For the full back-story on the test subject check out Doc Freex's "Making A Bad Movie" over at:

INTRODUCTION: "Bad Movies For Dummies"

I've been asked several times, "What kind of entertainment an/or enjoyment do you get outta watching Bad Movies?"  That, and, "What are you?  Retarded?"

Waitaminnit....the latter is something only my sister asks me.  But what does she know....she's a big doody-head. Anyways...to explain this, I believe a little bit of a history lesson is neccessary. I'm a huge film buff, and have been for several years....even before I made an effort to make it a hobby or give any thought to the fact that I was addicted to cinema.   This, I believe, is a natural outgrowth of my life-long interest in funnybooks.  Y'know...comic books...the stuff that your mothers always warned you about rotting yer brain.  It's a pretty big no-brainer that a love for sequential art would lead to a love of filmmaking and all it's trappings....basically because both are artistic mediums that tell stories with the use of both pictures and words.

Retarded?  HKC circa Christmas 2002

The only thing film has ever had up on comics is a soundtrack, and now with the advent of the web-comic, I think some of the more imaginative people behind those are even finding ways around that particular stumbling block.  This love for comics also led to an undying affection for the genres of science fiction and horror, two aquired tastes that became reflected in my choice of film genres.

But...why the worst of the two types of flicks, you might ask, as many have in the past?  It's quite simple..... Seeing as how I started viewing film as a hobby, as with anything I take an interest in, I tend to become somewhat of a completist, immersing myself in knowledge on anything connected to the medium.   Which means reading as many reference books and fan devoted magazines (especially those dedicated to particular genres that are the most appealing to me) as possible, and most importantly, an insatiable need to see everything....at least everything that's considered "good".  Then, the need to feed "the Thrill of the Hunt" comes into play......

A boy and his PC.  HKC circa 2001

Being a person already familiar with the art of collecting comics and the trappings of it's fan community, I had already tasted "The Thrill".  It's basically an impulsive addiction, the need to have the experience of tracking down and finding the items one wants, so that they can fulfill their urge and/or thoughts of completion and closure.  And, with film, this led to constant trips to the video store, theatres, late night television viewing....just to get a glimpse of those things that I felt the need to have seen.  And even better, if one owns a copy of it, you can relive the experience of seeing your favorites at any point in the future you choose. But....what happens when you've seen almost everything that's "good", and this need to experience the hunt still aches?  This is what leads to what author Stephen King refers to as "The Diamond In the Rough" factor.  In his wonderful non-fiction essay on the horror genre, Danse Macbre, King relates to "Bad" films as "The Horror Movie As Junk Food", and that horror fans tend to watch alot of terrible stuff, constantly with the hopes of running across something that will be of some significant value to their aestetic views....i.e., finding a "diamond in the rough".   And seeing as how both the genres of horror and sci-fi seem to lend themselves to poor and/or low budget filmmaking...you got sift through alotta coal to run across 24kts.....

HKC's first and favorite "Bad" movie

Then....there's the "So Bad, It's Funny" factor,which comes into play when concerned with my quirky sense of humor.  I love unintentional humor....and "Bad" movies are full of it.  Maybe this reveals a masochistic side to me, but I love to laugh at the short-comings of others, especially when it comes to talent and general execution of ideas.  Or maybe laugh with them....because, hell....I'm extremely adept at discovering and labelling my own limitations and faults.  My first experience in the world of "Bad" movies could probably be traced back to a high school viewing of the 1964 "classic", Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, a weird science fiction kiddie oddity whose title just screams to be heckled at.   Sure, it's terrible....but it's incredibly fun to watch.   And, you'll find, "Bad" movies tend to grow on you, especially when you find ones that you like....because it's a love similiar to the kind that a mother would feel for an "idiot" child...one that tries so hard to succeed....yet fails miserably in the end....but it's intentions make it so likeable.  So no matter what, remember this:  Have fun.   That's the whole purpose of watching these damn things....that, and the need to rationalize why we love crap.  At least that's the conclusion that I've come to.   God help us all.....heh.

Continue to PART ONE