Black Friday Exclusive Explosion
Severin Films & Vinegar Syndrome
Blood on Satan’s Claw, Beast in the Cellar, Gwendoline, Savage Dawn, Candy Snatchers, Vice Academy Trilogy, Tammy and the T-Rex, Spookies
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It appears we are wrapping up another year in the realm of cult, horror, and exploitation home video. As the holiday season begins some of our favorite labels begin to sneak out a few awesome releases under the guise of the Black Friday sale. For the last few years both Vinegar Syndrome and Severin Films have put out a handful of secret titles, and Black Friday exclusives that are an epic treat for fans of obscure horror and exploitation cinema, and this year is no different. This year's Black Friday exclusives from Vinegar Syndrome are The Candy Snatchers and Spookies, with the retun of their VSA imprint which sees first time Blu-ray releases of the Lance Henriksen vehicle Savage Dawn, and the Vice Academy trilogy starring Lineea Quigley and Ginger Lynn Allen. Severin Films are releasing the folk horror classic Blood On Satan's Claw, plus another Tigon British horror film The Beast in the Cellar, their November slate also includes an upgrade of an early Severin DVD release Gwendoline.
Blood on Satan's Claw
Director- Piers Haggard
Cast- Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden
Writer: Scott MacDonald
Blood on Satan's Claw is the genuine article. A stone cold folk-horror classic, that is one of the all time greatest horror films in British horror history (though to be fair, it does have a lot of competition). The film opens with Ralph Glover, a local landscaper, finding a strange skull and fur while working. He retrieves a local judge, but is to find the skull is gone upon their return. The local children and teenagers begin to act strangely and develop odd patches of fur, while swarming around Angel Blake (Linda Hayden). The judge just work to get the evil out of the community.
Blood on Satan's Claw was a grower for me. I first saw it about 10 years ago, and though I liked it, it did not reach the expected lofty heights of The Witchfinder General or the Wicker Man. However, through repeat watches it has grown on me immensely. The film has a creepy, and intense atmosphere. The rural setting common for folk-horror films adds to the otherworldly and esoteric vibe of the film. It is, of course, very well-acted with fine performances by Patrick Wymark and Linda Hayden. Piers Haggard directs things with a solid sense of style, and excellent pacing.
Severin Films Blu-ray release is the 3rd Blu-ray of the film following 2 editions by Screenbound in the U.K., and is the first overall in the U.S. The film gets a wonderful new 1080p presentation that has amazing textures, and a strong film like ambiance. There is some minor speckling and some thin vertical lines that are noticeable early on, but rarely distracting. The disc is loaded with extras including multiple commentaries, featurettes, interviews with the cast and crew, plus much more.
The Beast in the Cellar
Director- James Kelley
Cast- Beryl Reid, Flora Robson
Writer: Scott MacDonald
The Beast in the Cellar is the 2nd of the Tigon Films offerings from Severin Films this Black Friday. The film has the unique distinction of being the "B" film to Blood on Satan's Claws "A" in a now famous British Horror Double Feature in the early 1970's.
The film stars Beryl Reid and Flora Robson as a pair of sisters who after hearing about a murder in their local community discover that it may have been their brother's doing. The brother has spent the last 30 years bricked up in the cellar, and is found to have finally dug his way out of his homebound prison, and is now wreaking bloody havoc across the British countryside.
The Beast in the Cellar is a unique little horror film. It has the feeling of a domestic drama combined with that of a slightly restrained horror film. It is entertaining for sure, but it is just good enough to make one think that this could be better given the time and more cohesive direction.
Severin Films presents The Beast in the Cellar in a new 1080p presentation that similar to the Blood on Satan's Claw looks astonishingly good. It is very filmlike with only minor damage from the source material. Colors are stable, and blacks are deep. Audio is an English soundtrack that comes through crisp and clear. Extras are more limited here, but solid with 3 sets of interviews, and a trailer.
