Monday, June 30, 2014

The Twilight Zone: Essential Episodes Collection


What can be said about the Twilight Zone that hasn't been said a thousand times before? Rod Serling's creation changed science fiction and TV forever in 1959. The original run went until 1964 and features strange, frightening and sometimes funny tales of the weird and fantastic. Influencing genre film makers and writers for decades, it spawned a reboot series, several "knock off" series and even a feature film and remains popular for how damn good it really was.

CBS DVD and RLJ/Image Entertainment have released this 2-disc DVD set in celebration of the 55th anniversary of the series and in preparation for a re-release of the complete series box set. Without running down every episode on this set (believe me, it is far better to see these without knowing their twists and turns for the first time) I will say that this is a perfect starter set to get you introduced and interested in the Twilight Zone. A/V quality is quite good and lets the vintage black and white photography to shine.

17 episodes are included with a few of my personal favorites such as "Nick of Time" "The Eye Of The Beholde" and "To Serve Man". I can't recommend this set highly enough if you're looking for a high quality and inexpensive way to test the waters on The Twilight Zone before you inevitably fall in love and want the whole series!

The Twilight Zone: Essential Episodes Collection is available HERE

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Wolf Creek 2 (DVD Review) - Image


Australia/2013
Directed By; Greg McLean
Written By: Greg McLean, Aaron Sterns
Starring: John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Phillippe Klaus
Color/106 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: June 24, 2014

The Film
Almost a decade ago the horror world was introduced to Mick Taylor, the wild pig hunter from the Outback who also happens to be one of the most vicious serial killers we've ever seen. In a time of incredibly shitty horror films Wolf Creek rose above the rest to be a pretty damn solid film. Now Mick is back in the sequel where he's up to his old ways, taking out anybody who tests him or disrespects him or his beloved land. Mick happens upon a couple of German backpackers who have been hitchhiking their way across the Outback. When the girl escapes while Mick is busy dismembering who boyfriend she is able to hitch a ride with a local who is passing by named Paul Hammersmith. Hammersmith is thrown into Mick's wild game of cat and mouse across the Australian wilderness because he simply stopped. And as Mick says, the first rule of the Outback is "You never stop."


When horror films take eight or nine years between the original and the sequel it usually doesn't end well. That simply isn't the case with WOLF CREEK 2. John Jarratt is simply fantastic once again as the menacing and somewhat sarcastically funny Mick Taylor. His heavy Australian accent and hardened face lends itself to his credibility and director Greg McLean really can direct an exciting sequence. The game Mick plays with Hammersmith of Australian History manages to be tense and amusing at the same time. WOLF CREEK 2 has no shortage of the gore that helped make the first film so popular and even manages to up it. This film gets messy. I think the last act is a bit of a risk as it definitely could be looked at as cliche but it manages to be effective enough that I can overlook how mid-2000s "torture porn" it felt. In fact the only thing I completely hated was the Kangaroo sequence which made me want to slam my head in a wall repeatedly.

WOLF CREEK 2 isn't a perfect film nor is it even a perfect horror film but it is entertaining and every bit as good as the first and features one of the most interesting horror villains we've seen in a long time.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment's DVD of WOLF CREEK 2 looks very good. Details are very strong and overall picture quality is quite sharp in this anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) transfer. The only upgrade I could see is if this were the Blu-ray version. The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is great. The track is perfectly mixed and crystal clear.


The Extras
Extras include a "Making Of" featurette and well over 20 minutes of deleted scenes.


The Bottom Line
If you're a fan of the first film or are just looking for a modern horror film that doesn't totally fucking suck, WOLF CREEK 2 is definitely worth checking out.

WOLF CREEK 2 is available HERE

Monday, June 23, 2014

Hunting The Legend (DVD Review) - Image


USA/2014
Directed By: Justin Steeley
Written By: Justin Steeley
Starring: Hannah Wallace, Jeff Causey, Justin Steeley
Color/95 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: July 8, 2014

The Film
Five years ago on a hunting trip Chris' dad was killed by an unknown beast. The police investigation turned up nothing. Chris knows the beast that killed his father was Bigfoot and he has organized a group to hunt the beast down and a film crew to document it. The group consists of his girlfriend, his best friend, and a cameraman and sound man. The investigation begins with interviews of various locals who have stories of Bigfoot, including a guitar shop owner who has a plaster casting of a footprint. He tells the group of a local hermit who lives in the woods and has more knowledge of the beast than anyone else. After buying a couple guns and acquiring a hunting/security dog the group finds the hermit's cabin to interview him. He shows them pictures he's captured of the beast and informs them that there's an entire population of sasquatches. The hermit goes missing after his cabin is seemingly attacked and the group runs for cover in their cars to start their investigation in the woods. Days go by with limited evidence until the last night when the group is starting to fall apart and the group is attacked by the beasts.

HUNTING THE LEGEND is your typical found footage style horror film. One of the pre-requisites of found footage films is incessant bitching among the group and there is plenty of that here. It begins quickly and doesn't stop for the duration. When it comes down to it there is very little going on in HUNTING THE LEGEND.  We get but a single shadowy glimpse of the Bigfoot, the dog and a crew member go missing for a night and the hermit pulls a gun on the group. That's about it before the climax which is entirely predictable and doesn't try to set itself apart from anything we've seen in found footage films before.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment did a nice job on the DVD of HUNTING THE LEGEND. All of the cameras used look good and the dark scenes are handled quite well both in night vision and standard lighting. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation probably couldn't get any better on DVD. The 5.1 Dolby track sounds great too, where we're able to pick up on subtle noises in the woods along with having a nice mix and clear dialogue.

