Blu-ray Review: INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS (1972)

INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS
Written & Directed by Ed Adlum
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 Severin Films continues to impress me with the titles they have been releasing lately!   One of their latest releases is the VHS classic, INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS!  I remember seeing this VHS on the shelf of my local video store back when I was a kid.   I never watched it back then for some reason, so I was thrilled to get the chance to see it now on Blu-ray!   Unfortunately, the cover art might be the best part of this film! 

 Here is some info about the film from the official press release:

  In 1972, a team of New York City exploitation outlaws that included Ed Adlum (SHRIEK OF THE MUTILATED), Ed Kelleher (PRIME EVIL) and Michael & Roberta Findlay (THE TOUCH OF HER FLESH, SNUFF) – along with first-time assistant cameraman and future award-winning cinematographer Frederick Elmes (ERASERHEAD, BLUE VELVET) – descended on bucolic Westchester County with 8½ bottles of stage blood to make a movie about a Druid cult seeking to resurrect their dead queen. The budget was $24,000. The cast was paid in beer. And the result remains one of the greatest achievements in schlock/shock cinema history. Severin Films is proud to present this “accidental masterpiece” (Horror News) as you’ve never seen it before, now scanned from the original negative for the first time ever and spurting with all-new Special Features.

 I was really hoping to find a rare, awesome, grindhouse film that would immediately become a new personal favorite of mine.  Unfortunately, that is not what I found.   This movie is pretty bad to be completely honest with you.   BUT....it is so bad that it falls into the "so-bad-it's-good" column.   In fact, this would be a great movie to watch with a group of friends while drinking and laughing at the film.  I could see this as being a lot of fun to watch in a group.  Watching by myself was not as fun! 

 So, what's so bad about it you ask?  Well, the first thing I noticed was horrible editing/camera work.  A guy would be talking and then all the sudden it would jump to a close up of his face for 1 second and then back to the original camera angle.  I have no clue what that was for!  Secondly was the horrendous acting.  I guess if the cast is paid in beer, then you can't be too critical of their acting ability.   Also, the lady that played the "Dead Queen" needs to learn that dead people don't breathe!  I could not take her seriously when I could plainly see her chest moving up and down during her scenes! 

 Now, as bad as this was, it did have some scenes that were pretty good, mainly the few scenes they show when they capture people and take them to the shack to drain their blood.   These could have been extremely disturbing, was it not for the ridiculous audio dub of the people...not so much screaming, but just whooping and hollering.   That made what could have been a horrifying scene into something laughable again.  

 INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS was a cool idea, and could have been a great movie if it had more of a budget and better actors.   This is one of the few times I wish someone would remake a film.  I think this film had tons of potential, it just wasn't executed well at all.

 As always, this is just one reviewers opinion.  I encourage everyone to check out the film and make their own decision of it.   Fans of low-budget schlock films might absolutely adore this one!

 INVASION OF THE BLOOD FARMERS is available now on DVD & Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

*  Audio commentary with director Ed Adlum and actress Ortrum Tippel, moderated by Kier-La Janisse, author of House of Psychotic Women
*  Nothing You’d Show Your Mom: Eddie Adlum’s journey through exploitation, coin-op & rock n’ roll 
*  Interview with actor Jack Neubeck
*  Painful Memories: An interview with cinematographer Frederick Elmes
*  Trailer
 

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

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