiction film).A little pre-Betty Friedan feminism is thrown in for good measure, as well as the usual themes of that time such as suburban conformity and the Red Scare/Cold War.All the actors are spot on, including Larry himself as two-bit hood Nick Vassidine. He probably started life as Nick Vaseline, because he was so greasy, but Larry had to change it due to trademark concerns. Just speculation there on my part.Also should mention Jennifer Blaire as his moll, Droxy, who has a lot of Moxie. I just hope she doesn't drink it, that stuff is the second worst soda pop ever made.I hate to bring up the cliché, but if you're a fan of Larry's, you've probably already seen it, and if you don't get his thing, then you never will. I'm just wondering how to convert the unconvinced out there, those not already on the Blamire train. Handcuffs and threats? Bribes and tickling? Infomercials? Any suggestions on bringing Larry's art to a wider audience would be welcome.

One of the great joys of Larry Blamire's films is that he uses the same core cast for each of his affectionate pastiches, so you get to see them in a variety of roles. The affection one feels for them upon meeting up again is akin to that felt for long gone movie actors of one's childhood. This film "presented by Ray Harryhausen" has inexplicably failed to find distribution, even to DVD, but eventually showed up near Hallowe'en 2010 on the Independent Film Channel. It uses INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS as its template (indeed, the late Kevin McCarthy makes a brief cameo appearance).This has some nice animation (or CGI?) from the Chiodo Brothers, and a really hysterical theme song, which Blamire's wife manages to sing twice in the film a capella (hats off for that!).This is not as spot on as THE LOST SKELETON OF CADAVRA, but it is certainly wonderful enough to deserve distribution. I particularly like the disguise the aliens use of pillbox hats with veils which completely fails to hide their bulging foreheads.