Director – John Hayes (Grave of the Vampire)
Starring – Tony Vorno (Garden of the Dead), Sharon Matt (Infrasexum), and Genene Cooper
Release Date – 1969
Rating – 2.5/5
Tagline – “All cop…except for the ‘hangup”
My sleazy no horror July continues as I spend the 31 days of July staying away from my beloved genre. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t having fun. I’d also be lying if I said I didn’t miss horror. Most of the month I spent my time checking out releases from Olive Films, Impulse Pictures, and Vinegar Syndrome.
I recently set my sights on the Drive-In Collection series from Vinegar Syndrome. The double feature I went with was two John Hayes films. I previously reviewed the first film Sweet Trash and now its time to check out the second film in the set, The Hang Up. Thanks Vin Syn for hooking Horror Society and myself up with a review copy!
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows two undercover cops who go deep undercover to catch sexual deviants and the like. After catching a corrupt politician looking for trannies, one officer, Sergeant Robert Walsh (Vorno), finds himself in the middle of a huge conspiracy. He finds a young prostitute and soon falls in love with her once she tells him she’s of age.
She takes him into the seedy side of the city where he meets the degenerates that he swore to hate and finds peace. That is until he finds out that the age of the prostitute is actually 17 and their love affair has been caught on tape. Now he must comply with a crime boss and lie about busting the politician or have his love with a 17 year old exposed ruining his career.**Spoiler Alert**
The first John Hayes film in the set,Sweet Trash, had some sleazy moments but told a pretty solid story that was rich in crime and drama. The sex was there but nowhere on the scale as most of the other Vine Syn releases.
The acting in this one is what you would expect from a sleazy crime drama with softcore porn scenes scattered throughout. The film’s lead, Tony Vorno, does a decent job and is the film’s high point but is far from the best actor I have ever seen. The supporting cast does a decent job but no one really stands out. Their dedication is obviously not there.
The story for this one is similar to Sweet Trash but follows a copy who is on the wrong side of the law instead of a longshoreman who owes the mob money. Both follow men who dislike morally corrupt women who are loose between their legs. The film still flows like your traditional crime drama that almost feels like a cat and mouse film. The sex scenes are also at a minimum which is nice if you want a story driven film and not something to beat off to.
Finally, the film does have some action. We have more gun fights, a car chase, and a little fighting but nothing outstanding or amazing. The story is the real focal point of this one. Overall, The Hang Up is a sleazy crime drama that deserves at least one watch but has no replay value. The cast is far from perfect and the action is somewhat dry but the story is enjoyable considering. Check it out at least once.
