Bloodbath at the House of Death – Vinegar Syndrome (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: UK, 1984
Director: Ray Cameron
Writers: Ray Cameron, Barry Cryer
Cast: Kenny Everett, Pamela Stephenson, Vincent Price, Gareth Hunt, Don Warrington, John Fortune, Sheila Steafel, John Stephen Hill, Cleo Rocos, Graham Stark, Pat Ashton, David Lodge

Release Date: August 20th, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 2 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $44.98

"A group of six scientists have assembled to test the apparent abundance of supernatural goings-on at the secluded Headstone Manor. No sooner have they set up all of their ghost-catching gadgetry than the hauntings begin: from randy spirits to unexplained manifestations, all the signs of the afterlife incarnate are present. But when members of their party start winding up deceased, it becomes clear that these undead souls aren’t very friendly, and all the while the foggy grounds of the manor are being traversed by another mysterious figure..." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "Newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative".

Bloodbath at the House of Death comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

Outside of a few very minor blemishes, the source looks excellent. Flesh tones look healthy, colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image always looks organic.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio sounds clean, clear, balanced, and robust when it should.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a stills gallery with music from the film playing in the background, U.S. theatrical trailer (1 minute 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), UK theatrical trailer (2 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an archival featurette titled Running the Bloodbath: A Look Back at the Making of a Cult Classic (22 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with producer Stuart D. Donaldson (16 minutes 51 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with screenwriter Barry Cryer titled Crying with Laughter (27 minutes 55 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historians and writers Jonathan Rigby and Kevin Lyons, reversible cover art and a spot gloss slipcover (limited to 5,000 units).

Summary:

Kenny Everett and his frequent collaborators, Ray Cameron and Barry Cryer, conceived Bloodbath at the House of Death as a starring vehicle for him. Bloodbath at the House of Death is Ray Cameron’s only theatrical film that he directed.

Scientists go to the haunted manor, where 18 people were murdered years before, to investigate its unusually high levels of radiation.

There is nothing remotely scary in Bloodbath at the House of Death; it is a parody of notable horror films that relies entirely on humor. Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Carrie, The Shining, and An American Werewolf in London, and several Vincent Price films, are just a few of the films that are parodied. Bloodbath at the House of Death’s humor comes from sight gags and absurd dialog, like characters constantly repeating how each of the 18 murdered died.

When it comes to the performances, they are all overflowing with enthusiasm. The main attraction Kenny Everett portrays Dr. Lukas Mandeville, a scientist with a German accent that brings back memories of Peter Sellers Dr. Strangelove. His comedic timing is flawless, and the way he maximizes his character's prosthetic leg is pure comedy gold. The most surprising performance is Vincent Price (House of Wax) in the role of Sinister Man, the leader of alien satanic monks. His character has the most memorable lines, and his pitch-perfect deadpan delivery makes their double meaning all the more funny.

From a production standpoint, Bloodbath at the House of Death is a film that achieves its goals. The well-constructed narrative moves at breakneck momentum towards a very satisfying finale. Those who appreciate humor without boundaries should thoroughly enjoy Bloodbath at the House of Death, despite some of the humor being dated. The humor doesn't rely on your familiarity with the films being parodied. Ultimately, Bloodbath at the House of Death is a divisive film that you either dislike or thoroughly enjoy.

Bloodbath at the House of Death gets an excellent release from Vinegar Syndrome that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer