Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Hellmaster Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf July 27, 2019

1992’s “Hellmaster” (titled “Them” on the Blu-ray) has a very ambitious story to sell, but not a lot of production time is devoted to really emphasize just what exactly is happening during most scenes. It’s a convoluted picture from director Douglas Schulze, but he has a visual plan for the effort, working with cinematographer Michael Goi to make the endeavor as striking as a low-budget movie can possibly be. “Hellmaster” has a lot of problems, but it’s engaging as horror eye candy, giving fans plenty of blood and strange sights to hold their attention as Schulze fights to explore a lukewarm plot.

Trouble is afoot at the Kant Institute of Technology, which was home to chemical experimentation from Professor Jones (John Saxon) long ago. Now the educator has returned with his horde of mutated ghouls, offering students a night of terror as they fight off various attacks, joined by Robert (David Emgee), a reporter who knows the secret of Professor Jones’s power, setting out to end his resurgence.

“Hellmaster” endeavors to be something along the lines of “Hellraiser” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” with Jones in charge of Cenobite-style creeps while he personally works his way into the heads of his victims, manipulating their perceptions of reality. There’s a lot of backstory and chemical homework to do in the movie, and the students are more of a jumble of young people than defined characters (one class jerk runs a porn empire in his dorm room and walks around with a bullwhip). However, “Hellmaster” isn’t campy, as Schulze takes it all very seriously, though he eventually struggles with coverage and spatial relationship issues that turn basic encounters into a grab bag of random shots, with confusion often undermining any fear factor.

Hellmaster Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Hellmaster" is a feature that employs a large amount of lighting to help bring its vision of disorientation to life. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation offers wonderful color for the viewing experience, with strange hues at full power, filling the screen with reds and greens to set the mood. Primaries are strong, finding life in costuming and campus decoration, and skintones are natural. Detail is excellent, picking up on the extremity of the makeup work, which showcases all sorts of gashes and open wounds, and clothing remains fibrous, as most of the cast favors softer wear, while leathery coarseness for evil remains. Delineation is exact. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in great shape, without major elements of damage.

Hellmaster Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix runs into a little bit of difficulty with sibilance issues from time to time, but it largely remains a loud and inviting track to best sell the spooky mood. Dialogue exchanges are clear, permitting access to all sorts of performance capabilities. Scoring is distinct but never overwhelming, supporting the action comfortably. Sound effects reach the limitations of the original mix, as Schulze doesn't invest in powerhouse definition to bodily harm.

Hellmaster Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Douglas Schulze.

• "Director's Recut Version" (91:23, SD) is a different, reorganized, and clarified take on "Hellmaster."

• "Creating Reality" (25:59, HD) is a conversation with cinematographer Michael Goi, who actually began his career with interest in becoming an editor, changing his field of expertise to spend time with a crew. Using inspiration from "The Graduate," Goi worked his way into the industry, ultimately taking the job on "Hellmaster," impressed with Schulze's vision for the picture. Goi showed the helmer "Suspiria," leading to greater emphasis on lighting (he also cites Mario Bava as a favorite), while the wear and tear of a winter shoot inside a mental hospital provided some comfort issues. With Saxon on set for only four days, Goi walks through the challenges of inserting him into previously shot scenes, and he celebrates makeup achievements, helping to secure the genre look. The interviewee closes with some talk of his work on "American Horror Story," and details in the importance of Vinegar Syndrome, with "Hellmaster" finally finding a proper home.

• Conceptual Art Gallery (1:39) is offered.

• Behind the Scenes Gallery (1:43) is included.

• Archival Locations Featurette (3:55, SD) is a brief visit to The Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane.

• A Trailer has not been included.

Hellmaster Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Hellmaster" scores with visuals, conjuring an Italian horror look with sophisticated lighting schemes and nightmare realm visits, making a fine impression as a sensorial experience, with interesting, and gruesome, makeup work joining the festivities. While there isn't much of a budget, the production does what it can to look horrifying. The story isn't in tip-top shape, but at least "Hellmaster" tries to remain a cinematic experience.