PREYHSTERIA! (Blu-ray Review - Full Moon)

USA/1993
Directed By: Charles Band, Albert Band
Written By: Michael Davis
Starring: Austin O'Brien, Brett Cullen, Colleen Morris
Color/83 Minutes/PG
Region Free
Release Date: October 23, 2018
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Rico Sarno is a crooked collector and dealer of antiques and finds a stash of unhatched dinosaur eggs in a South American temple. He brings them back but mixes up the cooler he's keeping them in with that of frequent customer Frank Taylor (Brett Cullen). Frank's kids discover the mix up and take care of the hatchlings after the family dog incubates the eggs and try to keep their discovery a secret but Rico and his henchman turn the Taylor's life upside down and put their lives in jeopardy to get his dinosaurs back.

PREHYSTERIA! is a video store era family classic that cashed in on the building buzz surrounding the release of Jurassic Park very similarly to how production companies like The Asylum operate today. Instead of trying for a mock blockbuster Charles Band, ever the businessman, went in the direction of a children's adventure movie keeping costs low. Austin O'Brien stars as Jerry Taylor, and he's a face that you certainly recognize as he was a go-to child lead in that era having also starred in Last Action Hero and My Girl 2. He's a good lead that any kid can connect with as he rips on his older, cooler sister played by Samantha Mills in what seems to be her final screen acting credit. The siblings end up bonding over their little baby dinos including T-Rex, Triceratops, and "the flying one" among others.

I remember PREHYSTERIA! fondly, it's one of the earliest introductions to Full Moon and their children's imprint Moonbeam Films that I have and it was definitely a favorite that you'll find people in their late 20s to mid 30s remembering renting at the video store even if they grew up to have no interest in Charles Band or cult film at all. That's the type of power and pull a lot of the Moonbeam titles had over kids looking up at the seemingly endless rows of tapes for rent. My excitement dwindled and dwindled as I rewatched the movie however. It became pretty clear that PREHYSTERIA! might not be the rip-roaring prehistoric adventure I remember and by the end I was honestly surprised by just how little there is going on in the movie. There's a couple wacky scenes of dino shenanigans and one scene of the family really being attacked by Rico but this plays more like a two-part TV episode than a feature film and even at that I'm not sure I would have tuned back in after the "to be continued" screen flashed at the end of part one. Some dinosaur eggs are better left buried in the past and it pains me to say that PREHYSTERIA! is one of them.

The Audio & Video
Full Moon finally brings their children's label Moonbeam Films fan favorite to Blu-ray with a 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer that looks solid overall with good colors and clean, warm transfer. The high definition transfer has been remastered from the original 35mm negative but at times lack truly excellent detail depth. The audio is presented with two options, a 5.1 surround track and a 2.0 digital stereo track. There's not much going on in the movie in terms of exciting or flashy sound design or effects so either track really does the movie justice. The quality is solid, free of any distracting distortions or background noise.

The Extras
Special features include a commentary track by star Austin O'Brien and director Charles Band and the original Videozone featurette.

The Bottom Line
PREHYSTERIA! has received a suitable Blu-ray release to give all of us that remember the film from its video store days a trip down memory lane but unfortunately once the nostalgia wears off you'll find out that there's really not much going on in PREHYSTERIA! and it's better left as a childhood memory.

PREHYSTERIA! is available HERE

WACKO (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review)

US/1981
Directed By: Greydon Clark
Written By: Dana Olsen, Michael Spound, Jim Kouf, David Greenwalt
Starring: George Kennedy, Joe Don Baker, Andrew Dice Clay
Color/87 Minutes/
Region A
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Thirteen years ago at the Halloween dance several students were murdered by the Lawnmower Killer, leaving survivors scarred and the local sheriff obssessed with solving the crime. With an escaped mental patient on the loose the townsfolk are on edge, or at least they should be, as they fear he may be the killer returning for an anniversary killing.

Greydon Clark puts his tongue so far into his cheek that it bursts through, wraps around his head a few times and then comes back and pops his head off in a bloody mess. Then Joe Don Baker's Dick Harbinger comes in and runs his finger through mess on the floor and tastes it to confirm that "It's blood." That's the type of silly shit we're working with in WACKO. George Kennedy plays an incestuous doctor who actually has no medical knowledge at all, the pumpkin killer is literally wearing a big pumpkin on their head with a big nose and the entire cast is so over the top that I'm almost absolutely positive Greydon Clark let them all have free reign on their performances as long as they were wacky enough.

