Movie Review: FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES (2025)

FINAL DESTINATION:  BLOODLINES

Directed by:  Zach Lipovsky & Adam B. Stein

 

 It's been 14 years since the last installment in the FINAL DESTINATION franchise, and I just assumed it was done.   I was pretty sad about this, as the FINAL DESTINATION franchise is one of my favorites.  They are just so much fun, which is strange to say considering the film's subject matter.   Needless to say, I was super excited when I heard they were working on a 6th installment in the series!   Well, the time has come and the film has been released to theaters nation wide!  I had the pleasure of checking out this newest film last night, and I was thoroughly impressed!

 Before I go any further, here is a brief plot synopsis from the Warner Bros. press release:

Plagued by a violent recurring nightmare, college student Stefanie heads home to track down the one person who might be able to break the cycle - her grandmother, Iris - and save her family from the grisly demise that inevitably awaits them all

  One thing I was really worried about was that this film was going to be a stale rehash of the previous films, just with different kills.  I am happy to say that the writers of this installment were able to put a fresh spin on it, while still adhering to the FINAL DESTINATION tropes we are used to.   While the past movies focus on the lead seeing the premonition and cheating death, this one had a cool new take on the premonition.  This time it is the lead's grandmother who had a premonition way back in the 1950's, and our lead keeps having a re-occurring nightmare about it.   Somehow her grandmother has avoided death all these years, as she was the last one alive from the incident where she cheated death.  

  Once death finally catches up to the grandmother, the reset of the family (i.e. Bloodline) is now death's target.   We then get the normal one by one death, yet the writers do another great job of throwing in a twist with the order of the deaths.  I won't say anything else on that to avoid any spoilers.   

 The death scenes in this film are just what you'd expect from a FINAL DESTINATION movie.  They are over the top and super gory.   Gore doesn't bother me much in films, and most of it is so unrealistic that I can watch it with no problems.   These FINAL DESTINATION kills are different, and more realistic which caused me to cringe multiple times.   I cringed at not just the kills, but at the smaller things that lead up to the kills, like the man that steps on a shard of glass.  This is done so well that I could feel the pain in my foot and caused me to actually pull my legs up from the floor of the theater.   The kills are fun, and always set up by some weird Rube Goldberg type chain of events. 

  While the FINAL DESTINATION films are all about death, FINAL DESTINATION:  BLOOLINES breathes new life into the franchise.    The film had a 7.1 out of 10 rating on IMDb at the time of this writing, which is an excellent score on that site, especially for a horror film.  Hopefully, with the success of this film, we will have more FINAL DESTINATION installments in our future!

Check out the trailer for FINAL DESTINATION:  BLOODLINES

 

 Check out the film's social media outlets below, and go see FINAL DESTINATION:  BLOODLINES in theaters now!!

Instagram: @finaldestinationmovie

X: @FDMovie

TikTok: @finaldestinationmovie

Facebook: @finaldestinationmovie

CONGRATULATIONS to our latest Giveaway winner!!!

 

  A while back I posted a giveaway for the 1976 Russ Meyer film, UP!   We had a 2 entries in the comments on the blog post, and then 9 entries from the Facebook Page.  I'm not sure why we didn't get more entries for a FREE blu-ray, but I'll work on that for next time.   Anyway, the wait is over and Spot# 10 was chosen by Random.org.   Spot # 10 was Facebook commenter Steve Benningfield!   Congrats Steve!!  Shoot me an email or a message on Facebook Messenger and let me know your shipping address.  I'll get the blu-ray sent out asap!   

 Thanks to all that entered, and don't worry, there will be more chances to win in the future!  Keep checking the blog and following the blog's social media sites to stay up to date on all the new reviews, news, and giveaways!

CLICK HERE to like and follow the 4H Facebook page

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Blu-Ray Giveaway! Win a copy of Severin Film's new release of Russ Meyer's, UP!

 UP! BLU-RAY GIVEAWAY IS LIVE!!

 It's been awhile since I have been provided any giveaway materials, but the great folks at Severin Films were nice enough to provide me a Blu-ray Copy of Russ Meyer's 1976 film, UP!, to pass along to one lucky reader of the 4H Blog!!  

 That's right, a free copy of UP! is UP for grabs, and I'll even pay shipping!  All you have to do is enter the contest!

 I'll run this contest for 1 week, so last eligible entries need to be posted by next Saturday, 5/10,  at 11:59 pm Central time.   

 Please go check out the giveaway post on Hayes Hudson's House of Horror Facebook page to enter:

Hayes Hudson's House of Horror Facebook Page

Or, if you don't use Facebook, just leave your name and email in the comments of this blog post and you'll be entered!

See official rules below, and good luck!!

TO ENTER THE CONTEST, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:  

1. Go to the Facebook Post about the giveaway on the Hayes Hudson's House of Horror Facebook page and like the post and leave a comment, this will automatically enter you in the contest!

2. If you don't have/use Facebook, then leave a comment on this post with your NAME and EMAIL ADDRESS so I can contact you for your shipping info if you are the winner (if valid email address is not given, I will post the winners name on the site and winner will have one week to contact me with their shipping info. If prize is not claimed within one week, prize will be forfeited)

 
3. Only one comment per person. Multiple comments will result in removal of all your comments therefore removing all your chances of winning!

4. Contest is scheduled to end on Saturday, May 10, 2025. Comments must be left by 11:59 Central Time on 5/10 in order to count towards the contest.

5. Contest winner will be chosen by random.org and must agree to let me post their name in a separate post stating who won the prize.

6. Due to shipping costs, contest is open to U.S. Residents only. Thank you for your understanding.

GOOD LUCK!!!

4K Ultra HD Review: UP! (1976) and Blu-Ray Giveaway info!

UP!

Directed by:  Russ Meyer

Distributed by:  Severin Films

  If you are a regular reader of the 4H blog, you have probably seen my reviews for some of Severin Film's new Russ Meyer releases.   

 They recently released VIXEN, SUPERVIXENS, and BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRA VIXENS.     Well, they are back at it with a couple more Russ Meyer releases with 1965's MOTORPSYCHO and the 1976 film, UP!   Once again Severin Films has done an amazing job releasing these films in both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray editions, which were scanned in 4K from the original negative of the films.  Both films also include new and archival Special Features curated in association with The Russ Meyer Trust. 

 Today's review will be of Russ Meyer's UP!   While it's advertised as an Erotic Comedy,  I feel that is a bit misleading.   First off, it's not really that funny in my opinion.  It is however, shocking and perverse....so naturally, I loved it!  Ha!  This is a weird one for sure, and it won't be for everyone, but if you are a fan of Russ Meyer's other films, you will not be disappointed with this one.   Especially if you liked his VIXEN trilogy, as I found this one fit right in and even had some call backs to those earlier films.   

  Here is the plot synopsis from the Severin Films website:

No fairy tale…this! In 1976, producer/director/cinematographer/editor Russ Meyer delivered his penultimate feature film – co-written by BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS screenwriter and Pulitzer Prize winner Roger Ebert – hailed as “jaw-droppingly perverse” (Entertainment Weekly), “Meyer at his most outrageous” (Images Journal) and “definitely not to be confused with the Pixar cartoon” (The Spinning Image): Welcome to a sex-blasted burg in Northern California where sodomized Führers, ravenous piranha, sapphic ecstasy, murder mystery, Shakespearean appropriation and the remarkable Raven De La Croix collide, with Kitten Natividad – in her RM Productions debut – as The Greek Chorus of it all. Janet Wood (THE CENTERFOLD GIRLS) co-stars in “one of Russ Meyer’s best films” (We Are Movie Geeks). 

  If that plot sounds like a lot going and and kind of confusing, well, it summed up this film pretty well!  I'd be lying if I said I understood exactly what was going on with this film.  It's kind of all over the place, and feels like different movies at different times.  In fact, at one point of the the film it felt like a true horror film, complete with a chainsaw massacre that gets very bloody!   I assume this was put in to capitalize on the success of Tobe Hooper's THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE from just a few years before.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad Mr. Meyer included it, because it was by far my favorite part of the film!     One other note that was like a horror film, was the killing of an Adolf Hitler lookalike in his bubble bath by way of Piranha.   That was a strange sentence to type, but anything you write about this film is going to be strange!   

 While not my favorite of the Russ Meyer films I've reviewed so far, it was quite enjoyable and you probably know what to expect if you are a Russ Meyer fan.   He always has some of the most beautiful actresses, all in various states of undress, in his films.  His films all have a certain charm to them.  You can definitely tell a film directed by Mr. Meyer, as they are very unique!   

 If you are looking for a crazy, sex-filled film...this one will be right UP your alley!   See what I did, there?  Ha!   As with all these 4K releases from Severin lately, they look amazing and the picture is crystal clear with very vibrant colors.  It's very impressive considering how old these films are!

UP! is available now in both 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray and contain the following Special Features:

*   Audio Commentary with film historian Elizabeth Purchell

*  No Fairy Tale...This! -  Interview with actress Raven De La Croix

*  Radio Spot

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD 

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

Severin Films was kind enough to send me a Blu-ray copy of UP! to give away to one lucky winner!  Stay tuned to the 4H blog for details posted in the next few days!   Be sure to follow the blog by clicking the FOLLOW button under the "Followers" section on the right side of the screen.   Also, be sure to follow the 4H blog on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter [X], and Slasher!

Blu-ray Review: DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE (2024)

 

DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE

Written & Directed by:  Michael Kallio

Distributed by:  Anchor Bay Entertainment  / MVD Entertainment

  I had the honor of meeting Gunnar Hansen many years ago at Texas Frightmare Weekend, the annual Horror Movie Convention I attend each year in the Dallas area.   He was a very kind, soft spoken man, and I remember thinking how crazy it was that he was the actor that portrayed the character of Leatherface in the 1974 film, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE.    He was so kind and polite, and made time for all his fans lined up to see him.   This is a documentary about Mr. Hansen, as told through first hand accounts of actors and crew that worked with him over the years. 

Here is a brief description of the film from IMDb.com:

Documentary about Gunnar Hansen, the actor who portrayed Leatherface in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974). Friends, colleagues, filmmakers, and fellow actors share personal stories and discuss the dichotomy between the maniacal chainsaw-wielding character he played on-screen and the very intelligent, creative, soft-spoken man he actually was in real life.

 I love horror movie documentaries, and this was a great one to get the honor of reviewing.   DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE touches briefly on Mr. Hansen's background with him being born in Reykjavik, Iceland, and then moving to the U.S. at the age of 5.   He went to the University of Texas an majored in English and Mathematics.  He worked as a computer operator right out of college and took the role in THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE just to make some extra money during the summer.   I'm sure he thought he'd go right back to his computer operator job, but little did he know the film would be such a hit and would lead him down the road of movie making!   I often wonder while filming if any of the cast/crew had any idea just what exactly they were creating.   THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is my favorite horror film of all time, and is widely considered one of the best horror films ever made.   It still holds up today, and is just as scary when I watch it now as it was the first time I saw it.   This is undoubtedly largely due to Mr. Hansen's amazing portrayal of Leatherface!

 As I mentioned before, this is basically a set of interviews from some actors and filmmakers that worked directly with Mr. Hansen and they just recount the times they shared with him.  You can tell from all the interviews that he made a deep impact on everyone he worked with.  He was truly loved by all!   

  Interviewees include  Barbara Crampton, Bruce Campbell, Edwin Neal, Kane Hodder, Felissa Rose, Michelle Bauer, Tiffany Shepis, Debbie Rochon, Fred Olen Ray, Betsy Baker, Allen Danziger, Kim Henkel, William Vail, and many more!   

 This was a very touching tribute to Gunner Hansen and is a must see for all his fans!

DINNER WITH LEATHERFACE is available now from Anchor Bay Entertainment and contains the following Special Features:

 *  Audio commentary with writer/director Michael Kallio and editor Josh Wagner

 

 *  Extended Interview with filmmaker and historian MIchael Felsher

 *  Extended interview with fimmaker Jeff Burr

 

 *  Convention Chat with actress Danielle Harris

 

 *  Southern Hospitality Trailer - 2022 Remastered, Recut, HD

 *  Tales of Gunner Hansen

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-Ray

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

Movie Review: THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES (2025)

 

THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES

Written by:  Charlie Brady & Jason Pitts

Directed by:  Jason Pitts

  Last night, I had the privilege of attending a screening of a new horror feature that was filmed locally here in Northwest Arkansas.   I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting this film to be as good as it was.   Northwest Arkansas actually has quite a large local movie scene,  but we all know how low budget local films can be.   I am happy to say that this did not feel like a low budget film at all.   The movie played out like a much bigger and expensive film than it was.  Local actors and crew came together to film a very interesting and fun horror film!    Here is the basic plot from the Lucid Pictures website:

  Chloe and her step dad, Ken are dealing with the disappearance of Kathy, Chloe’s mother and Ken’s wife. After a painful year, and with the help of Chloe’s friend Ava, they investigate a clue that leads them on a collision course with a dangerous demonic cult. Will they find Kathy? Can Chloe, Ken, and Ava survive the night?

