Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		1.5
Audio		1.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		3.0

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie Review

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is an incredible collection for fans of shot on video (SOV) horror films. It represents an impressive effort by distributor Terror Vision to provide horror fans with more obscure and entertaining genre offerings. Terror Vision proudly presents the four early-years feature-films of writer-director Joe Zaso – Screambook, Screambook II, Maligno, and It’s Only a Movie!

Joe Zaso wanted to be a filmmaker and he set out to be one against all odds – regardless of anything that could stand in his way. Zaso began his filmmaking journey at age 13. Over the course of several years, Joe Zaso began making films from age 13 through age 18. These films are provided in this fun collection.

Zaso made four feature-films and each film was produced with his close friends and family members. Despite having a shoestring budget and a lot of obstacles, Zaso was determined to do something special. Zaso’s “home movies” of sorts became actual movies and he managed to create tapes that eventually made it to local video stores – with an audience renting up the tapes.

The young filmmaker ended up getting his name “out there” with the features being delivered in person and through the mail. Zaso even managed to take orders for the productions over-the-phone. Zaso was proud of the fact that his films were even displayed right alongside Hollywood blockbusters up on the shelf.

Over time, Zaso’s horror films started to develop a cult reputation – with some horror fans seeking to see the young filmmaker’s creations. Bootlegs even began to circulate with some horror enthusiasts curious to see the works of Zaso. Despite a small cult fanbase, Zaso’s works have remained largely unavailable outside of local video stores and bootleg markets – until now.

 These are the first official (non-bootleg) releases to be be available on physical media. Fans of cult and underground or independent horror films shot-on-video (SOV) may have heard of Zaso but never seen the films before. Now is a good time to rectify that situation – if the set sounds up your alley.

These cult regional titles have been unearthed from relative obscurity and are now available for your viewing pleasure. Any horror fans with an interest in independent filmmaking will find this a curiosity – especially any audiences intrigued by seeing horror films made by a teenager with a wild imagination. Imagination is key to the experience and Zaso is certainly a kid with a giant imagination.

Screambook is Zaso’s 1984 horror anthology. Screambook II (also known as Screambook II: The Next Issue) is the 1985 follow-up installment of Screambook with additional tales in the horror anthology. These episodes play out like segment chapters. Maligno is Zaso’s 1986 Giallo inspired feature-film. It’s Only a Movie! is a murder mystery set in a haunted house. Several members of the production’s cast and production crew end up dead. Who is killing off the film cast and crew?

The collection has a fun variety of horror films. Sometimes it is hard to believe that Zaso made these at such a young age – not only because these are horror films – but also because the filmmaker showed clear talent and energy as a filmmaker. It is also somewhat surprising to see the types of acts that he managed to get out of his cast of friends and family members. Some of the performances are wildly over- the-top but gleeful and fun. The kid moviemaker made sure to make his actors do their homework, so to speak, conjuring up images of horror filmmaking in a smart way.

Maligno has some especially fun slasher elements. It is interesting to see a Giallo inspired film made by a young teenager. The musical elements in in It’s Only a Movie! are interesting too – something rare to even see in a horror film. The abundance of creativity on display in these films is surprisingly great and for someone with an interest in cult and obscure filmmaking the collection is a lot more fun than one might suppose at first glance.

Joe Zaso made a mark as a filmmaker with these films made as a teenager obsessed with horror films. There is something distinctly fun about the films and zany creative elements on display – from some scenes showcasing telekinesis (bringing Carrie to mind) to video- store antics and full-on slasher fare, there’s something for every horror junkie who enjoys SOV horror.

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is a lot of fun and it is a testament to creativity and independent horror filmmaking. If there is one thing that was left on my mind once the final credits rolled on the fourth feature, it was why there weren’t an abundance of more films by Zaso as an adult. Fans of strange horror oddities should look no further - Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is a blast.

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by Terror Vision, Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is presented in standard-definition. The feature-films in the collection are provided in their original 4:3 1.33:1 full-frame aspect ratios. The presentations are all-over-the-place. None of the included films looks great (by any means) – showing deficiencies of the video-tape era. The masters aren't in great shape and there are a lot of big deficiencies in the presentation quality.

The transfer colors don't look great. There are plenty of tape issues prevalent during the presentations. Nonetheless, what do you expect? Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is a collection of films made by a teenage filmmaker with his personal entourage of family and friends. The collection is arguably "true to the source" even if the picture-quality on the release isn't that great. Don't sweat the small stuff and enjoy.

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is presented in English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. No, the audio quality isn't sparkly with mind-blowing high-resolution 24-bit depth lossless audio. What, were you expecting a Marvel movie? The audio quality isn't that great and it matches the (similarly) fittingly lackluster video quality. The audio quality isn't great but it's VHS quality, folks. (Remember: these productions were made by a teenager decades ago, shot-on-video, and with a shoestring budget).

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release includes an incredible o-card slipcover. The slipcover design is fantastic. The key art on the slipcover makes a strong impression. The artwork certainly would have made me pick up the case if I looked at the package in a video-store during the video-store era. The art underneath the slip is the same (which is a little disappointing – I far prefer additional art on Terror Vision releases). The inside features interior art and that adds to the packaging flair.

The release comes jam-packed with on-disc supplements:

Screambook Audio Commentary with Joe Zaso

Screambook II Audio Commentary with Joe Zaso

Maligno Audio Commentary with Joe Zaso

It's Only a Movie Audio Commentary with Joe Zaso

The Creepiest Show: Composer Tim Frey and Director Joe Zaso Discuss Screambook (HD, 12:04)

Twice the Terror: Composer Tim Frey and Director Joe Zaso Discuss Screambook II (HD, 16:33)

The Year Was 1986: Composer Tim Frey and Director Joe Zaso Discuss Maligno (HD, 14:09)

The First Possession Musical: Musician Tim Frey and Director Joe Zaso Discuss It's Only a Movie! (HD, 15:10)

Video Memories: Cast Interviews by Joe Zaso (HD, 7:20)

By Any Means Necessary: Joe Zaso on Grassroots Filmmaking (SD, 48:04)

It's Only a Movie in Black and White (SD, 1:46:37)

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Lost in the 80s: The Joe Zaso Collection is an entertaining collection of feature-films shot-on-video (SOV) by filmmaker Joe Zaso as a teenager. The collection includes Screambook, Screambook II, Maligno, and It's Only a Movie! – and anyone looking for some weird, obscure, and downright strange movies made by a young teenager will be entertained by the lot of them. Sure, the Blu-ray video and audio quality doesn't impress, but it's a nice package with four films, extensive supplementals, and a quality slip. Filmmaking is for nerds. Recommended.