Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Dead Girls Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 3, 2023

In the 1980s, the wave of “Satanic Panic” was helped along by heavy metal, with bands courting controversy by playing up the presence of evil in their music, giving kids a reason to celebrate and parents a reason to worry. 1990’s “Dead Girls” uses this hysteria to inspire a murder mystery, with director Dennis Devine and writer Steve Jarvis creating a study of musicians slowly picked off by a masked killer, dealing with all the interpersonal relationships and acts of alarm required for this kind of film. “Dead Girls” has the setting and the idea, but Devine doesn’t have much execution, struggling with his limited budget to cook up some real suspense during the unusually long run time (106 minutes), visibly struggling to make anything in this draggy endeavor seem exciting.

The Dead Girls are a popular metal band managed by Artie (Brian Chin), a no-nonsense leader who wants to bring the group to a wider audience, preferring they ditch their songs, which celebrate graphic violence. The Dead Girls don’t want to change, but Gina (Diana Karanikas) is deeply rattled when word of her sister’s suicide attempt reaches her, dropping everything to visit Brooke (Ilene Singer), informed the horrible act of self- harm was inspired by the group’s music, influencing a number of local kids. Looking to take a break to reassess the band’s future, Gina secures a cabin in the woods to give members Dana (Angela Eads), Amy (Kay Schaber), Mark (Steven Kyle), and Susie (Angela Scaglione) a chance to rest for a bit. Joining the vacation are Brooke and her nurse (Dierdre West), with everyone settling in to enjoy two weeks in nature. Disrupting such peace is a masked killer determined to murder members of Dead Girls, picking them off one-by-one as Gina senses something evil in the area.

The Dead Girls aren’t presented in their natural state of performance, introduced as average people trying to keep up with their reputation for hellraising. Jarvis makes a curious creative decision to present everyone with stage names and real names, making it a bit confusing to understand who’s who at times, but Gina is essentially the lead character, cursed with visions of violence, including her sister’s decision to organize a group suicide. The act of self-harm brings Gina back home, dealing with dismissive family members and Mike (David Chatfield), a childhood friend eager to reconnect. There are plenty of players in “Dead Girls,” setting things up for an Agatha Christie-lite experience to come, moving the game to a remote cabin, with a black-gloved killer gearing up to ruin the trip.

“Dead Girls” doesn’t have much drive to work as a nail-biter, finding kills lackluster, dealing with limited funds for makeup effects. The central mystery isn’t terribly compelling, often stopped to handle even more characters, including pervy handyman Elmo (David Williams), groupie Karen (Mara Holland), and a local sheriff (Robert Harden), giving “Dead Girls” too many distractions for Devine to handle. The overcrowding leads to dull conversations and weak exposition, as Jarvis can’t juggle these personalities, and he’s oddly resistant to elements of exploitation, trying to build a respectable slasher that’s more about traumatic experiences than trashy nonsense. That approach requires more directorial care than Devine can offer.

Dead Girls Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

After a long history with VHS releases and YouTube links, "Dead Girls" comes to Blu-ray offering fans an AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation sourced from a 4K scan of the original 16mm camera negative. For those who've only seen the feature in its low-res state will likely find the viewing experience a revelation, as detail is suddenly found in the frame, exploring facial particulars on the large cast and the fibrousness of their outfits. Cabin interiors showcase decoration, along with barn adventures, and exteriors around the great outdoors are dimensional. Colors are bright and appealing, delivering healthy primaries on clothing choices, while red blood emerges with power. Greenery is distinct, and skin tones are natural. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is heavy but film-like. Source is in good condition. A hair is noticeable during an early scene, which is explained in the making-of documentary on the disc.

Dead Girls Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

"Dead Girls" opens with a card explaining that production limitations and age have created an "inherently compromised" sound for the listening experience. Indeed, the 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix has some issues, finding occasional dialogue exchanges slightly unintelligible, but not completely lost. Volume is uneven as well, shifting from scene to scene. Music carries a slightly blown out quality, but supports adequately during suspense sequences.

Dead Girls Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features director David Devine and writer Steve Jarvis.

• Commentary #2 features The Hysteria Continues.

• "Dead Girls Rock" (92:44, HD) is an extended making-of, featuring interviews with director David Devine, writer Steve Jarvis, composer Erik Ekstrand, and actors Angela Scaglione, Jeff Herbick, Brian Chin, Ilene Singer, Robert Harden, and Kay Wolf. Opening with his educational history, Devine establishes a college friendship with Jarvis, with the pair pursuing a filmmaking dream, making "Dead Girls" their second feature. The actors detail their industry ambition, finding their way to Devine and Jarvis, who are generally regarded as nice guys who knew what they wanted from the effort. Paying tribute to giallo entertainment, the production worked to deliver a twisty tale with an unusual killer, trying to channel some Dario Argento energy along the way. With a $75,000 budget, Devine and Jarvis had to get real about their limitations, trying to work with what they had while still remaining ambitious about the murder mystery they were trying to make. Characterization is examined, with the director candid about his permissiveness with hiring standards. Locations are recalled, as the shoot commenced in February, offering cold weather pains for cast and crew. Memories of cinematographer Aaron Schneider are offered, with the future director of "Get Low" and "Greyhound" fighting to make art with a 14-day-long shooting schedule. Technical and thespian challenges are recalled, especially with frigid temps and shifting locations. Music is celebrated, with Ekstrand bringing life to suspense sequences. Distribution tales are presented, with "Dead Girls" becoming a popular VHS title, cementing cult longevity. And Vinegar Syndrome is praised, finally releasing the endeavor as it was meant to look.

• Image Gallery (:58) collects VHS art, film stills, and BTS snaps.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Dead Girls Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Instead of delivering shocking scenes of horror or enticing moments of lewdness, "Dead Girls" ultimately goes for a sudden barrage of turns and twists, which helps to extend the run time as Jarvis looks to outwit viewers with a final act that's all over the place. Perhaps some viewers will respond positively to a conclusion that's working extra hard to be surprising, but one wishes this effort was spread throughout the endeavor, creating a stronger whodunit. "Dead Girls" can't overcome its limited budget and clunky filmmaking, despite active performances and some giallo-esque touches. It fails to land as a thriller or even a heavy metal nightmare, leaving potential on the table as it only strives to be tricky in its final moments.