One knows the exact moment when Hershell Gordon Lewis fell in love with the remake of his own Drive-In Cult Classic Blood Feast. It involves a saw and a man’s … member. The shocking moment is in the spirit of exactly what HGL did in his prime. Blood Feast in its 2016 form directed by Marcel Walz feels like the type of kindred spirit of a remake that updates exactly what Lewis did back in the 1960s.
American couple Fuad and Louise Ramses (Robert Rusler and Caroline Williams) have opened an American-style diner on the outskirts of Paris. Fuad’s dream has become a money pit. So much so that he works night as a security guard at a museum. No sooner than you can say Amen Ra – Fuad has been entranced by the Goddess of “love” Ishtar (Sadie Katz). Ishtar wants nothing more than his undying devotion and sacrifices of the human kind. Fuad begins, very enthusiastically, to hunt down the homeless and his daughter’s (Sophie Monk) friends in the most grotesque of ways. All to appease Ishtar’s lust and plan for resurrection.
The update follows a similar blueprint/arc though the shift from the suburbs of Florida to the city lights of Paris is a welcome change. In fact, this iteration of Blood Feast is an upgrade in every way that a fan would want. The garish tone and stilted acting are gone. The darkest of gallows humor still remains and of course the gore. The glorious and copious amounts of gore are possibly amped up to the most realistic of degrees.
In fact, fans of extreme horror and gore-filled genre entries will delight in the beautiful and disturbing set pieces in the film. Though HGL fans may want to stay away unless their tastes go into the Hostel-style practical makeup FX work. The breezy almost cheeky style that Lewis had is nowhere to be found. Though it shouldn’t really be when you’re making a beautiful shot on location in Paris horror film.
Director/Co-writer Marcel Walz keeps everything moving and manages that tricky balance of keeping the gore shocking but not overindulgent. His work with performers Rusler, Williams, and Monk is elevated in a way that will make horror fans seek out his other work. Blood Feast is the kind of well-made shocking horror film that will delight and surprise fans of the genre, especially in this uncut version.
The Transfer
The 4K presentation of the uncut version of the film is near reference quality. Synapse has done an excellent job of taking this beautifully shot film and bringing it into the 4K UHD stratosphere. The image is sharp and filled with consistent color reproduction that showcases not just the locations in Paris but gives us every blood-spurting makeup FX in excruciating detail. The image is free of any digital artifacting and is free of any of the dreaded “crushed blacks” that can sometimes affect darkly lit digitally shot films such as this. Bravo to Synapse who continues to do excellent work with their 4K UHD and restorations.
The Extras
They include the following;
Original uncut version of the film available for the first time in the USA
Indiegogo promotional teaser
Theatrical trailer
“Making of Blood Feast” featurette
Chilli Con Curtis “Tonite” – Music Video
BLOOD FEAST – Red Carpet Premiere 2018
BLOOD FEAST – Scare Cam
Indiegogo promotional teaser (1:08) – a style trailer with no real footage but includes Hershell Gordon Lewis from his original trailer, and footage from the original as well.
Theatrical trailer (1:29)
“Making of Blood Feast” featurette (28:52) – a fairly comprehensive making-of documentary featuring some great behind-the-scenes, b-roll, and interview footage. This doc cleverly uses b-roll footage along with the cut-together final scene of what they’re shooting. This is pretty fascinating as we get an insider look at some of the make-up FX set pieces (there are great moments with the cast as they film the finale) and how they come together on set. It features off-the-cuff interviews with Caroline Williams, Robert Russler, Sophie Monk, and Marcel Walz.
Chilli Con Curtis “Tonite” – Music Video (3:38) – the video shot on-location at the diner that plays an integral part of in the story clever intercut with footage from the film to make it appear the group is singing while the events of the film are going on.
BLOOD FEAST – Red Carpet Premiere 2018 (28:51) – B-roll footage from the premiere back in 2018 at the Fine Arts Theater in Los Angeles, California. Featuring interviews with the director Marcel Walz, cast (Caroline Williams, Robert Russler, Sadie Katz, Liliana Nova) and crew, and a few surprise stars.
BLOOD FEAST – Scare Cam (5:44) – video footage shot on phone by Marcel Walz and others scaring the various actors and crew scaring them – including consistently upset Caroline Williams.
The Final Thought
Gorehounds are going to love Blood Feast in its uncut form. Bravo to Synapse for providing an excellent 4K UHD edition of the film. Recommended!
Hershell Gordon Lewis’ Blood Feast gets an appropriate modern update. Synapse has released a beautiful 4K UHD set of the Uncut Version of the Gore Filled Reimagination.
The Film
One knows the exact moment when Hershell Gordon Lewis fell in love with the remake of his own Drive-In Cult Classic Blood Feast. It involves a saw and a man’s … member. The shocking moment is in the spirit of exactly what HGL did in his prime. Blood Feast in its 2016 form directed by Marcel Walz feels like the type of kindred spirit of a remake that updates exactly what Lewis did back in the 1960s.
American couple Fuad and Louise Ramses (Robert Rusler and Caroline Williams) have opened an American-style diner on the outskirts of Paris. Fuad’s dream has become a money pit. So much so that he works night as a security guard at a museum. No sooner than you can say Amen Ra – Fuad has been entranced by the Goddess of “love” Ishtar (Sadie Katz). Ishtar wants nothing more than his undying devotion and sacrifices of the human kind. Fuad begins, very enthusiastically, to hunt down the homeless and his daughter’s (Sophie Monk) friends in the most grotesque of ways. All to appease Ishtar’s lust and plan for resurrection.
The update follows a similar blueprint/arc though the shift from the suburbs of Florida to the city lights of Paris is a welcome change. In fact, this iteration of Blood Feast is an upgrade in every way that a fan would want. The garish tone and stilted acting are gone. The darkest of gallows humor still remains and of course the gore. The glorious and copious amounts of gore are possibly amped up to the most realistic of degrees.
In fact, fans of extreme horror and gore-filled genre entries will delight in the beautiful and disturbing set pieces in the film. Though HGL fans may want to stay away unless their tastes go into the Hostel-style practical makeup FX work. The breezy almost cheeky style that Lewis had is nowhere to be found. Though it shouldn’t really be when you’re making a beautiful shot on location in Paris horror film.
Director/Co-writer Marcel Walz keeps everything moving and manages that tricky balance of keeping the gore shocking but not overindulgent. His work with performers Rusler, Williams, and Monk is elevated in a way that will make horror fans seek out his other work. Blood Feast is the kind of well-made shocking horror film that will delight and surprise fans of the genre, especially in this uncut version.
The Transfer
The 4K presentation of the uncut version of the film is near reference quality. Synapse has done an excellent job of taking this beautifully shot film and bringing it into the 4K UHD stratosphere. The image is sharp and filled with consistent color reproduction that showcases not just the locations in Paris but gives us every blood-spurting makeup FX in excruciating detail. The image is free of any digital artifacting and is free of any of the dreaded “crushed blacks” that can sometimes affect darkly lit digitally shot films such as this. Bravo to Synapse who continues to do excellent work with their 4K UHD and restorations.
The Extras
They include the following;
Indiegogo promotional teaser (1:08) – a style trailer with no real footage but includes Hershell Gordon Lewis from his original trailer, and footage from the original as well.
Theatrical trailer (1:29)
“Making of Blood Feast” featurette (28:52) – a fairly comprehensive making-of documentary featuring some great behind-the-scenes, b-roll, and interview footage. This doc cleverly uses b-roll footage along with the cut-together final scene of what they’re shooting. This is pretty fascinating as we get an insider look at some of the make-up FX set pieces (there are great moments with the cast as they film the finale) and how they come together on set. It features off-the-cuff interviews with Caroline Williams, Robert Russler, Sophie Monk, and Marcel Walz.
Chilli Con Curtis “Tonite” – Music Video (3:38) – the video shot on-location at the diner that plays an integral part of in the story clever intercut with footage from the film to make it appear the group is singing while the events of the film are going on.
BLOOD FEAST – Red Carpet Premiere 2018 (28:51) – B-roll footage from the premiere back in 2018 at the Fine Arts Theater in Los Angeles, California. Featuring interviews with the director Marcel Walz, cast (Caroline Williams, Robert Russler, Sadie Katz, Liliana Nova) and crew, and a few surprise stars.
BLOOD FEAST – Scare Cam (5:44) – video footage shot on phone by Marcel Walz and others scaring the various actors and crew scaring them – including consistently upset Caroline Williams.
The Final Thought
Gorehounds are going to love Blood Feast in its uncut form. Bravo to Synapse for providing an excellent 4K UHD edition of the film. Recommended!
Synapse’s 4K UHD Edition of Blood Feast is out January 16th
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