Nightmare City (Blu-ray Review) - Raro Video

Italy/1980
Directed By: Umberto Lenzi
Written By: Antonio Cesare Corti, Luis Maria Delgado, Piero Regnoli
Starring: Hugo Stiglitz, Laura Trotter, Francisco Rabal
Color/91 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
When an unknown airplane that has been exposed to radiation lands at a European airport it's doors pour open with a horde of mutant, blood drinking, gun shooting, knife wielding, super powerful zombies. A reporter on the scene escapes to find his wife and they do their best to move across the city and out of harm's way until the military can formulate a plan to stop these super-human mutant zombie monsters. 

Italian horror master Umberto Lenzi directs this classic piece of schlock. While light on story NIGHTMARE CITY is very heavy on entertainment. The zombie action doesn't take any time to get going and once it does it doesn't stop until the credits roll. The movie is cheap and loose much like the best Baltimore Street hookers. If you're a gore hound you'll love this picture as there is plenty of it. This is a perfect movie to sit down with a few beers and turn off your brain to. It is simply awesome. 

The Audio & Video
This is disappointing. I was hoping for a brilliantly restored HD transfer for NIGHTMARE CITY but what Raro Video has delivered is sub par as the video goes. Is it better than the previous Anchor Bay DVD? Yes, but just slightly. The entire film has always looked a bit murky but colors are muted more than they should be and there is excessive DNR here leaving the image looking smeary at times. Compression issues are evident in the background of the image almost constantly and while not terrible it is there and that's annoying. Black levels should be deeper and the dark scenes suffer from that. There are a few moments where detail is strong, and flesh tones do look natural and not waxy which is good. Some areas of the film certainly look worse than others and a few scenes do live up to my high hopes but overall the disc doesn't look phenomenal.

Audio on the other hand is pretty damn good. there are options for both English and Italian (with English subtitles) language tracks and they're both strong. The 2.0 tracks are well mixed with  Stelvio Cipriani's excellent score shining.

The Extras
Raro did a nice job with the special features and packaging and included:
-Interview with Umberto Lenzi that runs almost 50 minutes
-Original English trailer
-Original Italian trailer
-A gorgeous 11 page booklet 
-Slipcover with alternate artwork 

The Bottom Line
While I'm let down with the transfer I still love the movie and have to say that Raro did a nice job on the other aspects of the disc, and it is a slight improvement over the old DVD in terms of PQ. Raro is always running sales through their Facebook page, wait for one and grab this disc then to soften the blow and it won't sting as bad.

NIGHTMARE CITY is available HERE

Sweetwater (DVD Review)

USA/2013
Directed By: Logan Miller
Written By: Logan Miller, Noah Miller
Starring: January Jones, Jason Isaacs, Ed Harris
Color/95 Minutes/Rated R
Region 1

The Film
In the late 1800s Sarah Ramirez (January Jones), a former prostitute, has a new life growing crops with her new husband Miguel (Eduardo Noriega). Despite some lean times they're happy and peaceful until a dispute with their only neighbor, the Prophet Josiah (Jason Isaacs) leaves Miguel dead. Sarah deals with her husband's death until she is pushed too far and blazes a trail of blood across the town for everyone who has used her, judged her or wronged her and it is up to the new sheriff Cornelius Jackson (Ed Harris) to find out who is behind the killings and why. 

SWEETWATER is the latest in the line of the recent on-going western movie renaissance which has given us quite a few fine films such as The Proposition and the remake of 3:10 To Yuma. SWEETWATER stands among them on its own feet. Director Logan Miller, in only his second time in the director's chair, gives us a heart felt piece of vigilante justice with love at its core. January Jones performance in the lead role, along with the rest of the supporting cast, are fantastic and carry the simplistic script that we've seen done before and make it something special. There's nothing wrong with simple ideas that have been done before but the film making team has to do something to make it stand apart and they've done so here. Jason Isaacs is extremely unlikeable as the Prophet who is a total dickhead and truly believes he has the word of God guiding him while we are rooting for Jones to find the peace and solitude she was robbed of.

The CGI blood bothered me. It is no secret that I hate CGI blood and would much prefer practical effects be used. The repeated use of CGI gunshot wounds and blood spray look pretty terrible and for a split secnod take me out of the film. It isn't a good thing to be taken out of the movie to think "man, those effects are bad". Fortunately the movie is strong and doesn't need to rely on the effects for merit. This is a good, almost great modern western that I'll certainly be revisiting again.  

The Audio & Video
Unfortunately for me, Arc Entertainment provided me with the DVD version of the film and not the blu-ray because I'd have loved to see SWEETWATER in HD. As it is the region 1 DVD looks good with a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. There are some vibrant colors present such as Sarah's purple dress, but the film is largely set in overcast exteriors and darkly lit interiors. The black levels are handled with ease and there's no problems to really speak of. The 5.1 Dolby Digital is more than capable of handling the soundtrack and dialogue mix. There isn't anything in the film to really push the limits of your receiver but everything sounds good and is crisp and clear. 

  
The Extras
You wouldn't know it judging by the DVD packaging but there are some special features present on the disc. The first and most important feature is a brief 10 and a half minute "making of" that features interviews and moments with just about all of the main cast members and the Miller brothers. Brief but enjoyable. There's also a trailer for the film and an option to listen to the song heard in the closing credits in its entirety. 

 

The Bottom Line 
A familiar plot with a great cast. It isn't the best western of the 21st century but it is quite good and is worthy of a purchase. 

SWEETWATER is available HERE 

Voodoo Possession (DVD Review) - Image Entertainment

USA/2013
Directed By: Walter Boholst
Written By: Walter Boholst
Starring: Ama Amoafo-Yeboah, Devante Bell, Tomas Boykin
Color/94 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1 

The Film
Sometimes good horror films get stuck with painfully generic titles by their producers. I don't know if this is good for business because when I see these movies with these basic titles that sound like a million other straight-to-video movies I immediately think of how bad it probably is. Once in a great while you may be surprised that the movie is actually good despite it's lame ass title. That is not the case with VOODOO POSSESSION. Hell, even the title screen tried to make it a little better by calling it A VOODOO POSSESSION but no, the official title dopes the A and becomes just that much more boring. 

A cheaply made story about a bunch of young unlikable turds of a news crew travels to Haiti to find out what happened to an American doctor who went down there to help after a devastating earthquake and disappeared with all of the donation money. The crew includes his estranged brother who was blamed by the doctor for their mother's death. While their they learn that these patients may not be sick or injured, but under a voodoo spell, possessed by spirits. The further they dig into this lead the deeper they into Haitian voodoo hell they find themselves until they can't turn back. 

Good lord what a flaming pile of dog shit. In fact, I'd rather have had to deal with a flaming bag of dog shit outside my door than watch this. The writing is atrocious, uninspired soap opera dreck and the entire cast fails. They just plain fail. Even Danny Trejo, who despite having his name plastered on the DVD cover gets about 5 minutes of screen time, couldn't have gone through the motions any lazier. If he had they'd have a hologram of him like they did for Tupac. In fact, that would have probably been better. If Trejo wasn't reading his lines off a cue card while seeing them for the first time I'd be surprised. The effects are something you'd see out of Windows Movie Maker, the scares are nonexistent and there is nothing redeeming to this film at all. There are some great films about voodoo that get the atmosphere, the terror and the Haitian culture right, The Serpent And The Rainbow obviously comes to mind immediately... this is no Serpent and this is no Rainbow.

The Audio & Video
The DVD from Image Entertainment is okay. The movie seems to have been shot with cheaper cameras so it isn't going to look great no matter what the DVD authoring did. The 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is fine, it won't blow you away but it is clear of any hiccups. The majority of the film is in dark and dimly lit hospital areas and the disc handles the black levels fine. The audio fares just as well, it won't blow you away but there's no background noise, no pops, crackling or hissing. Dialogue comes through loud and clear and the score is mixed well in this 5.1 Dolby Digital track. 

The Extras
A Behind-The-Scenes featurette is the lone feature on the disc. 

 
The Bottom Line
You can take a pass on this one.

