Blood Mania / Point of Terror( Blu-Ray/ — Blood Mania / Point of Terror
The release appears on Vinegar Syndrome, who in recent years have made their name releasing & wonderfully re-mastering obscure porn( hard & soft), exotic thrillers, quirky film oddities, and a few horror films from the 60’s, 70’s & the 80's. This three-disc set takes in a blu-ray, and two DVD’s- one featuring the original cut of both films, and the second featuring the TV cut of both films, with of course all the nudity/ gory cut-out.
So moving onto the films themselves, and we have 1970’s Blood Mania, and 1971’s Point Of Terror- and as you’ll see even the titles scream horror. Both films featured as their lead Us actor Peter Carpenter- who had more than a passing resemblance to a Tom Jones, in his mid-to-late 30’s.
Plot wise Blood Mania tells of Dr Craig Cooper( played by Carpenter), who gets entangled with a sex-crazed nympho who is trying to get rid of her ill father. And Point Of Terror tells of low-rent nightclub singer Tony Trelos( played by Carpenter). who gets involved with the devious wife of a wheel- chair bound record executive, in the hope of signed. And as expected in each film things don’t go as expected for Mr Carpenter.
Both films are relatively well filmed & put together for 70’s exploration fare- you get a nice use of candy color lighting in both films, as well as nice glamorous main locations taking in large houses with pools, done out of course in 70’s deco. Acting wise things go from adequate, to slightly wooden & soapy- but there is no one glaringly bad.
Of the two films I’d say Blood Mania is the better of the two- firstly it’s plotted better, with more interesting twists( including a fairly good end twist). It’s a little more bloody & naked female flesh bound. And lastly, it has a great soundtrack that blends together psych rock scapping, swirling and spacey electronics, and the odd more off-kilter soundtrack cue.
Vinegar Syndrome has done a truly splendid job at cleaning up both of these films. With wonderful crisp definition on the Blu-ray, enhancing both the groove-to-eerier lighting themes, and the general 70’s dressings/look of the whole thing. Extra wise you get a commentary on Blood Mania- this features the film's director, and two of the film's actresses- it’s a fairly interesting & chatty track, though at times it does run a little dry. Also, you get a stand alone short interview with the director of Blood Mania, as well as his brief introduction to the film. plus, you get an interview with Leslie Simms- who appeared in both of the films. Lastly the theatrical trailers & TV spots for both movies.
So in conclusion, if you’re a fan of trashy ‘n’ chatty 70’s exploitation cinema this three-disc set is worth a look. Sure neither film is a long lost masterpiece & both do drag in places, but each has its own charms, and each nicely captures perfectly that 70’s vibe.