Blu-Ray Review: HIGHWAY TO HELL (1990)

HIGHWAY TO HELL

Directed by:  Bret McCormick

Distributed by:  Visual Vengeance / Wild Eye Releasing / MVD Distribution

  The only HIGHWAY TO HELL film I had ever heard of was the 1991 horror/dark comedy film from director Ate De Jong.    Look up the film and I'm sure you'll recognize the iconic cover art that was in every Blockbuster and Mom and Pop video store back in the 1990's.   

  When this HIGHWAY TO HELL arrived for my review, I assumed it was that movie with different cover art.   That is not the case.  This is actually a completely different film that came out one year before in 1990.  This is more of an exploitation road adventure movie, and as bad as it was, it was still quite a fun watch!   Here is the basic plot synopsis from the MVD website:

Convicted mass-murderer Toby Gilmore has escaped from prison, and the open desert becomes his playground for sadism and destruction. Determined to stop him after failing to execute him years earlier, officer Earl Dent (Richard Harrison) sets out on a relentless pursuit that turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse. But Gilmore has taken a hostage--Fran Tucker, a young woman caught in the wrong place at the worst possible time. As the chase hurtles across backroads and wastelands, Dent closes in, each mile bringing he and Gilmore closer to an explosive reckoning on the highway to hell.

Shot in rural Texas, Highway to Hell stands as a prime example of the regional, low-budget filmmaking that fueled America's video boom of the 1980s and '90s. Originally released on VHS via Rae Don Home Video, the film showcases director Bret McCormick (The Abomination, Repligator), a key figure in the Texas exploitation underground, whose raw energy and ingenuity turn poverty row resources into a fast-paced, sun-baked thriller that captures the true spirit and grit of independent genre cinema.

 This is a very low budget film and it shows.  The acting is not great, the effects are pretty bad, but like I mentioned before, this was still a lot of fun to watch.   It might be a case of laughing AT the film versus laughing WITH the film, though, as I assume this was supposed to be a serious film at the time.   The film follows our killer, Toby Gilmore, as he carjacks his way across country with the law on his tail.  No one is safe from Gilmore, not women or even children!  Gilmore will do anything he has to survive and not go back to prison. 

 Some laughable moments include our killer shooting a truck with one shot from a pistol and it exploding into a huge fireball.   Another is Gilmore shooting a helicopter out of the sky with his pistol, also with a huge explosion!   That pistol he carries must pack quite a punch!

 While the film might not be exceptional by any means, this physical release of the film is for sure.  Visual Vengeance spared no expense on giving this film quite the stellar release.   The film has reversible cover art and an awesome slip case.  There are tons of Special Features including the following:

* Region Free Blu-ray

* SD master from original tape elements

* Commentary with director Bret McCormick

* Director Bret McCormick interview

* Red Hot Asphalt:  actor Richard Harrison interview

* Road Trip: actress Blue Thompson interview

* Writing A Road Map to Hell:  screenwriter Gary Kennamer interview

* Actor Tom Fegan interview

* Image Gallery

* Bonus Movie: REDNECK COUNTY FEVER (1992), directed by Gary Kennamer

* REDNECK COUNTY FEVER - Commentary track with Bret McCormick and Gary Kennamer

* REDNECK COUNTY FEVER - Bret McCormick interview

* REDNECK COUNTY FEVER - Gary Kennamer interview

* Visual Vengeance trailers

* "Stick Your Own" VHS Sticker set

* Reversible sleeve featuring original VHS art

* Folded REDNECK COUNTY FEVER mini-poster

* Optional English Subtitles

* Limited Edition O-Card featuring original poster art (First Pressing Only)

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

4K Ultra HD Review: THE UGLY STEPSISTER (2025)

THE UGLY STEPSISTER

Directed by:  Emilie Blichfeldt

Distributed by:  Second Sight Films

 THE UGLY STEPSISTER is a film I had been curious about for a while, and finally got the chance to check out thanks to Second Sight Films and their new 4K Ultra HD release of the film.   

 Set in the 19th Century, THE UGLY STEPSISTER is a reimaging of the Cinderella story, but with a very dark and brutal twist.  

