Vinegar Syndrome Announces July 30 Film Restoration Slate

Vinegar Syndrome announced a four-strong release package this past week of new film restorations destined for the home entertainment marketplace as Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack product offerings on July 30.

Out front is the 1981 Yvonne De Carlo classic, Play Dead, directed by Peter Wittman, which is getting a new 2K restoration from its 35mm interpositive.   

Although filmed in 1981, this horror/revenge tale went the direct to video route in England in 1983 when Stephen King’s book, Cujo, had been cycled to the screen the same year by director Lewis Teague and there was the obvious opportunity to exploit the “killer dog” similarities.

In the domestic market, Play Dead was dusted off and finally got a theatrical push three years later in January of 1986 by Troma.   

Here, De Carlo plays Hester Ramsey, a once jilted lover who saw the man of her dreams, Sam (John Caroll Perry), dump her for her own sister, Clarisse (Alex Bond Winslow) … they had a wonderful life together, raised a family and we pick up the pieces of this “can’t let it go” jealously tale at Clarisse’s funeral.   A confrontation occurs between Hester and the “spawn of Satan” offspring of this unholy union (that is, of course, from Hester’s point of view) and the tone is set for what is to follow.

Clearly, her grown niece, Audrey (Stephanie Dunnam — Silent Rage) and nephew, Stephen (David Ellzey) — and their friends and lovers — will have to be expunged from the earth.   When you’ve gone off the deep end that’s the sort of logic that follows and Hester is certainly certifiably nuts.

The vehicle of her wrath takes the form of a Rottweiler named Greta, who has been cursed by Hester and now acts as the without-mercy messenger of her demented murder plans  … kill, kill, kill!!!

As to bonus features, there’s a video session with filmmaker Peter Wittman and an audio interview with actress Stephanie Dunnam.

Also heading home on July 30 from Vinegar Syndrome is director Douglas Schulze’s 1992 mad scientist horror flick, Hellmaster, in getting a 4K restoration from the original 35mm negative … and it will be presented in two different viewing versions — the original Them (working title) and the director’s recut version, Hellmaster.

Bonus features include commentary from filmmaker Douglas Schulze for both versions of the film, plus the newly-prepared featurette titled “Creating Reality” and an archival featurette showcasing the Michigan filming locations.

Rounding out the July 30 package from Vinegar Syndrome are two new 2K classic adult film restorations — the filmmaking team of Henri Pachard and Roberta Findlay’s 1983 adult drama, Mascara (35mm negative), starring Lisa De Leeuw and Lee Carroll, and director Roger Watkins’ 1979 all-star comedy, The Pink Ladies (also 35mm negative), showing the talents of Samantha Fox, Vanessa Del Rio, Robin Byrd, Christine DeShaffer and Kandi Barbour.