The Film (2.5/5)

An annoyed uncle tries to get his nephew to sleep by telling him fairy tales. The only issue is he doesn’t remember exactly how the Grimm stories go. So, he makes them a little Spicer with more horror elements and a contemporary setting.

DEADTIME STORIES is an offbeat horror (with bits of comedy) anthology movie that ups the camp factor. Beginning with a catchy theme song, it becomes clear that this was a goofy passion project from some horror fans. The song even mentions Romero, Hitchcock and DePalma. To add to this is some fun Claymation bits as the storybook pages turn. From here we see three odd stories.

The film’s biggest problem come from how inconsistent the stories are. And the lack of scares. The cast is having fun, but the broad comedy is a little too zany. The last story being the worst with its bank robbery family version of Goldi Lox and the three bears. There are some good comic ticks. But sadly, they are too few and far between.

The best story is the middle one which turns Little Red Riding Hood into a junkie werewolf. Here the mix of comedy and horror work. The whole film is charming despite some of its tonal faults. The film was something of a cult item during the VHS boom. The final result may be lacking, but I’m glad fan favorites are starting to see good treatment on Blu-ray.

Audio/Video (4/5)

This 88 Films Vault title comes with another fine transfer and sound mix. The 5.1 English DTS-HD track sounds lovely with no noticeable issues. There is no hiss or pops. The musical score and sound effects are smooth. English subtitles are included.

The 1080p HD transfer is smooth with nice black levels. The focus is sharp and there is some minor film grain. The colors are a little muted during the night scenes.

Extras (3/5)

First up is an audio commentary with Co-writer/Director Jeffery Delman. The track is light hearted and full of insight into the production. “I like the Grotesque”, is a on camera interview with Delman who fondly remembers this VHS cult film. THE BLACK FOREST is an alternate cut of the first story, which comes from a rough VHS source. It’s a bizarre look at the film and is worth a look for fans. Rounding out the on-disc extras are a still gallery, deleted scenes, and theatrical trailers. In the case itself is an alternative cover artwork and a booklet of liner notes written by Calum Waddell.

Overall (3/5)

DEADTIME STORIES is an uneven but enjoyable horror comedy anthology. For fans of this film, 88 Films release is an impressive package. Worth a rental.