You need to have a sense of humor that allows you to enjoy stupid jokes to really love WACKO. It plays up genre tropes to their most cliche and then run those jokes into the ground to the point where I found myself chuckling along but it seemed to be more out of habit than genuine laughter by the end. That being said, I did enjoy the silliness and had a fun time with this parody and will certainly find myself enjoying it again in the future.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome gives new life to WACKO with a new 4K scan and restoration from the original 35mm camera negative for this Blu-ray release. Colors are vibrant and natural with a good depth to them. Detail levels are excellent giving life to the various Halloween costumes and props, not to mention the pumpkin head.  and black levels are deep and inky. There's no damage to the source material to speak of. The 1.0 DTS-HDMA mix presents the audio in a HD mix of its original format. The track is a pleasant listening experience with only intermittent hiss or buzz popping up in the background. Otherwise the mix is crisp full bodied enough to offer up some punch when needed.

The Extras
-New Audio Commentary Track With Director Greydon Clark
-"Die Laughing"- An Interview With Cinematographer Nicolas Von Sternberg
-Never Before Seen Outtakes
-Trailer

The Bottom Line
Vinegar Syndrome dredges up another video store era obscurity and gives it the royal treatment. If you like your horror filled with yuck yuck yucks you'll find some good laughs in WACKO

WACKO is available HERE

STRAIGHT TO HELL - Blu-ray Review (Kino Studio Classics

UK/1987
Directed By: Alex Cox
Written By: Dick Rude, Alex Cox
Starring: Sy Richardson, Joe Strummer, Dick Rude
Color/91 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: August 28, 2018

The Film
What do you get when you combine the comedic anarchy of Mel Brooks with a "don't give a fuck what you think" punk rock attitude and roll it up in to a spaghetti western spoof that someone like Quentin Tarantino would worship? You get something along the lines of Alex Cox's STRAIGHT TO HELL.

Four bumbling criminals blow their job by being hungover and letting their target check out of his hotel before they could get to him so to make it up to their boss they rob a bank and barely escape. Their car breaks down in the Mexican desert so they bury the cash and hideout in what they thought was a deserted town. It's not ghosts they have to worry about here but maybe the undead would be better than dealing with a lot of kill-happy, cowboys that have been exposed to too much sun and are all hopped up on coffee.

Alex Cox is a well known cult filmmaker having made films such as Repo Man and Sid And Nancy which have amassed huge followings and have even found themselves among the ranks of the Criterion Collection. He's also a huge fan of the spaghetti western genre, he's provided commentary tracks to various films and even written a book on the subject. He has proven himself a very versatile filmmaker that can make great films in many styles and tones so it is no surprise that he wanted to make a spoof of the spaghetti western genre in a more contemporary setting. It's also made up of quite a cast of characters, largely filled with various musicians such as Joe Strummer of The Clash, Elvis Costello, The Pogues and Courtney Love as the female lead. This cast of non-actors add a bit to the chaos of the movie as you can only wrangle their performances so much. Even the more trained and traditional actors give wild performances but with a bit more polish to them.

STRAIGHT TO HELL is hilarious with the comedy coming from all angles and starting from the very beginning and never letting up. The cast that Cox uses definitely plays a big role in the vibe and attitude of the film. The overall story is a pretty typical western with the hunt for a hidden fortune, double crossing, a tough female love interest but it's all contorted into a zany and wacky affair. It also features some splattery violence that catches you off guard at first but quickly blends in to the madness. Story takes a bit of a backseat at times with a few stretches of film that went so far into left field that it lost me for a bit and that was okay because I was having enough fun that just spending time in this wackjob of a town was enough for me.

It may not be the most accessible film ever produced as it really does scream "cult" in every aspect of its production and not everyone is cut out to watch these types of movies. Whether it is the punk rock cast, the over the top violence, a pregnant and shrieking Courtney Love or just how bizarre the entire affair is, it definitely has a limited audience. One person that definitely enjoyed it was Quentin Tarantino as it is immediately evident how it influenced him on his early work, especially Pulp Fiction. Maybe STRAIGHT TO HELL is a bit too self indulgent and maybe Alex Cox gave too few fucks to make a traditionally good film and the bad reviews it received upon its release reflect that but for as much as I think Alex Cox was seriously loving every second of making this film I appreciate how bonkers it is and I had a lot of fun watching it.

The Audio & Video
STRAIGHT TO HELL arrives on Blu-ray with a new 2K restoration from Kino's Studio Classics line with great success. The anamorphic widescreen 2.35:1 transfer has great picture quality and is sharp and clear, with no dirt, scratches or other debris. The desert setting is hot and sweaty and the fine details of the dirt, sand and broken down town textures are on point. Colors are vibrant with deep black levels and no signs of pixelation or blocking issues. the audio comes across in a DTS-HD Master Audio mix that sounds crystal clear. There's plenty of shoot outs and explosions to give your sound system some content to show off with while dialogue and music compliment each other nicely.