The Extras
None.

The Bottom Line
I wish I could recommend HUNTING THE LEGEND to those interested in the Bigfoot legend or fans of Bigfoot films but there's really no sasquatch on display here. If you're a lover of the found footage style then it's worth a look but otherwise I'd skip it.n

HUNTING THE LEGEND is available HERE

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Bloody Birthday (Blu-ray Review) - Severin Films


USA/1981
Directed By: Ed Hunt
Written By: Ed Hunt, Berry Pearson, Julie Brown
Starring: Lori Lethin, Melinda Cordell,
Color/85 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: July 8, 2014

The Film
Three kids are born in the same hospital just minutes apart during a planetary eclipse of the sun. Ten years later these kids have grown up in the same neighborhood as best friends and are growing into manipulative, maniacal little shits. Their bad behavior quickly turns murderous as they start dispatching of anyone they feel inclined to kill. Another neighborhood boy and his older sister who is into astrology begin to catch on to the pattern of violence destroying their neighborhood and the older sister realizes they may be missing their conscience as a result of the astrological even they were born under so that they feel no remorse.

BLOODY BIRTHDAY was born at the start of the slasher film craze which makes it a bit less gory than many films that would follow it in subsequent years but that doesn't make it any less mean spirited and violent. Shootings, poisonings, arrows, and bludgeonings are just some of the ways that these little pre-teen brats kill. The little girl who is the leader of the group looks plain evil, and really the entire cast of kids and Lori Lethin are excellent. Hell the movie even features a pre-MTV Julie Brown. BLOODY BIRTHDAY may not be regarded as a "top tier" slasher film like Friday The 13th but it is still a breezy hour and a half of entertaining horror that gets better every time I watch it.

The Audio & Video
Severin Films gives Bloody Birthday a rather nice looking HD presentation. The 16x9 transfer is pretty clean, with just a bit of speckling and a few scratches. Colors are warm and vivid while skin tones are natural and healthy. The audio track is good as well. It is crisp and well mixed with no background noise.

The Extras
-"Don't Eat That Cake": Video interview with star Lori Lethin
-Audio interview with director Ed Hunt
-"A Brief History of Slasher Films" featurette

The Bottom Line
BLOODY BIRTHDAY isn't the best or most notable slasher film of the 1980s but it is a damn entertaining film about some bastard kids and stands the test of time from the glory days of the slasher. 

BLOODY BIRTHDAY is available HERE

Friday, June 20, 2014

Barbed Wire Dolls (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite


Switzerland/1976
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring: Lina Romay, Monica Swinn, Eric Falk
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: February 25, 2014

The Film
Lina Romay stars as Maria, a woman thrown in to the nasty women's prison after murdering her father who tried to rape her. Maria is exposed to the despicable warden and her guards, the lesbian inmates and the various forms of torture lying within the walls. Eventually Maria plans an escape with her cellmates leading to a chase through the jungle exteriors.

BARBED WIRE DOLLS is a mean spirited film. All of the prisoners are badly mistreated physically, sexually and mentally. Monica Swinn does a great job at playing a warden that would give Ilsa a run for her money. BARBED WIRE DOLLS is pretty much an exploitation fan's wet dream.

The Audio & Video
Ascot Elite's transfer of BARBED WIRE DOLLS is top notch. The picture is sharp, colors are vibrant and there's a healthy grain structure while skin tones are natural. The English 5.1 DTS-HD track sounds great. It is nicely mixed, and free of any audible disturbances. There is also English subtitles for the German language track.

The Extras
-Interview with Jess Franco, Lina Romay and Erwin C. Dietrich
-Jess Franco audio interview
-"Falk's Frauen" featurette with Eric Falk and Erwin C. Dietrich
-Trailer
-Still gallery

The Bottom Line
Jess Franco fans will find a lot to love here, especially with the performance from Lina Romay. In broader terms, any sleazy film fan will be doing a disfavor to themselves if they don't at least give BARBED WIRE DOLLS a chance and this Blu-ray is the best way to do so.

BARBED WIRE DOLLS is available HERE

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Sexy Sisters (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite


Switzerland/1977
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Manfred Gregor
Starring: Karine Gambier, Pamela Stanford, Jack Taylor
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date:

The Film
Edna keeps her sister Milly chained up in her secluded bedroom. Milly suffers from sexual trauma after being raped as child by a large muscular man. Milly may be curable but Edna has no desire to help her sister as she is the sole heir to their father's large fortunes he left for inheritance as long as Milly is mentally incompetent. Edna and her lovers long plot of drugging Milly to keep her in a state of sexual desire, a nymphomaniac will soon unravel and Milly will get what is rightfully hers.

Another piece of sexploitation from Jess Franco. It seems in 1977 that is all the director had on his mind. This one isn't as weird as Blue Rita, and not as boring as Voodoo Passion. SEXY SISTERS lies somewhere in between. At the very least it has a story but then again, it isn't a very interesting one. The entire point of this film is for Franco to show off his beautiful actresses. There's nothing particularly wrong with that but a more interesting movie would certainly have made it more enjoyable. 


