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As the most telling quote of Machete Maidens Unleashed! exclaims, “The stories are 10 times better than the actual films”. The anecdotes and memories of those involved in the Filipino exploitation genre of cinema are an amazing account of a period never to be repeated. Screening at the New York Asian Film Festival, Mark Hartley’s documentary opens our eyes to what went on in order to make some of the infamous cult schlock from the 1970s. Starting with Hemisphere Pictures and continuing into Roger Corman’s shingle, New World Pictures, the Philippines are shown as the jungle haven chock full of cheap production and expendable stunt men it was. We become privy to tales of directors, producers, and actors involved as well as a bevy of clips from their films to understand how the three B’s—blood, breasts, and beasts—created a sensation at American drive-ins across the nation.

I will admit that I am at a bit of a loss when it comes to Marrie Lee and her film They Call Her Cleopatra Wong but after watching the clips below I feel that I have been missing out on something grand. But there are enough fans of her out there in the rest of the world that she is being honored during the Paris Cinema International Film Festival with the Actions Queens Honorary Award. Legendary Singapore actress, Marrie Lee (real name Doris Young) to receive the Action Queens Honorary Award during Paris Cinema International Film FestivalParis Cinema International Film Festival (July 2 to 13,2011) will host two screenings of the film They Call Her Cleopatra Wong (Singapore-Philippines, 1978, directed by Bobby Suarez) on...

Every week, dozens of movies are dumped onto DVD. But some weeks are special. Why? Because every once in a blue moon, the stars align in a way that an embarrassment of schlocky riches comes out all at once. This week, my friends, is one of those weeks. So if you find yourself with some time on your hands this weekend and you have a craving for cheese, why not check out some of these new releases…

*A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) If you missed this franchise reboot back in the spring, here are two reasons worth catching up with...

Director Mark Hartley has gone for a nice change of scenery. His previous film, the 2008 documentary Not Quite Hollywood covered low-budget, exploitations filmmaking in Australia during the 1970s and 80s. Now, Hartley has traveled to the Philippines with Machete Maidens Unleashed!, which also covers exploitation films specific to the region. The Philippines was attractive to low-budget filmmakers due to its exotic locales, inexpensive labor, and most importantly, very few laws regarding filmmaking.

The trailer makes the documentary look entertaining and educational. Hit the jump to check out the Nsfw trailer (unless your work is cool with you watching videos of bare breasts).

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Here’s the official synopsis:

Machete Maidens Unleashed! is the first detailed examination and celebration of Filipino genre filmmaking – a world where stunt men came cheap, plot was obsolete and the make-up guy was packin’ heat!

From the early ’70s well into the ’90s the Philippines was a...