Schizoid/X-Ray Double Feature from Shout Factory (Cannon Slashers)

[Blu Myers]

I did a search and couldn't find a thread for this double feature...so I started one! I'd never even heard of these films, Schizoid and X-Ray (also referred to as Hospital Massacre), until the Cannon Films documentary on Netflix (which is excellent btw).

I picked this double feature up for a mere $13 on Amazon. There's also an interview for both features on the Shout Factory release. If you're a slasher fan, for the price it's a no-brainer. I'm not saying these are good films (they're not), but I had fun with them at least.

[therock666]

Really enjoyed X-RAY aka Hospital Massacre now Schizoid not so much

[Jpapp25]

I liked X-Ray a lot as it really sticks the slasher film formula and does a good job of racking up the kills and staying entertaining. Not really a slow part that I can remember.

Schizoid is interesting for the over-the-top performance by Klaus Kinski as the doctor and an early appearance of a young Christopher Lloyd. The story starts to drag a little midway through the runtime though.

[darkkrisp]

I watched X-Ray and it just seemed ridiculous to me. It seemed to to me that they just wanted a reason to have Barbi Benton in a movie and to get her naked(I'm not complaining) about that though. Schizoid I haven't had a chance to watch yet.

[redrunner97]

As much as I thought I'd love X-Ray more (just looked more fun and overtly slashery), I was surprised to find Schizoid more entertaining overall. Both are campy additions to my collection that I have no intention of parting with, but they were far from masterpieces.

[The Great Owl]

I bought this double feature a few weeks back when some Scream titles were on sale somewhere. I haven't watched it yet, but it's great to read some feedback! Soon...

[slasherdisc]

These are both enjoyable flicks.

[darkkrisp]

It's funny because when I watched this, I had similar thoughts. I thought this movie solely existed to put Barbi Benton into a film and have her naked in it as well.

[inconsistentluddite]

I just ordered this disc, along with "Crawlspace." I've never actually seen any of these three films, but I have long been a Klaus Kinski fan, so I'm hoping that I will like them. Due to some of the reviews, though, I'm keeping my expectations, ahem, shall we say, more than a bit modest.

With that said, few actors can get under my skin as Kinski does, in a "this is seriously disturbing, and I love it!" psychotic horror film way! Is his "creepiness factor" strong in the two films on this disc? I hope so! I have heard that it is very, very strong in "Crawlspace!"

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by inconsistentluddite

I just ordered this disc, along with "Crawlspace." I've never actually seen any of these three films, but I have long been a Klaus Kinski fan, so I'm hoping that I will like them. Due to some of the reviews, though, I'm keeping my expectations, ahem, shall we say, more than a bit modest.

Considering that Scream Factory are letting their rights to many of the MGM titles lapse, it's probably wise to pick this one up if you're a fan or have any interest. Although, keep in mind that Klaus isn't in X-Ray; he's just in Schizoid and Crawlspace.

My girlfriend is a horror fan, but hasn't seen nearly as many titles as I have. We had actually been talking about Cannon recently, so I pulled this out earlier tonight and we watched X-Ray, a title I enjoy the hell out of, for all its glorious stupidity (hell, I think the one liner spoken after the killer's identity is revealed is so dumb it's hysterical).

[dkelly26666]

Originally Posted by inconsistentluddite

I just ordered this disc, along with "Crawlspace." I've never actually seen any of these three films, but I have long been a Klaus Kinski fan, so I'm hoping that I will like them. Due to some of the reviews, though, I'm keeping my expectations, ahem, shall we say, more than a bit modest.

With that said, few actors can get under my skin as Kinski does, in a "this is seriously disturbing, and I love it!" psychotic horror film way! Is his "creepiness factor" strong in the two films on this disc? I hope so! I have heard that it is very, very strong in "Crawlspace!"

I really rather like all three of the films you mention.

I, too, always enjoyed Kinski onscreen. (Offscreen, he was a monster, they say). In films, I have always found him quite interesting.

He is not in "X-Ray", but it's still a fun slasher. "Schizoid" I like very much. It also gives a few actors a chance to play in roles against type, which is interesting.

"Crawlspace" is insane, and indeed Klaus is very creepy in that one. I believe this disc contains as a bonus the short film from the director of "Crawlspace", called "Please Kill Mr. Kinski". It's pretty hilarious as it has the director very tongue-in-cheek recounting what a pain Kinski was to work with on that film. There is some footage of Kinski ranting and raving with his monumental ego. That short is a great bonus. The film itself is very lurid and gruesome and nasty. It's quite enjoyable, LOL.

[inconsistentluddite]

Originally Posted by MTRodaba2468

Considering that Scream Factory are letting their rights to many of the MGM titles lapse, it's probably wise to pick this one up if you're a fan or have any interest. Although, keep in mind that Klaus isn't in X-Ray; he's just in Schizoid and Crawlspace.

My girlfriend is a horror fan, but hasn't seen nearly as many titles as I have. We had actually been talking about Cannon recently, so I pulled this out earlier tonight and we watched X-Ray, a title I enjoy the hell out of, for all its glorious stupidity (hell, I think the one liner spoken after the killer's identity is revealed is so dumb it's hysterical).

Thanks for the reply! Your observation, about this Scream Factory double feature possibly going out of print in the near future. is actually a very big factor of why I chose to buy it, now, while I still easily can.

Of course, being a Kinski fan was also a major factor in my purchase as well-- and thank you, so much, for clarifying for me that he is actually not in "X-Ray!" Somehow, in reading about this disc, in reviews and such, at various times over the years (often thinking about buying it, but never pulling the trigger, until now!), I had gotten the mistaken impression that this disc was a double feature, with both movies starring Klaus Kinski!

To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed to hear that he is only in "Schizoid," as I was greatly looking forward to having a Kinski triple feature, with these movies and "Crawlspace"-- but all the same, I will definitely watch "X-Ray," and from what you wrote, it sounds like I will enjoy it, in a "this film is completely, utterly, crazy!" kind of way.

[inconsistentluddite]

Originally Posted by dkelly26666

I really rather like all three of the films you mention.

I, too, always enjoyed Kinski onscreen. (Offscreen, he was a monster, they say). In films, I have always found him quite interesting.

He is not in "X-Ray", but it's still a fun slasher. "Schizoid" I like very much. It also gives a few actors a chance to play in roles against type, which is interesting.

"Crawlspace" is insane, and indeed Klaus is very creepy in that one. I believe this disc contains as a bonus the short film from the director of "Crawlspace", called "Please Kill Mr. Kinski". It's pretty hilarious as it has the director very tongue-in-cheek recounting what a pain Kinski was to work with on that film. There is some footage of Kinski ranting and raving with his monumental ego. That short is a great bonus. The film itself is very lurid and gruesome and nasty. It's quite enjoyable, LOL.

Thanks for replying! I am, especially now, greatly looking forward to seeing all three of these films.

I admit that it's a bit of a bummer for me that Kinski is not in "X-Ray," as I had mistakenly thought was the case, but I strongly suspect that I'm still going to enjoy the apparent lunacy of this film, as well as "Schizoid" and "Crawlspace" with their Kinski insanity! I can't wait to see the bonus feature, too, that you mentioned on "Crawlspace." When these discs arrive in my mail, I think that it's going to be a very enjoyable night here for this fan of wild, crazy, and dark, disturbing cinema! (I will comment here with my impressions after I've viewed the films.)

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by inconsistentluddite

Thanks for the reply! Your observation, about this Scream Factory double feature possibly going out of print in the near future. is actually a very big factor of why I chose to buy it, now, while I still easily can.

Of course, being a Kinski fan was also a major factor in my purchase as well-- and thank you, so much, for clarifying for me that he is actually not in "X-Ray!" Somehow, in reading about this disc, in reviews and such, at various times over the years (often thinking about buying it, but never pulling the trigger, until now!), I had gotten the mistaken impression that this disc was a double feature, with both movies starring Klaus Kinski!

To be honest, I'm a bit disappointed to hear that he is only in "Schizoid," as I was greatly looking forward to having a Kinski triple feature, with these movies and "Crawlspace"-- but all the same, I will definitely watch "X-Ray," and from what you wrote, it sounds like I will enjoy it, in a "this film is completely, utterly, crazy!" kind of way.

I should note that it hasn't been confirmed whether this set will be going OOP, but with the number of MGM titles having their rights lapse, again I wouldn't be surprised if this one were to go too.

And yeah, it wasn't a Kinski double feature; the two films were paired together because they were slasher films that had been released by Cannon. But again, while I wouldn't say X-Ray is particularly "crazy" (there's plenty of blood, but not a lot of gore, for example), but it's great in a "so bad it's good" way.

[inconsistentluddite]

Originally Posted by MTRodaba2468

I should note that it hasn't been confirmed whether this set will be going OOP, but with the number of MGM titles having their rights lapse, again I wouldn't be surprised if this one were to go too.

And yeah, it wasn't a Kinski double feature; the two films were paired together because they were slasher films that had been released by Cannon. But again, while I wouldn't say X-Ray is particularly "crazy" (there's plenty of blood, but not a lot of gore, for example), but it's great in a "so bad it's good" way.

Thanks for the clarifying info on all counts!

To be clear, when I wrote about looking forward to watching "X-Ray," and my sense that it will be "completely, utterly, crazy," I wasn't referring to the potential amount of blood and gore in the film. I'm completely fine with it not being very gory. I meant "crazy," more in the sense of that, at least from what I've read about it, "X-Ray" is basically a wild, loony, unhinged, trainwreck of a slasher film that is still very enjoyable, for precisely those reasons!

It sounds like, from what you wrote, that my impression of the film (without having yet seen it) will be very much confirmed, and hilariously so! I can't wait to witness the lunacy of this movie!

[inconsistentluddite]

I never expected this to be the case when I ordered this disc, along with many others, back on 4/28, directly from Scream Factory... but I am still waiting for it. I have tried to be very, very patient, given the pandemic. I know that unusual measures are having to be taken everywhere. I wrote to SF recently and received no apology for the wait time, but just a simple statement that this film, and a few others, "must be back-ordered."

Meanwhile, for years now, I have been politely, respectfully, asking SF customer service people to please pass along a request for SF to add a simple feature to the website letting customers know which titles are actually in stock, and which are back-ordered, so that customers can make informed orders and have some idea of whether they will have to wait a long time for an item or not. That feature has never been added to the website.

Grindhouse Video has this disc in stock, truly in stock, right now, and I could order it and have it in a number of days. Very tempting....

[badfingerboogie]

Originally Posted by inconsistentluddite

I never expected this to be the case when I ordered this disc, along with many others, back on 4/28, directly from Scream Factory... but I am still waiting for it. I have tried to be very, very patient, given the pandemic. I know that unusual measures are having to be taken everywhere. I wrote to SF recently and received no apology for the wait time, but just a simple statement that this film, and a few others, "must be back-ordered."

Meanwhile, for years now, I have been politely, respectfully, asking SF customer service people to please pass along a request for SF to add a simple feature to the website letting customers know which titles are actually in stock, and which are back-ordered, so that customers can make informed orders and have some idea of whether they will have to wait a long time for an item or not. That feature has never been added to the website.

Grindhouse Video has this disc in stock, truly in stock, right now, and I could order it and have it in a number of days. Very tempting....

I was about to order this through simplybestprices on eBay last night, had the window open while I was doing other things, then came back to the page and clicked 'buy now' only to discover I'd missed it

While there are still a few options for me to import this to Australia that aren't much more expensive, I've also noticed a bunch of eBay sellers trying to push this at like 150 bucks+ - very weird, considering it still doesn't seem to have gone out of print.

[inconsistentluddite]

Originally Posted by badfingerboogie

I was about to order this through simplybestprices on eBay last night, had the window open while I was doing other things, then came back to the page and clicked 'buy now' only to discover I'd missed it

While there are still a few options for me to import this to Australia that aren't much more expensive, I've also noticed a bunch of eBay sellers trying to push this at like 150 bucks+ - very weird, considering it still doesn't seem to have gone out of print.

Wow, $150 for this disc on E-bay (from some sellers)?! That is just crazy. The disc is definitely still in print. Since Scream Factory already has my money, I'll continue to wait to receive it from them (though six weeks seems excessive, even in a pandemic), but it is available from other sites too.

If I don't receive it by July from SF, I may give up and order it from Grindhouse Video. Normally, I would recommend that you order it from them, as they are seling it for only $16, but due to difficulties with the worldwide Covid situation and shipping packages overseas, they have temporarily stopped shipping international packages until things are closer to being back to normal.

[badfingerboogie]

Originally Posted by inconsistentluddite

Wow, $150 for this disc on E-bay (from some sellers)?! That is just crazy. The disc is definitely still in print. Since Scream Factory already has my money, I'll continue to wait to receive it from them (though six weeks seems excessive, even in a pandemic), but it is available from other sites too.

If I don't receive it by July from SF, I may give up and order it from Grindhouse Video. Normally, I would recommend that you order it from them, as they are seling it for only $16, but due to difficulties with the worldwide Covid situation and shipping packages overseas, they have temporarily stopped shipping international packages until things are closer to being back to normal.

Yeah, I just ended up getting it from Amazon for about 30USD with international shipping - could have been better, but not bad at the end of the day.

Hopefully Shout comes through with your order - you didn't get a tracking number or anything?

[Member-167298]

Never knew Craig Wasson had so many admirers.