Night Train Murders – Severin Films (4k UHD/Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1975
Director: Aldo Lado
Writers: Roberto Infascelli, Ettore Sanzò, Aldo Lado, Renato Izzo
Cast: Flavio Bucci, Macha Méril, Gianfranco De Grassi, Enrico Maria Salerno, Marina Berti, Franco Fabrizi, Irene Miracle, Laura D'Angelo, Dalila Di Lazzaro, Daniele Dublino

Release Date: April 29th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 95 Minutes 22 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 2160 Progressive / HEVC / H.265 / HDR10
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free (4K UHD), Region A (Blu-ray)
Retail Price: $44.95

"When two young girls taking a train home for the holidays encounter a pair of sadistic thugs, it will trigger a nightmare of sexual brutality and parental revenge." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5 (4K UHD, Blu-ray)

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "scanned in 4K from the original camera negative".

Night Train Murders comes on a 66 GB dual layer 4K UHD.

Disc Size: 61.1 GB

Feature: 59.8 GB

The bulk of the source looks excellent; that said, there are occasional moments of print debris, and in the scene leading into the end credits, there is a noticeable flare-up of source damage (a screenshot example below). When compared to previous home media releases, this transfer is an improvement in every way. Colors look correct, image clarity, contrast, black levels, and compression are solid, and the image retains an organic look.

Night Train Murders comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 40.3 GB

Feature: 28 GB

The Blu-ray uses the same source as the 4K UHD does for its transfer.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian), 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. The Italian language track has some background hiss, and the English language track sounds fuller. That said, both audio tracks sound clear and balanced, and Ennio Morricone’s score is well-represented. Both audio tracks have some dialog in German; the subtitles for the Italian language track translate the German dialog, while the subtitles for the English language track say, ‘Speaking German.’ Included are removable English subtitles for the Italian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras on the 4K UHD disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Ultra Violent Magazine's Art Ettinger and Cinema Arcana's Bruce Holecheck, and an archival audio commentary with director Aldo Lado, Moderated By Freak-O-Rama's Federico Caddeo.

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Irene Miracle titled Train in Vain (16 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Gianfranco De Grassi titled Back on the Train (8 minutes 48 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actress Macha Méril titled The Veiled Lady (21 minutes 31 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo French with removable English subtitles), an archival interview with Aldo Lado titled Hear My Train A-Comin' (81 minutes 413 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), a video essay by Kat Ellinger, author of Daughters of Darkness titled Night Train Murders and Sadean Women: Power, Pleasure and the Subversion of Morality (9 minutes 47 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Art Ettinger and Bruce Holecheck, and an archival audio commentary with Aldo Lado and Federico Caddeo.

Other extras include reversible cover art.

Summary:

Aldo Lado directed The Night Train Murders. Though he had a career that spanned 42 years, he’s most remembered for his work in the thriller genre: Short Night of Glass Dolls, Who Saw Her Die?, and The Night Train Murders.

Two thugs and a bourgeois woman terrorized, raped, and killed two girls on their way home for the Christmas holiday.

My first time watching Night Train Murders, I had high expectations because I had already seen Aldo Lado’s Short Night of the Glass Dolls and Who Saw Her Die? Both of these films I thoroughly enjoyed. Italian cinema has long been known for mimicking genres and films that were popular at the time by creating a film of its own to capitalize off of the other films' success. Would Night Train Murders be another clone that offers little in return, or will this film be a fresh take on the source material? There are many elements of Night Train Murders that mirror Wes Craven’s Last House on the Left.

Fate is central to Night Train Murders' storyline; characters' choices play a role in their destiny. Though the two girls, Margaret and Laura, experience the brunt of the two thugs' sadism, they are not the first victims. Macha Méril (Deep Red) portrays a bourgeois woman traveling on the train alone who is the two thugs' first victim. While she initially finds their actions repulsive, she gradually transforms into one of their accomplices. As she begins to revel in the chaos, the two thugs increase their violence, further testing the boundaries of their actions. Did her enthusiasm encourage the boys to go further than they otherwise would have? Her body language and her facial expressions lead the viewer to believe that she is the one orchestrating everything.

