Spike of Bensonhurst: Limited Deluxe Edition Site Exclusive – Fun City Editions (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1988
Director: Paul Morrissey
Writers: Alan Bowne, Paul Morrissey
Cast: Sasha Mitchell, Ernest Borgnine, Anne De Salvo, Sylvia Miles, Talisa Soto, Rick Aviles

Release Date: August 11th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 101 Minutes 12 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10 Dolby Vision
Rating: R
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (UHD), Region A (Blu-Ray)
Retail Price: $40.00

"He's a wild, irresponsible two-timing wiseguy from Brooklyn. But you gotta love him. Spike Fumo (Sasha Mitchell) aspires to boxing glory and doesn't want to end up a loser like his dad, who's taking a rap in Sing Sing for local mob boss Baldo Cacetti (Ernest Borgnine). When tough, handsome and not very smart Spike hooks up with the mobster's blonde princess daughter Angel (Maria Pitillo), he angers Cacetti and is banished from Italian Bensonhurst to Puerto Rican Red Hook. How will Spike rebound after being bounced from the only turf he's ever known?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "New restoration from 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative."

Spike of Bensonhurst comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.1 GB

Feature: 60.3 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, and contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic appearance.

Spike of Bensonhurst comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.7 GB

Feature: 29.3 GB

This Blu-ray uses the same master that is used for the 4K UHD disc.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English with removable English SDH. The track is in excellent shape; dialogue always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. The soundtrack and ambient sounds are well-presented range-wise.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include an isolated music track and an audio commentary with William Morris.

Extras on the Blu-ray include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (lobby cards/stills/magazine articles), a theatrical trailer for Spike of Bensonhurst (2 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer for Mixed Blood (1 minute 47 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer for Trash (1 minute 40 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an archival video interview with writer/director Paul Morrissey (24 minutes 28 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with executive producer Sam Grogg titled Something to See (51 minutes 42 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with casting director Leonard Finger titled A Personal Milestone (17 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with the director of photography Steven Fierberg titled A Very Surprising Film (16 minutes 46 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a 35mm workprint version of Spike of Bensonhurst from archival videocassette (106 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an isolated music track, and an audio commentary with William Morris.

The Blu-ray disc has two Easter eggs. The first Easter egg can be accessed on page one of the extras menu when you click on the FCE logo. The second Easter egg can be accessed on page two of the extras menu when you click on the FCE logo.

Other extras include a reversible cover art, a slipcover (this strictly limited deluxe set is exclusive to the FCE website), and a 12-page booklet (limited to the first pressing) with an essay titled All in the Family: Paul Morrissey Takes on the Mob in Spike of Bensonhurst written by Margaret Barton-Fumo and cast & crew information.

Summary:

Spike of Bensonhurst was co-written and directed by Paul Morrissey, who’s most known for his collaborations with Andy Warhol, notably Flesh, Trash, and Heat. Other notable films he directed are Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.

A trouble-making Italian youth won't let anyone crush his dream of being a boxer. He tries to use his father's mob connections to call in a favor; instead, the mob boss offers him opportunities, none connected with boxing.

Spike of Bensonhurst is a film that fell victim to a delayed release. Spike of Bensonhurst often gets compared to another mafia comedy, Married to the Mob. Although Spike of Bensonhurst premiered a month after Married to the Mob, it was completed a year before and held back for release. That said, Spike of Bensonhurst is a film that digs deep in its exploration of racism and stereotypes, while Married to the Mob is strictly played for laughs.

While Spike is a charismatic character who overshadows anyone else, he’s surrounded by a cast of colorful characters. Paul Morrissey was a filmmaker who often worked with non-actors because of the authenticity they could bring to a role. The cast for Spike of Bensonhurst is a perfect balance of non-actors and veterans. Cast in the role of Spike is Sasha Mitchell (Kickboxer 2), who had only been in one film and a few TV episodes. Even at this early stage of his career, his knack for delivering humor is a massive asset. Another performance of note is Ernest Borgnine (Marty), who portrays a mob boss named "Baldo" Cacetti.