  

 One of the main things I noticed about this film was the acting.  A lot of local films can have everything going for them, but some bad acting can ruin the entire film.   This film was not at risk of that, though, as the acting in this film was top notch.  There was not a bad actor in this film, everyone did a remarkable job!  One role I have to point out was the part of Julian, played by actor Scott Doss.  Mr. Doss was at the screening I attended and I had the pleasure of meeting him.  He was a very kind, soft spoken man which was the exact opposite of his character in this film!  He played the creepy guy character to perfection!  The main character of Chloe was played by Annie Sullivan who also did a remarkable job and is definitely worth a mention.  I could just list everyone in this film, because like I stated before, the entire cast was excellent.

 

   Another thing that can make or break a horror movie is the special effects.   This film did a wonderful job with the effects, a lot of which were practical effects.  There was some CG in this film, but it blended very well most of the time.  There were a few spots where it was very clearly CG, but that is expected with any low budget film.   One practical effect that really stood out to me was a beheading.  This was done so well and was so seamless that it was very realistic!   

 This film had a nice plot twist in it as well, and as we have learned with most horror films, don't trust anyone!  That's all I'll say about that as to not give too much away!  Overall, Director Jason Pitts delivers a home run for his first full length feature film!   

  THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES is an original, highly entertaining trip through the world of secret societies and cults, and does an excellent job creating a very creepy atmosphere where all is not what is seems!  

 The film was recently picked up for distribution from Bayview Entertainment, so keep an eye out for screenings near you,  and I assume an eventual DVD or Blu-ray release!   I'll make a new post once I have more info on that! 

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

Blu-Ray Review: EATING MISS CAMPBELL (2022)

 

EATING MISS CAMPBELL

Written & Directed by:  Liam Regan

Distributed by:   Troma Films / MVD Entertainment

 Rarely do I get a film sent to me that I have never heard of.   I get a lot I have never seen before, but I have at least heard a mention of them.     Somehow EATING MISS CAMPBELL was one of those films I had never heard of.   I have never even seen a trailer of it, or come across it online in some form or another.   Usually films like that I find that there was a reason I had never heard of it.  Usually, the film is so bad, there was no need for anyone to mention it!   This was definitely not the case with EATING MISS CAMPBELL.   This was a highly entertaining and refreshingly original horror/comedy that should get more mentions than it does!

  Here is a bit about the film from the Refuse Films website:

Eating Miss Campbell follows a vegan-goth high school student who falls into a taboo relationship with her new English teacher and soon develops a problematic taste for human flesh. 

Featuring a cast of genre favorites including LAURENCE R. HARVEY (The Human Centipede 3: Final Sequence), LYNDSEY CRAINE (Book of Monsters), VITO TRIGO (My Bloody Banjo), JUSTIN A. MARTELL (Shudder’s The Last Drive-In) and LLOYD KAUFMAN (The Toxic Avenger) with an original score composed by Academy Award®-winner JOE RENZETTI (Child’s Play, Poltergeist III and Frankenhooker).

Heavily Influenced by the work of producer Lloyd Kaufman, filmmaker Liam Regan has lovingly crafted a Troma film for the 21st century, where teenage crushes and cannibalism collide in a gut-busting and gore-soaked, comedy horror film that pushes just about every boundary socially constructed.

  

 

 Overall, I am not usually a big fan of horror comedies.  I feel like they are usually not really funny, nor do they contain much horror.   This film, I am happy to say, hits the mark on both concepts.   The story is very original and features our main character Beth Conner who lives inside a horror movie.  While she keeps trying to off herself to escape the horror, she always wakes back up inside the movie.   Lyndsey Craine, the actress that plays the main character of Beth Conner, does an excellent job and is quite funny in her delivery.    

  Laurence R. Harvey has a small role in the film that he played very well, with a certain sense of creepiness that only Harvey can provide.  You might know Harvey from his ultra creepy leading role in HUMAN CENTIPEDE II.  Actor Vito Trigo also stood out to me, and seemed to be a much greater actor than you would normally find in a campy film like this.   All the acting is pretty good, although some of it is a bit over the top.    The film contains quite a bit of gore, most of which is done with practical effects which is always good! 

