"Bad" Movies We Love Guest Post: Jeffery Berg

- Jeffery blogs about various obsessions at jdbrecords (jdbrecords.blogspot.com).
He can be found on twitter @jdbrecords.

-----------------------------

Airport 1975 (Jack Smight, 1975)

Karen Black panicking as she attempts to fly the plane to safety, Helen Reddy as a nun singing "Best Friend" to Linda Blair... I may be in the minority but I think this is funnier than Airplane! 

Earthquake (Mark Robson, 1974)

I guess this isn't really a 'bad' movie (it was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Film - Drama after all!).  The special effects may be on the shoddy side now, the soap opera-ish buildup feels eternal, and Ava Gardner is just dreadful (and miscast!) in it, but it's so sincere and a hoot to watch.

Empire of the Ants (Bert I. Gordon, 1977)

This film continues to inspire me.  The gaudy 70s fashions, Joan Collins, puppet ants, the fun Body Snatchers-type twist, and Pamela Susan Shoop screaming out "My God, they're herding us like cattle!"

Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood (John Carl Buechler, 1988)

Jittery teen girl with telekinesis powers (shameless Carrie rip-off) brings the hockey masked killer back from his watery grave and I find every moment entertaining.

Frogs (George McCowan, 1972)

Mother Nature (not just frogs but crocs, birds and snapping turtles!) gets revenge in the worst ways in this one. Growing up in the rural south, this film had a particular impact on me. Watching the film now, I suddenly find Sam Elliott very attractive.

Glitter (Vondie Curtis Hall, 2001)

I saw this in an empty theater to get my mind off of September 11th.  It's pretty wretched but Mariah Carey is a guilty pleasure for me... the line "the glitter must not overpower the artist!" is classic.

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (Dominique Othenin-Girard, 1989)

Many regard this sluggish slasher as one of the worst sequels of the bunch, but there's something about the 80s atmosphere that makes it a nostalgic watch for me and I love how expressively over-the-top the Tina (Wendy Kaplan) character is.

Sleepaway Camp 2: Unhappy Campers (Michael A. Simpson, 1988)

Is this a bad movie? I think it's brilliant, one of the funniest movies I've seen and Pamela Springsteen is aces as the kooky killer.

The Swarm (Irwin Allen, 1978)

Epic, stodgy killer bee movie.  I don't think there's a well-acted/scripted/shot moment in the entire thing.  

When Time Ran Out... (James Goldstone, 1980)

Tacky Irwin Allen volcano flick. Amazing all-star cast (including late Ernest Borgnine!). It certainly has the bittersweet feel of the end of an (disaster movie) era.