In a film filled with unflinching moments of brutality, the most disturbing is a scene with a voyeur. Instead of going for help, he stops to watch the two girls being raped, before being forcibly invited to join in. Despite his fear of the potential consequences for not participating, it is the manner in which he vanishes afterward that reinforces his guilt. He doesn’t tell anyone about what has just happened. Franco Fabrizi (What Have They Done to Your Daughters?) portrays this character superbly.

Flavio Bucci (Suspiria) and Gianfranco De Grassi (Savage Three) are cast in the roles of the two thugs, Blackie and Curly. Flavio Bucci has a unique face that adds to his character's menacing demeanor, while Gianfranco De Grassi does a phenomenal job capturing his character's unpredictability. Of these two characters, Curly is the more insecure, and he relies on drugs to give him an edge. Though there is no character in Night Train Murders that matches Krug from Last House on the Left, the combination of these two characters comes close.

Rounding out the cast are Irene Miracle (Inferno) and Laura D'Angelo (Closed Circuit) in the roles of Margaret and Laura, respectively. It was both actresses' first film, and they deliver exceptional performances that make you feel their characters' terror and suffering. Other cast members of note include Enrico Maria Salerno (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) and Marina Berti (An Angel for Satan) in the roles of Margaret’s parents. That said, all around, the cast is outstanding.

Ennio Morricone's exemplary score is not to be overlooked when discussing Night Train Murders. Outside of its main theme, the bulk of the score is a harmonica played by Curley throughout. His instincts as a composer were unrivaled, and he often made inspired choices, like the use of a harmonica, which foreshadows impending doom.

From a production standpoint, there is no area where Night Train Murders does not excel. Though the premise feels familiar, the result is a well-constructed narrative that does an excellent job building tension and momentum to its cathartic finale. The visuals do a remarkable job heightening the mood, especially in the way in which they accentuate claustrophobic spaces. The most powerful moment visually are two scenes that juxtaposition images of Margaret and Laura with the former's parents while they are getting ready for their trip and while they are being violated. Ultimately, Night Train Murders is an extraordinary morality tale that is a perfect blend of De Sade and The Last House on the Left.

Night Train Murders gets a solid release from Severin Films, 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.

 

                                  Screenshot example of source damage.

Written by Michael Den Boer

I Want to Get Even: Limited Edition – Neon Eagle Video (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Indonesia, 1987
Director: Maman Firmansyah
Cast: Eva Arnaz, Clift Sangra, Nena Rosier, Rengga Takengon, Hendro Tangkilisan, Dicky Zulkarnaen, H.I.M. Damsyik, Yona S. Kamarullah, Tuty Kusnendar, Husen Nur

Release Date: November, 2024
Approximate Running Time: 90 Minutes 5 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Indonesian, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $39.99

"Irma, a pregnant bar hostess with a troubled marriage (to put it lightly) to bulky lunk Rudy. Her life isn’t great but she’s making the best of it. But things go quickly downhill for her when she’s kidnapped and assaulted by local druglord Cobra. She escapes her captors only to find her idiotic hubby less than sympathetic. When she refuses his demands that she abort their baby, he pushes her from a moving car!

Meanwhile, Cobra betrays his business partner Roni, played by ubiquitous Indo character actor Dicky Zuklarnean, setting up a bloody gang war, while in the background Rudy keeps trying and failing to get retribution on the criminals. These two narrative threads end up meeting in the film’s truly explosive finale, when Irma finally gets her ultraviolent revenge!" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration."

I Want to Get Even comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 27 GB

Feature: 26.3 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Flesh tones and colors look correct, image clarity and compression are solid, and black levels are strong throughout.

