Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.5

Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 22, 2022

Writer/director Tim Ritter has a promising idea for bottom shelf entertainment with 1987’s “Killing Spree,” exploring one man’s vicious way with jealousy when he decides to murder those he believes have made a move on his wife, getting his evidence from her diary. It’s a Penthouse Letter mixed with splatter interests, with Ritter trying to use such unbridled dumb guy rage to inspire a shot-on-video slasher endeavor that often takes its sweet time to get to the ugly stuff.

The appropriately named Asbestos Felt stars in “Killing Spree,” giving a full-body performance as a character who quickly becomes a danger to his community after believing his wife is cheating on him. Naturally, he decides to murder the offenders, and Ritter has his fun dreaming up ways to eliminate the competition, providing opportunities for the production to shred, stab, and pull apart human bodies. Adding to the nightmare are surreal dreamscape touches, which are welcome, and, because why not, the whole thing eventually becomes a zombie movie.

Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "Brand new upscaled transfer from the original 1987 1" video negative transfer – Fully denoised and color/grain corrected." A SOV production, "Killing Spree" isn't getting far from a technical standpoint, doing what it can to provide the basic shape of onscreen elements. There's no fine detail, but violent activity is appreciable, along with neighborhood tours and interiors. Color is inconsistent, but this is likely an inherent issue. Hues are generally blown out during the viewing experience.

Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix also deals with the production limited resources and age-related issues, with levels occasionally fluctuating, requiring some volume riding to manage. Dialogue exchanges are far from compelling, but offer a basic understanding of performance. Scoring is also restricted, but synth activity is appreciable.

Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary #1 features actor Asbestos Felt, producer Joel Wynkoop, and sound engineer R.M. Hoopes.

• Commentary #2 features writer/director Tim Ritter.

• Interview (58:33, HD) is a video conference chat with actor Asbestos Felt and writer/director Tim Ritter.

• Interview (43:25, SD) is a 1994 radio program visit with writer/director Tim Ritter and filmmaker H.G. Lewis.

• "Peeling Back the Felt" (82:06, HD) is a 2021 retrospective piece on the making of "Killing Spree."

• "Blinded by the Blood" (62:01, SD) is a 1994 documentary on the making of "Killing Spree."

• And a 2021 Trailer (3:49, HD) is included.

Killing Spree Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ritter is asking far too much of viewers to sit through 90 minutes of "Killing Spree." He doesn't have a story or deep characterization. He has a slaughterama, and one that isn't particularly well paced or filled with incident. As SOV productions go, "Killing Spree" has a few unique ideas, but it can be a drag to sit through, especially when Ritter offers stretches of dead air between scenes of gruesome death.