Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		1.5

Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman November 1, 2021

Note: This film is available as part of The Evil Bong Stash Box.

Marijuana continues to be legalized or at least decriminalized in any number of states (including in Oregon, where I live), so the need for a "stash box" may be a relic of the past, but leave it to the venerable Charles Band to recycle his Evil Bong series with just such a packaging conceit, which does in fact contain two side "vestibules" to hold any, um, extras, with a center section given over to nine Blu-ray discs. Some of the Evil Bong series either have had or are about to have standalone releases, but those wanting the "whole joint" (to paraphrase Spike Lee's use of that term) may want to spring for this admittedly pricey set, if only to also get the stash box itself. The films themselves are a mixed lot, and some may feel that a generous supply of whatever is stored in those side compartments might need to be consumed in order to enjoy things appropriately.

Is it hard to count to ten when you're stoned? Not necessarily asking for a friend, but one of the kind of unintentionally comic aspects to the Evil Bong franchise is that, due to the fourth film being titled Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong, this entry with "4" in its title is actually the fifth film in the series, and the next three installments, Evil Bong High-5!, Evil Bong 666 and Evil Bong 777, are similarly "off by one" in terms of numbers in their titles and where they reside ordinally in the series.

Allistair may have come and gone in various outings (played by different actors, to boot), but one of the gang of gonzo supporting characters, the wizened old guy played by Sonny Carl Davis who is known variously as Rabbit, the Delivery Guy and/or Priest is front and center, with emphasis on front coming in the form of Rabbit's new business enterprise of a topless bowling alley. That certainly provides ample (emphasis on ample) opportunity for skimpily clad women to parade around while the supposedly Evil Bong and Gingerdead Man provide an ostensible threat. Even the back cover of this release kind of proudly announces Evil Bong 420 is "the movie with its mind firmly in the gutter", which of course is a bowling pun, but which is probably revelatory in another way.

Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Evil Bong 420 is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Full Moon Features with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. Once again, technical specs are pretty much nonexistent, at least to my investigative powers, but this is another competent digital capture that offers a good accounting of a sometimes lurid palette (mostly courtesy of garish lighting in the bowling alley, which introduces all sorts of "alien" tones to skin, for example). Detail levels are decent in all of the practical elements like props and costumes, but the CGI is once again perhaps deliberately on the lo-fi side. The animated backgrounds behind the Gingerdead Man and Eebee at various times have a certain comic style, though they, too, have an almost Hanna Barbera lower echelon look at times.

Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Evil Bong 420 follows in the perhaps questionable footsteps of its predecessors by offering only lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1 tracks. This is another effort where the surround track only tends to spring to life sporadically, here more with regard to some of the sequences featuring Eebee and the Gingerdead Man. The bowling alley scenes also provide a bit of clamor that can reach the side and rear channels, but really for all intents and purposes, the stereo track is going to suffice perfectly well for many, especially considering the overall lossy context. There are no subtitles available on any of the films in this set.

Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Videozone (SD; 7:43) is a behind the scenes piece. This looks oddly anamorphically stretched to my eyes.


• Ganja Viral Videos

  The Cookie Boner (SD; 1:17)

  
  

  Bong World (SD; 1:00)

  
  

  The Weed Blower (SD; 1:05)

• Trailers includes Evil Bong 420 (HD; 1:24), along with trailers for other releases from Full Moon Features.

Evil Bong 420 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Evil Bong 420 should appeal to those who come to this series at least as much for the naked women as they do for any "stoner horror comedy" element. Those needing more than an ample supply of naked bosoms might do better elsewhere. Video is generally solid, but audio is only lossy, with a smattering of okay supplements to help sweeten the pot (sorry, couldn't resist) for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.