While Spike of Bensonhurst leans heavily into stereotypes, and its use of racial slurs may surprise some viewers, it ultimately conveys a message that is never exploitative in its use of these two elements. The opening setup does a superb job drawing you into the world that Spike lives in, and from there the narrative is full of surprises that hold you attention. The most surprising aspect of Spike of Bensonhurst is its soundtrack and the choice to use only Italian pop songs. The inspired choice of music and Paul Morrissey’s solid direction both contribute greatly to enhancing the mood. Ultimately, Spike of Bensonhurst is a highly entertaining melodrama that surpasses the individual elements that make it up.

Fun City Editions gives Spike of Bensonhurst a definitive release. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a MPC-HC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Flesh for Frankenstein – Vinegar Syndrome (4k UHD/Blu-ray Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA/Italy/France, 1973
Director: Paul Morrissey
Writers: Paul Morrissey, Tonino Guerra, Pat Hackett, Mary Shelley
Cast: Joe Dallesandro, Monique van Vooren, Udo Kier, Arno Jürging, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Srdjan Zelenovic, Nicoletta Elmi, Marco Liofredi, Liù Bosisio, Fiorella Masselli, Cristina Gaioni, Rosita Torosh, Carla Mancini, Imelde Marani

Release Date: November 26th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $79.98

"Deranged scientist, Baron von Frankenstein, with the help of his bizarre assistant, Otto, is determined to create a new master race, of which he will be the leader. To achieve his objective, he constructs two perfect ‘zombies’ from an assemblage of body parts, intending them to mate. Meanwhile, complications ensue as Nicholas, a farm hand, begins an affair with the Baron’s sexually frustrated wife all while searching for his missing friend Sacha, whose head and brain have been used for Frankenstein’s male "zombie"!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4k UHD), 4.75 (Blu-ray 2-D version), 4.75 (Blu-ray 3-D version)

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

Flesh for Frankenstein comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 59.5 GB

Feature: 59 GB

The source used for this transfer looks excellent. Color saturation, contrast, image clarity, and black levels are solid; there are no issues with compression, and the grain looks organic. It should be noted that when the game was originally released, colors and contrast looked too hot, and Vinegar Syndrome has since fixed these issues with a new disc.

Flesh for Frankenstein 2-D version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 26.2 GB

Though the Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD, the result is a solid transfer that’s just a notch below the 4K UHD’s transfer.

Flesh for Frankenstein 3-D version comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 42.5 GB

The 3-D version offers two ways to watch: a 3-D capable TV and player or red-and-cyan 3-D glasses that work on all TVs. This release comes with a pair of red-cyan 3-D glasses.

The 3-D version looks solid.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and included with this release are removable English SDH. The audio is in excellent shape; the dialog always comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced and robust when it should. Range-wise, things sound surprisingly full for a mono audio track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc is an audio commentary with film historians and authors Samm Deighan, Heather Drain and Kat Ellinger.

Extras on the 2-D Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), two radio spots (1 minute 6 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English with removable English SDH subtitles), an extensive promotional still gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/lobby cards/posters/press releases/other promotional materials), audio Recollections with writer/director Paul Morrissey (23 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), screen test footage with audio commentary by Paul Morrissey (4 minutes 12 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), raw Q&A footage from 2012 with Paul Morrissey (33 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with assistant director Paolo Pietrangeli titled Feed My Frankenstein (16 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Liù Bosisio titled Don’t Say a Word (13 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with art director Gianni Giovagnoni tilted Building the world of Frankenstein (28 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with film historian & author Stephen Thrower titled Andy’s Shadow (15 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with producer Andrew Braunsberg titled Dimension in Fear (11 minutes 15 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor Joe Dallesandro titled In the Flesh (12 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an interview with actor Udo Kier titled The Ecstasy of Frankenstein (17 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles), an archival interview with Paul Morrissey titled Trans - Human Flesh & Blood (50 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with removable English SDH subtitles) and an audio commentary with Samm Deighan, Heather Drain and Kat Ellinger.

Other extras include reversible cover art and slipcovers.

Summary:

Frankenstein is a literary character that's been adapted numerous times. And though there have been films that tried to remain faithful to Mary Shelley’s source novel, there are many instances where film adaptations use nothing more than the name Frankenstein and/or the basic framework of how Frankenstein created his monster. A film like Flesh for Frankenstein falls into the latter category.

From its opening moments, Flesh for Frankenstein establishes that it is not your usual adaptation. In fact, Flesh for Frankenstein is arguably the most original take on Mary Shelley’s source novel.

"To know death, you have to fuck life in the gallbladder." - Baron Frankenstein

Though there’s not an area where Flesh for Frankenstein excels. It's hard to imagine another actor than Udo Kier (Mark of the Devil) in the role of Baron Frankenstein. He delivers a delirious performance that perfectly captures Baron Frankenstein’s dedication to his experiments. Other notable cast members include Joe Dallesandro (Savage Three) in the role of Nicholas, a servant who seduces Baroness Frankenstein, Monique van Vooren (Sugar Cookies) in the role of Baroness Katrin Frankenstein, Nicoletta Elmi (Deep Red), Baron Frankenstein’s daughter, and Dalila Di Lazzaro (The Pyjama Girl Case) in the role of the female monster.

Flesh for Frankenstein is a period-set film whose set design and costumes are top notch. Also, Claudio Gizzi’s (Blood for Dracula) superb score does a great job of setting the mood. Visually, Flesh for Frankenstein is filled with beautiful imagery that takes full advantage of the 2.35:1 scope frame. Special effects are another area where Flesh for Frankenstein delivers and then some. The special effects, like the decapitation scene, are gruesome. Ultimately, Flesh for Frankenstein is a wild ride that fans of 1970’s exploitation cinema are sure to enjoy.

Flesh for Frankenstein gets a definitive release from Vinegar Syndrome, highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Blood for Dracula – Severin Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray/CD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France, 1974
Director: Paul Morrissey
Writers: Paul Morrissey, Pat Hackett, Bram Stoker
Cast: Joe Dallesandro, Udo Kier, Vittorio De Sica, Maxime McKendry, Arno Jürging, Milena Vukotic, Dominique Darel, Stefania Casini, Silvia Dionisio, Roman Polanski

Release Date: November 30th, 2021
Approximate Running Time: 103 Minutes 6 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $59.95

"Desperate for virgin blood, Count Dracula - Kier in the performance Flavorwire calls "one of cinema's Top 5 best Draculas" - journeys to an Italian villa only to discover the family's three young daughters are also coveted by the estate's Marxist stud (Joe Dallesandro of Morrissey's FLESH, TRASH and HEAT)." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5 (4K UHD), 4/5 (Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "scanned uncut in 4K from the original negative for the first time ever."

Blood for Dracula comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 47.4 GB

Feature: 46.6 GB

Blood for Dracula comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44 GB

Feature: 19.3 GB

The source used for this transfer looks immaculate. 

The 4K UHD’s transfer looks exquisite, colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, image clarity, contrast, shadow detail and black levels look solid throughout, grain remains intact and I did not notice any compression related issues.

Though the Blu-ray uses the same source for its transfer, the result is a transfer that looks noticeably different in some areas. Most notably, the colors are not as vibrant and there are some compression related issues.

It should be noted, though, that the screenshots give you a good indication of how the 4K UHD and Blu-ray look. The 4K UHD screenshots do not fully show how impressive this looks in HDR.

Audio: 5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English and included with this release are removable English SDH. The audio is in excellent shape, dialog always comes through clearly, everything sounds balanced, ambient sounds are well-represented and the score sounds robust.

Extras:

Extras for this release are spread over three discs.

