‘Garden of Love’ Blu-ray Review (Unearthed Films)
Stars: Natacza Boon, James Matthews-Pyecka, Daryl Jackson, Bela B, Donald Stewart, Alexandra Thom-Heinrich | Written by Thomas Reitmair, Olaf Ittenbach | Directed by Olaf Ittenbach
German director Olaf Ittenbach is best known for his unapologetically graphic brand of horror, favouring gruesome practical effects over often less convincing CGI. In 2003, he delivered what many consider one of his strongest films with Garden of Love.
Unearthed Films has built a reputation for giving lesser-known, often extreme horror titles a lasting life on physical media, and now it’s Garden of Love’s turn. Ittenbach’s brutal cult favourite finally gets the Blu-ray treatment it deserves, ensuring it can live on for years to come.
The story of a young woman tormented by bloody visions of a past she can’t really remember. All she knows is that all of her family was slaughtered when she was very young. Now, the spirits of the dead lusts for vengeance and they want Rebecca to guide those responsible to them. Rebecca reluctantly agrees and bloodspurting chaos ensues.
Horror fans are often split right down the middle when it comes to what they want from the genre. Some crave slow-burn atmosphere, while others believe the more gore, the better. If you fall firmly into that second camp, Olaf Ittenbach’s Garden of Love is absolutely for you. This is a blood-soaked splatter fest that pulls no punches and is more than capable of turning even the strongest stomach. That said, there’s more here than just excess. The story is surprisingly engaging, and the pacing keeps things moving at a steady clip. Featuring performances from Natacza Boon, James Matthews-Pyecka, and Daryl Jackson, the cast drags you headfirst into this nightmarish journey.
Unerathed Films have transferred Garden of Love to Blu-ray in 1080p and is presented in its original 1.77:1 aspect ratio. The audio track is an English DTS 5.1 Surround and a PCM 2.0 Stereo Audio. Finally, there is the option for English Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Unearthed have done a remarkable job with this Blu-ray transfer of Garden of Love. This Blu-ray features a stunningly crisp-looking transfer without losing the gritty feel the film needs to feel creepy and dirty. This is not a bare bones release either, thankfully; It also includes the following:
Special Features:
- Making of Garden of Love featurette
- Behind the Scenes
- Photo Gallery
- Trailer
The bonus features here are decent, but they do feel a little on the light side. An audio commentary or a few interviews would have gone a long way toward beefing things up. That said, the release does come with a nice slipcover, which is something at least.
As for timing, this Blu-ray is landing just as Valentine’s Day rolls around. Is Garden of Love the perfect film to watch with that special someone? Probably not… then again, maybe it is. It really just depends on how far your taste in romance leans toward the twisted.
***½ 3.5/5
If you would like to add Unearthed Films’ Blu-ray of Garden of Love to your collection, head over to Amazon and pre-order your copy of this film today.
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