The Audio & Video
Ascot Elite's transfer of SEXY SISTERS is good, despite being one of the weakest I've seen from their Jess Franco Golden Goya collection. The film is mostly very sharp and detailed with a nice natural look to it. Colors are vivid and skin tones healthy and fleshy. There are instances throughout that are soft and overly grainy. These scenes aren't terrible but they don't hold up to the high bar that Ascot Elite has set for themselves. The English 5.1 HD audio track (the only English friendly option) sounds very good, as usual. It is a full bodied track that is well mixed with no instances of background noise that I could notice.

The Extras
A trailer and photo gallery are the lone extras

The Bottom Line
Franco completists or sexploitation super fans will want to add this disc to their collection immediately. As for the rest of us you'd be better off seeing the movie before plopping down the big bucks to buy it. 

SEXY SISTERS is available HERE

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Baby (Blu-ray Review) - Severin Films


USA/1973
Directed By: Ted Post
Written By: Abe Polsky
Starring: Anjanette Comer, Ruth Roman, Marianne Hill
Color/84 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: July 8, 2014

The Film
Anjanette Comer stars as a social worker who looks in on the case of the Wadsworth family. Mrs Wadsworth and her three grown daughters look after Baby, their adult infant. Baby has the capabilities of a child about a year old and is pretty much well taken care of by his family but the social worker suspects foul play and that Baby's condition is due to years of negative reinforcement. When the social worker starts prying a bit too much, the Wadsworth family invites her to Baby's birthday party and plans on a way to get rid of her for good. The family is caught completely off guard when their plan backfires in the most unimaginable way possible.

Called "one of the most bizarre films to come out of Hollywood in the 1970s" by DVD-Drive-In, I'd be willing to go a step further and say it is one of the most bizarre Hollywood films ever. THE BABY bathes and breathes in it's weirdness. THE BABY is more than weird it is a well made film. From Ted Post's excellent A-list direction to the great casting and performances from the entire cast, THE BABY manages to be a piece of exploitation from Hollywood that works in just about every way.


The Audio & Video
Severin Films has given THE BABY it's Blu-ray debut with a beautiful, film-like transfer. Detail level is high and the print is in great condition with minor speckling and scratching. Colors are natural and very warm. The English mono track is free of background noise and pretty clear but is nothing exceptional.

The Extras
-"Tales From The Crib": Audio interview with director Ted Post
-"Baby Talk": Audio interview with David Mooney
-Theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
THE BABY is a totally bizarre film. It draws you in from the opening moments and you won't be able to look away until the credits roll. THE BABY is something you need to see.

THE BABY is available HERE

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Voodoo Passion (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite


Switzerland/1977
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Erwin C. Dietrich, Jess Franco
Starring: Muriel Montosse, Ada Tauler, Jack Taylor
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: November 19, 2013

The Film
Oh, Jess Franco. I really have no idea what to make of you. For every film you made that is at the very least entertaining, you make crap that is an absolute chore to sit through despite always being filled with some sort of exploitative fare (more often than not it is copious amounts of naked women). While I was hoping VOODOO PASSION would be a fun, sex filled, horror film example of the former, it ends up being a glaring example of the latter.

Upon arriving in Haiti to live with her husband Jack, Susan is introduced to Jack's sister Olga, a nympho who likes to push the boundaries of taboo, and their lesbian housekeeper. Susan expresses an interest in learning about the local Voodoo culture to Jack and soon after begins having nightmares about Voodoo ceremonies, murder and sexual rituals. After 80 minutes or so a really half-assed attempt to throw together a conspiracy against Susan involving Jack and his partners is revealed by Olga who helps Susan along with the local Voodoo community.

The only reason to watch this is for the endless nudity from just about everyone involved. The beautiful women are rarely dressed and even when they have something on it usually exposes boobs or bush or both. Hell, the only reason this film has anything to do with Voodoo, as far as I can gather, is so Jess Franco could incorporate shots of beautiful dark skinned people baring it all. VOODOO PASSION could have easily had a few different plot details and the there would be no need for Voodoo at all.  Really, this film isn't good at all. If you're a Franco completist or really want to see an underwhelming sexploitation film, you can give it a shot.

The Audio & Video
At least the A/V is good. Ascot Elite has proven to be a top notch company with their Jess Franco Golden Goya releases. VOODOO PASSION looks very good overall. There are a couple instances of DNR but for the majority of the film has a very natural look with great detail and color. The only way to watch this in an English friendly manner is with the DTS-HD 5.1 English track. It sounds great. There's no background noise or hiccups in the audio. 

The Extras
Trailers and a stills gallery are included.

The Bottom Line
This is far from Jess Franco's best work and despite its fantastic looking and sounding disc I can only recommend this film to Franco super fans.

VOODOO PASSION is available HERE

Monday, June 16, 2014

Blue Rita (Blu-ray Review) - Ascot Elite


Switzerland, France/1977
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco
Starring:
Color/79 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: February 18, 2014

The Film
Rita runs a popular strip club where men who are believed to be rich and undercover agents are held captive, stripped naked and tortured. These men are pushed to within inches of their limits of sexual sanity, especially when Rita douses them in her secret green potion that makes the men horny to sign over their bank accounts and tell all of their secrets.

BLUE RITA is not a film that will engross you with it's story. This is purely Jess Franco stroking himself visually. And that isn't a bad thing because BLUE RITA is one of the most visually striking and appealing films I've seen in a long time. Of course there is the group of women who are naked for the duartion, it is like they don't know what clothes are. Beyond that however, are colorful rooms, packed with inflatable furniture, tin foil doors and cellophane curtains. Even the cell the men are kept in is striking as it is below the floor and covered in spikes so the angles the viewers are exposed to are cool.

