Drive in Cult Classics 4

Remember the first time you went to the drive-in. Of course, you have to be of a certain age, from a specific generation, and in some cases, a particular part of the country to remember when the local outdoor cinema was all the rage. Though many believe the "passion pit" hit its stride in the '50s and '60s, the '70s saw a major upswing in attendance, mostly due to the influx of late period grindhouse and exploitation fare. For many b-movie makers and certified schlock hounds, the drive-in was the only place they could show their lesser wares. And since most customers really didn't care about what was on the massive 50 ft screen, a title could rack up a nice collection of hormonally driven ticket sales. As part of an ongoing DVD box set compendium, BCI is bringing us what it considers to be the best/worst of the Drive-In Cult Classics. Of the eight movies offered, however, only a couple deserve to be celebrated as the tops in trash. The rest are just garbage.
The Plot:
Eight films - eight divergent storylines. Instead of trying to sum up this box set in a single paragraph, let's look at a simple statement of the plot for each movie featured, beginning with:


The Young Graduates (1971) - a group of high school kids fall into the last phases of the counterculture as the 1960s give way to the slightly less swinging '70s. One girl in particular experiments in areas she should not have explored.

Don't Answer the Phone (1980) - LA is hounded by a serial strangler who sexually assaults and mutilates his victims. As the police try to figure out the identity of the killer, the fiend starts calling a local radio phone-in show.

Brain Twisters (1991) - a video game company uses a local college and a sinister psychologist to develop a mind altering simulation. Unfortunately, the chief side effect leads the test subjects to start killing people.

Death Machines (1976) - an Asian madam genetically alters three martial artists, turning them into the ultimate killing machines. When the mafia sees how effective they are, they become the mob's main hitmen.

Wild Riders (1971) - after killing a girl in Florida, two bikers head to California to hide out. Spying a couple of lonely ladies in a large mansion, they decide to make themselves at home.

The Van (1977) - after graduating high school, a frisky teen spends all his money on a brand new, totally tricked out van. When his buddy runs into financial trouble, he is forced to drag race in order to earn some cash.

Chain Gang Women (1971) - a pair of fugitives from a Georgia work farm make their way across the countryside. First, they stop off to see one of their girlfriends. When she proves unreliable, they take an old farmer and his child bride hostage.

The Specialist (1975) - a crooked lawyer hopes to win a major case against an old client. So he hires a private detective who himself employs a paid escort to sit on the jury and seduce the opposing counsel.