The Extras
-Audio commentary with co-writer/director Alex cox and co-writer/star Dick Rude
-"Back To Hell" - Making-of documentary
-"Black Hills" - A vintage tour of filming locations
-"Straight To Hell Returns" trailer

The Bottom Line
STRAIGHT TO HELL isn't the smoothest ride in town but that's what makes it memorable and gives it a distinct personality. This movie is wild and I dig it. Recommended!

STRAIGHT TO HELL is available HERE

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2 (Scream Factory Blu-ray Review)

USA/1988
Directed By: Ken Wiederhorn
Written By: Ken Wiederhorn
Starring: James Karen, Thom Mathews, Michael Kenworthy
Color/89 Minutes/R
Region A
Release Date: August 14, 2018

The Film
Following in the footsteps of the original Return Of The Living Dead, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2 has a similar set up and plot revolving around a group of people fighting to survive a zombie outbreak after a toxic gas has been unleashed from a lost Army container. Unlike the first film that while having a healthy dose of comedy was definitely geared toward adult audiences with plenty of gore and nudity, the sequel is based more in comedy than horror and is a much more family friendly affair.

Writer and director Ken Wiederhorn is best known for his work in the horror genre having helmed films such as the Nazi zombie drive-in staple Shock Waves and the early 80s serial killer flick Eyes Of A Stranger, Wiederhorn's most notable and popular work is RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2. Ironically Wiederhorn isn't much of a fan of the horror genre and has gone on record many times stating that. Knowing that it is obvious why he took this sequel in a decidedly more humorous and family friendly direction concerned more about laughs than shocks. From the opening ten minutes of the film it is immediately apparent that this is not going to be a tonal rehash of the first film as we're quickly introduced to a trio of kids, not old enough to be in high school. Along with the youthful presence is a whimsical score that wouldn't be out of place in a children adventure movie like The Goonies.

Fans of the first film may have been thrown for a loop early on but I suspect a wave of comfort (and slight confusion as well) washed over them when James Karen and Thom Mathews appeared on screen. These two played a classic duo in the original and despite having died make their return as different characters in the sequel albeit in similar roles. They even repeat their classic "Watch your tongue boy, if you like this job!" "Like this job!?" exchange much to my personal delight. Then the zombies start coming and any remaining doubt that this isn't going to be like the first film is erased as the slapstick is introduced. Instead of making these zombies menacing and scary Ken Wiederhorn has them bumbling around the graveyard, stepping on each other's heads as they climb out of their resting places, falling into empty graves and eventually driving military jeeps around town while flailing about.

These zombies are still dangerous and gross. These undead monsters want brains and will chase you down to get them. Like the first film these zombies run and even a gunshot to the head won't stop them. There's a bit of gore on display to keep a slight edge to the film and make-up effects artist Kenny Myers and his team created dozens of decayed designs that I think are overlooked in the world of zombie design because they're in a more comedic film. That's not Kenny Myers' fault who I think did a superb job in keeping the horror aspects of this horror movie in tact enough so that it works because without the horror in this movie it would be a big goofy mess. And while it is goofy it's goofy in a charming way and there's enough horror to keep things moving along at a nice pace. If there's one thing RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 2 could never be accused of it is being slow or boring. There's always something to laugh at or get excited by.

Yes, RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 2 is a wacky departure from the first film and no, it is not a slice of counter culture goodness that the first film is but it is a wildly entertaining film that has its tongue planted firmly in cheek and after nearly a quarter century of me being a fan of it I think I can safely call it timeless. It is funny in ways that will always be funny and the scary bits are scary in ways that will always be scary. It may not be as good as the first but I will shout it from the mountaintops that I love RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART 2.

The Audio & Video
Scream Factory has restored the film with a new 2K scan of the original interpositive to very nice results. The film has always had a hazy and soft look from the way it was lit and photographed and that remains the case here but that doesn't detract from the obvious and sizable upgrade over the old DVD release of the film. Colors are vivid but realistic while detail is enhanced quite a bit which makes the zombies look even more ghoulish. Black levels are appropriately dark and there's no signs of pixelation or blocking up. The DTS-HD Master Audio is crystal clear and provides a crisp listening experience. The mix is perfectly done letting the dialogue come through loud and clear while the music shines when it needs to. The audio is free of any sort of damage or distortions like crackling, popping, or hissing.

The Extras
I... Want... Your... Brains!!! Whoops, I mean special features and there are plenty of them.

-Audio commentary with star Suzanne Snyder
-Audio commentary with Gary Smart (Co-author of The Complete History Of The Return Of The Living Dead) and filmmaker Christopher Griffiths
-Audio commentary with writer/director Ken Wiederhorn and actor Thor Van Lingen
-"Back To The Dead" - Featurette with special effects supervisor Kenny Myers (and others)
-"The Laughing Dead" - Featurette with writer/director Ken Wiederhorn
-"They Won't Stay Dead" - a look at ROTLD2
-"Undead Melodies" - Featurette with composer J. Peter Robinson
-Archival featurette from the set
-Archival interviews
-Interview with actor Troy Fromin
-Behind-the-scenes footage
-Theatrical trailer
-Teaser trailer
-TV Spots
-Poster artwork still gallery
-Special effects makeup still gallery

The Bottom Line
This sequel's Blu-ray release was long overdue but Scream Factory made the wait worth it with a release featuring a great transfer and a slew of special features that definitely lives up to its "Collector's Edition" banner. And let us not overlook that the movie finally has been released with its original soundtrack for the first time since the VHS days. If you have any brains you'd go get it now.

RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD 2 is available HERE

GAY FOR PRAY: THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF JESUS CHRIST (2017)

2017/USA

Directed By: Nathan Rumler

Written By: Nathan Rumler

Starring: James Bell, Terence Lee Cover, Dave Parker

Before I get into the review I want to throw out a quick apology to Nate on how long it has taken me to get this review done. Sorry Nate. Now that the sappy shit is out of the way let's talk about gay Jesus. 

GAY FOR PRAY follows a pair of down on their luck roommates who have their lives invaded by Jesus who has been kicked out of heaven by God for being Gay. Without his powers he's masquerading as a wizard until he can get his powers back and that's just what these guys intend to do, even if one is a dickhead Athiest and they have do deal with the town's religious fanatics. 

If you're not familiar with Nathan Rumler's previous work or his film company Rock Bottom Video let me give you a bit of a Cliff's Notes on what to expect. Raunchy humor, gore and gratuitous everything. You might be offended and you'll probably laugh. Hopefully you laugh. That's generally the point. If you're offended while watching Gay For Pray well then these movies probably aren't for you and you should lighten up. 

GAY FOR PRAY: THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF JESUS CHRIST is what you probably think it is. It's low budget (very low budget) and features a small cast, a tight set of locations and actors that aren't exactly award winners. But the cast is actually quite competent and the writing is genuinely funny and at times absolutely hilarious. Nathan Rumler has had GAY FOR PRAY written in one form or another for over a decade and I have to say that the final product was worth the time and effort he put into it. It's consistent in its delivery of laughs and shocks. The film features the most gratuitous shower scenes I have ever seen and then outdoes itself later on in the film and by that point I was close to tears from laughing. 

And then there's the gore, which is plentiful. GAY FOR PRAY is not a horror movie but good lord it delivers on the gore and gross out factor. Guts fly, fetuses are born, crosses are fucked. It's a genuinely good time for the whole family (don't show this to the kids). And then there's the scene where Jesus and Judas have a threesome in the desert. Oh you don't remember that from the bible? How about the piss drinking? No? What version are you reading? Maybe the electric chainsaws? Have you even read the bible? Well it's actually a quite entertaining read but this is way shorter and just as crazy. And you'll miss out on all of the penciled on mustache dry humping if you only read the bible.

I can spout off every ridiculous thing GAY FOR PRAY has within. I can tell you about each and every erotic adventure that Jesus has in this film and I still wouldn't fully be able to tell you just how ridiculous this movie is and how lovingly crafted it is by everyone involved. If you sit there eating cereal while watching this I bet you'll either sit there with milk spilling out of your mouth while you laugh or you'll throw the bowl at the TV in disgust, and in that case I repeat that you should lighten up. GAY FOR PRAY is far from perfect but it really doesn't need to be. It is exactly what it needs to be. It's raunchy, graphic, stupid, hilarious, and features the greatest closing monologue I've ever seen. 

Go support GAY FOR PRAY: THE EROTIC ADVENTURES OF JESUS CHRIST and Rock Bottom Video HERE

PSYCHOS IN LOVE (Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review)

USA/1986
Directed By: Gorman Bechard
Written By: Gorman Bechard, Carmine Capobianco
Starring: Carmine Capobianco, Debi Thibeault, Frank Stewart
Color/86 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: September 26, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
How crazy can one movie get when a couple who hate grapes and love murder fall in love? Pretty damn crazy. And stupid. And funny. And stupid.

Prior to this viewing of PSYCHOS IN LOVE I had very little exposure to the film. In fact, I really had no exposure to the movie itself. I had only seen the big box VHS artwork and knew it was released by Charles Band's Wizard Video label in the 80s and has since become sought after tape for that reason alone despite most opinions of the film being bad and trashing it. I had rarely heard anything positive about it with the most common words associated with the movie being "sucks" and "shit".

Well I will say it is unbelievably stupid. PSYCHOS IN LOVE is a parody of the shot on video splatter films of the 1980s with ridiculous dialogue, intentional goofs and repeated breaking of the 4th  wall. There are moments where actors will speak directly to the director who is off screen, boom mics fall into frame and mess with the actors and the cast will speak directly to the audience. This all coming from a story that involves a new couple who has fallen madly in love because of their mutual disdain for grapes and their passion for murder. If there's a more solid foundation for a relationship I haven't seen it.

PSYCHOS IN LOVE has its tongue planted firmly in its cheek so if you're expecting a dark, serious horror film filled with gore you're going to be disappointed. There's plenty of gore as the movie has a pretty decent sized body count with various limbs being lopped and throats slit but it's intentionally campy and comedic but practically well done. One 80s horror trope that PSYCHOS IN LOVE didn't pass up was nudity. There's a lot of gratuitous nudity and all of it is nice eye candy.

PSYCHOS IN LOVE is a lot of stupid silly fun but it is definitely flawed. The film was written by Gorman Bechard, who directed the film, and Carmine Capobianco who stars as Joe. The duo wrote large chunks of the script in a strip club which is funny because one second I think "Wow, this movie is pretty decent for being written in a strip club" and then I follow that up with "This is exactly the type of movie that you could write in a strip club". It's clever and goofy but it almost relies on luck for the jokes landing or working. A single stupid line of dialogue makes the ridiculous grape hatred plot device work while there's an endless number of equally ridiculous and random plot devices that would have fell flat on their face. Luckily Carmine Capobianco and his co-star Debi Thibeault are great together and both genuinely funny with this material. Their performances are stilted and uneven but genuine and it works. The material simply works with their delivery and they're a pleasure to watch.

I think PSYCHOS IN LOVE is one of those utterly ridiculous movies that will be infinitely re-watchable for how stupid it is. It could be billed with some of the infamous so-bad-they're-good movies but it wouldn't be fair to lump it in with them as the filmmakers knew what they were making with PSYCHOS IN LOVE and made an intentional parody that definitely brings more laughs than groans.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has given PSYCHOS IN LOVE a new 2K scan and restoration from the original 16mm camera negative and it has resulted in a really nice looking 1.33:1 full frame transfer. Given that this movie was shot on 16mm it won't have quite the same amount of detail and clarity as a film shot on 35mm would but it still looks quite nice. The picture is clean and free of any dirt and debris. There's a good sharpness and natural grain structure that lets you know you're watching a movie that was shot on real film. The audio is presented in a DTS-HD Master Audio Mono track that sounds crystal clear and crisp. There's no damage such as hissing or popping and there's no background noise. The track balances dialogue and music nicely.

The Extras
This release features one of the most impressive slate of special features that Vinegar Syndrome has compiled to date and it includes:

-Audio commentary with co-writer/director Gorman Bechard and co-writer/star Carmine Capobianco
-Audio commentary with co-writer/director Gorman Bechard
-"Directing The Psychos" - Video interview with Gorman Bechard
-"Playing A Psycho" - Video interview with Carmine Capobianco
-"Discussing Psychos" - Video interview with Gorman Bechard and Carmine Capobianco
-"Making Psychos" - Making-of featurette
-Introduction with Gorman Bechard and Carmine Capobianco
-Full Q&A from Cinema Wasteland 2016
-Original trailer
-Behind the scenes and promotional image gallery
-Extended scenes and outtakes
-Alternate opening credit sequence
-Highlights from the Psychos In Love stage play
-Four short films from Gorman Bechard ("The Only Take", "Pairs", "Bartholomew", "Objects In The Mirror Are Further Than They Appear")
-Booklet with essays by Matt Desiderio and Art Ettinger
-Reversible artwork

The Bottom Line
The high definition debut of PSYCHOS IN LOVE is a damn good one. Vinegar Syndrome not only gives the film a stunning restoration they've also packed the release with enough extras until next grape picking season. I highly recommend this one!

PSYCHOS IN LOVE is available HERE

DIE AND LET LIVE 10th Anniversary DVD Review

Any film that is completed deserves a certain level of applause. There's nothing quite like trying to get an entire cast and crew together on the same page day after day to complete a single vision. The amount of moving parts required to do so, even with the smallest productions can be daunting so I tip my hat to filmmakers everywhere even if the end result is not a good film. That makes what Justin Channell and his crew of friends, family and everyone involved did in 2006 at the tender age of 18 all the more exceptional. DIE AND LET LIVE was Channell's second feature film and it received nationwide distribution which is something some filmmakers go decades or lifetime without. Armed with the people closest to him, a Mini DV camera and about a thousand dollars Channell unleashed his high school party zombie comedy love letter to The Sandlot DIE AND LET LIVE.