Audio: 4.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono Indonesian), 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Indonesian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Though both audio tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, the Indonesian audio track sounds noticeably more robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Indonesian language track and removable English SDH for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an audio commentary with Andrew Leavold, reversible cover art, a slipcover (limited to 1500 copies), and a 16-page booklet (limited to 1500 copies) with an essay titled An Eye for an Eye written by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, and a home video art gallery.

Summary:

Maman Firmansyah directed I Want to Get Even. The only other notable film he directed is Escape from Hellhole.

A drug dealer named Cobra likes to abduct women and have his way with them. One of his victims, Irma, manages to escape him, and when her husband finds out, he sets out to get revenge.

Indonesian cinema is known for its outrageous plots where anything can and will happen. The main narrative revolves around a bad guy named Cobra who runs a drug syndicate, and when he’s not working, he has women abducted and then has his way with them. The other narrative revolves around a woman named Irma, who's married to a man who can’t get aroused unless he slaps her around a few times. That said, the narrative feels like two films that ultimately come together for an explosive finale.

The opening credits do a superb job setting the tone by showing what kind of man Cobra is and the lengths his men will go to. A sinister synth score reinforces the mood of this sequence. Though things start off strong, it is not always smooth sailing, since the narrative never firmly establishes any momentum. The sequences where characters are kicking ass and blowing things up are where the narrative excels, while the scenes where men are assaulting women feel excessive.

Despite Eva Arnaz’s (The Warrior) character Irina being top-billed and prominently featured on the promotional art on a dirt bike with a bazooka over her shoulder, she's not the main attraction. The most memorable performance is the actor who portrays Cobra; he really gets into the role with sadistic glee. That said, all of the performances work well within the confines of the story that unfolds.

Indonesian genre cinema always worked with anemic resources, and yet they almost always made films that held your attention. Though the narrative can be repetitive, I Want to Get Even is a film that fully exploits its resources; it is a highly entertaining mix of action, brutality, and mayhem that fans of Indonesian genre cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

I Want to Get Even gets a first-rate release from Neon Eagle Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of informative extras, highly recommended.

Note: This edition is limited to 1500 copies.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Bikini Carwash Company + The Bikini Carwash Company II – MVD Rewind Collection (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: USA, 1992 (The Bikini Carwash Company), USA, 1993 (The Bikini Carwash Company II)
Directors: Ed Hansen (The Bikini Carwash Company), Gary Dean Orona (The Bikini Carwash Company II)
Cast: Joe Dusic, Kristi Ducati, Rikki Brando, Sara Suzanne Brown, Neriah Davis, Brook Lynn Page, Eric Ryan, Scott James, Patrick Wright, Kimberly Bee (The Bikini Carwash Company), Kristi Ducati, Sara Suzanne Brown, Neriah Davis, Rikki Brando, Greg Raye, Larry De Russy, Garro Ellis, Melissa Barrick, Donna Grider (The Bikini Carwash Company II)

Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Approximate Running Times: 81 Minutes 19 Seconds (The Bikini Carwash Company - HD Version), 80 Minutes 36 Seconds (The Bikini Carwash Company - SD Version), 93 Minutes 19 Seconds (The Bikini Carwash Company II - HD Version), 94 Minutes 5 Seconds (The Bikini Carwash Company II - SD Version),
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Bikini Carwash Company - HD Version, The Bikini Carwash Company II - HD Version), 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 480 Interlaced (The Bikini Carwash Company - SD Version, The Bikini Carwash Company II - SD Version)
Rating: R
Sound: LPCM Stereo English (The Bikini Carwash Company - HD Version, The Bikini Carwash Company II - HD Version), Dolby Digital Stereo English (The Bikini Carwash Company - SD Version, The Bikini Carwash Company II - SD Version)
Subtitles: English SDH (The Bikini Carwash Company - HD Version, The Bikini Carwash Company II - HD Version)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

The Bikini Carwash Company: "What happens when you put a bunch of bodacious California babes behind the wheel of a busy carwash? Jack McGowan's (Joe Dusic) about to get the wild and wacky answer! When the naive Midwesterner comes to L.A. to run his ailing uncle's carwash, he makes a few wrong turns and ends up at the beach. He is rescued by foxy business major Melissa Reeves (Kristi Ducati, Intimate Obsession), who convinces Jack to let her run the business for a cut of the action. Things get hilariously out of hand as Melissa and her bubbly friends "dress for success" in the skimpiest bikinis - or nothing at all!" – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

The Bikini Carwash Company II: "Just when you thought it was safe to ask for extra wax, those wild washing women are back for more sudsy fun. When a weaselly business magnate tries to buy out the carwash, the gals turn to a cable lingerie business to raise some needed funds and when they pose, more than funds get raised!" – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video:

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "The Bikini Carwash Company" and "The Bikini Carwash Company II" were originally shot and produced on standard definition videotape. To present these films in the best possible quality, both feature films have been up-converted, re-mastered and upgraded from their original standard definition 480p resolution to high definition 1080p resolution using the latest advanced up-conversion AI models and presented in their 1.33:1 original aspect ratios in order to provide the best possible viewing experience."

The Bikini Carwash Company and The Bikini Carwash Company II come on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 46.2 GB

Feature: 17.8 GB (The Bikini Carwash Company - HD Version), 20.4 GB (The Bikini Carwash Company II - HD Version), 3.1 GB (The Bikini Carwash Company - SD Version), 3.7 GB (The Bikini Carwash Company II - SD Version)

While none of the versions are ideal, there is only so much that can be done with video-based masters. That said, the disclaimer and screenshots included with this review give you an idea of what to expect.

Audio:

The HD versions each come with one audio option, an LPCM stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The SD versions each come with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English; there are no subtitles. All of the audio tracks sound clear and balanced, and range-wise they are satisfactory.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an audio commentary with filmmaker Jim Wynorski and Heath Holland for The Bikini Carwash Company, a collectible mini poster (limited to first pressing), and a slipcover (limited to first pressing).

Other extras include trailers for Joysticks, Ski Patrol, The Last American Virgin, and Dirty Work.

Summary:

The Bikini Carwash Company: Needing some cash and seeing an opportunity, a group of bikini-wearing women help rescue a struggling car wash.

The 1990s were a renaissance for fans of softcore cinema; not only were pay cable channels cranking them out, but the USA Network's Up All Night TV show was another place to see these films on Friday and Saturday nights. It was via the latter that I caught my first viewing of The Bikini Carwash Company.

The premise is simple: beautiful women spending most of the film's duration in a bikini or nude. Though the narrative has a semblance of a plot, these moments of exposition are nothing more than a way to connect scenes heavily loaded with women in bikinis and/or nude. That said, The Bikini Carwash Company is not the kind of film where plot is really important, and fortunately, the narrative is fast-moving.

Although 1980s hard rock was already declining in popularity, the soundtrack features songs that seem reminiscent of that era. One of the main contributors is the band Shake City, whose singer and drummer were founding members of Warrant, and one of the songs they perform is Game of War, also recorded by Warrant. The soundtrack of The Bikini Carwash Company aligns perfectly with the debauchery unfolding onscreen.

It's not surprising that acting is secondary and that a cast of curvy women scantily clad ensures you never think twice about the performances. Though The Bikini Carwash Company never wastes an opportunity to show off its female cast, it never feels dirty; it is all in good, clean fun. Another strength is how effectively The Bikini Carwash Company employs humor, notably a running gag with a flasher. Ultimately, The Bikini Carwash Company is the type of film they don’t make anymore, and that is a shame.

The Bikini Carwash Company II: This time around, the women from The Bikini Carwash Company own dozens of car washes. Though they initially agree to sell the company, the women attempt to reclaim it upon discovering that the buyer is only interested in the land. In urgent need of cash, they resort to selling lingerie on TV through a series of enticing vignettes.

The Bikini Carwash Company II is essentially a rework of its predecessor. Where the women were the ones who used deception in The Bikini Carwash Company, this time the roles are reversed. When it comes to the rest of the core elements, like plenty of sexy women parading around in lingerie, bikinis, or nude; a 1980s-sounding hard rock soundtrack; and subversive humor, all of these mirror its predecessor.

At 94 minutes in length, the narrative feels much longer than it is. That said, where The Bikini Carwash Company’s narrative moved briskly, things moved a lot slower this time around. Ultimately, The Bikini Carwash Company II is a fun time waster and nothing more.

Though the transfer's shortcomings are disappointing, in the end my enjoyment of these two films was never hindered. If you are a fan of these two films, it is highly unlikely that there will ever be a better release due to their source’s limitations.

                                  The Bikini Carwash Company HD Screenshots.

                                 The Bikini Carwash Company SD Screenshots.

                                  The Bikini Carwash Company II HD Screenshots.

                                 The Bikini Carwash Company II SD Screenshots.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)

Theatrical Release Date: USA, 1969
Director: William O. Brown
Writer: William O. Brown
Cast: Anthony Eisley, Thordis Brandt, Alvy Moore, Shelby Grant, Tony Benson, Robyn Millan, Warrene Ott, Helene Winston, Burt Mustin, Sue Bernard

Release Date: May 13th, 2025
Approximate Running Time: 98 Minutes 28 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $24.95

"When a series of brutal, ritualistic type murders of eight young women occur at a Louisiana swamp, Dr. Ralph Hayes, a psychic researcher, heads there with his team to begin an investigation into the dark & macabre tragedies. After learning the bodies of the women have been drained of their blood, and marked with satanic symbols, Dr. Hayes and his team suspect this is the work of a satanic coven. It doesn't take long for them to discover that they are up against a powerful warlock who is out to fulfill a pact with his master." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3/5

The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20.8 GB

Feature: 19.8 GB

This release appears similar to Code Red's 2017 Blu-ray release, though no details are provided about the source. There is source damage like debris and emulsion stains, most of which are moderate. Flesh tones look healthy, colors are generally good, image clarity is strong, and there are no issues with digital noise reduction. That said, there are numerous instances in which they are not as convincing as they should be.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital mono mix in English with removable English SDH. There are some instances of background hiss and other imperfections. That said, dialog comes through clearly, and range-wise this audio track is serviceable.

Extras:

Extras on the Blu-ray disc include a radio spot (44 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a TV spot (1 minute, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a theatrical trailer (1 minute 13 seconds, Dolby Digital mono English, no subtitles), a featurette with a poster gallery of other notable horror films of the 1960's titled 1960’S Horror: A Decade of Innovation and Fear (4 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), and an audio commentary with  artist, reviewer and film buff extraordinaire Robert Kelly.

Included with this release is a DVD that has the same content as the Blu-ray included as part of this combo release.

Summary:

A psychic researcher, along with his assistants and a reporter, rents a place in a remote, swampy area where several women have been murdered over the past two years.

One thing positive that can be said about The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) is that it opens with a sequence that draws you in. In this scene that takes place before the opening credits a woman runs frantically before being caught, knocked out, hung upside down, and her throat is slit to drain the blood. This well-crafted moment is intense, and it does a great job foreshadowing where the narrative is building to. Unfortunately, things come to a halt after this sequence, as the narrative tends to drag.

None of the performances stand out, which is not a surprise since the cast are not given much to work with. John Lodge, who portrays Luther the Berserk, delivers a performance that lives up to his character's name. When it comes to the female cast, they offer up plenty of eye candy, parading around in bikinis and lingerie. Unfortunately, this film does not live up to its name since there is no naked witch.

From a production standpoint, The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) is a film working with limited resources, and it shows. The narrative is slow-moving, there is minimal carnage, and a predictable horror film ending. Though the premise is full of potential, its execution leaves much to be desired. Ultimately, The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) is an unremarkable horror film that’s devoid of any atmosphere or real surprises.

VCI Entertainment gives The Naked Witch (The Witchmaker) a serviceable audio/video presentation.

Written by Michael Den Boer