Blu-ray Review: HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 (1985)

HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5
Written & Directed by  Richard Casey
Distributed by Vinegar Syndrome

  I love old grindhouse and exploitation type films, and HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 is a great example of this type of film.  The film is not without it's flaws, but it was very enjoyable to me.   Here is the basic plot from the Vinegar Syndrome website:

  A mysterious killer, wearing a Nixon mask, terrorizes and murders a young couple. A professor assigns his students a project investigating the strange events connected to a possibly dead Nazi scientist, Dr. Fredrick Bartholomew. The doctor's assistant kidnaps students, holding them hostage and torturing them. Meanwhile, Nixon stalks the night!

 Ha!  If that plot synopsis sounds confusing, it's because it is.  Let's get the few negative things out of the way.  The plot is kind of all over the place in this film, but that doesn't take too much away from the enjoyment of the film in my opinion.   The acting is downright atrocious...and that does take a little bit away from the film, unfortunately.

  Now to the good stuff, which is the most important part of any horror film....the kills.  While overall pretty tame by today's standards, there were a couple of kills that were very well done.  The main one was the metal garden rake to the guys head.  This is a great effect that looked extremely realistic.  The films also has a nice grindhouse vibe to it, as well as a slasher and almost Giallo feel to it in some parts.  In other parts, it's more of a capture/torture type film. Hey, as I stated before, the movie is a mess plot wise!  Ha! All this gives it a very unique and fun character, though.

  While the movie is far from perfect.....and I mean extremely far, it is still fun film and worth a watch in my opinion.

  HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5 is available now on a Limited Edition Blu-ray/DVD combo  (only 3,000 units made) from Vinegar Syndrome.  Special Features include the following:

*  All extras on both formats
*  Region free Blu-ray and DVD combo pack
*  Scanned and restored in 2k from 16mm archival elements
*  “Return to Horror House on Highway 5” – making of featurette
*  Commentary track with director Richard Casey
*  “Beach Party with Vom” – music video directed by Richard Casey (the impetus for Horror House on Highway 5)
*  Alternate full frame presentation of Horror House on Highway 5
*  Reversible cover artwork by Kevin Thomas


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