I have no idea if BLUE RITA was improvised, it certainly could be with the random inclusion of the Eastern Block part of the story. It seems like the movie just skips around getting from one naked lady filled scene or one extravagantly dressed or lit set piece. Franco has done better, but to date I'm not sure he's been so visually striking in any of his films I've seen. 

The Audio & Video
A visually stunning film deserves a visually stunning Blu-ray and Ascot Elite has done that. The 16x9 (1.78:1) transfer looks very good. There is a bit of light DNR applied to clean things up a bit but the film still retains a natural look and a light grain structure. Skin tones are fleshy and healthy while the colors are vibrant. Detail is strong as well. The only English friendly audio option is an English dub track which isn't the way I'd prefer to watch it, but it'll have to do. Some of the voice acting is crappy to say the least. The quality of the audio itself is quite good however. There's virtually no background noise and the DTS-HD 5.1 track is full bodied, and crisp with excellent mixing on the levels.

The Extras
-Interview with actor Eric Falk
-Trailers
-Still gallery

The Bottom Line
A bizarre mix of exploitation and art house, BLUE RITA ends up being something very distinct. I haven't decided if I'm a fan of it yet but I certainly won't be forgetting it any time soon. If you're inclined to check out the movie this disc is the way to do it.

BLUE RITA is available HERE

Friday, June 13, 2014

42nd Street Forever: The Peep Show Collection Vol 2


USA/1970s-80s
Directed By: Various
Written By: Various
Starring: Desiree Cousteau, Candida Royalle, John Holmes
Color/129 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Film
Things start off with a few straight forward reels filled with more facials than the local salon before we get into a home invasion rape, some lesbian scenes and orgies, this collection of short stag films is pretty crucial for your collection of vintage skin flicks. This is the type of thing you might want to grab a couple bottles of wine and throw on with that special someone for a bit of a different evening. Or you can close the windows and enjoy it by yourself.


The 42nd STREET FOREVER series has featured from just about every genre under the sun with trailer and short film compilations. There may be no releases more historically significant to fringe cinema in the line than the volumes of the PEEP SHOW COLLECTIONS.

The Audio & Video
These short films have been taken from 8mm reels, remastered in HD and transferred to DVD for the first time by Impulse Pictures. The materials have been kept in decent condition for their age and subject matter. Scratches and other light deterioration are the norm here but I wouldn't have it any other way. These reels will likely never look better. There was no sound recorded for these films so they're silent aside from the sound of the projector running them. 


The Extras
Liner notes from Cinema Sewer publisher Robin Bougie are included


The Bottom Line
Its grimy, its a bit beat up and its just the way you think of something under the 42nd STREET FOREVER banner.

42nd STREET FOREVER: PEEP SHOW COLLECTION VOLUME 2 is available HERE

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Sugar Cookies (Blu-ray Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


USA/1971
Directed By: Theodore Gershuny
Written By: Theodore Gershuny, Lloyd Kaufman
Starring: Mary Woronov, Lynn Lowry, George Shannon
Color/91 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Film
Erotic film star Alta (Lynn Lowry) dies of a gunshot wound while with her big time producer Max (George Shannon). The death isn't exactly an accident and is a bit more bizarre than it seems. Max asks his partner and Alta's agent Camilla (Mary Woronov) for an alibi which she gives him without hesitation. Camilla goes about looking for a replacement for Alta when she discovers an unexperienced girl, willing to do anything to be an actress named Julie (Lowry). As time passes it becomes clear to Julie that Max and Camilla want nothing more than to turn her into a clone of Alta, on screen and off and Julie fears for her life.

Dubbed by writer/producer Lloyd Kaufman as "the only X-rated film to lose money", SUGAR COOKIES is far from your typical X-rated fare. There's no hardcore action here and barely anything that could you could even call softcore sex. SUGAR COOKIES was marketed, perhaps mistakenly, to the porn theater crowd instead of playing up it's bizarre relationships and deceitful intentions to the midnight exploitation movie and perhaps even arthouse movie crowds. Director Theodore Gershuny gets great performances out of his three leads. Future cult film legends Mary Woronov (Death Race 2000, Rock N Roll High School) and Lynn Lowry (The Crazies, I Drink Your Blood) have excellent chemistry together and play off of each other well. Lowry may have never been better than she is here. George Shannon is completely on board with his role of Max the nasty producer. And the soundtrack features a great poppy rock score along with a great theme song.


SUGAR COOKIES' biggest problem is the subplot involing Max's family. While it adds slightly to his despicable nature it never really integrates with the rest of the film and seems like it was just something for the Max character to do to occupy time until he was needed with Camilla and Julie. Even with that issue SUGAR COOKIES is still a very interesting early film involving Troma founder Lloyd Kaufman (who would later distribute the film through Troma) and favorite cult and exploitation actors.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has released SUGAR COOKIES in a pretty fantastic looking Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. The HD transfer has nice color representation, and healthy, natural skin tones. Detail levels are good and there's no DNR or edge enhancement. The HD mono audio track sounds as good as you'd hope SUGAR COOKIES would sound. I did notice a tiny bit of background noise but the sound is crisp, mixed beautifally and sounds great overall.


The Extras
-New video interview with writer/producer Lloyd Kaufman
-New video interview with star Lynn Lowry
-Video interview with star Mary Woronov
-Original theatrical trailers


The Bottom Line
You may not have heard of SUGAR COOKIES before but that is no reason to write it off. If the names attached to it don't pique your interest enough to buy it than hopefully this review did because it is a very cool film deserving of your time and attention. Vinegar Syndrome nailed it!