  This looks to be only director Liam Regan's 3rd feature length film.   I have a feeling this is one director to really keep an eye on!  

 EATING MISS CAMPBELL is available now on Blu-ray, and like most Troma releases, it is packed full with the following Special Features:

• 7 Days of Hell: Making of Documentary
• Audio Commentary
• Deleted Scenes
• Outtakes
• Gore Reel
• Raw B-Roll
• Cast Interviews
• FrightFest Premiere
• 1 Hour of Raw BTS Footage
• VFX Reel
• Introduction from Lloyd Kaufman
• Troma Trailers
• Radiation March
• Easter Eggs

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

  

BLU-RAY REVIEW: SUPERVIXENS (1975)

 

SUPERVIXENS

Directed by:  Russ Meyer

Distributed by:  Severin Films / MVD Entertainment

  Recently, Severin Films reached an agreement with Meyer's estate to distribute three of his most iconic films,  VIXEN!, SUPERVIXENS, and BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS in new 4K, BD, and DVD versions scanned in 4K from the original negative and restored by The Museum of Modern Art.  

  While I mainly focus on Horror films for this blog, I do like to branch out from time to time and have covered Exploitation, Sexploitation, and even Nunsploitation films in the past.   These films would definitely fall under the Sexploitation sub-genre and were an interesting batch of films to say the least.   I'll be watching them in order and then doing a review of each one, continuing with the next feature, SUPERVIXENS!

  While VIXENS was fun,  SUPERVIXENS was a vast improvement on that first film.   This is not a sequel by any means, but a continuation of Meyer's "Bosomania" film line.    This film contains a much better plot  and story line in my opinion.   Here is a bit about this film from the Severin Films website:

Following the ‘serious’ features THE SEVEN MINUTES and BLACK SNAKE, this 1975 return to form written, photographed, edited, produced and directed by Russ Meyer remains perhaps his most over-the-top and savagely entertaining epic of all: When a hot-blooded wife (Shari Eubank) and a psychotic cop (a startling performance by Charles Napier of THE BLUES BROTHERS fame) come together, it will ignite a cross-country odyssey of violence, vengeance and relentless coitus. John Lazar (BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS), Uschi Digard (BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS) and Haji (FASTER, PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!) co-star in Russ’ “super-sexy live-action Road Runner cartoon” (Empire), now restored by Severin Films in conjunction with The Russ Meyer Trust and scanned in 4K from the original negative stored at The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.

  While again, not horror in any way, this film does have some horror elements in it.  One scene that really stuck out to me was when the psychotic cop was trying to break into the bathroom which contained the wife trying to hid out.   He gets a huge knife and keeps stabbing the door trying to break in, eventually making a hole big enough to get this face through.   I have to wonder  if Stanley Kubrick saw this film and used this scene as inspiration for his iconic "Here's Johnny" scene in his film, THE SHINING.   Eventually the cop breaks in and performs a horrifying bathtub killing, complete with radio thrown in the tub electrocution!  

  The film is fun in that it is just a series of adventures  (or misadventures I should say) involving the main character, Clint, in the film running from the cops after being falsely accused in the killing of his wife.   He hitchhikes to get out of town and avoid any trouble, but finds all sort of trouble along his journey.    Clint is picked up by a farmer who gives him a place to stay in exchange for doing work around the farm.  Clint is constantly seduced by the farmer's wife and is eventually caught by the farmer who runs him out of town.  

 

  Clint finds his way to a motel that is run by a man with a deaf daughter.   As you might imagine with this being a Russ Meyer film, he is again seduced by the daughter and caught by her father.   This leads Clint to embark out again on a journey that leads him to a gas station out in the middle of nowhere.  The gas station is run by a beautiful woman and she gives him a job there.    They eventually hook, up of course, and then the psycho cop that killed Clint's wife somehow shows up!   The cop eventually realizes where he knows Clint from and kidnaps Clint's new gas station owner girlfriend and takes her out into the desert.  He ties her up, and of course, Clint goes looking for her and finds her being held captive by the psycho cop.   A cat and mouse game ensues, which includes the cop throwing sticks of dynamite at Clint to keep him away.   Ultimately, this dynamite will be the downfall of the cop as our film concludes with a bang!

