JAN-GEL: THE BEAST FROM THE EAST

Written, Directed, and Produced by Conrad Brooks

Conrad Brooks - Conrad Brooks
Jan-Gel - Dale Clukey
Beth Simmons - Beth Simmons
Gary West - Gary Schroeder

Before the film begins, there is a title card dedicating this movie to Tor Johnson and Ed Wood Jr. Who better to dedicate a movie to these cult film legends than Conrad Brooks, a man who knew them both well.

If Ed stated his career today, I'm positive he would have stated on the video format. I'm also positive JAN-GEL would have been a movie he would have made. All in all, it's a loving tribute to two men who just wanted to make movies.

All the classic Ed Wood trademarks are present: a large, lumbering monster, attractive damsels in distress, and heroes who will only fight if they can fight fairly.

Stepping into the Tor Johnson role is Dale Clukey as Jan-Gel, a 50,000 year old, thawed caveman from the arctic who makes his way into backwoods West Virginia. Do yourself a favor, don't ask how this happens, it's one of those great Wood-isms. Clukey's job is to stomp around West Virginia and shake his beer gut. From time to time he will let out an animalistic roar just to remind you who he is supposed to be playing.

Jan-Gel clunks around from farm to farm, ripping the throats out of those unfortunate enough to cross his path. In typical Ed Wood fashion, we don't actually see the throats being torn out. I would put money on Brooks not wanting to go the extra mile and buy some corn syrup. Now that I think about it, I don't remember any blood in any of Wood's pictures either.

Not only is there no blood, but we don't see Jan-Gel actual kill anyone, it's all done in cutaways. Those looking for the gross out will be sadly disappointed. The film is a throwback to a filmmaking era that is much more sweet and pure than today.

There is a cute throwaway sequence near the beginning where Jan-Gel meanders around CastleCon, a fictional (I think) West Virginia horror convention. Women simply die of fright at the sight of Jan-Gel. Compared to many of the films I've seen lately, the sequence is very surreal. You become so decentised to the violence that you almost expect it.

In a role tailor made for him, Conrad Brooks plays Conrad Brooks. He just back from South America where he just took care of a few bloodsucking lizards. I have a theory where actors achieve a status where they no longer have to act, they just play themselves. Look at John Wayne, Harrison Ford, and Billy Crystal, how many times have they portrayed someone other than themselves? Conrad isn't in the same acting caliber as those actors, and he knows it, but he knows what his audience wants to see, and that is Conrad Brooks.

Thrown in for good measure, is a Beauty and the Beast finally where Jan-Gel kidnaps a local girl, Beth< and carriers her off into the forest. The Beast succumbs to the Beauty and saves her life when a poisonous snake attacks the pair in the woods. Beth nurses Jan-Gels wounds, but quickly runs off. The wounds she fixed are nothing compared to the ones she's left behind.

There is not point talking about the ending. If you have seen any Ed Wood features, you know how with film will end.

Is JAN-GEL great filmmaking? No. Is it loving filmmaking? Yes. For those that love classic, cult cinema, you'll find JAN-GEL a pleasurable way to kill an hour.

You can order JAN-GEL by mailing $20 plus $3.20 shipping directly to:

Conrad Brooks
P.O. Box 1192
Falling Waters, WV 25419