Here is the basic plot from the Second Sight Film's website:

An impressionable and idealistic young woman dreams of marrying the kingdom’s prince but her beautiful stepsister becomes her greatest rival. Increasingly desperate she resorts to extreme measures in a quest for the physical perfection she believes will win the prince’s heart.

 This is a extremely well made film, from the acting to the wonderful practical effects.   The film focuses on ugly duckling sister, Elvira, and her desire (or more so her Mother's desire) to become beautiful so the Prince will choose her for his wife.    While Elvira's stepsister Agnes is the clear front-runner for the Prince's hand in marriage, a sexual encounter with the stable boy pretty much gets Agnes ostracized from the family.   This opens the way for Elvira to woo the Prince, but she must make some drastic changes first!  

 The changes Elvira does to herself and has done to her, are extremely hard to watch and very cringe inducing.  I looked away from the screen many times, something I rarely do with a horror film.   She uses the only techniques they had at the time, including voluntarily eating a tapeworm to help control her weight.   I looked online to see if this was a technique that was actually used back then, and apparently it was.  It is extremely unsafe, though, which you will see why in this film.  There is a good reason we don't use that form of weight loss these days!    Other modifications Elvira has done to her are a nose job, and the addition of fake lashes.   Adding fake eyelashes might sound like no big deal, but a close up of the eyelashes being sewn onto her eyelid caused my whole body to clinch up!  

 All these things pale in comparison, though, to the main modification Elvira does to herself, all in order to fit into the slipper that was lost at the ball.   You can use your imagination to figure out what she does, or if you can stomach it, just watch this film!  

  THE UGLY STEPSISTER is like a 19th Century version of HOSTEL, except all the body torture is completely voluntary.   This is body horror at it's finest, with graphic scenes disguised by the beautiful cinematography and costumes of what otherwise would look like a beautiful art film.  Kudos to Director Emilie Blichfeldt on an amazing first feature film, I look forward to her future projects. 

  THE UGLY STEPSISTER is available now on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and a 4K Ultra HD limited edition, and contains the following Special Features:

• Presented in HDR with Dolby Vision

• New audio commentary with Director Emilie Blichfeldt and Filmmaker Patrik Syversen

• New audio commentary by Meagan Navarro

• This Is My Ball: a new interview with Emilie Blichfeldt

• Generational Trauma: a new interview with Actor Lea Myren

• Take Up Space: a new interview with Actor Thea Sofie Loch Næss

• Character and Gore: a new interview with Effects Artist Thomas Foldberg

• The Beauty of Ugly: The Effects of The Ugly Stepsister

• A Cinderella Story: Kat Hughes on The Ugly Stepsister

• Deleted Scene

• Short Films: How Do You Like My Hair? and Sara’s Intimate Confessions

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD Limited Edition

Blu-ray Review: GARDEN OF LOVE (2003)

GARDEN OF LOVE

Directed by:  Olaf Ittenbach

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD Entertainment

 If you are a fan of Director Olaf Ittenbach, then you probably already know about this film.  I have known about Ittenbach for a while now, but I can honestly say I have never seen any of his films.  I heard all the hype around his film DARD DIVORCE, and even tracked down a copy on DVD, but have yet to watch it.  Apparently his films are supposed to be pretty extreme and graphic.  Well, if all his films are like GARDEN OF LOVE, then I can definitely confirm that that is the case.  

Here is the plot synopsis from the Unearthed Films website:

The story of a young woman tormented by bloody visions of a past she can't really remember. All she knows is that all of her family was slaughtered when she was very young. Now, the spirits of the dead lusts for vengeance and they want Rebecca to guide those responsible to them. Rebecca reluctantly agrees and bloodspurting chaos ensues.

  This film was previously released on DVD under the alternative title, THE HAUNTING OF REBECCA VERLAINE. So if you have seen that, just know this is the same film.  But...you'll probably want to do yourself a favor and upgrade to this new Blu-ray, as the picture and colors look amazing!

  If you are a gorehound, you are going to LOVE this one.   Did you like the opening scene of TERRIFIER 3?  Well, if so, you are going to love the opening of this film. In fact, this reminded me so much of TERRIFIER 3, that I have no doubts the makers of that film were a fan of Ittenbach and this film in particular. The similarities are uncanny.   

  The gore is definitely the main star here, but unlike other films that are just made to showcase the gore and effects, this one actually has a really cool story with a nice twist ending.    This film definitely  has more substance than most gore films I am used to watching.  That being said, I have to keep focus on the gore here, as there is so much of it, and it is all so well done.   Throat slashings, beheadings, appendages being ripped of, face splittings, and disembowelments are just a few of the things you will witness in this film.  The fact that it is all done with practical effects makes it that much better. 

 If you have not seen this film, I highly recommend it.  This is one I am glad to add to my collection and will be re-visiting very soon.   This film also makes be want to check out some of Ittenbach's other films!   

 GARDEN OF LOVE is available now on Blu-ray from Unearthed Films, and contains the following Special Features:

*  Making of Garden of Love

*  A Look Behind Garden of Love

*  New Outtakes

*  New Photo Gallery

*  Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from Unearthed Films

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray from MVD Entertainment

Blu-ray Review: FRIGHTMARE (1983)

FRIGHTMARE

Directed by:  Norman Thaddeus Vane

Distributed by:  Troma Films / MVD Entertainment 

  I am always excited when I get a film to review that I have not seen before.   The new release of FRIGHTMARE from 1983 is one of those films.  In fact, I actually own the old Troma DVD of the film, but it's one that has set on my shelf for years and has yet to be watched.  Today I sat down to watch the newly released Blu-ray, and I am now mad at myself for not watching this sooner!   Before I go any further, here is the basic plot synopsis from the Troma Films website:

Following the death of legendary horror actor Conrad Radzoff (Ferdy Mayne, The Howling II, Conan the Destroyer) , a group of overzealous drama students steal his corpse from his crypt and take it to the decrepit haunted house where his finest fright films were made. As the night goes on, the students lean the true meaning of terror, as Conrad’s vengeful spirit takes them out one by one. Featuring incredible special effects by Chuck E. Stewart (Critters, The X Files Bruce Almighty) and early performances by Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), Nina Talbot (Night Shift, Puppet Master II), Scott Thomson (Police Academy I-IV) and Donna McDaniel (Hollywood Hot Tub), Frightmare is a bloody terror trip from the Tromatic 1980s.

  The movie is from 1983 and stars a pre RE-ANIMATOR Jeffrey Combs.   It was fun seeing him in something that was not any of the RE-ANIMATOR films, as those are the films he is most known for, of course.   Ferdy Mayne plays the star of the film, Conrad Radzoff.   Radzoff is a cult horror actor / icon, kind of like a Bela Lugosi or Boris Karloff type.   He has tons of fans and is one of the biggest stars there is.  It's no wonder that with his untimely passing, that fans of his don't want to let him go.   In fact, this certain group of teenagers want to party with him!   So, they break into his mausoleum to steal his body.  Sounds pretty normal right?    They successfully exhume his body and take him to a deserted house throw a wild party.  All goes good at first, until people start dying! 

 It seems that Conrad Radzoff is not one to stay dead!  He awakens and starts killing off the teens one by one.  I don't think they really explained how he came back to life, or if they did I missed it.  Regardless, once Radzoff wakes up and goes on his killing spree, we get treated to a very fun movie!  Practical effects are a plenty here, with one of the greatest beheadings I have seen on film.    The head rolling down the stairs with a loud "splat" sound on each step became almost laughable as it lasted so long. Kudos to the sound designer for that one!  

 While not a masterpiece by any means, FRIGHTMARE is a fun and entertaining film.  If you love 80's films, this is one you'll want to check out.  It definitely has that 80's vibe to it.    

 FRIGHTMARE is available now from Troma Films and contains the following Special Features:

• * Original DVD Intro Featuring Lloyd Kaufman and Debbie Rechon
• * Archival audio interview with Director Norman Thaddeus Vane
• * Historical Commentary with David Del Valle and David DeCoteau
• * The Hysteria Continues (audio commentary from 'The Hysteria Continues' Podcast)
• * Original Theatrical Trailer
• * Artwork Gallery
• * Man With A Camera: Video Interview With DP Joel King
• * A Gory Lesson From The Set Of Meat For Satan’s Ice Box
• * INNARDS! Music Video
• * Radiation March

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray