MCBASTARD'S MAUSOLEUM: PSYCHO GOREMAN (2020) (Acorn Media Blu-ray Review)

PSYCHO GOREMAN (2020)

Label: Acorn Media International

Rating: Cert. 15

Region Code: Region-Free

Duration: 120 Minutes

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.39:1)

Director: Steven Kostanski

Cast: Nita-Josee Hanna, Owen Myre, Matthew Ninaber

In the straight-to-video throwback PG: Psycho Goreman sister and brother Mimi (Nita-Josee Hanna, Books of Blood) and Luke (Owen Myre, NOS4A2) unearth red-glowing gem while digging in the backyard., unwittingly resurrectting an ancient alien overlord (Matthew Ninaber, Death Valley) who identifies himself as the "Arch-Duke of Nightmares" from the planet Gigax, who was imprisoned eight-million years ago on Earth by the Planetary Alliance after a failed attempt to destroy the universe. Mimi being a headstrong and vindictive little shit is quite pleased to discover that the glowing gem she has in her possession allows her to control the nihilistic extraterrestrial being, which the children quickly dub him Psycho Goreman - PG for short.

While older brother Luke is a bit more cautions against playing with their newfound alien pet Mimi sets about taunting the neighborhood kids with PG, who literally turns a pair of local thugs inside out and transforming a neighborhood kid into a giant-sized brain.

When PG sends a beacon signal to his former tyrannical cohorts the Paladins of Obsidian, a very GWAR-like band of in miscreants, to free him from Mimi's slavery he is dismayed to discover they're now in cahoots with the Planetary Alliance, and are working with their leader, an alien of the Templar race named Pandora (Kristen MacCulloch, The Vault) who sets out to once again destroy PG.

Eventfully the sibling argumentative parents Greg (Adam Brooks, The Editor) and Susan (Alexis Kara Hanley) come to realize that their kids, and all life on Earth, are is cosmic danger and PG, who is now friends with the kids, must team-up to battle the Pandora and the Paladins of Obsidian to decide the fate of the universe, with a game of "Crazy Ball", a made-up game created by the siblings.

This is such a fun and gory kid-friendly flick, it gave me The Gate and Monster Squad vibes mixed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers all filtered through a post-Troma, post-GWAR lens of latex, carnage and cheap gore-gags, but I should also note that it's executed quite a bit more successfully and better directed than your average Troma film. It's just a feel good throwback to the late-80's video gems that's super-goofy but never quite unhinged.

Audio/Video: PG: Psycho Goreman arrives on region-free Blu-ray from UK distributor Acorn Media International in 1080p HD framed in 2.35:1 widescreen. A sharp looking image sourced from digital with vibrant colors and solid blacks. I could see a tiny bit of compression but overall this scrappy flick looks quite stellar on home video. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles, dialogue sounds just fine and the retro-fun score from Blitz//Berlin is lots of fun.

This is a pretty stacked Blu-ray as far as extras, kicking off with an Audio Commentary with Director Steven Kostanski, plus a 15-minute interview with him as well, detailing how he's been kicking around the idea for the film quite a while, the inspiration for the Psycho Goreman design and how certain special effects shots were achieved and other straggles during filming. Additionally there are several cast and crew interviews plus featurettes that give a peak at the fight choreography, the score, the creature designs and special effects, the miniature work.

The disc extras are buttoned-up with several galleries of Concept Art, PG: Psycho Goreman Trading Cards and Behind The Scenes Photos. The single-disc release arrives in an oversized keepcase with a one-sided sleeve of artwork with the same artwork appearing on the disc.

Special Features:

- Audio Commentary with Director Steven Kostanski

- One-on-One: An Interview with the Director of PG: Psycho Goreman (15 min)

- Interviews with Cast And Crew (6 min)

- Fight Choreography (4 min)

- Fight Pre-Viz (6 min)

- Filming the Paladin Fight (7 min)

- PG vs Pandora (3 min)

- Miniature Magic (3 min)

- Inside the Creature Shop (4 min)

- The Music of PG: Psycho Goreman (5 min)

- Interview with Adam Brooks (4 min)