The Jekyll & Hyde Portfolio / A Clockwork Blue Drive-In Collection Double Feature (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1971, 1972
Directed By: Eric Jeffrey Haims
Written By: Eric Jeffrey Haims, Donn Greer, Bonnie Jean
Starring: Sebastian Brook, Mady Maguire,
Color/167 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Films
What a serious pair of oddball films! First in THE JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO the nurses at the Florence Nightingale Institute are among the best, and sexiest around. Unfortunately they have to deal with a strange and perverted doctor. Oh, and a killer on the loose who is leaving his victims marred with 3 star shaped wounds on their abdomen. From the perverted doctor who only wants to see the girls in their uniforms, with no underwear of course, to the weird hunchback and another doctor who just loves dissecting frogs, the Florence Nightingale Institute seems like the perfect place for a crazy to be running around killing the girls. This is a horror film but it is equally a sex film, not hardcore though, and just a silly fucking movie. THE JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO is surely going to leave an impression on you and probably have you wondering just what in the blue hell is going to happen next.

And if JEKYLL & HYDE was off the wall... well then came A CLOCKWORK BLUE. You certainly read Homer's Odyssey in high school. Well here, Homer goes on a different odyssey. As he's an assistant researcher and goes time traveling through the ages sleeping his way around history while trying not to get caught. From colonial America to the Trojan horses of Rome and places in between, Homer gets to see the and experience the sexier side of history... sometimes. He's usually being chased off or attacked. There's also a very jive God-like character, watching Homer's comedic mishaps through a watermelon TV. Plenty of lovely T&A and laughs to be had here.

The Audio & Video
JEKYLL & HYDE features an okay 16x9 transfer. The condition of the source material shows the film's age and it is obvious that it wasn't kept in great condition. It has scratches, dirt and debris. It is a bit soft and washed out at times as well. That said, it is absolutely a watchable transfer and for a title such as this I'm satisfied with how it turned out. The audio on it has some crackling and such but not much. It is in better shape than the picture.

A CLOCKWORK BLUE looks quite good here. Colors are vibrant and lively from the greens and reds to the whites which don't get too hot and blacks which are pretty deep. Skin tones look fleshy and natural and the source material has obviously been kept in nice condition. The mono audio track is very clear and free of background noise. A very nice presentation that only looks and sounds better with the limited edition Blu-ray. Overall a passable to very good double feature from Vinegar Syndrome.

The Extras
Bare bones.

The Bottom Line
I think any fan of horror, cult, sexploitation, adult or just fucking weird movies owes it to themselves to see these 2 films. The 70s were a wonderful time where just about everything went and this double feature proves it. 

JEKYLL & HYDE PORTFOLIO/A CLOCKWORK BLUE Drive-In Collection Double Feature is available HERE

Lust For Freedom (DVD Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1987
Directed By: Eric Louzil
Written By: Craig Kusaba, Duke Howard, Eric Louzil
Starring: Melanie Coll, William J. Kulzer, Judy Trevor
Color/91 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Film
Gillian Kaites is a special agent who is engaged to her partner but with just days before their wedding her fiancee is gunned down during an undercover operation gone bad. Gillian takes some time away to clear her head and ends up in Georgia County California, a town ran by a corrupt judge and police force. Gillian is framed for a drug crime she didn't commit and denied any rights. Gillian is beaten, stripped naked, and just like the rest of the girls miserable. The judge of the town participates in sex trafficking, drug dealing and general debauchery until Gillian rallies the girls to take back their rights and their lives!

LUST FOR FREEDOM is a Troma production, directed by Eric Louzil who would go on to direct Class Of Nuke 'Em High 2 and 3. This women in prison movie has all of the classic tropes of the genre from the torture and beatings to the lesbian sex scenes but also features a hefty dose of humor. It is a lighter take on the genre (if that is possible with as much T&A and violence as this movie features) than many other WIP films. The soundtrack plays a big role in the film, as it helps keep the mood light with it's purely 80s hair metal sound. The theme song is catchy as hell and will make you want to drive a tank as fast as you can into the walls of this prison and give the girls their freedom! LUST FOR FREEDOM isn't going to blow you away with it's high production values or originality but it will give you a good time along with a bit of exploitation fun. 

The Audio & Video
The anamorphic widescreen 1.85:1 transfer from Vinegar Syndrome is decent considering the low budget nature of the film. The image quality is a bit soft but it seems to be more of the film itself and not anything having to do with the transfer. The source material seems clean for the most part with very few scratches or instances of debris. The audio side of things is a mono track, free of any background noise. It isn't special, but it handles the dialogue and soundtrack as well as it probably ever has. Overall a more than serviceable job from Vinegar Syndrome.

The Extras
-Newly recorded audio commentary with director Eric Louzil
-Video interview with Lloyd Kaufman
-Original theatrical trailer

The Bottom Line
I recommend fans of Troma and women in prison films to check this one out and add it to their collections.

LUST FOR FREEDOM is available HERE

L'Immortelle (Blu-ray Review) - Kino Redemption

France/1963
Directed By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Written By: Alain Robbe-Grillet
Starring: Francoise Brion, Jacques Doniol-Valcroze, Guido Celano
Black & White/101 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: April 1, 2014

The Film
Alain Robbe-Grillet's debut film is a strange one. The entire thing is shrouded with mystery and it pushes the viewer to extract what you will from it. A man who has recently moved to Turkey to be a professor at a local school meets a beautiful but secretive woman who he spends several days with seeing the sights around the city and the local people. Suddenly she vanishes without a trace and nobody around the city recalls or is willing to recall her being with him. Just as suddenly as she vanished, they meet again, but before she is able to explain her disappearance she is killed in a car crash with the man. The rest of the movie is spent with the man going over the events again trying to determine if he caused the crash or not and psycho-analyzing every little detail of their brief relationship.

L'IMMORTELLE is a stunning film to look at. The gorgeous black and white photography, often shot at severe angles give the Turkish ruins, waterways and tunnels a very stark look. On a deeper level the film is incredibly interesting to look at and break down. From the main man and woman to an art shop keeper, to the stranger and fisherman. Every character symbolizes something and eventually the man finds himself facing a criminal underworld that he isn't prepared to deal with.

This was my first viewing of L'IMMORTELLE and I really like this film. I know my love for it will grow deeper with subsequent viewings as I gather and notice new things. Robbe-Grillet showed instantly that he can create incredible visuals and art with this film and it is something I've learned quickly that he would do again and again.

The Audio & Video
Kino Redemption gives L'IMMORTELLE a stunning HD transfer. The 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen presentation seems to be taken from a very clean print as there are only a few instances of dirt or scratches. Detail level is strong while the black levels are handled brilliantly and are deep and inky. The 2.0 French language track (with optional English subtitles) is solid, but not perfect. Extremes in the high end mix are a bit of trouble for the mix but it is a rare occurrence.

The Extras
Along with a trio of trailers for other Robbe-Grillet releases and a 2014 promo short, this release features an interview with the writer/director that clocks in at over half an hour.

The Bottom Line
The debut film from the French director is a mysterious, strange and engrossing one. It appeals to many of the senses and this release does it absolute justice. L'IMMORTELLE is certainly worth your time.

L'IMMORTELLE is available HERE

Holliston: The Complete Second Season (Blu-ray Review)

USA/2013
Directed By: Adam Gree, Sean Becker
Written By: Sean Becker
Starring: Adam Green, Joe Lynch, Corri English
Region A
Release Date: April 8, 2014

The Show
If you aren't familiar with HOLLISTON here is a brief rundown - The horror themed sitcom was created by Adam Green (director of Hatchet, Frozen)  and stars Green as "Adam" and Joe Lynch as "Joe", roommates who work together at a public access TV station and dream of being successful horror filmmakers. The other main characters of the show are Dee Snyder as "Lance Rockett" who is the public access station manager and moonlights as an 80s metal cover band singer. Corrie English is "Corri" Adam's ex-girlfriend and Laura Ortiz is "Larua", Joe's girlfriend. The principal cast is rounded out with Dave Brockie (R.I.P.) as his GWAR persona "Oderus Urungus" who is Adam's imaginary best friend that lives in his closet and gives him advice.

