DVD Review: SNUFF BOX - THE COMPLETE SERIES (2006)

SNUFF BOX - THE COMPLETE SERIES (2006)
DVD/CD

LABEL: Severin Films
RELEASE DATE: October 11th 2011
REGION CODE: 1 NTSC
DURATION: 168 mins
AUDIO: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen (1.85:1)
DIRECTOR: Michael Cumming
CAST: Matt Berry, Rich Fulcher

SNUFF BOX was a short-lived British cult comedy series starring Matt Berry (THE IT CROWD) and Rich Fulcher (THE MIGHTY BOOSH) which premiered in the UK on BBC3 in 2006 and though it ran only briefly has garnered a loyal cult fan base via YouTube clips and word of mouth.

The series follow the exploits of the High Executioner to the King of England Matt Berry and his American assistant Rich Fulcher as they spend their down time at the exclusive Hangmen’s Club. The two occasionally venture out into the world make strange attempts to charm the opposite sex, stab each other in the back and randomly burst into song, which is usually a variation on the shows main theme composed and sung by Matt Berry.

A bit if a odd sitcom that devolves into warped sketches which are strange, bizarre and plenty offensive with a heavy sprinkling of words like "fuck" and "cunt" thrown in to pepper the warped sketches. The paunchy leads are acerbic, dark and often mean-spirited to each other with Berry stealing most of Fulcher's romantic pursuits .

The sketches run together like a foul-mouthed Lynchian nightmares punctuated by re-occurring bits like Matt Berry's "Boyfriend" sketch in which he meets attractive ladies, befriends them performing some chivalrous act and then at the mention of a boyfriend literally drops (or kicks) what he's doing, mutters "fuck off" and walks away. Their are also musical sketches like Rich Fulcher's YouTube sensation "Rapper with a Baby", Matt Berry's "Suicide IV" which riffs on the Edgar Winter group (of "Frankenstein" fame) and the offensively awesome "The Fuck Song".

The show doesn't readily feel derivative of anything but sitting here watching the show and reveling in my discovery of it I am reminded of a time a friend handed me two VHS cassettes marked MR. SHOW sometime in the late 90's which I took home and for two days straight laughed myself stupid with the genius of Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, it's a lot like that.
DVD: Severin's DVD contains all six half-hour episodes presented in 16:9 widescreen (1.85:1) and it looks good if not overly sharp. I would imagine that the series is an PAL-NTSC conversion and that may account for some of the image softness and lack of detail. The Dolby Digital stereo audio does it's job well and dialogue, effects and Matt Berry's score come through winningly.

The sets bonus content is nearly as lengthy as the entire six episode run  beginning with Taking Control of Your Body (31:47) featuring appreciations of the series and it's creator's from Paul Rudd (KNOCKED UP), Rob Schrab (THE SARAH SILVERMAN SHOW), Simon Pegg (SHAUN OF THE DEAD) and "Weird Al" Yankovic (UHF) among others, the series definitely has a strong following.

Locations Walking Tour With Berry and Fulcher (12:36) features the shows stars returning to the East London streets where five years previously many of the series sketches were filmed. The street tour is fun with Berry seemingly not able to recollect much through the fog of intoxication aside from the location at 29 Hamburg St, where Annie Chapman, Jack the Ripper's 2nd victim, was killed over a century ago. Along the way they visit an art gallery where they shot one of the sketches, Fulcher pulls alongside a gallery visitor and asks of she's aware of the show, embarrassingly she is not.

Inside the Snuff Box (17:58) is nearly eighteen minutes of behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the series with lots of Python kissing, rehearsing the "Rapper with a Baby" musical sketch among others.

The Score With Matt Berry (4:50) features the musician slash writer/actor speaking about the composition of the series main theme and breaking it down into it's two main chords then performing it. I find this song so addictive that I've slipped it into several of my iPod playlists of late.

Testimonials (14:58) is a collection of riffs in the series from Andrew Daly (YOGI BEAR) who sumbits the idea that Rich Fulcher's mere presence may be a turn off to American viewers and should therefor be edited out of the show altogether and replaced via green screen with Daly, of course. Steve Agee (SUPER) offers up series specific trivia including the nugget that the show is based on the German sketch comedy program "Ich Bein Asshole" and Jeaninie Garafolo goes into a spiel on why her star has fallen since the 1990's and her soft midsection before praising the show's genius. It's a fun, sarcastic bit of promotion.

Rounding out the well-stuffed disc are Outtakes (7:54) and three audio commentaries from Berry and Fulcher for episodes one, two and six which offer some insight into the show's particular brand of humor as well as just being funny in and of itself. Aside from the fun testimonials the sets' best feature is a separate disc featuring 23 tunes and incidental music from the series including the toe-tapping main theme, "Rapper with a Baby" and "The Fuck Song".

EPISODES:
1."Rich's Mother"
2."Matt's Diary"
3."Punchline"
4."Oh Brothers"
5."Love Triangle"
6."Wedding"

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Taking Control of Your Body Exclusive New Interview Featurette With Simon Pegg, Paul Rudd, Noel Fielding, Rob Coddry, Rob Schrab, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Paul Scheer And More! (31:47) 16:9
- Locations Walking Tour Exclusive New Featurette With Berry and Fulcher (12:36) 16:9
- The Score Exclusive New Featurette With Matt Berry (4:50) 16:9
- Inside the Snuff Box Featurette (17:58) 4:3
- Testimonials Exclusive New Featurette With Janene Garofolo, Steve Agee And More! (14:58)16:9
- Outtakes (7:54) 16:9
- Commentaries For Three Episodes Featuring Berry, Fulcher And Director Michael Cumming
- Easter Egg (1:30) 16:9

BONUS DISC: CD Of Music From The Show (23 songs, 36 mins)

VERDICT: SNUFF BOX just does not seem like a series that could ever have been greenlit let alone unleashed upon late-night TV audiences but somehow through a confluence of timing, place and impeccable taste it did in fact air on BBC 3 for six week in 2006. Like most great things it went away far too quickly but it's here on DVD where it's cult status will continue to grow. Definitely not for everyone but if you enjoy the irreverent and warped comedy of MR. SHOW and THE LEAGUE OF GENTLEMAN this short-lived series will reward repeated viewings for years to come. A classic cult-comedy series and a high recommend for you comedy-cunts out there.

