Blu-ray Review: ANTHROPOPHAGOUS (1980)

ANTHROPOPHAGOUS
Directed by  Joe D'Amato
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 I remember watching this film over 18 years ago back when I was in college.   I remember browsing the video shelves and my eyes landing on the cover featuring a man eating his own intestines.  Obviously, that was a movie I had to check out!   I honestly don't remember anything about that film, other than that iconic scene.  

 I was very excited when I saw Severin Films was releasing this film on Blu-ray!   This was one I definitely needed to re-visit and I'm so glad I got the opportunity!  Here is the basic plot courtesy of the film's imdb page:

A group of tourists become stranded on an uninhabited island where they are stalked by an insane, violent, and grotesque killer that slaughtered the town's former residents.

  If you couldn't tell from the cover photo, this film's main goal is shock factor.  It goes for the throat (literally) and never lets go.   The film starts out with a brutal hatchet to the head killing, which actually looked pretty realistic.  The film never gives up and the gore factor only gets worse from there.   The plot is really simple, and the film can actually be a little slow at times, but it makes up for it with the awesome gore effects and creepiness factor.   The killer on the island is one of the creepiest killers I have ever seen in film.  He makes my skin crawl just thinking about him.  He never talks throughout the film, and only makes grunting and moaning sounds.  I am not sure who or what he is, as the movie never really explains it, but he is almost zombie like in his movements and mannerisms.

 If you want great acting, great character development, and a thought provoking story, this might not be the film for you.  If you are looking for an extremely fun film with tons of gore, then this is a must see!   ANTHROPOPHAGOUS is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Severin Films.  Special Features include:

*  Don’t Fear The Man-Eater: Interview with Writer/Star Luigi Montefiori a.k.a. George Eastman
*  The Man Who Killed The Anthropophagus: Interview with Actor Saverio Vallone
*  Cannibal Frenzy: Interview with FX Artist Pietro Tenoglio
*  Brother And Sister In Editing: Interview With Editor Bruno Micheli
*  Inside Zora’s Mouth: Interview with Actress Zora Kerova
*  Trailers
*  Reversible Wrap


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

Blu-ray Review: SPIDER (1991)

SPIDER
a.k.a. Zirneklis
Directed by  Vasili Mass
Distributed by Mondo Macabro / CAV Distributing

  I love when I come across films that I have never seen and better yet, even heard of!  Vasili Mass' SPIDER was this kind of film.   The film shows to be the only directing credit to Mass' resume.   Being released under the Mondo Macabro label, I knew I was in for a treat.   Mondo always puts out such rare and weird films!   Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the CAV website:

  Vita, a beautiful teenage girl, is asked by a controversial artist to pose as the Virgin Mary for a painting. She visits his studio and finds herself swept up into the bizarre world of the artist and his bohemian friends. She seems to see his paintings come to life and is pursued by strange shadowy figures. Later she has nightmarish visions of the artist visiting her at night in the form of a huge spider. The next morning she finds marks on her body that look like the bites of a large insect.
  Vita’s mother becomes worried about her and sends the girl off to stay with relatives in the countryside, believing that the change of environment will help her to recover. However, it seems the dark forces that threatened Vita in the city have followed her and an ancient evil is being awakened that feeds off Vita’s burgeoning sexuality.
  This Latvian shot, Russian language film was produced in the post Glasnost years of the former Soviet Union, when the barriers were down and previously unacceptable material was being explored for the first time. This is one of the very few sex-horror films to come out of that period and still stands today as a daring and unique production, packed with elaborate and astonishing visual sequences of morbid eroticism.

   I really don't know how to describe and/or review SPIDER.  I really liked the film, as I love weird cinema.  Usually the weirder the better for me.  I feel, though, that this is one you must actually see for yourself to come to a conclusion on.  I don't think you can take the opinion of a random online reviewer/blogger.  I have a felling a lot of people will love this film and a lot will hate it.   It seems to me to be one of those films that doesn't fall in the middle with most people.    I personally loved this film, but I can definitely understand those that don't care for it.   

  The plot seems simple enough when reading it, but the film doesn't make it that easy to understand.  There are also a couple of sections of the film that move really slow.   What I loved about this film was the crazy imagery of it.  I was shocked to see it was made in 1991, as this film looks much older than that to me.  It looks like a film from the 1970's and reminded me of the works of Jean Rollin.  It was very atmospheric and very visual.

  If you are a fan of weird films, this is one you don't want to  miss!  SPIDER is available now on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro.  This is the first time this film has been released in the U.S.  The Blu-ray contains the following Special Features:


- Newly created English subtitles
- Interview with director
- Rare on set footage
- Mondo Macabro previews
- Cover art from Gilles Vranckx


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

 

Blu-ray Review: BAG BOY LOVER BOY (2014)

BAG BOY LOVER BOY
Directed by:  Andres Torres
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 I have seen some weird movies in my day, but this one is up there at the top of the list!  BAG BOY LOVER BOY is the film you'd get if NAPOLEON DYNAMITE and AMERICAN PSYCHO had a love child together.  It has some horrible murders in it, all carried out by such an odd, socially awkward character named Albert.    Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Severin Films website:

  It has been hailed as “raw, funny and twisted” (PopOptiq), condemned as “soul-crushing and dripping with filth” (NextProjection.com), and cheered as “a fresh new outsider vision” (Fantasia) at film festivals around the world. In this “sincerely disturbing” (Indiewire) debut from co-writer/director Andres Torres, a slow-witted misfit named Albert (Jon Wachter, giving what HorrorNews calls “the best male performance in a horror film this year”) sells hot dogs all night from the most unsanitary food cart in downtown Manhattan. But when he’s invited to become the new model for a manipulative fetish photographer (Theodore Bouloukos), Albert will be exposed to a seething city underbelly where desire masquerades as perversion and depravity poses as art. It may shock you. You might even be appalled. But you have never seen anything quite like BAG BOY LOVER BOY.

 This really is one of the strangest horror films I have ever seen, and I highly doubt you have ever seen anything like it.  The main character of Albert is one of the most awkward characters you will ever see in a film.    He is very gullible and naïve, which gets him into a situation that spins out of his control.   Parts of the film can be slow at times, but like NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, even in slow parts you can't help be entertained by the characters on screen.  The main thing you'll notice from this film is the characters strange voice and speech style, it's sure to stick in your head long after the film is over. 

  BAG BOY LOVER BOY is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Severin Films and CAV Distribution and contains the following special features:

• Audio Commentary With Director Andres Torres, Actor Theodore Bouloukos and Editor Charlie Williams
• The Student Films of Actor Jon Wachter: GOT LIGHT and THE NEVER-STARTING STORY
• Trailer

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

Blu-ray Review: DEATH LINE (1972)

DEATH LINE
a.k.a. RAW MEAT
Directed  by:  Gary Sherman
Distributed by Blue Underground & CAV Distributing

  You might know this film by it's alternate title of RAW MEAT, which is the title used on the old 2003 MGM U.S. DVD release.  I actually had that DVD but had never watched it yet.  I was excited to see that Blue Underground was releasing this new Blu-ray of the film and was glad to get the chance to review it for my website!   Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

 When a prominent politician and a beautiful young woman vanish inside a London subway station, Scotland Yard's Inspector Calhoun (Donald Pleasence of HALLOWEEN) investigates and makes a horrifying discovery. Not only did a group of 19th century tunnel workers survive a cave-in, but they lived for years in a secret underground enclave by consuming the flesh of their own dead. Now the lone descendant of this grisly tribe has surfaced, prowling the streets for fresh victims... and a new mate.
  Norman Rossington (A HARD DAY'S NIGHT), David Ladd (THE WILD GEESE), Sharon Gurney (CRUCIBLE OF HORROR), and the legendary Christopher Lee (HORROR OF DRACULA) also star in this heart-stopping horror classic co-written and directed by Gary Sherman (DEAD & BURIED). Originally recut and released as RAW MEAT in the United States, now DEATH LINE has been freshly transferred and fully restored in 2K from the original uncensored camera negative and comes fully loaded with exclusive new Extras produced for this release!

  I knew nothing about this film going into it, which is the way I like to go into movies I have yet to see.  I was very pleased with this film.   It reminded me of an urban "THE HILLS HAVE EYES".   I have always been fascinated by cannibal films, so this one is a nice addition to the collection.   The film is slow at some points, but overall it kept me entertained for sure.  Some of the gore is very well done, with the best scenes taking place in the cannibal's secret lair down in the subway tunnels.  His lair is full of rotting corpses, all in different stages of decay.

  Another great thing about this film is the presence of the great Donald Pleasence!    Most known for his role of Dr. Loomis in HALLOWEEN, his character here is very entertaining! 

  Blue Underground has gone all out with another amazing release.  DEATH LINE is available now from Blue Underground on a DVD/BD Combo Pack and contains the following special features:

Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Gary Sherman, Producer Paul Maslansky, and Assistant Director Lewis More O'Ferrall

Tales From The Tube - Interview with Co-Writer/Director Gary Sherman and Executive Producers Jay Kanter & Alan Ladd Jr.

From The Depths - Interview with Star David Ladd and Producer Paul Maslansky

Mind The Doors - Interview with Star Hugh Armstrong

DEATH LINE Trailer

RAW MEAT Trailer

RAW MEAT TV Spots

RAW MEAT Radio Spots

Poster & Still Gallery

BONUS Collectable Booklet featuring new writing by authors Michael Gingold and Christopher Gullo

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD/BD Combo Pack

 

Blu-ray Review: INQUISITION (1976)

INQUISITION
Directed by Paul Naschy (as Jacinto Molina)
Distributed by Mondo Macabro / CAV Distributing

  Mondo Macabro has long been one of my most favorite video labels.  They are constantly putting out great products and films that I usually have never heard of, but always enjoy.  INQUISITION is a film that once again I had never heard of, but thoroughly enjoyed.   The film stars and was directed by Paul Naschy and centers around a 16th century witch-hunt in France.  Here is the full plot synopsis from the CAV website:

  In 16th century France, Inquisitor and magistrate Bernard de Fossey (Paul Naschy) travels to the plague-ridden region of Peyriac in search of witches and devil worshippers. Local beauty Catherine (Daniela Giordano) quickly catches his eye, tormenting him with impure thoughts, although her affections lie with her handsome fiancé Jean. Meanwhile, embittered one-eyed manservant Rénover (Antonio Iranzo) presents Bernard with his first group of torture victims when he accuses several sexy young things who spurned his advances of being witches responsible for the plague.
One by one beautiful women are tortured on the rack then burned at the stake. No-one seems able to halt the Inquisition's reign of terror or the baseless accusations that cause so many innocent deaths. When Jean dies in mysterious circumstances, Catherine allies herself with Satan to get revenge on her enemies - foremost among them, De Fossey himself.
  This was horror star Paul Naschy's directorial debut and one of his very best films. He plays three roles - Inquisitor De Fossey, the Devil, and the Grim Reaper. The film is a brutal and unrelenting portrait of a past when superstition and terror ruled the minds of men.

  I have always been fascinated by witch trail films.   There is a real horror to the thought of women being tortured and killed based on hysteria and accusations rather than fact and proof.  The fact this actually happened in multiple parts of the world is even more horrifying.  

  This film reminded me a lot of the 1970 film, MARK OF THE DEVIL, except I think I enjoyed this film even more.    There are some great torture scenes in this film, including one involving a woman's nipple that made me cringe!   Yet as grotesque as it was, I had to rewind and watch it again to see if I could figure out how they did the effect!  I am a huge fan of special effects (especially gore effects in horror films), so I was very impressed by this scene.   If you have seen the film, you will know exactly what scene I am talking about.  If you haven't seen this film, I won't say any more to keep from spoiling it for you!

  If you enjoyed MARK OF THE DEVIL and the early Hammer Films, I think you will really enjoy this one. 

  INQUISITION is available now on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro and CAV Distribution and contains the following special features:

*  Introduction by Paul Naschy
*  Interview with star Daniela Giordano
*  Audio commentary by Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn (the Naschycast)
*  Blood and Sand - documentary on Spanish horror films
*  English/Spanish audio choice .
*  Newly created English subtitles
*  Mondo Macabro previews


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

 

 

 

Blu-ray Review: OBSESSIONS (1969)

OBESSIONS
Directed by  Pim de la Parra
Distributed by Cult Epics / CAV Distributing

 I haven't done a review for a Cult Epics release in a while, so I was glad to get the chance to review one of their latest releases, OBSESSIONS.  This is a very interesting crime/thriller from director Pim de la Parra and was co-written by Martin Scorsese!  I had never heard of this film before, but I really enjoyed this one.  Here is some more info about the film from the Cult Epics website:

  The obscure film OBSESSIONS (aka HOLE IN THE WALL) was directed by Dutch artsploitation auteur Pim de la Parra and co-produced by longtime collaborator Wim Verstappen (BLUE MOVIE). This gritty, psychedelic Hitchcockian mystery, which is notable for being the first Dutch film shot in English-language, starts in a savagely brutal fashion. When a bloody painting of Vincent van Gogh falls from a wall and exposes a makeshift peephole, student protagonist Nils Janssen (played by the film’s German co-producer Dieter Geissler) becomes an unwitting witness to a gruesome sex crime next door.  When his young fiancée Marina (Alexandra Stewart of Truffaut’s DAY FOR NIGHT), an enterprising journalist, tells him about a report of a murder that she is writing, he naturally wonders if it’s the very same killing.

  This classic exploitation film was the birth of auteur cinema in Holland, and inspired legendary filmmakers such as Paul Verhoeven to make their start in the industry.  Originally distributed in over 100 countries, the film remained unreleased in the U. S. (and France) – until now.  Perhaps most notably, the film was co-written by a young Martin Scorsese, who shot the legendary erotic dream sequence for his first feature WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR (1968) in Amsterdam, that same year.  Additionally, the film also stars legendary Dutch filmmaker Fons Rademakers (MIRA, THE ASSAULT), is edited by Henry Rust (CHILDREN OF PARADISE) and scored by Hitchcock composer Bernard Herrmann (TAXI DRIVER, SISTERS, VERTIGO). OBSESSIONS is a curious cultural hybrid where late-1960s Dutch exploitation and classic Hollywood Hitchcock collide in a provocative and revolutionary fashion. Blu-ray/DVD Combo.

 

  This was a very interesting film, not horror so much, more of just a dark mystery/thriller.  It reminded me of the early Giallo films of Dario Argento, although this is not a true Giallo film by any means.    The movie was very well made and was different in that a lot of the key action takes place in the apartment next to our main character, Nils,  with the camera looking through the peephole in the wall.  This was a unique way to witness key scenes and made you feel like you were a part of the action!  

  

   The film was very suspenseful throughout, but especially so in one scene where Nils breaks into the neighbor's apartment and gets trapped there as the man comes back before he has a chance to get out.  Nils hides under the bed hoping to not get caught, while his girlfriend makes a distraction and gets the man to leave his apartment so Nils can finally escape.  I was on the edge of my seat during the scene, nervous that Nils was going to get caught! 

 

  While OBSESSIONS is pretty tame by today's standards, it has a good story and keeps you entertained the entire running time, or at least it did me anyway.   I would definitely recommend this one!

  OBESSIONS will be available May 30th on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and will contain the following special features:


. New HD Transfer (from original 35mm film)
. Introduction by director Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Introduction by actor/producer Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Interview with Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Martin Scorsese (Volkskrant, 2017)
. Scorpio Films (Excerpt from Parradox documentary, HD 2010)
. Original Dutch Theatrical Trailer (HD)
. Script notes by Martin Scorsese 
. Obsessions photo video gallery


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  (**NSFW**)
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo

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