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Home Grown Horrors: Volume One (1988-1992) - Vinegar Syndrome
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this limited edition and painstakingly crafted box set (designed by tom hodge of the dude designs) is limited to 7,000 units and is only available here at vinegarsyndrome.com!
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, independent and first time filmmakers across the united states saw new opportunities to create work in the horror genre. Often integrating the flavor and color of their inner-america locales into their work, they created films that, while inspired by mainstream trends, are about as far from hollywood as one can get. Collected here are three diverse films, all produced in the late 1980s, providing a fascinating and entertaining glimpse into the forgotten world of home grown horror.
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beyond dream's door:
Lately, ben hasn't been sleeping well. His dreams are filled with violent and terrifying visions of monsters and death. Seeking out answers, he begins to pursue the subtext and hidden meanings of his strange and terrifying nightmares, with the help of his professor and several friends. As the dreams grow increasingly lifelike, ben fears that he's losing his grip on sanity, especially as those around him start turning up dead; horribly mutilated just like he's seen in his sleep...
A low-on-budget but extremely high on ambition apocalyptic horror film, and the first feature written and directed by jack-of-all-trades filmmaker, jay woelfel, the ohio lensed beyond dream’s door skillfully blends elements of surrealism, mystery, and grotesque and violent horror set-pieces, resulting in a wholly singular vision. Sadly relegated direct-to-video, beyond dream’s door has earned a sizable cult following and comes to blu-ray for the very first time, from vinegar syndrome, painstakingly reconstructed shot by shot from its original, unedited 16mm camera negative, and is presented in its director's cut.
Directed by: Jay woelfel
starring: Nick baldasare, rick kesler, susan pinsky, norm singer
1988 / 80 min / 1.33:1 / english 5.1 surround
• region free blu-ray
• newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 16mm original camera negative (with tape inserts)
• “where horror lies” - a brand new extended making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew
• brand new group commentary track with: Director jay woelfel, cinematographer scott spears, actor nick baldasare & actor rick kesler
• brand new commentary track with: Actor nick baldasare, moderated by dave parker
archival
• group commentary track
• commentary track with the director
• “behind dream’s door” - making-of documentary
• “getting monstered” - fx featurette
• montage of unused and alternate takes
• unused and alternate fx footage
• bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage
• local news coverage
• multiple deleted scenes
• multiple trailers
• multiple short films with commentary tracks
• reversible cover artwork
• english sdh subtitles
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winterbeast:
Weird things are happening in and around the wild goose lodge, a snowy inn located in rural massachusetts. People are being found dead and mutilated, while others are vanishing without a trace. Realizing that the violence might have something to do with native american black magic and the ancient secrets of the area's historic totem poles, a trio of cops decide to investigate the goings on, and are faced with an array of monsters, ghouls, and even a sampling of murderous locals!
A film which truly justifies the term 'unclassifiable,' and the sole feature from writer and director christopher thies, winterbeast was shot on and off for nearly half a decade and in a mix of super 8mm and 16mm, resulting in a one of a kind piece of outsider art horror filmmaking that must be seen to be believed. Loaded with surreal dialogue, mind-blowing stop motion animation, homemade gore effects, and more than a few genuinely creepy moments, vinegar syndrome is delighted to bring this forgotten cult gem to blu-ray, newly restored and reconstructed from it’s original film elements and presented in both its commonly seen released version along with a never before released workprint edit.
Directed by: Christopher thies
starring: Tim r. Morgan, mike magri, charles majka, bob harlow, dori may kelly, david majka
1992 / 76 min / 1.33:1 / english mono
• region free blu-ray
• newly scanned & restored in 2k from its original 16mm and super 8mm film elements
• brand new commentary track with producer mark frizzell
• archival commentary track with director christopher thies, producer mark frizzell and cinematographer craig mathieson
• “it came from lone peak” - an unfinished early workprint version of winterbeast
• “sweat & persistence” - a new interview with producer mark frizzell
• “i saw it in a dream” - a new interview with actor charles majka
• “my first career” - a new interview with actor david majka
• “so bad, it’s good” - a new interview with actress dori may kelly
• “he wears sunglasses at night” - a new interview with actor mike magri
• “a movie for filmmakers” - a new interview with filmmaker simon barrett
• “oh, dear, what can the matter be?” - an archival making-of documentary
• archival deleted scenes
• archival audio interview with composer michael perilstein
• archival ‘soap opera’ footage
• reversible cover artwork
• english sdh subtitles
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fatal exam:
A group of college students have been given a very unusual assignment: Spend the night inside of a supposedly haunted house, as part of their studies into the supernatural and occult. Although the rag tag team of collegiates would much rather party and get stoned than look for ghosts, it's not long before unexplained events begin to occur. Initially suspecting that some of their classmates might be playing a practical joke, their fears are proven very real when someone - or something - dressed in robes and carrying a scythe starts bumping them off one by one.
