I've Come Here to Kick Ass and Chew Flies, and I'm All Out of Flies
October 14, 2021 9:14 PM Subscribe
"Reflect, for a moment, on the art of cinema; consider the profound emotional experience of a truly great film or a truly great trailer."
A little known but ribbeting film from the late '80s, frogotten by the ages, which ... spawned a trilogy of movies, featuring Sir Roddy of Piper, less than a year before his They Live fame.
The 50-50 reaction among critics on its Rotten Tomatoes page shows the movie to be a ... tad polarizing.
A little known but ribbeting film from the late '80s, frogotten by the ages, which ... spawned a trilogy of movies, featuring Sir Roddy of Piper, less than a year before his They Live fame.
The 50-50 reaction among critics on its Rotten Tomatoes page shows the movie to be a ... tad polarizing.
This post was deleted for the following reason: Poster's Request -- loup
Playing that trailer gave my computer warts.
I had no idea that much cocaine even existed. I can only imagine the conception and making of this movie must have put a hefty dent in the global supply.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:57 PM on October 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
I had no idea that much cocaine even existed. I can only imagine the conception and making of this movie must have put a hefty dent in the global supply.
posted by Greg_Ace at 9:57 PM on October 14, 2021 [7 favorites]
...or perhaps that's just me leaping to a conclusion
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:11 PM on October 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 10:11 PM on October 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Song Remains the Same
as in town for ya-yo fueled cinema.
admittedly a documentary like film but just look at Peter Grant going batshit insane because he's out out 200 Grand from the safe job.
frogotten by the ages
This Mike, is gold.
other notable films Hustler squad: professionals you pay for the pleasure the killing is free. the woman hunt starring John Ashley. black cobra. The controversial movie The Night Porter. Galaxyina. kill kill. kill. 1972's, Sweet revenge. No blade of grass. one of my favorites the raw shocking movie of a pop singer who makes it big. Privilege, starring Paul Jones. and everybody's all time favorite Dusty and sweets McGee.
posted by clavdivs at 10:23 PM on October 14, 2021 [4 favorites]
as in town for ya-yo fueled cinema.
admittedly a documentary like film but just look at Peter Grant going batshit insane because he's out out 200 Grand from the safe job.
frogotten by the ages
This Mike, is gold.
other notable films Hustler squad: professionals you pay for the pleasure the killing is free. the woman hunt starring John Ashley. black cobra. The controversial movie The Night Porter. Galaxyina. kill kill. kill. 1972's, Sweet revenge. No blade of grass. one of my favorites the raw shocking movie of a pop singer who makes it big. Privilege, starring Paul Jones. and everybody's all time favorite Dusty and sweets McGee.
posted by clavdivs at 10:23 PM on October 14, 2021 [4 favorites]
And don't miss Return to Frogtown (with Lou Ferrigno)
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:24 PM on October 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ChurchHatesTucker at 10:24 PM on October 14, 2021 [2 favorites]
Ah, The Dance of the Three Snakes
posted by The otter lady at 10:30 PM on October 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by The otter lady at 10:30 PM on October 14, 2021 [1 favorite]
So in 1988 Rowdy Roddy Piper fights man-frogs in a movie and its considered as something of a bizarre amusement for its obvious low budget absurdity, while nowadays The Rock can get sucked into a board game and fight mandrills and ostrichs in a 132 million dollar movie and John Cena can fight a giant starfish in a 185 million dollar flick and no one bats an eye. It seems like Hell Comes to Frogtown has truly shaped a generation of filmmakers despite being largely ignored by the general public at the time. It must be that the few who did see it found it truly inspirational, making it kinda like the Velvet Underground the film world I guess.
posted by gusottertrout at 10:59 PM on October 14, 2021 [23 favorites]
posted by gusottertrout at 10:59 PM on October 14, 2021 [23 favorites]
Oh, sorry, I should have said Hell Comes to Frogtown had a jump on the trend, for the obligatory pun requirement of the thread.
(Though it's no competition for the excellent "a tad polarizing")
posted by gusottertrout at 11:19 PM on October 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
(Though it's no competition for the excellent "a tad polarizing")
posted by gusottertrout at 11:19 PM on October 14, 2021 [16 favorites]
I'm pretty sure I watched this on video in '88 or so but nothing in the trailer looks very familiar. I guess my memory filed it in the spam folder.
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:47 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:47 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
^ I'm with you, Liquidwolf. I know I watched it, and I remember nothing.
