Studio: Severin Films (through their Intervision line)
Release Date: No theatrical release / May 14th, 2019 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 76 mins
Region Code: FREE
Picture: 1080p (1.78:1 aspect ratio)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Subtitles: None
Slipcover: No
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Christine Appino, Brick Bronsky, Chet Cole
Written by Ed Polgardy and Dale Schneck
Directed by Brick Bronsky
Rating: Not Rated (strong bloody violence and gore, nudity, and language)
THE FILM
A professional wrestler takes a job in a group home for youth offenders after accidentally killing an opponent in the ring. When a masked killer begins slaughtering the residents, a no holds barred battle for survival breaks out.
Masked Mutilator is a wrestling themed slasher film that was shot in 1994 but wasn't completed until 2019. The film was directed by Brick Bronsky, who horror fans will know from Class of Nuke 'Em High 2 and 3, and it stars wrestlers too. The film is clearly a labor of love that couldn't be completely realized because of budget constraints, but that doesn't stop the film from being fun. Sure, the film is predictable as hell and the effects could have been better, but you can't fault the film for trying. Having a wrestler as the killer was definitely an inspired idea back then and it works. I will admit that I was hoping for more over the top wrestling kills but what we get here definitely gets the job done. This film isn't for everyone as many will find it boring or cringey but for those with an open mind, Masked Mutilator is worth at least one watch.
THE PICTURE AND THE SOUND
After filming finished in 1994, the developed film reels, and other assets, sat in the producer's basement until 2018 and the results are pretty damn good. The film was shot on 16mm so there is a lot of grain which takes away from finer details. This, however, does not make the picture look bad. Everything else here is really nice. Colors, skin tones, and blacks, especially the blacks, are all on point.
The sound, in the form of an English DTS-HD MA 2.0 track, does a decent enough job of giving us what we need. Dialogue, for the most, is clear. There are times when times sound a bit muffled but nothing too terrible. The thing that irritated me the most about the sound is the really crappy sound effects used. I get that they were only added in the last year but man do they sound terrible. The punches, kicks, and bashing people's heads into things all sound the same. With the technology we have now, you can find all types of sound effects all over the place. It just reeks of laziness on the part of the sound editor.
THE PACKAGING
THE FEATURES
You See Me Sweatin’? (6m 45s, HD) Interview with actor Tom Taylor
Slice the Pretty Boy (6m 30s, HD) Interview with actor and FX artist Paul Sutt
Scissors, Tape, and Paste (7m 34s, HD) Interview with co-writer/co-executive producer Ed Polgardy
Don’t Believe That Folks (5m 47s, HD) Interview with co-writer/executive producer Dale Schneck
Audition Tapes (5m 7s, SD, 1.33:1)
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| RIP Gene |
“Mean” Gene Okerlund Interviews Tom Taylor (3m 3s, HD)
Audio Commentary with Dale Schneck, Tom Taylor, Paul Sutt, Steve Mittman, and Jim “The Tank” Dorsey
Considering the history of this film, it is kind of surprising that Severin was able to get any interviews outside of the executive producer Dale Schneck. That being said, the interviews are pretty good with the standout being the one with Schneck. This is due to Schneck having the most history with the film. Each of the interviews contain behind the scenes footage shot during production so that is a major plus for me. The audition tapes are also really good and it is always good to see “Mean’ Gene even if it is only for a few minutes.
THE CONCLUSION
THE FILM6
THE PICTURE7
THE SOUND6
THE PACKAGING7
THE FEATURES7
Summary
I doubt that Mad Mutilator would have made much of a dent had it been finished back in the 90s like it was supposed to. I believe that there had to have been some divine intervention when it came to the release of this film because audiences nowadays are a lot more accepting today then they were 20-plus years ago. The film is a fun time and the blu-ray is a great way to experience it.
7
THE SCREENSHOTS
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 Blu-ray Review ){kind=link}
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