The American Genre Film Archive continues their mission to bring unseen curios to home video
Last year the American Genre Film Archive (AGFA) stepped up their noble mission to bring weird and wonderful pieces of genre cinema to home video — cherished classics, underappreciated gems, and even oddities thought lost. Collaborating with Something Weird, so far we’ve met The Zodiac Killer, been unnerved by Effects, indulged in the tacky perversions of Bat Pussy, and witnessed Turkish martial arts insanity with The Sword and the Claw. For their latest release, they pair with purveyors of ultra-obscure genre movies Bleeding Skull! to bring The Soultangler to DVD for the first time.
Synopsis:
If RE-ANIMATOR was shot on Long Island for the price of a used car, THE SOULTANGLER would be the result. Insane genius Dr. Anton Lupesky has developed a drug that allows users to inhabit corpses and transform into rabid maniacs! Can reporter Kim Castle stop the carnage and save our species from annihilation?! This epic of outsider filmmaking is a dream-like wasteland that’s punctuated with severed heads, evil beasties, and hooded slashers. Filmed in basements and garages, director Pat Bishow’s earnest devotion to storytelling in the spirit of H.P. Lovecraft elevates THE SOULTANGLER beyond kitsch and into heavenly territory.
The film is billed as “The greatest horror movie ever made on Long Island…” and after watching I find no reason at all to dispute that. It’s homage to Re-Animator, undertaken by Pat Bishow along with his friends and family, shot over one weekend on a shoestring budget. In this day and age, low budget usually means several million; in this case it’s whatever they had in their wallets. It’s a labor of love that showcases plenty of raw talent in all aspects of production.
The film tells of Dr. Anton Lupseky (Pierre Deveaux), creator of a serum called Anphorium, that allows people to channel their souls into a dead body. The one caveat is that the body must have eyes, their being the window to the soul and all that. The drug, as well as causing its morbid intent, also causes nightmarish visions, tormenting those transferred souls, not to mention their victims. In an effort to refine his formula, Lupseky dispatches his assistants to abduct women (of course) for use in his experiments. However, as you’d expect, a pesky reporter (Jamie Kinser) threatens his project as she investigates the good Doctor’s connections to her own father’s death. There’s certainly a familiarity to the storyline, and like much of the similar home-grown fare you find in such low-budget filmmaking,the endeavor does get a little lost in its attempts to set things up. A slow beginning, lack of logic, and repetition are tempered by a surreal vibe that infuses the film. It has a warped sensibility second only to the hallucinations brought on by Lupseky’s drug. The cast are pretty game, which also helps matters. Endurance pays off, though, as the final third of the film is a treat. A thoroughly entertaining splatter-fest, showcasing creativity and sheer joy through practical effects, blood-letting, and crazed zombie action. You just wish they’d been able to cut loose earlier.
The Package
The film was originally shot in 16mm and then edited on video/released on video. AGFA’s ‘restoration’ here, presented in its original 1.33:1 ratio, is from the original 1-inch master tapes. With those caveats, and AGFA’s noble efforts to preserve the authenticity of an aged print, the film looks as you’d expect. Some damage is evident, detail is reasonable rather than impressive, but there is a decent consistency in terms of detail, color, and contrast throughout. It’s a look that lends itself to a film of this type for sure. Special features are pretty plentiful:
- Unseen 62 minute alternate director’s cut: A version that does much to alleviate the issues with pacing in the early stages of the film.
- Commentary track with director Pat Bishow: One that offers some light on the released version vs. the director’s cut. Bishow also talks about budget limitations, locations, and practical effects. There is an amusing level of disbelief to his commentary that this is actually being released, but he embraces the commentary fully.
- Behind the scenes footage: On location footage taken during prodction back in 1985. Pretty fun to get a glimpse of the low-budget setup.
- Trailers for THE SOULTANGLER and DEAD OF NIGHT TOWN
- Music video for “Wow” by Hypnolovewheel
- Liner notes by Bleeding Skull’s Zack Carlson: Includes details on the restoration/release, as well as an interview with Pat Bishow.
- Reversible cover art: by Matt “Putrid” Carr.
The Bottom Line
Despite somewhat slow beginnings, when The Soultangler cuts loose it makes it all worthwhile. It embraces gore with gusto, showcasing some low-budget filmmaking. It’s an homage, yes, but there is plenty here to give The Soultangler a life of its own.
The Soultanger is available on DVD from March 13th, 2018.