SURVIVE! comes to DVD, April 23 2004

Definitely a worthy purchase for fans of the film. It would still be great to get the modified American version some day, as well.

Life is Cheap - but this DVD sure ain't...., Jul 29 2003

This classic 42nd Street favorite is anything but real (at least in my opinion - you be "the judge"), but whatever you decide, there is no denying that it is an HILARIOUSLY campy, ridiculously-dubbed south-of-the-border exploitation flick! If you don't know it's history, the producers had bought a bad, sleazy 1971 Argentinian revenge flick called "The Slaughter", cut off the ending, added a terribly fake newly shot unrelated "snuff" sequence at the end instead, changed the title to "Snuff" and released it to unsuspecting crowds in 1977. I'm sure it caused a few riots at the time. Is there any snuff in it? No. Is it even about snuff? No. But who cares, it's all in the marketing, right?

This hilariously marketed "limited edition" disc from Blue Underground is as bare-bones as you can get. The keepcase is a replica of a crinkled paper bag. No mention of actors, cast, crew or Blue Underground. Just a UPC code and the limited edition # printed on the back. Insert the disc and the movie starts playing automatically - there's no menu screen at all and the movie is not divided into any chapter stops. Full frame presentation looks and sounds OK overall. Don't think there was much "remastering" done, but it's probably as good as it's ever going to look. There's also no mention of Blue Underground on the disc itself and no insert card. Makes you feel like you're really getting something "taboo" from the underground (blue?). Of course, once the movie actually starts and you hear the atrocious dubbing and see the ridiculous action, all that scary reality is blown out the window. This is anything but real.

Since there are no extras and the movie itself seems to alienate most horror fans looking for gore or horrific thrills, this disc is really only for diehard exploitation fans especially considering it's high retail price. Life is cheap but this DVD ain't.

Understated Giallo - Nice change of pace for diehards., Jun 25 2003

Shriek Show's DVD offers up a fine anamorphic presentation of the film along with some brief current interviews with star George Hilton and director Valerii. Also included are some trailers for other SS titles including "7 Bloodstained Orchids" and "Hitcher in the Dark".

A nice package overall for a basically forgotten and somewhat obscure giallo. Keep 'em coming!

Decent Giallo for euro-trash fanatics, Mar 20 2003

Still, if you're a giallo fanatic or euro trash junkie, this disc is a no-brainer and you need to buy it. The anamorphic transfer looks great (bar some minor EE and shimmering around vertical lines or plaid clothing) and there's another great score by Riz Ortolani that will have you groovin' in no time. Extras include a 10 minute interview with Lenzi and a short interview with one of the female victims. Plus, the trailer and one for "Spasmo" and "Eaten Alive", liner notes, and a brief "art gallery".

So, it may not be one of the best giallos out there, but it still has a lot to offer. Check it out.

DVD has WRONG ASPECT Ratio, Sep 25 2002

Godfrey Reggio oversaw the limited edition "members-only" DVD that IRE put out a couple of years ago to anyone who contributed $180+ to their cause to clear up the legal issues for the film. That disc was the original full-frame (no fake matting) version of the film and was identical to the way the film was originally theatrically presented. Reggio apparently oversaw the production of that disc and approved it - even personally signing the sleeve each one came in. Would he approve his own personally produced DVD with the wrong aspect ratio of his own film? I think not.

Who came up with this idea that the film was theatrically shown in 1.85:1? It wasn't shown that way in Los Angeles, that's for sure. I understand the whole "matting/not matting" issue as far as some films shot open but are intended to be seen matted, but this is not one of those cases. "Koyaanisqatsi" was shot and intended to be seen open and MGM's disc is an atrocity to Ron Fricke's cinematography, cropping out important information from top and bottom.

I am glad I didn't sell off my IRE disc of the film in anticipation of this new MGM release. The IRE disc will now be even more valuable to film fans and collectors - and any TRUE "Koyaanisqatsi" fan will most likely NEED to locate one of those IRE discs now if they want to have the film as it was INTENDED to be seen.

MGM should have put both versions of the film on the disc if they were so adamant about including a "widescreen" print just to appease fans who always think widescreen is "right". Well, in this case, they have basically released a pan-and-scan version of the film, but a vertical pan-and-scan instead of the usual horizontal. A true disappointment all around. Boo.

Delicious!, Aug 7 2002

The presentation of the International version is excellent - spotless and colorful - 1.85:1 enhanced - with removable English subtitles. The American version starts with a title card indicating that the only available print of this version was not in the best of shape so the opening and closing sequences (including the Vietnam footage and other shots) were taken off a VHS master of this version and contain some Danish subtitles. The quality of these sequences are obviously sub-par, but nothing to really get upset about if that's all they could get their hands on to restore the American version of the film. It's great that AB even took the time to serve up this version of the film as an "extra" considering how different it is - most companies would probably have just given us the euro-cut and left it at that. Also on the disc is a 14 minute featurette with new interviews of both Polselli and Hargitay which is enlightening and entertaining.

Low-Key Approach Lacks BITE, Jul 7 2002

Instead, the film is more of just a grim character study - through numerous flashbacks we see a young teenaged Dahmer already troubled with a fascination with death. His father, played by Bruce Davison, tries to help his son, but even at such a young age, Jeffrey has already gone over the edge. Why else would he keep a severed head in his closet?

Cutting back and forth from past events to the present, the film focuses on several key moments in Dahmer's life, but leaving out many others and rearranging the timelines. We see a teenaged Dahmer killing and dismembering (mostly off-screen) the teenaged "hitch-hiker" (here, just a guy walking down the street) in one flashback (probably the grisliest part of the film) and see Dahmer drugging guys at a bar before graduating to his "drilling technique", but that's about it for horrific moments. The present day stuff is mostly Dahmer seducing and trying to kill one black guy he picked up at a knife shop...but the seduction goes on way too long and doesn't really end up anywhere (and it isn't even what actually happened). The juxtopistion between present-day and flashbacks works OK for the most part, but after a while, the film just loses it's momentum because both timelines become too fractured. And there is simply not enough horror in the story. Not that the film needs gore and blood and sleaze....but the way it is, it could almost play like the story of any mentally-challenged guy off the street. The filmmakers have made an admirable attempt at a mature, somber and respectable depiction of a grisly serial-killer's life...but this IS the story of a GRISLY serial killer so to avoid most of the GRISLY details make it all just seem very trite in the end.

Jeremy Renner is very good as Dahmer, both in present day and uncannily looking much younger as a teenager in the flashbacks (with the help of large wire-rimmed glasses and slouched shoulders). Obviously chosen for his resemblance to the real Dahmer, Renner still manages to convey a vulnerability, charm and underlying menace in the role. But unfortunately, this Dahmer has barely killed anyone, his apartment is clean as can be (one clean corpse in the bed), and apparently he has no craving for human flesh since there is absolutely no hint at cannibalism. And don't expect any wrap-up or conclusion to the tale --- it's not here. What we are left with is simply a sanitized and piece-meal view of a troubled mind. It's definitely worth a look for the acting alone and some grim depictions of this psychopath's life, but don't go in expecting anything more than that. It's really neither an art film nor an exploitation film - so what audience is this for anyway???

The upcoming DVD from "First Look" appears to be another one of their bare-bones (no pun intended) discs and it will only offer a Full-Frame version of the film. Cheap!

Average euro-cannibal thrills, Jul 7 2002

The DVD looks great, though. Fantastic job all the way. Extras include a featurette called "Uncut and Run" which is somewhat interesting. Deodato talks about working with the various actors (Willie was "having problems at the time") and discusses his disinterest in making "Cannibal Holocaust 2". He made this instead. Whatever. Also included is a neat trailer for the original New World release of "Cut and Run" which definitely makes the film look better than it actually is. But the funniest thing on the DVD is Deodato's brief introduction before the film itself where he basically brags that he was dating the voluptuous actress Valentina Forte at the time. Who cares? Oh, those crazeeee Italians!

If you're a cannibal junkie, this dvd is essential, of course. Others would be advised to skip it and run.

