Author: James Layton

The Sword and The Claw [AGFA] Blu-ray Release

The Sword and the Claw is a 1975 Turkish film and is the best kind of terrible. The story is simple. A king is overthrown by corrupt noblemen. The prince is born and raised by lions, eventually returning to unseat the usurper. There are plot twists that are so laughable that I can’t believe the…


Trick Or Treat [Synapse Films] 4K Release

In the 1980s, there was a phenomenon called “Satanic Panic”. The nightly news covered stories of ritualistic abuse at day-cares. People claimed to have uncovered repressed memories of being involved in black masses. Congress held hearings on the evil influence of heavy metal music. It was a strange time and in the midst of this,…


The Carpenter [Vinegar Syndrome] Blu-ray release

The Carpenter, released on Blu-ray by Vinegar Syndrome, looks like a generic 80s slasher film at first glance. My initial reaction based on the opening in a mental asylum was that this is a comedy. There are strange things in the background that made me chuckle or raise my eyebrows. For example, as the main…


Antiviral [Severin] 4k/Blu-ray Release

Antiviral (2012) was a sci-fi/horror film directed by Brandon Cronenberg, the son of famous body-horror director, David Cronenberg. Severin released it as a two-disc set on 4k and Blu-ray. The movie has an interesting premise. In the near future, celebrity obsession has reached a level where people are paying for celebrity infections. There is an…


Blood Tracks [Vinegar Syndrome] Blu-ray Review

Easy Action was an 80s metal band that was chosen to be in “Blood Tracks”, a slasher film about a metal band and their entourage trapped by an avalanche and hunted by a family of outcasts. Released in 1985, with an 89-minute runtime, the film is one of many 80s slashers. The movie opens with…


Delicatessen [Severin] 4K/Blu-ray Release

I watched Delicatessen many years ago and loved it. When I saw the 4K/Blu-ray two-disc set released by Severin, I was excited to re-watch it. The first thing I noticed were the innovative opening credits. The objects that the names appear on represent the role they had on the film. For example, the music credit…


The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault [AGFA] Blu-ray Release

Normally, I describe the contents of a release and then give a recommendation at the end. The AGFA Mystery Mixtape Vault does not describe the contents of the release and in keeping with the spirit of a mystery release, I will give my recommendation in the introductory paragraph. If you want to go into the…


Devil Fetus/Her Vengeance [Vinegar Syndrome] Blu-ray Release

Vinegar Syndrome released a double feature of two extreme movies: Devil Fetus and Her Vengeance. I watched “Devil Fetus” first. Released in 1983 and running 92 minutes it’s a disgusting, but low-budget fantasy/horror film. A woman has an antique vase that contains a demon which has sex with her. The movie does not waste time….


Flesh+Blood [Capelight] Blu-ray Review

Martin (Rutger Hauer) is a mercenary who helps a crooked nobleman, Arnolfin win a battle. During the celebration, the mercenaries are betrayed. Disarmed and with their payment confiscated, they are driven away. A religious member of the mercenaries, named “the Cardinal” proclaims signs from God that lead them to believe that Matin will be successful…


The Seventh Curse/Witch from Nepal [Vinegar Syndrome] Blu-ray Review

The Seventh Curse is framed with an older man (the books series’ author) being prompted by party guests to tell some stories. The movie shows Dr. Yuan acting as a hostage negotiator, leading to a huge gun fight between terrorists and a swat team. Yuan seems to be a trained surgeon and soldier as he…