Hey everybody, have you heard the news? Joe Bob is back in town. Thus begins the super-sized Season 6, which is supposed to last us most of the year, except with the trade-off that we’re not getting bi-weekly releases. Still, if this week was any indicator, we’re in for a great time at The Last Drive-In.
If you’re unfamiliar, every week on The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs; the former Monstervision host and his co-host Darcy The Mail Girl feature two movies that (sometimes) tie in together. This week was a live airing of Joe Bob’s Jamboree, a live show that they put on. During that jamboree, they showed both A Bucket of Blood and Deathstalker.
A Bucket Of Blood (And Good Times)
The first movie shown was A Bucket Of Blood; which is one of the earliest Roger Corman movies. It features a frequent collaborator of both he and Joe Dante, and that’s the late Dick Miller. If you’ve only seen Dick Miller from his smaller parts in movies like Gremlins and The Terminator; then it’s certainly something interesting to see him in a major starring role. Especially in a movie like A Bucket Of Blood.
The movie was interspersed with some behind-the-scenes tidbits, but also with an interview with Roger and Julie Corman. It was great to hear from them and get to spend time with them. As many Mutants may remember; Season 3 concluded with a Roger Corman double feature. That consisted of both The Little Shop of Horrors and Humanoids from the Deep. This was also a great deep dive into their storied careers; and shows why Roger Corman is one of the all-time great exploitation filmmakers as well as an all-time great guest on The Last Drive-In.
Don’t Fear The Deathstalker
The second movie shown was Deathstalker. The movie is fine, it didn’t really feel as fully in line with the horror side of things but there were some cool horror-esque moments in the movie. They brought out Bruce Dern, a frequent collaborator with Roger Corman, and it was great to hear from a film veteran like Bruce.
The movie had many of the things that make for a great movie at The Last Drive-In (Blood, Breasts, and Beasts!) so it was a fun watch. Especially to see an actor like Richard Brooker outside of the infamous hockey mask.
Conclusion
With two great movies, some great interviews, and the energy of a live crowd. The premiere for Season 6 of The Last Drive-In once again showed why fans like myself and others find the show so endearing and fun to watch. Hopefully, the expanded episode count and bi-weekly release will ensure we keep the momentum going with great movies and great interviews.
The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs airs live on Shudder Fridays at 6pm PST / 9pm EST. If you miss the live airing, episodes are also archived and posted the following Sunday.
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