 

   SUPERVIXENS is available now on Blu-ray and 4K UHD and contains the following Special Features:

• Archival Audio Commentary With Writer/Cinematographer/Editor/Producer/Director Russ Meyer
• Russ Meyer Versus The Porn-Busters – Mike Carroll Interview With Russ Meyer
• The Return Of Harry Sledge – Interview With Actor Charles Napier
• The Incredibly Strange Film Show Season 1, Episode 5: Russ Meyer
• Trailer
• TV Spot

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray 

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD

BLU RAY REVIEW: VIXEN! (1968)

VIXEN!

Directed by:  Russ Meyer

Distributed by:  Severin Films / MVD Entertainment

 I have heard of Russ Meyer for as long as I can remember, but I have never seen one of his films until now.   I really had no clue what to expect, other than what I knew of his love for the female anatomy, especially the very well endowed ones!  

  Recently, Severin Films reached an agreement with Meyer's estate to distribute three of his most iconic films,  VIXEN!, SUPERVIXENS, and BENEATH THE VALLEY OF THE ULTRAVIXENS in new 4K, BD, and DVD versions scanned in 4K from the original negative and restored by The Museum of Modern Art.  

  While I mainly focus on Horror films for this blog, I do like to branch out from time to time and have covered Exploitation, Sexploitation, and even Nunsploitation films in the past.   These films would definitely fall under the Sexploitation sub-genre and were an interesting batch of films to say the least.   I'll be watching them in order and then doing a review of each one, starting with this first feature, VIXEN!

Here is a little bit about the film from the Severin Films website:

Amid the cultural chaos of 1968 and armed with a budget of only $70,000, producer/director/cinematographer Russ Meyer transcended sexploitation by crafting this “bosomacious melodrama” (Time Magazine) about racism, communism, bush pilots, draft dodgers and a ferociously free-spirited wife named Vixen (the incredible Erica Gavin of BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and CAGED HEAT). Despite attempts at censorship that included one of the first-ever X ratings and 23 separate U.S. prosecutions for obscenity, it became one of the year’s top-grossing movies, forever transformed independent film and remains the creative template for Meyer’s unapologetic vision of American cinema.

Here is the brief  "plot synopsis" from IMDb:

The free-spirited wife of a Canadian bush pilot seduces a Mountie, a married couple and her biker brother, all while trading blows of racial prejudice with her brother's black friend.

 I put "plot synopsis" in quotes above, because there really wasn't much plot to this film.   It's really just about the pilot's wife seducing anyone she comes into contact with.   That's really about it!  They did try to throw in some subplot at the end about communism, but it felt very out of place with the rest of the film.  

  This film was very uncomfortable to watch at some points, mainly with the scenes of the interactions between Vixen and her brother's African American friend, Niles.   She does not like him and calls him a slew of names, most of  which were crude racial slurs. 

As I stated before, most scenes were just Vixen seducing anyone she comes in contact with.  At one point, Vixen seduces a man at a fish fry by dancing with an uncooked fish and performing simulated oral sex on the fish!   It's a weird one, for sure!

 This film is actually very tame by today's standards.  The sex scenes are simulated and don't show anything too extreme, mainly just breasts.  The fact that this got an "X" rating is laughable by today's standards, but when this came out in 1968, I'm sure it was a bit more shocking.   I'm sure the brother/sister incest scene was a big play in that X rating!   Oh yeah, I guess I failed to mention that earlier!    

 Overall, VIXEN was a film that seems like it doesn't have much of a point, other than just showing off the beautiful actress's bodies and generally trying to shock the audience. 

 One thing to note is the picture quality on these new releases.   I saw grainy screenshots online, and being from 1968 I was expecting not so great picture quality, but boy was I mistaken.  As soon as the film started I was blown away by this new restoration.  The picture was super sharp and the colors were very vibrant!

 VIXEN! is available now from Severin Films and if you know anything about Severin Films, you know they always put some amazing special features on their releases.  This one is no exception, and contains the following Special Features:

1981 Censor Prologue (Theatrical Re-Release)

Archival Audio Commentary With Co-Writer/Producer/Cinematographer/Co-Editor/Director Russ Meyer

Audio Commentary With Actress Erica Gavin

Woman... Or Animal? - Interviews With Actors Erica Gavin And Harrison Page

David Del Valle's The Sinister Image With Guests Russ Meyer And Yvette Vickers

Entertainment... Or Obscenity? - Marc Edward Heuck On The Film's Historic Cincinnati Censorship Battles

Trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the 2-Disc 4K UHD edition

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD