Vinegar Syndrome Review: Corruption (1983, dir: Roger Watkins)

  “One man's fantasy is another man's reality!”

Finding himself with a debt that he just can't pay off, Williams (Jamie Gillis, Dracula Sucks) is tasked by shady mafia-like Franklin (Michael Gaunt, Maraschino Cherry) with something of a retrieval mission to a mysterious warehouse containing three coloured rooms; a blue, a red and a black one, each housing a beautiful woman. Williams sends his associate Alan (George Payne, The Taming of Rebecca) to carry out the task on his behalf, but with balls of steel, Alan has taken the item for himself and has disappeared. This leads Williams to pursue him down a gaping glory... I mean rabbit hole. Frustrated and desperate, Williams visits a seedy, desolate nightclub to meet his even seedier half-brother Larry (Bobby Astyr, Punk Rock) for help. Larry offers his help as well as a spot of voyeurism, leading Williams to witness Alan indulging in a spot of necrophilia. Rightfully disgusted, Williams confronts Alan, a man now consumed by his own desires. As this is going on, Felicia (Kelly Nichols, The Toolbox Murders) the young sister of Doreen (Tiffany Clark, Oui, Girls), the girlfriend of Williams is kidnapped and raped by Franklin. With his descent in to madness consuming him, Williams seeks “comfort” literally in his mistress Erda (Vanessa Del Rio, Dominatrix Without Mercy). It will take more than just some sexual healing to get him through what will is already an unforgettable night. God help him when he discovers the true cost of selling his soul.

 
Forgive me for my somewhat truncated synopsis, but I don't think I can truly give a detailed retelling of the film I am reviewing. Not only that, if you haven't watched this gem yet, go in as blind as you possibly can! My peers had praised this film and although I tend to overhype films for myself, I have to say that this one not only met my expectations, but completely blew them out of the water! In a nutshell, Corruption is a nightmarish dive-bomb down a psychosexual rabbit hole. What strikes you straight away is the genuine sense of foreboding right from the off. I have never watched a film of this nature that has had such a genuinely sinister atmosphere. If it isn't the desolate and gloomy locations, it's the juxtaposition found when bursts of vibrant neon colour consume the scenery. You are constantly unnerved and it reminds me of Argento's masterful use of light and colour in his nightmarish masterpiece; Suspiria. I know you're probably sighing at me for making that comparison, but it's true goddamnit! Much like Suspiria, no one is who they really say they are, but instead of witches, we have sexual deviants and scumbags. Everyone has their secrets, motives and will go to great lengths to get what they want. Although Gillis is our protagonist, this is by no means a one man show. Those he comes in to contact with are just as important to the experience. With a cast consisting of the likes of Astyr, Payne, Nichols and Gaunt, it should come as no surprise. Even the small roles from Samantha Fox (Fascination), Tanya Lawson (Fleshdance) and Tiffany Clark are memorable in their own way. It's a great showcase of genuine acting talent.

  The action may not be titillating (except the first scene between Gillis and Clark, there's something about the way she handles herself and Gillis), but it is well executed and performed. There are many perversions on show for all tastes and some of the dialogue is genuinely fantastic. Those who like to see women show dominance will also enjoy Payne's first trio of scenes. You may not be getting off on most of the sex, but the overall style will more than make up for the that. Larry Revene's (Barbara Broadcast) cinematography combined with Watkins' direction make for such a treat. Some could say style over substance, but I think Watkins has scribed a somewhat ambiguous story that instead of confusing the audience, makes them think, question and analyse. From what I can gather, Watkins has taken inspiration from Richard Wagner's Das Rheingold. You are blown away by the style, engrossed by the characters and ultimately longing to revisit to see what you may have missed. Who said porn can't confound and make you think? I'm sounding quite pretentious aren't I? Listen, if you like the weird and bizarre, this is a film for you! Think of David Cronenberg and David Lynch teaming up to make a porno!

  If you haven't guessed, I really enjoyed the look of this film and Vinegar Syndrome have done Roger Watkins and Larry Revene proud. The colours really pop, the image is sharp and there's just enough grain in the gloomier scenes. The sound is of equally high quality. James Flamberg's (now a big name in Hollywood) haunting synth score (which is EXTREMELY reminiscent of John Carpenter's / Ennio Moricone's collaboration on The Thing) really stands out. To go with the great presentation, the extras are top drawer too. There's the original theatrical trailer, reversible artwork, a press-book gallery, an interview with Larry Revene talking about the film and working with Roger Watkins and to top it off, there's also (on the first 2,000 pressings) a restored version of the Watkins classic; Last House on Dead End Street to be found as an easter eggs. Yes indeed. It's not a cleaned up version of the film. It's scratchy and muddy (you could argue this is THE way to watch it), but what a spectacular extra! The search for that reasonably priced Barrel Entertainment DVD on eBay can come to an end! If you aren't lucky enough to get a copy with the easter egg or you are one of these people who needs every film from yesteryear to be restored on Blu-Ray, don't worry because LHODES is getting its own release very soon! As you can see, this is a must own release for fans and newcomers a like. For me, this was one of the best releases of 2015, a great year for Vinegar Syndrome and of course; cult film fans. Will you take a trip down this seedy little rabbit hole?

Corruption is available as a DVD / Blu-Ray combo from Vinegar Syndrome as well as being available to stream on Exploitation.tv

PDx

Vinegar Syndrome Review: Avon Triple Feature: Savage Sadists / Den of Dominance / Daughters of Discipline

  “A young innocent learns the ropes!”

A pair of armed thugs (David Christopher, TAKE OFF & Dan Stevens, PRIVATE SCHOOLGIRLS) are on the hunt for a pornographer (Martin Patton, THE STORY OF PRUNELLA) who owes their boss some money. They pay his wife (Nicole Bernard, CORRUPTION) a visit and at gun point, have some fun because who said you can't mix business with pleasure? After they have given the wife their message, she decides to visit her husband's office to warn him, but walks in on him having some fun of his own with one of his performers (Ginger Roberts, DEN OF DOMINACE; her only other role). Before she do anything about it, they are rudely interrupted by the thugs and the husband, who is clearly an honourable chap, hides under the desk essentially allowing his wife, mistress and his innocent secretary (Bibi, DEN OF DOMINANCE also being her only other role) to be held hostage and subject to sadistic acts of debauchery.

  “Bibi – Plaything in a prison of lust!”Looking for a good, quiet place to sink a beer, an unsuspecting man (Martin Patton) finds himself in a bar that instead of serving HARD liquor, offers something much more satisfying than a STIFF drink! As my clumsy (and childish) attempt at wit (kinda, but not really) suggests; this is a sex bar! Not just any old swingers drinking hole, but a hardcore BDSM paradise. After giving his credit card to the friendly Stag Magazine T-shirt wearing barkeeper (David Christopher), it's not long before he's on the receiving end of a Mimi (playing herself) cocktail! After a little taste of what's on offer, he decides to pay a visit to the club's “bizarre room” in which himself and the other patrons (Nicole Bernard & Greg Lyle in his only role) decide to watch a nice sadistic stage show from Ginger Roberts and Dan Stevens. This then inspires the happy customers to put on their own little kinky performances. Let's just hope our unsuspecting newcomer gets his money's worth because I can imagine that's quite a tab he's running up!

  After discovering their mum and dad's secret porn mag stash, Glenda (Victoria Sands, CONSENTING ADULTS) and her sister Rhoda (Robin Thorn, PAIN MANIA) get inspired and decide to indulge in a little sisterly affection. After that and being inspired once again by the magazines and their mother's whip, they decide to call up their pal John (David Christopher) and invite him over for a play date. Their little kink session gets interrupted when their parents (Dave Ruby, DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE & Victoria Sands CONSENTING ADULTS) return home earlier than expected! Understandably, they're a little bit miffed and decide to teach their daughters some discipline in the only way they know how!

As you can see, story and plot aren't exactly major elements to this crusty trio of films. Luckily, the films are either just under or over the 40 minute mark so it's a problem. Aside from the likes of Dave Ruby and David Christopher, the cast appears to be comprised of amateurs or people just roped in with the promise of an easy lay and a few bucks. Therefore, acting isn't anything to shout about. If you're here for some hot action, you may be disappointed as the sex is about as hot as the cast. When I say that I mean it's not. Unless you are in to bondage or rough sex these films will have you about as moist as a piece of sandpaper. You may be thinking then that this is a selection of films that should be missed. Well, if you are like me and have a morbid curiosity for the shocking and nasty, this is a great example of the artistry of one of porn's dark horses; Phil Prince. Aside from Den of Dominance, you are in for a nasty little treat. There are acts and theme's throughout that some may struggle with, but those people are a bunch of pansies right? Juxtaposing the nastiness, there's humour to be found. Those looking for unintentional laughs will scoff at the dialogue, dirty talk and Dave Ruby's ridiculous sex noises. Those looking for off-kilter laughs wilt revel in aspects such as inexplicable uses of fart sound effects, fourth wall breaking and at one point someone literally making a doorbell sound off-screen. Of course, the whacky aspects of the humour come from a mixture of budgetary restraints and Prince's own warped humour. These films may be cheap, straight to the point and not for everyone's tastes or sensibilities, but I think my fellow trash lovers will enjoy this selection.

  All films have been restored in 2k from 16mm elements and considering their age, condition and overall treatment, look and sound pretty damn good. Don't get me wrong, you aren't going to be blown away, but these are cheap quickies anyway so even if the elements were kept in the most pristine condition imaginable, we probably wouldn't have a beautiful looking finished product anyway. Of course, I can't confirm the filming conditions or the condition of the 16mm elements used, but it wouldn't be such a stretch that I'm somewhere being close to right. It wouldn't matter anyway because these films aren't really supposed to stand up to the likes of The Opening of Misty Beethoven or Sexworld so the scratches and sometimes muddy sound just add to the seediness. One thing is for certain; the films look and sound better than the god awful Alpha Blue Archives release and the still amicable After Hours Cinema releases. It's definitely an upgrade in that regard and I highly doubt these films could (or should) be presented any better. Although the release has no special features, I was still excited when I heard Vinegar Syndrome were releasing films from Phil Prince and I am very happy with the end result. Overall, this is a set that is worth the upgrade and also works as a great way to experience Phil Prince at the start (Savage Sadists) and end (Daughters of Discipline) of his short lived directorial career. Fingers crossed this release means that we will not only be seeing more of Prince's work in the future, but also more films from the infamous Avon Productions. It may not have appeared on many people's best releases of 2015 lists, but it's up there for me!

The Avon Triple Feature is available on DVD from Vinegar Syndrome as well as each film being streamable on Exploitation.tv.

PDx

23rd Century DVD Review: 2019: The Fall Of New York (1983, Sergio Martino)

"In The Year 2019, The Future Depends on One Man."

 I have been writing a lot recently and have been involved in other projects so once again, the blog gets neglected. Recently received some review discs so I thought I would give the blog a little more attention. Before I get in to those films however, I thought I would have a look at another title released by my favourite grey market distributor. This time we look at a title from a sub genre that I have never really been (chemically) burnt with. That is of course the post-apocalyptic genre, more specifically the European efforts from the late 70's and early 80's. The film I'm looking at today is Sergio Martino's fantastic 2019: The Fall of New York. As with most of these reviews, won't go too much in to detail with the story because I'm sure if you're reading this, this is a film you have already seen or at least heard of in great detail. If not, I don't want to ruin the film for you!

In a nutshell, the film is obviously set in the year 2019. There has been a nuclear war and as a result of this and the powers that be, it's all gone to shit. To make matters worse, there is an infection which prevents the lovely infected survivors from creating new life. Our hero played by Michael Sipkow is sent on a mission to find a fertile woman who has been reported to exist in New York. Ok, I'm not going to win a Rondo for that synopsis but there is so much happening in this film that I would be here for a week just covering the madness and mayhem. Let me just say it's kinda like Children of Men on the best acid you will take in your life with added facial hair (I'm looking at you George Eastman). What you are going to get here is a story that's fairly solid but this is a cheap exploitation cheese fest so that's going to play second fiddle to other aspects of the film.

First off, the set design is amazing in this film. The miniature sets are some of the coolest (for me anyway) I have seen. Sure, they aren't going to knock your socks off if you are one of those Hollywood types who think a film produced 90% on a multi-million dollar effects software and hardware set up is the only way to go but for people like me who aren't elitist arseholes and enjoy actual fun, you will totally dig them. The opening sequence is great. The combination of miniatures and the score provided by the De Angelis Brothers is what makes being a cult film fan so enjoyable. The costumes are your typical affair, you know, civilians wearing scraps that make them look like punks and the bad guys who look like they're wearing the early concepts of Star Wars costumes that should have been used in the actual film. Again, elitists need not comment.

What else do we have? We have cars that are decked out in tin foil and spikes, George Eastman playing as "Big Ape" who looks, well, just look at the above photo, a self sacrificing dwarf, futuristic knights on futuristic.... horses, campy laser sounds, uber violence and... No... I have said too much. You can watch this film on Youtube so if you don't have it on disc, there's no excuse for you not to watch this piece of post-apocalyptic cheesefest. The 23rd Century disc has a really nice transfer (the screen grabs I have provided do it no justice), this was a nice surprise as we know most of 23rd Century's discs are fuzzy VHS prints. You know me by now, VHS quality is never a bad thing but I did really like seeing a nice transfer. I'm not sure what the Shriek Show disc is like but if you don't want to remortgage your house picking that release up, the 23rd Century disc is a great addition to your collection... You cheap mutant bastard!

PDx