4K Ultra HD Review: TRICK OR TREAT (1986)

TRICK OR TREAT

Directed by:  Charles Martin Smith

Distributed by:  Synapse Films /  MVD Entertainment

  1986's TRICK OR TREAT is another film to add to my list of films I have always heard and known about, and even owned on DVD for years, but had just never got around to checking out for some reason.  I was excited when Synapse Film's new 4K UHD release arrived for review, as it would finally make me sit down and watch it!    I'm very thankful I got the chance to review this one, because it was a lot of fun!  

 1980's horror films have such a unique feel to them.  That is probably my favorite decade of horror films.  I'm happy to report that TRICK OR TREAT fits right in and is now among one of my favorite 80's horror classics!

 Here is a brief synopsis of the film from the Synapse Films website:

Rock 'n' roll will never die, in this 1980s cult favorite that stars Marc Price (Family Ties) as Eddie Weinbauer, a teenage outcast who idolizes Sammi Curr (Tony Fields), a heavy metal superstar. After Sammi dies a violent death, his spirit returns to help Eddie get even with his high school tormentors. In doing so, Sammi begins to gain control over Eddie's life and brings him deeper into the world of the occult. When Eddie realizes that he has become the tool of Sammi's vengeance, he attempts to stop him, and the horrifying events that follow leave no one unscathed.

Featuring special appearances by Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne, Trick or Treat marked the directorial debut of veteran actor Charles Martin Smith (Never Cry Wolf, Starman) and features a legendary soundtrack by Fastway. Red Shirt Home Video and Synapse Films are proud to present this heavy metal horror classic in an all-new 4K restoration presented in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) with a head-banging 5.1 surround sound mix and loaded with hours of supplemental material including multiple commentary tracks and a feature-length video retrospective! No false metal!

 I always knew that Gene Simmons and Ozzy Osbourne were in this film, but be advised they were both on screen for a matter of seconds.   Looking back at my old DVD makes me laugh as they both got top billing, purely using their names for DVD sales.   Synapse Films' choice in cover art for this  new release is much better and a much more fitting representation of the film. 

 As soon as the movie started and I saw the main character, Eddie, I immediately recognized him.   It was Skippy from Family Ties!    Marc Price did an excellent job in this film and it was fun to see him in something other than that aforementioned sitcom. The story is pretty cool, especially seeing what is basically a demon conjured by playing a heavy metal album backwards.  That is something all our parents warned us about as kids, at least if you are around my age and grew up in the 70's and 80's.   The special effects are fun and actually still hold up pretty well considering the age of the film. 

 The presentation of this film is outstanding.  The 4K restoration creates vivid colors and contrasts and is super clean.   Also of note is the soundtrack, most of which was done by English Heavy Metal Band, FASTWAY.   There is some great music in this film, and I will be putting the soundtrack on my Amazon Music playlist! 

TRICK OR TREAT is available now on 4K UHD from Synapse Films and like most all of Synapse's releases, they have spared no expense when it comes to Special Features!   Special Features include the following:

• Limited edition o-card available on the FIRST PRESSING ONLY!
• 4K restoration from the original 35mm camera negative mastered in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) and approved by Director of Photography Robert Elswit
• Lossless English DTS-HD Master Audio of the original 2.0 theatrical mix and an all-new 5.1 surround sound mix
• Audio commentary with director Charles Martin Smith, moderated by filmmaker Mark Savage
• Audio interviews with writer/producer Michael S. Murphey and writer Rhet Topham, moderated by film historian Michael Felsher
• Audio conversation with Paul Corupe and Allison Lang, authors of Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia in the 1980s
• Rock  & Shock: The Making of “Trick or Treat” - An all-new retrospective featuring director Charles Martin Smith, actors Marc Price, Glen Morgan, Elise Richards, and Larry Sprinkle, writer/producer Joel Soisson, costume designer Jill Ohanneson, assistant set costumer Francine Decoursey, construction foreman Tom Jones, Jr., special make-up effects artist Everett Burrell, music executive producer Stephen E. Smith, composer Christopher Young, and a special appearance by Gene Simmons
• In The Spotlight: A Tribute to Tony Fields featuring interviews with the late actor’s family and friends
• Horror’s Hallowed Grounds: The Filming Locations of “Trick or Treat” with Sean Clark
  
• “After Midnight” music video
  Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots and Radio Spots
• Still Gallery featuring optional audio interview with still photographer Phillip V. Caruso
• Vintage electronic press kit
• Reversible cover artwork
• Region free for worldwide playback

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD edition

Check out the awesome short film, FANTASY

 While cruising around on Facebook, I came across a post from Heavy Metal Magazine about a short film called, FANTASY.    I clicked on it and was blown away by this awesome animated short film.

Check it out and let me know what you think!


DyE // Fantasy from Vova Sadwave on Vimeo.

CD Review: MUSIC TO BE BURIED BY by Gravetone Productions

MUSIC TO BE BURIED BY
Music CD by Grave Tone Productions

  One of the great things I ran across at this year's Texas Frightmare Convention, was the Grave Tone Productions booth.  As I got near the booth I heard some great music coming from a speaker system they had set up.  It was a very cool sound so I stopped and talked a bit.  I left with a copy of their 1st CD, MUSIC TO BE BURIED BY.  I have been listening to it off and on the car on the way to and from work over the past couple of weeks and I find myself liking it more and more with every listen.

  According to their website, "Grave Tone composes music for films, sound design for film/tv, haunted attractions, websites and more."   I have heard some music similar to this in the past, made for use in horror films and haunted houses and such, but I have never heard anything quite like this. This is haunted house music pumped up with some heavy metal mixed in.  All of the songs are written and arranged by Grave Tone Productions, and they have some very talented musicians on hand.  All of the songs are very well done, and the heavy guitar riffs add a very cool edge to the creepy sound of the album.  A lot of the songs make you think you're listening to the soundtrack of a horror movie, which is obviously what the musicians were going for.

  If you have never heard anything by this talented group of musicians, I urge you to check their stuff out as soon as you can.  MP3's of their songs are available on iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon,  or click the link below to purchase a physical CD.


CLICK HERE to purchase the CD

Blu-ray Review: DEATHGASM (2015)

DEATHGASM
Written & Directed by  Jason Lei Howden
Distributed by Dark Sky Films

  I had no clue what to expect going into this film.  I knew nothing about it and had not seen any trailers or pics from the film.  To be honest, I wasn't really expecting much out of this one, but what I got blew me away.  This is by far one of the most enjoyable films I have seen in years!  Not since the EVIL DEAD films have I enjoyed gore so much!   Here is the plot synopsis of the film from the Dark Sky Films website:

  High School is Hell! Metal-thrashing Brodie is an outcast in a sea of jocks and cheerleaders until he meets a kindred spirit in fellow metalhead Zakk. After starting their own band, Brodie and Zakk’s resentment of the suburban wasteland leads them to a mysterious piece of sheet music said to grant Ultimate Power to whoever plays it. But the music also summons an ancient evil entity known as Aeloth The Blind One, who threatens to tear apart existence itself. Their classmates and family become inhabited by demonic forces, tearing out their own eyes and turning into psychotic murderers… and this is only the beginning!
  It’s up to Brodie, Zakk and their group of friends to stop a force of pure evil from devouring all of mankind. A blood-soaked and hilarious horror comedy, DEATHGASM features an amazing original soundtrack of fist-banging metal and practical effects to satisfy metalheads and splatter fans alike. DEATHGASM will gush bodily fluids, rain limbs and tickle your funny bone, before tearing it out and giving you a stiff beating with it.

  This film is one of the goriest I have seen in quite a while, which is an excellent thing!  On top of that, the effects in this film look to all be practical effects which is also an excellent thing!   The film reminded me of other gorefests, such as EVIL DEAD, RE-ANIMATOR, and DEAD ALIVE just to name a few.   They don't make horror movies like this a lot these days, so I am very thankful for director Jason Lei Howden  for creating this remarkable film.  Also worth noting is the great soundtrack.  If you are heavy metal fan, you are in for a treat with the great music throughout the film.

  Every aspect of this film is spot on, from the acting and camera work, to the above mentioned gore effects.   While the film is a horror films, it is also a dark comedy and Howden does a great job mixing the two genres together.   Making a horror comedy can be very hard to do, as you have to find just the right balance of comedy and horror.   Filmmakers wanting to make a horror/comedy film should use DEATHGASM as the gold standard on how to achieve such a film.

  DEATHGASM is a must see in my opinion.  It is available now on DVD and Blu-ray from Dark Sky Films and contains the following special features:

*  Commentary with Writer-Director Jason Lei Howden
*  Featurettes
*  Music Video:  Bulletbelt- "Deathgasm"
*  Trailers/Teasers


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