Blu-ray Review: BASKET CASE (1982)

BASKET CASE
Written & Directed by  Frank Henenlotter
Distributed by Arrow Video / MVD Entertainment Group

  I always love getting the chance to check out an old classic horror film that I have never seen.  Such was the case when I recently watched the 1982 classic BASKET CASE.   I have always heard of this film, but somehow have managed to have never seen it until now.  

 For those unfamiliar with the film, here is the plot synopsis courtest of MVD Entertainment website:

THE TENANT IN ROOM 7 IS VERY SMALL, VERY TWISTED, AND VERY MAD.

The feature debut of director Frank Henenlotter (Brain Damage, Frankenhooker), 1982's Basket Case is perhaps his most revered - a riotous and blood-spattered midnight movie experience, now immortalized in a lavish new 4K restoration by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
  Duane Bradley is a pretty ordinary guy. His formerly conjoined twin Belial, on the other hand, is a deformed, fleshy lump whom he carries around in a wicker basket. Arriving in the Big Apple and taking up a room at the seedy Hotel Broslin, the pair set about hunting down and butchering the surgeons responsible for their separation. But tensions flare up when Duane starts spending time with a pretty blonde secretary, and Belial's homicidal tendencies reach bloody new extremes.
  Filmed on a shoestring budget against the backdrop of 1980s New York (where the movie would become a staple of the infamous 42nd Street grindhouse circuit), Basket Case has clawed its way from its humble origins to become one of the most celebrated cult movies of all time.

  First off, I'll start by saying that this movie was just a lot of fun!  It is not a movie to be taken seriously by any means.  It is a campy, gory, and pretty cheesy movie....and I loved every minute of it!   The creature in the basket was very well done.  He is extremely creepy looking and makes some of these most hideous and disturbing screams/sounds I have ever heard!   

  The gore effects were also very well done and, of course, all practical effects since this was made back in the early 80's.   I know I say it often, but practical effects are so much better when it comes to blood and gore.  The CG effects nowadays just doesn't look nearly as realistic as the practical effects do. 

  If you are a fan of campy cinema, you will love this film!  It reminded me of something from Troma films or Full Moon films back in the day.    As always, Arrow has packed this release with tons of amazing special features.  I really enjoyed "In Search of the Hotel Broslin", a short doc where director Henenlotter goes around to find original filming locations from the movie.   Definitely check this one out if you get the chance!

  BASKET CASE is available now on Arrow Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative by MoMA

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

• Original Uncompressed Mono Audio

• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck

• Basket Case 3-1/2: An Interview with Duane Bradley - Frank Henenlotter revisits Duane Bradley decades after the events of the original Basket Case

• Seeing Double: The Basket Case Twins - a brand new interview with Florence and Maryellen Schultz, the twin nurses from Basket Case

• Brand new making-of featurette containing new interviews with producer Edgar Ievins, casting person/actress Ilze Balodis, associate producer/effects artist Ugis Nigals and Belial performer Kika Nigals

• Blood, BASKET and Beyond - a brand new interview with actress Beverly Bonner

• Belial Goes to the Drive-In - a brand new interview with film critic Joe Bob Briggs

• Outtakes Featurette

• In Search of the Hotel Broslin - archive location featurette

• Slash of the Knife (1972) - short film by Frank Henenlotter

• Belial's Dream (2017, 5 mins) - brand new Basket Case-inspired animated short by filmmaker Robert Morgan

• Behind-the-scenes of Belial's Dream

• Trailers, TV Spots and Radio Spots

• Extensive Still Galleries

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet with new writing on the film by Michael Gingold

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

 

 

 

Blu-ray Review: FRANKENHOOKER (1990)

 
FRANKENHOOKER
Written and Directed by:  Frank Henenlotter
Distributed by:  Synapse films

I love the 80's horror films.  That is my favorite era of horror films.  While technically this is not an 80's movie since it's production date is listed as 1990,  to me, FRANKENHOOKER is an 80's horror film in every aspect.   Cheesy dialog....check.  Bad acting....check.  Horrible hair and clothes.....check!  
Before I go on with the review, here is the basic plot for those that aren't familiar with  it, from the Synapse films website:

When Jeffrey Franken’s fiancée is chopped to pieces by the blades of a remote-controlled lawnmower, he uses his dubious medical knowledge to try to bring her back to life. He reassembles his beloved Elizabeth using the body parts of New York City’s finest prostitutes, and resurrects her during a heavy lightning storm. Unfortunately for Jeffrey, his dear Elizabeth’s brain is scrambled and she runs amok on 42^nd Street, turning tricks and bringing high-voltage death to her customers!

I had never seen FRANKENHOOKER until watching it just the other night.  This is one of those films that I have always known about, but just never have seen.  I remember as a kid in Jr. High going to the video store and always seeing the case for FRANKENHOOKER.  I never figured my Mom and Dad would let me rent a movie with the word "hooker" in the title, so I never even bothered to try renting this one. 
Well, it's 20 years later and I can't get in trouble from Mom and Dad for watching FRANKENHOOKER now....although I did have to deal with "the look" and a roll of the eyes from my wife when she saw the case to the movie I was watching!  HA!  I'm used to that though, so I can deal with it.

FRANKENHOOKER is a blast!  It's exactly what you think it is going to be based on the name and by looking at the pics on the back of the case.    Some, no,...most ALL of the acting is pretty bad, but that's is part of the fun of this film.  Check out the ridiculously bad acting skills of the actor that plays Zorro, the main pimp in the film.   He steals each scene he is in with his acting skills, or lack thereof. 

So you can't go into this film expecting Oscar worthy acting, but you will get a fun film with some cool effects.  The main character, Jeffrey, finds or invents some sort of serum that keeps body parts alive.  At one point in the film, all the body parts he is keeping get mixed up and morph into each other, turning  into weird body part creature things.  They are crazy looking and were my favorite part of the film, aside from Frankenhooker herself, of course.

This is a great, fun film that I would recommend to all of you that are fans of campy, 80's horror films.

Synapse films has been putting out some excellent Blu-rays of classic horror films, and this is no exception.   Synapse films has packed this Blu-ray with some awesome special features including:

AUDIO COMMENTARY with Director Frank Henenlotter and Make-Up Effects Designer Gabe   Bartalos 

A SALAD THAT WAS ONCE NAMED ELIZABETH - Patty Mullen Featurette

A STITCH IN TIME: THE MAKE-UP EFFECTS OF FRANKENHOOKER - Featurette

TURNING TRICKS: JENNIFER DELORA REMEMBERS FRANKENHOOKER - Featurette

ORIGINAL THEATRICAL TRAILER

REVERSIBLE/ALTERNATE COVER ARTWORK

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray