Sunset Cove

I recently watched Sunset Cove (1978) on Tubi. The storyline follows a beach that's about to be bulldozed and developed. A local band of misfits isn't having it-they rally together to save their beloved hangout spot from destruction.

This film is directed by Al Adamson (Horror of the Blood Monsters) and stars John Carradine (The Grapes of Wrath), John Durren (Peopletoys), Jay B. Larson (Cinderella 2000), and William Smidt (The Young Savages).

This movie is exactly what you'd expect-a ridiculous story, a Porky's-style sex comedy that leans heavily on topless nudity and light rebellion. The women are gorgeous, and the van scene is a clear standout, but the acting and dialogue are painfully stiff-though let's be honest, that's not really why you're watching it. That said, I wish the plot and comedy had a bit more wit and originality.

In conclusion, Sunset Cove is another attempt at riding the wave of Animal House and Porky's-style comedies, but it never reaches the level of either. I'd score this a 4/10 and recommend skipping it.

Sunset Cove is a low budget Teen Comedy from Al Adamson film from 1977-78 thought to be lost. Severin has found a great print which they released on Blu Ray in the Adamson "Masterpiece" collection. The film is a retread of the numerous teen comedies of that era. The plot revolves around a group of Teenagers trying to save the local beach from being bought out by shady businessmen who are going to redevelop the land into Condos. Outside of a quick cameo from John Carradine who Adamson used in most of his films, there is little if any name talent in this one. it has by the book nudity, humor and the typical stereotypical characters, (The mean pretty boy, the heavyset nerd, the bumbling cop who is embarrassed by the kids with make fun of him with one liners, etc). Little bit better than most Adamson films as this one is not spliced together from another film with some additional footage. worth a look for Adamson fans based on the great transfer

In his recent book, John Carradine:The Films, author Tom Weaver declared this film to be a lost film. Try as he could, he was unable to locate the film for viewing, as he tried to do with all of Carradine's films. Maybe it is lost today; if so, it's too bad. I have seen it---it aired a couple of times on Phoenix, Arizona TV in the early 1980s (admittedly, a long time ago). As far as bubble-headed beach movies go, it wasn't really that bad, and I would go so far as to say it was one of Al Adamson's better efforts. In his book, Tom Weaver also said there is confusion as to what kind of character John Carradine (cast as "Judge Winslow") played, since 1978 data on the film clearly indicated he did not play the presiding trial judge. On the outside chance that Weaver (or any friends of his) see my remarks here on IMDb, I would like to clear the matter up. My memory of the film is that John Carradine played a retired judge who gives the kids legal advice on how to go about saving their beach. Also, typical of the degrading level of the cameos the great Carradine was reduced to in his declining years, I remember the script called for other characters to refer to him as "senile". I have always been a Carradine fan, and if this truly is a lost film, I'm glad I was able to see it, even if it was long ago.

There's Trash and then there's trash. The slew of immobilizing chemicals in my brain at the time of viewing only served to bring the experience closer to masochistic torture as opposed to a lens into a fun beach romp. I've spent countless hours with 70's trash and this is one of few films that I've had to entertain as opposed to it entertaining me. Incredibly flimsy and out of touch writing, characters, plot, motivations at a Gruelling pace. I felt something near hatred for each character and for Sunset Cove as an entity. This movie came on autoplay some time after my initial viewing and I legitimately shouted "No!" and jumped up from my seat to shut it off. I had a nightmare one time wherein a goblin-type creature forced me through a black curtain in space and I would up in the opening scene of this movie, up in the sky SUNSET COVE mirrored in bright blue, that dreaded peppy music playing. I screamed NOOOOOO at the top of my lungs and tried to drown myself but found I had gills and was stuck inside of Sunset Cove forever. The 2 stars goes toward the beautiful HD restoration of this initially lost film (too bad they found it), and for the sheer audacity of director Al Adamson to put something like this out in the world.

I understand this movie is a part of the Al Adamson: The Masterpiece Collection, well I'm glad I found it on Tubi. The movie isn't anything great but it's an enjoyable low budget teen sex comedy. If you like these type of movies check it out.