Blu-ray Review: DARK ANGEL (1990) aka I COME IN PEACE

DARK ANGEL (1990) 

aka I COME IN PEACE 

Label: Shout! Factory / Scream Factory
Release Date: August 27th 2013

Region Code: A

Rating: R

Duration: 91 Minutes
Video: 1080p Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.0 with Optional English Subtitles 

Cast: Brian Benben, Dolph Lundgren, Betsy Brantley

Director: Craig R. Baxley

Tagline: It's Not a Close Encounter... It's the Last!

I thought for sure I had watched this 1990 sci-fi actioner before but quickly realized just a few minutes in that this was simply not the case, I would have remembered Brian Benben (HBO's Dream On) for sure. What it all boils down to an 80's buddy-cop film with some fun sci-fi featuring street tough Houston officer Jack Caine (Lundgren, Red Scorpion) whose partner dies during an undercover drug deal with the White Boys drug cartel when Caine is distracted by robbery in progress. The White Boys henchmen are wiped by a 7 ft  white-eyed weirdo who arrives on scene and makes short work of the baddies with CD-slinging weaponry before running-off with the cache of dope. if you loved that goofy Cenobite from Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) that similarly fancied the digital compact disc as a weapon you will love this.

After the botched deal leaves his partner dead Caine's captain is furious with the officer's loose-cannon methods and relieves him from case but when the White Boys steal a shipment of heroin from police lock-up facility and blow it up he's put back on the case and assigned a new partner, the straight-laced FBI agent Larry Smith (Benben) and the two set out to sleuth the murder/heroin cases while exchanging comedic barbs with each other. Lundgren's tough-guy cop persona and Benben's sycophant FBI agent characters play well of each other, it's a great buddy-cop schtick and while it's not quite Lethal Weapon it's fun stuff.

Turns out that the 7 ft weirdo whom massacred the White Boys crew is an drug dealer from outer-space, no shit! His name is Talec (Matthius Hues) and he comes across as part Highlander (1986) and part Predator (1987), he's arrived on Earth to harvest human endorphins which he plans to synthesize into a drug and peddle throughout the galaxy. To this end Talec injects his victims with the smack via a sharp-tipped cable that penetrates their chest, then harvesting the endorphins by thrusting a spike, which pops out of his gloved-hand, straight into their forehead and siphoning off the smack-fueled endorphins. Trailing the extraterrestrial drug-peddler to Earth is a alien cop named Azeck (Jay Bilas) who makes contact with his earthly counterparts enlisting their aid in apprehending Talec. 

The performances are what you might expect from a 80's buddy-cop sci-fi actioner, maybe even a little bit better. I really enjoyed Benben here as the comic foil to Lundgren, who doesn't come off quite as stoic as he has in some of his other film roles, tossing off a few good Schwarzenegger-esque one liners, good corny stuff, very 80's. You're probably not watching this film for the performances though, what you wanna see shit blow-up real nice and the film delivers non-stop action from start to finish.

Director Craig R. Baxley worked second unit for directors Walter Hill (The Long Riders) and Don Siegal (Dirty Harry) and the man knows a thing or two about shooting action sequences  additionally he was a stunt coordinator on The Warriors (1979) and Predator (1987) so we get some great in-camera stunt work thrown up on the screen, you get pretty much everything you could want from an 80's sci-fi actioner minus some gore, which is pretty absent throughout. If you don't think about it too much there's not a lot to complain about here, the one things that irked me was the unnecessary love interest who's just squeezed into the story with very little to do, otherwise it's a pretty painless watch.

Blu-ray: Dark Sky (1990) was previously only available in the U.S. as a manufacture-on-demand DVD only from MGM so it's great to see this sci-fi action film get a nice Blu-ray release from Shout!Factory imprint Scream Factory. Presented in 1080p widescreen (1.78:1) the film gets a MPEG-4 AVC encode and is sourced from a very nice print, there are some minor imperfections visible from time to time but overall we get a very solid presentation with strong colors, a very decent hi-def presentation from Scream Factory, yet again. 

The English language DTS-HD Master Audio comes with choice of 2.0 stereo or 5.1 surround mix and it sounds quite nice even if there are no surprises, the 5.1 has more of a presence that the 2.0 with some use of the surrounds but it's pretty tame.Dialogue and effects sound are balanced nicely plus Jan Hammer's synth-heavy 80's rock soundtrack is just awful but in an awesome retro-Miami Vice sort of way, it wouldn't sound out of place on an Astron-6 film. 

Onto the special features we get a A Look Back at Dark Angel (24:17) with interviews from director Craig R. Baxley and actors Dolph Lundgren and Brian Benben. The director reflects on the David Kopepp penned script, meeting Dolph and casting the film while Benben seems to mostly remember being physically hurt by Lundgren on set. Dolph himself speaks fondly of the film, recalling the work of the director and the great in-camera stunt work. We also get a reversible sleeve of artwork featuring the alternate title of "I" Come in Peace, a trailer and an image gallery, it's not the most robust set of features from Scream factory but I'm pretty jazzed just to have it on Blu-ray, a fun film.

Special Features: 

- A Look Back at "Dark Angel" Interviews With Director Craig R. Baxley And Actors Dolph Lundgren And Brian Benben (27:14)
- Theatrical Trailer (1:14) 
- Photo Gallery (4:06)

Verdict: Dark Angel (1990) is a pretty brainless sci-fi actioner and that's alright by me, an entertaining romp with some fun buddy-cop comedy and enough fiery action to stop you from thinking about what's going on, released at the start of the 90's the film is certainly entrenched in the 80's style of action and sci-fi, a trashy slice of fun with some decent carnage. 3 Outta 5 

DVD Review: OFFICE KILLER (1997)

OFFICE KILLER (1997) 

Label: Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

Region: 1 NTSC

Rating: R

Duration: 83 Mins

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo (No Subtitles) 

Video: 16:9 Widescreen

Director:  Cindy Sherman

Cast: Carol Kane, Molly Ringwald, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Tagline: Working Here Can Be Murder


Synopsis: Dorine (Kane) is a quiet and diligent social outcast who has endured years of abuse as the office doormat. When the magazine she works for takes a dive, Dorine hangs on through the downsizing and drastic changes. But one night, the mild-mannered paper-pusher accidentally electrocutes an obnoxious co-worker, and in the process, completely short-circuits her sanity. From that moment on, Dorine believes that anyone can be her best friend…once they're dead.


This was a film I caught on IFC some years ago no doubt drawn in by the appearance of my one true 80's crush - Molly Ringwald - whom one could quite easily argue I spanked it too on way too many occasions in my adolescence - total crush - it's embarrassing.


In the indie slasher Office Killer (1997) we're introduced to the staff at the Constant Consumer magazine. A small time publisher suffering through a period of budget cuts and restructuring - you know - corporate downsizing. This was 1997 so these poor bastards aren't even aware of just how bad things would become for print media in the very near future. Dorine (Carol Kane, When a Stranger Calls) is a mousy proof reader on staff who gets demoted to working part-time from home at the start of the film. She's a tightly wound bundle of nerves, one of those wallflowers that's a bit too quiet. She lives at home with her invalid mother Carlotta (Alice Drummond, the librarian from Ghostbusters!) and her cats. I first suspected  there might be more to her than just being awkward during an early scene when a cats brings to her a dead mouse and she throws it down the garage disposal, that's just disgusting, normal folks just don't do that.


Also on staff at the magazine are ax-woman Norah (Jeanne Tripplehorn, TV's Big Love), the bitchy Kim (Molly Ringwald, Breakfast Club), the chain-smoking asthmatic Virginia (Barbara Sukowa, M Butterfly), tech-guy Daniel (Michael Imperioli, TV's The Sopranos) and douche-nozzle staff writer Garry (David Thornton, TV's Law and Order).


Just after getting the news she's been demoted Dorine finds herself working late in the office when the womanizing douchebag Gary calls her into the office to fix his computer but he is accidentally electrocuted when Dorine resets the tripped circuit breakers while he's messing with some wiring. At first Dorine attempts to do the right thing by calling 911 but instead chooses to take him home where she props him up on a couch in the basement. This accidental death spurs Dorine to set off on a bloody office murder spree taking out her co-workers one at a time all the while sending emails from her new laptop at home that would seem to indicate odd but somewhat logical reasons why the staff are dissappearing. Amidst these killings we're treated to flashbacks from Dorine's childhood and a strange relationship with her father (Eric Bogosian, Talk Radio) which give us insight into her quirks and murderous impulses.


As the body count climbs Dorine's basement quickly nears capacity with cadavers, the spree is not limited to co-workers either and the bodycount includes two young  girlscouts whom show up on her doorstep one day selling cookies. Dorine spends her time amidst the decomposing bodies talking to her new found friends while her cats eat at them, she tends ttheir feline woulds with packing tape and Windex. The only one to suspect Dorine is a psychotic killer is the pushy Kim (Ringwald) but her warnings fall on deaf ears and to the detriment of the non-believers. 

The film has a decent body count but it is most certainly not a blood bath in anyway, it's pretty tame in the gore department. What we do get an electrocution, poisoning, a throat slashed with a cuisinart blade, attempted stranglation, a tire iron to the skull, stabbings and several offscreen deaths of undetermined nature.


Verdict: This film is an odd, quirky late-90's indie slasher that's pretty entertaining. 1997 was not a great year for memorable horror films - we had Uncle Sam, Mimic, Event Horizon and an obscure little film Bleeders - that's really about it and I would be quite pleased to hear this film mentioned a bit more when 90's horror is talked about. Sure, it's not gonna make anyone's top 10 list but it is an entertaining office slasher that deserves a space on your shelf somewhere between Office Space and Corporate Cutthroat Massacre, fun stuff. 2.5 Outta 5 

Blu-ray Review: HALLOWEEN H20: Twenty Years Later (1998)

LABEL: Echo Bridge Entertainment
REGION: A NTSC
RATING: R
DURATION: 85 mins
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
AUDIO: DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo
DIRECTOR: Steve Miner
CAST: Jamie Lee Curtis, Adam Arkin, Josh Hartnett, Michelle Williams, LL Cool J, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Adam Hann-Byrd
TAGLINE: True Terror Never Dies!

A few years before one-time scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis (HALLOWEEN, ROAD TRIP) started slinging adverts for Activia Yogurt - the cultured bacteria food stuff that makes you shit right - she returned to the HALLOWEEN franchise for it's twentieth anniversary. Why? I dunno. Maybe with passing of Donald Pleasance the series needed someone to carry the torch and not wanting to continue on with the Cult of Thorn - Tommy Dolyle storyline from HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYER'S the producers instead chose to ignore the continuity of every sequel after John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN and make this direct sequel to the first.

I'll let the cat outta the bag early and say I really dislike this film, but before I let into why let me just say that it has a pretty great opener that falsely raised my hopes. Dr. Loomis's one-time colleague Marion Chambers (Nancy Stephens, HALLOWEEN, HALLOWEEN II), the nurse from the original HALLOWEEN, returns home to find that someone has broken into her home through the front door. Alarmed she runs next door to the neighbors home where wise-ass teen Jimmy (Joseph Gordon-Levit, INCEPTION) answers the door wearing a hockey mask which startles her. It the first of maybe 150 jump scares in the film among perhaps as many references to other better fright flicks, there's a lot of 'em. Jimmy volunteers to check out the house against Marion's wishes and enters with hockey stick in hand boasting in the third person "Jimmy's been suspended five times this year already for gettin' a little crazy with the stick." He searches the home but doesn't find anyone inside but he does fuck up the kitchen with his hockey stick when he gets spooked while swiping some beers, which he blames on the intruder. With the authorities on their way Marion enters the home to inspect the damage. It's here that we gather she was a caregiver for the ailing Loomis until his natural death, one of the rooms is plastered with clippings about the Haddonfield murders  20 years earlier. In her office she finds that files pertaining to Laurie Strode are missing, Laurie being Myers' sister who survived the attack years earlier. When Marion realizes that someone is in the house with her she makes a panicked run for Jimmy's house and lets herself in when there is no answer only to find the teen in a sofa chair with is hockey skate impaled into his face, his friend is also dead and as Marion sees the police arrive next door she rushes to the window to scream for help but Myers slashes her throat. Seconds later the responding officers notice the neighbors broken window and enter the house as Myers pulls out of the drive way in a car in pursuit of Laurie.

