The Film (2.5/5)

The Bride's Initiation is a hardcore Florida shot adult film by prolific, but relatively unknown adult filmmaker Emile Alan Harvard (better known but still relatively unknown as Emilio Portici).  Vinegar Syndrome has previously released The Bride's Initiation through the defunct Vinegar Syndrome Direct and the defunct Exploitation.TV.  The Bride's Initiation is an odd film; however, it is good that Vinegar Syndrome has made it available again.

The Bride's Initiation takes on the legend of Count Dracula, in a way; the oddly awkward film throws away everything about the Dracula legend in this film.  In The Bride's Initiation, Count Dracula (Marc Brock) is alive and well and living in sunny Florida of all places.  Dracula survives off of semen milked from men that his resident cackling witch brews up into a potion and from having sex with virgin women.  He has his chauffeur James (Jack Birch) abduct newlyweds George Townsend and his bride when leaving the church.  George's mother and father-in-law go to the police over their disappearance, and police inspector Gould finds out he is after the legendary Dracula.

The Bride's Initiation is a genuinely odd film.  Emile Alan Harvard churned out many cheap and poorly made one day wonders over his career, reportedly over 30; however, some work appears to have gone into The Bride's Initiation.  Count Dracula's lair seems hastily assembled; however, the rest of the shooting locations look good.

Emile Alan Harvard's care that went into The Bride's Initiation doesn't mean that The Bride's Initiation is a good film.  It isn't; The Bride's Initiation is heavily disjointed and never seems to figure out what it wants to be.  There are hardcore scenes within the film; however, not as many as one would expect and some of them randomly end.  None of the hardcore scenes are overly erotic, and some come across as more unintentionally amusing than anything close to erotic.  Despite the story, which heavily lends itself to being all-male oriented, the film is heterosexual – although one has to wonder if Emile Alan Harvard also planned to make an all-male version as well.

The story itself meanders with a segment where Count Dracula ends up stalking Miss. Richmond (Carol Connors), which doesn't fit in with anything else in the film.  The whole story feels like it was tacked onto the film because Emile Alan Harvard managed to get Carol Connors to participate after filming had started and needed a part for her in the film.

The Bride's Initiation is not a film for people who are looking for a hardcore film for erotic entertainment.  This film will leave you completely flat; however, the reality is that The Bride's Initiation is a campy film that can't help but entertain.  The Bride's Initiation is worth watching if you go into it with the right frame of mind – just don't pay too much for the film.

Audio/Video (4/5)

Vinegar Syndrome has done a nice job with their DVD release of The Bride's Initiation.  The Bride's Initiation was shot on film and Vinegar Syndrome has used a 2K scan of 35mm film elements for this release.  The Bride's Initiation is presented in the Academy aspect ratio of 1.33:1 in 480p.  The image looks good sporting fine grain, artifacts, and print damage.  The colors in the film are vivid.

The Bride's Initiation is presented on the disc with an English Dolby Digital 1.0 monaural audio track.  The dialog in the film is clear and can be easily understood at all times.  The audio contains hiss and pops, but none of this is distracting.

Extras (1.5/5)

The only extra that Vinegar Syndrome has included on the release is "The Mystery of Emilio: The Journey from Canada," that runs for three minutes, and is a collection of ads and clippings on Emile Alan Harvard and Marc Brock.  It isn't a lot, but it is rather interesting since little was known previously about the pseudonymous Duncan Stewart.

Overall

If you are looking for a hardcore film for hardcore film reasons, The Bride's Initiation is one of the last films that you will want to watch.  The sex scenes will leave you flat.  However, if you are a viewer who enjoys campy bad films as entertainment, The Bride's Initiation will serve the purpose.  Vinegar Syndrome has done a beautiful job with their DVD release of The Bride's Initiation with good audio and video quality.