Bloodsucking Freaks 4K UHD (1976)

[brainofj72]

https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...sucking-freaks

This special limited edition double-sided magnetically reversible embossed slipcover is limited to 7,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

Sardu, with the help of his dwarf servant Ralphus, operates New York’s most controversial theatre, Sardu's Theatre of the Macabre, where each performance is an expertly staged display of gruesome acts of torture. Divisive as his take on “entertainment” might be, arrogant theatre critic, Creasy Silo, is having none of it and makes it his mission to put an end to Sardu’s grisly “dramas.” However, what audiences and critics alike do not realize is that each of these shocking shows is completely real; with innocent nude women being maimed and murdered live on stage! When Sardu sets his eyes on beautiful ballerina Natasha, he’s immediately smitten and determines that she must “star” in his next production, whether she wants to or not, and that her stage partner will be none other than Creasy Silo…

A foundational film in establishing legendary genre cinema distributor, Troma Entertainment, Joel M. Reed’s masterpiece of gore-fueled debauchery, BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS (aka Sardu, Master of the Screaming Virgins), remains one of the most notorious, disgusting, shocking, perverse, and outrageously funny cult horror films to emerge from the sick and twisted 1970s. Starring acclaimed Shakespearian actor, Seamus O’Brien as the fiendish Sardu and Luis De Jesus (Let My Puppets Come) as the equally deranged Ralphus, and featuring a host of New York’s top sex starlets as the demented duo's assorted victims, Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to present the world 4K UHD debut of the fully uncut version of BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS, exclusively restored from the best surviving film elements and presented with a consummate selection of extras.

directed by: Joel M. Reed
starring: Seamus O'Brien, Luis De Jesus, Viju Krem, Niles McMaster, Dan Fauci, Alan Dellay, Ernie Pysher, Helen Thompson, Ellen Faison
1976 / 89 min / 1.37:1 / English Mono

Additional info:

2-disc Region Free Set: 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray
4K UHD presented in High-Dynamic-Range
Newly scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm internegative
Brand new commentary track with John Szpunar, author of Blood Sucking Freak: The Life and Films of the Incredible Joel M. Reed
Archival commentary track with Eli Roth, filmmaker and fan of BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS
"Freaks Come Out at the Drive-In" - a featurette about the TROMA-THON 2023 screening of BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS at the Mahoning Drive-In Theater in Lehighton, PA - including an interview with Troma president Lloyd Kaufman
Live commentary from a 2009 screening with director Joel M. Reed, Art Ettinger and Ken Kish
Q&A with Joel M. Reed
Cinema Wasteland hotel room interview with Joel M. Reed
Archival introduction by Lloyd Kaufman
Archival cast & crew interviews
Archival interview with Eli Roth, BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS fan & filmmaker
Archival interview with Chris Jericho, BLOOD SUCKING FREAKS fan & professional wrestler
Alternate title sequence
Reversible cover artwork
English SDH subtitles

[mikey horror]

Bloodsucking Freaks in 4K ultra high definition. Lol. What a time to be alive.

[notops]

I will accept Sardu's domination by never watching that movie again. But I'm glad the fans will get a UHD.

[Orlac]

I wonder what the title on the main film will be. I've never seen THE INCREDIBLE TORTURE SHOW title card.

[brainofj72]

Originally Posted by Orlac

I wonder what the title on the main film will be. I've never seen THE INCREDIBLE TORTURE SHOW title card.

It's already posted in the screenshots on the site:

[mikey horror]

Originally Posted by notops

I will accept Sardu's domination by never watching that movie again. But I'm glad the fans will get a UHD.

Yeah, this one definitely has its audience, but I sure as hell ain’t in it.

[PowellPressburger]

Was this a film that was distributed by Troma, but not a Troma production?

Was curious, not really a fan of Troma productions but have always heard this film mentioned by friends.

Since I’m a yearly subscriber the title will be in my monthly batch.

[Red Dragon]

Originally Posted by mikey horror

Yeah, this one definitely has its audience, but I sure as hell ain’t in it.

...this film definitely does have its own audience... and I, for one, SURE AS HELL AM ONE OF THEM!!!

DAY 1!!!



Can't wait to sit down, relax and enjoy this glorious show over dinner...

[Orlac]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Was this a film that was distributed by Troma, but not a Troma production?

Was curious, not really a fan of Troma productions but have always heard this film mentioned by friends.

Since I’m a yearly subscriber the title will be in my monthly batch.

It's a Troma re-release.

[Shaw24]

Originally Posted by mikey horror

Bloodsucking Freaks in 4K ultra high definition. Lol. What a time to be alive.

Not only that, but its limited edition embossed slipcase will have a run of 7,000 units, which in this day and age, is kind of insane. It seems like much bigger films than this usually have limited edition runs of 2,000 - 5,000.

However, this is not a testament to the film, which I guess is fun if that's what you want, as much as the success of Vinegar Syndrome's marketing strategy, which we all know is:

1. Find old genre films that you can get the rights to cheaply.

2. Give these films (often completely unnecessary, given the sources) 4K transfers.

3. Make them seem better than they are via cool hand-drawn artwork.

4. Create a false sense of scarcity by releasing them in limited editions or with limited slip cases.

5. Nurture brand loyalty via consistency of packaging, genre, and things like monthly subscription services.

6. Profit.

They do mix up this strategy a bit by occasionally paying a bit more for the rights to bigger profile cult hits, like Road House, ShowGirls, Amityville Horror,, but I strongly suspect that their profit margins are going to be larger on grade z shit like Massage Parlor Murders and Invisible Maniac than Road House.

In terms of boutique brand loyalty, though, they are probably second to only Criterion when it comes to having a dedicated fanbase who will be interested in buying anything they release just because they released it. I'm not one of that fanbase (the only VS titles I own are Freeway 1 & 2, and Flesh for Frankenstein), but I kind of admire how great they are at getting people to pay $49.99 for what are frequently just highly polished turds.

[Shaw24]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Was this a film that was distributed by Troma, but not a Troma production?

Was curious, not really a fan of Troma productions but have always heard this film mentioned by friends.

Since I’m a yearly subscriber the title will be in my monthly batch.

VS seems to have gotten some kind of deal. Killer Condom was also another Troma film that Troma didn't actually produce.

Honestly, while I think Troma can be fun, their Troma-produced films were mostly terrible and Llyod Kaufman was a dick, by most accounts. However, they did occasionally distribute some fun films made by others that no one else would touch.

I've also always found John Water's story funny about meeting with Llyod Kaufman to discuss doing Pink Flamingos 2 as a Troma film, but bailing after he realized that Troma's production standards were way lower than his already very low standards, lol.

[Rayjg]

Originally Posted by Shaw24

Not only that, but its limited edition embossed slipcase will have a run of 7,000 units, which in this day and age, is kind of insane. It seems like much bigger films than this usually have limited edition runs of 2,000 - 5,000.

However, this is not a testament to the film, which I guess is fun if that's what you want, as much as the success of Vinegar Syndrome's marketing strategy, which we all know is:

1. Find old genre films that you can get the rights to cheaply.

2. Give these films (often completely unnecessary, given the sources) 4K transfers.

3. Make them seem better than they are via cool hand-drawn artwork.

4. Create a false sense of scarcity by releasing them in limited editions or with limited slip cases.

5. Nurture brand loyalty via consistency of packaging, genre, and things like monthly subscription services.

6. Profit.

They do mix up this strategy a bit by occasionally paying a bit more for the rights to bigger profile cult hits, like Road House, ShowGirls, Amityville Horror,, but I strongly suspect that their profit margins are going to be larger on grade z shit like Massage Parlor Murders and Invisible Maniac than Road House.

In terms of boutique brand loyalty, though, they are probably second to only Criterion when it comes to having a dedicated fanbase who will be interested in buying anything they release just because they released it. I'm not one of that fanbase (the only VS titles I own are Freeway 1 & 2, and Flesh for Frankenstein), but I kind of admire how great they are at getting people to pay $49.99 for what are frequently just highly polished turds.

You forgot the one after 6. Profit:

7. Hookers and Blow

[mar3o]

Never expected to see this on UHD. Crazy film. Might have to cave in for this one. Not a good film but lots of nostalgia for me with this one. It's always looked pretty ugly on home video with a very strong yellow tint, but their screenshots on the site actually look to restore some color into it for the first time on home video. From the look of those caps this is the best it's probably ever looked.

[russweiss1]

This is listed as unrated but the poster I have for The Incredible Torture Show has an X rating.

[asmodeux21]

I personally love the other title of the film- "Sardu-Master of the Screaming Virgins". It's wonderfully ominous and dark.

[mrlanphear]

Originally Posted by russweiss1

This is listed as unrated but the poster I have for The Incredible Torture Show has an X rating.

X as an official MPAA rating was abandoned in 1990. Anything that would have previously been rated X is now technically unrated unless it was resubmitted for a rating after 1990.

[asmodeux21]

Originally Posted by mrlanphear

X as an official MPAA rating was abandoned in 1990. Anything that would have previously been rated X is now technically unrated unless it was resubmitted for a rating after 1990.

Yes. Also, the NC-17 rating started in 1990 to replace the X rating, although many movies just went Unrated.

[Benoit Blanc]

Anyone around here who knows me knows I've already ordered this and why.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by Red Dragon

I have that same coffee table

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by Shaw24

people..pay $49.99 for what are frequently just highly polished turds.

Wait, what? Sardu > Dial of Destiny

Content is more intellectually stimulating. Practical effects are more realistic. Sardu ftw. The kids like to watch it back-to-back right after Salo, usually.