Vinegar Syndrome To Open Its 2017 Blu-ray and DVD Film Restoration Campaign With A Five Title Selection On Jan. 31

Vinegar Syndrome will be opening the New Year with a Jan. 31 package of new film restorations that is toplined by the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack horror double-bill of Blood Mania and Point of Terror and the Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack release of director Robert Hammer’s 1980 horror gem, Don’t Answer the Phone.

Both Blood Mania and Point of Terror featured in the double-bill SKU are new 2K restorations from their original camera negatives, while Don’t Answer the Phone is a 4K restoration from the recently discovered 35mm original negative.

Director Robert Vincent O’Neill’s 1970 Halloween-season theatrical release of Blood Mania was something of a surprise for indie distributor Crown International as it was able to successfully “mix genres” and attract not only the targeted horror crowd, but it also pulled in those drawn to the sexploitation and “mystery” aspects of film as well.   

Teamed with Blood Mania is director Alex Nicol’s 1971 film release of Point of Terror … the connection for this double-bill promotion from Vinegar Syndrome is that both films were written and starred Peter Carpenter, who gained something of a cult status with these two and then he died after the completion of Point of Terror from pneumonia.   Very sad and way too young! 

Both films are mixed genre tales, with blackmail, murder and the requisite sexual interludes common to both.   They were perfect for Crown International, which specialized in sexploitation, action and horror/suspense films during 1970s.

Bonus features include a commentary option for Blood Mania featuring director Robert Vincent O’Neill and actresses Leslie Simms (as “Nurse Turner”) and Vicki Peters (as Gail, Victoria’s murderess sister) and there are video sessions with both O’Neill and Simms.

The Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack release of Don’t Answer the Phone should be a must for fans with this new 4K transfer.

Kirk (Nicholas Worth — Swamp Thing, City Heat, Dark Man, etc.) is one nasty work of art.   A skilled Vietnam vet with a seemingly unstoppable lust for killing beauties that he photographs by day (hell of a day job) and slaughters them by night … he’s one sick puppy who has taken an extra special interest in a radio talk show psychiatrist named Lindsay (Flo Lawrence (aka: Flo Garrish) — Schizoid, The Naked Cage, The Lords of Salem).  

Bonus features include commentary from Robert Hammer and vintage featurettes with the late Nicholas Worth — “Answering the Phone” and “For What It’s Worth.”

Rounding out the Jan. 31 release package from Vinegar Syndrome is a Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack presentation of director Kirdy Stevens’ Taboo IV (featuring a 2K restoration using the 35mm original camera negative), directed Alain Patrick’s Blue Money (also a 2K restoration using the 35mm original camera negative) and Seka stars in 1980 release — on DVD — of Beyond Shame.