Mrparka's Video Reviews for the Week of July 22nd + Contest

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Video Reviews 

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Time Stamps

www.facebook.com/screamingpotty 

Time Stamps
The Stendhal Syndrome Review - 0:49
Bag Boy Lover Boy Review - 7:00
House of Wax Review - 13:22
Door 1 of the 5 Doors to Hell Review - 17:20
Shout Out - 22:27
Old Contest Winner - 23:34
New Contest - 24:35
Update - 25:25
Q&A -  26:26
Dustin Mills Interview - 35:32

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Stendhal Syndrome, The (3-Disc Limited Edition Combo) [Blu-ray]
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Buy Here - http://grindhousevideo.com/products/stendhal-syndrome-3-disc-limited-edition-blu-raydvd
​Buy Here - http://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/stendhal-syndrome-blue-underground-3-disc-le-dvd-blu-ray-all-region/

http://blue-underground.com/

                                    Review by MrParka
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                Dario Argento's "Stendhal Syndrome" gets the deluxe treatment from Blue Underground, remastered gorgeously and with plenty of features. Made in 1996 after two commercial failures in America, Argento retreated back to his native Italy for more creative control. The result is no doubt an interesting piece of cinema, but is it really the final masterpiece by the maestro that some claim it to be?
                 “Stendhal Syndrome” starts with a seemingly lost woman (Asia Argento) wandering the Uffizi Gallery in Italy. The art that surrounds her soon causes the Stendhal Syndrome to occur. The symptoms of this disorder seem to include confusion, hallucinations, and personality changes. After a fall which results in a slight injury, Asia is helped by a strange man who enters her life in a most violent and sadistic way. As the film moves along, we quickly discover Asia is a police officer with the anti-rape unit and the strange man is a violent serial rapist and murderer who Asia was looking for. Asia is soon attacked by the killer and becomes the centerpiece in his sick and twisted exploits.
                The “Stendhal Syndrome” opens up with the audience knowing very little about our central character and the plot. The works of art and surreal moments create an engaging and unique viewing experience, keeping the audience intrigued.  A truly captivating scene is when Asia visualizes herself entering a classic painting where she dives to the depths of the sea and has a strange encounter with a fish. Stendhal is equally visual and psychological. This combination manages to create a film world where graffiti monsters with giant erections can come to life without it seeming like complete fiction. With this sort of set up, the possibilities are broad, freeing, and lead to an intertwining of art and horror. Argento is a master at correlating art with death/violence. In several scenes, blood splatters on white clothing or faces, recalling paint on a canvas.  Not coincidentally, the sight of blood arouses our killer as does the sight of art. These touches of psychology mixed with art recall Argento's first film, “The Bird with the Crystal Plumage,” where the killer in that film was reminded of an attack that occurred to them by a painting retelling the incident. This awful painting incited violence in our victim to become a killer themselves. Similarly, in Stendhal, the attack on Asia and the Stendhal Syndrome disorder that affects her has triggered a violent personality change. This change becomes so dramatic at points that she seems to adopt the personality traits of her attacker. In a way art was again the catalysts for violent behavior. Argento explores these ideas and concepts well and “Stendhal Syndrome” seems to give the impression that Argento is vastly interested in the subject, discovering interesting ideas while making the film.
                Asia Argento is top notch in the role; playing a great duality in her character, she mixes these two parts well. At points she comes across vulnerable and other times dangerous while still staying sympathetic and interesting. The rest of the cast fill their roles nicely but the other stand out is Thomas Kretschmann. His menacing portrayal of a serial rapist recalls that of Paul Bernardo, mixing good looks and a sadistic nature.  These traits make for a horrifying combination. The murder and rape scenes are done in a most unpleasant and effective way.  The cinematography is slick and gutsy, like most early Argento. One of the best filmed scenes is the one that takes place in the museum where a future victim is surrounded by sculptures that tower over him. The camera feels alive due to elaborate staging and seems similar to the work done in Mario Bava’s “Blood and Black Lace”. “Stendhal Syndrome” marks the reuniting of Argento with the great composer Ennio Morricone and the result does not disappoint; the music is beautiful and haunting. The practical effects in the film are great, including the brief monster hallucination and the moments of murder and mayhem. The digital effects are dated, but were state of the art at the time. Although they look silly by today’s standards, it’s hard to hold it against the film, especially when they attempted something new.
                “Stendhal Syndrome” includes the old features from the DVD including interviews with Argento, Sergio Stivaletti, Luigi Cozzi, Psychological Consultant Graziella Magherini, and Massimo Antonello Geleng. Also included are a new audio commentary with Troy Howarth, an interview with Asia Argento, an interview with Franco Ferrini, and an interview with Franco Casagni. The film is a vast improvement from the DVD and looks and sounds amazing. Rediscovering this title in this new deluxe edition should create some new fans, Argento managed to create a movie with an interesting concept, psychology, and beautiful imagery that still stands the test of time and will probably be better received now than on its release.

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Plot Summary:
DARIO ARGENTO'S Masterpiece Of Terror 
Uncut, Uncensored And Newly Remastered! 

When beautiful police detective Anna Manni follows the bloody trail of a sophisticated serial murderer/rapist through the streets of Italy, the young woman falls victim to the bizarre "Stendhal Syndrome" a hallucinatory phenomenon which causes her to lose her mind and memory in the presence of powerful works of art. Trapped in this twilight realm, Anna plunges deeper and deeper into sexual psychosis, until she comes to know the killer's madness more intimately than she ever imagined. 

Horror maestro Dario Argento (SUSPIRIA, OPERA) reaches new heights of florid fantasy and Grand Guignol with this warped work of art starring Maxim Magazine's "Sexiest Woman in the World" Asia Argento (LAND OF THE DEAD, XXX), Thomas Kretschmann (DRACULA 3D, KING KONG) and Marco Leonardi (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN 3, CINEMA PARADISO). Previously edited outside of Italy, Blue Underground proudly presents THE STENDHAL SYNDROME in a gorgeous new 2K restoration from the original camera negative and bursting with brand-new Extras exclusive to this release!​


​Special Features Disc One:

- NEW Audio Commentary with Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse
- Three Shades Of Asia NEW Interview with Star Asia Argento
- Prisoner Of Art NEW Interview with Co-Writer Franco Ferrini
- Sharp As A Razor NEW Interview with Special Makeup Artist Franco Casagni
- Theatrical Trailer
- Poster & Still Gallery

Special Features Disc Two:

- Director: Dario Argento
- Inspiration: Psychological Consultant Graziella Magherini
- Special Effects: Sergio Stivaletti
- Assistant Director: Luigi Cozzi
- Production Designer: Massimo Antonello Geleng
- BONUS Collectable Booklet with new essay by author Michael Gingold

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Bag Boy Lover Boy 

Buy Blu-Ray - http://grindhousevideo.com/products/bag-boy-lover-blu-ray
Buy DVD - http://grindhousevideo.com/products/bag-boy-lover-dvd
Buy Blu-ray - http://www.diabolikdvd.com/product/bag-boy-lover-severin-blu-ray-all-region/

                                      Review by MrParka
Severin Films brings the bat shit crazy character study horror film, “Bag Boy Lover Boy” to Blu-ray.
                Albert is a strange lonely man with a dead pan personality; he spends his time selling hotdogs at his dirty hotdog street vendor job. One day a wealthy photographer, Ivan, spots Albert and decides he is the perfect model to exploit for his asphyxiation fetish shoots. Soon Albert is sucked into the world of art and soon wants to become a photographer. Albert becomes alienated during a shoot and uses his new found photography “skills” and Ivan’s slick teachings to pick up and murder women.
                “Bag Boy Lover Boy” is a sleazy and violent affair with touches of jet black and gross out humor, these elements fit into a story about the exploitation of human beings for personal gain. “Bag Boy Lover Boy” is hard to categorize, it shares similarities to films such as “Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla,” “The Greasy Strangler,” and “Cat Sick Blues,” but feels much more grounded than the latter two films. It’s ridiculous, but not impossible. “Bag Boy Lover Boy” is also grounded enough to be cringe inducing, the situations that Albert is put into and how he handles them with his awkward movements and nativity create an uncomfortable feeling.  Also cringe-worthy are the scenes involving food being mishandled. The most memorable of these is when Albert drops a hotdog on the ground and decides to serve it anyway, ignoring the anger of his customers.
                The character of Albert is dangerous, scary, gross, and somewhat sympathetic. His sympathy is garnished a bit as his reluctance to kill is lacking which seems to be a possible weakness in the way his mental state is portrayed. There is an attempt to examine Albert’s mental state with some flashes and hallucinations but they don’t serve much of a purpose except to show his delusional nature. Although these scenes are visually enticing the style of them is a bit out of line with the rest of the film. “Bag Boy Lover Boy” manages to create a few effective murders without being overly gory. The weirdness and suspense go a long way. The murders start out comical with a layer of suspense, but soon turn graphic and fairly horrific, one even ending in necrophilia.  Although Albert is a killer, the character of Ivan maybe is even less redeeming.  Ivan is a manipulative personality and his aggressiveness is intense and hilarious as we watch him lead Albert into his pocket with cash and promises. Ivan’s dialogue and performance is top notch and every moment he is on screen is guaranteed laughs, even if it is at the expense of others. Ivan’s character being an art photographer gives a chance for the film makers to take jabs at the pretentious art crowd. This is done best in a scene where Albert is forced to “butcher” a woman dressed as a pig while Ivan screams insults while snapping pictures. “The Demon Butcher of Meat Street” screams Ivan as Albert stares deadpan and a model overacts to a pair of thongs poking her buttock.  These silly yet clever comedy moments are very close to the scenes of gritty, sleazy violence, creating a strange feeling.  Also taking into consideration that these acts of mayhem are being done by a socially awkward cringe inducing killer and it’s no wonder that “Bag Boy Lover Boy” ends up being a unique, repulsive, and maniacally schizophrenic movie from hell.
                Severin has included a commentary with the director (Andres Torres), editor (Charlie Williams), and actor (Theodore Bouloukos, Ivan). Also included are two short films by Jon Watcher (Albert), and a trailer. “Bag Boy Lover Boy” seems to be one of Severin’s only contemporary releases and for good reason, it’s a wild ride worth checking out.

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Plot Summary:
It has been hailed as "raw, funny and twisted" (PopOptiq), condemned as "soul-crushing" (NextProjection.com), and cheered as "a fresh new outsider vision" (Fantasia) at film festivals around the world. In this "sincerely disturbing" (Indiewire) debut from co-writer/director Andres Torres, a slow-witted misfit named Albert (Jon Wachter, giving what HorrorNews calls "the best male performance in a horror film this year" sells hot dogs all night from the most unsanitary food cart in downtown Manhattan. But when he's invited to become the new model for a manipulative photographer, Albert will be exposed to a seething city underbelly. It may shock you. But you have never seen anything quite like BAG BOY LOVER BOY.

​- Trailer
- Audio Commentary With Director Andres Torres, Actor Theodore Bouloukos and Editor Charlie Williams
- The Student Films of Actor Jon Wachter: GOT LIGHT and THE NEVER-STARTING STORY

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House of Wax 

Buy Blu-Ray - ​https://www.amazon.com/House-Wax-Blu-ray-Vincent-Price/dp/B00DQLQN3S/
House Of Wax 3D (Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray)

Plot Summary:
Warner Bros. proudly presents the most successful 3D movie of the 1950s - now, for the first time, in Blu-ray 3D! Screen legend Vincent Price stars as Henry Jarrod, an intense master sculptor who thinks of his wax creations as his "children." Terribly disfigured in a fire set by a greedy business partner, Jarrod schemes to rebuild the museum as a macabre chamber of horrors filled with lurid figures that eerily resemble those of murder victims stolen from the local morgue. This horror classic comes complete with bonus features - including how director Andre De Toth was able to produce this 3D masterpiece with just one eye and no depth perception.

Special Features: 
House Of Wax: Unlike Anything You've Seen Before!
Commentary By David Del Valle and Constantine Nasr
Newsreel
Theatrical Trailer
1933 Warner Bros. Feature Mystery Of The Wax Museum

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Door 1 of the 5 Doors to Hell 

https://www.facebook.com/door1ofthe5doorstohell/

Plot Summary: 
After renting a cursed VHS tape of a horror anthology nobody has ever heard of, four horror lovers are sucked into the tape and forced to live out each segment alone.

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Shout Out 

Oddtopsy FX and Marcus Koch
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1155596/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
​https://www.facebook.com/marcus.koch.3954

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Contests

Winner of the triple pack is Jeff Harrop !! Congrats!!!

To enter the new contest to win Psychotica Hardbox please do the following
1. Like the Screaming Toilet Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/screamingpotty
2. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel - www.youtube.com/mrparka
3. Leave a comment on this page saying you want to be entered. 

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Update 

Blu-Rays 
1. From Noon Til Three 
2. Free Fire
3. M
4. Night Porter
5. Jubal 

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Q&A 

If you would like to ask a question please ask it in the comments below. It will be answered in the next show. 

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Dustin Mills Interview 

http://grindhousevideo.com/t/dustin-mills - the only place to buy Dustin Mills DVDs and Blu-Rays 
https://www.patreon.com/Dwmills Keep the movies coming
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