Murderlust
(1986)/Project
Nightmare
(1979) + Dream
Stalker
(1991)/Death
By Love
(1979/InterVision DVDs)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: B Films: B
If
you're like me, you miss the days of VHS. For me, I was a scrawny
teenager who would walk into the back section of a video store and
take a stroll past high grade to low grade horror films with
frighteningly creative covers and see video nasties that would burn
their grainy images into my brain, keeping me (and you, if you ever
had the same experience) awake at night. Thankfully, those days can
be relived again in the digital age as InterVision brings us four
uncut horror films in the shape of two great double features -
Murderlust
(1986)/Project
Nightmare
(1979) and Dream
Stalker
(1991)/Death
by Love
(1979). All of these films have been restored, with these releases
being their first appearance on DVD.
Doug
M. Jones' Murderlust
is an interesting journey into the mind of a madman who lives a
double life. In one, he's a respected member of the community and
Sunday school teacher and in the other, a vicious serial killer of
women. Uniquely shot and full of enough gore and nudity to satisfy
slasher fans. All in all, Murderlust
reminded me of Maniac
in a good way. The film stars Eli Rich, Rochelle Taylor, Dennis
Gannon, Bonnie Schneider, and Lisa Nichols.
Project
Nightmare
is also directed by Jones and is a trippy no budget Sci-Fi/Horror
film about a group of campers who can't seem to escape a supernatural
force that traps them in the woods. Severely dated, yet fun. The
film stars Charles Miller, Seth Foster, and Elly Koslo.
The
Dream
Stalker
follows a young woman who ends up losing the love of her life in a
tragic motorcycle death. Haunted by the ghoulish version of him in
her nightmares, she soon finds herself and her friends the victims of
his brutal wrath. Obsessed and still in love with her, The Dream
Stalker will stop and nothing to be reconciled with his true love.
The film stars Valerie Williams, Mark Dias, Pam Hong, John Tyler, Jan
Stearman, and Keith Lack.
In
Death
by Love,
a handsome sculptor (producer/director/writer/star and Texas building
contractor Alan Grant) fears that a devil-worshiping childhood pal is
stalking and murdering his every new girlfriend. Directed and
starring Alan Grant, the film also features Yvonne Aric, Erika Mills,
Peggilee Wupperman, Tamara Betz, Brad Bishop, Donald Hendrix, and
Frank McGill.
The
films are presented in 1.66:1 full frame with a standard definition
transfer and lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo tracks that are better
than analog hi-fi VHS audio and very ''video'' like, which adds to
the effect. These low budget productions aren't meant to look and
sound like masterpieces and definitely look better than they did
before thanks to InterVision.
Special
Features include:
Murderlust:
Audio Commentary with Writer/Producer James C. Lane
Project
Nightmare:
Partial Audio Commentary with Writer/Director James C. Lane
Dream
Stalker
extras are...
Remembering
Ricky: With Actor Mark Dias
Dirtbike
Dreams: Executive Producer Tom Naygrow
Alan
Grant Remembers Death By Love Via Video Skype
Yvonne
Aric and Brad Bishop Remember Death By Love Via Video Skype
These
are all interesting, if not forgotten, low budget horror films that
show creativity, bad acting, and fun special effects. Definitely
recommended.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