SUGAR COOKIES is available HERE

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Death Bed: The Bed That Eats (Blu-ray Review) - Cult Epics



USA/1977
Directed By: George Barry
Written By: George Barry
Starring: Demene Hall, William Russ, Julie Ritter
Color/80 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date:

The Film
In 1972 George Barry set out to make a horror film and over the next few years, when time and money allowed, he would film it until it finally was completed in 1977. Barry shopped the film around to various distributors, entering talks with a few of them but ultimately never striking a deal. Time passed and Barry went on with his life forgetting about it until he stumbled upon an internet message board topic asking if anyone had seen a particular film. The film in question was DEATH BED, his film. He quickly realized that a bootleg copy had been made back in the 70s and it had been circulated around Europe as a bootleg for years. The film's following was small, but he was shocked to see that people had seen his film and that it had a following at all. Skip ahead to 2003, over 30 years since production began and Cult Epics released the film officially for the first time on DVD.

A strange mix of horror, poetry and fairy tale, DEATH BED is the story of a demonic bed that will consume anything that happens to be on it, while it's owner is trapped inside of a painting of the bed and is powerless to stop it. Well, that's the basic gist of it anyways. DEATH BED is a fever dream, something a mind pushed to the brink of boiling madness could think of. That or a really dumb idea while smoking a bowl. It's a cheap film, independently produced around Michigan, the effects in the film aren't Rick Baker or Tom Savini quality effects. They're amateurish and somehow it all lends to the overall atmosphere and feel of the film. DEATH BED will suck you in, you won't be able to stop watching and before too long you'll realize that you're having a great time watching this incredibly odd piece of horror. 

The Audio & Video
How did Cult Epics pull together a nice looking and sounding Blu-ray? I suppose the same question was asked about the DVD a decade ago. Either way this is a film that certainly wasn't stored in a climate controlled room, or even with the basic intentions of keeping it around for future use. This film was abandoned and luckily materials stayed in good enough condition for Cult Epics to give us a solid release. The HD transfer is pretty sharp, with healthy skin tones and good detail levels, all things considered. Colors are lively and vibrant enough while the audio track, a 2.0 HD stereo track ( a 5.1 HD surround is also available) is well mixed and fairly crisp. There's a bit of background noise but it is far from intrusive.

The Extras
-Audio Commentary with George Barry and Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA
-Introduction by George Barry
-New introduction by Stephen Thrower
-George Barry and Stephen Thrower have a conversation on horror films of the 70s and 80s (you need to watch this for some awkward hilarity at the end!)
-Behind-The-Scenes of DEATH BED in Detroit
-Original music credit track

The Bottom Line
When I think of movies that have been given the Blu-ray treatment it amuses me that oddities like DEATH BED have made the cut. Nobody would have batted an eye if this movie was never rediscovered but it was, and it's here and I fucking love it. I love the odd nature of the film and the great presentation it has been given. 

DEATH BED: THE BED THAT EATS is available HERE

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Baby Rosemary / Hot Lunch (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome


1976, 1978/USA
Directed By: John Hayes
Written By: Ruth Price, Virgil Rome,George Price
Starring: Sharon Thorpe, John Leslie, Jon Martin, Christine De Shaffer
Color/159 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Films
BABY ROSEMARY follows young Rosemary through her sexual journeys with her friend John, her student athletes and the residents of her father's hotel residence. The real turning point for Rosemary seems to be when she is attacked in her father's room by a despicable couple who live across the hall and raped by both the man and woman. Cut to several years later and John has matured enough to become a policeman and has to track down Rosemary to inform her of the news of her father's death. Rosemary never really knew her father as she was put up in an orphanage when her mother died. Rosemary brings her sexually charged students to the viewing and they end up sleeping with the funeral director. This all leads to a surreal, dreamlike gathering of everyone Rosemary knows (plus a weird demon guy) having an orgy in the funeral home right next to her deceased father forcing Rosemary into her own personal hell as she screams for her father to save her.


Well... what? What exactly did I just watch? I liked it. It was raunchy, sexy and it goes without saying it was out there. Way out there. The back of the DVD says "BABY ROSEMARY is a haunting adult film like no other." Well they sure as hell got that right. BABY ROSEMARY is bizarre and midnight movie fans need to see it.

HOT LUNCH is a far more straight forward story as Andrew's life has gone to shit. He finds out that his girlfriend is screwing just about every except him, he has exactly $4.08 in his pocket and to say he's awkward is putting it lightly. He's lucked into a job selling encyclopedias, the problem is that he's terrible at it. His luck turns around when he spills coffee on himself and a potential client offers to clean them and discovers that he's a love making machine. Andrew's life and career skyrockets as he sleeps his way up the company chain giving each successive attractive woman the orgasm they want and lines his pockets in the process.


HOT LUNCH is sexual fury unleashed on celluloid. From the opening scene in a diner where lesbian sex is happening behind the counter on the floor with everything from a broom handle to a scrub brush even while cooking is going on around them, to the almost instant screaming "I'm going to cum!" from every woman Andrew sleeps with, HOT LUNCH is lust personified. HOT LUNCH also has a few truly funny moments, the best of which comes after a jealous woman interrupts Andrew's current lay and they have a childish argument that happens to be X-rated in content and had me cracking up. Things like "I could fuck an arm!" and "I had his cock so far up my cunt I'm lucky I don't have brain damage!" were being yelled back and forth and I was nearly in tears.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome knocks in 2 more great looking and sounding movies with this release. Both films have been kept in nice condition and are presented here in their original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (16x9). The transfers are mostly clean, with just a bit of spotting and speckling. Colors are bold and skintones are natural. The English mono tracks on the films are mixed well, and feature just a bit of popping and background noise to remind us of their grindhouse theater type heritage. I'm extremely happy with how this release looks and sounds. 


