L.A. Aids Jabber: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Date: USA, 1994
Director: Drew Godderis
Writer: Drew Godderis
Cast: Justin Godderis, Marcy Lynn, Justin Mack, Jason Majik, Joy Yurada

Release Date: August 9th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 78 Minutes 24 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Jeff, a mentally unstable young man is diagnosed with AIDS and takes his anger out on the world by filling a syringe with his own tainted blood and trolling the seedy streets of Los Angeles looking for victims in an acid-washed and venomous delirium. Police slowly piece together his crimes in an attempt to stop this ticking virus time bomb from jabbing again." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 2/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Archival master taken from master SD tape."

L.A. Aids Jabber comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 19.1 GB

Feature: 11.7 GB

This transfer looks like one would expect considering the limitations of its video source. Image clarity ranges from adequate to lacking any fine detail, particularly during the darker scenes. That said, while this transfer has its shortcomings, the result is most likely as good as this film will ever look.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. The audio fared much better than the transfer. Though it is limited range-wise, dialog comes through clearly enough to follow, and ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a photo gallery, L.A. Aids Jabber Visual Vengeance trailer (1 minute 19 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Gene Webber (4 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Rick Bradach (6 minutes 29 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actress Joy Yurada (6 minutes 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Justin Godderis son of director Drew Godderis titled Growing Up On Set (8 minutes 43 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Blood Diner director Jackie Kong (9 minutes 21 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette with Drew Godderis titled L.A. Aids Jabber - 2021 Locations Visit (16 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Jason Majik titled Bleeding The Pack (28 minutes 33 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with Drew Godderis titled Lethal Injection: The Making of L.A. Aids Jabber (10 minutes 3 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), Drew Godderis’ introduction to the film (1 minute 13 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Drew Godderis, Wild Eye’s Rob Hauschild, and filmmaker Mark Polonia, reversible cover art featuring original VHS art, ‘Stick your own’ video store sticker sheet, a four-page leaflet with a essay titled Rage in the Blood: Diagnosing Drew Godderis’ L.A. Aids Jabber written by Tony Strauss, and a limited-edition slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras include trailers for Feeders, Suburban Sasquatch, and Slaughter Day.

Summary:

Even by exploitation film standards, L.A. Aids Jabber features a wild premise and pushes the limits of bad taste. The narrative revolves around a protagonist with a short temper who goes on a killing spree after learning that he has the Aids virus. He compiles a hit list of those who have done him wrong, and then he tracks them down and injects them with his contaminated blood.

Despite the fact that L.A. Aids Jabber has all of the hallmarks of a low-budget film, The result is a film that takes its anemic resources and exploits them for all their worth. Also, when it comes to the performances, any shortcomings are easily forgiven because of the enthusiasm of the cast. Another strength is how well the narrative maintains momentum and a twist ending that serves as the perfect coda. That said, the positives outweigh the negatives.

Content-wise, L.A. Aids Jabber is a melting pot of genres. It is part horror, part police procedural, and some exploitation cinema elements are thrown in for good measure. And though there are bound to be some viewers who will quickly tune out, for those with strong endurance, you will be rewarded with a truly unique cinematic experience that lives up to its title, L.A. Aids Jabber.

L.A. Aids Jabber is another stellar release from Visual Vengeance that comes with the best possible audio/video presentations and comes with a wealth of informative extras, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Date: Japan, 1995
Director: Shinichi Fukazawa
Writer: Shinichi Fukazawa
Cast: Shinichi Fukazawa, Masaaki Kai, Masahiro Kai, Aki Tama Mai, Asako Nosaka

Release Date: July 26th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 63 Minutes 11 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Stereo Japanese, Dolby Digital Stereo Japanese
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Trapped inside a haunted house, a body builder must survive a blood soaked night of insanity to save himself and his friends from a demonic ghost that is hell-bent on revenge." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Archival 1995 SD master from original tapes."

Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20 GB

Feature: 15.1 GB

Considering the source used for this transfer, the result is a transfer that actually looks very good. Colors fare well, the image generally looks crisp, and black levels are adequate. That said, there are some mild compression related issues.

Audio: 3.75/5

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD stereo mix in Japanese and a Dolby Digital stereo mix in Japanese. For this review, I only listened to the DTS-HD stereo track. The audio sounds clean, clear and balanced. Included with this release are removable English subtitles.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery, a behind the scenes photo gallery, original trailer #1 (45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with Japanese text, no subtitles), original trailer #2 (1 minute 416 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with Japanese text, no subtitles), special effects video (2 minutes 6 seconds, no sound), outtakes (2 minutes 24 seconds, no sound), an interview with director Shinichi Fukazawa (4 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Japanese with non-removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Japanese film historian James Harper, an audio commentary with filmmakers Adam Green (Hatchet, Frozen) and Joe Lynch (Shudder’s Creepshow, Mayhem), reversibale cover art featuring original Japanese home video art, ‘Stick your own’ video store sticker sheet, vintage style laminated video store rental card, a folded mini-poster, a four-page leaflet with a essay titled Spawn of the Dead: The Roots of Shinichi Fukazawa’s Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell written by Matt Desiderio, and a limited-edition slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras include trailers for Slaughter Day, Moonchild, and The Necro Files.

Summary:

The narrative revolves around three characters who decide to spend the night in a house inhabited by a demon. From there, there is a series of violent attacks by zombies. At just over one hour, there is not much backstory or story. Fortunately, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell is a film that’s all about gore set pieces, and in this regard, it delivers in spades.

Content-wise, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell proudly wears its influences. Most notably, The Evil Dead. Also, tonally, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell does a reasonably good job of mixing horror and humor. That said, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell is more silly than scary.

Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell has all the hallmarks that are synonymous with low-budget horror films, like wooden acting and crude-looking special effects. Fortunately, these things work in Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell’s favor. Ultimately, Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell is a very entertaining film that is a lot of fun.

Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell is one of the first releases from Visual Vengeance, a new label dedicated to shooting video horror cinema. These collector's editions present the films in their best possible audio/video presentations and come with a ridiculous amount of extra content. Bloody Muscle Body Builder In Hell get a first-rate release from Visual Vengeance, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Mansion of the Living Dead – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1982
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Jesús Franco
Cast: Lina Romay, Antonio Mayans, Mabel Escaño, Albino Graziani, Mari Carmen Nieto, Elisa Vela, Eva León

Release Date: June 10th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 92 Minutes 52 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"When four topless cocktail waitresses – led by Lina Romay (aka Candy Coster) at her most luscious – arrive at a deserted resort, they’ll unlock a perverse netherworld of lesbianism, sadism and unholy violation by a zombie religious sect inspired by de Ossorio’s BLIND DEAD series." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “now scanned in 2K from the original negative for the first time ever.”

Mansion of the Living Dead comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.6 GB

Feature: 25.1 GB

The source used for this transfer is in great shape. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, image clarity is strong, black levels look good, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio is free of any background hiss or distortion; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with director Jess Franco, and actress Lina Romay titled The Mansion That Jess Built (19 minutes 10 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an interview with Stephen Thrower, author Of Flowers Of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema Of Jesús Franco titled Jess Franco: Heretic (36 minutes 24 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

It has been said that Mansion of the Living Dead is Jess Franco’s Blind Dead film, and while there may be similarities between the two, Mansion of the Living Dead is not a sequel or continuation of that series by any means. Mansion of the Living Dead was loosely inspired by the first Blind Dead film, Tombs of the Blind Dead, and here is where most of the similarities most likely arise. The title, Mansion of the Living Dead, is kind of a misnomer since there are no mansions, only monasteries and hotels in this film.

Once again, Jess Franco shows restraint as he never overuses his technique in Mansion of the Living Dead. He makes good use of the spacious Techniscope frame, and one scene that instantly springs to mind is when the four strippers are sunbathing and a meat cleaver is thrown at them from the hotel above. He also uses the hotel to its fullest as he uses every inch of the frame to emphasize the isolation of the empty hotel. The acting, while substandard, doesn’t hurt Mansion of the Living Dead, and in fact, the cast of mostly women is all attractive, making for lots of eye candy.

Mansion of the Living Dead does feel padded at times, and if it weren’t for its tremendous amount of atmosphere, this flaw would have been more serious. The living dead in this one are unlike any you will ever encounter in any other living dead or zombie film. The one thing that sets them apart most might have to be the fact that they rape their victims before they kill them for being unvirtuous. Ultimately, Mansion of the Living Dead is an average film in the hands of just about any other filmmaker, and somehow Jess Franco’s unique style makes Mansion of the Living Dead more engaging than it should be.

Mansion of the Living Dead gets an excellent release from Severin Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Macumba Sexual – Severin Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Spain, 1983
Director: Jesús Franco
Writer: Jesús Franco
Cast: Lina Romay, Ajita Wilson, Antonio Mayans, Hemy Basalo, José Ferro, Jesús Franco

Release Date: June 10th, 2022
Approximate Running Time: 80 Minutes 20 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVCC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.95

"Lina Romay (in her succulent ‘Candy Coster’ guise) stars as a sexually repressed wife tormented by visions of ‘the goddess of unspeakable lust’ Princess Obongo (an unforgettable performance by pioneering transgender actress Ajita Wilson of SADOMANIA fame) in a fever dream of erotic cruelty, carnal duality and nonstop Franco-style insanity." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, “now scanned in 2K from the original negative for the first time ever.”

Macumba Sexual comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 22 GB

Feature: 19.4 GB

Though the source used for this transfer is in great shape. It should be noted that there are a few very minor instances of source imperfections. Colors are nicely saturated, flesh tones look correct, the image generally looks crisp, black levels look good, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish, and included with this release are removable English subtitles. The audio is free of any background hiss or distortion; dialog comes through clearly; everything sounds balanced; ambient sounds are well-represented.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an archival interview with director Jess Franco, and actress Lina Romay titled Voodoo Jess (22 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English and Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an interview with Stephen Thrower, author Of Flowers Of Perversion: The Delirious Cinema Of Jesús Franco titled The Mirror Of Evil (39 minutes 2 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles).

Summary:

What is real and what is a dream? These are two things in Macumba Sexual and Jess Franco’s films in general that play an integral part in many of his most memorable films. After years of blurring the line between what is real and what is a dream, Jess Franco finally created a film with Macumba Sexual that perfectly captures the essence of a waking nightmare. 

Jess Franco's direction in Macumba Sexual is superb as he never overuses any technique to the point where it feels like he wants you to know you are watching a film. The film is filled with striking imagery, and the shot that is without a doubt the most memorable is the one where Ajita Wilson, as Princess Obongo, is holding a man and a woman on leashes as they walk beside her like dogs. The sex in Macumba Sexual is not as graphic as it is in some of Jess Franco's more erotic-themed films. There are many disturbing images in Macumba Sexual, and some of them border on vulgar.

Under the alias Candy Coster, does a wonderful job capturing Alice’s downward spiral into depravity. The film's most standout performance is that of Ajita Wilson as Princess Obongo. She steals every scene she is in. Jess Franco’s cinema is not for everyone, and while his hard-core fans will appreciate Macumba Sexual. Those unfamiliar with Jess Franco's work may want to begin with something more approachable, such as his Orloff or Red Lip films. Ultimately, Macumba Sexual is top-tier Jess Franco and one of his best post-1970’s films.

Macumba Sexual gets a first-rate from Severin Films that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and a pair of insightful extras, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Grand Slam - Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/Spain/West Germany, 1967
Director: Giuliano Montaldo
Writers: Mino Roli, Paolo Bianchini, Augusto Caminito, Marcello Fondato, José Antonio de la Loma, Marcello Coscia
Cast: Janet Leigh, Robert Hoffmann, Klaus Kinski, Riccardo Cucciolla, George Rigaud, Adolfo Celi, Edward G. Robinson

Release Date: April 26th, 2022
Approximate running time: 119 minutes 47 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"A quiet yet cunning schoolteacher (Robinson) recruits an elite team of international criminals for the ultimate caper: robbing $10 million in diamonds from an impenetrable Rio de Janeiro vault at the frenzied peak of the city’s Carnival. The planning is meticulous. The crime must run like clockwork. But even if they can pull off the most daring theft in history, are the wildest surprises of all yet to come?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Grand Slam comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 38.9 GB

Feature: 35.3 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer's source, the result is a strong transfer that's a marked improvement over Blue Underground’s 2004 DVD release. Colors are nicely saturated, image clarity and black levels are very good, and the image retains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. The audio is in very good shape; the dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. That said, range-wise, things can be limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a theatrical trailer (3 minutes 52 seconds, DTS-HD mono English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with film historian’s Howard S. Berger, Steve Mitchell and Nathaniel Thompson, and a limited-edition slipcover. 

Other extras include trailers for Bob le flambeur, Topkapi, Un flic, Max and the Junkmen, Loophole, Touch of Evil, and The Woman in the Window.

Summary:

When one mentions Italian crime films, Poliziotteschi cinema is what most people think of first. That said, before the rise of Poliziotteschi cinema in the 1970’s, crime films in Italy in the 1960’s looked and felt distinctively different. Italian crime films of the 1960’s were greatly influenced by French crime/heist films of the 1960’s. Grand Slam, an elaborate heist film that follows in the footsteps of films like Rififi, is a case in point: Grand Slam.

Grand Slam was directed by Giuliano Montaldo, whose other notable films include Machine Gun McCain and Sacco & Vanzetti. Though not as well-remembered as his contemporaries, Giuliano Montaldo was a solid filmmaker whose films featured stylish visual set pieces, and he always got the most out of the actors he worked with. Another of his films' strengths was that the majority of them were composed by Ennio Morricone, who provided another outstanding score for Grand Slam.

