The Film (4/5)

Would it be too much to say that Herschell Gordon Lewis is among the pantheon of truly great, and timeless American filmmakers? For even though his films were shot on shoe string budgets, with actors of limited quality, and FX that aren't always the best. These are truly time capsules of great American exploitation cinema, and the beginnings of the splatter film.

    Arrow Video previously put together the MASSIVE H.G. Lewis' FEAST box set which contained 14 films by the director in double feature presentations, all as nicely restored as possible with the condition of the various elements being what they were. It also showed a Criterion level regard for Lewis as a director and brought together extras, new and old to truly create something comprehensive.   Of course, the box set was limited in number, and so Arrow has started issuing the titles in double feature editions that contain the same content as the Feast' discs.  This month they are releasing Lewis' Color Me Blood Red, the third part of his horror-history making Blood Trilogy. Accompanying the discs is 1967's LSD Shocker "Something Weird".

    The premise of this one is quite similar to Roger Corman's 1959 horror classic "A Bucket of Blood". The film follows Adam Sorg (Gordon Oas-Heim), a temperamental artist, who is trying to succeed in selling his paintings, and creating a career. When the film starts he already has a crazy vibe going, but the combination of hearing how lifeless the colors in his paintings are, combined with the discovery of blood on canvas sets him over the edge, and he begins to kill people in his beachside community, and utilizing their blood for his work.

    This film though it was a reputation of an early gore piece, does not have the same amount of gore that made films like Blood Feast and 2000 Maniacs notorious.  It is still fun, in that H.G. Lewis way, near mechanical one-take filmmaking, wooden acting, and early attempts at gore. I won't say the films are atmospheric, but Color Me Blood Red creates an atmosphere that only Lewis himself could create.  It's not my go-to, one it comes to Lewis, but it's still a great deal of fun, and deserves a watch (or 5).

Audio/Video (3.5/5)

    H.G. Lewis' films were not cared for so well in the 20-30 years between his retirement and rediscovery through Something Weird video in the 90's. As such the elements used for even this are in a state where clean-up is possible, but the film's will still show their rough origins. Color Me Blood Red, and Something Weird are presented 1:85:1 in 1080p AVC encoded transfers from Arrow Video. Everything here is brighter, detailed, and more organic, but there is still damage flecks, scratches, etc.

    Audio is handled by an LPCM mono track in English. This track is on par with the other Lewis' releases. It's solid, but unremarkable and brings out the thin-ness of the original sound. There is also some minor hiss.

Extras (5/5)

     This is where this set shines. We get a complete other feature "Something Weird". Commentaries by Lewis and Friedman on both films. Outtakes, a short film from Lewis, a trailer for Jimmy The Boy Wonder, promo galleries, and  more.

Overall

    H.G. Lewis is one of the most influential horror filmmakers of the 20th century.  Color Me Blood Red is one of his early key films, and highly fun to watch. The Arrow Video restorations looks quite solid, and comes with a great slate of extras. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.