STINKS - to say the least!, May 23 2002

I have read that the R-rated cut is the only version available on US video/DVD and surely this doesn't help matters. I saw the film on premium cable TV (where it 'premiered at 3am - if that's any clue) and it was listed as "UNRATED", but from watching it, it was clearly the edited R print. Every gore scene was edited so quickly that it was almost impossible to figure out what was going on half the time. Not that you really care, anyway. Scenes are cleary edited down eliminating obviously over-the-top gore that you can tell must have once been there. And if a movie really stinks - and this one does - at least some wild unedited gore efx would make it easier to sit through. But the R version is just lacking all the way around.

The film looks cheap (you can just 'feel' the film crew working right out of camera range). The actors all try to ham it up and fail miserably. Jeffrey Combs is slumming it again playing the same crazed character he always does. The "Wishmaster" guy is here sans makeup - he needs some, trust me. The female lead is as dull as dirt with that stupid phony accent trying to make it seem like she's intelligent. And then there's all those stupid monster-slime effects - man are they bad - they so much scream ***80's***!!!! Yep, I believe they were done by Screaming Mad George and they look just as rubbery and fake as they did 15 years ago. And don't even get me started on the demon Faust character's superhero (???) suit. Hahahaha! Boy...it's hard to believe this got made in the 21st century.

I usually find Yuzna's films to be quite entertaining and some of them actually quite excellent....but FAUST is disastrous. Even if it was the uncut version, it would still be a mess --- just a slightly more watchable one.

You've been warned. If you must subject yourself to this tedious home movie, brew up a LOT OF COFFEE and have that ffwd button ready. The pits.

Superb Package for Cannibal Lovers, Mar 9 2002

Shriek Show delivers the goods with this release. I've heard some differing opinions on the quality of the transfer of the film, but I must say, I am totally satisfied with the job they've done here. Although not 100% perfect, the anamorphic widescreen image is crisp, colorful and sharp - and it does not suffer from any blatant artifacting or shifting. Aside from some Very minor blotchiness in a scene near the end at the river, it looks great throughout. No complaints. Also featured on this DVD is an audio commentary by Deodato (in italian!), but if you don't speak italian you can watch the movie with the english subtitle translation of his commentary! The subtitles are mostly in the black bar underneath the lbx film so they don't really interfere with the image.

And is this commentary a hoot or what!?! Deodato keeps saying "this is a realistic movie","everything is real", "this scene is real", "isn't this scene real", "nothing is fake", "everything is real", etc. You get the idea? He also contradicts his own previous statements and claims he had nothing to do with the numerous animal torture-killing scenes and blames them all on the producer. He says the producer shot and added all of these scenes to the film afterwards to satisfy East Asian markets. But look at the alligator scene -- Deodato says the skinning part of it was shot later in Singapore with the skinners playing the cannibals - but then we cut to a long shot obviously directed by Deodato of the skinned alligator right back where the scene started. Hmmm. It's also funny to hear him say later that the producer died years ago - thus, the guy has no way to defend these statements and accusations himself. All quite amusing - gotta love Deodato!

Other extras on the DVD include short on-camera interviews with stars Massimo Fosche and Ivan Rassimov (looking old) plus a still/promo art gallery, a weird US trailer (as "Last Cannibal World") which doesn't look like a US trailer at all ... I remember the film getting a US release in my town as "The Last Survivor" - wish that trailer could have been
included. There are a few bonus trailers for upcoming Shriek Show releases such as "Beyond the Darkness" (Buried Alive), "Nights of Terror" (Burial Ground), "Zombie Holocaust" and "Eaten Alive". Plus, to top it all off, inside the keepcase are 10 miniature lobby cards!

So, if you're a cannibal junkie, this is one to devour. It's no "Cannibal Holocaust" and suffers from a somewhat simplistic script, but
there's enough grue and nudity to satisfy gorehounds and enough animal cruelty to enrage everyone else. It ain't pretty, folks, but it is one of a kind. They don't make 'em like this anymore and even though Deodato says he wants to now make "Cannibal Holocaust 2001" (too late ruggero!) - - don't hold your breath. This is a long-dead genre destined to stay that way. Bon appetit!