@gusottertrout, I don't think there was anything--anything--seminal or notable about the film. Team Troma had been putting out schlocky, goofy, bikini-studded stuff and really, there have always been dumb movies. Judging by the run of the Fast and Furious franchise, I imagine we all just got dumber right along with our movies.
posted by elkevelvet at 7:40 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
@gusottertrout, I don't think there was anything--anything--seminal or notable about the film. Team Troma had been putting out schlocky, goofy, bikini-studded stuff and really, there have always been dumb movies. Judging by the run of the Fast and Furious franchise, I imagine we all just got dumber right along with our movies.
posted by elkevelvet at 7:40 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
Yakuza Vampire VS Frog Bruce Lee - YouTube.
posted by zengargoyle at 7:50 AM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by zengargoyle at 7:50 AM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
I notice it also features that person who is always standing and walking.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:13 AM on October 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 8:13 AM on October 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
There's even two sequels: Return to Frogtown and Max Hell Frog Warrior
posted by octothorpe at 8:35 AM on October 15, 2021
posted by octothorpe at 8:35 AM on October 15, 2021
Don't forget the origin story prequel, Frogtown: A Tadpole Arising
posted by oulipian at 8:44 AM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by oulipian at 8:44 AM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
Half the Youtube comments are "I remember this from USA Up All Night!"
So I came here to say the same thing.
The fact that THAT is what GenX was watching on basic cable after our parents went to bed may or may not explain something about us. Probably not. But there you go.
posted by Xiphias Gladius at 8:46 AM on October 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
So I came here to say the same thing.
The fact that THAT is what GenX was watching on basic cable after our parents went to bed may or may not explain something about us. Probably not. But there you go.
posted by Xiphias Gladius at 8:46 AM on October 15, 2021 [3 favorites]
Metafilter: That may or may not explain something about us. Probably not. But there you go.
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:51 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Greg_Ace at 8:51 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
I've actually seen part of this and it isn't worth pursuing. Under-rated character actor Nicholas Worth appears frog-masked in a backing role here.
posted by ovvl at 11:47 AM on October 15, 2021
posted by ovvl at 11:47 AM on October 15, 2021
Half the Youtube comments are "I remember this from USA Up All Night!"
This is really the only way it should be watched.
posted by Liquidwolf at 11:51 AM on October 15, 2021 [1 favorite]
"Little known" maybe to millennials and younger, but a true classic of shlock cinema, nonetheless.
posted by BigBrooklyn at 1:06 PM on October 15, 2021
posted by BigBrooklyn at 1:06 PM on October 15, 2021
"Little known" maybe to millennials and younger, but a true classic of shlock cinema, nonetheless.
Yeah I was going to say something similar (the film has been released 4 times on DVD and was a common VHS title) but I move in different film viewing circles. That said, the late director of Hell Comes to Frogtown is an interesting character and there's a book about him that's worth a look Donald G. Jackson: Soldier of Cinema. If you've ever seen the documentary American Movie and are a fan, you'd do well to seek out this director's Demon Lover (AKA Coven) and the riveting behind the scenes documentary Demon Lover Diary. When I first saw American Movie, I actually thought it was a fake version of Demon Lover Diary (but I guess history repeats itself). If you find Hell Comes to Frogtown (and Roddy Piper at his peak) entertaining, track down Donald G. Jackson's Roller Blade movies. In particular his almost avant garde anti-masterpiece, the Roller Blade Seven.
posted by Ashwagandha at 2:05 PM on October 15, 2021
Yeah I was going to say something similar (the film has been released 4 times on DVD and was a common VHS title) but I move in different film viewing circles. That said, the late director of Hell Comes to Frogtown is an interesting character and there's a book about him that's worth a look Donald G. Jackson: Soldier of Cinema. If you've ever seen the documentary American Movie and are a fan, you'd do well to seek out this director's Demon Lover (AKA Coven) and the riveting behind the scenes documentary Demon Lover Diary. When I first saw American Movie, I actually thought it was a fake version of Demon Lover Diary (but I guess history repeats itself). If you find Hell Comes to Frogtown (and Roddy Piper at his peak) entertaining, track down Donald G. Jackson's Roller Blade movies. In particular his almost avant garde anti-masterpiece, the Roller Blade Seven.
posted by Ashwagandha at 2:05 PM on October 15, 2021
A trailer for Demon Lover Diary and a review, as a taste.
posted by Ashwagandha at 2:31 PM on October 15, 2021
posted by Ashwagandha at 2:31 PM on October 15, 2021
I loved this shit out of this movie. I, too, saw it on USA "UP" All Night (with Rhonda Shear).
posted by gwydapllew at 2:47 PM on October 15, 2021
posted by gwydapllew at 2:47 PM on October 15, 2021
The fact that THAT is what GenX was watching on basic cable after our parents went to bed may or may not explain something about us.
Team Rhonda or Team Gilbert, it didn't matter. You just watched.
posted by hippybear at 5:46 PM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
Team Rhonda or Team Gilbert, it didn't matter. You just watched.
posted by hippybear at 5:46 PM on October 15, 2021 [2 favorites]
(and Roddy Piper at his peak)
Excuse me... THEY LIVE
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:41 PM on October 15, 2021
Excuse me... THEY LIVE
posted by Liquidwolf at 6:41 PM on October 15, 2021
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posted by hippybear at 9:24 PM on October 14, 2021 [4 favorites]