The Extras
-Theatrical trailer for BABY ROSEMARY
-Pair of theatrical trailers for HOT LUNCH
-Alternate scenes for HOT LUNCH


The Bottom Line
This double feature from the Peekarama series of releases is one of my favorite X rated Vinegar Syndrome releases to date. The movies are a fantastic mix of surreal, sleazy and funny on top of the required sex factor. The technical presentation only adds to the viewer's ability to enjoy these films that truly embody the 1970s.

BABY ROSEMARY/HOT LUNCH double feature is available HERE

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Gang War In Milan (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video


Italy/1973
Directed By: Umberto Lenzi
Written By: Franco Enna, Ombretta Lanza, Umberto Lenzi
Starring: Antonio Sabato, Philippe Leroy, Antonio Casagrande
Color/100 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: May 20, 2014

The Film
Antonio Sabato stars as Toto a Sicilian who operates a prostitution ring that is confronted by Le Capitaine, a Frenchman running a drug ring in Milan who is interested in uniting the crime families across Italy. When Toto rebukes at his offer Le Capitaine responds in violent fashion and quickly opens up the door to one of the most violent gang wars you could imagine.

GANG WAR IN MILAN is directed by Umberto Lenzi, the man responsible for one of the best Euro Crime films ever made, Almost Human. While GANG WAR is no Almost Human it is an excessively violent film that exploitation fans will eat up. The main selling point of the film is watching the two gangs try to one-up the other with their plots and schemes. Lenzi handles the film well, getting good performances out of Sabato and Leroy, though Sabato is no Tomas Milian. There are a few odd shots that linger on a random object for a few seconds that seem to be forced product placement of some sort which is a bit funny. From car chases and shootouts to genital torture GANG WAR IN MILAN really pushes the envelope and makes up for what it lacks in story with pure excess.

The Audio & Video
Raro Video has done a very nice job with GANG WAR IN MILAN on Blu-ray. The 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer has vibrant colors and good level of detail. Skin tones are fleshy and natural and there seems to be very minor DNR applied. The disc features both the Italian and English language versions of the film. I chose to watch with the Italian track which sounds good. The 2.0 stereo track has is reasonably crisp and has a good mix between soundtrack and dialogue. The English subtitles are translated and timed well.

The Extras
-Intro by Mike Malloy, director of "Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled The 70s"
-Fully illustrated booklet

The Bottom Line
GANG WAR IN MILAN will be a nice addition to your Poliziotteschi collection and one that you'll want to bust out and show your friends for no other reason than how violent it is.

GANG WAR IN MILAN is available HERE

Friday, June 6, 2014

Office Love: Behind Closed Doors (DVD Review) - Impulse Pictures


Japan/1985
Directed By: Yasuro Uegaki
Written By: Toshimichi Saeki
Starring: Akasaka Rei, Jogenji Kurumi, Kusami Junpei
Color/71 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Film
Reiko works as a call girl for a large travel company. She brings men back to a special apartment to entertain them and help customer relations, if you will. Her simple world involving her job and her child as a single parent is about to have a fork thrown in it as a former lover runs into her in a restaurant and old feelings come to surface. The possible love story is surrounded by several sex scenes, ending with a smirk from Reiko.


OFFICE LOVE is thin on story, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most skillfully produced films released in this line of DVDs to date. Director Yasuro Uegaki works his cast and crew in a way that makes this film look like a million bucks. The way the camera follows Reiko and the scenes surrounding her really show Uegaki's ability to create a story where otherwise we'd be lost. From the opening love scene, to Reiko's reunion to the tangled mass of body parts in the closing threesome OFFICE LOVE is one of the heavier dramas in the Nikkatsu Collection.

The Audio & Video
Another attractive looking release from Impulse Pictures! The anamorphic widescreen print is clean, free of any debris. The Japanese 2.0 track features newly translated English subtitles. The track itself sounds great, stable and full bodied without distracting background noise. The subs are translated nicely and timed perfectly.



The Extras
-Original theatrical trailer
-Liner notes from Jasper Sharp


The Bottom Line
These Pinku films from Nikkatsu continue to get their just due with quality releases from Impulse/Synapse. You're not going to leave this one out of your collection are you? No, I didn't think so. 

OFFICE LOVE: BEHIND CLOSED DOORS is available HERE

Thursday, June 5, 2014

House Of Mortal Sin (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption


England/1975
Directed By: Pete Walker
Written By: David McGillivray, Pete Walker
Starring: Anthony Sharp, Norman Eshley, Sheila Keith
Color/104 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: June 17, 2014

The Film
Anthony Sharp stars as Father Meldrum, a corrupt priest who uses the cover of the church to commit nasty and unspeakable crimes against his parishoners.When Father Meldrum records a confessional by a young girl about her abortion his secret crimes become the interest of the girl's friend, a fellow priest. As Meldrum's streak of heinous acts continues his secret world begins to unravel but will the love and care from a good priest be enough to overcome the reign of terror that is Father Meldrum?

Also known as The Confessional, HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is one of Pete Walker's most violent and dark films. Inspired by the director's time spent in a Catholic school, Walker depicts the antagonist priest beating, setting fire and poisoning those he doesn't approve of for one reason or another. That is just the beginning of it as Father Meldrum truly is heartless taking out anyone loyal to him if it means being able to cover up. Even a woman who has blindly served him for 30 years just to be around the man she loves.

Walker's direction is straight forward, as it usually is, letting the scenes speak for themselves as opposed stylish direction. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is very similar to a slasher film that would overtake the horror landscape just a few years after the release of this film. With Anthony Sharp's excellent performance as Meldrum to Sheila Keith as his lovelorn assitant who is willing to do anything to be with him this film is packed with good performances. Norman Eshley is very much a humanitarian in his role as the good priest trying to conquer the devil that is terrorizing the town. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is a blatant commentary of Pete Walker's view on the Catholic church and religion as a whole and it happens to be held within an exceedingly well made horror and exploitation film.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption knocks this Blu-ray out of the park. HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN was previously released under the title The Confessional several years ago by Shriek Show and there's no comparison to the discs. While the DVD was decent, this Blu-ray is likely the film has ever looked outside of a 35mm presentation and I'd be willing to bet it's the best it will ever look on home video. Skin tones and colors have a natural and healthy look to them while detail levels are high. The source material was kept in great condition and is very clean. There's a bit of speckling here and there but it isn't distracting whatsoever. The English audio track is perfectly mixed between dialogue and score and sounds very crisp. There's a tiny bit of background noise present but nothing to get worked up over as it is barely noticeable. This disc is really top notch.

The Extras
-Audio commentary with Pete Walker and author of English Gothic, Jonathan Rigby
-11 minute interview with Pete Walker
-A selection of trailers for Pete Walker films

The Bottom Line
HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN has become one of my favorite Pete Walker films and this Blu-ray is a damn fine presentation of it. I have no hesitations calling this one essential viewing.

HOUSE OF MORTAL SIN is available HERE

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Female Gym Coach: Jump And Straddle (Impulse Pictures)


Japan/1981
Directed By: Koyu Ohara
Written By: Kazuhiko Ban
Starring: Junko Asahina, Funasaku Sasairi, Mizuho Makagawa
Color/67 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Film
Competition time has rolled around yet again for the Kara Cosmetics Company gymnastics team and in order to improve their results, and in turn raise profits a new coach has been brought in to train the girls. The new coach, Aoki, has former coaching experience with one of the girls, and uses his not-so-subtle techniques on the girls who aren't always on board with his techniques. Aoki's personal issues come to light and the girls try to help him help them in time for their competition.

FEMALE GYM COACH: JUMP AND STRADDLE is a trailblazing 67 minutes of humor and sleaze. Numerous leotards get cut and shred as the trusting relationship of teacher and student is repeatedly broken and brought into taboo territory. That isn't the only sexual taboo in the film, as Aoki's coaching of one the girls was back in her high school days, so there is some underage kink going on as well.


Director Koyu Ohara does give more power to the females in FEMALE GYM COACH than you may expect, many of them of more than willing and are the aggressors in the sexual encounters. This caught me off guard but was a welcome surprise as it plays off the usual unsuspecting girl angle nicely.

The Audio & Video
Impulse Pictures delivers another attractive looking disc to the Nikkatsu line here. The DVD features an anamorphic widescreen transfer (2.35:1) with overall good picture quality. The picture features nice clarity, healthy looking colors and skin tones and just a small bit of speckling. The Japanese 2.0 track features optional English subtitles which are newly translated and couldn't be better. The audio itself is crisp and perfectly mixed. There is a bit of background noise but nothing distracting. 


The Extras
The original theatrical trailer accompany liner notes from who else but Jasper Sharp, the walking encyclopedia of Pinku cinema.


The Bottom Line
The 21st release in the Nikkatsu Erotic Films Collection from Impulse Pictures is another from director Koyu Ohara who could be crowned king of the DVD series from Impulse and another you'll need in your collection. It's fun, it's sexy and it's just a little bit filthy.

FEMALE GYM COACH: JUMP AND STRADDLE is available HERE

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

13 Sins (Blu-ray Review) - Anchor Bay


USA/2014
Directed By: Daniel Stamm
Written By: David Birke, Daniel Stamm,
Starring: Mark Webber, Devon Graye, Rutina Wesley
Color/92 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: June 17, 2014

The Film
Elliot is about to marry the love of his life but what should be a happy time is one of stress and desperation due to mounting debt, a special needs brother, and a father who hates his fiancee but needs to move in with the couple. Elliot receives a phone call one night informing him that he has been chosen to be part of a game that, upon winning, would give him a life changing amount of money. The game consists of thirteen challenges, the first is to kill a fly that is pestering him in his car. Upon doing so a thousand dollars was deposited into his bank account, the next challenge, worth a little bit more money was to eat the fly. The catch is that all of the money will vanish if he fails to complete a challenge or quits the game. Elliot's desperation drives him commit serious crimes to complete the game's challenges bringing him face to face with the game's other contestant on the final challenge.

13 SINS is a remake of 13: Game Of Death, A Thai film from 2006. Having never seen the original I can't compare the two but I can say this American remake isn't bad. It has a dark comedic side to it that keeps the mood light through most of the film that allows for us to cheer on Elliot despite some despicable acts. There's a messy subplot involving a police detective hunting down Elliot for the crimes he's committed and learning of the game's ancient origins in the process. It isn't handled very well and eventually just forces it's ways into the main story in a hamfisted manner. The end of the film is the main downer for me however, the final challenge really seems like a case of the writers trying to one up each other by adding more and more twists to the point that it is infuriating. I'm not sure if the original film is like that but shame on the writers of this remake for not changing it if it is.

Directed by Daniel Stamm, who is most known for the extremely large let down that ended up being The Last Exorcism, 13 SINS isn't awful, but manages to get in its own way too often to really be great. Mark Webber is likable and convincing as Elliot and really, the rest of the cast is good too. I usually won't complain about Ron Perlman being in a film but while he was also good in his role, it was his subplot that started making things messy. Daniel Stamm doesn't do anything extraordinary here, he handles the movie capably without much flair. 

The Audio & Video
Anchor Bay brings 13 SINS to Blu-ray with a very attractive 2.40:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation. Details levels are strong, along with deep, inky black levels. Skin tones are fleshy and natural. The image is clean and free of any dirt or debris. The 5.1 DTSHD-MA track is loud and clear with a perfect mixing job of dialogue and soundtrack levels. There's no audio hiccups or background noise. 

The Extras
-Audio commentary with Director/Co-writer Daniel Stamm, Mark Webber, Ron Perlman, Devon Graye
-The Making Of 13 Sins
-Alternate Ending
-Deleted Scenes
-"Anatomy Of A Meltdown" featurette

The Bottom Line
Despite any drawbacks the film has it is entertaining and is worth checking out. It would be great during a rainy day movie marathon.

13 SINS is available HERE

Monday, June 2, 2014

In The Blood (Blu-ray Review) - Anchor Bay


USA/2014
Directed By: John Stockwell
Written By: James Robert Johnston, Bennett Yellin
Starring: Gina Carano, Amaury Nolasco, Cam Gigandet
Color/108 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: June 3, 2014

The Film
Ava and Derek are newlyweds on their honeymoon in the Caribbean when Derek goes missing after a nasty fall from a zipline. Having apparently never arrived at any hospital after being taken away in an ambulance Ava uses her hardened background and training from her father to go deep in the seedy criminal underbelly of the island and find her husband since the police have their hands in the criminals pockets.

IN THE BLOOD plays out like an amateurish, wooden and totally ridiculous version of Taken starring Liam Neeson. Former mixed martial arts champion Gina Carano stars as Ava and tries her best to be convincing but she is stiff as a board and her lines come off like she's reading them from a book. She is convincing in her fight scenes because she could probably kick everyone else in the movie's ass. The editing of the movie is a mess, one second Ava is kicking the shit out of a bad guy and the next she's in a jail cell... did she turn herself in? Was she arrested on sight? Who the hell knows. There are many instances of that type of jarring editing. There are also more than a few sequences that look like a cheap music video, the ambulance chase scene being the main culprit. It's like a bad segment from MTV 2.


The reunion between Ava and Derek should be a happy moment for the viewer but the revelation that the crime boss had Derek taken because he's a perfect match for bloody type so that he can take Derek's stem cells to treat his own cancer? Well, let's just say it is one of the more "holy shit, that's what they actually went with" moments I've ever seen. And then came the finale where an entire local neighborhood tries to help the couple escape by throwing coconuts and melons at a caravan of the baddies. It was one of the more unintentionally funny things I've seen in a movie in quite a while. From then on it drags for another fifteen minutes until Danny Trejo makes his second appearance in the film to collect that paycheck and get his name plastered on the DVD cover.

The Audio & Video
Anchor Bay gives IN THE BLOOD the Blu-ray treatment that looks outstanding for the most part. The parts that don't look as hot are obviously filmed with lesser equipment but the beef of the film is very sharp, features strong detail levels and incredibly natural skin tones. It is an excellent looking disc. The audio, mainly English with intermittent Spanish with English subtitles is a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track that sounds just as good as the disc looks. No complaints.

Note: Images taken from DVD


The Extras
A Behind-The-Scenes featurette is the lone extra



The Bottom Line
If the film istelf was as good as the A/V of the disc we'd have a real winner. Unfortunately it isn't.

IN THE BLOOD is available HERE

Sunday, June 1, 2014

The Devil's Knot (Blu-ray Review) - Image


USA/2013
Directed By: Atom Egoyan
Written By: Paul Harris Boardman, Scott Derrickson, Mara Leveritt
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Dane DeHaan, Colin Firth
Color/114 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A/1
Release Date: June 10, 2014

The Film
The West Memphis Three was the crime that gripped America in 1993-94. The brutal murder of 3 young boys and the three teenagers that were controversially tried and convicted of the murders. It is one of the most infamous crimes and subsequent trials in  America's history. It has been documented and scrutinized endlessly with various films being made about it. THE DEVIL'S KNOT is just the latest in that string of films.


Reese Witherspoon stars as Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of boys who would be found dead. The talented, Academy Award winning actress doesn't give her best performance here but in a film that feels like a Lifetime channel production she's okay. THE DEVIL'S KNOT is a decent courtroom drama at it's best and a messy film based on the heinous crime.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment gives THE DEVIL'S KNOT an attractive looking Blu-ray presentation. The 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer has strong details, natural skin tones and great detail levels. The 5.1 DTS-MA track sounds great, with no background noise, or audible hiccups. 


The Extras
-The Making Of DEVIL'S KNOT
-Getting Into Character: The Cast Of DEVIL'S KNOT
-Deleted Scenes


The Bottom Line
You're best served watching THE DEVIL'S KNOT as a courtroom drama as there are far better documentaries on The West Memphis Three. Rent it. 

DEVIL'S KNOT is available HERE