‘The Last Horror Film’ Blu-ray Review
Stars: Joe Spinell, Caroline Munro, Robert Paget, Katia Malmio, Dennis Beasnard, Richard Marner, Peter D’Arcy | Written by Judd Hamilton, David Winters, Tom Klassen | Directed by David Winters
In the 1980s, horror was violent, gory and… sometimes funny? Yes, there were horror comedies in the 1980s, but in the early part of the decade, there was a trend amongst filmmakers for pushing the envelope, spurred on by innovations in video technology and the lack of regulation in the VHS market – especially in the US.
In 1982 American actor, dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker David Winters wrote and directed The Last Horror Film, which, while not a perfect piece of cinema, is a gory, campy mash-up of horror and laughs, and fans of the genre are going to absolutely love every second of it. But if you are a horror purist, you may want to stay clear of the more “comedic” aspects.
Now, Troma Films have decided to rescue this horror/comedy film for physical media obscurity and release it on Blu-ray, so a whole new generation of horror hounds can experience it!
Vinny (Joe Spinell), a New York taxi driver stalks an actress (Caroline Munro) attending the Cannes Film Festival, which coincides with a series of violent killings of the lady’s friends.
The Last Horror Film has been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p and presented in widescreen format. The audio is a DTS-HD 2.0. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. All this means that the horror looks bloodier, the terror is more frightening, and the comedy is bigger in HD! But Troma added some additional bonus features to take this release to another level and make this a Tromatic Special Edition Blu-ray. Take a look at the bonus features included on this disc:
Special Features:
- Introduction by Lloyd Kaufman
- Audio Commentaries
- New Interviews and Extras
- Mr. Robbie – A Short Film By Buddy Giovinazzo
- Highlights From The Tromadance Film Festival
- A Full Episode Of Kabukiman’s Cocktail Corner
- The return of one of Troma’s most beloved characters, Dolphinman
I think the addition of commentaries, interviews and the short film Mr. Robbie makes this Blu-ray just that much better. Now, granted, this film is not going to be for every film fan but for those that love the 80s horror comedies. This one is a no-brainer.
**** 4/5
The Last Horror Film is out now on Blu-ray from Troma.
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