MONDO WEIRDO/VAMPIROS SEXOS Press Relesae

 MONDO WEIRDO / VAMPIROS SEXOS Premieres on BLU-RAY/DVD March 14, 2017

Los Angeles, CA (March 6, 2017.) Cult Epics presents Carl Andersen’s films, the European answer to the Cinema of Transgression of Richard Kern and Nick Zedd, except more extreme, eccentric, surreal and erotic. 

“The Hard-core version of Eraserhead” –Jan Doense (Weekend of Terror)

MONDO WEIRDO: A TRIP TO PARANOIA PARADISE aka JUNGFRAU IM ABGRUND wallows in smut, sleaze, gore, splatter, and dark comedy and is set in an underground world where both vampires and punk rockers engage in hardcore sex to the highly addictive and hypnotic electro music of Model D’oo. Dedicated to Jean Luc-Godard and Jess Franco featuring his daughter Jessica Franco-Manera. Shot on 16mm stock, presented in a new High-definition transfer on Blu-ray. 

“Vampire Porno”

VAMPIROS SEXOS aka I WAS A TEENAGE ZABBADOING… is Carl Andersen’s debut film and is one of the weirdest movies ever, and it will certainly shock your mind. VAMPIROS SEXOS is the ultimate European underground punk rock sex vampire film. Stylish and trashy at the same time in the best sort of way, the film also features an endlessly entrancing no-wave score by Model D’oo. Cult Epics presents the rare only existing Uncut SD version on DVD together with:  WHAT’S SO DIRTY ABOUT IT? Bonus short film. Cut-up trance noise nihilistic short film, reminiscent of the work of Throbbing Gristle and Kenneth Anger. SD 

3 Disc Limited (numbered) Edition of 2000 copies includes Exclusive CD soundtrack by Model D’oo.

MONDO WEIRDO/VAMPIROS SEXOS Blu-ray/DVD/CD Combo

Price:                              $39.95

Street Date:                              March, 2016

Production Year:                     1988/1990/1990

Film run time:                 Approx. 68/57/9

Language:                                English & German language with English subtitles

Aspect Ratio:                           1.33:1

Audio:                                      Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Label:                                       Cult Epics

Distributor:                              CAV 

Blu-ray/DVD/CD Cat.no.       CE-149

BD UPC:                                 881190014998

Rating:                                     Not Rated

SPECIAL FEATURES

New High-definition Transfer (from original 16mm print)

Introduction by Erwin Leder (star of Angst)

The Making of Mondo Weirdo (2016)

               The Making of I was a Teenage Zabbadoing aka Vampiros Sexos (2016)

               Bonus film: What’s So Dirty About It? (1990)

BLOODRUNNERS (Blu-ray Review) - Speakeasy Pictures

USA/2017
Directed By: Dan Lantz
Written By: Dan Lantz, Michael McFadden, Adam Danoff
Starring: Ice-T, Michael McFadden, Airen DeLamater
Color/95 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: March 7, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Ice-T is Chesterfield, an ancient vampire who has opened a new speakeasy in prohibition era New England. When the local sheriff Jack Malone comes to collect his "tax" the corrupt officer gets more than he bargained for when he finds out the club is actually a vampire lair.

BLOODRUNNERS has a lot going for it like the charisma and attitude that Ice-T brings to everything he does and a really solid production design that has minor flaws but is very believable of a prohibition era town. The cast is good and when the movie is interested in being a vampire horror film it succeeds even if the special effects aren't always amazing. Unfortunately the script is a bit too busy with a couple subplots that try to add depth to a couple of the characters and their motives but in reality just slow things down and takes their eyes off the prize.

There's an obvious connection here to From Dusk Til Dawn with a vampire lair hiding out in a bar and when BLOODRUNNERS is doing a 1930s version of FDTD it's an entertaining picture but too much of the picture is spent on the subplots and Ice-T is vacant for stretches that last too long but when he's allowed to shout his lines with a certain ignorance and ferocity that shouts "Fuck you, I'm Ice-T and I'm a vampire, bitch! Where's my money?!" the picture is at its best and most enjoyable. Unfortunately the biggest name in the film gets lost in the shuffle a bit too much.

The Audio & Video
The Blu-ray from Speakeasy Pictures is quite good. The 1:85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer is clean and sharp with the 1080p HD quality giving way to strong detail and vivid colors. Black levels are deep and there's no signs of excessive DNR or edge enhancement. The 5.1 Dolby Digital audio is crisp and clear with steady levels and a quality mix job. There's no distortions or imperfections and English, Spanish and French subtitles are available.

The Extras
-Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Dan Lantz and Co-writer/Star Michael McFadden
-Deleted Scenes
-Extended Scenes
-Gag Reel
-Trailer

The Bottom Line
BLOODRUNNERS has some fun scenes but doesn't make the most of an interesting idea. Worth a watch but this isn't destined to become a classic.

BLOODRUNNERS is available HERE

LAVENDER (2017)

Canada, USA/2017
Directed By: Ed Gass-Donnelly
Written By: Colin Frizzell, Ed Gass-Donnelly
Starring: Abbie Cornish, Dermot Mulroney, Diego Klattenhoff
In Theaters and on VOD and Digital HD: March 3, 2017

LAVENDER stars Abbie Cornish as Jane, a wife and mother who is suffering from Amnesia after a car accident. While her memory returns she begins to have memories of a family she didn't know she had and visions of the murder of that family that she may have committed.

LAVENDER is a slow burn psychological and somewhat supernatural thriller centered around Jane along with her daughter and her strained relationship with her husband. She has minor flashes of memories from a life she doesn't know and has memory loss when it comes to small things like appointments. She photographs abandoned houses for her art gallery, fascinated by the life that once thrived within the walls of the now derelict buildings. After her accident she finds out a bit about her past and that she owns a house she has been photographing and that it's been kept up by her uncle. Upon returning to this house strange things start happening to Jane and her daughter until the haunting and sickening truth of her past comes boiling to the surface.

The pacing of LAVENDER could have been a problem but it ends up being one of the film's greatest strengths if you can get beyond the first 25 or 30 minutes. After that the film keeps growing into something more interesting but sadly it never gets to anything interesting enough. The film is predictable and dull with Abbie Cornish sleepwalking her way through the film. The film doesn't know if it wants to take a psychological thriller approach or if it would rather be some sort of supernatural ghost film as it fails at doing both. LAVENDER could be worse but it could have been a lot more interesting with a more focused approach.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE (Blu-ray Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1987
Directed By: Rick Roessler
Written By: Rick Roessler
Starring: Sherry Bendorf Leigh, Joe Barton, Don Barrett
Color/85 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: February 28, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Lester Bacon is in financial trouble and has been confronted by the town's lawyer, the sheriff and a rival slaughterhouse who wants to purchase his land and facility. Lester is fed up with the threats of being shut down and evicted he unleashes his oversized and mentally underdeveloped son Buddy on anyone that might be against them.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE is a video store staple of the 1980s where it found the majority of its audience after a brief theatrical tour. This slasher film is far from original but that doesn't stop it from being one of the better slasher film's from the later part of the decade that thrived on this type of film. Drawing obvious influence from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, SLAUGHTERHOUSE is a dirty, sweaty horror film with a massive 350+ pound madman squealing like the swine he loves so dearly. Yes, Buddy's lone form of communication of to squeal and grunt like a pig and it makes him an instant classic slasher antagonist. Joe Barton really portrays Buddy perfectly.

Director Rick Roessler made great use of the locations at his disposal with a dry, dusty produce plant and old equipment boneyard serving as the exteriors for the slaughterhouse and they make the film look like a million bucks (which was more than SLAUGHTERHOUSE cost to make.) The sprawling maze like interior freezers, grinders and meathook lined storage rooms give an overbearing sense of misdirection and confusion with potential death waiting around each and every turn. The film is violent and gory, with limbs getting lopped off, heads being crushed and bodies being thrown into the grinder but it also has a sense of humor which keep things a bit airier and fun which allow for frequent repeat viewings to remain entertaining and never too heavy.

It may never be considered one of the best slashers and sadly it didn't spawn any sequels because I think there was potential to continue the Bacon and Sons story, but SLAUGHTERHOUSE is highly entertaining and a really solid production. Roessler's script and direction give us just about everything we expect from a "slice and dice" picture and the cast does a really good job top to bottom as they fight through rain, mud, and cold corridors of the slaughterhouse. This is one of the higher quality slasher films to come out in the later part of the decade.

The Audio & Video
SLAUGHTERHOUSE has had a number of home video releases since being released in 1987, ranging from VHS to a rather shoddy DVD in 1999. For years it was simply an unattractive film to watch but the film gained a fanbase nevertheless. In early 2015 it received a Blu-ray release in the UK which was a bit of a revelation for the film. For nearly two years that was the best way to see it but Vinegar Syndrome has done what Vinegar Syndrome does by releasing an even better version with a brand new 2K scan and restoration from the 35mm interpositive. Colors have never looked this vivid and detail has never been this crisp. There's a healthy grain structure and the overall sharpness and clarity is a noticeable improvement over the previous Blu-ray released in England. The DTS-HDMA 5.1 audio mix is fantastic. A strong audio presentation that remains clear and free of distortions. Sound effects and dialogue play perfectly with the score and Buddy's guttural swine screams have never sounded more disturbing.

The Extras
-Audio Commentary with Director Rick Roessler, Producer Jerry Encoe and Production Designer Michael Scaglione
-New Video Interview with Lead Actress Sherry Berndorf Leigh
-"Making A Low Budget Indie" Featurette with Rick Roessler
-"Producing SLAUGHTERHOUSE" - Interview with Jerry Encoe
-Archival Interviews with Director Rick Roessler and Producer Jerry Encoe from the 1999 DVD
-"Epilogue: 30 Years After The Slaughter" Featurette
-Vintage 1987 Radio Interviews
-Local News Coverage From The Film's Premiere
-Behind the Scenes Featurette
-Outtakes
-"No Smoking" Snipe
-Trailers
-TV Spots
-Radio Spots
-Shooting Script Gallery
-Reversible Artwork

The Bottom Line
I was a fan of the previous British Blu-ray release of SLAUGHTERHOUSE but with Vinegar Syndrome's release now on the market it really isn't a case of picking one, it's a case of picking the better one. Vinegar Syndrome's release can easily be considered the definitive edition of SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

SLAUGHTERHOUSE is available HERE

BLUE MONEY (Blu-ray Review) - Vinegar Syndrome

USA/1971
Directed By: Alain Patrick
Written By: Alain Patrick
Starring: Alain Patrick, Barbara Caron, Inga Maria
Color/89 Minutes/Not Rated
Region FREE
Release Date: January 31, 2017
Blu-ray/DVD

The Film
Jim supports his wife and baby daughter by making hardcore porn films, a highly lucrative but illegal profession. Their dream of buying a boat and sailing around the world falls apart when the Vice Squad cracks down on Jim, distributors begin to cheat him on profits and Jim has an affair with one of his actresses leading to his wife leaving him before he has a chance to make it all right.

BLUE MONEY is an interesting film, presented as a pseudo-documentary at times and a traditional narrative film with narration from Bob Chinn who was a very notable porno director and gives instant legitimacy to the film. BLUE MONEY was made by the people actually making adult films during the time period. It should be noted that this isn't a porno. Softcore at most but there are no hardcore shots. I consider it to be more of a straight forward drama and pseudo documentary than even a softcore film. Even in to the 1970s pornography was still a taboo and illegal in areas. BLUE MONEY is centered around that idea and tackles that morale issue to an extent. It is driven by Alain Patrick's character Jim and his journey to leave the world behind with his family despite his imperfections and mistakes you can't help but route for the guy and his wife and child.

BLUE MONEY isn't the smoothest film, it's a bit choppy in it's progression and editing but it draws you in and holds you there for all 89 minutes. It touches on social and morality issues, family issues while also being a character piece. I appreciate it more with each new viewing and I hope this Blu-ray release gives it the exposure it deserves.

The Audio & Video
BLUE MONEY has previously been released on DVD multipacks with up to five movies crammed on one disc. This is how I previously had seen the film and obviously this wasn't going to allow the best quality picture and sound but Vinegar Syndrome has exceeded expectations with yet another slam dunk release. The brand new 2K scan and restoration features a 1.85:1 transfer maintaining the film's original aspect ratio and it looks phenomenal. Skin tones, of which there's plenty, are fleshy and natural with no artificial waxiness from excessive DNR. Colors are recreated vividly and look true to life. The image is sharp, with strong detail and a crisp, clean image. The English audio is handled with a DTS-HDMA Mono mix which is free of any background noise, hissing, popping or other imperfections. The dialogue and soundtrack are blended perfectly to allow each to come through clearly. Optional English SDH subtitles are included.

The Extras
-"Making BLUE MONEY" video interview with Producer Bob Chinn
-"The Affairs Of Aphrodite" - Bonus feature film from 1970, directed by Alain Patrick
-Original Theatrical Trailer
-Promotional Still Gallery
-Reversible Cover Art

The Bottom Line
BLUE MONEY has been an underrated and overlooked film taking a hard look at film and cultural history while remaining completely entertaining and sexy. It's the best of both worlds and I highly recommend everyone check this one out.