Grand Slam features a cast full of familiar faces from 1960s and '70s Euro-cult cinema. The entire cast is fantastic in their roles, especially Janet Leigh as Mary Ann, a secretary with access to a vault containing $10 million in diamonds.

Other notable cast members include Robert Hoffmann (Wake Up and Die) in the role of Jean-Paul Audry, a suave playboy who has been hired to seduce Mary Ann; Klaus Kinski (For a Few Dollars More) in the role of Erich Weiss, an explosive expert who is part of the diamond heist; Riccardo Cucciolla (Rabid Dogs) in the role of Agostino Rossi, one of four men hired to pull off the diamond heist; George Rigaud (The Case of the Bloody Iris) in the role of a safecracker named Gregg; Adolfo Celi (Danger: Diabolik) in the role of a criminal named Mark Milford, who has been given the task of selling the diamonds; and Edward G. Robinson (The Woman in the Window) in the role of a professor named James Anders, who came up with the heist).

From a production standpoint, Grand Slam is the type of film that epitomizes 1960’s and 70’s Euro-crime cinema, which pooled talent and funding from multiple countries. The premise brings nothing new to the table, and the characters are stereotypes of what one would expect from a heist film. The result is a revitiing narrative that does a great job of building tension. With the most memorable moment being a meticulously laid out heist sequence that’s overflowing with tension. Ultimately, Grand Slam is a first-rate heist film that quickly draws you in, always holds your attention, and has a twist finale that works as the perfect payoff to the events that preceded.

Kino Lorber’s Grand Slam Blu-ray comes with a solid audio/video presentation and comes with an informative audio commentary, highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Son of Samson - Kino Lorber (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy/France/Yugoslavia, 1960
Director: Carlo Campogalliani
Writers: Oreste Biancoli, Ennio De Concini
Cast: Mark Forest, Chelo Alonso, Vira Silenti, Angelo Zanolli, Federica Ranchi, Carlo Tamberlani, Nino Musco, Zvonimir Rogoz, Ignazio Dolce, Andrea Fantasia, Petar Dobric

Release Date: May 10th, 2022
Approximate running time: 88 minutes 53 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $24.95

"During the Persian rule over Egypt, the mighty Maciste (bodybuilder Mark Forest, Goliath and the Dragon) travels to the city of Tanis where the evil Queen Smedes (Folies Bergère dancer Chelo Alonso, Sheba and the Gladiator) rules with an iron fist and spreads misery across the land. Possessing legendary brawn and courage, Maciste leads a mass revolt against the queen and her tyrannical reign of terror." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5

Son of Samson comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 20.7 GB

Feature: 19.5 GB

Though no information is provided about this transfer, the source used for this transfer is in great shape. Any source imperfections are minimal and very minor. The colors look very good, the image looks crisp, and the black levels are strong.

Audio: 3.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a DTS-HD mono mix in English, and included with this release are removable English SDH subtitles. There are no issues with background hiss or distortion; dialog comes through clearly, and everything sounds balanced. That said, range-wise, things can sound limited.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker/historian Michael Varrati, and a limited-edition slipcover.

Other extras include trailers for The Revolt of the Slaves, Arabian Adventure, Jack the Giant Killer, The Magic Sword, and Sinbad of the Seven Seas. 

Summary:

Though it has been neglected when it comes to the Blu-ray format, Peplum was the first Italian cycle of films that gained a worldwide audience. Sure, Peplum, like most Italian film cycles, became derivative and oversaturated, which led to its demise. And yet, there is something oddly entertaining about peplums, especially when it comes to this film cycle's most celebrated films.

The protagonists' heroes were the one constant in Peplums. And though Hercules is the most recognizable name, other notable heroes include Goliath, Maciste, and Samson. Besides heroes, Peplums also made a household name out of several bodybuilders turned actors, most notably Steve Reeves. Another actor who made a name for himself in Peplum was Mark Forest, whose notable films include Goliath and the Dragon, Son of Samson, and The Lion of Thebes.

Content-wise, Son of Samson has all the elements that one would want from a peplum. Nonetheless, the end result is a by-the-numbers film in which the majority of the narrative revolves around Samson as he performs superhuman feats. Also, when it comes to the premise, Son of Samson goes with the all-too familiar slave versus master scernerio.

Fortunately, peplums are about spectacle, and because of this, any shortcomings are easy to forgive. That said, the main attraction of Son of Samson is Mark Forest, who physically more than fulfills his character's traits. Unfortunately, he lacks the onscreen presence that someone like Steve Reeves had in spades. Ultimately, despite its familiarity, Son of Samson can be a lot of fun.

Kino Lorber’s Son of Samson Blu-ray comes with a strong audio/video presentation and comes with an informative audio commentary, recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer