“Your rubbers are too BIG!“
It was inevitable. Buddy Cooper’s The Mutilator was bound to get some sort of plastic surgery at some point. Of course, we have Arrow Video to thank for that. Better late then never, guys. And thanks for the grand job of restoration and even including the special combo pack for the non-Blu-ray owners of America. Not that I’m one of those, but it definitely works as a “back-up” option.
Unlike the other slasher flicks being birthed from every corner of the nation, Cooper’s take focused less on the disadvantages of premarital sex and more on its kill scenes. I mean, for the love of gore, there’s a gaff hook! If you’re a gore hound, then this hot messy goo is for you!
While we just left the topic of gore, let’s go back for just a moment and mention that the man behind the mayhem is none other then effects artist Mark Shostrum. No? Nothing comes to mind? Well, yea he worked on The Slumber Party Massacre, but what should stand out are his later works. Let’s try these on for size. How about From Beyond, Videodrome, Evil Dead 2 and my personal favorite, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors? AAhhhaa! Now you know him! While the review isn’t entirely going to be focused on Mark, let’s just say that he has his hands busy creating a creative array of deaths. Anywhere from beheadings to “other” bodily mutilations.
Looks like he has his hands full, or not! Ouch! Whoops! I almost forgot to mention that the kind folks at Arrow Video went ahead and released the unrated version of the film. Those fanatically familiar with the film will remember its unrated theatrical run on half the side of the country, while an R- rated version was acquired on the other side. Finally, the holy grail of home video, Vestron Video, released both cuts of the film on VHS. You wanna see it, don’t cha?!
It’s a beaut! And this was only one version. The main reason Arrow’s release was delayed was due to attaining a new scan of the film that was untouched, having no cuts. And what you see is what you get! Forget about those crappy VHS transfers to DVD.
What was originally titled Fall Break, The Mutilator, is a gruesome splatter slasher that desperately needed its throne in High-Definition. So it got a nose job and maybe a tuck. Okay, so maybe several.
As far as story goes, a decade has passed for a homicidal father whose son accidentally kills his mother while cleaning out his father’s collection of guns. Christ, that sounds way more confusing then it should. Let me try this again. Ed Jr. (played by Matt Mitler) has decided to clean out his father’s collection of guns for his father’s birthday. Kinda weird, but hey, not my birthday so I can’t cry about it. In doing so, he sets one of the rifles off, accidentally shooting and killing his mother. Happy Birthday, Dad!
When Ed Sr. gets back home and finds his birthday surprise splattered, he attacks his son and their once needed relationship goes to hell. After years, Big Ed contacts his alienated son and asks him to take a trip to a beach property and close it down for Winter. I’m sure you don’t need me to hand hold you through the rest of the flick.
What Arrow does get the blame for is slapping on some pretty bodacious extras! You get a radical introduction to the film by Cooper and co, several behind-the-scenes specials, memories with FX guru Mark Shostrom, behind the score of the film, opening sequence storyboards and much, much more! ::Infomercial end credits here::
Word on the street is to go get you some of this action! I mean, it’s pretty impressive. The restoration alone is ‘director-approved’, so that should make it easier to pry open your wallets!
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