Forgotten Gialli: Volume Eight – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Italy, 1978 (Rings of Fear), Italy, 1975 (Reflections in Black), Italy, 1972 (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services)
Directors: Alberto Negrin (Rings of Fear), Tano Cimarosa (Reflections in Black), Demofilo Fidani (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services)
Cast: Fabio Testi, Christine Kaufmann, Ivan Desny, Jack Taylor, Bruno Alessandro, María Asquerino, Helga Liné, Silvia Aguilar (Rings of Fear), John Richardson, Dagmar Lassander, Ninetto Davoli, Magda Konopka, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Daniela Giordano, Ursula Davis, Tano Cimarosa (Reflections in Black), Paola Senatore, Jerry Colman, Raffaele Curi, Simonetta Vitelli, Ettore Manni, Jack Betts, Giancarlo Prete, Franco Ressel, Carlo Gentili, Mario Valdemarin, Howard Ross (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services)

Release Date: March 18th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 84 Minutes 58 Seconds (Rings of Fear), 92 Minutes 53 Seconds (Reflections in Black), 87 Minutes 1 Second (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (All Films)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian (All Films), DTS-HD Mono English (Rings of Fear, Reflections in Black)
Subtitles: English (All Films), English SDH (Rings of Fear, Reflections in Black)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $89.98

Rings of Fear: "Hard-boiled Inspector Gianni Di Salvo has been brought in to solve the murder of a schoolgirl, found nude and savagely tortured. As he looks into the girl's life, hoping to find a clue as to why someone sought to snuff her out, his investigation takes him to an exclusive, all-girl prep school which the teenage victim attended. After becoming aware of her involvement with a trio of pupils who call themselves "The Inseparables," Di Salvo is convinced that the group is aware of some secret that led to their friend's killing. But when more victims are found slaughtered, the detective is in a race against time to unmask the murderer before it's too late." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Reflections in Black: "Countess Orselmo hides her lust for women from most of those closest to her, but that does not stop her from taking a bevy of beautiful female companions to her bed. But when some of her favorite conquests are discovered dead, slashed to ribbons with a razor, the Countess finds herself embroiled in a sinister mystery of which her illicit affairs are at the very center. Will she be next on the killer's target list, or does the assailant have another and even more shocking motive for the violence?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services: "Christina cannot stand her overbearing and oppressive home life. After deciding she needs to make it on her own, she rents an apartment but quickly discovers that to enjoy her freedom and independence, she'll need to earn a steady income. Taking advantage of her voluptuous body, she begins working as a call girl under the "protection" of a rough pimp named Oskar. But when some of her clients start turning up dead with their throats slashed, Christina realizes that a madman is on the loose and is following her carnal activities in order to find a victim pool." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5 (Rings of Fear, Reflections in Black), 4/5 (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services)

Here’s the information given about Rings of Fear's transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm blow-up CRI.”

Rings of Fear comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.5 GB

Feature: 24 GB

There is source debris throughout; fortunately, it is never distracting. Colors look good, image clarity looks strong most of the time, black levels fare well, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Here’s the information given about Reflections in Black's transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 2K from a 35mm Italian copyright deposit print.”

Reflections in Black comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 31.7 GB

Feature: 26.3 GB

Though there is minor debris throughout, it is never distracting; colors look correct, image clarity looks strong most of the time, black levels fare well, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Here’s the information given about A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services' transfer, “Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative.”

A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.3 GB

Feature: 23.8 GB

The opening and closing credits have minor debris; colors look correct, image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4/5 (Rings of Fear - DTS-HD Mono Italian, Reflections in Black - DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono Italian - A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her services), 3.75/5 (Rings of Fear - DTS-HD Mono English, Reflections in Black - DTS-HD Mono English)

Rings of Fear and Reflections in Black come with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono English. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH. Reflections in Black’s English language track has some dialog in Italian, and these come with an English subtitle track that translates only the Italian and not the whole track. All audio tracks are clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise things sound very good. That said, the Italian language tracks sound slightly fuller than the English language tracks.

A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her services comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian with removable English subtitles. The audio sounds clean, clear, and balanced, and range-wise things sound very good.

Extras:

Extras for Rings of Fear include an interview with actor Fabio Testi titled The Red Thread (25 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Franco Ferrini Deep Red Rings (26 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with director Alberto Negrin titled From Big Screen Scares to Small Screen Epics (23 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Alberto Negrin about his his television career titled Cecil B. Negrin (13 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historians Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth, and Nathaniel Thompson.

Extras for Reflections in Black include alternate and additional footage unique to the export version of Reflections in Black (7 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with Domenico Monetti, biographer of director/actor Tano Cimarosa titled Reflections on Cimarosa (25 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet.

Extras for A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services include an interview with actress Simonetta Vitelli aka Simone Blondell titled Gentlemen Prefer Blondell (38 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Renato Rossini aka Howard Ross titled Photo Story Hero (16 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with film historian Eugenio Ercolani titled A.A.A. Looking for Paola (20 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with film historian Luca Rea titled Remembering the Medium (14 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and audio commentary with film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth.

Summary:

Rings of Fear: An investigation into a young woman’s death uncovers the truth behind a group of men who have been sexually exploiting school girls.

Alberto Negrin, a filmmaker who worked extensively on television films and shows, directed Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear), his only theatrical feature film. Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) was intended to be the third film in Massimo Dallamano’s ‘School Girl in Peril’ trilogy. The other two films are What Have You Done to Solange? and What Have They Done to Your Daughters?. Though Massimo Dallamano is credited as one of the screenwriters for Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear), he would tragically die in a car crash in 1976. The score for Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) was composed by Riz Ortolani, who reuses music from his score for Super Bitch.

Like the other ‘School Girl in Peril’ films, Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) mixes two genres; Giallo and Poliziotteschi. There is a killer whose identity remains concealed until the finale, featuring plenty of well-executed moments of misdirection, and the narrative unfolds as a police procedural in which the protagonist is an inspector. That said, Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) does an excellent job balancing elements from these two genres. Though the first two ‘School Girl in Peril’ films were directed by Massimo Dallamano, Alberto Negrin effectively maintains the aesthetic and atmosphere with his contribution to this trilogy.

The performances are adequate. The strongest performance is that of Fabio Testi (The Big Racket) in the role of Inspector Gianni Di Salvo. He was frequently cast in roles that depended more on his physical presence. His performance in Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) provides him with an opportunity to portray a more well-rounded character. Notable cast members include Helga Liné (My Dear Killer) in the role of Mrs. Russo, the mother of the dead girl, Jack Taylor (Succubus) in the role of Michael Parravicini, a sleazy businessman who has sex party with school girls and Fausta Avelli (Don’t Torture a Duckling,) in the role of Emily Russo, the younger sister of the dead girl.

Visuals are the one area where Rosso (Rings of Fear) excels, particularly in its murder set pieces. The narrative opens with its most memorable moment: the police discovering a young girl's body wrapped in plastic. Other standout moments include a pair of flashback sequences: the first flashback sequence depicts a trauma connected to an abortion, and the second flashback sequence reveals the horrors unleashed upon the schoolgirls at an orgy. Though there are moments when Enigma Rosso (Rings of Fear) truly shines, the final outcome is a missed opportunity that ultimately gets overshadowed by the two ‘School Girl in Peril’ films that came before it.

Reflections in Black: A killer targets women who are having an affair with a married woman.

Though Reflections in Black checks many of the boxes when it comes to elements synonymous with the Giallo genre, the result is a film that reaches the visceral heights that most 1970s Gialli do. There is a killer who obscures their identity, and they use a razor to slit their victims throats. Unfortunately, as well-executed as the murder set pieces are, when it comes to exposition, especially moments with the police, any momentum is lost.

Reflections in Black’s strongest asset is its cast, which is filled with recognizable faces from 1970s Italian genre cinema, and though they are given much to work with, performance-wise most of them are great. The most memorable performance is by Dagmar Lassander (Hatchet for the Honeymoon), who portrays Leonora Anselmi, a woman who's been having many affairs. The most disappointing is John Richardson (Eyeball), who delivers another one-note performance in the role of Inspector Lavina. Tano Cimarosa, who made his directorial debut with Reflections in Black, also appears in the film as a police sergeant named Pantò.

Though the narrative has its strengths and its weaknesses, it does have a solid opening that grabs your attention. Besides its strong opening, another strength is how it uses flashbacks to fill in crucial details about the who and the why’s. In just the 1970s there were hundreds of Gialli, and like any genre, there are classics, good and bad films. That said, though not a classic example of 1970s Gialli, Reflections in Black is a film that would fall into the mid-tier.

A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services: A young woman wanting independence from her parents leaves home and becomes a call girl.

A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services is another example of Italian cinema that mixes genres; what starts off as a melodrama with exploitation elements becomes a Giallo in its last act. Things start off with an inventive opening credit sequence where images and clips from the film are shown in conjunction with the cast members names on screen. Though the kill scenes are well-executed, the focal point is the ample amounts of nudity and sex scenes. That said, Demofilo Fidani’s direction is lacking visually arresting moments, and it is strictly by the numbers.

