5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 21, 2025

Writer/director Joseph F. Parda was a fan of giallo movies. As one does when they’re young and filled with dreams, he elected to pick up a Super 8 camera and try to replicate the viewing experience, aiming to deliver a little Argento-scented mayhem with his friends in Long Island, NY. 1996’s “5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas” is the result of such labor, offering a homemade version of Italian filmmaking, and such ambition actually gets the endeavor halfway there. There’s a killer-in-black on the loose, a variety of suspects, a handful of victims, and touches of sleaziness to reach exploitational goals. Parda has an idea of what he wants to accomplish, but he’s missing one major thing: screen momentum. “5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas” is a painfully dull offering of giallo turns and unstable characters, going slow and clunky with its presentation of murder and mystery, though the potency of such puzzling is certainly debatable.

Richard (Simeon Damevsky) is an artist gaining popularity due to his vivid paintings, which depict various visions of murder and death. He’s married to Gloria (Liz Haverty), who tries to be supportive of her husband, especially after a gallery show where the pair return home to decompress. During the evening, Gloria witnesses Richard’s murder at the hands of a killer dressed in black, who takes the body after committing the crime. When Chief Inspector Andez (Xavier Domingo) arrives, no trace of violence is found, and Richard’s disappearance is turned into a missing person case. Arriving to help is Richard’s bother, Bill (Joseph Zaso), who begins his own investigation into the case, meeting with various people involved in the artist’s life, trying to understand what’s going on. As Bill gets closer to the truth, more lives are taken, keeping the killer busy targeting vulnerable people.

Death is the focus of “5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas,” as Richard celebrates doom in his art, which is often highlighted in the feature. However, this is no study of technique or inspiration, with paintings merely used as atmosphere as a mystery is born in the disappearance of Richard. Was he killed? Did he make a run for it? Is Gloria losing her mind? Questions are raised in the screenplay, and there’s the presence of the murderer, who remains close to traditional giallo experiences, prowling the night in black, employing weapons and lurid means to dispatch victims, including one character who keeps piranha in his house, eventually becoming a snack for the fish.

“5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas” attempts to create a question mark with Richard, who leaves behind many unsatisfied people, including Bill, who tries to achieve answers concerning the disappearance when Andez fails to do much of anything in the story. Clues are followed, including the theft of Richard’s art at crime scenes, and crazy characters are encountered, extending to the missing man’s art teacher, who remains a weirdo, complicating Bill’s mission. “5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas” tries to get crazier in the hunt for Xaviera, sending Bill into a beatnik coffee bar where he’s eventually drugged and pulled through a dreamscape experience. And when all else fails Parda, there’s sexploitation, keeping his camera trained on topless women in a way that feels oddly desperate, doing what he can to maintain viewer attention.

5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

An information card opens the "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas" viewing experience. While the movie was shot on Super 8 film, post-production occurred on videotape, leaving Degausser Video with only a video master to use for the Blu-ray release, requiring "extensive image and sound restoration." Fine detail isn't possible here, leaving a general sense of frame information to be found in "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas," and even that's a struggle at times. Characters appearances are basic, fighting softness, age, and blockiness, which dilutes most of the feature's intended grisliness and mystery at times. Colors aren't vivid, but a general feel for the intended look of the picture remains, as the effort takes some dips into heavy reds, and artwork maintains varied hues. Delineation isn't ideal when exploring a shadowy endeavor, with flatter blacks. Source is in acceptable condition.

5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA is dealing with a completely dubbed endeavor that was originally shot without sound. Dialogue exchanges are pronounced and mostly retain intelligibility, dealing with the broad nature of the acting. Scoring selections tend to dominate most scenes, periodically overpowering performances, smothering a few lines along the way. Sound effects are blunt.

5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Joseph F. Parda and actor/producer Joe Zaso.

• "Long Island Giallo" (41:09, HD) is a making-of for "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas," featuring interviews with actor/producer Joe Zaso, actor/painter Ray Schwetz, actor Ian Stark, and actor/still photographer Chris Hoskins. Movie fandom for Zaso and Schwetz began at an early age, with the men eventually finding each other, bonding over a love for Dario Argento. A laserdisc store called "Laser Land" brought Stark, Hoskins, and writer/director Joseph F. Parda together, creating a cinematic obsession that needed to be explored through filmmaking, starting with a movie titled "The Bloody Ape." The genesis of "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas" is detailed, bringing the men together to try their luck with more stylish and challenging endeavor. Production began on Long Island, and the shoot is recalled, dealing with multiple locations and a long schedule, also struggling with financial limitations, spending $50,000 on the picture. The post-production journey is recalled, and special screenings are fondly remembered, including Zaso's trip to Rome for a festival screening. And the release of the feature is tracked, going from VHS to other formats, building cult appreciation.

• "A Dialogue with Mr. Streeb" (10:25, HD) is an interview with actor Simeon Damevski, who was born into an acting family, working from a very young age in film and theater. Building his career, Damevski found his way to "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas," responding to the screenplay and the genre. Some memories from the filmmaking experience are shared, and the interviewee provides appreciation for writer/director Joseph F. Parda.

• "Is It Giallo?" (4:46) is an appreciation piece by Sam Panico.

• Audition Footage (5:13, SD) offers a quick look at three actors working hard to secure employment.

• Image Gallery (6:02) collects film stills, BTS snaps, publicity photos, marketing art, and personal pictures.

• And a Trailer (:42, SD) is included.

5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas" can't get too revved up in style due to its no-budget restraints, but Parda tries to replicate the Argento Way as much as possible. It's a valiant effort to mimic giallo atmosphere, and perhaps that's enough for most viewers. There's murder, sex, and mystery, but what's truly shocking about "5 Dead on the Crimson Canvas" is how glacial it is, failing to snowball into a demented chiller as the helmer focuses on characters having banal conversations, while the more macabre side of the feature never comes alive. It's not slow-burn, it's straight-up inert, and while Parda is focused on celebrating his cinematic influences, his disregard for pacing is downright torturous at times.