Shameless Self Expression

Set a little bit after “House of 1,000 Corpses” , we pick up the exploits of the Firefly family as they find their abode under fire from the law, fronted by ruthlessly determined Sheriff Wydell (William Forsythe), whose seething hatred for the family stems from the murder of his brother in the earlier film, with a touch of Southern fried ‘Hand of God’ stuff as he seems just as blood-thirsty as the criminals he is doggedly pursuing. Family matriarch Mother Firefly (Leslie Easterbrook, replacing cross-eyed weirdo Karen Black) is captured, whilst Baby and Otis manage to get away and seek refuge in a crappy motel, terrorising a family there (featuring Priscilla Barnes and Geoffrey Lewis). They are soon joined by seedy patriarch Capt. Spaulding (Sid Haig) who suggests they go and stay with Spaulding’s ‘brother’, a pimp named Charlie Altamont (Ken Foree). Michael Berryman ( “The Hills Have Eyes” ) plays Charlie’s idiot associate, the late Matthew McGrory has his final role here returning...

Set during WWII in New Zealand, Jack Thompson is a surly dairy farmer who along with his wife (a hard-bitten Carol Burns, from TV’s “Prisoner” ) and two kids are gun-happy types socially outcast by the rest of their small town. Struggling economically, they are fearfully paranoid   of ‘foreigners’, embittered and constantly complain about their livestock being tampered with by immigrant neighbours (But aren’t Thompson and Burns Aussies?). However, within themselves they seem a loyal, close and loving family, even if they’re inefficient at presenting that side of themselves to others. But things really take a turn for the worse when a government order comes in for everyone to surrender their firearms for the war effort. Thompson (in a masterful performance as the rather ‘mixed-up’ patriarch) initially refuses the polite request by extremely patient copper Denis Lill, saying that his .303 has been stolen. He eventually gives in to the order, though...and then his wife goes and bu...

Stephen Curry (well-named when you think about it) stars as a cricket tragic who idolises Sachin Tendulkar and is part of a park cricket team. Curry manages to convince his boss (Darshan Jariwala) to organise for his team to have a tour of India. Unfortunately, Curry’s best friends and teammates are fairly unenthused. Brendan Cowell is the reformed bad boy who is now about to become a father, thus obviously being distracted. Even obnoxious party animal Damon Gameau has managed to get himself hitched. Needless to say, Curry is a helluva lot more dedicated to the game than his teammates. Will he be able to arouse enough team spirit and national pride to make a presentable showing in the sub-continent? Indian-Australian actress Pallavi Sharda plays the beautiful daughter of their manager, whom Curry has always had a soft spot for since they were teens. Look for New Zealand cricket legend Sir Richard Hadlee in a cameo as an umpire.   An unfortunate return to the dark old days...