The Meaning of J

 Pieces (1982) Artwork by Joshua Kelly      Pieces  (1982)   is exactly what you think it is, a hyperviolent Giallo-style slasher film with moments of absurdity and sleazy vibes to complement its trashy quality. It's a film so-bad-it's-good, full of subpar acting, atrocious dubbing, and scenes that have nothing to do with the plot and only serve to pad the film's runtime. It's the movie equivalent of junk food; it's not high-quality stuff, but it's delicious to eat regardless. It's the definition of a guilty pleasure, giving us a good time in exchange for a few laughs, even if the film itself isn't a good movie. Nevertheless, it lives up to the promise of its tagline as a slasher film full of blood, breasts, and sleaze.  "Well?" "It stinks!"   Pieces  (1982) is a slasher film set in Boston where co-eds of a college are stalked by a killer who aims to create a jigsaw puzzle out of their body parts. In a co-production between Spain, th...

 The Last House on the Left (1972)    Wes Craven (1939-2015) was an innovative horror director that left a lasting impression that endures in the world of horror cinema. He gave us one of the most enduring horror icons of the genre, in the form of Freddy Kruger, and gave us numerous horror classics such as A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), and Scream (1996). His pioneering work in the horror genre included a brilliant blend of humor and cliches, oftentimes these films were satirical in nature, as evidenced in the Scream series. I never considered covering his work in one of my reviews, but I eventually decided to celebrate the great horror director by reviewing his directorial debut, and the lasting impact it left in the horror genre, The Last House on the Left (1972).    To offer some insight, The Last House on the Left came out at a time when exploitation flicks were all the rage in drive-ins and movie theaters. These movies exploi...