no one would ever believe that this movie would get a delux DVD release from Criterion. and yet here it is. gives one hope for the eventual release of other landmark monster movies.
Whatever you
choose, this set is an amazing ode to the power of Do It Yourself.
These teenagers had no idea how to do what they were doing, they just
went out and improvised, and set the tone for future effects films,
though they hardly knew it at the time. The set is chock full of
extras, interviews with the cast and effects teams, trailers,
stop-motion shorts, production photos (most never seen before) and
both versions of the movie. unfortunately, the 8mm short is not included, though it would have been kind of redundant, but fun anyway. interesting to note while Taurus is featured on the box, he's nowhere to be found in the movie at all.
It also comes with an extensive booklet of liner notes written by filmmaker/writer/genius Brock DeShane. There might be a more
informative tome written about this movie, but I sure can’t figure
out who would do it.
There are whiners
and film snobs that can’t believe Criterion would release a movie
like this, but don’t listen to them. Not every worthy film has to
be about dark depressing subjects or in a foreign language. While
the movies themselves are not that great (not for lack of effort, but
Woods’ version definitely has more polish on it than Muren’s) the
history is what needs preserving.
The
movie involves four teenagers having a picnic lunch in the mountains.
They come across a strange man with an old book, and then a variety
of monsters show up, much to their horror. The similarities to THE Evil Dead movies and the
stupid BLAIR WITCH PROJECT
are there to be seen.
And
for those that saw GODZILLA
2000 in the theaters,
this movie ends with the same QUESTION mark that Jack used in other
films.
I wrote this several years ago, when the DVD came out. I'm surprised I have never included it here at all, til now. hard to believe that was five years ago.
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