The main draw of A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services is Paola Senatore (The Killer Reserved Nine Seats), who portrays Cristina, a woman who wants to live life on her terms. Even at this early stage of her career (having only appeared in one other film), her onscreen charisma is enough to carry a film. Another performance of note is Howard Ross (The New York Ripper), who portrays Cristina’s pimp. That said, when it comes to the rest of the performances, they are satisfactory.

The narrative moves at a deliberate momentum that some viewers will find to be slow. The narrative has few surprises; the first kill does not happen until around 31 minutes. Another drawback is the briefness of kills. That said, the narrative does an excellent job concealing the killer's identity. Ultimately, A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services is an enjoyable film if you approach it as an explanation film instead of a Giallo.

Forgotten Gialli: Volume Eight is another solid addition to Vinegar Syndrome’s Forgotten Gialli series, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Werewolf Woman - Raro Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1976
Director: Rino Di Silvestro
Writer: Rino Di Silvestro
Cast: Annik Borel, Howard Ross, Dagmar Lassander, Tino Carraro, Elio Zamuto, Osvaldo Ruggieri, Andrea Scotti, Frederick Stafford, Salvatore Billa, Pietro Torrisi

Release Date: April 25th, 2017
Approximate Running Time: 97 minutes 28  Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / VC-1
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Daniela, a woman troubled from a childhood trauma, begins to have delusions that she is a werewolf. She spends her nights seducing and killing men, until she meets a kind man named Luca, who she falls in love with. Her happiness is short-lived when she is raped and Luca is killed, reverting her back to her werewolf delusions. Daniela gets her revenge by killing her rapists and Luca's killers." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New HD transfer from original 35mm negative".

Werewolf Woman comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 23 GB

Feature: 20.3 GB

Though the source has been cleaned up, digital noise reduction, compression artifacts, and black crush are just a few issues that plague this transfer. That said, this is another disappointing transfer from Raro Video that somehow looks worse than Shriek Show's DVD release.

Audio: 3.5/5 (LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, an LPCM mono mix in Italian and an LPCM mono mix in English. Though both audio tracks sound clear and balanced, there are some sibilance issues. Also, range-wise, both audio tracks are satisfactory. Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include English language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Italian language theatrical trailer (3 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Italian, no subtitles), an interview with director Rino Di Silvestro (19 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), a slipcover (limited to the first pressing), and a 8-page booklet with cat & crew information, and an essay titled Werewolf Woman An Appreciation.

Summary:

Werewolf Woman was co-written and directed by Rino Di Silvestro, whose other notable films include Deported Women of the SS Special Section and Hanna D.: The Girl from Vondel Park.

Traumatized by a sexual assault, a young woman named Daniela struggles to maintain her sanity as she gradually transforms into an ancestor who, centuries earlier, was burned at the stake for being a werewolf.

Werewolf Woman is a sleazy psychological thriller that borrows heavily from the horror genre. Werewolf Woman does attempt to explore the reasons behind the protagonist's actions, making the end result less impactful than it could have been. That said, Werewolf Woman far too often falls back on attention-grabbing exploitive elements, like nudity from its leading lady and gory deaths in which victims’ throats are ripped out.

In the scene that drives that narrative, a trio of rapists surprises Daniela at her new home while her boyfriend is away. Subsequently, the boyfriend arrives home during their assault, and violence ensues as the trio of men brutally beats him to death. This moment also proves to be pivotal, as it indicates that just prior to these men’s arrival, Daniela had finally achieved a breakthrough and was on the verge of overcoming her original trauma.

Though none of the performances are lacking, it is Annik Borel’s (Truck Turner) portrayal of the protagonist in Werewolf Woman that truly stands out. So much depends on her character, and she delivers a performance that elevates everyone involved. Notable cast members include Howard Ross (The New York Ripper), who plays against type as the protagonist's boyfriend, and Dagmar Lassander (Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion), who portrays the protagonist's sister. Though Dagmar Lassander’s role is little more than a cameo, her sex scene is sure to leave an indelible mark on most viewers of Werewolf Woman.