The Perils of Gwendoline in the Land of the Yik-Yak
Director- Just Jaeckin
Cast- Tawny Kitaen, Brent Huff
Writer: Scott MacDonald
Gwendoline (Tawny Kitaen) hides herself in a wooden crate and ships herself to Asia, hoping to end up in the Land of the Yik-Yak, and find her Father who has gone missing. Upon arrival she is caught by the ship's crew, and eventually escapes into the streets where she finds Willard (Brent Huff), the pair end up on a very misguided quest for Gwendoline's Father.
This one is hard to review, it is like Just Jaeckin's response to the Indiana Jones films and pulp serials in general. The film seems to go place to place, and from one bizarre situation to the next accompanied by an ill-fitting synth score, but enough strangeness to fill a trilogy of Gwendoline pictures.
Severin's new Blu-ray brings out the best in the film from the colorful sets and costumes to other less obvious details. The film has a fantastic 1080p presentation that is quite natural, and without much in the way of issues. Extras include 2 commentaries, multiple interview, and the cut down U.S. Version of the film.
Savage Dawn
Director- Simon Nuchtern
Cast- Lance Henriksen, George Kennedy
Writer: Scott MacDonald
Savage Dawn stars Lance Henriksen as Stryker. Stryker is a war veteran who while attempting to visit a friend in a small Arizona town find the place overrun by a biker gang. It up to Stryker, alongside his friend Tick (George Kennedy) to put a stop to the antics of this gang, and free the town from their oppression.
Savage Dawn is a film I had never heard of before getting it in the mail to review. It surprised me as it is a Lance Henriksen film, pretty much right before he went to cult stardom in films like Pumpkinhead and Aliens. The film has solid action throughout, mixed with gratuitous nudity, and an awesome score by Pino Donaggio. The film is also a who's who of cult stars including Karen Black and Richard Lynch.
Vinegar Syndrome presents Savage Dawn in an excellent 1:85:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer. Everything here looks quite solid, with stable colors, and excellent detail. Audio is handled by a DTS-HD Stereo audio track in English that is clear, crisp, and without issue. Extras include a director's commentary, trailer, and double sided poster.
Vice Academy 1-3
Director- Rick Sloane
Cast- Ginger Lynn Allen Linnea Quigley
Writer: Scott MacDonald
Vice Academy 1-3 are 3 films I did not anticipate a Blu-ray upgrade for, but am quite happy they are here. The films are directed by Rick Sloane who directed the notorious Hobgoblins, and stars Scream Queen Linnea Quigley, and iconic porn star Ginger Lynn Allen.
The films are pretty much a take-off on the Police Academy series of comedies, just sleazier. The first film involves a series of recruits in the titular (no pun intended) Vice Academy, who have to arrest a number of criminals in order to graduate. These criminals mainly come from the world of drugs and porn.
All 3 films have pretty ridiculous storylines that pretty much just exist to get boobs and bad jokes on screen, and sometimes that is just perfect. All 3 films are competently directed by Sloane, and feature fitting performances by Quigley, Allen, and more.
Vinegar Syndrome presents the Vice Academy Trilogy in a trio of shockingly brilliant 1:85:1 1080p transfers. The last time I saw these films was probalby on USA Up All Night in the 90's, and cannot believe who well done these look. The transfer are bright, colorful, well-detailed, and filmlike. Audio is an English DTS-HD Stereo track in English and is well-balanced and clear. Extras include a Rick Sloane commentary, plus interviews with Quigley, Allen, and a double sided poster.
The Candy Snatchers
Director- Gueron Trueblood
Cast- Tiffany Bolling, Ben Piazza
Writer: Scott MacDonald
The Candy Snatchers is a 1973 exploitation-grindhouse number that I have heard of by reputation, but had yet to see. The film follows a trio of small-time criminals, who kidnap the daughter of a jewelry store owner, bury her alive with a pipe in the ground to feed her air, and demand a ransom of half a million dollars in diamonds. The plan seems to go off without a hitch, but what the trio doesn't realize is that a mute autistic young boy has seen their crime, and knows where Candy lies buried.
OK, so this one actually affected me. This is a bleak and brutal film, that I found a bit hard to watch. I hate to play the parent card, but being the Dad of a daughter the age of Candy made this one hit from almost the first 5 minutes where Candy is violently kidnapped off the streets and buried.
Of course, because the abrupt and brutal nature of the film it creates an excellent and compelling atmosphere from the start, and rarely lets up. The film is shot very well, with some well done shots, and direction from Trueblood. No spoilers, but the ending is uncompromising, and fits the overall tone of the film. Though a hard-watch, this film is a must watch.
The Candy Snatchers comes to Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome with a splendid 1:85:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer. Everything here looks excellent, film-like, and well-detailed. Black levels are inky and deep, and this is another excellent presentation from Vinegar Syndrome. Audio is handled by a DTS-HD English track without any obvious issues, and clean sound. Extras include interviews with director Trueblood, producer, Gary Adelman, star Vince Martorano, alongside a commentary by the always reliable Nathaniel Thompson.
Tammy and the T-Rex
Director- Stewart Raffill
Cast- Denise Richards, Paul Walker
Writer: Scott MacDonald
Tammy and the T-Rex pretty much defines the experience of an older film finding a new lease on life in the Blu-ray era. The film I recall renting alongside other kids dinosaur fare such as Prehysteria. The film had a ridiculous story involving Tammy a high school aged girl who finds that her boyfriend had his brain transplanted into the body of a T-Rex. The film when I saw it was G-Rated and much like the director's Mac and Me appeared to be aimed at a child audience.
That first impression was quite off the mark.
The film which stars Denise Richards and Paul Walker in very early performances was envisioned as a cheesy R-Rated splatter film, and the film has seen a new lease on life after being restored with its gory cut footage. The film is still now a blend of kid-friendly humor, gory splatter, and a hint of oddly surreal moments that really make this a film that has to be seen to be believed.
Vinegar Syndrome presents the film in a very solid 1:85:1 1080p AVC encoded transfer for the most part everything is well-detailed, natural looking, and colorful. There are a few moments that might have been sourced from a non-negative source, and stand out, but overall everything looks great here. Audio is handled a wonderful HD audio track in English. Extras include a commentary with the director and producer, interviews with Sean Whalen, Denise Richards, and George Pilgrim, as well as the original PG-13 cut of the film from a video source. This comes very highly recommended.
Spookies
Director- Thomas Doran, Brendan Faulkner, Eugenie Joseph
Cast- Peter Dain, Nick Gionta
Writer: Scott MacDonald
OK, so one of the most oft-requested titles I've seen in the fan discussion over Black Friday titles for years is the 1980's creature feature. The film was directed by a trio of director's Thomas Doran and Brendan Faulker were filmmaking buddies with aspirations of greatness, and directed Spookies (then known as Twisted Souls) to guarantee funding for their next project. They were let-go and the producers hired on Eugenie Joseph to finish the film. That would normally end the story right there, but apparently the 3 directors had 2 distinct and different visions for the film, and not just from a visual perspective, but a narrative one.
The film opens with a young boy who runs away from home after his parents forget his birthday. He ends up at an old mansion, and buried alive. The film then transitions to a group of partying teens who end up in what I believe is the same mansion. The mansion is the residence of a sorcerer, who conjures up a cast of monsters to pick off the teens.
One cannot watch Spookies expecting a normal horror-experience. Like the Vinegar Syndrome release Night Train to Terror, or the Roger Corman vehicle the Terror the film's disjointed production has created something that is all over the place, but still fascinating, and a unique and oddly wonderful horror experience.
The Blu-ray from VS is presented with a 1:85:1 1080p AVC encoded trasnfer preserving the OAR of the film. The transfer is surprisingly excellent considering the nature of the film, and its production. Everything looks natural, and well-detailed, colors are well-represented, and blacks are inky and deep. Extras include a feature length making of documentary, another feature length doc on VIPCO, an introduction to a screening of the film, a Q&A, and much more.