VOODOO POSSESSION is available HERE

The Whip And The Body (Blu-ray Review) - Kino

Italy/1963
Directed By: Mario Bava
Written By: Ernesto Gastaldi, Ugo Guerra, Luciano Martino
Starring: Christopher Lee, Daliah Lavi
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A

The Film
Daliah Lavi stars as Navenka, the beautiful woman tortured by Kurt Menliff (Christopher Lee), who returns home to his castle at the dismay of everyone else there. After he's found dead the torment continues as Menliff's spirit is vengeful and full of anger. 

The surface level plot of  THE WHIP AND THE BODY isn't anything you haven't heard before. It is the subconcious, the atmosphere, the sadomasochism that the film is steeped in that make it special. The gorgeous photography and excellent staging that make it one of Bava's best films. Christopher Lee is excellent as the Count and Daliah Lavi is so gorgeous and tormented that you feel awful for her, despite how much it drives her actions. THE WHIP AND THE BODY is possibly Mario Bava's cruelest film but it is also one of his most beautiful. This is truly one of the best horror films of the 1960s, a decade filled with incredible horror films.

The Audio & Video
Kino Classics deliver THE WHIP AND THE BODY on Blu-ray for the film's first ever treatment in HD. The 1.78:1 widescreen transfer keeps the film's original aspect ratio in tact and it looks gorgeous. Skin tones are natural and healthy while the colorful lighting and gorgeous gothic castle setting look incredible. Textures are detailed, black levels are deep and inky. The audio side of the disc fares just as well. With 3 separate audio tracks available, English, Italian with English subs and French with English subs. I prefer the English track as there was no live sound recorded and all of the actors were speaking English, either naturally or phonetically, on set The only downside is that another actor was used for Christopher Lee's voice.

Please Note: Images do NOT represent Blu-ray quality

The Extras
Extra features include an older commentary track from Tim Lucas that was ported over from the old VCI DVD release. Also included is the theatrical trailer and several other Bava trailers. 

The Bottom Line
One of horror's greatest director's best films gets a fantastic looking and sounding Blu-ray. Do I really have to say that this one is essential? I shouldn't but I will. This Blu-ray from Kino is essential.

THE WHIP AND THE BODY is available HERE

Vic - A Short Film By Sage Stallone

USA/2006
Directed By: Sage Stallone
Written By: Will Huston, Sage Stallone
Starring: Clu Gulager, Tom Gulager, Miriam Byrd-Nethery
Color/35 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1

The Film
Film is perhaps the most powerful medium of art. At least it is for me, quite easily. No other form of creative nature moves me the way movies do. The emotional response I get from movies, from Ingmar Bergman to Troll 2, is something I cherish. From tears and sorrow to laughter and joy movies move me. And it doesn't always take a 3 hour sprawling epic to bring about the strongest emotional responses. Sometimes it happens in a 35 minute short film from a first time director. 


Vic Reeves (Clu Gulager) is an aging actor, long passed his prime struggling with day to day life. That is, bills, the search for work that he only finds in bit parts in low budget horror flicks, putting food on the table and in his beloved dog George's bowl and perhaps most of all, growing old. Vic receives a phone call late one night from a director, very interested in having him read for a part in a new film. Vic takes offense to the call as he hasn't had to read for a part in many years. The next day Vic finds a package on his doorstep containing the script, after reading the script and being moved to tears, partly from the script itself but more so that this was a real acting role and that someone had thought of him for it after such a long time, Vic calls the director and apologizes for his actions the night before and agrees to read for the part. While staring into the mirror, and at an old photo from his glory days, Vic becomes extremely unsettled by his advanced age and appearance. He walks George to the local store to buy some makeup and hair color but while inside George disappears. Completely distraught by his missing dog, Vic drives like a maniac to the audition where he has a complete meltdown in the meeting and all of his fears and feelings come pouring out. Vic returns home, sitting alone in the backyard, and night falls on the fading star. 

VIC is a moving piece of cinema. This would be Sage Stallone's sole directing credit of a narrative piece. This is 35 minutes of complete sadness as we are forced to sit in total helplessness as this sweet, proud man totally falls apart in front of us. Vic Reeves simply cannot deal with the later parts of the cycle of life and his world crumbles around him in a depressing tale of the last day's of a once beloved star's life. Art imitates life, and life becomes art. VIC proves it. 

