The Bloody Brood

Rating:
Summary: Peter Falk as a Psychopathic Drug Dealing Beatnik Murderer !
Review: First, I should mention that the edition I've seen is not this one, but the one put out by SWV - - I mention this, because sometimes same movie/different cut can almost amount to a different movie (even a different ending), but that may not necessarily be the case. - Whatever, see an unbelievably young Peter Falk make his film acting debut in a North of the border (Canadian) film as a "cool" cold blooded drug dealing "beatnik" who commits a murder just for the kicks of it. He does it by feeding "ground glass" to a young "square" all American type delivery boy, who's brother gets on the case, makes the scene and tries to pin it on him. - - In all honesty, I had a lot of trouble believing that you could actually kill someone by feeding them glass... so (proving myself to have way to much time on the internet) I looked it up... and one of those "urban legend" sights confirmed : though a popular way of killing someone in many murder/mystery books and movies... it is quite unrealistic... but still, its just a movie right ?

While this film lacks the cool daddy-o finger popping hipness and quirk of my all time favorite "beatsploitation" film THE FAT BLACK PUSSYCAT, and at times has all the excitement of a COLUMBO episode (you can tell the director *was* definitely a square) its still a good film if you're a b-movie junky... or you just want to get the kick out of seeing a very young Peter Falk playing the warped leader of a "beatnik" gang. Incidentally, I kinda dug that Maynard G. Krebs type character... I have a bobble head at my bar in Tokyo that looks just like him !

If you're interested in Beatnik culture in general, check out RHINO'S BEAT GENERATION box [set] while you're at it... and again, SWVs double FEATURE DVD the BLACK CAT which is coupled with THE FAT BLACK PUSSYCAT.

Rating:
Summary: When Beatniks Attack or Hepcats From Hell...
Review: Peter Falk is Nico, a smack dealer who poses as the leader of a merry band of beatniks. Nico's not just cool man, he's like crazy baby! He watches an old bum die and decides it is the ultimate kickeroo. Later at a swinging party, complete with goofy dancing, goatees, bongos, and a sea of turtleneck sweaters, Nico and his croany decide to feed an unlucky messenger boy a fatal ground-glass burger just to watch him die. Thankfully, the victim's non-beatnik brother Cliff (Jack Betts) sets out to catch those responsible for his sibling's death. Cliff delves into the dark, dank, terminally hep underbelly of beatnik culture looking for clues. He turns out to be one of the only ones among them with either a conscience or a brain. He is finally helped by a girl (Barbara Lord) who is disillusioned with Nico. Together, they attempt to cramp Nico's style. THE BLOODY BROOD is full of quasi-philosophical musings about life, death, work, etc., and priceless quotes like, "Did he die, or was he murdered by life?" WOW! That's deep, man! So, just pull up a floorpillow, put on your sandals and raybans, and tune into the scene! ...