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Killpoint (1984) A kung fu, gun smuggling, blacksploitation crossover that fails at all of these.

Published May 11, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Barely Justified Revenge, Insinuated Thrills - Allged Action

The Personals (1982) Dating in the early ‘80s as filtered through the regional lens of Minneapolis

Published May 4, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Unrealistic People Falling In Love

Quiet Cool (1986) Marijuana-centered action vehicle for James Remar, which suffers from too chill of vibes.

Published April 27, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Barely Justified Revenge, Drugs

Out of Control (1985) Spoiled high school kids stumble upon an international drug-smuggling operation stash spot.

Published April 18, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Dangerous Kids, Unrealistic Teen Fantasy

Fury on Wheels (1971) A strange, mismarketed character study about a shambling dirt-track racer in Florida.

Published April 11, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Blue-Collar Heroics

Fire With Fire (1986) Forbidden love and dancing mix in this uninspired ‘80s teen drama.

Published April 4, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Unrealistic People Falling In Love, Unrealistic Teen Fantasy

Between the Lines (1977) Altmanesque exploration of an underground newspaper on the verge of a buyout.

Published March 28, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Unrealistic People Falling In Love

Running Mates (1985) A Nashville-centric tale of star-crossed lovers whose political parents forbid them from making out in front of horses

Published March 21, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Lifetime Movie Network, Unrealistic People Falling In Love

Up From The Depths (1979) Corman-produced Jaws ripoff that devolves into slapstick chaos

Published March 14, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Animals Who Kill People Who Are Dumb

Running Hot (1984) Teen murderer and hooker go on the run to clear his name, but lose focus after 10 minutes.

Published March 7, 2018February 20, 2022by Stunt Rock in Barely Justified Revenge, Dangerous Kids

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About

The Betamax Rundown was started by failed musician and artist Stunt Rock in October of 2006, with the intent being to review and analyze a personal library of over 2100 Betamax tapes.

When not watching movies, he enjoys making artistic horseshit no one cares about.

Steve Bullyhuff is the ever-loyal proofreader and fact-checker. When not fixing drunken typos, he enjoys playing rock music.

The Betamax Rundown is updated sporadically.

Marathon (1980) This movie is written by men, from the perspective of men, and for consumption by men. Longing for extramarital affairs, fixation on younger women, unhappiness with a spouse, disappointment with kids - it’s all here. Independence Day (1983) Trigger warning if your grandfather ever made you high like a tree. Independence Day (1983) Beret-clad photographer Mary Ann (Kathleen Quinlan) has lived in the same town her entire life yet still finds the energy to run around snapping photos of townspeople as she awaits an acceptance letter from a San Franciso art school, while also helping her cancer-stricken mother convalesce. We’re supposed to ignore that she’s clearly 30 and still trying to get into art school. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983) Extra Ellen Barkin appreciation post. Her performance in the first segment was described as "bruised, tough and sexy" by Janet Maslin in the NYT. Accurate. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983) Kevin Bacon, playing a young cabbie looking for love in the third story of this anthology film, sings a song, but it sound like it might be overdubbed. Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983) Uneven New York anthology full of progressive themes and likable performances. Mid-Knight Rider aka Hard Knocks (1979) Some select clips: Mid-Knight Rider aka Hard Knocks (1979) HARD RECOMMEND! This movie is insane. Somewhere there has to be a proper cut where it all works perfectly, but this seventy-seven-minute cut released on home video is wild. It’s Midnight Cowboy but quickly turns into homesteading Western before dropping into First Blood territory. Foolin' Around (1980) A young Bill Macy in his first screen role! Foolin' Around was filmed in 1978 so I'm comfortable saying this even though it was released after Somewhere In Time (1980) which is technically the first appearance of W. H. Macy.

The World Sucks Now.