The VHS Strangler – The Giallo Tapes Review from Terrorvision Productions!
Anthology films are usually a hit and miss cauldron of talent. Some films which I’ve reviewed in the past such as Deep Web XXX (see review here), Blaze of Gory (see review here), and Poe 4: The Black Cat (see review here) for instance hit the nail heavily into the head excellently for most of the time. You go in expecting to the thrilled for at least 80-per-cent of the time. The old Amicus collections, however, will always be the dog’s danglers no matter what!
Severed Cinema regular Rob Ceus (interview here), of Zombies from Sector 9 (see review here) enters the arena with a wonderful gang of misfits. The VHS Strangler – The Giallo Tapes is one of those rare moments in film viewing life where you feel totally uplifted, nostalgic, and warm inside (well I did), because The Giallo Tapes works hard to capture those lost golden years of Italian slasher mysteries, but with a modern background.
This one totally throws a heavy punch by starting like an awesome old school ’80s SOV VHS — like the intro to Todd Sheet’s Clownado (see review here) and shows a gimp prowling round a house. The lighting is bright and sickly rich Giallo style, the music is ‘80s synch. Yummy. The gimped killer strangles a victim in bed using a VHS tape… shocking! I looked in horror at my Partner in Gore, Willow Brian. She had to comfort me ‘cause I was deeply distressed by the ruining of a tape. Yes, I’m serious here! Dastardly bastard!
“VHS player. Cool,” pointed out Willow as the gimp loads a movie, thus distracting me from my inner torment. The film starts with a guy laid, closeup, a pendant hanging from the side of his mouth, blood flowing out, he’s in some discomfort. The soundtrack is sublime, as are the glowing reds. A black gloved hand reaches across to slowly pull the chain out of his mouth. We cut to an interior shot and a razor blade is revealed which trails up his throat, leaving much damage on its ascent.
We go to a neon lit car park showing a switchblade carrying man stalking a woman in a red raincoat. Wonderful angles, half face shown off screen slightly, slow prowling around of shadows, this is gorgeous and a perfect imitation of its source inspirations. He catches his victim, but all is not as it seems. Good twist, a build up of drama, we both smiled at the conclusion of this first segment. Willow loved the internal razor shots, and the music (courtesy of The Shrinkwrap Killers), this all felt right, and it was an ideal choice to open this mosaic of slashings.
Sequence two is a moody home video, a graphic dolls head, truly powerful background music, all the ingredients so far required. A woman is doing her make-up in a mirror, then there’s another gimp! Yes! He has blades and is seen looking into the same mirror before assaulting the woman. This is a short sharp shocker by workhorse Tony Newton (contributor to Deep Web XXX, A Taste of Phobia plus what seems like hundreds of other movies) who also took on the main role along with Kerry Newton.
Quite an arty one next. Porn, negative film strip over eyes, hanging dolls, going with the colour of sleazy slashers. There’s a nude woman tied and blindfolded just like the doll. We witness a lengthy pussy popping scene. Then there is lots of terribly done cutting on her body. This is the weakest so far. It looks good though visual quality wise. Meh, blood ‘n’ boobies does not make a movie. Nor does a pissing dick for desert (we discussed a bit too in-depth whether the penis was supposed to be pissing or ejaculating, we decided on piss due to the appearance of the liquid plus the semi flaccid state). She struggles, he takes pics. Fuck me this is boring! It’s as interesting as watching dog shit-cake in the sun — at least the shit-cake would be somehow amusing.
Up steps a neighbour to our city in the UK, the energetic Troma man, Joe Cash! Lots of funky ‘n’ spunky sleaze plus laughs. Leather clad kitty girl with a sharp object, bloke with long hair, Ennio Morricone style tune. I’m not saying any further but this is the most fun witnessed on film in a while. Joe Cash, we all need to work together some day. Along our path, out steps the one and only Fabrizio Spurio, he of Carne (see review here) and Crypts (see review here), and, oh my word, what a wonderfully nightmarish tale he has for us. I can only describe this offering as original and different. In fact, Willow stared almost hypnotised by the events unfolding before our unprepared eyes. Again, no spoilers. This is simply deep, intelligent, with a doll, and all. Fabrizio is an incredible artist, and he raises his head again next up to slap the viewer in the face with a second helping of insanity. His visions are quite low key, quiet, but build to a pounding conclusion each and every time.
“Someone been eating shrooms?” mused Willow as a fat gimp (naturally a flipping gimp!!!!!) blades someone off camera. “I think I saw that severed ear on eBay.” she chuckled as he takes apart a victim which we never see, only in parts removed for our pleasure. His eyes made me laugh as he cuts up a jelly baby which is meant to be a foetus. This is hilarious. Gore Filth, you’re awesome. Then he eats it. “The fat fuck has eaten way too many dead babies.” I said. I have a way with words when watching movies. Plus, I can make fat jokes cause I’m not skinny (don’t get me started with autism jokes, I have loads, cause I’m autistic) and I’m a basic all round dickhead.
For a majority of the flick, we played a game – SPOT THE GIMP! We each won many times.
Other choice cuts are fake trailers, one, a grainy old school one which had blood, drama, and (can you guess the next bit?), a gimp!! Wilhelm Muller take a bow, for we loved it (and the techno like The Cure music) So retro Maniac remake (see review here).
There are running themes of razor blades, dolls and of course, gimps. Feels like the quirky card which appeared through Deep Web XXX. We swear together, The Giallo Tapes owns some of the best soundtrack pieces around today. It all fits so snugly into the proceedings. Sometimes The Giallo Tapes feels like Jorg Buttgereit’s classic, Der Todesking, other times, like a wild out of control comedy. Such is the diverse nature of the contents. Not since the peak of Domiziano Cristopharo’s anthology epics has there been such a masterclass compilation of rich terror talents all bubbling together.
I’d love to credit the fantastic special effects which pop up now and then, but the main end credits list no one, nor do the after-sequence credits for at least half of the films running time. So, sorry, great work everyone, but, y’know, don’t know who you are, not guessing.
The only let downs which sort of leave a few bitter chunks floating in the soup has to be an unfortunate repeat twist to a handful of stories, and the climax to the wraparound one absolutely sucks. I hate breaking the fourth wall anyhow (as mentioned in a few older reviews) but this felt tacked on and really pathetic after such a promising intro.
The Giallo Tapes is available on pre-order from Rob Ceus. You can contact him via Facebook or Instagram, just type him in and blast him a message, he’s a very friendly fella.
I must leave the review with honourable mention to the fake trailer, Don’t Pull Out. Allan Smithee (hehehe, that name, in reality it’s Derek Braasch) has formed a top notch laugh out loud parody. “A tale of lust, a tale of obsession – Don’t… Pull… Out…!”
Directed by: Rob Ceus, Inge Vanleene, Jim Stramel, Tony Newton, David Stojan, Joe Cash, Fabrizio Spurio, Gore Filth, Wilhelm Muller, Kaylan Jordan-Sen, John Migliori, Derek Braasch, Bo Sels, Glen Cook
Written by: Rob Ceus, Jim Stramel, Tony Newton, David Stojan, Joe Cash, David Black, Gore Filth
Produced by: Rob Ceus, Jim and Renee Stramel, David Black, Gore Filth, and more
Music by: Simon C Bondar, The Shrinkwrap Killers, SCP-x3x, Kevin Macleod
Cast: Rufus Six, Daniel Pala, Anna Catha Brands, Will Norman, Nicole Zavska, Kerry Newton, Tony Newton, Daisy M, David Stojan, Kitty Kiss, Fabrizio Spurio, Gore Filth, Christian Appel, Monika W, Joe Cash, Laura Barker, Uncle Skulle, John Migliori, Angela Migliori, Deborah Jayne Reilly Smith, Ryan Barrett, Katie Rife, Anthony Desmond, Berthe Kilozo, Manou Kersting, David Black, Axle Gunn
Year: 2022
Country: Belgium, UK, and more
Language: English, Italian
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 1h 27min
Distribution: Terrorvision Productions
