DVD Review: Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXXVII

These are frightening and absurd times. The idea of Donald Trump and his merry gang of racists actually taking over the White House is terrifying and sickening. Whenever Donald Trump is speaking on television, what is desperately needed is a running commentary at the bottom of the screen from Joel, Mike, Crow and Tom Servo. How can we make that happen? Please get on that, folks. In the meantime, to help us all deal with this bizarre and twisted reality, Shout! Factory has released a new volume of Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes. Volume XXXVII contains “The Human Duplicators,” “Escape 2000,” “The Horror Of Party Beach” and “Invasion Of The Neptune Men,” none of which have been previously available on DVD. And there is plenty of bonus material as well.

Disc 1: The Human Duplicators

In this Joel episode from 1992, Gypsy would like another eye and a fin, while Tom Servo desires other, more complex improvements. And the robots are disappointed by Joel’s invention during the invention exchange. But soon they have something else to worry about: getting through The Human Duplicators. As always, they manage to do so by poking fun at everything they’re shown. As a blind girl leads the alien to her uncle’s laboratory, Crow comments, “It’s the blind leading the bland.” Later, when the screen inexplicably goes black for a moment, Crow says, “Oh, that must have been her point of view.” Another female character in the film has a voice more annoying than Fran Drescher’s, leading Tom Servo to ask, “Could you not talk?” When that character asks another what an android is, the answer is: “An android, dear, is a robot. Like a mechanical man.” Joel adds, “Like my acting.” When an android says, “We have no feelings,” Crow adds, “We’re Republicans.” This episode contains references to The Brady Bunch, Gilligan’s Island, Mork & Mindy, The Godfather, Beverly Hills Cop, Bullitt, The Wizard Of Oz and The World According To Garp.

As for bonus material, the first disc includes The Mystery Science Theater Hour introductions and signings off for this episode.

Disc 2: Escape 2000

In this Mike episode from 1996, Dr. Clayton Forrester puts his mother in a home while Crow sets fire to the Satellite of Love. And the movie the gang is forced to watch is one actually directed by Enzo Castellari, who has made some really good films. This one, however, is… well, it’s perfect for Mike and the robots to tear apart. Near the beginning Mike says, “See, this is the danger of expanding rock videos to full-length features.” And Tom Servo says about the film, “I think it was originally conceived as a still photograph.” Later, when there is an annoying beeping sound, the gang quips, “The movie’s backing up.” As one character rides his motorcycle into a building and down a flight of stairs, Crow comments, “He’s got kind of an inconvenient parking spot.” The gang jokes often about one woman’s resemblance to Nosferatu. Mike pokes fun at Enzo Castellari: “The director had a vision: make guys jump in slow motion.” This episode contains a lot of music references: Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Prince, Blondie, Dead Or Alive, Pink Floyd, and so on.

The bonus material contains an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about why the movie was chosen for Mystery Science Theater 3000, and about her character on the show. Leave The Bronx: Making Escape 2000 is a look at the film and at the movies that influenced it. The theatrical trailer is also included, with the film’s original title, Escape From The Bronx.

Disc 3: The Horror Of Party Beach

This is a Mike episode from 1997, when Pearl is the one sending him and the robots the movies. The opening bit isn’t great, but once the movie starts, the gang jumps into gear. During the opening credits of the film, Crow comments: “Original soundtrack not available. You’ll thank us.” When a girl says to her boyfriend, “I never needed you, and I never will,” Tom Servo says, “They wrote their own vows.” As a character dumps radioactive waste into the ocean, the gang quips, “Oh, it’s an Exxon training film.” The Horror Of Party Beach is a particularly bad film (and a particularly good episode), and partway through a long scene of people dancing on a beach, Crow asks, “Mike, are we being punished for something?” And at another dull dance scene, Crow says, “There must be five car lengths between couples.” When a child shouts “Extra, extra, read all about it,” Crow adds, “Fifties extended indefinitely.” The headline on the paper is “Monsters Strike Again,” leading the gang to add, “President orders monsters back to work.” At the end of the episode the gang sings an original number about sodium. And remember, look Polish, everyone!

The third disc contains an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about how at that time in the MST3K series, they were told which types of movies they had to do, and about the narrative arc in the other segments. Return To Party Beach is a look at the film and its director, Del Tenney. It features an interview with Tenney’s widow, Margot Hartman, who provides some really interesting anecdotes, like about the motorcycle gang used in the film. The film’s trailer is also included.

Disc 4: Invasion Of The Neptune Men

This is another Mike episode from 1997, where a war is waged in Mike Nelson’s eyelashes, while Pearl has troubles of her own in ancient Rome. The biggest problem, however, is Invasion Of The Neptune Men, clearly one of the worst movies of all time, and one that even our seasoned heroes have trouble dealing with. It’s a Japanese film, so the episode contains references to Mothra and Gamera. As the aliens retreat to their ship after the lamest fight sequence ever shown on screen, Crow says, “Come on, I want to jump around while you fall down more.” One character points out, “The clock’s running backwards.” Tom Servo adds, “That means that lunch won’t be until yesterday.” And when a record spins backwards, the gang adds, “Paul is a dead man.” This terrible film features a group of annoying children who keep showing up everywhere, leading Mike to comment, “Apparently the kids have level five security clearance.” As several characters get into a car, the gang jokes: “Let’s get out of this movie. Step on it!” Later, as people pile out of an old bus, Mike warns, “Ken Kesey’s got a gun!” The movie is incredibly dull, so when one character says “Hold it, something’s happened,” Mike responds, “Yeah, right.” But then shockingly this Japanese movie has a shot of a statue of Adolf Hitler. Oh my! This episode contains references to Lord Of The Flies, Lost In Space, M.A.S.H. and The Banana Splits Show.

The bonus material includes an introduction by Mary Jo Pehl, in which she talks about the movie and about the obnoxious children, as well as about the host segments. August On Neptune is a featurette on the film and its studio, featuring an interview with August Ragone. The original Japanese theatrical trailer is also included.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 Volume XXXVII was released on November 22, 2016 through Shout! Factory.

Blu-ray Review: The Return Of The Living Dead: Collector’s Edition

Yes, folks, it’s that time of the year when we start thinking about purchasing gifts for the holidays. For the horror fans among your family and friends, you might consider the Collector’s Edition Blu-ray two-disc set of The Return Of The Living Dead, released earlier this year. It is one of my favorite horror films of the 1980s, with just the right amount of humor, and a good cast that includes Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Thom Mathews, Linnea Quigley and Beverly Randolph. It does poke a bit of fun at the zombie genre, but also works as a frightening horror film.

Freddy (Thom Mathews) is a new employee at a medical supply warehouse, and he is unnerved by the fresh cadaver hanging in the freezer. “We’re expecting a shipment on Monday,” he’s told by his supervisor, Frank (James Karen). But you know they won’t have to wait that long. Unlike most zombie movies, this one makes direct reference to Night Of The Living Dead, incorporating its existence into the reality of its world. Frank asks Freddy, “Did you know that movie was based on a true case?” He adds that the bodies were shipped to that very warehouse by mistake, and takes him into the basement to show him the containers. To prove the containers won’t leak, Frank bangs on one of them. And guess what? Gas suddenly springs out of it, causing both Frank and Freddy to start coughing and then pass out. When they come to, they’re not feeling all that good. Plus, the containers are now empty, and they find the cadaver in the freezer is no longer entirely dead.

Enlisting the help of their boss, Burt (Clu Gulager, who turns in one of the film’s best performances), and Burt’s friend Ernie (Don Calfa), they try to dispose of the problem. But things go from bad to worse when they burn the cadavers, and a rain brings the chemical right back down to the nearby cemetery, where Freddy’s friends are killing time. And soon there are many more zombies to deal with. And these zombies, unlike in other films, can actually think and strategize. One of them gets on the ambulance radio and says, “Send more paramedics.” Later another gets on the police car radio and says, “Send more cops.” It’s like ordering a pizza.

The film includes lots of little jokes in the set dressing, from the name of the warehouse – Uneeda Medical Supply – to the eye chart in the office, to the sign above the chapel which reads, “Beyond this fleeting day, the rest from which no man wakes.” And yes, some of the acting is a little over the top. But, as I mentioned, there are truly scary moments. And when the female zombie says, “I can feel myself rot,” it gives me chills every time.

Disc 1 Special Features

The first disc contains four separate commentary tracks. The first is by Gary Smart and Chris Griffiths. The second is with Thom Mathews, John Philbin and Tony Gardner. The third is with Dan O’Bannon and William Stout. And the fourth features William Stout, Don Calfa, Linnea Quigley, Brian Peck, Beverly Randolph and Allan Trautman.

