Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell  ★★½

HOW can you go past a movie titled Bloody Muscle Body Builder in Hell?

Add the claim that it’s the Japanese version of Evil Dead and only runs for 70-odd minutes and I’m all in.

In fact this 1995 release is more Evil Dead II with almost all the horror moments softened by slapstick comedy. The difference here is that I’m not sure it’s meant to be comedic.

I still can’t quite work out the story, but it doesn’t really matter when it’s really just focussed on a few people in one house being terrorised by a couple of possessed demons.

As in Sam Raimi’s films, there are decapitations and dismemberments and various things done to and with body parts that keep coming back to life.

But the budget here was obviously very limited and the practical and visual effects are poor.

The homage to Evil Dead even includes direct lifts of Ash’s catchphrases “Groovy” and “Come get some”.

Still, for all its faults, this is an interesting curiosity piece for horror fans.