 
The Audio & Video
The DVD of VIC looks absolutely fantastic. The crisp, clean picture is one of the nicer DVD presentations I have seen in some time. The audio is also strong, with no background noise or hiccups. While the film doesn't really push the boundaries in terms of visuals or sound direction, it handles what the film gives us perfectly. 

 The Extras
The main feature is a 15 minute+ interview that Sage Stallone conducted with Clu Gulager in 2009. This interview is touching and really gives us an in depth look into how Gulager feels about the film and what it means to him. Also included is a VIC montage, and cast/crew bios.

 
The Bottom Line
VIC is a fantastic film. One that I'm glad has finally received the wide release it deserves. Sage Stallone proved he was a more than capable director here as he captures Gulager's moving performance with excellent skill. This is a film you should see.

VIC is available HERE

Big Ass Spider (Blu-ray Review) - Epic Pictures

USA/2013
Directed By: Mike Mendez
Written By: Gregory Gieras
Starring: Greg Grunberg, Clare Kramer, Lombardo Boyar
Color/80 Minutes/PG-13
Region A

The Film
Cheesy, Syfy Channel quality movies have become all the rage of late. Whenever the newest one is released,whether on that specific channel, or to home video or even the rare trip the the theater, the internet explodes in all sorts of discussion, memes and love/hate for these movies. These movies are not fine art or high brow by any means. They are generally made on a low budget, with questionable CGI, ridiculous plots and hammy acting. Some of them gain cult movie status and are beloved by cheesy movie fans. With a title like BIG ASS SPIDER you already know what kind of movie you're in for... but does it suck? Or is it able to cross the line into "grab a beer and some friends and have a blast" territory?

When a local exterminator is bitten by a Brown Recluse spider he heads to the hospital for treatment. While there the mortician is bit by an unidentified spider, with nasty results. The exterminator works a deal to handle the hospital's problem in exchange for paying off his medical bill. It quickly becomes apparent that this spider is nothing he's ever seen. He teams up with Jose, the security guard who helps navigate him through the air ducts where he first catches a glimpse of this beast of a bug. While in the ducts a team of U.S. Army members comes in and takes control of the hospital. The spider escapes and the exterminator and the military are forced to join forces to stop this fast growing, murderous arachnid as he terrorizes downtown Los Angeles. 

BIG ASS SPIDER is a laugh riot. The exterminator Alex (Greg Grunberg) and Jose (Lombardo Boyar) are simply fantastic together. Their comedic timing is spot on and they seem like they're absolutely comfortable in their work together. Their effortless comedy really helps make the movie. Add in Ray Wise (Twin Peaks) as the Army Major and an appearance by Lin Shaye early on in the film and the cast really works. They're funny, and good. Better than you'd expect. Yes, the dialogue is corny and the movie itself is cheesy as fuck but director Mike Mendez and writer Gregory Gieras knew exactly what kind of movie they were making and played into its hands brilliantly. BIG ASS SPIDER is a chance to escape for 80 minutes, laugh, cheer and have a blast.   

The Audio & Video
The Blu-ray release of BIG ASS SPIDER from Epic Pictures looks and sounds great. The anamorphic widescreen transfer of this digitally filmed movie shines, as you'd expect. Yes, the CGI is a bit on the cheap side but it is better than most of these types of movie. The spider always looks decent, even when it is moving quickly. Beautiful L.A. weather allows for some gorgeous photography in the exterior scenes. The soundtrack sounds great as you'd expect with dialogue and music being mixed nicely and never having to compete with each other. Overall this is a very nicely produced disc.


Please Note: Images DO NOT represent Blu-ray quality
 

 

The Extras
On top of the movie, the disc features a solid lineup of extras including:
-Interviews with the cast
-SXSW Festival Featurette
-TV Spot
-Multiple trailers
-Additional featurettes with the stars and director

The Bottom Line
BIG ASS SPIDER lives up to it's name and potential of being a Goddamn blast. It is cheesy, funny and just plain fun. On top of the movie being great, the disc features some extra features that are also funny and entertaining. If you're a fan of cheesy Syfy Channel esque killer animal fare you're going to love BIG ASS SPIDER.

BIG ASS SPIDER is available HERE

Fanny Hill / The Phantom Gunslinger (Blu-ray Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1964, 1967
Directed By: Russ Meyer, Albert Zugsmith
Written By: John Cleland, Robert Hill, Blair Robertson, Albert Zugsmith
Starring: Leticia Roman, Ulli Lommel, Miriam Hopkins, Troy Donahue, Sabrina
B&W, Color/203 Minutes/Not Rated
REGION FREE

The Films
Russ Meyer is best known for his love of women, more specifically, beautiful, big breasted women. He wasn't shy about it. He put them front and center of his films making them the stars. Whether it was a comedy, or a piece of exploitation he is known for his love of women and their boobies, without being a misogynist. FANNY HILL features some beautiful women, but this period comedy is a bit different than the likes of Supervixens and Faster Pussycat Kill Kill.

FANNY HILL is the story of a cute, shy girl named Fanny who has moved to the city from her country upbringing looking for employment. It doesn't take long for us to realize how naive this girl is. She seeks work and lodging at the local brothel where the den mother gets the idea that she can make a fortune off this fresh, untouched beauty. What ensues is a series of pretty damn funny slapstick, innuendo filled fun, while Fanny grows up and finds her true love. If nothing else FANNY HILL shows how good of a director Russ Meyer truly was. The sleepwalking chase scene is fantastic, as is Fanny's back and forth with an equally shy man who is looking for a women to sleep with that understands him. Beyond Meyer's direction, the performances are damn good, never crossing the line to being hammy or over the top which is incredibly easy when dealing with content and style such as this. This is a great little film that I'm amazed found its way to Blu-ray considering the strangle hold the Russ Meyer estate has over his films since his death. It is a crime, and while I can't say whether this film was part of the estate or not it is great to have some Russ Meyer material in HD.

If there is one thing in the world of film that I absolutely cannot stand it is hokey comedy westerns. I was never a fan of the western genre until I discovered the Italian productions that made the movies dirty, gritty and violent. There were no singing cowboys (which is the only thing this film is missing), there was no "injins" and there was no John Wayne. Oh how I hate John Wayne. THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER is pretty much everything I hate about the old American western wrapped up into a single package. There are the slow talking natives, the slapstick comedy routines (over and over and over) the jail with rubber bars, nonsensical and outlandish fight scenes, and an overall feeling of "try-hard" (if you don't know what that means, look it up). There were 2 things I got a laugh at, the banker character who is a caricature of Hitler (I'm a sucker for making fun of Hitler with random characters in films) and in that same scene a flask the size of a grown man's torso. I can handle a small dose of comedy in my westerns, the Euro westerns of the 70s did this and kept the movies quality. I cannot take heavy doses of ham fisted cornball writing. It is entirely possible if you're open to totally off the wall slapstick comedies that you'll enjoy this, I certainly see how one would. For me however, it is an attempt at a comedic western and that is something I just do not enjoy.

The Audio & Video
FANNY HILL's black and white photography shines on this Blu-ray presentation from Vinegar Syndrome. The 1.85:1 widescreen transfer looks great with excellent levels of detail in skin and textures along with deep, stable black levels. The audio is free of any background noise or popping, crackling or otherwise intrusive annoyances. 

For as much as I didn't care for the film, THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER looks fucking fantastic. The transfer keeps the integrity of the movie's shot on film look with a natural grain structure. It has been cleaned up a bit it seems but the image is far from waxy or overdone. This is a colorful film and the colors really pop. Whites never burn too hot and black levels are deep. If all westerns on Blu-ray looked this good we'd be in good shape. The DTS HD mono track sounds great. It comes across loud and clear without a trace of background noise. All of the bonks and bops of the fight scenes are pleasing on the ears.

The Extras
Bonus features on this 3 disc set include:
-"The Zugsmith Connection": featurette with FANNY HILL star Ulli Lommel
-Video interview with film historian Eric Schaefer
-Reversible cover art for THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER
-DVD copies of each film

The Bottom Line
Vinegar Syndrome has brought this pair of Albert Zugsmith productions together in a near pristine Blu-ray release. Perhaps more importantly is the fact that we get to see some of Russ Meyer's work in HD, something I wasn't expecting anytime soon. Despite my personal distaste for the 2nd film on the double feature, the very high overall quality of this release, and the quirky charm of FANNY HILL make this disc highly recommended. 

FANNY HILL and THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER is available HERE