The Decade Of Darkness is featurette on 1980s horror films, featuring interviews with Joe Dante, John Landis, Tom Holland, Catherine Hicks, Dee Wallace and others. They talk about how comedy began being inserted into the horror genre in this decade. Movies discussed include Motel Hell, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Child’s Play and The Howling. The Decade Of Darkness is approximately twenty-three minutes.

The first disc also includes five trailers for the film, as well as ten television spots and two still galleries. This disc also provides Zombie Subtitles, a silly feature which basically just includes subtitles when the zombies grunt and moan. And there is another silly subtitles feature, In Their Own Words – Zombies Speak, which provides lines when the zombies are just grunting. Like when one zombie bites into a person’s head, the subtitle reads: “Yum-yum. Oh, that’s so good.”

Disc 2 Special Features

The second disc is all bonus material. More Brains: A Return To The Living Dead is a two-hour documentary on the film, narrated by cast member Brian Peck, and featuring interviews with production designer William Stout, cinematographer Jules Brenner, casting director Stanzi Stokes, and other crew members. Also interviewed are cast members Linnea Quigley, Thom Mathews, James Karen, Clu Gulager, Beverly Randolph, John Philbin, Allan Trautman, Jewel Shepard, Brian Peck and Miquel A. Nunez, Jr. Beverly Randolph’s story about going to Dan O’Bannon’s house is funny. Also funny is the story of Linnea being shaved for the nude scene. And it’s interesting that the great scene of Frank’s demise was actually James Karen’s idea. It’s one of the film’s best moments. James A. Russo, who co-wrote Night Of The Living Dead, talks about how Return Of The Living Dead actually did stem from the Romero film, and about the original idea for the film. It’s interesting that the cast had a two-week rehearsal period for this movie. This documentary includes some storyboards and concept art.

The FX Of The Return Of The Living Dead is, obviously, a featurette on the makeup and visual effects of the film, and includes interviews with William Stout, Bill Munns, Kenny Myers, Craig Caton, Tony Gardner, Gene Warren Jr. and Bret Mixon, as well as with Brian Peck, an actor who ended up playing several zombies too. There are some interesting anecdotes, like that extras were paid another five dollars if they’d eat real animal brains. This is approximately thirty-three minutes.

Party Time: The Music Of The Return Of The Living Dead is a half-hour piece on the soundtrack and its use of punk music, featuring interviews with Dinah Cancer, Budd Carr, Greg Hetson, Steve Pross, Joe Wood, Karl Moet (who explains the band name SSQ), Roky Erickson, Chris D., John Sox, and Mark Robertson.

The second disc also includes an episode of Horror’s Hallowed Grounds about the locations used in The Return Of The Living Dead, as well an interview with Dan O’Bannon (his final interview, actually). He mentions how he did his best to stay off Romero’s turf with the film, and how he made the decision to address that film in the first scene of the movie. He also talks about his guns, and why he changed his attitude toward them, and about how Clu’s problems with the film came about. The bit about the skeletons is interesting. This interview is nearly a half hour.

The Origins Of The Return Of The Living Dead is an interview with John A. Russo, who co-wrote Night Of The Living Dead and was one of the story writers for The Return Of The Living Dead. He talks about some of his original ideas for this film. This interview is approximately fifteen minutes. The Return Of The Living Dead: The Dead Have Risen is a featurette on the film, featuring interviews with Clu Gulager, James Karen, Don Calfa, Brian Peck, Thom Mathews, Beverly Randolph, Linnea Quigley and Allan Trautman. This is from 2007, and is approximately twenty-one minutes. Designing The Dead is another featurette on the film, featuring an interview with Dan O’Bannon, in which he talks about how the film came about. It also includes an interview with William Stout, as well as some of the concept artwork for the film. It is approximately fourteen minutes.

In addition to all of that, the second disc includes a work print of The Return Of The Living Dead. Sure, the picture quality isn’t great, but it is a treat to have this all the same. There is plenty to keep the horror fan on your holiday gift list busy and happy.

This 2-disc edition of The Return Of The Living Dead was released on July 19, 2016 through Scream Factory, a division of Shout! Factory.