DVD Review: EROTIC ESCAPE (1985)

EROTIC ESCAPE (1985)

aka FUGA SCABROSAMENTO PERCICOLOSA

LABEL: One 7 Movies
RELEASE DATE: October 25th, 2011
REGION CODE: 0 NTSC
RATING Unrated
DURATION: 90 mins
AUDIO: Italian Dolby Digital Mono with English Subtitles 
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen (1.85:1)
DIRECTOR: Nello Rossati
CAST: Rodrigo Obregon, Eleonora Vallone, Franbky Liner, Roberto Reyes, Humberto Arango
TAGLINE: She went all the way to be free!

EROTIC ESCAPE aka FUGA SCABROSAMENTE PERICOLOSA comes to us from Nello Rossati, director of THE SENSUAL NURSE (1975). Set in the year 1951 it follows the depraved exploits of Manuel (Rodrigo Obregón, HARD TICKET TO HAWAII), a political prisoner forced into hard labor at a high security penitentiary somewhere in the Colombian jungle. When offered to partake in a daring daytime prison break Manuel takes his chances and with the luck of the draw turns out to be the only one to escape alive. With the prison authorities in pursuit he finds himself on the estate of a wealthy businessman where he takes the entrepreneur's daughter Amparo (Eleonora Vallone) hostage, steals a car, and makes a mad dash for the border where he hopes to claim political asylum. Eleonora's father, desperate to recover his beloved daughter, sets out in search of the escapee with the assistance of heavily armed authorities.

Manuels drags his pretty captive through the jungles, up a mountain and through the parched desert enroute to his freedom occassionally taking a break from verbally degrading and slapping around the woman to beat-off to the sleeping beauty and occasionally rape her. Amparo portrayed by Playboy Playmate Eleonora Vallone is a stunning woman but her beauty ill equips her to deal with the forced sojourn frought with near starvation, abuse and rape.

Manuel is most certainly not a man wrongly imprisoned, this guy's a murderous sonofabitch with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. As a character he's a convincing scumbag and for her part Vallone's portrayal of the attractive and helpless Amparo is decent enough though her character's motivations prove puzzling.

The film is a rough assembly of barely coherent plot that struggles to move forward without aid of a proper storyline or character development though there are about 10 minutes of redeeming film here when Manuel is taken prisoner and taunted by the semi-erotic teasings of Amparo that at least offers some sleazy titillation if only briefly.

One 7 Movie's have turned me onto a few rare Italian films recently like SEX, DEMONS AND DEATH, ALIEN FROM THE DEEP and TRANSGRESSION but this was a miss for me at least.

DVD: Distributor of rare Italian cult and exploitation cinema One 7 Movies have recsued another sleazy flick from the vaults of obscurity. When I last visited the One 7 Movies catalog it was the rather enjoyable SEX, DEATH AND DEMONS which despite it's schlocky sexcorcist origins proved rather fun. Here we have another film made available for the first time ever on DVD. Presented in 16:9 widescreen (1.85:1) the film looks like a VHS tape rescued from the trashbin and is possibly one of the worst looking prints I've seen on DVD with every assortment of nicks, scratches, dirt and washed-out colors you could ever hope for, it definitely had the look of a well worn public domain print. The transfer is marred with artifacting and the presentation is generally fuzzy, overly dark and soft. It's not unwatcheable but it ain't no picnic either. More pleasing but not stellar either is the Dolby Digital mono audio with optional English subtitles with many grammatical errors.

VERDICT: Not near sleazy enough to be the "steamy women on the run classic" it purports to be this is more an uninspired, mean-spirited schlockfest that's not even schlocky enough to be a guilty pleasure, just kinda distastefully boring. This warrants a borrow at best, you would have to be quite the collector of Italian exploitation or a huge Nello Rossati enthusiast to splurge on this one and not regret your decision.

Blu-ray Review: THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

THE FUNHOUSE (1981)

LABEL: Arrow Video
REGION CODE: Region FREE
RATING: 15 Certificate
DURATION: 95 mins
AUDIO: DTS 2.0 Stereo with English subtitles
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen (2.35:1)
DIRECTOR: Tobe Hooper
CAST: Elizabeth Berridge, Shawn Carson, Miles Chapin, Jeanne Austin
TAGLINE: Something is alive in The Funhouse!

Filmmaker Tobe Hooper burst onto the scene in a big bad way with the lo-fi grinder THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE (1974), a film that to this day punches me in the gut everytime I watch it. His next film, the EC Comics-esque EATEN ALIVE (1974), featured veteran actor Neville Brand (STALAG 17) in a nutty powerhouse performance feeding guests of his dilapidated motel to a flesh-starved gator. Next came the creepy TV mini-series adaptation of Stephen King's SALEM'S LOT (1979). His star was on the rise but before being tapped by Stephen Spielberg for POLTERGEIST (1982) he would direct the carnie-slasher THE FUNHOUSE (1981) released in a year rife with slashers following the one, two punch of John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978) and Sean Cunningham's FRIDAY THE 13th (1980). In '81 alone we saw THE BURNING, THE PROWLER, FRIDAY THE 13th Pt. 2, HALLOWEEN II, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME and MY BLOODY VALENTINE at the cineplex, can there be any doubt it was the greatest year of slashers ever?
 