Benny and Smalls throw a party in order to get Stephanie to hook up with Smalls. The party gets out of hand when uninvited guests arrive including a horde of zombies that have broken out of a nearby medical facility. And things get worse when they realize nobody brought potato salad! DIE AND LET LIVE takes standard high school issues like girls, underage drinking and dickhead bros, and plant them firmly in a zombie movie. The movie was written by director Justin Channell and the two stars of the film Zane Crosby and Joshua Lively and you can instantly feel the chemistry these three have. That is something that can't be faked and while this is far from an award winning screenplay and the dialogue is often ridiculous like when the guys discuss the layout of the bathrooms at length it all comes off as natural. Maybe these kids are just a bit quirky or eccentric and really care about the bathrooms? And maybe that girl actually would fuck any guy who bought her pizza (who has the fucking number for Domino's!?). Maybe, just maybe but it really doesn't matter that the dialogue is questionable at times or that the performances are as rough as you might think. It's all genuine. It's genuinely passionate and while that doesn't always count for anything other than trying your best and an A for effort, in DIE AND LET LIVE it is genuinely funny and entertaining. I laughed throughout, actually finding more to laugh at on my second viewing and appreciating it more.

The film is filled with references to the classic 1993 kids baseball movie The Sandlot which pulls at my heart strings. The Sandlot is among my favorite movies of all time and maybe it just works out that I grew up with the film which gives me a warm nostalgic feeling while catching every reference DIE AND LET LIVE through at me from the character names, to the "pickle" they're in and the contraption and plans they come up with to retrieve a set of car keys that is trapped among the zombie horde, I loved it and smiled every time. 

You may think that this isn't a horror movie since up until now I really haven't mentioned anything about the horror aspect of it but it's definitely there. There's plenty of blood spraying from bite wounds and limbs being lopped off with practical effects - no junky CGI here. The effects are somewhat basic at times but they don't take the easy way and throw some shitty computer effects on the screen which movies with a much larger budget are guilty of. This movie is made by a life long horror fan and that just wouldn't fly. I appreciate that. The horror aspect is very much taken from Night Of The Living Dead with the zombies trying to get passed the pool fence and into the party while everyone inside tries to figure out a plan to escape. Or at least get the pizza. DIE AND LET LIVE may wear its influences on its sleeve but it does so with true love and pays proper homage to them. 

It has now been ten years since DIE AND LET LIVE was made and originally released and Justin Channell has gone back to compile a true collector's edition DVD packed with literally hours of bonus material from multiple commentary tracks to an almost hour long outtakes reel that is new to this release and worth the price of admission by itself. Along with a nearly feature length behind the scenes featurette, alternate and deleted scenes, and more, there's no doubt that every word Justin wrote in the liner notes is sincere. DIE AND LET LIVE is 75 minutes of fun. Is it flawed? Absolutely it is flawed but it's so infectious with it's entertainment that you feel like you're hanging out with the guys instead of just watching a movie. Think of it as you're just quiet Tommy Timmons from The Sandlot so you hang out but just don't say very much. 

It's incredible. It liked it more than CATS and I'm going to watch it again and again with a pool skimmer by my side in case of zombies. You can get it on DVD HERE and it's available on Amazon Prime as well.

MATINEE IDOL - Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review

USA/1984
Directed By: Henri Pachard
Writer: David F. Friedman
Starring: Jesie St. James, John Leslie, Kay Parker
Color/88 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
I know a porno comedy is going to be good when a shot of an erect dick floating in a pool is put to the "dun-dun" theme from Jaws. That's funny stuff. MATINEE IDOL is filled with funny stuff and is also a charming story of romance based around the two biggest stars working in the business, Lance Hardy and Linda Hand (John Leslie and Jesie St. James). Nothing sells like a Hardy Hand picture and nobody is more jealous of someone else than they are of each other.

MATINEE IDOL wastes no time bringing the sex appeal of the laughs and mixes them frequently with big success. From the beginning scene of Lance Hardy and Linda Hand having trouble finishing a blow job scene because of some personal bickering and then Linda ending the day's shoot by turning the blow job in to a crunch and munch (ouch!) and the pair swearing they'd never work with the other again. Each star sets out to find a new co-star, while the studio intends to replace them with younger, cheaper talent. Linda finds out her pool boy is a big fan and gets involved with him leading to a hilarious scene where she brings in a friend (Colleen Brennan) to make a plaster cast of his cock and continually suck him off to make sure it's a nice hard cast but when it gets too hard and breaks the cast they have to find a way to keep him hard but not get too crazy so they resort to fucking his toes. Toe fucking takes shrimping to a whole new level.

Along with the laughs there's a nice tale of love between the two stars who realize they're perfect for each other and let their guards down which makes MATINEE IDOL more than just silly sexcapades. Performances are quite good all around and we even get an appearance from Kay Parker (Taboo) which is always a welcomed sight. The sex is hot, the laughs are genuine and the story is just strong enough to make this something special.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome delivers a beautiful transfer that MATINEE IDOL is completely deserving of. The anamorphic widescreen transfer is taken from a new 2K scan and restoration of the original camera negative which has a warm, natural grain structure. Colors are vivid and skin tones are true to life with no waxy look and feel. The audio features a DTS-HD Mono track that is free of any background noise, distortions or wobbles. The levels are stable with no peaks or dips in volume and the quality of the audio is very crisp with excellent clarity.

The Extras
Special features include a historical audio interview with writer/producer David F. Friedman and the original theatrical trailer.

The Bottom Line
MATINEE IDOL is a must own for adult film fans and first time viewers will be pleasantly surprised by the levels of entertainment on display here on top of just the sex.

MATINEE IDOL is available HERE

MY CHAUFFEUR - Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review

USA/1985
Directed By: David Beaird
Written By: David Beaird
Starring: Deborah Foreman, Sam J. Jones, Howard Hesseman
Color/97 Minutes/R
Region FREE
Release Date: July 25, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Casey Meadows is about to upgrade her life as a dishwasher when she receives a job offer to become a driver for the very prestigious Brentwood Limousine company. The male dominated industry is tossed on its head as Casey finds out that being a chauffeur is much more than just driving but that's not always bad as true love could be hiding in the back seat.

How did Deborah Foreman not become a superstar? She was a solid actress with great charisma and screen presence and she was pretty damn cute too. She had a decent string of movies in the mid to late 80s including the horror cult classics April Fool's Day and Waxwork but by the early 90s her roles began to fizzle out and it certainly isn't because she can't carry a movie. MY CHAUFFEUR wouldn't be the same movie without her in the lead. Sure, it has a charming script with just enough of an edge to keep things just a bit raunchy and edgy from the apparent incest ("Daddy we've been bad!") to the dirty mouthed old men that steal the show every time there's a scene taking place in the driver's lounge room and the performances across the board are all quite good including Sean McClory who plays the only the driver to support the young girl and acts as a fatherly figure and mentor for her new career. And there has to be mention of Sam J. Jones' drunken rampage through a park after a recent break up in the back of Casey's car where he slams a bottle of booze, strips down to his bare ass cheeks and runs around terrorizing everyone while Casey chases frantically behind. It's one of the funniest scenes in the movie.

You can't speak of comedy in this film without mentioning the cameos by a young Penn and Teller in a scene where Teller plays Abdul, a foreign dignitary and Penn Gillette plays Bone, a scam artist that takes Abdul on a wild night of partying all while posing as his body guard and spending Abdul's own money. David Beaird wrote and directed the film, one of only seven features he would helm which surprises me because if the rest of his filmography is half as good as MY CHAUFFEUR he'd be a keeper in my book and someone you could count on to make entertaining small-mid budget comedies. MY CHAUFFEUR sums up the fun and playful nature of the 80s without being childish or immature and ends up being a highly entertaining light hearted comedy.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome has given MY CHAUFFEUR a new 2K scan and restoration from the original 35mm negative with very nice results for its HD debut. The colors are vivid and details are sharp. Black levels are deep with no compression issues. There is a bit of speckling scattered throughout but nothing distracting. the DTS-HD Mono audio is crisp and extremely pleasant to the ear. The mix is stable and free of any distortions or background noise. Optional English SDH subtitles are included. MY CHAUFFEUR looks and sounds exactly as it should.

The Extras
This Blu-ray is pretty stacked with features including:

-"License To Drive" - An interview with star Deborah Foreman
-Audio Commentary with writer/director David Beaird and actor Leland Crooke
-Audio Commentary with production assistant Jeff McKay
-Isolated Soundtrack
-Original theatrical trailer
-TV spots
-Still Gallery
-Reversible cover art

The Bottom Line
MY CHAUFFEUR is exactly what a romantic comedy should be. It has a cute charismatic leading lady, just enough of an edge and great writing that makes it legitimately funny and just a bit quirky at times. Vinegar Syndrome has given this cult favorite the treatment it is deserving of.

MY CHAUFFEUR is available HERE

A TOUCH OF GENIE - Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Review

USA/1974
Directed By: Joe Sarno
Written By: Joe Sarno
Starring: Tina Russell, Chris Jordan, Douglas Stone
Color/86 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: June 27, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Melvin (Douglas Stone) is a shy young man who runs a junk store and sneaks out during breaks to watch movies at the local smut theater. His luck turns around when he finds an old jar and rubs the inside of it which summons the sexy genie Amara who will grant him five wishes (it's inflation!) to fulfill his sexual desire. Melvin decides it would be fun to experience what it would be like to be some of his favorite porn stars like Harry Reems and Mr. 10 1/2 himself, Marc Stevens but who can enjoy themselves when their overbearing mother keeps showing up?