From a production standpoint, Werewolf Woman is a film that maximizes its resources. The narrative begins with a dream sequence that retells an event from the past. After this initial setup;  the narrative is always told via the protagonist's point of view. Pacing is never an issue; the narrative does a great job balancing exposition and carnage moments. Ultimately, Werewolf Woman is a well-made exploitation film that fans of 1970s Italian genre cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Raro Video gives a Werewolf Woman a mediocre audio/video presentation that leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Devil Fetus / Her Vengeance – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Hong Kong, 1983 (Devil Fetus), Hong Kong, 1988 (Her Vengeance)
Directors: Lau Hung Chuen (Devil Fetus), Lam Ngai Choi (Her Vengeance)
Cast: Eddie Chan, Pak-Kwong Ho, Hsiu-Ling Lu, Ouyang Sha-fei, Lau Dan (Devil Fetus), Pauline Wong, Lam Ching-Ying, Elaine Jin, Kelvin Wong, Sit Chi-Lun, Shing Fui-On, Billy Chow, Hon Yee-Sang, Chan Ging, Tse Fook-Yiu (Her Vengeance)

Release Date: March 18th, 2024
Approximate Running Times: 92 Minutes 13 Seconds (Devil Fetus), 82 Minutes 48 Seconds (Her Vengeance - CAT III), 90 Minutes 2 Seconds (Her Vengeance - CAT IIb)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Devil Fetus), 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Her Vengeance - Both Versions)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Cantonese (Devil Fetus, Her Vengeance - Both Versions), DTS-HD Mono Mandarin (Devil Fetus, Her Vengeance - CAT IIb), DTS-HD English (Devil Fetus),
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $54.98

Devil Fetus: "A young woman purchases a suspiciously phallic-looking antique vase from a street auction only to soon become the target of a lustful demonic spirit. When her husband discovers her fornicating with the evil entity, he destroys the vase, leading to his and his wife’s grotesque deaths. Fearing that the entity may have impregnated the recently deceased woman with a demonic fetus, a priest seals off the evil spirit in the woman's bedroom so as not to be disturbed. However, several years later, the young woman's family accidentally breaks the seal, unleashing a supernatural force upon their household. As the family attempts to battle this malicious entity, they must find the priest who originally trapped the demon in order for him to return and finish the job once and for all." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Her Vengeance: "Ying is a mild-mannered hostess at a local nightclub where, one night, she accidentally insults a group of drunken thugs. While returning home later that night, Ying is attacked by the drunkards and is viciously beaten and assaulted. Seeking retribution, Ying enlists the help of a former Triad member who is now confined to a wheelchair. Although reluctant to help in her pursuit of vengeance, he offers Ying a job at his bar to help her get a fresh start. However, soon after, she encounters one of her attackers and, seizing the moment, kills him. With blood now on her hands, Ying is set on a path of violence that she can no longer walk away from, leaving those in her life caught up in the bloodshed." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5 (Devil Fetus), 4.5/5 (Her Vengeance - Both Versions)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfers, "Newly color-graded and restored by VS from studio-supplied masters."

Devil Fetus comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.7 GB

Feature: 28.1 GB

Though the source looks excellent for most of the time, there are a few moments where quality drops and some very minor instances of debris. For most of the time, image clarity is solid, colors look correct, black levels are strong, and there are no issues with compression or digital noise reduction.

Her Vengeance comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 45.9 GB

Feature: 22.6 GB (CAT IIb Version), 22.6 GB (CAT III Version)

The sources for the two versions look excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Her Vengeance CAT IIb Version, DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Her Vengeance CAT III Version), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Devil Fetus, Alternate DTS-HD Mono Cantonese - Her Vengeance CAT III Version), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - Devil Fetus, DTS-HD Mono Mandarin - Her Vengeance CAT IIb Version), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD English - Devil Fetus)

Devil Fetus comes with three audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin. The best-sounding track is the Cantonese-language track; the English-language track has instances of background noise. That said, dialog comes through clearly, and range-wise, all audio tracks are satisfactory. Included are removable English subtitles for the Cantonese language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Her Vengeance: the CAT IIb version features two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in Mandarin. Of the two audio tracks, the Cantonese language track sounds more robust. Removable English subtitles are included for the Cantonese language track.

Her Vengeance CAT III version comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese and a DTS-HD mono mix in Cantonese labeled alternate mix. Though the original Cantonese language track sounds more robust than the alternate Cantonese language track, there are times when dialog sounds boxy on both audio tracks. Each Cantonese language track includes a removable English subtitle track.

Extras:

Extras on the disc with Devil Fetus include an image for Devil Fetus with music from the film playing in the background, a theatrical trailer for Devil Fetus (2 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital Cantonese with removable English), alternate shots from the censored version of Devil Fetus (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Cantonese, no subtitles), an interview with actor Hsu Meng-Kuang titled Eagle Blood & Pig Guts, he discusses Devil Fetus (12 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with film writer Travis Woods for Devil Fetus, a theatrical trailer for Her Vengeance (3 minutes 52 seconds, Dolby Digital Cantonese with removable English), alternate "crime doesn't pay" ending for Her Vengeance (1 minute, Dolby Digital mono, no dialog), a video essay by John Charles titled Her Vengeance in Four Cuts, he discusses Her Vengeance’s multiple versions (7 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and a video essay by author and film historian Samm Deighan titled Her Vengeance and Category-III Rape Revenge Films (11 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Extras on the disc with Her Vengeance include an audio commentary with Bruce Holecheck (Cinema Arcana), Art Ettinger (Ultra Violent Magazine), and Ryan Smith (Dreamhaven Books) for the CAT III version.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 6,000 units), and a 20-page booklet with an essay titled Resurrecting Her Vengeance written by John Charles.

Summary:

Devil Fetus: A demon takes possession of a woman after she releases it from an antique vase she purchased. She dies when the demon is expelled; fearing she might be pregnant with the demon's child, a priest seals the evil spirit within her bedroom. Years later, the demon returns when someone in her family breaks the seal.

Though Devil Fetus is currently classified as a CAT III film, this rating did not take effect until five years after its release. In a time before CAT III films existed, it is not difficult to see how a movie like Devil Fetus would receive this rating, albeit retroactively. Besides sex with a demon, there is melting flesh, an Alien-like moment where a fetus exits its mother belly, and a gruesome kill scene with a dog.

Devil Fetus is a supernatural horror film about demonic possession. Though Devil Fetus has many elements that one expects from a film about demonic possession, the result is a film that relies more on atmosphere than exposition. That said, despite the narrative's shortcomings, Devil Fetus does a good job holding your attention. Furthermore, its WTF ending somehow tops everything that precedes it.

Devil Fetus is not a film that one watches or recalls for its performances. The characters are mere props that lack any dimension. That said, one observation that can be made about the performances is that the cast gives their all.

From a production standpoint, Devil Fetus is clearly a film made with limited resources. In comparison to studios like Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest, the films produced by Lo Wei Motion Picture Company never reach the quality of those two companies. That said, the real star of Devil Fetus are its practical special effects that work really well despite their own limitations. Something that is all too common in Hong Kong cinema is using music that is uncredited, and Devil Fetus’ score features Vangelis’ La Petite Fille de la Mer and contains samples from Ennio Morricone’s score for The Thing. Ultimately, Devil Fetus is a film that aims solely to entertain and nothing more.

Her Vengeance: A nightclub hostess seeks revenge against five men who beat and rape her.

Lam Ngai Choi directed Her Vengeance. He is also known for directing The Seventh Curse, Erotic Ghost Story, Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky, and The Cat. Her Vengeance is a remake of the 1973 Shaw Brothers film Kiss of Death. CAT III was introduced by the Hong Kong motion picture rating system in 1988, and Her Vengeance was one of the first films to receive this rating.

There are as many of four versions of Her Vengeance; the differences are explained in an extra included with this release. Though the CAT III version is uncut, all carnage is intact, it is seven minutes shorter than the CAT IIb version. Where the CAT IIb version omits a lot of the most graphic content; it actually has more scenes that flesh out characters.

Though there is some initial hostility between the protagonist and the five men who later assault her, it is a jarring shift that occurs when the moment occurs. From that moment onward the narrative is relentless and uncompromising as there is an endless barrage of brutality and carnage. That said, as unflinching as these moments of brutality and carnage are, none come close to the scene where the five men violated her.

All around the performances are outstanding; especially the five actors who portray the men who violated the protagonist. These men are psychopaths who take pleasure in others' suffering, making their demise all the more enjoyable. The standout performance is Pauline Wong (The Blue Jean Monster), who portrays the protagonist, Ying. She delivers a performance that perfectly conveys her character's determination to exact vengeance on those who violated her. Another performance of note is Lam Ching-Ying (Mr. Vampire), a former triad who was once in a relationship with the protagonist's sister and now he’s in a wheelchair.

The most surprising aspect of Her Vengeance is how Lam Ngai Choi handles the story that unfolds. Where other rape revenge films have protagonists that are methodical in their execution of their revenge, Ying’s attempts at revenge rarely go smoothly. Another strength of Ngai Choi Lam’s direction are the visuals; they do a superb job heightening the mood.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Her Vengeance does not excel. The well-executed narrative does an excellent job building momentum to a carnage filled finale. Though most Hong Kong films have action sequences even if they are not action films, the action in Her Vengeance is mostly contained to its finale. That said, when it comes to action the wheelchair martial arts moments are what standout. Ultimately, Her Vengeance is one of the high water marks of CAT III cinema, making it a must-see for fans of these films.

Vinegar Syndrome gives two CAT III Hong Kong films an excellent release, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer