Joe Don Justice

(imdb)

FINAL JUSTICE-1985-2 Italian mobster brothers kill a sheriff and his deputy Geronimo (Joe Don Baker) chases them to the Mexican border. He kills one of them and captures Palermo (Ven-antino Venantini; CANNIBAL FEROX (1981)) who vows revenge. For some reason, Geronimo is assigned by Chief Wilson (Bill McKinney), to take Palermo back to Sicily to stand trial but through sabotage and violence Palermo escapes when the plane makes an emergency landing in Malta. Geronimo is ordered back to the US but instead he goes out on his own, shooting and disregarding orders. He's assisted by local Gina (Patrizia Pelligrino). Palermo's boss (Rosanno Brazzi) gives Palermo 24 hrs. to get rid of the American. 

Stupid low budget crime drama filmed entirely in Malta by producer/writer/director Greydon Clark (who plays the doomed sheriff). A US-Italy co-production. Baker (who died in May of 2025) starred in director Clark's JOYSTICKS in 1983. Rossano Brazzi (who directed and starred in THE CHRISTMAS THAT ALMOST WASN'T in 1966) was in Abel Ferrara's FEAR CITY the year before this.

Thanks for reading!

"That's All Ya Got? Ain't Ya Got No Geek or Nothin'?"

SHE FREAK-1967- After a rather lengthy intro showing scenes from a country carnival (with some dizzying shots from a Ferris wheel) a barker explains "There are only two kinds of freaks . Those created by God and those made by man" when touting their unseen big freak attraction.

The story then goes flashback to Jade (Claire Brennen) an unhappy waitress in a greasy spoon run by Greasy (Claude Earl Jones). When a carnival agent (Ben Moore from HG Lewis' 2000 MANIACS) passes through, Jade decides to join up with the troupe where she becomes....a waitress!

She's befriended by a stripper named Moon (Lynn Courtney) and seems to get along ok until she sees the freaks (all we see is a woman who kisses a python and a sword shallower) and gets upset. Later on she's romanced by the "freak show" owner Mr. St John (Bill McKinney in his film debut) but also has an affair with a roustabout named Blackie (Lee Raymond who later directed THE ADULT VERSION OF DR. JECKYLL AND MR. HYDE). Meanwhile Shorty, (future cousin Itt Felix Silla) hangs around ominously. She and St. John get married but her animosity towards the freaks continues. She also continues her affair with Blacky and when St. John catches them Blacky kills him. Jade takes over the show and her first order of business is to fire Shorty. Finally the unseen "freaks" take their revenge (a fire eater, strange looking old lady, a skinny guy and a wild man) and turn her into "one of them". Greasy has the last laugh in the finale which ends with a Bible quote!

SHE FREAK is obviously an un-credited remake of the Tod Browning classic FREAKS and you know right away once the star freak isn't show at the beginning. The best part is really the actual footage of the carnivals being erected and packed up plus many of the rides and attractions in action. There's some bad acting and dialogue but much of it is long non-dialogue scenes with musical background. The weirdest part is that no "real" freaks are seen till the very end which may have disappointed movie goers.

A lot of exploitation hands were in on SHE FREAK. It was written and produced by exploitation vet David Friedman and Byron Mabe directed and edited it. Don Sonney was a co-producer and Ed Wood associate Harry Thomas did the make-up. Billy Allen did the cool guitar/percussion soundtrack. Director of photography Bill Troiano worked other weird stuff like THE MUMMY AND THE CURSE OF THE JACKALS. William Bagdad (from TV Mikels movies) has a funny role as a tough guy who gets stabbed with a screwdriver.

A real carnival magician, The Great Vanteen has a small role too (according to his website he also played "the wild man" who attacks Jade in the climax). This is just about the only movie star Claire Brennan made (she did some TV later on). According to IMDB she and co-star Felix Silla had a child together. She died of cancer in 1977 at the age of 43. Roadshow legend Donn Davidson created an alternate version called ASYLUM OF THE INSANE which featured one or two added scenes.

Thanks to my pal Tony for getting me this and thanks for reading!