A TOUCH OF GENIE is a fucking blast, no pun intended. It has some great characters, Melvin and his ridiculous disguise he wears to the porno houses are ridiculous and his incredibly Jewish mother cracked me up. Amara is adorable as the genie and will make your heart melt and all of the sexy ladies involved such as Tina Russell and Lynn Stevens will get your blood pumping.

The fantasies all take place in a rather plainly decorated room and usually play out in similar fashion with some hot scenes in all sorts of positions playing out until Mevlin's mother comes bombarding in and he has to finish quickly to get the hell out of there. All the while Amara gives him every hint under the rainbow that she wants him but Melvin can't take a hint. Chris Jordan's portrayal of the genie is every boy's fantasy of what they wish Barbara Eden was on I Dream Of Jeannie. The only problem is that we never get the goods from her and there's nobody to blame but Melvin! He blows it for us (pun absolutely intended) and we're left with our cocks literally in our hand as the movie ends in a cutesy way that wraps up the story nicely and gives our characters a meaningful ending but what a fucking cock tease. There's no lack of sex appeal in A TOUCH OF GENIE but I feel a bit cheated. I forgive it though because I really do love this movie's mix of classic sexiness, light hearted tone and overall goofy nature.

The Audio & Video
Vinegar Syndrome gives A TOUCH OF GENIE a home on Blu-ray with a new 2K scan and restoration from the original 35mm camera negative and I have no complaints. The image is sharp and crisp with high levels of detail and natural healthy skin tones that show no signs of waxiness from excessive DNR. The DTS-HD Mono audio is clear as can be with no background noise or damage.

The Extras
Special features include interviews with actor Eric Edwards and Joe Sarno biographer Michael Bowen along with the original trailer. Reversible artwork is also included.

The Bottom Line
A TOUCH OF GENIE is funny, sexy and cute as hell. It's a sexy romp filled with laughs and is a feel good porno if ever there was one. Highly recommended!

A TOUCH OF GENIE is available HERE

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS - Vinegar Syndrome DVD Review

USA/1983
Directed By: Fred Lincoln
Written By: Figaro Beulah Vincinzo, Randall Edwards, Fred Lincoln
Starring: Jamie Gillis, France Lomay, Natasha
Color/86 Minutes/X
Region FREE
Release Date: May 30, 2017

The Film
Jamie Gillis stars as a fashion photographer living and working in Paris where he has relationships going on with a pair of sisters under the names of Paul and Philippe unbeknownst to the sisters that they are one and the same. Unsurprisingly his main goal is to get the sisters into bed at the same time, the ultimate menage a trois.

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS is a X-rated take on comedic romance movies starring a man gallivanting around the city having flings with various women while blowing his chance with his one true love, or two true loves in this case. Jamie Gillis is no stranger to acting in traditional films and shows it here with a solid performance when he's not busy putting the moves to both sisters. He also has one of the most self loathing sex fantasies I've ever seen in a film and it is hilarious in the grand scheme of the film and on top of that adds a level of genuine love and emotion that completely elevates the story above a lustful level and shows Gillis' character in a more positive light.

Director Fred Lincoln gives a grandiose feeling with much of the film being shot within Paris and a few scenes at the end in New York. The film looks good and features solid performances including the sexy sisters played by France Lomay and Natasha who help end the film on a bang with a set up for Paul in New York City that comes crashing through the door like an unwelcome guest but by the end of the party ends up being the life of the party. That ending scene is so out of left field but it is a stupidly silly surprise that sums up how cutely romantic this film is at its core beyond the numerous sex scenes. It doesn't take long to realize THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS has soul and spirit. The catchy original theme song and opening credits make you realize the personality this movie has immediately. The rest of the music is great as well with the passionate wails of the electric guitar being rivaled only by the passionate moans of the sisters in their romps with Jamie Gillis' split character.

I love THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS from start to finish. It's a transatlantic X-rated romp filled with almost as many laughs as money shots.

And there's a slow motion money shot so how could you not want to see it?

The Audio & Video
THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS has been given a new 2K scan and restoration from the original 35mm camera negative courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome and it looks very nice for a standard DVD release. The picture is sharp including natural but vivid colors and fleshy, healthy skin tones. Detail is good and there's minimal imperfections in the 16x9 anamorphic widescreen transfer. The English audio is handled with a Dolby Digital mono mix which is solid. There's no crackling, popping or other annoying imperfections present and the dialogue and score are mixed nicely.

The Extras
A 12 minute interview with supporting actor John Mozzer is the lone extra but it's a welcomed addition to the feature.

The Bottom Line
Much of the attention to this month's Vinegar Syndrome releases is being paid to Malibu High and The Hearse and for good reason but it would be a crime to overlook THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS because it is wildly entertaining and a fine release.

THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS is available HERE