Two days later we're in Northern California, and it's Halloween. We learn that Laurie Strode faked her death some years earlier and is now known as Keri Tate, the head mistress of the Hillcrest Academy High School, and mother of teen John (Josh Hartnett, THE VIRGIN SUICIDES). The events from twenty year prior still haunt her and she's troubled by disturbing dreams. Even after all these years she's convinced that Michael still lives and will one day return to finish what he started, sure enough tonight's the night.

Laurie tries to put her fears aside and plans to spend the weekend with boyfriend Will (Adam Arkin, UNDER THE RAINBOW) while the student body leave on a field trip to Yosemite but Laurie's son John and his girlfriend Molly (Michelle Williams, SPECIES) along with his best friend Charlie (Adam Hann-Byrd, THE ICE STORM) and his love interest Sarah (Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, THE CROW: SALVATION) play hooky, skipping out on the trip and holing up in a dormitory on campus to celebrate Halloween with a little drinking and partying. Also on campus is the poetry spouting school security guard Ronnie (LL Cool J, DEEP BLUE SEA).

With the campus pretty much empty Michael Myers arrives on scene having sleuthed Laurie's current whereabouts. Inside Laurie and Will are drinking wine and preparing for some frisky business when she reveals her dark past to him while at the same time the teens get to partying but as ever Michael shows up and the killings begins anew.

The story is economical, it's simplicity in itself and the basic storyline ain't half bad if you don't mind them ignoring HALLOWEEN 2-6 - which I kinda do. That aside this feels less like a HALLOWEEN film than any that have come before it. There's zero atmosphere, the night scenes are overlit, most of the deaths are weak or happen just offscreen. Jamie Lee Curtis, the iconic scream queen from John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN, offers a decent performance but is not likable as the haunted survivor of her brother's killing spree, and bares little resemblance to the teen version of herself. However, when it's time for Strode to face-off against Michael she's doesn't so much channel her inner scream queen as she does a variation on Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in ALIEN, she's quite the ass kicker.

Josh Hartnett as Strode's son John is pretty wooden (when isn't he?) and I think his best roles (VIRGIN SUICIDES being my favorite) are tailor made to compliment his stiff acting style but as a brooding teen he's just annoying. I rather enjoyed LL Cool J as Ronnie the security guard, it's a bit part with a thankless death but I dig LL in small roles like we see here and in DEEP BLUE SEA. The standout performance of the film comes from a young Joseph Gordon-Levit in a brief but enjoyable bit part, if the film could have maintained the spirit of the pre-credit sequence we could have had something special but the film's post-SCREAM 90's sensibilities and Steve Miner's flat direction really go nowhere.

DVD: Echo Bridge's Blu-ray of H20 presents the film in re-framed 16:9 widescreen (1.78:1) which is quite a departure from it's original "scope" (2.35:1) presentation. Honestly, Steve Miner and cinematographer Daryn Okada don't make great use of the scope aspect ratio here but I'm a stickler for presenting film on DVD/BD in their OAR and I think it's disappointing that EB have opted to go the 1.78:1 route. Aside from the re-frame there's black crush, colors seems muted and the the1080p boost in resolution only marginally improves fine detail and texture. The 1080i transfer of THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS is noticeably superior on pretty much every level to what we have here.

The DTS-HA MA 2.0 Stereo  audio is a downgrade from the previous Dimension Collector's Series DVD from a few years back that sported a not only a 16:9 (2.35:1) transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound but subtitles and a small selection of extras, none of which we have here. While the DTS-HD MA 2.0 is adequate it is little else. Dialogue, effects and score come through clean and strong but it's not very dynamic and there's minimal use of the stereo directionals, it seemed very center heavy.

There's no special features, no subtitles, not even a trailer which I consider to be the bare essential, at least give us a trailer, c'mon now. The Dimension Collector's Series was pretty slim on features but at least offered an 18 minute featurette, lame trivia game and a Creed music video. Actually, I'm kind of thankful that we don't get the Creed video but not porting over something from the DVD release is quite disappointing. The transfer being what it is (re-framed) and the audio not much better (DTS-HD Stereo) at least throw us a bone with some features. EB's DEAD MAN BD is the only title I've reviewed thus far that ports features from the previous DVD incarnation.

VERDICT: As a continuation of the HALLOWEEN franchise I find H20 to be an utter and complete failure of a film. It has no personality, a complete lack of atmosphere and is definitely a product of the post-SCREAM 90's with an irritating script and a sterile, super-polished look about it. The kills are mostly lame, many of which happen just off screen and the jump scares are completely out of hand. I know this film has a devout following, which puzzles me,  but I can't recommend it as a first-time watch or even as an HD upgrade for fans when there are just so many better films worth your time and money, including HALLOWEEN 1-6. The 90's slasher resurgence is much maligned and not without reason, and H20 is prime example of why.

Blu-ray Review: HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS (1995)

LABEL: Echo Bridge Entertainment
REGION: A NTSC
RATING: R
DURATION: 88 mins
VIDEO: 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
AUDIO: DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo
DIRECTOR: Joe Chappelle
CAST: Paul Stephen Rudd, Marianne Hagan, Mitch Ryan, Donald Pleasance
TAGLINE: True Terror Never Dies!

HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS picks-up six years after THE REVENGE OF MICHAEL MYERS in which Michael was abducted from the Haddonefield Police Dept. by the mysterious Man in Black who also kidnapped Jamie Lloyd, too. Now 15 years old Jamie (JC Brandy, KINDRED: THE EMBRACED) is held against her will by the Cult of Thorn and forcibly impregnated via in-vitiro fertilization with no less that Uncle Mike's DNA... yep, you read that right, incest. The baby is born on Halloween night ('natch) and it's not long before Michael come looking to kill his progeny as he's been known to do. Jamie and the baby escape the cult's labyrinthine compound with the help of a sympathetic nurse who dies very shortly after at the hands of Meyers who emerges from the shadow, picks her up and rams her skull against a sharp implement protruding from the wall. With Michael not too far behind Jamie steals a pick-up whose owner attempts to drunkenly stop her until Myers twists his head 360 degree. Jaime stops off at a bus depot to alert the authorities from a payphone but when she can't get through she instead call radio shock-jock DJ Barry Simms (Leo Geter, NEAR DARK) whom hosts a Michael Myers conspiracy show. Jamie gets on air and pleads for help from Dr. Loomis, and who just happens to be listening? None other than a very frail Dr. Loomis (Donald Pleasance, RAW MEAT) and Tommy Dolye (Paul Rudd, KNOCKED UP) who was the boy Laurie Strode babysat in the first film and is now an awkward young man completely obsessed with Myers after his traumatic childhood experience. Stowing her newborn in a bathroom stall Jamie narrowly avoids Michael but is later run off the road by Myers who catches up with her inside an old barn where he impales her through the guts on a corn-thresher. Jamie's a goner but the baby remains safe, for now. 

The next day Tommy is able to play back a recording of Jamie's frantic phone call tot he DJ and traces her whereabouts to the bus depot where he discovers the infant which he takes to the hospital where he encounters Dr. Loomis and the two strike-up a friendship while trading Myers theories. Tommy tells Loomis that he lives across from the Myers house which is currently inhabited by relatives of the Strodes.

The Strode family living in the Myers home are Kara Strode (Marianne Hagan, STAKE LAND), her young son Danny (Devin Gardner), teenage brother Tim (Keith Bogart) mother Debra (Kim Darby, BETTER OF DEAD) and a real shit-turd of a father John (Bradford English, WOLF). Playing into the Cult of Thorn mythology is young Danny who is having visions of the Man in Black telling him to "Kill". Eventually Kara, Danny, Tommy and Loomis' paths converge and Tommy tells her that Danny has been selected to inherit some nutty Druid curse and that the Cult of Thorn hopes to sacrifice Danny. This sets up Myers motivations for killing his family and culminates in a bizarre showdown at an asylum wherein Michael is injected with syringes of nitric acid. The film really takes a left turns towards the end teetering on the edge of becoming a mad-scientist flick but is not without it's merits and I actually enjoyed it.

As the film plays out the Strode's are predictably killed off by Myers, as are some peripheral characters, the Cult of Thorn is revealed to be a teak of Druid-esque geneticist out to distill Michael's ancient evil down to it's purest form. Yeah, it's hard swallow for sure but I gotta give it to screenwriter Daniel Ferrands (THE GIRL NEXT DOOR) for making a strong effort to inject the franchise with some new life and he did so without launching Myers into space. It doesn't quite work 100% and it's overwrought and convoluted but I'm gonna tell you I like this film a bunch despite it's faults.

First, right from the get-go we have two of my favorite elements; buckets of rain and a pretty great Midwestern Halloween feel, there's some great set dressing throughout and the entire film is evocative of the season, jack-o-lanterns, kids in costumes, corn husks - the setting just feels appropriate, there's some great atmosphere throughout. Myer's mask is one of the better variations since the original film, too. It's had it's up and downs over the years but this one's a keeper for sure. Director Joe Chappelle (PHANTOMS, TV'S FRINGE) keeps things on track, cult elements aside this is a slasher film through and through with some great kills right from the start.

Like I say it's not a perfect film, first the Cult of Thorn stuff is a hard swallow but I didn't hate it, it was something different and I only mention it because some of you might balk at the notion. On that note the one singular thing that irked was after killing Jamie Michael burns the image of the Thorn rune into a stack of hay, that's just fucking ridiculous. Paul Rudd had just come of CLUELESS when he took on the film and doesn't seem to have any dramatic acting chops, there's a lot of overacting, he's just not the right guy for the role, but compared to Davin Gardner who played Danny he's Oscar worthy. The kid just cannot act for a shit and is easily the worst feature of the film.

This was the last film to feature Donald Pleasance in the role of Dr. Loomis and he gives it a solid go but is obviously in a very poor state of health and actually died shortly after the film wrapped. I loved his playful introduction at the top of the film and I think his exit is fitting if not great.

 DVD: The film arrives on Blu-ray from Echo Bridge Entertainment in 1080i HD in a re-framed anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) transfer from a pretty great print. Colors are saturated, black levels are deep, flesh tones look accurate and there''s plenty of fine detail in facial features and textures, definitely an improvement over previous non-anamorphic DVD editions. Audio wise we have a lossless DTS-HA MA 2,.0 Stereo track that delivers effects, score and dialogue quite well but is pretty standard. Alan Howarth's score sounds great but nothing can make Southern rock band Brother Cane sound any good at all.

An immersive 5.1 surround track would have been appreciated but from what I've seen many of Echo Bridge's blu's feature re-framed aspect ratios and down-mixed audio. I would love to know if these are the elements they're being provided from the Miramax vaults. Ideally we're seeing films presented in OAR with the best audio presentation and it's unfortunate that EB continue to dump skewed presentations on us. Honestly, the re-framed film didn't catch my notice during the viewing but on principal I think we need to see director's visions adhered to, a recent abomination of a re-frame job can be seen with cinematographer Vittorio Storaro's unfortunate re-framing of Arrow Video's THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE which I think was an intrusive blaspheme perpetrated upon the film, this is less an abomination but still unfortunate.  

There are no special features presented which isn't surprising when you consider the Dimension DVD from years back offered none either and EB like Mill Creek Entertainment don't seem to be in the market for creating and/or licensing supplemental material. Two other versions of the film exist but have not been officially released, though they remain available through less than legal means. I do not understand why we haven't seen either come forth with a legitimate release, you cannot tell me there's no market for these films. I've read elsewhere that Disney owns the rights to the producer's cut of the film and surely they're not wanting for cash so I would assume it's a rights issue. Not an optional presentation but a step-up from the Dimension DVD and at a budget price. 

VERDICT: HALLOWEEN: THE CURSE OF MICHAEL MYERS is an enjoyable entry in the series with some great atmosphere,  decent kills and an interesting if overwrought cult-curse element that, perhaps wisely, was never to be referenced again in the series. Then again, if you've seen the final two entries in the original run of films it may have been preferable. Definitely a film I will rewatch again and enjoy. It's not John Carpenter's HALLOWEEN (1978) but then again, what is?

DVD Review: The Midnight Horror Collection: Puppet Master 1,2,3

THE MIDNIGHT HORROR COLLECTION: PUPPET MASTER 1-3

Echo Bridge Home Entertainment

Somehow I've never seen the Puppet Master films. I'm not sure why or how this has come to be. When I recently discovered that Echo Bridge Home Entertainment was releasing the first three volumes as a triple feature DVD as part of their The Midnight Horror Collection series it seemed the time was right to finally check out this killer puppet franchise, the first three anyway.

PUPPET MASTER (1989)
"A box of little toys has just become a gang of little terrors. This is not child's play..."


RATED: R
RUNNING TIME: 88 Min.
DIRECTOR: David Schmoeller
CAST: Paul Le Mat (Alex Whitaker), Jimmie F. Scaggs (Neil Gallagher), Matt Roe (Frank)Irene Miracle (Dana Hadley), Kathryn O'Reilly (Frank)Robin Frates (Megan), Barbara Crampton, William Hickey (Andre Toulon)


SUMMARY: Psychics investigating Andre Toulon battle his five killer puppets—each one uniquely qualified for murder and mayhem: Tunneler, who has a habit of boring holes in flesh; Ms. Leech, who sucks her victims dry by regurgitating killer leeches; Pinhead, a professional strangler; Blade, who's armed with razor-sharp, killer hands, and Jester, the ruthless brains of the bunch. Together, they're an army of skilled assassins, diabolically programmed to guard the deadly secrets of the Puppet Master. Enjoy this original cult classic in all its bloody glory.


FILM: Puppet Master (1989) opens at the Bodega Bay Inn, California 1939. Puppeteer Andre Toulon is putting the final touches on a puppet called Jester. Toulon is played by the great William Hickey whom you may recall as Drogan from the "Cat from Hell" segment of the Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (1990) or as the voice of Dr. Finklestein in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). I recall him most fondly as the cantankerous Uncle Lewis from what I consider one of the top 3 Christmas films of all time - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989). Toulon performs a short incantation and the puppet springs to life. At the same time there are two puppets keeping a watchful eye on the Bodega Bay Inn; an unnamed oriental puppet (that never reappears during the film) and the menacing Blade who notices two Nazi operatives arrive at the inn. Blade makes a mad dash to Toulon's room to let the puppet master know he may be in danger. We get some great point-of-view cinematography as Blade traverses the lobby and hallways of the inn climbing over baggage and furniture. It seems that the Nazi's are after Toulon's secrets which is later expanded on in the prequel/sequel Puppet Master 3. Toulon takes his puppet and places them into a chest which he then hides in a hidden wall panel. Just as Nazis break down his door Toulon blows his brains out as blood splatters the wall behind him. That's the last we see of Hickey, a far too brief appearance in my opinion but a memorable one at least. Flash forward 50 years later and four psychics are being psychically summoned to the Bodega Bay Inn by their colleague Neil (Jimmie F. Scaggs) who's been searching for Toulon's alchemy secret for years, his investigations have led him to Toulon's last known whereabouts. As the psychics converge at the inn they meet Neil's wife Megan (Robin Frates) who informs them that he has committed suicide in a manner eerily reminiscent of Toulon's own death 50 years earlier. The psychic friends are Alex (Paul Le Mat) a Yale professor, Dana (Irene Miracle) a white witch fortune teller and lovers Carissa (Kathryn O'Reilly) and Frank (Matt Roe). Also in attendance is the nosy inn keeper Theresa (Mews Small). As the group settles in for the night several among them have visions foretelling of their own or other's deaths. The dream/vision sequences are well done, particularly those of Alex. As night falls the psychics and the innkeeper are killed off one by one by Toulon's puppets. But to what end? I won't spoil the rest of the film as it's definitely worth a watch.

The puppets featured in the film are the aforementioned Jester - an emotive clown. Blade - a knife and hook wielding puppet with a face modeled after actor Klaus Kinski.  Pinhead - the muscle of the bunch with a head that's too small for his body. Tunneler - a Nazi-uniformed puppet with a drill-bit head. Ms. Leach - a lady puppet who can regurgitate deadly leeches. Oddly, he oriental puppet from the start of the film is never seen again. The marionettes do not get a lot of screen time in the film until the last 3rd but their sequences are well shot and their interactions with the actors are believable and eerily effective. I love stop-motion animation and rod puppeteering and there's some really great work here in that respect, and even more so in future installments.


Puppet Master is a bit slow in spots but is permeated by that peculiar Full Moon atmosphere that is so evident in most their films. The puppet design and articulation is very good and the psychics make for interesting characters. Alex is the most likable character of the bunch. He seems good natured while the others have selfish agendas. The films eroticism comes from the character of Carissa whose particular psychic talent is to channels past events. Throughout the film she becomes aroused while channelling trysts that have occurred at the inn. Dana as played by Irene Miracle is the bitch of the bunch. Genre fans may recognize her as the character Rose Elliot from Dario Argento's Inferno.

The gore effects of the films are handled well, nothing too bloody mind you. This film was Full Moon Entertainment's first offering and was intended for theatrical release until Charles Band realized there was more money to be made in the home video market. The rest is Full Moon history.



DVD: Puppet Master is presented in an anamorphic wide screen 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which is surprising. To my knowledge the 1st time that Puppet Master was released in it's proper wide screen aspect ratio was the 20th Anniversary Blu-ray released in June 2010, so its great to have it in a budget-minded triple feature. The print looks really good. Very clean, only minor blemishes, the image is a bit soft but otherwise very good image quality. The 2.0 stereo audio is not very exciting but adequate. 
 
VERDICT:  A very enjoyable film. I was reminded of another Charles Band production while watching it, that being Stuart Gordon's Dolls. I think the direction of that film is superior but Puppet Master is not without its charm. Great puppet design, interesting characters, creepy atmosphere and a fairly good premise and finale.  It definitely made me want to watch the other films in quick succession.
***1/2 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

PUPPET MASTER 2 (1991)
"His unholy creations hold the strings to your life"



RATED: R
RUNNING TIME: 85 Min.
DIRECTOR: David Allen

CAST: Elizabeth MacLellan (Carolyn Bramwell/Elsa), Collin Bernsen (Michael Kenney), Gregory Webb (Patrick Bropmwell), Charlie Spradling (Wanda), Steve Welles (Andre Toulon/Enrique Chanee), Jeff Weston, Nita Talbot (Camille)




SUMMARY: The nasty little puppets are back to take care of unfinished business. Joined by Torch, the newest member of the sinister troupe, they exhume their beloved creator Toulon to gather the brain matter that keeps them alive. But the Puppet Master has a deadly plan of his own…





FILM: Puppet Master 2 open up as Pinhead is unearthing  Toulon's grave at the Shady Oak's cemetery which is conveniently located just a stones throw away from the Bodega Bay Inn. Pinhead pries open the casket and pours a potion of some kind onto his skeleton as the other puppets look on. The skeleton is the reanimated. Some time later we see a group of paranormal researchers led by Carolyn (Elizabth Maclellan). They are at the Bodega Bay Inn to investigate the murder of the hotel's previous owner as well as the psychotic ramblings of the lone psychic-survivor from the previous film who is suspected as the murderer. Apparently the victim had their brain extracted through the nose - Egyptian mummification style. Carolyn is joined in her quest for paranormal activity by Kenney (Nita Talbot), Wanda (Charlie Spradling), Patrick (Gregory Webb) and Lance (Jeff Watson).

That night Camille sees the puppets and plans to leave the Inn in fear of her safety but is taken by Pinhead and Jester before she can do so. The next to go is Patrick who gets his head bloodily excavated by the Tunneler, it's a great gory scene. Lance runs into the room after hearing Patrick scream, it's too late to save Patrick but he is able knock-out Tunneler. While looking at Tunneler's body under x-ray the team deduce that the puppets are being sustained by a chemical in their bodies. Soon after a man named Enrique Channe (Steve Welles) appears and announces that he has inherited the inn. Mr. Chanee is really Toulon's reanimated corpse decked out in a Darkman style costume of gauze, goggles and cape. Chanee/Toulon retires to his room were he creates a new puppet, Torch - a  flame-throwing assassin. There is a flashback to Cairo Egypt where we see the origins of the reanimating formula and how it came into Toulon's possession. We also find out that the formula involves human brains, and this is why the puppets are murdering people. In fact, the puppets are not content to murder guest at the inn. They travel to a nearby farmhouse where they attack a farmer played by George "Buck" Flowers (They Live, The Fog) and his wife in an effort to get more brain tissue to complete the formula.  Torch also takes out a small child using his flame-thrower, dark stuff. Toulon's is portrayed as an obsessed madman in this film, not very likable, it seems that rotting in a casket for 50+ years has had a poor effect on his mental health . He also comes to believes that Carolyn is the reincarnation of his long dead wife Elsa and has devised a plan by which the two can be reunited forever.


So, this time around the puppets are more fully realized and articulated than the first film, great stop-motion effects works. We get to see them on screen more which is a treat and their movements are more fluid. I enjoyed the flashback to Cairo and the origins of the formula. Toulon's disguise is creepy and effective. For 90% of the film he remains bandaged and his face is not visible. Welles performance and vocal characterization recalled the great Christopher Lloyd, and the final unmasking of his rotting face is well done.


Something I did not care for was the need for brain-tissue to create the life-giving formula Toulon uses to reanimate himself and the puppets as I feel it it vilifies both Toulon and the puppets. In the first film you liked Toulon. He sacrificed himself so that the Nazi's could not use his formula for evil and without giving too much away about either film the puppets obey their master until they realize they are being used or mistreated for evil purposes. Here they are more villainous and it degrades the film in my opinion. Other shortcomings of the films would be that is lacks the style and atmosphere of the previous installment. The ending of the film is also a bit wacky and felt too out of left field for me. It's telling that future installments dismiss or out right ignore the events of this film.


DVD: Puppet Master 2 is presented in a full frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio with 2.0 stereo audio. It's a fairly terrible looking transfer film. It's an interlaced transfer which look even worse when viewed on a high definition television set. There's rampant compression artifacting of both the audio and visual variety is clearly evident throughout. The image is soft and lacking fine detail and audio is equally lamented by compression issues most notably the metallic-ringing throughout. The film is flawed but decent so it's a shame that it is marred by such a poor transfer.


VERDICT: Puppet Master 2 lacks much of the charm of the first film. It's definitely a bit darker and more menacing, the puppets get more screen time and are rendered with more detail and articulated movement, but the film is a bit hollow in my opinion and is outmatched by parts 1 and 2 of the franchise. Definitely worth a watch at least once even though I feel it misses the mark. **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars )

PUPPET MASTER 3: TOULON'S REVENGE (1991)
"When good puppets go bad"



RATED: R
RUNNING TIME: 82 Min.
DIRECTOR: David DeCoteau
CAST: Guy Rolfe (Andre Toulon), Ian Abercrombie (Dr. Hess), Sarah Douglas (Elsa Toulon), Walter Gotel (General Mueller), Kristopher Logan (Lt. Eric Stein), Matthew Faison (Hertz), Aaron Eisenberg (Peter Hertz), Richard Lynch (Major Kraus)




SUMMARY:After learning that Andre Toulon's puppets have no strings and seem to have a life of their own, Dr. Hess, a WWII Gestapo henchman, sends his officers to kidnap them. During the melee, Toulon's wife Elsa is killed, but the puppets fight back and escape with their leader. Toulon creates a new puppet, Six Shooter, models Blade after a pasty-faced Nazi and uses Elsa's essence to create Leech Woman. The army is ready. Body part by body part, revenge will be theirs…



FILM: The third installment of the Puppet Master franchise a prequel taking place three years after the start of Puppet Master ...huh? The year is 1941 in Berlin during WW2. Dr. Hess (Ian Abercrombie) is a scientist in the service of the Third Reich. He's been tasked to create a serum that will create an army of undead zombie soldiers. He's had a modicum of success but the serum is too unstable. Hess is overseen my Major Kraus (Richard Lynch) from the Gestapo. Kraus's driver Lt. Stein is an amateur puppeteer and attends a puppet show for children presented by Andre Toulon and his wife Elsa. During the puppet show a marionette of Adolf Hitler is fired upon by a puppet called Six Shooter, modeled after American gunslingers. He's got six arms and six guns, it's a great character design and he has a great Jack Nicholson laugh that I just love. The Lt. sneaks around after the show and witness the puppets being fed their serum by Toulon and he sees that they walk on their own unassisted by strings. He reports this to Krauss and Hess the next day. Krauss takes an SS squad to Toulon's residence the next day to arrest the puppeteer for treason. Hess convinces Kraus that he must speak with Toulon to gain his secrets of reanimation. Kraus agrees but then kills Toulon's wife Elsa after she spits in his face. As Toulon is being transported the two soldiers guarding him are killed by Tunneler and Pinhead allowing him to escape and plot his revenge. It's a great shot when Tunneler tunnels his way through the back of the driver's seat and through his chest.

This film has a lot going for it. Setting it during WW2 in Berlin is a good choice and it's a great backdrop for the film. The acting is superb from the key players. Richard Lynch (Bad Dreams, Laid to Rest) as the despicable Major Krauss is inspired, he's a great and wicked villain. Ian Abercrombie as the Nazi scientist Hess is also great casting. You get the feeling he's being forced into working for the Reich and he seems genuinely amazed by the work of Toulon. In fact, he redeems himself towards the end of the film. Abercrombie is most recognized at Mr. Pitt, Elaine's boss from the television series  Seinfeld, or as the Wiseman from Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness. And then there is Guy Rolfe (Dolls) as Andre Toulon. Hands down the best Toulon I've seen so far.


There's very little I did not enjoy here. The setting, the acting, the special effects - all great stuff. I wish it had been wide screen but as with most Full Moon productions it was created with the home video market in mind and catered to the fulls screen format that dominated the market.  Highlight for me include the origins of Blade and Ms. Leech, the awesome introduction of Six Shooter and that we find out why the Nazi's are pursuing Toulon at the start of the first film. A goof of sorts would be the including of Jester in the film who we saw Toulon create in the first film. The ending of the film more or less sets up the first film.


DVD: Puppet Master 3 is presented in a full frame 1.33:1 aspect ratio with 2.0 stereo audio. The image is not nearly as poor as the presentation of Puppet Master 2. It should be noted that these three films are presented on a single flipper disc. Side 1 contains Puppet Master 1 and Puppet Master 2 while the flip side contains Puppet Master 3: Toulon's Revenge and a Full Moon Video Zone behind-the-scenes featurette.

VERDICT: Of the the first three installment of the Puppet Master films Toulon's Revenge inches out Puppet Master as my favorite.  The acting is  fantastic and Guy Rolf's portrayal of Toulon is the best of the bunch, I cannot imagine anyone else capturing the essence of Andre Toulon the way he did here. Despite the films modest budget the WW2 era sets are well rendered, the film definitely has a sense of time and place. The stop-motion effects are really good though I think they may have been a bit better in Puppet Master 2. Despite the audio and visual misgivings I have for the presentation of Puppet Master 2 I am very pleased that Echo Bridge Home Entertainment have put together a budget-minded triple feature for fans of the film to enjoy. **** (4 out of 5 stars )

- McBASTARD

DVD Review: Bleeders (1997)

BLEEDERS (1997)
"It's in the blood."

RATED: R
RUN TIME: 89 Min.
DIRECTOR: Peter Svatek
CAST: Rutger Hauer (Dr. Marlowe), Pascal Gruselle (Vermeer), Roy Dupias (John Strauss), Kristin Lehman (Kathleen Strauss) Gillian Ferrabee (Eva Van Daam), Jackie Burroughs (Lexie Crungle )

SUMMARY: John, a young man with a mysterious blood disease travels to an island off the coast of Maine to seek relatives in hope of finding a cure to his illness. Once there he discovers that his relatives have died ...or have they? Somethings living in the catacombs  beneath the island, something living on the flesh of the deceased. What does this have to do with John's blood disease, mysterious cravings and his ancestors incestuous past?
THE FILM: What drew me to this movie was the writing credit from Dan O'Bannon and Ron Shesett - the writing team that brought us ALIEN (1979), DEAD & BURIED (1981) and TOTAL RECALL (1990). I've read that the film is loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft short story "The Lurking Fear", yet more Lovecraft I need to read. Add to the O'Bannon factor that Rutger Hauer (BLADERUNNER, THE HITCHER, LADYHAWKE) received top-billing and I couldn't resist taking in a viewing. Hauer's been in my mind a lot as of late after checking out the teaser trailer for HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN which looks stupefyingly amazing.

During the prologue of BLEEDERS we are introduced to the Eva Van Daam, a woman of the 16th century so gorgeous and narcissistic that she deemed no lover good enough for her except her own twin brother. It's pretty funny, as we are shown the two making love we seen the man's broad shoulders and masculine physique, the close-up of her face is obviously the woman with a goatee, nice. When the King of Holland outlaws incest in 1692 the Van Daam's pull up roots and re-settle on an island of the coast of Maine where they can just keep that incest going full-on until they've inbred themselves into unsightly gargoyles. Three hundred years later John Straus and his wife travel to said island in hopes of finding clues to his rare and debilitating blood disease.

John arrives on the island in ill-health and is taken to Dr. Marlow, the islands doctor with a reputation as a bit of a drunk, played by the venerable Rutger Hauer. Oddly, Hauer receives top-billing in the film, but then again when the bland Roy Dupuis is the alternative...  Dr. Marlowe takes an interest in John's strange affliction and takes a blood sample to run tests.

"Wow. Looks like I'm making some guests for the hotel ...and with any luck, a burial plot too" - Byrde Gordon / Bleeders

It turns out there are no Strauss's on the island and Dr. Peterson whom delivered John has since passed on. However, his crotchety nurse Lexie Crungle (Jackie Burroughs) is alive and rollin' around in a wheelchair, packin' a shotgun and conveniently resides at the Van Daam mansion that burned down 75 years earlier, killing off the last of the Van Daam clan. I love mean elderly people in films and Mrs. Crungle is a great one. She's a mean ol' bitch and serves only to unload a ton of expository dialogue here, but I loved her scenes just the same, great stuff. It's too bad she doesn't hang around long.

About the same time a mutilated corpse in brought into Dr. Marlowe's office. It fell into the harbor and was torn apart by the blades of an outboard motor. Upon examining the mangled mess of flesh Dr. Marlowe discovers that it's deformed, hermaphroditic, and strangely shares the same blood disease as John. A short while later a child is dragged underground by a hideous creature while playing hide n' seek at the cemetery. Several townsfolk and Dr. Marlowe head underground and discover the previously undiscovered catacombs and the cannibalistic, inbred inhabitants therein.

The creature effects are top notch considering the limited budget of the film. They're appropriately grotesque,  misshapen goblins with bulbous deformities and extraneous eyes, nnostrils and primitive tools used in the capture of prey. Hauer is really good, if subdued, but Roy Dupruis is quite terrible as the lead. What really enhanced the film for me was the setting. Filmed in Vacouver B.C. the island location is gorgeous and showcases the island's scenic natural beauty. The story is written by Dan O'Bannon so you know it's a well-crafted story.  O'Bannon also scripted another stellar seaside village script, the highly recommended DEAD & BURIED (1981). And for the hormone driven segment of my readership I am pleased to say both Kristin Lehman and Gillian Ferrabee are filmed in their naked splendor, not hard on the eyes at all.  The downside, Peter Svatek's direction is lackluster and the cinematography is  bland and has the look of a made-for-tv film, some of which I could put on the pan & scan transfer. There's also a plot device involving substandard wood used in the construction of coffins that was might laughable though key to the film, oddly enough. The tension in flaccid throughout and I couldn't help but wonder what this film could have been in the hands of a more skilled and nuanced director.

DVD: Bleeders was released on DVD by Fries Home Entrainment. It's a 1.33:1 pan & scan presentation with 2.0 stereo soundtrack. No special features are included. The image and sound quality are very decent, nothing special, not overly crisp or clear, but sufficient.

VERDICT: This is a truly underrated creature feature despite the flat direction. I've heard mention of it here and there and usually in a mediocre light. A great story concept done an grave injustice by the uninspired direction and mediocre acting talents that is saved in part by the presence of Rutger Hauer and great creature effects.  *** (3 out of 5 stars)

Blu-Ray Review: Total Terror Double Features Vol. 1 (2010)

TOTAL TERROR DOUBLE FEATURES VOL. 1 (2010)
DEMONIC (2005) / UNINVITED (1993)

Mill Creek Entertainment

DEMONIC aka FOREST OF THE DAMNED (2006) “Thrown out of heaven …they’ll take you to hell…” Directed by Johanne Roberts/Starring Tom Savini, Daniel Maclagan / Nicole Petty/Sophie Holland/Color/R/83 Min.

SUMMARY: In England 5 friends are travelling to a countryside lake when they have an accident. They soon discover that the woods are prowled by beautiful nymph-like creatures that seduce then kill their victims.

FILM: A young couple are parked in a wooded area, making out. The woman hears a rustling in the forest, we see quick moving shadows dart through the trees, and the man goes to investigate. Personally, I say "honey, get in the car, we’re leaving", but few horror films are based on good decision making. He’s confronted by a gorgeous naked woman, apparently bewitched by her unearthly charms. they embrace and deeply kiss. It is revealed that the woman’s mouth is toothed with gnarly razor sharp teeth as she tears a chunk of flesh from the young man’s neck. A great start, well done, I was on board immediately. From there we are introduced to five friends on a road trip to a countryside lake. Along the way they get lost, as youngins are apt to do in films such as this. They pull into a darkened gas station to get directions and are accosted by a crazed fella spouting warnings about fallen angels who were banished from heaven for having been infected by an earthly lust and how they now prowl, seduce and kill people in Miranda Forest. A total “It’s got a death curse” moment, right outta FRIDAY THE 13th. No one ever believes the crazy guy, and the group tears outta there quickly and proceed down the road through the forest. After a bit the driver is getting sleepy, he notices something strange in the woods. Momentarily distracted he doesn’t see a woman in the road, violently striking her. The van is damaged beyond drivability, the woman in need of immediate medical attention, and the cell phones don’t work (OF COURSE!). Miles from anywhere, on a desolate road, the group splits into three groups in search of assistance. Once separated the groups each encounter the nymph-like creatures and a mysterious man named Stephen (Tom Savini, GRINDHOUSE, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN, DAWN OF THE DEAD) who is aware of the creatures and has a sinister agenda of his own. A promising start, not a bad idea, but the film is spoiled by shoddy stylistic decisions regarding editing, cinematography and filmscore, and a thin script. A particularly poor choice is the night vision camerawork which pulled me out of the film and the painful electronic score. On the plus side, this film is genuinely eerie at times, there’s an abundance gorgeous naked woman from start to finish and the special effects are well executed for a low budget affair, not gory but pretty bloody. **1/2 (2.5 out of 5 stars)

UNINVITED (1993) “Thrown Only the brave would dare to awaken the guardian of the dead” Directed Michael Derek Bohusz/Starring Jack Elam, Christopher Boyer, Bari Buckner, Jerry Rector, Zane Paolo, Dennis Gibbs/Color/R/90 Min.

SUMMARY: Seven strangers, led by a mysterious stranger, have come together to stake a claim on a gold mine. Once there they discover that there may be more than gold is buried on the mountaintop.

FILM: This is the last film of the legendary Jack Elam (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST), a man known for his western persona, he  gets top billing, and he's in the film for maybe 3 minutes. UNINVITED is that most rare of horror sub-genres the western-horror, most recently visited by THE BURROWERS. This is the tale of several disparate folks who've pooled their money and to lay claim to a goldmine, intending to split the profits. A good cast of characters; the hooker with a heart of gold, the couple looking for a down payment on a homestead, a priest with a past, and a cagey survivor of the Donner Party.  Along the way they disturb an ancient native American burial site, and that's never a good idea. Afterwards, violence and tension erupts between the group as one by one they die off at the hands of angered spirits and each other.  I feel the filmmaker overstepped the films meager budget trying to capture the look and feel of a gold rush-era western here and it hurts the film and it feels thin in parts, but the film is steeped in mountain mist and a sense of doom for all involved. It works to a point, but the film is too slow moving. 
RATING ** (2 out of 5 stars) 

DVD: This DVD is the 1st of two entries into the blu-ray market for Mill Creek Entertainment. A company primarily known for releasing budget collections of public domain films and television series. There are no special features included for either film. The films are presented in anamorphic widescreen. The image quality is good, purportedly 1080p high definition, but visually appears little better that standard definition, which is appropriate. Mill Creek’s DVD’s have VHS quality images, it is logical that their blu-ray editions would have DVD quality images.  

VERDICT: Both these film are also available on Mill Creek Entertainment’s BLOOD BATH 12 Movie Collection DVD set, which is worth a purchase if only for the Fiona Horsey films alone, but there's some other good stuff on there, too. These films were fun, but for the budget minded, I can't see committing to blu-ray when the standard-def version look just as good. OVERALL RATING **1/2  (2.5 out of 5 stars)

-McBASTARD