Blu-ray Review: BURIAL GROUND (1981)

BURIAL GROUND
Directed by  Andrea Bianchi
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

  Severin Films continues to put out some of the greatest horror films of all time.  One of their most recent releases is Andrea Bianchi's BURIAL GROUND, a fun filled zombie film that is probably one of the weirdest zombie films you have ever seen.   Here is the basic plot from the Severin Films website:

  For his only foray into the zombie genre, psychosexual sleaze maestro Andrea Bianchi (MALABIMBA: THE MALICIOUS WHORE) unleashes enough flesh-ripping, gut-chomping and depraved oedipal mayhem to set insane new standards in Italian horror: Mariangela Giordano (of SATAN’S BABY DOLL and MALABIMBA fame) stars in the splatter classic about a cursed country estate besieged by horny houseguests, undead Etruscans and the unusual relationship between a mother (Giordano) and her mega-creepy young son (disturbingly portrayed by diminutive adult actor Peter Bark) that will trigger perhaps the most jaw-dropping scenes in grindhouse history. Severin Films is improbably proud to present the definitive version of this gorehound/sex-fiend favorite, now packed with all-new Extras and featuring a 2k scan and restoration from a film element recently discovered beneath the floorboards of a Trastevere church rectory.

  This is one of my favorite zombie films of all time...top 5 for sure.  It has a very simple plot that is easy to follow, leaving you with nothing to do other than sit back and enjoy the zombie carnage.  There is plenty of that to enjoy here for sure!  This movie has some great looking zombies in my opinion.  Now some are pretty goofy looking, but overall I think they are very well done.  You can see quite a few homages to other zombie movies in this film, especially Lucio Fulci's ZOMBIE, ANTHROPOPHAGUS, and TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD.   There may be others, but those were the main ones that stood out to me.  In fact, one of the zombies was a direct homage to the main zombie from Fulci's ZOMBIE, with the worms in the eye sockets.   Very well done effect in Fulci's film and in this one.

   BURIAL GROUND is a perfect 85 minutes long.  The movie doesn't have hardly any slow points and remains entertaining through the entire running time.  As I stated above, this is quite a weird zombie movie, as one of the subplots involves the character of young Michael (played by adult Peter Bark) and his obsession with his Mom.  You'll see when watching this film why an adult was required for some of those scenes! 

  BURIAL GROUND is a must see for any zombie fan.  It is available now from Severin Films and contains the following special features:

*  New restored 2k scan with full shot by shot color correction
*  English and Italian Language Audio Tracks
*  Villa Parisi – Legacy of Terror: Featurette on the historic house location
*  Peter Still Lives: Festival Q&A with actor Peter Bark
*  Just for the Money: Interview with actor Simone Mattioli
*  The Smell Of Death: Interviews with Producer Gabriele Crisanti and Actress Mariangela Giordano
*  Deleted/ Extended Scenes/ Shots
*  Theatrical Trailer


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

Blu-ray Review: WHAT THE PEEPER SAW (1972)

WHAT THE PEEPER SAW
Directed by  James Kelley  and  Andrea Bianchi
Distributed by  VCI Entertainment

  I always love finding movies I have never heard of, and WHAT THE PEEPER SAW falls into that category.   I knew nothing about this film going into it, which really surprises me.  It is a very intriguing entry into the "killer kid" horror subgenre, so I was surprised I had never seen or heard of it before.  Here is the basic plot courtesy of the VCI Entertainment website:

  In this stylish and atmospheric psychological thriller, a wealthy author's wife's comfortable life turns into a terrifying nightmare when her young stepson starts exhibiting strange behavior. The fiendish child is out to destroy all the trust and love between his father and stepmother with his surreptitious pranks. Horror unfolds as the boy devilishly plots to drive a wedge deeper and deeper between them. But is the child really a fiend, or is he the victim of his neurotic stepmother’s paranoia?

  First off, this movie could never be made in today's day and age.  There are some very taboo subjects in this film, mainly having to do with the young boy Marcus (Mark Lester) and his step mom, played by the amazingly gorgeous Britt Ekland.  The main mystery in the film is whether or not Marcus killed his birth mother.  The stepmother decides to get to the bottom of it and find out the truth, even if that means enticing the boy to talk by stripping nude in front of him!

 The film is more of a thriller than a true horror film.  It's not bloody at all, but it does have some very creepy imagery.  One scene in particular shows Marcus staring into the pool as a dead woman floats by.  It's revealed he is seeing things because in reality it's a just a ball that floats by.  This shows the viewer the mindset of Marcus and sets a very moody and eerie tone for the film.  This kid obviously has some major issues. 

  The film is shot well and the acting is very good.  The newly restored HD transfer looks excellent. 
This is an interesting film for sure, one that I recommend checking out.

  WHAT THE PEEPER SAW is available now from VCI Entertainment and includes the following special features:

*  Original Theatrical Trailer
*  Original TV Teaser Spot


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