INTRODUCTION
From The Deuce
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Welcome to the BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO EXPLOITATION CINEMA. This is a start-off point for people who are new to these kinds of films and find themselves confused by the sheer overwhelming number of them. This page will provide an easy introduction and a number of introductory tips of films you should watch. This page is also ideal for those who want to make sure they know the basics and are just interested in learning more.
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Dictionary
The Exploitation film is a type of film that eschews the expense of quality productions in favor of making films inexpensively, attracting viewers by exciting their more prurient interests. Exploitation films rely heavily on the lurid advertising of their content rather than the intrinsic quality of the film.
Exploitation films may feature forbidden sex, wanton violence, drug use, nudity, freaks, gore, monsters, destruction, rebellion and mayhem. Such films have existed since the earliest days of moviemaking, but they were popularized in the 1960s with the general relaxing of cinematic taboos in the U.S. and Europe. Since the 1990s, this genre has also received attention from academic circles, where it is sometimes called paracinema....(continue reading at Wikipedia.org)
Introduction
The world of film has definitely changed over the past 25 years. Theres been one hot blockbuster movie after another in that time. Filmmakers today need to fill a certain quota or standard to keep making films in Hollywood.
A long time ago...
The very first Exploitation or what were later known as "Grindhouse" films were tailored to adults in the late 1920s-early 30s. They were shown strictly in red light district movie houses and on roadshows. These Grindhouse films were mostly about sex and taboo drugs (like marijuana and heroin). Reefer Madness is a prime example of early Exploitation cinema.
Q: What is a Grindhouse?
A: Grindhouses were inner city movie theaters (such as the ones found on New York City's 42nd Street) that would show double and triple bills of exploitation, XXX (and mainstream) films as well. The term "grindhouse" came from how the theaters would 'grind' out one film after another all day and night for audiences. Another theory is that "grindhouse" was a slang term for the old Burlesque houses where the female performers would do "bump n' grind" dances.
Q: Whats the real difference between Exploitation cinema and Mainstream cinema?
A: The Baseline Film Encyclopedia says that Exploitation films by definition are: "Films made with little or no attention to quality or artistic merit but with an eye to a quick profit, usually via high-pressure sales and promotional techniques emphasizing some sensational aspect of the product."
Films whose erotic or pornographic subject matter is thus exploited have been known as "Sexploitation" films." The late Russ Meyer was the King Of Sexploitation Films. His films like "The Immoral Mr. Teas", "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!", "Supervixens" and "Up!" are cult classics of this racy genre.
There are many forms of Exploitation cinema. These films were usually low budget, quickly filmed B movies. They used whatever exploitative qualities (sex, gore, violence, action) they could to bring in a quick profit. The movies' advertising: the colorful and outrageous posters (seen on right), trailers, radio spots and TV commercial campaigns played a major part in creating the attraction. In the 60s and 70s, Exploitation cinema was filtering into more larger audiences. The films were moving out of the inner city and underground "Grindhouses" and were being shown at suburban Drive Ins and smaller chain theaters in America.
It should be noted that while the majority of Grindhouse films were made by independent companies, several of the big Hollywood studios started to release films that were aimed towards the Drive-In/Grindhouse crowds. If you look closely at some of your favorite Grindhouse film posters you may see names like MGM, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers under the colorful exploitation art.
The Exploitation film was not only an American staple in the 60s to the mid 80s, they were being made all over the world. From England to Asia. There were many genres that were started as well. Gore films (Blood Feast, The Beyond, Zombi 2, Cannibal Ferox), Spaghetti Westerns (A Fistful of Dollars, Django, Sabata, They Call Me Trinity), "Blaxploitation" films (Superfly, Coffy, The Mack, Dolemite), Kung Fu films (Shaw Brothers Studios, Japanese Karate films, Bruceploitation), Japanese Pop Samurai films (Lone Wolf and Cub, Zatoichi), Sexploitation films (Pets, Therese and Isabelle), "Hixploitation" Films (White Lightning, Moonshine County Express, Walking Tall), Women in Prison films (The Hot Box, The Big Bird Cage, Caged Heat) Cheerleader Films (The Swinging Cheerleaders, The Pom Pom Girls) Biker Films (Hells Angels on Wheels, The Wild Angels, The Savage Seven) and "Carsploitation" films (Death Race 2000, Cannonball, Gone in 60 Seconds).
Many of the Exploitation films had similar storylines. Sometimes you'd see storylines from Spaghetti Westerns show up in Kung Fu films and vice versa. Especially tales of revenge. Revenge stories were very big in the world of Exploitation. Films like Coffy (1973) and I Spit On Your Grave (1978) are prime examples of great Grindhouse Revenge classics. When the heroines of these films exacted their revenge, it was the bloodiest, most outrageously violent kind of retribution.
With the advent of VHS and the decline of Grindhouses and Drive Ins across the USA, the independent film studios began making mainly straight to video releases. Sadly, theres no more chances for younger generations to experience the fun of seeing actual theatrical Exploitation double features unless its at a special midnight screening or film festival.
Grindhouse films were LOW BUDGET HIGH THRILLS. Sadly, today most of what we get is HIGH BUDGET, NO THRILLS. A never ending flow of fake, CGI'd ADD/MTV friendly action and horror films.
For those of us who love classic Grindhouse-Exploitation cinema, we can be very happy because there are thousands of them out there to see. Seek and ye shall find. Today with the great DVD format and all the independent distribution companies, thousands of classic Grindhouse era titles are being released each year. It gives Grindhouse film fans access to many of the long forgotten gems of low budget/indie cinema that we otherwise would've never seen.
Go out and get these films, watch them... and enjoy!
What should I watch first?
- The introduction finishes with some examples of films you should start watching. We now have an essential list of films HERE.
Books
- Click here to check out some great books about Exploitation Cinema.