BLUE MONEY is available HERE

DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER (Blu-ray Review) - Kino/Redemption

1964/Spain, France
Directed By: Jess Franco
Written By: Jess Franco, Nicole Guettard
Starring: Agnes Spaak, Marcelo Arroita-Jauregui, Hugo Blanco
Color/84 Minutes/Not Rated
Region A
Release Date: February 7, 2017

The Film
DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER aka The Secret Of Dr. Orloff or the more racy and perhaps confusing The Mistresses Of Dr. Jekyll, showcases the things I love about Jess Franco films and the shortcomings he has been known to have all in one 84 minute film. Though it is a sequel to 1961's The Awful Dr. Orlof it is only loosely connected. The plot concerns Melissa, a young college student visiting her aunt and uncle to settle the inheritance of her recently deceased father. Unbeknownst to her, her uncle has been working on an experiment to create a zombie like killer. Local police investigate the deaths while Melissa searches for answers into her father's death.

Jess Franco had a shoestring budget to work with during the production of DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER, small enough that various cast and crew received no pay for their work and Hugo Blanco was tasked with creating his own monster makeup. The look, that of a scaly, and possibly burned and blistered man, is simple yet effective and surprisingly well done by Blanco. Blanco's character sort of wraps up the production into one single character - effective despite it's faults. Franco makes the most out of some really nice looking locations, including the castle which he makes sure to show off as much as possible with his framing choices. I don't blame him one bit for getting every ounce of value out of it. A lot of time is also spent inside a jazz club, something these early Franco films are known for and frankly I feel many of these scenes are there to pad the film's runtime.

I think some of Jess Franco's best work are the early black and white horror films he crafted during the early to mid 1960s and though DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER isn't the cream of that crop it does have a good gothic atmosphere, an interesting if familiar mad scientists plot and a creepy monster and ends up being an enjoyable creepy little mystery.

The Audio & Video
Kino has released the latest entry into the Redemption Films with a new HD presentation giving the film previously unseen levels of detail and clarity on home video. While this is not a full restoration and there are still some rough spots in the source material with plenty of dirt and debris speckling the picture the high definition quality is never in question. Detail levels are strong especially in close ups. The monster's burned and blistered face makeup shows this more than anything else perhaps. The black and white photography has a great stark look with beautiful greys and deep blacks.

There are two audio choices, with French and English options both in DTS-HD 2.0 formats. Having listened to both tracks I found the English to be the track to listen to. Not only is it a crisper and clearer listening experience, as the French track has more issues with imperfections and background noise, the English dialogue simply presents the story and dialogue better and clearer. There are optional English subtitles available.

The Extras
-Audio Commentary with Film Historian Tim Lucas of Video Watchdog Magazine
-Eleven minutes of additional more sexually explicit footage
-French Theatrical Trailer
-Italian Theatrical Trailer

The Bottom Line
DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER is an imperfect beast but it has many of the touches and flourishes that make these early Jess Franco horror films desirable and among his best work. Gothic horror fans should take note of this release. Recommended.

DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER is available HERE

SLASHER.com Hits DVD On March 7th

Chip Gubera's Slasher.com Hits DVD March 7th

Film Festival Hit Puts Sadistic Spin on Online Dating 

Available Nationwide from All Major Retailers

Los Angeles, CA -  MuchoMuchoMucho Productions and Firefly Films, in association with ITN Distribution, has announced the March 7th DVD release of Slasher.com.  The latest feature from horror director Chip Gubera (Song of the Dead, Academy of Doom, Mil Mascaras vs. the Aztec Mummy), Slasher.com puts a gruesome twist on the perils of modern dating.  

Co-written by Gubera and Chelsea Andes, Slasher.com combines the time-honored tradition of young people facing unfathomable horrors in the wilderness with the everyday horror of meeting people online.  Ben Kaplan (ADDicted, Wingman Inc) and Morgan Carter star as the hapless would-be couple, anchoring a cast supported by R.A. Mihailoff (Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, Hatchet II), Jewel Shepard (Return of the Living Dead) and Grammy winner Delious Kennedy.

Slasher.com took home awards for Best Feature Film at the Bloody Horror International Film Festival in Ottawa, Best Horror Feature at the Hollywood Boulevard International Film Festival, the Golden Award at the Spotlight Horror Film Awards and Best Screenplay at the Optical Theatre Film Festival in Rome.  Jewel Shepard and R.A. Mihailoff were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor respectively at the Optical Theatre Film Festival.

At a time where online dating could prove fatal, Jack and Kristy decide they're ready meet in person. Aiming for an adventurous first date, they plan a weekend getaway to a cozy cabin deep in the woodlands of rural Missouri. While discovering each other, they soon learn of the terrorizing horrors that the forest, and the family lurking there, has in store for outsiders.

The DVD release (SRP $14.93) of Slasher.com will be available at all major retailers, courtesy of ITN Distribution.