Special Feature: Calamity of Snakes (1982)
The good folks at Unearthed Films have remastered this exploitation classic from Chi Chang. The premise is an endless horde of snakes seeking vengeance after a money-hungry businessman destroys their habitat to erect a luxury apartment.
To say this film couldn’t be made today is an understatement. The biggest exploitative element and one that”ll likely be uncomfortable to current viewers is the real kills of snakes. Literally hundreds had to have been slaughtered during the making of this from blowtorches, swords and actors flopping on them. The worst is what felt like an endless sequence of several mongooses preying on snakes. Another sequence that won’t fly today is a overweight actress stuffing her face being juxtaposed with video of a hog eating slop.
Despite this, there’s a lot of film sequences that’ll get big laughs out of you. The best are the oversized “king snakes” who engage in kung fu style fights with grandmasters and the flamethrower-equipped firefighters. They ambush guys by flying out of manholes and can fly across rooms to deliver whipping slaps. Every time is hysterical and keeps you invested in the fight outcomes.
Fans in attendance last night were treated to the first American screening of this remastered version. Those interested in purchasing should keep an eye on Unearthed Films’ future releases page.
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Check back tomorrow (April 4) as we recap Day 4 to conclude Buried Alive 2022.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 