I was expecting much lower quality due to the rarity of the source material. However, both discs were of stellar quality and were in English with no annoying subtitles.
Eclectic DVD has tracked down some rare prints for us true fans. While many of their releases may be lacking the extras and commentaries we’ve begun to expect, at least the effort is there.
This is one seedy film. The style has real grunge to it, and the images and sounds are literally splashed out. This is the kind of film that sticks with you for a few days no matter how hard you scrub.
Cradle of Fear is about Kemper, a serial killer hypnotist presently being held captive in an insane asylum. Kemper manages to continue his evisceration spree vicariously through his servant, “The Man,” played with demonic delight by Dani Filth (from Cradle of Filth).
The way Contamination begins, you’d swear you were watching the beginning of Fulci’s Zombie. The same New York waterway… the same unresponsive boat. Both films even have the same hero: Ian McCulloch.
This film was reportedly one of the only slasher films to be discussed at length on the Donahue Show. They showed the nail gun murder and the audience was appalled. What did they expect?
The Prowler is absolutely disgusting… I love it. Every death scene has been extended from what I remember, and blood explodes by the gallon. Nothing is implied, you see it all.
Giallo means yellow, which was the dust jacket cover of a genre of lurid mystery novels that thrilled Europeans in the ’60s and ’70s. These stories were famous for their twists, quirky characters, suspense and more importantly, their controversial doses of sex and violence.
Just when I think you’re done, Anchor Bay, you hit me with another pasta-land buffet of succulent splatter. My lid is off to you because not only are you releasing them, but you’re doing it right.
If you’re not familiar with Argento’s films, here’s a great place to start. You get glimpses of his masterworks like Suspiria, Tenebrae, and Opera. You also get commentary from people like George Romero, Alice Cooper, and Keith Emerson.