caligulathegod

As with most challenges, the goal is to reach 100 movies. Your own goal might be higher or lower. Challenge begins April 1, 2022, 12:00 am EDT (or Dusk March 31) and ends May 1 at dawn.



Sex, violence, torn-from-today's-headlines shockers, fast cars, faster pussycats, psycho killers and kids run wild — throw a few (or all) of these ingredients into a pot, let the whole thing boil over, and you have the recipe for some tasty exploitation cinema.

What kinds of films are we talking about? Well, there is no hard and fast rule. This one is largely up to you.

What is an exploitation movie? Exploitation film is a type of film that is promoted by "exploiting" often lurid subject matter. The term "exploitation" is common in film marketing, used for all types of films to mean promotion or advertising. These films then need something to exploit, such as a big star, special effects, sex, violence, romance, etc. An exploitation film, however, relies heavily on sensationalist advertising and broad and lurid overstatement of the issues depicted, regardless of the intrinsic quality of the film. Very often, exploitation films are of low quality in every sense. However, this has not always been the case. Exploitation films sometimes attract critical attention and cult followings.

Rules

The Goal is 100 films. These type of films tend to be short, but they also might be a challenge to get through. Your personal goal might be higher or lower, depending on your tolerance for this type of cinema.

A film can only be counted once per list with the exception of riffed/commentaried films (see below).

This challenge is for Movies. Although we are not allowing TV shows, Made for TV Movies are allowed as are Direct to Video features.

We are allowing documentaries on Exploitation and Drive-ins and those involved with the production thereof. These should be features over 40 minutes.. We are also allowing trailer compilations, such as 42nd Street Forever and Something Weird compilations. Compilations should be at least an hour.
Throw a viewing party and show trailers between movies.

Mystery Science Theater 3000, Riff Trax, Cinematic Titanic, etc. are allowed. If there is a second riffed version (for example, MST3K did one, then Cinematic Titanic did the same movie) you may watch the second and any additional riffed versions for a full credit each, but I encourage you to just watch another movie, instead.

Commentaries. All commentaries count as views.

B-Movies are still included, but you are on your own with those. If you understand the actual concept of B-Movies and don't need individual confirmations on titles then you are welcome to have this be your challenge.

Films that have been nominated for Oscars are discouraged but not banned. I had originally wanted this to be the only hard rule, but I came across too many exceptions.

Drive-In exception rule: Any film seen in an actual Drive-In during the challenge 2022, regardless of other qualification, counts toward your list.. Please note that it was a Drive-In Movie.

Mini-series and Serials: We will go with the Sci-Fi rule on TV Mini-series (one "night" equals an entry), on Serials (we'll go with an hour's worth per entry), provided they actually were theatrical serials. A serial episode is about 15-20 minutes, so an hour's worth counts as an entry. Four-15 minute ones or Three-20 minute episodes. You can round up. This goes for other shorts and compilations as well.

There are 3 Wild Cards for non-conforming films. These are ones that are close but may have some doubts about.

For fun, keep a running tally of "before they were famous" appearances in your list.

Please number your lists. Also, it is helpful to put a link to your list in your signature. This makes it easier for others to check out your list.

Please tally your totals including "new views" at the end of the challenge.

"I still don't understand what kinds of movies you are talking about."

This list is not exclusive nor definitive, but these are the most representative movies for the challenge:
Italian (or European) films of the following Genres:
* Giallo/Krimi
* Sword & Sandal
* Spaghetti Western
* Cannibal Film
Martial Arts film:
* Bruce Lee-sploitation (Starring any variation on Bruce Li, Le, etc.)
* Hong Kong (or other Asian) film
* American film
* Any "Ninja" film
* Bonus* Actual Bruce Lee film
Asian Action Film
Biker Film
Stoner Film
Carsploitation Film
FADsploitation
Blaxploitation
Sexploitation:
* Any type
* Nudie Cutie
* Roughie
* 70s Porn (film)
* Emmanuelle Film
* Teen Sex Comedy
Nunsploitation
Shocksploitation
Rape/Revenge Film
Vigilante Film
Women in Prison
Nazisploitation
Eschploitation (religious end times, or general religious exploitation)
Hixploitation/Moonshiners
Roadshow Exploitation/30s-40s "Cautionary" films
Juvenile Delinquent Film
60s Beach Movie
Film starring Musical Group or Music Star (that did not become a legit actor)
* *Bonus* Elvis film
Ozploitation
(NEW) Canuxploitation
Mexican Wrestling Film
Foreign "Ripoff" film (such as Turkish cinema)
Eco-Terror Film
Pre-90s Post-Apocalyptic film
Plague-sploitation
Mockbuster
"Mondo" Film
Documentary ABOUT Exploitation/Drive-ins or those involved in their production
Video Nasty
Critical Bomb (Less than 20% Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic or IMDB Bottom 100 {Bottom 100 archive})
Financial Bomb
Razzie Winner or Nominee
MST3K/RiffTrax (or Cinematic Titanic) version of a film
(NEW) Trailer Compilation (feature length)
(NEW) LGBTQ film

Great resource for movies: Letterboxd user Andrew Liverod has curated Genre: Exploitation (100 Years: 1896-1995). The nice thing about Letterboxd is that you can filter to see what's available to stream on your services. For instance, there are presently 205 titles from that comprehensive list presently streaming on Paramount+. In the notes for that list are links to sub-genre lists, including (I think) all the ones in the checklist and several more. Now that Spring has begun, for instance, beach movies come to mind. Selecting the Genre: Exploitation - Beach Party Movies (100 Years: 1896-1995) list shows eleven Beach Party movies streaming on Paramount+.


In the WIKI is a list of filmmakers and actors that by their very presence make a film "safe". While some of these people (actors especially) might have some exceptions in their credits (like Star Trek for William Shatner), generally films with the listed creative talent are safe for the challenge. Questions? Ask in the thread.

caligulathegod

Old business? New business? Thirteen years and still at it. Very much looking forward to this one. My hours have changed for the better, so I should be more engaged in the evenings.

I added a new category. Box Set Tribute. Watch films from a box set tribute. Either actor or filmmaker. Break out those Andy Milligan, Al Adamson, Streetfighter Sonny Chiba sets. You don't have to do all 10 from the box set, but at least 3 from a single box set.

Trevor

Looking forward to an excuse to open a boxset or two.

Darkgod

Very awesome... and The Last Drive in debuts 4/29.

mrcellophane

Looking forward to it, especially after watching so many long Oscar nominees. It'll be nice to bask in the glory of 90 minute post-apocalypse movies!

caligulathegod

100 Eurotrash films to see before you die.

shadokitty

Awesome looking list. And I've seen some of them.

caligulathegod

There's a few anniversaries this year. Pink Flamingos, Frogs and Last House on the Left are 50 years old. Eraserhead is 45 today. Forbidden World, Swamp Thing is 40. Twin Peaks Fire Walk With Me is 30. Freaks is 90.

Travis McClain

A nice (though limited) free resource to recommend is Kino Cult, Kino Lorber's free streaming service dedicated to these kinds of flicks.

Also, Tubi has a selection of titles from Full Moon Features.

caligulathegod

That's a great channel. I forgot I had installed it on my Roku. It has a great selection of the Kino/Something Weird Forbidden Fruit series. $5 if you want to remove the ads.

omike

I'm also really looking forward to this as I do every year. I've got the Andy Milligan box set ready to go and recently got a Roku. I have the B-Movie channel and Tubi installed but haven't had a chance to check out Tubi very much so thanks for the tips about Full Moon and Forbidden Fruit. I was surprised to find that B-Movie TV doesn't have any commercials during the movies. Has anyone tried the B-Movie streaming channel? I always get an error message when I click on it.

Travis McClain

Checklist Proposals

Eliminate Formats
Or, because I understand the appeal of this particular challenge for the hardcore physical media collectors among us, designate this section as Optional and expand to five. As it is, it's so easy to watch a Blu-ray Disc, a DVD, and stream something that having to hit three formats seems pointless.

Eliminate MPA Ratings
The heart of this challenge is basically to explore the films that sought their audience by circumventing the MPA in the first place.

Genre -- Add the following:
Canuxploitation
Trailer Compilation [feature-length, like The AGFA Horror Trailer Show or Trailer War]

Add to Safe section movies from the following official top lists:
iCheckMovies BadMovies.org's Best B-Movies
iCheckMovies Galloway's Samurai Film Handbook & Companion
iCheckMovies Grindhouse Cinema Database's Top Grindhouse Classics
iCheckMovies Tim Dirks's 100+ Most Controversial Films of All-Time
Letterboxd Official Letterboxd Adult Film Megalist

Also, Letterboxd user Andrew Liverod has curated Genre: Exploitation (100 Years: 1896-1995). The nice thing about Letterboxd is that you can filter to see what's available to stream on your services. For instance, there are presently 205 titles from that comprehensive list presently streaming on Paramount+. In the notes for that list are links to sub-genre lists, including (I think) all the ones in the checklist and several more. Now that Spring has begun, for instance, beach movies come to mind. Selecting the Genre: Exploitation - Beach Party Movies (100 Years: 1896-1995) list shows eleven Beach Party movies streaming on Paramount+.

caligulathegod

Good ideas. I shall implement them into the wiki and the OP.

caligulathegod

The Razzies have a Bruce Willis category this years. Apparently he was in 8 films last year, all DTV drek. Sounds perfect to watch. It's even more exploitative considering the rumors that Mr. Willis might have dementia and is trying to sock away some quick cash before his career is over. I'm not sure how much I could enjoy them, though, knowing this. There's exploitation, then there's exploitation.

Dimension X

I'm a big fan of B-Movie TV, unfortunately, after six years or so of watching, I've seen just about everything in his library and only occasionally get to see something new there. The other Roku channel I currently like a lot is OtherWorlds TV. If you check out their Facebook page, you can see their daily schedule - they play 12 movies in a rotating schedule during the week (each movie is scheduled four hours earlier the next day). I try to look at the new list of movies early on Monday and note which films I haven't seen, then using the "time travel" bug that allows viewers to "reschedule" OtherWorlds TV (and B-Movie TV), I switch my time zone on my Roku and work my way through the movies on the schedule that I haven't seen. On weekends they play mostly hosted horror shows - I'm not a big fan of those. They also have a "Vault" where Patreon patrons can watch movies on demand, but I haven't tried that.

EDIT: I think a lot of the movies they show on OtherWorlds TV (maybe all of them) are also available on Tubi.

Travis McClain

If we knew that he got a percentage from home video sales or streams, it would be supportive. Chances are, though, he only got whatever they paid upfront. Tough call on an ethical level. Maybe watch them but follow each one with a viewing of Hudson Hawk or something?

caligulathegod

He's getting a couple $ million up front to show up for one or two days, gets fed lines through an ear piece if he has lines at all. One film with Owen Wilson has him show up and just say, "yeah," a lot. Of course, the idea being that his presence makes the film sell more views. There are diminishing returns, though. Nick Cage made a lot of garbage the past decade but has finally paid his debt, so he can be selective again. Now he's getting better reviews and might get more box office.

davidh777

I was wondering if the title was an oxymoron, but it actually looks like a really good list.

omike

It's good to know that I'll have years of enjoyment from B-Movie TV! Thanks for the suggestion for OtherWorlds TV. I added that to my Roku and it looks good - I especially like that you can see what's coming up for a week. And a BIG thanks for mentioning the "time travel" bug. I can hardly wait to try that out.

Dimension X

Have fun! Another channel you might want to check out is B-Zone. It was started by a couple of guys who had been with B-Movie TV, but decided to cut out on their own for whatever reasons. They play too much anime, '80s-'90s TV, and concerts for my tastes (I want movies), but that's one of the great things about these independent Roku channels, they reflect the tastes and interests of the people who run them, and, if you're lucky, you'll find one (or more) that clicks with you (at least most of the time).

shadokitty

I don't have Amazon Prime anymore, but do have YouTube and Tubi. Plus I have a good selection of DVDs. This year I might actually watch the Ninja trilogy. I have Enter The Ninja and Revenge Of The Ninja on Amazon Instant Video and I have Ninja III on Blu Ray. I've only watched the first one so far though.

mrcellophane

Ninja III: The Domination is a great, trippy movie - definitely a good watch for a fan of Cannon movies.

Travis McClain

I went through my disc library and created a list of my objectives. I'll save several for the Horror Challenge but it still leaves me with 23 movies to watch. I haven't looked at how much of the checklist they'll cover; I'll start streaming stuff to fill it in when I get there. It's dawned on me that my Letterboxd is going to get pretty sketchy by the end of the month. (I'm less concerned with what all this is going to do to my brain. I have weekly therapy sessions.)

caligulathegod

You mentioned Cinderella (1977). With mixed emotions I can report it is coming out on Blu-ray, but in May.

Travis McClain

Are your mixed emotions by chance related to an aggravating experience purchasing from Full Moon? I had one, acquiring that very DVD. I'll content myself with that rather than risk subjecting myself to a repeat of that frustration.