Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Boardinghouse Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf November 16, 2021

Writer/director John Wintergate had a dream, looking to join the horror movie gold rush of the early 1980s with his own take on bodily destruction. The problem was, Wintergate didn’t have money for film, electing to use video equipment instead, taking advantage of new leaps in technology. The result is 1983’s “Boardinghouse,” which has branded itself the first theatrical feature to be shot on video and released on 35mm, hoping to give audiences a decidedly muddy looking ride into the powers of telekinesis and the “Amityville Horror”-ish activity of a cursed house hungry for new victims to slaughter. Wintergate has all the ambition in the world, even starring in the endeavor, alongside his wife, Kalassu, but his aspiration doesn’t translate to a riveting effort filled with style and cleverness. “Boardinghouse” is junky and often irritatingly random, with Wintergate trying to make sense of his own footage at times, putting his faith in creepy events and bloodshed to help viewers work through often incomprehensible creative decisions.

The Hoffman House in Los Angeles has been a location for ghastly events since 1972, when a professor of telekinesis and his wife mysteriously died in the dwelling. Sold and resold over the decade, with additional unexplained violence happening over the years, the house has been acquired by Jim (John Wintergate), a businessman looking to launch a “bachelor’s paradise” by turning the property into a boarding house for single women. Signing up for rooms are Victoria (Kalassu), Cindy (Mary McKinley), Sandy (Selma Kora), Terri (Elizabeth Hall), Gloria (Rosane Woods), and Debbie (Lindsay Freeman), who’s the last to claim a spot in the large house. Ready to be adored by his tenants, Jim enjoys female attention, getting close to Victoria, who shows interest in Jim’s mental powers, hoping to learn more from the playboy. As the women settle into their surroundings, evil returns to power, with a gloved killing force attacking the residents, inspiring Jim and Victoria to hone their telekinetic abilities and fight back.

“Boardinghouse” opens with a lot of information, which is printed on a computer screen to create some type of police procedural vibe to the production as the history of The Hoffman House is detailed. In 1972, unimaginable violence was unleashed inside, killing two people close to the ways of telekinesis, leaving one survivor, a child, to spend their formative years inside a sanitarium. In 1982, the house is purchased by Jim, who wants to create a shrine to his masculinity, offering shelter to young women while he parades around in tiny underwear, happily accepting massages and even sex from the tenants as something of a commune breaks out on the property. Debbie is the last one in the door, squeezed into the household dynamic, and there’s a gardener (Wintergate) who lives to creep out the ladies as they enjoy time by the pool.

As for a story in “Boardinghouse,” something comes through Jim’s telekinetic abilities, which intrigues Victoria, inspiring her to become his lover and student. There’s Cindy, trying to get away from an abusive ex who’s hired a private detective to find her. And there’s The Hoffman House, which is controlled by an evil spirit looking to murder the residents after toying with them for the first two acts. The Theatrical Cut of “Boardinghouse” never creates a cohesive understanding of subplots, preferring to take on the events of the film in a random manner, jumping from scene to scene, while characters are loosely defined, often engaging in perplexing relationships. Reportedly cut down from a 150-minute-long run time, the Theatrical Cut plays like a highlight reel of ideas, though Wintergate’s lackluster directorial vision for the whole thing suggests that the full-length version (which isn’t included on this Blu-ray release) is likely a torturous sit.

Three cuts of “Boardinghouse” are present on this release: “Theatrical Cut” (87:57), “Original Home Video Cut” (98:46), and “Psycho Killer Cut” (98:08).

Boardinghouse Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Boardinghouse" was shot on video to help with the no-budget production's creative effort, eventually transferred to 35mm for its theatrical release. AFGA delivers a 2K scan of a 35mm release print for the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. As printed on the back cover, AFGA asks viewers to "please approach the technical quality of the transfers with empathy." "Boardinghouse" isn't a pretty movie, and the print used here is in rough shape, offering heavy scratches, skipped frames, and rough reel changes. Those sensitive to such wear and tear are warned, though the beat- up appearance of the picture adds to the viewing experience, giving it the grindhouse treatment. Fine detail isn't present, but visuals aren't too clouded, securing character activity and the general weirdness of the video-to-film approach. Colors aren't striking, but hues emerge to the best of their ability. Delineation as well. The video cuts of "Boardinghouse" are obviously more generous with clarity and color, also retaining the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio, which is compromised to fit the needs of 35mm exhibition.

Boardinghouse Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA provides a basic listening event for "Boardinghouse," handling reasonably clear dialogue exchanges, which fight age, technical limitations, and even background traffic. Scoring cues are acceptable for this type of production, securing a compelling synth presence.

Boardinghouse Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1

• Commentary #1 features AFGA and Bleeding Skull's Joseph A. Ziemba, who offers an "audio essay" on "Boardinghouse."

• Commentary #2 features actors Sean King and Maryel McKinley.

• "Original Home Video Cut" (98:46) of "Boardinghouse" is offered, with a 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix and English subtitles.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:31, HD) is included.

Disc 2

• "Psycho Killer Cut" (98:08) of "Boardinghouse" is presented.

• "Sally & Jess" (94:26) is an unreleased 1989 film from John Wintergate, with a 1.0 DTS-HD MA mix and English subtitles.

• Commentary for "Sally & Jess" features director John Wintergate and actors Kalassu and Sean King.

• On-set Footage (21:15) presents a terrific look at the creation of "Sally & Jess," exploring the production effort to bring the feature to life. Crew camaraderie and labor is highlighted, capturing the creation of shots and work around locations.

• Music Videos (25:31) collect several promotional clips from Kalassu and John Wintergate, including collaborations with 33 1/3 and Lightstorm. Interestingly, the imagery gradually moves from Pat Benatar-esque stage and studio performances to highly political montages offering a liberal use of Facebook-style meme images charting the decline of the nation.

Boardinghouse Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Boardinghouse" doesn't come together as a horror experience, but there are elements of the production to enjoy. The low-fi visuals are semi-haunting at times, joined by a decent score that adds some synth creep to the endeavor. Certain ideas for violence are entertaining, and Wintergate's celebration of his own physique and sexuality is highly amusing, making a weird film even stranger as he parades around in tiny undies, usually lusted after by his co- stars. "Boardinghouse" seems like a vanity project, but one that's trying to conjure a reasonable level of screen intimidation without the benefit of a budget. It's a backyard production that doesn't piece together, but it's certainly entertaining to watch Wintergate attempt to pull off freak-out cinema with numerous nightmare sequences, a mysterious entity, and weird, often sudden, sexuality.