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include Blood for Dracula trailer #1 (3 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles) and Blood for Dracula trailer #2 (1 minute 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles).

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include Blood for Dracula trailer #1 (3 minutes 23 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), Blood for Dracula trailer #2 (1 minute 55 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with producer Andrew Braunsberg titled The Roman Connection (23 minutes 26 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with composer Claudio Gizzi titled Sad, Romantic Dracula (19 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with 'Murderous Passions' author Stephen Thrower titled The Blood of These Whores… (20 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with art director Gianni Giovagnoni titled Black Cherry (26 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with assistant director Paolo Pietrangeli titled Bloodthirsty (14 minutes 38 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an audio interview with actress Milena Vukotic titled Conversation with a Vampire (18 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Joe Dallesandro titled Little Big Joe (28 minutes 14 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Udo Kier titled Blood For Udo (18 minutes 56 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo German with removable English subtitles), an interview & location visit with actress Stefania Casini titled Rubinia's Homecoming (17 minutes 59 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian and English with non-removable English subtitles for Italian), an interview with director Paul Morrissey titled Trans-Human Flesh and Blood (35 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles) and a Easter Egg extra, an archival interview with second unit director Antonio Margheriti (5 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English with non-removable English subtitles).

The third disc is a CD that contains Claudio Gizzi’s thirty track score for Blood for Dracula.

Also, included with this release is a cardboard insert with a track listing for Claudio Gizzi’s score. 

Summary:

Though there have been numerous adaptations and/or films loosely based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula. When it comes to the character of Dracula, there is a preconceived idea of how Dracula should look and sound. That said, most films featuring Dracula tend to stay close to this preconceived idea of Dracula. There are a few films that think outside the box; case in point, Paul Morrissey’s Blood for Dracula.

Though I had heard about Blood for Dracula, until this release from Severin Films, I had never seen Blood for Dracula. My hesitation when it came to Blood for Dracula is directly related to Andy Warhol's name being attached to them. That said, it quickly becomes clear that Blood for Dracula is nothing like other films that are linked to Andy Warhol.

The first thing that struck me while watching Blood for Dracula was how lyrical the film is.Sure, it has many elements that are synonymous with Dracula, most notably his need for blood. Also, scenes where Dracula feasts on blood are sufficiently gory. With Blood for Dracula, the bloodiest scene is saved for the end.

The most surprising aspect of Blood for Dracula are the performances, especially Udo Kier’s (Mark of the Devil) delirious portrayal of Dracula. He delivers a superb portrayal that’s unlike any Dracula that came before or since. That said, Blood for Dracula has a solid cast who are very good in their respective roles.

From a production standpoint, Blood for Dracula is a film that far exceeds the sum of its parts. The premise of a Dracula in search of virgins is superbly realized, and the simplicity of the story at hand allows the performances to take center stage. Other strengths include Claudio Gizzi’s score that perfectly sets the mood and production design that convincingly creates a tangible world that the story takes place in. Not to be overlooked is Paul Morrissey’s solid direction. Ultimately, Blood for Dracula is a unique cinema experience that either enthralls you or you will quickly tune out.

Severin Films have put together an impressive release that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a ridiculous number of insightful extras. Highly recommended.

Note about the 4K screenshots: It is not possible to make Dolby Vision or HDR10 screenshots that faithfully match the experience of watching a film in motion on a TV. Instead of not having any screenshots, all of the 4K screenshots are m2ts taken with a VLC player and lossless PNGs.

                                                               4K UHD screenshot.

                                                              Blu-ray screenshot. 

                                                               4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                Blu-ray screenshot. 

                                                                4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                Blu-ray screenshot.

                                                               4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                 Blu-ray screenshot.

                                                                4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                  Blu-ray screenshot. 

                                                                 4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                   Blu-ray screenshot.

                                                                    4K UHD screenshot.

                                                                      Blu-ray screenshot. 

Written by Michael Den Boer