A killer in a creepy clown mask stalks a young woman through a house, the POV through the mask's eyelets is a fun nod to Carpenter's HALLOWEEN, the killer creeps into the bathroom, rips open the shower curtain and knifes a very naked Amy (Elizabeth Berridge, AMADEUS), she lets loose a blood curdling scream but comes to realize the weapon is made of rubber and the assailant is actually her bratty brother Joey (Shawn Carson, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES). The scene pays homage to Carpenter's seminal slasher up front and rolls right into a scenario that smacks of Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO (1960) in the most deliberate.

Later that night Amy is picked up by gas pumpin' stud Buzz (Cooper Huckabee, THE CURSE), the two are shortly joined by her friend Liz (Largo Woodruff, THE LADIES CLUB) and wise cracking date Richie (Miles Chapin, HOWARD THE DUCK). The foursome drive to a travelling fun fair that's set-up camp just outside of town. Amy's wanna-be Michael Meyers siblings sneaks out of the house mere moments later and hoofs it on foot to the carnival, too. While en route a stranger in a pick-up truck pulls up alongside him, points a shotgun out the window, laughs and drives off, nothing comes of it but it's pretty weird.

At the carnival the teens enjoy the usual array of carnival rides, visit a disturbing animal freak-show and attend a magic act featuring Marco the Magnificent (William Finley, SISTERS) who drives a wooden stake through the heart of a "volunteer" from the audience, it's a great 70's styled carnival and you can almost smell the popcorn and cotton candy as the demented circus tunes fill your ears. Later the teens visit fortune teller Madame Zena (Sylvia Miles, THE SENTINEL) who offers Amy a reading but the gypsy does not take kindly to the groups snickering and angrily chases them off. Afterwards the group overhear the creepy intonations of carnival barker Conrad (Kevin Conway, FUNNY FARM) "...who will dare face the challenge of the Funhouse? Who is mad enough to enter that world of darkness? How about you, sir?" daring people to enter the dark attraction. Game for a cheap thrill the group enter the funhouse and are seated in their ride car by the carnie's son Gunther (Wayne Doba), a freaky weirdo decked out in a classic Universal Frankenstein's monster mask. Once inside the girls scream with delight at the myriad of cheap frights, it's a pretty fantastic ride with all manner of cheesy spooks and gaudy goblins.

Afterwards Richie dares everyone to spend the night inside the funhouse which they agree to do. Grabbing one of the last cars of the night they jump from the ride while inside and lay low until the carnival closes for the night. Outside the funhouse Amy's brother Joey sees the group enter the funhouse but not exit. Alarmed he stays behind prowling the carnival grounds waiting for the teens to emerge. While wondering the littered fairway he gets the bejeezus scared outta him by a eerie bag lady (Sonia Zomina, EYES OF S STRANGER) who appears throughout the film uttering oddities not unlike old Crazy Ralph from FRIDAY THE 13th. After a pretty great set-up of his character it's disappointing that Joey's plot line really doesn't go anywhere and I think it could have made for a fun subplot or another film unto itself, but as it is it just felt unfinished and kind of fizzles out.

Amy and the three teens inside the funhouse get to some heavy petting amongst the spooktacular props and macabre mannequins until they hear a commotion from a room below them. Peering through the floorboards they observe Gunther making a pay-to-cum proposition with Madame Zena, that horny old gypsy. The two lay on the floor as the fortune teller gives him a hand-job until he squirts a creamy salvo mere seconds later. Wiping her hands on a bed sheet Madame Zena attempts to leave when the disgruntled Gunther demands a refund. When she refuses and further threatens to tell his father he murders the woman in a violent rage, knocking her into an fuse box electrocuting her.

Stunned by what they've witnessed the foursome quietly attempt to flee but find they are locked in for the night. While looking for an alternate exit Richie steals money from a strongbox and with no escape found they return to their previous place of hiding. Shortly after Gunther and his father return to the scene of the crime. The creepy carnie's not so much upset that his son's killed someone as he is that it was a carnie and not a local. Conrad devises a plan to blame the death on the locals when he discovers that the money is missing. Assuming that his son has taken the money the father berates the freakish boy until he starts to punch himself in the head repeatedly. Having been worked up into a frenzy Gunther pulls off his mask revealing a seriously fucked-up face that that is a call back to the freakshow the teens visited earlier, also recalling the vicious creature-child Petau from Dario Argento's PHENOMENA (1985) with the addition of ruby red eyes and sharp claws, very decent make-up effects from Craig Reardon (POLTERGEIST). Startled by the disturbing sight Richie accidentally drops a lighter through the floorboards alerting the carnie that prying eyes are upon them, which leads to father and son stalking the nosey teens through the funhouse and killing them one by one.

The first 2/3rd of the film is a pretty fantatstic, well-executed haunted house flick set at the carnival, it's a spooky setting populated by some creepy carnies with impressive set design from Morton Rabinowittz (SALEM'S LOT) and cinematography from Andrew Laslo (THE WARRIORS) which completely sell the film's candy-colored creepiness. The final sequence plays out as more a streamlined formulaic slasher with our final girl Amy, a whimpering mess, is pursued through the funhouse's more and more labyrinthine inner workings by an enraged Gunther with a satisfying final confrontation followed by a fun coda just outside the funhouse.

In 1981 slashers were ramping up the elaborate gore effects but Hooper's THE FUNHOUSE is an oddity in that respect in that he's content to offer up an old school fright film steeped with atmosphere, dread and well-crafted scares. I think this is one of Hooper's most well-directed films and at times it really does feel like a classic Universal horror film, fun stuff. Our four teens are a fun bunch too, Amy being particularly sympathetic.

THE FUNHOUSE is a fantastically entertaining flick that definitely doesn't get it's due, it deserves better and would make for a great Halloween watch this year. If you haven't seen this one you need to jump on it right away and if you're a fan Arrow's Blu-ray is a must-buy.

BLU-RAY: Tobe Hooper's THE FUNHOUSE gets a brand new HD transfer presented in anamorphic widescreen (2.35:1) in gorgeous 1080p. The film has NEVER looked better. There's a lot of soft focus cinematography and intended blurring along the edges of frame and as such is not the most stunning, finely detailed Blu-ray presentation you've ever seen but it's sourced from an excellent print with only the most minor of nicks and scratches. The candy-colored visuals are vibrant, black levels are quite good and the film's grain structure is nicely intact. 

Audio consists of a lossy DTS 2.0 stereo track that puts forth dialogue, effects and score in a nicely balanced presentation with optional English subtitles. While the audio sounds quite good a losses DTS-HD track would have preferable and I couldn't help but want for a DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround presentation. I'm not one to demand every Blu-ray throw in an unwarranted surround mix but the carnival setting and the funhouse in particular really could have benefited from some action in the surrounds.


Now we get to the meat and potatoes of this fine release, the bonus content. At least here in the US the film has languished on a bare bones DVD and  Arrow give us not just one, but three commentaries. First is a track from S/FX creator Craig Reardon and Jeffrey Reddick, the latter who created the entertaining THE FINAL DESTINATION films. The second commentary comes from producer Derek Power and film scholar Howard S. Berger. A third commentary features Arrow familiar Calum Waddell and Justin Kerswell, the author of TEENAGE WASTELAND plus the webmaster of the HYSTERIA LIVES website dedicated to all things slasher cinema. Kerswell also co-hosts the terrific HYSTERIA CONTINUES podcast which I just can't say enough great things about, if you love slashers you need to check it out. Informative, entertaining and filled with adoration, fun commentaries. A Tobe Hopper commentary would've been completest but if you've heard the man speak it can be a chore to sit through, no disrespect to the filmmaker, but his monotone commentaries aren't exactly enthralling. Besides, if you wanna hear Hooper discuss the film there's an interview and a Q+A on this set.

Carnage at the Carnival: Tobe Hooper Remembers ‘The Funhouse’ (16:25) wherein the auteur recalls creating the film, setting up the carnival on the Universal back lot, the hand-job scene, the bag lady and mention of the video nasties and the long rumored Eli Roth remake.

Master Class of Horror: Mick Garris (12:55) features the MASTERS OF HORROR series creator reflecting on Hooper's career while also shoeing in his own struggles with creative freedom.

Miles of Mayhem: Acting in Tobe’s Funhouse with star Miles Chapin (21:12) is a fun interview with actor Miles Chapin who portrayed Richie in the film, a character the actor points out is at fault for a lot of what happens in the film. He reflects on working with Hooper, being on the Universal back lot, working with actress Largo Woodruff and actor Wayne Doba and a malfunctioning harness that could have been the end of him.

Trilogy of Terror: The Make-up Madness of Craig Reardon (15:53) features the S/FX creator reflecting on his collaborations with Tobe Hooper from being a titty make-up applicator on EATEN ALIVE, working for S/FX legend Rick Baker on THE FUNHOUSE and being on the set of POLTERGEIST. Reardon does mention that Stephen Spielberg was on set A LOT but doesn't fully commit to imply he was calling the shots.  

Live Q+A with Tobe Hooper from San Francisco (20:43) was filmed in San Francisco and moderated by Calum Waddell. It's of very poor quality and features Hooper going on about THE TOOLBOX MURDERS, TCM2 and the possibility of a sequel to THE FUNHOUSE and touching again on the video nasties. It's not a bad watch but the audio/video quality is sub par making it difficult to sit through.

Never before seen behind the scenes photographs from the collection of Craig Reardon (6:43) is a slide show of Reardon's behind-the-scene photos mostly featuring his effects work set to the John Beal score from the film.  

Packaging extras begin with four reversible sleeve art options including newly commissioned artwork from Arrow artist extraordinaire Rick Melton who offers up a fantastic panel that really captures the essence of the film, with three alternate panels featuring theatrical one sheets. We also get a two-sided fold-out poster featuring the Melton artwork with a version of the  American one sheet on the flip side and a 16 page collectible booklet with new writing on the film from author and film critic Kim Newman plus it reprints eight lobby cards and the Japanese theatrical poster. Arrow's affectionate deluxe edition is a sweet release and at this point is in the running for release of the year, a Blu-ray essential and a slasher classic.

VERDICT: I'm of the opinion that Hooper's really lost his way the past two decades but from '74-'86 he cranked out a winning series of grindhouse, cult and sci-fi films ending with THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2 and I highly recommend you check 'em out. Arrow Video have really done right by the film with a sweet 1080p HD transfer and some equally fantastic bonus content. Alright Arrow Video, listen up, we need to see Tobe Hooper's stunning space-vampire film LIFEFORCE (1985) get the deluxe 1080p treatment - let's make that happen, shall we?

BLU-RAY BATTLE! Frankenhooker vs. Frankenhooker

The second installment of our BLU-RAY BATTLE series once again pits US genre film distributor SYNAPSE FILMS against their venerable UK counterpart ARROW VIDEO. In question are their region FREE Blu-ray editions of Frank Henenlotter's trash cinema classic FRANKENHOOKER. Let's break 'em down...

VS.

FRANKENOOKER (1990)

DIRECTOR: Frank Henenlotter

CAST: James Lorinz, Joanne Ritchie, Patty Mullen

TAGLINE: Some Assembly Required

SYNOPSIS: Meet Jeffrey Franken. He’s just killed the love of his life and now he’s going to rebuild her... From the body parts of the dead streetwalkers who exploded when he introduced them to a lethal new drug – Supercrack! Little does he know that a good recipe requires the correct ingredients. Jeffrey isn’t putting his life back together; he’s building... a FRANKENHOOKER!

IN THIS CORNER....

FRANKENHOOKER [Arrow Video]

RELEASE DATE: December 5th 2011
REGION CODE: Region FREE
RATING: 18 Certificate
DURATION: 85 mins
AUDIO: TBA
VIDEO: MPEG4 1080p 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphries
- Double-sided fold-out artwork poster
- Exclusive collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by Calum Waddell
- Brand New High Definition Transfer of the film (1080p)
- UK exclusive audio commentary with director Frank Henenlotter and star James Lorinz
- UK exclusive introduction to the film by actor James Lorinz (1080p)
- Your Date’s on a Plate: The Making of Frankenhooker: UK exclusive 'making of' documentary featuring director Frank Henenlotter, star James Lorinz and special effects artist Gabe Bartalos (1080p)
- A personal UK exclusive tour of the Gabe Bartalos effects lab in Los Angeles, California (1080p)
- A Salad That Was Once Named Elizabeth: Patty Mullen Remembers Frankenhooker (1080p)
- A Stitch In Time: The Make-Up Effects Of Frankenhooker (1080p)
- Turning Tricks: Jennifer Delora Remembers Frankenhooker (1080p)
- Original theatrical trailer (1080p)
- English subtitles for the hard of hearing

AND IN THIS CORNER...

FRANKENHOOKER [Synapse Films]

RELEASE DATE: November 8th 2011
REGION CODE: Region FREE
RATING: Unrated
DURATION: 85 mins
VIDEO: MPEG4 AVC 1080p 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
AUDIO: DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround, DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Audio Commentary with Director Frank Henenlotter and Make-Up Effects Designer Gabe Bartalos
- A Salad That Was Once Named Elizabeth - Patty Mullen
- A Stitch in Time: The Make-Up Effects Of Frankenhooker
- Turning Tricks: Jennifer Delora Remembers Frankenhooker
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible/Alternate Cover Artwork

SYNAPSE FILMS: Presented in 16:9 widescreen (1.78:1) with DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0. Having viewed the screener I can tell you that the transfer s quite good. Special features include a commentary with director Frank Henelotter and make-up effects creator Gabe Bartalos, three very cool featurettes, a trailer and reversible artwork.

ARROW VIDEO: Likewise Arrow's Blu-ray presents the film in 16:9 widescreen (1.78:1) but I've been unable to confirm that the audio option replicates Synapse's DTS-HD options. Arrow offers the very same featurettes plus new UK exclusive features including a 'making of' documentary featuring director Frank Henenlotter, star James Lorinz and special effects artist Gabe Bartalos, an exclusive intro from Lorinz, and a tour of the Gabe Bartalos effects lab in Los Angeles, California plus an audio commentary with director Frank Henenlotter and star James Lorinz. Packaging extras include a reversible sleeve with newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphries, a double-sided fold-out poster and a collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Calum Waddell.

VERDICT: It would appear that Arrow Video have won this round 2 of BLU-RAY BATTLE pretty handily. The fact they replicate all the bonus content of the Synapse Blu-ray plus throw in several newly created features a deal breaker. Be aware that both feature exclusive commentaries with director Frank Henelotter who on the Synapse title is joined by star James Lorinz while make-up effects creator Gabe Bartalos appears on the Arrow track. Also note that the Arrow edition has passed the BBFC uncut and the film on either disc are of the same cut. My decision is based on presentation + bonus content and I'll throw out the caveat that the Arrow transfer of the film would really have to right rotten to force a reversal of decision. 
 
Keep in mind that I haven't reviewed either release but will hopefully do so in short order. If having the film in your hand ASAP is important to you know that the Synapse edition streets on Nov. 8th with Arrow's following on Dec. 5.
 
In an alternate reality where film nerds scribble Blu-ray want lists on the back of crisp $100 dollar bills we would want both editions on our shelves, but in the cash-strapped reality of the world market this is my small attempt to help guide fellow genre film fans towards the most complete and proper presentations of our favorite films. So what's it gonna be for you dear reader? Let me know...    
 

BLU-RAY BATTLE! The Exterminator vs. The Exterminator

What an age we live in that exploitation cinema nuts have not just one region FREE Blu-ray of director James Glickenhaus's gritty revenge classic THE EXTERMINATOR (1980) to enjoy, but two options! In September US film distributor Synapse Films released an unrated director's cut of the film with an exclusive audio commentary and a gorgeous 1080p presentation. The second release arrives on November 7th from UK distributor Arrow Video with an array of content including exclusive features and commentary, two featurettes and collectible packaging.

THE EXTERMINATOR is not the first title that Synapse and Arrow have competing editions of either, nor will it be the last. Both distributors have unique edition of William Lustig's MANIAC COP and Frank Henenlotter's FRANKENHOOER on the way. Synapse have the jump with the earlier release dates but to keep our readers informed I'll be presenting a series of special features comparisons for each title beginning with THE EXTERMINATOR...

VS.

THE EXTERMINATOR (1980)

DIRECTOR: James Glickenhaus

CAST: Christopher George, Robert Ginty, Corky O'Hara, Samantha Edgar

TAGLINE: If You're Lying I'll be Back

SYNOPSIS: John Eastland has been to ‘Nam and he’s seen things... Things you wouldn’t believe. Surviving torture and witnessing the brutal deaths of his friends, John returns home to a tough neighbourhood in New York and his loving family. But when some local thugs take a crippling dislike to his best friend Mike, leaving him paralysed, something snaps in John. Did he fight the Vietcong for this?

Taking the law into his own hands, Eastland sets out to clean the streets of every low life, good for nothing gang banger, mobster and ghetto ghoul across the city in director James Glickenhaus’ (McBain) brutally violent vigilante classic.

IN THIS CORNER...

 

THE EXTERMINATIOR [Synapse Films]

Blu-ray/DVD Combo

REGION CODE: Region FREE

RATING: Unrated

DURATION: 102 mins

VIDEO: 1080p 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)

AUDIO: DTS-HD MA English 2.0, DTS-HS MA English Mono

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- The Original Director's Cut Featuring More Gore and Violence
- Newly restored original Stereo Soundtrack Mix
- Audio Commentary with Director James Glickenhaus
- Theatrical Trailer (1:24) 16:9 1080p

- Television Spots (3:12) 16:9 1080p
- DVD Version of the Film with Features

Read my review of the Synapse Films Blu-ray/DVD combo right HERE!

AND IN THIS CORNER...

 

THE EXTERMINATOR  [Arrow Video]

Blu-ray

REGION CODE: Region FREE

RATING: 18 Certificate

DURATION: 102 mins 

VIDEO: 1080p 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)

AUDIO: Original Uncompressed LPCM Mono Audio

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Tom 'The Dude Designs' Hodges

- Double-sided fold-out artwork poster

- Collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by critic David Hayles

- Introduction to the film by director James Glickenhaus (1080p)

- Fire and Slice: Making The Exterminator - An interview with James Glickenhaus (1080p)

- 42nd Street Then and Now: A tour of New York's former sleaze circuit from director Frank Henenlotter (1080p)

- Audio commentary with Mark Buntzman, producer of The Exterminator and writer/director of The Exterminator II, moderated by Calum Waddell.

ARROW VIDEO: Arrow have the ephemeral edge with some collectible reversible artwork and booklet plus an intro from James Glickenhaus, two featurettes and an audio commentary with producer Mark Buntzman.

SYNAPSE FILMS: Synapse disc is mostly bereft of featurettes outside of a very cool commentary, trailers and TV spots it does offer a standard edition DVD of the film that replicates the special features in their entirety. Not yet having seen the Arrow edition all I can say is that it looks quite good in print but I've reviewed Synapse's BD and it's a fantastic presentation of the director's cut with a great director's commentary.

VERDICT: Both releases offer exclusive audio commentaries and the unrated director's cut if the film. Originally this BLU-RAY BATTLE was awarded Synapse when I was of the mind that Arrow's edition was the 97 min R-rated theatrical version but Arrow have since confirmed through an inquiry on their Facebook page that their disc is the 102 min unrated director's cut, same as the Synapse disc which I think really puts the ball in Arrow's court now. Don't discount the James Glickenhaus commentary though, that's really got me pushing for the Synapse Blu-ray but I have to award this one to Arrow Video whom include a producer's commentary, an interview with Gickenhaus and what really pushed it over the edge for me was the tour of 42nd Street by none other than Frank Henenlotter, director of BASKET CASE and FRANKENHOOKER.

In a perfect world where every cinephile is flush with cash you definitely want both editions but in today's cash-strapped reality it may not be an option for everyone. With that in mind read my review of Synapse's BD and look forward to a review of Arrow's BD sometime in the near future. I hope these comparison's of competing titles in some small way help influence your decision one way or the other, if so please ket me know.

Which Blu-ray of THE EXTERMINATOR sounds like the one for you and why?  

DVD Review: PIECES (1982)

PIECES (1982)

LABEL: Arrow Video

REGION CODE: Region 0 PAL
RATING: 18 Certificate
DURATION: 82 mins
VIDEO: Anamorphic Widescreen (1.66:1)
AUDIOo: Optional English and Spanish original mono audio
DIRCETOR: Juan Piquer Simón
CAST: Christopher George, Jack Taylor, Paul L. Smith, Edmund Purdom, Lynda Day George
TAGLINE: PIECES. It's Exactly What You Think It Is

Spanish filmmaker Juan Piquer Simón's PIECES opens in 1942 as an adolescent boy assembles a nudie jigsaw puzzle on his bedroom floor when his mother bursts in putting an end to his healthy sexual curiosity. Overreacting she chastises the boy with taunts that he's a louse just like his father then smashing a picture of dear old dad against a mirror which shatters. While searching the boy's room for other naughty contraband she sends the boy to fetch a garbage bag whom returns instead with an axe which he thrusts repeatedly into her cranium, it's a blood fest and pretty damn graphic. With mother properly dead he sets aside the axe in favor of a handsaw which he uses to discombobulate her head which he places inside a closet and then sets about finishing-up the lewd jigsaw puzzle until the police, alerted by a worrisome nanny, arrive on scene. The boy slips into the closet where he is discovered by the police whom assume he's the survivor of an attack and not the fiendish culprit.

Some forty years later the adolescent murderer now a disturbed adult keeps mementos from the massacre hidden away in a box, inside are his mother's blood spattered flower print dress and shoes, plus the naughty jigsaw puzzle now stained with mother's blood. When the killer witnesses a young girl bizarrely skateboard into a pane of mirrored glass the death reawakens his blood lust and fascination with kinky jigsaw puzzles. Soon he sets about terrorizing a Boston area college slaughtering young ladies with a chainsaw, collecting body parts and assembling them into a perverse human jigsaw puzzle.
 

The first piece of the puzzle is a cute co-ed sprawled out on the campus lawn whose head severed is with a chainsaw, it's an artfully shot kill as her head spins through the air followed by a crimson wave of blood. The shocking murder is investigated by Lt. Bracken (Christopher George, THE EXTERMINATOR) and Sgt. Holden (Frank Brana, SLUGS) who arrive on campus to inform the Dean of Students (Robert Purdom, DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS) if their odd plan to place police woman Mary Riggs (Linda Day George, DAY OF THE ANIMALS) undercover as a tennis coach in an effort to suss out the maniac's identity. The list of suspects is pretty great, we have the suspicious, cock-eyed gardener Willard (Paul L. Smith, CRIMEWAVE) who is in pretty much every other scene with chainsaw in hand, the odd Prof. Brown (Jack Taylor, THE NINTH GATE), and young college student Kendall (Ian Sera, THE POD PEOPLE) who's one of the more likely suspects, so of course they deputize. With this brilliant dragnet in place what could possibly go wrong?



Reversible Artwork Option

  The investigation does little to deter our maniacal chainsaw slasher who stalks and dismembers several more young women in quick succession. The killer decked in the latest Giallo fashions sports a black trench coat, black leather gloves and a black fedora. His next victim he nets while she skinny dips in  a pool and then dismembers her leaving a neat pile of severed limbs right next to the instrument of her death. When the body is discovered the Lt. calls Prof. Brown to the scene and asks if he thinks that perhaps the chainsaw next to the corpse, it's teeth covered in chunks of meat and gore, might possibly be the murder weapon, well duh. Our third victim is a dancer caught in an elevator by our stealthy sicko who somehow sneaks a running, yellow chainsaw onto a 5'x5' elevator. The woman recognizes the killer's identity but doesn't seem to notice the gas-powered chainsaw until it's too late. The effects in the film are surprisingly gruesome, there's plenty of disembowelment, dismemberment, chainsaw savaged flesh and stabbings perpetrated against mostly nude women. Two of the best kills are left for last, we get an artful Argento worthy slow-mo stabbing on a water bed and a gruesome locker room evisceration featuring the saw tearing flesh to bits, it's super gory. It may be a bit surprising just how much great gore is crammed into the silly film, particularly considering how goofy some of the film's more dramatic elements are. Let's not forget a nutty kung-fu professor which is perhaps the most random chop-suey fueled nonsensical moments in film history that will definitely leave you scratching your head.

One of my favorite scenes comes immediately following a the elevator death when all of the film's red-herrings are gathered together in a hallway looking suspicious beyond belief as lightning dramatically  illuminates their faces, it's a completely hilarious moment straight outta an episode of Scooby-Doo. The film's finale is just outta this world with one shocking reveal careening preposterously into a shocking, ball-shredding ending that will leave you speechless or in stitches, maybe a bit of both. There's nothing else like it out there, not sure if the inherent camp is intended but I don't see how it possibly could be, this is the kind of stuff you just can't plan for and is most likely a happy accident of schlocky cinema. While there's no other film quite like it I would make a comparison toe Lucio Fulci's THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY which is equally gore-tastic while also uniquely absurd.
  

Working for the film are some great gore-sequences, it's impressive stuff. Also some funky English dubbing might actually enhance the film's charm not to mention some great appearances from Euro-sleaze all-stars, Jack Taylor, Christopher George, Edmund Purdom and the greatest red-herring of all time Paul L. Smith. The cinematography is above average for an early 80's slasher, too. Perhaps not on par with the works of Argento or Fulci but not too shabby either. Perhaps the most memorable quote from the film is Linda Day George's blood curdling shrieks of "BASTARD!" in a bizarre, oddly paced succession, it's weird and wonderful and par for the course. 

DVD: Arrow Video presents PIECES fully uncut in anamorphic widescreen (1.66:1) and while I can't say for sure the transfer looks to be the same restored master as Grindhouse Releasing special edition. The PQ is quite good with some decent grain, saturated colors and acceptable black levels but it's not a film that's gonna blow you way when upscaled 1080p on your HDTV but it's quite watchable and from a clean print.

Audio options include both a English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 mono and it's what you might expect from a mono presentation, not overly dynamic but clean sounding and the dialogue is clear and audible. Toggling back and forth between the English and Spanish options I see that the Spanish version has an alternate score from Librado Pastor (THE POD PEOPLE) which I didn't care for at all. On the other hand the CAM sourced library tracks from the English version were fitting if not spectacular.
 

Main Menu

 Arrow Video would have been hard-pressed to compete with Grindhouse Releasing's supplements but I must say that High Rising Productions have risen to the occasion with some UK exclusives well worth owning. First we have a short intro from actor Jack Taylor, plus Pieces of Jack: An Actors Experience of Spanish Splatter (17:55) an interview with the euro-sleaze star of such film as THE GHOST GALLEON whom speaks of his introduction to acting at the age of six, moving from NYC to Mexico to pursue his craft, meeting Jesus Franco and  working FEMALE VAMPIRE (1973), SUCCUBUS and THE GHOST GALLEON among others. He also recollects working with Juan Piquer Simon on THE FABULOUS JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EARTH, comparing the workings styles of Franco vs. Simon and his experiences on-set with co-stars Christopher George, Linda Day George , Edmund Purdom and Paul L. Smith. Taylor also speaks about the film's controversy, not realizing the satirical nature of the film and revealing that he's never watched PIECES.

The second featurette is Pieces of Deconstruction: Looking Back at a Grindhouse Gorefest (22:14) which features fond remembrances of this crazy slasher from filmmakers Scott Spiegel (INTRUDER) and Howard S. Berger, Fangoria editor Michael Gringold and film historian Santos Ellin Jr. all of whom lovingly recount their first experiences watching the film and their continued enjoyment of it.


The audio commentary with Arrow regular Calum Waddell and Fangoria's Tony Timpone is not so much a scene by scene deconstruction of the film as a fun conversation that occasionally highlight the film's greatest moments and some of it's history, distribution and reception, very entertaining and informative. My screener check disc arrived sans artwork, poster or booklet but they're detailed below in the special features summary.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Introduction by star Jack Taylor(0:25) 16:9
- Pieces of Jack: An Actors Experience of Spanish Splatter – Actor Jack Taylor recollects his experiences of performing in Pieces (17:55) 16:9
- Pieces of Deconstruction: Looking Back at a Grindhouse Gorefest – Hostel producer Scott Spiegel, filmmaker Howard S. Berger, Fangoria's Michael Gingold and horror historian Santos Ellin Jr. reflect on the lasting legacy, and lacerations, of Pieces! (22:14) 16:9
- Audio Commentary with Fangoria magazine’s Tony Timpone, sharing first hand recollections of the golden age of slasher cinema, moderated by Calum Waddell
- Artwork by Jeff Zornow Must be Destroyed
- Reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork
- Double-sided fold-out artwork poster
- Collector’s booklet featuring brand new writing on the film by Stephen Thrower, author of ‘Nightmare USA’.

VERDICT: PIECES is an awful film that beyond reason is simply one of my  favorite slashers of all time. It's a none too subtle demented chainsaw slasher that's utterly ridiculous and steeped in sleazy excess and for that it gets a high recommend from me. Arrow's DVD with exclusive content is worth a purchase even if you own the Grindhouse Releasing special edition. PIECES. It's exactly what you think it is ...a must own schlockfest!

DVD Review: IGGY & THE STOOGES: RAW POWER LIVE IN THE HANDS OF FANS (2011)

IGGY AND THE STOOGES
RAW POWER LIVE IN THE HANDS OF FANS (2010)

LABEL: MVD Visual
REGION CODE: 1 NTSC
RATING: Unrated
DURATION: 81 mins
AUDIO:Dolby Digital 2.0. 51
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen
DIRECTOR:Joey Carry

Filmed towards the end of their 2010 reunion tour RAW POWER LIVE IN THE HANDS OF FANS captures Iggy and the Stooges blistering live performance of the classic RAW POWER (1973) album at the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival in Monticello, New York. The performance was filmed by six contestants who entered an online contest for a chance to both meet and document the band at this very performance. The show kicks off all guns blazing as Iggy and the Stooges pummel through "Raw Power" and right into a fiery rendition of the anthemic "Search and Destroy" without missing a beat. Iggy prowls the stage with a gimpy spastic energy, surely rock n' roll must be the fountain of youth because Iggy's 63 and his on-stage antics would tire a younger man of twenty. RAW POWER era guitarist James Williamson fills the void left by founding guitarist Ron Asheton who passed on early 2009. Williamson who also played on Iggy's fantastic solo LP NEW VALUES (1979) wields his guitar like an precision stone-age club, his playing is spot-on and razor sharp with screaming solos and crushing riffs non-stop. On the rhythm section is original founding member Scott Asheton propelling the band with a neanderthal stomp that anchors Mike Watt's snaky groove firmly pushing the rock cacophony along towards total annihilation. Also joining the band is FUNHOUSE era saxophonist Steve Mackay who's wailing is deeply felt throughout the set, particularly the FUNHOUSE and KILL CITY material.

The Stooges are definitely a band I adore and when I say they were on fire this night it's no mere empty adoration, the proof is righ there on screen and pumping through surrounds. Iggy can still work a crowd into a frenzy while pulling fans onstage during "Shake Appeal" or crooning the gritty blues number "I Need Somebody", the band sounds fantastic throughout and the serpentine "Penetration" sounded particularly awesome this night. The entirety of RAW POWER album is performed albeit with some tinkering to the track listing.


It's great to hear the tunes from RAW POWER cranked out but the album that I most often blast in my car is FUNHOUSE (1970). It a primal art-punk masterpiece that channels the Stooges jazz influences so I was psyched to hear the band bust out  "1970" and "Funhouse" plus classics like "I Wanna Be Your Dog" from THE STOOGES (1969) which stills peels paint, love that riff! Enthusiasts are in for a treat as they not only pull from their three major albums but even dust off some very cool post-Stooges tunes in the form of the saxxed-up instrumental "Night Theme" and "Beyond the Law" from the Pop/Williamson demo session KILL CITY (1975) then right into "I Got a Right" from the semi-official bootleg METALLIC K.O. (1976) from which we also get a powerful rendition of "Open Up and Bleed". It's a blistering show and it climaxes with a the dirty stoner-stomp of "No Fun". There's not a misstep to be found this night, the band sounds tight, dangerous and exhilarating from there word go.

DVD: The concert film is presented in 16:9 widescreen. As per the title the cinematography is in the hands of the six contestants but I gotta say it's impressively coherent all things considered and captures the visceral concert experience quite admirably. Audio options include a choice of either Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1 Surround mixes and for the purpose of this review I opted just for the 5.1 and it sounds pretty great. The band is razor sharp and the audio is not overly polished or over-dubbed, it's live and raw and I would expect nothing else, it's pure rock n' roll blasting you from start to finish, a caterwaul of sound in the best possible way.

Special features consist of a backstage interview with Iggy, James and Scott conducted by the six contest winners chosen to film the concert. The band speak to their influences early on, the transformation from avante-garde noisemakers to a bonafide threatening rock n' roll band, their sound, the recording of RAW POWER and what they might do differently if recorded today, song writing and the Stooges legacy. Also included are the submission videos from the contest winners, definitely people who love music and are Stooges super-fans, it must have been pure nirvana for them to have had this experience. Rounding out the disc are two promos for the contest featuring Iggy Pop and Handsome Dick Manitoba, the singer of The Dictators, a classic late 70's NYC punk band and if you don't know who they are I say to you go buy the BLOODBROTHERS album as quickly as possible, yesterday if possible. Lastly, an 8 page booklet with pictures and writing on the band and this performance from former bassist and Minuteman/fIREHOSE frontman Mike Watt who is a world class bassist in his own right and has been plugging away with the Stooges since 2003.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Exclusive Interview with Iggy Pop, James and Scott (43:58)
- Contest Submission Videos (12:18)
- Iggy and Dick Manitoba Promos (5:36)
- Liner Notes by Mike Watt

TRACK LISTING
1. Raw Power
2. Search and Destroy
3. Gimme Danger
4. Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell
5. Shake Appeal
6. I Need Somebody
7. Penetration
8. Death Trip
9. 1970 (I Feel Alright)
10. Night Theme
11. Beyond the Law
12. I Got A Right
13. I Wanna Be Your Dog
14. Open Up & Bleed
15. Fun House
16. No Fun


VERDICT: If you're a Iggy and the Stooges devotee or maybe just into the garage-punk scene this is really a no-brainer. A raucous visual document that is a testament to the burning virility of the raucous music these guys from Detroit made over thirty years ago. I watched this twice the day I received it and twice more since and again now as I write this and let me tell you it gets better every damn time.