A truly local slice of ultra low budget supernatural-slasher made by a first time cast and crew based in st. Louis, missouri, jack snyder's fatal exam plays its haunted house tropes for its first half, before shifting gears into slice n' dice mayhem for its second half. Barely released in any format and never officially made available on disc, vinegar syndrome is happy to bring this low-fi curiosity on blu-ray, newly restored in 2k from its 16mm original camera negative and featuring an illuminating array of extras.
Directed by: Jack snyder
starring: Mike coleman, terry comer, carol carlberg-snyder, paul steger
1988 / 114 min / 1.85:1 / english mono
• region free blu-ray
• newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 16mm original camera negative
• group commentary track with: Jack snyder (director), terry comer (actor), carl leta (composer), william crawford (sfx), mike coleman (actor), dave mayer (actor)
• “fatal examination” - a brand new extended making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew
• reversible cover artwork
• english sdh subtitles
Last edited by DR Herbert West; 04-02-2021 at 09:55 AM.
Beyond Dreams Door and especially Winterbeast are well worth blind buying. Winterbeast has some of the most off the wall lo-fi, crazy stop motion claymation creatures this side of Robot Chicken.
Ugh. We finally get Winterbeast and they package it with Fatal Exam. Anything but Fatal Exam. I don’t have the vocabulary to properly express how painfully boring that movie is. It took every ounce of determination I had to finish it.
Ugh. We finally get Winterbeast and they package it with Fatal Exam. Anything but Fatal Exam. I don’t have the vocabulary to properly express how painfully boring that movie is. It took every ounce of determination I had to finish it.
Wow, 1h 52min for a 1990 slasher. That's... ambitious.
Ugh. We finally get Winterbeast and they package it with Fatal Exam. Anything but Fatal Exam. I don’t have the vocabulary to properly express how painfully boring that movie is. It took every ounce of determination I had to finish it.
There was one day, some time last year where I felt like watching boring films for some unknown reason, so almost any film can be appreciated in the proper frame of mind.
There was one day, some time last year where I felt like watching boring films for some unknown reason, so almost any film can be appreciated in the proper frame of mind.
Believe me, there’s no frame of mind, nor illegal substances that would put me in said frame of mind to ever enjoy Fatal Exam.
Just finished Beyond Dreams Door in this set and there’s more than your money’s worth on this disc alone. The movie was remarkable given its limited budget but where this release really shines is in the extras. The bonus features are chock full of interesting details about the cast and crew that I found put the movie in a better perspective. I highly recommend the commentary tracks as well. They are both interesting and engaging.
Hmm, this seems like the kind of set I would like to have in my collection, but not certain I’ll dig these films. At least there are still plenty of copies in stock at VS while I mull it over.
Just finished Beyond Dreams Door in this set and there’s more than your money’s worth on this disc alone. The movie was remarkable given its limited budget but where this release really shines is in the extras. The bonus features are chock full of interesting details about the cast and crew that I found put the movie in a better perspective. I highly recommend the commentary tracks as well. They are both interesting and engaging.
I watched all 3 films in the set over the last 2 days and BY FAR Beyond Dream's Door is the star. That film could have been released on it's own and it would have been worth the asking price. Fatal Exam was terrible, and just as boring as Mikey noted earlier last month. Winterbeast was ambitious but didn't do much for me either. It was interesting to see but not something I can ever really see myself watching again and that's saying something as I've watched CHUD II at least 3 times in my life. I loved Beyond Dream's Door though.
Wow, 1h 52min for a 1990 slasher. That's... ambitious.
I have the 2 hour version of Boardinghouse, which I haven't watched yet. The original VHS version of Boardinghouse was a fun film for what it was but I am intimidated about the 2 hour version.
Since I have never seen Fatal Exam and reading all the 'rave' reviews it it getting, I may not watch that one for a while.
The homemade aesthetic of no budget indie horror flicks has long had an appeal to me. They just have a different flavor from their more polished and conventionally made brethren. I also love seeing my longtime home of Columbus, Ohio onscreen since it doesn’t happen very often. I’m sure most American movie fans who don’t live in the traditional film towns of New York, LA, or Chicago can relate. So, when I heard that boutique blu ray label Vinegar Syndrome would be releasing a film made by students and alumni from Ohio State University (my alma mater) and shot in Columbus as part of their Homegrown Horrors boxset, I knew that it would be an instant purchase.
Writer/director/composer Jay Woelfel’s BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR from 1989 is a lightly Lovecraftian and surrealist tale about college undergrad Ben Dobbs (a slightly too old Nick Baldasare) and the torments inflicted on him by nightmares made manifest. When the intensity of the visions begins to increase, blurring the lines between the waking and dreaming worlds, he seeks help from his mischievous psychology instructor, Professor Noxx (Norm Singer). After reading an account of Ben’s troubles, he too starts to experience inexplicable phenomena. Soon, Eric Baxter (Rick Kesler) and sweetheart and fellow TA Julie Oxel (Susan Pinsky) are also drawn into the eerie proceedings. Smaller but notable roles also belong to Daniel White as a mysterious man from the past with connections to the situation, John Dunleavy as gleefully creepy custodian, Darby Vasbinder as a seductive apparition, Lucas Simpson as a strange little boy, and Marge Whitney as Julie’s mom.
Woelfel’s script for BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR is more focused on creating a disorienting atmosphere than character development or straightforward coherence. Often, we follow characters through dreams within dreams within dreams, so that their confusion about what is real is interwoven with our own. Dialog is mostly naturalistic, although we get a few moments of awkward exposition along with some disembodied voiceover of portentously dark poetry. The film purposefully eschews realism for a sort of dream logic. It’s never opaque, though, and if you give yourself over to that approach, I think you’ll find it’s relatively easy to follow despite the unconventional structure. Story elements don’t necessarily snugly fit together, but it absolutely works, given the subject matter. Considering this was originally based on a 20-minute film school short, it’s a fairly impressive feat the film never feels padded or disjointed.
Most of the primary performers for BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR were recruited from Woelfel’s circle of friends and Columbus’ local theater scene. While that might mean we’re not treated to Hollywood caliber acting, I wouldn’t say anybody is wooden or amateurish. I was actually surprised by how much the actors were able to draw me into a fairly bizarre world. Baldasare holds our attention and is relatable as a troubled boy-next-door type. Kesler has the second largest role, and he is believable as the initially incredulous grad student. Pinsky has natural screen presence, so it surprised me that she pursued medicine and never acted again. Singer is fun in limited screentime.
Scott Spears shot BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR. He peppers the film with close-ups and a few nicely orchestrated tracking and dolly shots, ensuring that the imagery isn’t static or boring. Lighting is exaggerated here and there to assist in the otherworldly dread department, making for some unsettling compositions. Though the narrative is meant to be off kilter, his storytelling is clear and assured. My favorite sequence is a stylish chase through a sewer system.
Speaking of locations, those familiar with Columbus will surely recognize scenes shot in OSU’s massive main library and a handful of other campus buildings, off campus student housing immediately to the north of OSU, and the quarry located near the San Margherita neighborhood. The quarry scenes with their ruined housing structures (and dream ghouls) are certainly cool, but the most visually interesting spot is the one that kicks off the aforementioned sewer sequence. Glen Echo Ravine’s notorious Gates of Hell with its angular girders, copious graffiti, and dank subterranean entrance makes for a grand cinematic visual.
Susan Resatka and Randy Spears’ editing subtly assist with the dreamy tone. There are numerous smash cuts and dissolves that keep us uncertain about what we’re seeing. This is far from a splatter film, with horror being mined more in a psychological manner, but there are a few grisly effects. My favorite gags involve Professor Noxx’s gooey fate and the skewering of a hand. The monster isn’t particularly convincing, but the filmmakers do their best to tease and conceal the beast without being too obvious or frustrating. Woelfel’s instrumental score is admirably creepy and melancholy.
BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR was made for a mere $60,000 and I think it’s absurd to nitpick a production of that nature, especially since it pretty much accomplishes everything it sets out to do. It’s not a perfect film, though. I would say that Eric’s response to what befalls Julie is a bit of a head-scratcher, as written. Additionally, the moments where the film wants to more concretely explain what is happening undermine the pleasingly ambiguous tone. It’s to Woelfel’s credit that the T and A requested by the film’s financiers is fairly artfully inserted, but it still feels a little out of place.
Ultimately, Jay Woelfel’s BEYOND DREAM’S DOOR is everything I hoped it would be. At 80 minutes, it crams in some neat gags, cool imagery, and palpable atmosphere while mostly maintaining momentum. I loved seeing locations I recognized in the context of a dreamy horror flick. Vinegar Syndrome’s blu ray features a bevy of excellent features, including two retrospectives and a collection of contemporary local news coverage. If you’re like me and enjoy rough around the edges films from off the beaten path, you may find a lot to enjoy here. Recommended for fans of PHANTASM, SUSPIRIA, and LOST HIGHWAY.
I have the 2 hour version of Boardinghouse, which I haven't watched yet. The original VHS version of Boardinghouse was a fun film for what it was but I am intimidated about the 2 hour version.
Since I have never seen Fatal Exam and reading all the 'rave' reviews it it getting, I may not watch that one for a while.
I just tried to watch Fatal Exam last night. Fell asleep about an hour in. Gonna finish it up, but man, 2 hours is too damn long, especially since most of that time is characters walking or looking at things.
Last edited by RevolverOcelScott; 09-27-2021 at 02:18 PM.
A rhythmic pounding crashes against a door. Reality is moving in slow motion. The constant thumping wakes Nick (Mike Coleman) from his nightly sleep. Maybe it’s an afternoon nap. It’s difficult to tell when his room is brightly lit, as if an atomic bomb is being tested right outside. Nick opens the door and discovers the blandest mustache to exist in a movie from 1985 to be released in 1990. Attached to it is a man holding a sword and wearing a sleeveless bathrobe with a crimson design like something out of the Master’s closet from Manos. Cut to white text credits over a black background. The surefire sign of a low-budget horror flick.
Nick wakes up the following---well, he just wakes up and immediately proceeds to stub his toe on a dumbbell. I’ve never lived on Elm Street; didn’t attend summer camp as a child; grew up outside of the suburbs. This moment is completely relatable, especially since Nick manages to hurt himself twice on the same dumbbell. Knowing his pain all too well, I’m ready to call this the most relatable horror movie of all time. Nick meets up with his sister Dana (Carol Carlberg-Snyder) and Budweiser-connoisseur-best-friend, Roger (Terry Comer), in the shower tile-covered hallway leading to class. Having seen Porky’s, I’d be a little concerned of what may come through the walls. Welcome to the parapsychology class! Made up of the palest bunch of guys and gals on campus, they make Wonder Bread look like burnt toast. It’s seriously blinding and may be the reason Corey Hart wears sunglasses. Professor Hughes (Gilio Gheradini) offers his class of mullet-styling, stonewashed jean-wearing misfits the opportunity to spend two days in the supposedly haunted Nostrand estate. The mission: record any sightings of paranormal activity. Nick, Dana, Roger, and several others who may or may not have names accept the challenge. Welcome to the FATAL EXAM.
[Show spoiler]Except it’s not. This isn’t an assignment nor is it mandatory. Half the class doesn’t attend. No grading mentioned. Zero talk of extra credit. At least I can find comfort in the slicing-n-dicing like Final Exam and Fatal Games. Except it’s not a slasher. Anyone else experiencing déjà vu? Fatal Exam is like an old, off-brand candy bar you find between the couch cushions six months past its expiration date. The outside looks familiar and trusting enough like a chocolate-coated candy shell, but its center is filled with cheap imitation caramel and nougat as the story quickly becomes a spook house investigation. The title is more of a lie than The NeverEnding Story.
For all it’s faults, the candy wrapper is exceptionally good. The wrapper in this sugar-induced metaphor being the music score. It’s several notches above the rest of the film. If you take out the opening scene and jumped straight to the credits, the title music alone could fool anyone into thinking it’s a studio production. Unless someone pokes out your eyes, the illusion is quickly shattered. Much of the running time is devoted to exploring the Nostrand mansion, setting up video cameras, recording possible ghost sightings; a cheaper version of Ghost Adventures shot in the spookiness of midday in an immaculately clean house. You’re in trouble when a random Zak Bagan’s endeavor creates more atmosphere. Everything is brightly lit. Characters in light-colored shirts wander in front of barren, white walls in rooms illuminated so great, you think God himself was appearing before our stumbling cast.
Short on atmosphere and light on slashing, Fatal Exam does bring all the charm a budget provided from a week’s paycheck from Arby’s can offer. There’s a “rule” in the Friday the 13th series that a kill must occur every so often. Fatal Exam doesn’t believe in rules or second drafts. Anyone looking for bodily mutilations will need to make it to the 75-minute mark. Instead, the highlights are the hysterical lines of dialogue, character performances by puzzled folks who look like they wandered in on set, and genuinely creepy sequences. In-between moments of discovering a head inside a coffee table are macabre clues to satanic sacrifices in the name of the most adorable clay demon I’ve ever seen. It looks like a clay figure of the dancer in Jabba’s palace from Return of the Jedi. It’s hard to win over followers when pointing to past disciples like Hitler and Napoleon, two men who didn't wholly succeed or become immortal. I’d suggest holding out for Beelzeboss. The cutesy, demonic entity is only rewarded to audiences that can endure nearly the entire two-hour runtime. It’s as bloated as the stomach of the Anthony Bourdain-looking student who guzzles five Pepsis in a minute.
Directors with the last name “Snyder” sure do love their overstuffed runtimes filled with drawn-out scenes shown in the slowest of motions, making the audiences feel each second of their life ticking by. Fatal Exam has enough unintentional entertainment coupled with an intriguing 70’s haunted house approach mixed with devilish shenanigans that I'm a sucker for to keep me watching. I had a good time. I also wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Much like Batman v Superman, I would never choose to watch it again.
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Home Grown Horrors: Volume One (1988-1992) - Vinegar Syndrome
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