Season 2 really ramped up the guest stars that horror fans will be sure to recognize. From Kane Hodder playing a depressed version of himself because of his exclusion from Freddy vs. Jason, in what is my favorite episode of the series, to Danielle Harris and Sid Haig among many others. The season revolves around Adam and Joe trying to get their slasher film "Shinpads" released and dealing with the various obstacles in their way from The Blob attacking the town, to zombies and maniacal pre-teens. HOLLISTON is a tongue-in-cheek love letter to horror movies, constantly breaking the fourth wall and giving the viewers something to smile about or laugh at.

The 10 episode season (11 if you count the Christmas special from in between seasons 1 and 2) is geared for horror fans, but sitcom fans in general will find that the nature of the show which also lovingly pokes fun at the sitcom format makes for an entertaining show. The show has been described as "Evil Dead 2 mixed with The Big Bang Theory". That is a comparison I can support if only The Big Bang Theory had any clue on the pop culture jokes they were using. Adam Green lives and makes horror movies so his jokes and references are spot on.

The Audio & Video
Image Entertainment gives HOLLISTON season 2 the Blu-ray treatment with a damn fine looking and sounding release. The digital photography looks great with the anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer. Colors are vibrant, skin tones natural and detail levels are incredibly strong. The DTS-HD 5.1 audio track sounds awesome as well. The mix is full and robust, with the soundtrack and dialogue mixing very nicely. 

The Extras
A pretty full lineup of special features is included on the season 2 Blu-ray including:
-Cast commentary tracks
-Deleted Scenes
-Behind The Scenes featurette
-Blooper reel
-Table Read w/ the cast
-Music video selection

The Bottom Line
HOLLISTON may not see a season 3 with the recent and untimely death of Dave Brockie but if it closes with just the 2 seasons it will be a sad, yet almost fitting way to end our time with the characters. This Blu-ray release is a damn fine showcase of the series and could prove to be the definitive release of the young series. 

HOLLISTON Season 2 is available HERE

Outpost: Rise Of The Spetsnaz (DVD Review) - XLrator Media

UK/2013
Directed By: Kieran Parker
Written By: Rae Brunton
Starring: Bryan Larkin, Ivan Kamaras, Michael McKell
Color/87 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 18, 2014

The Film
The third entry into the OUTPOST series is a prequel, showing the origins of the Nazi zombies. These undead super soldiers are stacked up against some captured Russian special force agents known as the Spetsnaz.  These experiment stage zombies aren't the final product that would be churned out by the mad German scientists but they were more than brutal and provided a hell of a match for the Spetsnaz.

OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is admittedly my first venture into the series. I figured that starting with part three would be okay since it was a prequel. While RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is not filled with emotional story arcs or a ton of character development it is fun enough as a simple gory action horror film to have me interested in seeing the other movies in the series. OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is violent and quick. There's not a ton of wasted time here and it's more of a showcase of the early stages of the zombies that fill the previous two entries than it is anything else. Though, the Spetsnaz are no slouches and it is fun routing for them against the despicable Nazis.

The Audio & Video
XLrator Media gives OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ a home on DVD with a pretty solid presentation overall. The 16x9 enhanced 2.35:1 transfer looks good with the almost sepia toned photography. The image is clean and has good representation of color and details. The English audio track is a 5.1 Dolby Digital track that is full of gunshots, thuds and smacks from the fight scenes and sounds quite good. There is also a Blu-ray release of the film which I'm sure is a nice upgrade in both departments.

The Extras
A trailer is the lone extra.

The Bottom Line
If you need a fun popcorn flick to turn your brain off and have some exciting zombie action you can definitely do worse than OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ. 


OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ is available HERE

2014 Exploitation/B-Movie Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 began a viewing of THE TRAMPLERS, a spaghetti western directed by Albert Band and featuring Gordon Scott, Joseph Cotton, and Franco Nero. Quite the impressive cast. If only the movie was as impressive. THE TRAMPLERS is a pedestrian effort. The story is a family drama affair, which does lend a bit of excitement with the blood feud. There is nothing special about this film however, it doesn't set itself apart. If you're a big western fan it is worth checking out but if you're looking for the best examples of the genre you can skip this one. 5/10

Then came OUTPOST: RISE OF THE SPETSNAZ, this is the 3rd entry in the series and is a prequel. This is actually the first film I've seen from the series and I was surprised to find a decent action/horror film based around the Nazi zombies. I'll be reviewing the DVD in full so I'll just leave this one be. 5.5/10

The new Blu-ray of MS.45 has been calling my name for a few weeks since I got it. It's awesome. If you've never seen this film then stop reading and go watch it! It's a violent, mean, and nasty rape/revenge film where Thana, a mute seamstress in NYC is raped (repeatedly) and goes vigilante on men across the city. It is a damn near perfect piece of exploitation filmmaking from Abel Ferrara. 9/10

The night closed with DEMON RESURRECTION, a typical indie horror movie. Not bad, not great. It featured some cool design for the monsters and some nice boobs. There isn't a ton to say about it right now since I'll be reviewing this DVD as well. 6/10

Best Friends Forever (DVD Review) - Horizon Movies

USA/2014
Directed By: Brea Grant
Written By: Brea Grant, Vera Miao
Starring: Brea Grant, Vera Miao, Stacey Storey
Color/81 Minutes/Not Rated
Region 1
Release Date: March 25, 2014

The Film
Road trip films are often a vehicle used for any sort of relationship story. What better way to save a relationship than to work out your differences while exploring the highways and back roads of America. There's nowhere to go, you're in a car with your friend or lover for hours on end. It may not always be fun but some issues are going to be put on the table and often worked out in these films. They're also the perfect vehicle for some incredible amounts of hijinx. So you would think a road trip movie about two best friends traveling from Los Angeles to Austin in the middle of a nuclear apocalypse would be a fantastic set up for a great relationship story and some crazy situations.

Nope, it's not. At least not here. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is about two friends, Harriet, a nerdy comic book artist who is on her way to Graduate School in Austin and her slutty friend Reba who is along for the ride. Shortly after their departure a series of nuclear bombs go off in various cities around the US, unbeknownst to them. Soon, Reba's slutty ways get them in trouble as a group of the least threatening hipsters of all time carjack them with a stun gun. Left without a car they hitch a ride with a crazy redneck and quickly bail on him to spend the night in an abandoned gas station. Upon arriving to Harriet's sister's house in Austin Reba learns about the bombs, a fact that Harriet had been hiding from her. A giant fight breaks out between the two until Reba's life is in danger from the local police force who are rounding up anybody that doesn't look American and Harriet saves the day.

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is pretty painful. It's essentially hanging out with a couple of catty high school girls for an hour. The apocalypse barely plays a role in the film, with most signs of it just being from characters getting mildly sick and vomiting from radiation. Neither of our leads are very likeable, especially Reba who comes off as a fake, plastic bitch. And Harriet can't get out of her own way in her "woe is me" pity party. They can stay BFFs for all I care, they deserve each other.

The Audio & Video
Horizon Movies brings BEST FRIENDS FOREVER to DVD with an anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1) and the image quality is decent. The photography is a bit soft througout, with boring and bland lighting concepts. The 2.0 stereo audio track gets the job done. It isn't going to blow you away but the mix is fine and you won't miss any dialogue because of it.

The Extras
The strongest point of the DVD is probably the special feature, which include:
-Audio commentary with Brea Grant, Vera Miao, and Michelle Lawler
-Behind The Scenes featurette
-BEST FRIENDS FOREVER Remix
-Kickstarter campaign video
-Art Of Best Friends Forever
-Trailer

The Bottom Line
I really liked the concept of BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, it just happens it got wasted on annoying characters, a weak script and an overall poor production. 

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER is available HERE