Is Blood Theatre/Visitants a Hidden Treasure or Dumpster Fire?
Blu-ray Distributed By: Vinegar Syndrome / June 26, 2018
From the damaged mind of director Rick Sloane (HOBGOBLINS) comes BLOOD THEATRE and THE VISITANTS.
In Sloane’s 1984 debut, BLOOD THEATRE, an old movie house in which a massacre occurred decades earlier, finally re-opens only to be once again targeted by a bloodthirsty maniac intent on murdering anyone and everyone who makes the mistake of buying a ticket. Packed with low rent bloodshed, BLOOD THEATRE exemplifies the no-budget aesthetic Sloane relished and features the one and only Mary Woronov (EATING RAOUL) in a supporting role.Sloane’s second feature effort, THE VISITANTS, is set in the neon colored 1950s and chronicles the hi-jinx which ensue following the theft of a ray gun by a teenage boy from his bizarre neighbors who just happen to be aliens who have embedded themselves within a sleepy suburban neighborhood.
Barely seen since their brief theatrical runs, Vinegar Syndrome presents the Blu-ray debuts of these off the wall, home grown pieces of jaw dropping mutant cinema, both newly restored from their 35mm camera negatives.
Blood Theatre
Jimbo’s Take 
(2.5 / 5)
If I were to venture a guess, I suspect my colleagues would be split on this Rick Sloane double-feature. Jamie and Travis would probably hate them. Craig would join me in celebrating what small value there is in Rick Sloane’s campy style.
But what does a Rick Sloane production look like? Sloane writes, directs, produces, shoots, edits all of his films himself. The benefits of this mean he has retained complete control of his works. The drawback: there’s no one else to blame. Performances tend to be over-the-top. And I mean chewing scenery over-the-top. It’s like every character was directed to deliver their dialogue like they were in a Leave It To Beaver spoof.
And Sloane’s scripts are bad. So bad that he can make a 75 minute movie feel much longer. Sloane’s movies often lose momentum because he becomes enamored with his own attempts at humor and gags instead of keeping the action focused. Many may view the film’s failures as proof of something unwatchable. I, however, view these inadequacies as the movie’s memorable strengths. And Sloane might agree, preferring to think of his films as “classics of trash.”
Perhaps Sloane’s greatest coupe was convincing cult-film/fan-favorite Mary Woronov (Rock ‘N’ Roll High School, Eating Raoul) to star in his Freshman feature film. She brings a certain level of credibility to a film in need of validation. But Blood Theatre never tries to be more than what it is; a horror comedy full of jokes most would be embarrassed to say out loud, a high bloody body count, and just enough nudity to meet its quota.
Set your expectations accordingly (about a 2 or 3 out of 10) and you might just enjoy this one as much as I did.
The Visitants
Jimbo’s Take 
(3 / 5)
Even though it’s Sloane’s second feature, if you’ve never seen a Rick Sloane film I would recommend starting with The Visitants. That cheesy, tongue-n-cheek, Leave It To Beaver style suits Sloane’s vision for his 1950’s alien invasion comedy about a pair of “Visitants” moving into suburbia.
Not much improves between films. Sloane’s direction, cinematography, and writing remains as entertainingly poor as Blood Theatre. However this time we have the added benefit of bad sci-fi sets and terrible costumes. Costumes are often recycled, cheaply made, or come off the racks of the actor’s personal closets. Any alien monsters are simply guys in bad masks. And if you enjoyed that pair of golden spandex pants, or that letterman’s sweater from Blood Theatre, then you’re going to love seeing them again in The Visitants and Hobgoblins.
However, if there is one lesson learned, Sloane better manages his particular style with the source material. The only thing missing is the laugh track. And of his first three films, The Visitants acts as a good Rick Sloane test run for newbies. After all, if you can make it through The Visitants and feel entertained, then you probably stand a better chance of making it through Blood Theatre and his third film, Hobgoblins.
And (as usual) Vinegar Syndrome’s Blood Theatre/Visitants blu-ray scores exceptionally high marks. Both movies look and sound better than they deserve. And if you want to line up a prefect Rick Sloane triple feature, I highly recommend Vinegar Syndrome’s Hobgoblins release to compliment this one. Both discs are packed with bonus features. And all three movies are amazingly bad!
Hidden Treasure/Dumpster Fire?
[amazon_link asins=’B07D5V3FVY,B01LVTULW6′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’trashmenamaz-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’6e2913f5-a310-11e8-818f-a75af1354558′]
Special Features
- Region free Blu-ray/DVD combo
- Newly scanned and restored in 2k from their 35mm camera negatives
- Bonus feature film: THE VISITANTS (1987), directed by Rick Sloane
- Commentary track with Rick Sloane on BLOOD THEATRE & THE VISITANTS
- Ensemble introduction from a screening at the New Beverly Cinema in Los Angeles with: Rick Sloane, Mary Woronov (actress BLOOD THEATRE), Marcus Vaughter (actor THE VISITANTS), Jordana Capra (actress THE VISITANTS)
- BLOOD THEATRE, post film Q&A with: Rick Sloane and Mary Woronow
- Commentary track for BLOOD THEATRE with: The Hysteria Continues!
- Reversible cover for THE VISITANTS
- English SDH subtitles
