I DRINK YOUR BLOOD

I DRINK YOUR BLOOD

Aka PHOBIA

I was unfortunate enough to miss out on the initial Grindhouse run of limited signed DVDs of this film, available at the time only from Blackest Heart Media. But, as they seemed to sell out quickly, it still seems timeous as I write (June 19th, 2004) to comment upon the recent re-release of said disc courtesy of the fine chaps at Fangoria.

A minor cause-celebre at US drive-ins in the 70s, this film was rudely robbed of it's potential cult status by heavy censorship and studio interference at the time. Even the esteemed Aurum Horror Encyclopedia reckoned the film "had all the makings of another NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD or THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE but � the film was extensively cut and re-edited and 10 minutes of new footage were added".

The fact that the film had been served no better on video either (worse, in fact) and that director David Durston had all but disappeared from view, didn't help matters. Was I DRINK YOUR BLOOD destined to be forgotten forever?

Of course not. The snails/perfectionists (choose your preference) at Grindhouse remembered this film as one of the great jolting horror experiences of the 70s and were determined to introduce it to a new generation of hardcore horror DVD maniacs.

Why did they bother? What does it have to offer a modern horror audience? Well �

The film opens with a fairly atmospheric satanic ritual, complete with a roaring fire, naked teens (including an uncredited Lynn Lowry, SHIVERS; CAT PEOPLE; THE CRAZIES) and a night-time woodland setting. A few incantations and the sight of a chicken's throat being slashed, it's blood then squeezed onto the exposed breasts of a willing (albeit aged) potential recruit to the clan - you know: it's all good stuff.

We discover that the budding Satanists are little more than a group of disillusioned youths following the then-popular free-thinking mantra of Manson and his cronies. Their van has broken down in a run-down town on the verge of complete desertion, and they decide to take advantage of the situation by squatting in an abandoned house for a couple of nights.

Unfortunately, they have doled out a severe beating to a local girl who befriended one of their clan, Andy (Tyde Kierny. FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES; VAMPIRELLA), and consequently stumbled upon their ritual. As a result, the girl's grandfather confronts the drugged up hippies with his shotgun. Unfortunately for him, this bunch of free-loving fuck-ups is not open to negotiation and for his troubles Grandpa receives a good kicking, followed by a force-fed LSD trip.

Young Pete (Riley Mills) half-witnesses his grandfather's humiliation at the hands of these punks, and resolves to teach them a lesson. Later that night he hears strange noises emanating from the nearby woods. Upon closer inspection, Pete discovers a rabid dog on it's last legs. He shoots the dog dead with his grandfather's gun - then in the morning is struck with the notion of taking a syringe and extracting a healthy dose of infected blood from the canine, and injecting it into a dozen pies that he sells to the hippies for breakfast.

Sure enough, the hippies - led by the enigmatic Horace Bones (Bhaskar, THE CREATION OF WOMAN) - eat the pies and start to feel their ill effects in world-record time. Before you know it, the hippies have gone apeshit, turning on each other, axing limbs off corpses and gang-banging a group of nearby construction workers in order to transmit the disease on further.

From hereon in the film is reduced (elevated?!) to a succession of chase sequences and horrific scenarios (pregnant woman with rabies stabs herself in the stomach to spare both lives of the suffering; decapitation, goat slaughtering and self-immolation feature heavily, etc).

I DRINK YOUR BLOOD plays very much like the best film Herschell Gordon Lewis NEVER made.

The dialogue is completely risible; the acting is marvellously shit; the way characters witness something obscenely violent then talk normally about something else within seconds has to be seen to be believed � but it cannot be denied that Durston's script thrives on pure exploitative horror, and that his direction keeps things moving at a satisfyingly breakneck pace. As a result, the trashier aspects of the film (the low-budget gore, the pulp subject matter) can be enjoyed on a no-brain level - and this benefits the film immensely.

I DRINK YOUR BLOOD is presented here fully uncut and uncensored. And what a difference that makes - it is a bold, gory horror flick for it's time (1971). This film can finally take it's place as one of the landmark horrors of the early 70s - no small feat when you consider that this era also spawned LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT, THE EXORCIST, THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE, THE WICKER MAN, LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END STREET etc.

This one is decidedly downmarket, but a fucking good piece of cheap unapologetically violent exploitation nonetheless. And it's blessed with a great soundtrack too - sometimes creepy (the repetitive whirring), sometimes ludicrous (the funky BATMANesque riff that compliments the highly amusing scene of rabid construction workers chasing hero Jack Damon through the woods).

One of those films that can simultaneously appeal as a piece of cheap crap and a truly deceptive work of disturbing art at the same time, I DRINK YOUR BLOOD works due to it's low budget and dubious acting, script, etc. It all gives a pulp quality to the already exploitative subject matter on offer. It is, in short, brilliant. In it's own way �

That's the film covered. What about the disc?

It's grand. From the attention-grabbing cover, through the packaging (nice on-set Durston photo on the back of the cover; lovely fold-out booklet that replicates the original I DRINK YOUR BLOOD / I EAT YOUR SKIN theatrical poster artwork), to even the animated menu pages - this is a beautifully conceived presentation.

The film itself is presented in it's original full-frame ratio and looks 1000 times better than it ever has done before. If you worried about a repeat performance of the lacklustre video quality of Grindhouse's last solo release (CANNIBAL FEROX), then don't. I DRINK YOUR BLOOD looks sharp, clear and clean. Great vivid colours and a bare minimum of grain. Hoorah!

The original mono soundtrack, again, plays without the hindrance of hiss or drop-out - consistent and clear: full marks.

Honestly, if you've seen the film on video in the past - this will be revelatory!!

It's worth noting that you get the option of two versions of the film on this disc: the Uncensored X-rated Theatrical Cut, or the Original Director's Cut. In terms of gore, both are equal (and offer far more than previous R-rated/heavily censored versions from years gone by). The only difference between the two is that the director's cut reinstates four scenes originally cut by the distributors largely for pacing reasons (although the tagged-on ending is much more satisfying than the abrupt finale in the theatrical print). The deleted scenes are admittedly quite 'speckly' and therefore of inferior in quality compared to the source used to acquire the bulk of the transfer used. But they're perfectly watchable all the same � and you DID want to see the fullest version of the film, didn't you?!

Although I did find that there were slight pauses occasionally when watching the Director's Cut � hmm, this 'branchless' seaming isn't always what it's cracked up to be?!

Extras? Er, yes, there's quite a few. Where to start?

First up is the wonderfully charming commentary track from old mates Durston and Bhaskar. Fluent and often very amusing, it's a wonderfully detailed and therefore informative study on the making of this ultra low-budget milestone. Considering the film is 30 years old, and that both commentators were getting on at the time of recording this track (2002 - Bhaskar has sadly passed away since), their recollections are many.

Next is a 30 minute featurette entitled THE I DRINK YOUR BLOOD SHOW. This finds Durston in his back yard, reuniting with cast members and quizzing them on their memories of the shoot, talk-show style. Lynn Lowry tells of how the filming corrupted her innocence and introduced her to sex, drugs and rock 'n'roll; Kierny seems non-plussed at the title of the film, moans about the labours of having a cast made of his head (for the decapitation scene) then instigates an abrupt end to his interview by offering an anecdote not to the director's liking; Jack Damon sits back smug and deeply tanned � but offers decent rapport with Durston nevertheless.

The four deleted scenes are offered as isolated bonus features - so if you prefer to see the theatrical cut as viewed by American audiences in the 70s, you can do so � then visit these four curiosity pieces as a separate matter.

The original trailer and radio spot are hugely enjoyable slices of exploitative over-advertising, typical of Jerry Gross.

In addition, there are trailers for several other titles currently held by the Grindhouse stable. These include MASSACRE MAFIA STYLE; THE BEYOND; CANNIBAL FEROX; PIECES; CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST �

The posters and stills gallery on offer is very impressive indeed. An exhaustive array of video covers, theatrical posters, lobby cards and so much more.

Cast and crew bios/filmographies include some very welcome video footage not advertised on the cover of the DVD (for instance, Lowry's filmography page includes a trailer for THE CRAZIES; Durston's bio page includes 10 minutes of video footage culled from a personal introduction to a screening of the film at a horror festival).

There's obscure rare footage of Bhaskar performing a ridiculous snake dance that has to be seen to be believed.

Oh, and perish the thought that I should forget to mention the Easter Eggs hidden within the colourful, amusingly gory menu pages � look out for such delights as Durston singing a song about indie filmmaking, priceless video footage of the commentary track being recorded and the opening pre-credits/credits sequence for the black-and-white voodoo shocker I EAT YOUR SKIN.

Grindhouse made us wait an awfully long time since first announcing their intentions to release this classic NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD rip-off on to DVD. But thankfully it's been worth the wait.

And kudos are equally due to Fangoria for picking up the ball that Grindhouse dropped by only releasing an initial press of 5000 at the time. If, like me, you missed out on the highly collectible initial release I urge you to seek this out pronto - the Fango release is identical in every respect, save of course for the signed covers (boo hoo!).

Brilliant film, ripe for re-evaluation, awesome disc.

Review by Stuart Willis


 
Released by Fangoria/Grindhouse
Region All NTSC
Not Rated
Extras : see main review
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