On a brand new WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ?, James Iglehart is out for some samurai sword-based revenge in Cirio H. Santiago’s 1978 martial arts exploitation film DEATH FORCE (aka FIGHTING MAD)! Featuring plenty of decapitations, some problematic sword training, and – of course – our man Vic Diaz. CHECK IT OUT!
Leslie Nielsen is leading a group of brainwashed, drugged up SUPER SOLDIERS in the Philippines but after taking a break from his daily dose of super soldier serum he starts to grow a conscience and goes on the run, with his first-in-command Gary Lockwood hot on his trail in William Girdler’s conspiracy action film PROJECT: KILL from 1976. If you like seeing two old, not-very-flexible actors throwing kicks and uppercuts while Filipino stuntmen go flying, this is the movie for you. Best of all SPECIAL GUEST Vic Diaz shows up to gnaw on the scenery. Check it out!
They took his girl. Now he’s talking them STRAIGHT TO HELL! On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ we’re getting properly post-apocalyptic with Cirio H. Santiago’s Mad Max-“inspired”, giant gun classic EQUALIZER 2000 starring Richard Norton (/w frosted tips), Corinne Wahl and a VERY young Robert Patrick in only his second ever role! There’s lots of gunfire, explosions and – blissfully – almost no plot to be concerned with, and it delivers the promise of a very big gun that mows down tons of faceless bad guys. HOORAY. We also chat a bit about the long tradition of post-apocalyptic films and some of our favs, and – of course – we dive into an appearance by the legendary Vic Diaz. CHECK IT OUT!
On this high kicking episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re setting off with a nudity-filled sexploitation comedy mixed with a martial arts action film featuring a dash of the living dead, cannibalism, Nazis, explosions and a heck of a lot more with the wild 1981 mashup RAW FORCE from director Edward D. Murphy! Starring Cameron Mitchell, Geoffrey Binney, Hope Holiday, FIRECRACKER’s Jillian Kesner and – of course – Vic Diaz, this one is goofy as hell, and occasionally lives up to its extra lurid poster art. We also discuss cult film revivals, what it means for a film to be “trash”, the definition of exploitation and all sorts of other heady topics. CHECK IT OUT!
We’re back wondering WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? and this time we’re looking at one of Vic’s most memorable and outstanding roles, playing THE DEVIL in Eddie Romero’s 1971 creature feature THE BEAST OF THE YELLOW NIGHT. Diaz’s Satan has brought John Ashley’s Joseph Langdon back to life to do his evil bidding, and also every so often he turns into a strange Wolfman-esque creature who lusts for blood. HUMAN BLOOD! Vic Diaz chews scenery while Ashley chews on the many unfortunates who get in his way, while our hosts tackle with their love for monster movies, the film’s unique religious themes and SO MUCH MORE. Check it out!
On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re heading into the jungle with Filipino thespian Vic Diaz in the 1978 Vietnam war drama THE BOYS IN COMPANY C, starring Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, and Craig Wasson. Similar in structure to Full Metal Jacker (and featuring R. Lee Ermey in a very similar role), it’s a sometimes odd, sometimes hard-hitting look at a controversial war that also includes a whole lot of soccer for some reason. It’s pretty good, and very different than the usual fair we cover on this podcast. CHECK IT OUT!
On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re discussing the obscure – and unreleased in the USA – action film SPYDER from 1988 starring kickboxing champion Blake Bahner as BRAD SPYDER, a cop on the edge who travels to Hawaii to find out what happened to his beloved (and very dead) partner. If that sounds at all familiar, it’s because Roger Corman bought the rights to the film and had it re-edited and released as BLACKBELT II! It’s an action-packed (and very short) COBRA rip-off. LET’S TALK ABOUT IT.
On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re checking out the Phillipines-shot blaxploitation classic SAVAGE! from 1972, directed by Cirio H. Santiago and starring James Iglehart and Carol Speed! It’s full of explosions, knife throwing, inconsistent facial hair and a soundtrack full of jazz flute, so you KNOW it’s good. We also talk about our tricky history with the blaxploitation genre and, of course, all things Vic Diaz. CHECK IT OUT!
On this episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re checking out the 1977 sleazy action film TOO HOT TO HANDLE which features softcore queen Cheri Caffaro as hitwoman Samatha Fox who travels to – surprise! – the Phillipines to take out four criminals while simultaneously falling for the cop (Aharon Ipalé) who is hot on her trail. We’re also talking about EROTICA, 90s softcore porn and – of course – all things VIC DIAZ! Check it out!
On the latest episode of WHATEVER HAPPENED TO VIC DIAZ? we’re going BEYOND ATLANTIS with Eddie Romero’s odd (sorta) undersea riff on The Treasure of the Sierra Madre featuring bug eyed Atlanteans, John Wayne’s kid, the great Sid Haig and – of course – VIC DIAZ! Along the way we talk about colonialism, Vietnam, go deep on Haig’s career and SO MUCH MORE. Check it out!
