Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 24, 2022

The golden days of drive-in cinema are celebrated by Vinegar Syndrome, who offers fans the simple pleasures of genre weirdness with the double feature Blu-ray release of 1972’s “Horror High” and 1973’s “Stanley.”

Click here for a review of Horror High

Click here for a review of Stanley

Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

See above for reviews.

Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

See above for reviews.

Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Horror High

• Commentary features actor Pat Cardi.

• "Cheerleaders on Tap" (18:37, HD) is an interview with actor Pat Cardi, who knew at the age of five that he was going to be an actor. The interviewee shares his casting story for "Horror High," eager to be the star of a film, and he shares a little bit about his next project, "Battle for the Planet of the Apes." Details from the Dallas shoot are offered, including the production's procurement of a high school for unwed mothers, leaving Cardi with strict rules to keep his hands to himself. Director Larry Stouffer is assessed, and co-stars are recalled, with a few football players showing up in the movie. Fan reaction to "Horror High" is analyzed, and Cardi remains impressed with the cult longevity of the picture, finding T.V. airings helping to make the feature a popular choice for fans of the genre.

• "Looking Back" (14:03, HD) is a 2017 interview with actor Pat Cardi.

• "Gossip" (8:16, HD) is an interview with actress Michelle Falerne, whose father was a film distributor in Texas, actively helping his daughter claim small parts in local productions. Falerne never read the script, and she details her body and makeup issues at the time, and her struggle to scream, with her voice eventually replaced by another actress. Memories of director Larry Stouffer are shared, along with co-star anecdotes, including the presence of football players on the set, who enjoyed sabotaging the cast with their antics.

• "Still Amazed" (6:47, HD) is an interview with screenwriter J.D. Feigelson, who explores his inspiration for "Horror High," looking to create a "high school" version of Jekyll and Hyde. The interviewee shares his reason for using a pseudonym at the time of production, and he reveals he had nothing to do with the production after the script sale. Cult longevity is also analyzed.

• "I Would Do It Again" (10:05, HD) is an interview with actor John Niland, who shares his casting story, revealing how he was an initial investor in "Horror High," with director Larry Stouffer offering him a part. As a member of the Dallas Cowboys football team, Niland had access to players with nothing else to do, bringing them in for small parts. The interviewee has tremendous confidence in his performance, and explains why he didn't pursue acting.

• T.V. Spots (1:37, HD) present two commercials for "Horror High."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:21, HD) is included.

Stanley

• Commentary features screenwriter Gary Crutcher.

• "Dark Side of Eden" (44:44, SD) is a 2008 making-of for "Stanley," featuring interviews with producer/director William Grefe, writer Gary Crutcher, and actors Chris Robinson and Steve Alaimo. The idea for "Stanley" was born from the mind of Grefe, who wanted his own animal attack film after the success of "Willard," pulling together ideas found in a dream for a pitch to Crown International Pictures. The company agreed to finance the project, demanding an April release date in November, putting Grefe into a small panic, quickly finding Crutcher to bang out a script in a few days (with help from drugs). Casting is assessed, with Alex Rocco pulled off a "Godfather" press tour to shoot for a week, eventually tricked into confronting his profound fear of snakes. Florida locations are recalled, keeping Grefe busy figuring out ways to cut costs and shorten travel time, and select sequences, including the quicksand scene, are analyzed. Snake treatment is revealed, with the handler often beating the creatures into submission, while others had their mouths sewn shut to prevent bites. Characterization is highlighted and the movie's released is remembered, with Chinese producers quickly assembling a knockoff when they couldn't secure rights to the feature.

• "Stanley Goes Hollywood" (24:30, SD) is a Q&A session at the New Beverly Theater, featuring producer/director William Grefe, writer Gary Crutcher, and actor Chris Robinson.

• "Stanley Revisited" (3:17, SD) joins producer/director William Grefe on a tour of shooting locations, including the old Ivan Tor Studios, a local park, and a swamp.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Horror High / Stanley Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Vinegar Syndrome delivers excellent A/V quality and collects a sizable amount of supplementary material for this release, giving fans a fresh look at "Horror High" and "Stanley."