Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Mutant Hunt Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf October 18, 2022

1987’s “Mutant Hunt” presents a future world New York City that mostly, definitely looks like the New York City of 1987. Writer/director Tim Kincaid (“Bad Girls Dormitory,” “Breeders”) is dealing with the lowest of budgets and the shortest of shooting schedules with the endeavor, which offers an ambitious tale of a cyborg attack and the mercenary squad hired to bring the machines down. “Mutant Hunt” doesn’t offer the tightest screenwriting and performances struggle, but technical achievements are quite impressive for the B-movie, which attempts to pull off a level of violence and oddity that keeps the viewing experience compelling, delivering a bit more punch than the average bottom-shelf offering.

Z (Bill Peterson) is a corporate madman intent on building an army of cyborgs, known as the Delta Sevens. His company, Inteltrax, is focused on the refining of this technology, but Z has messed with progress, blending mechanical assembly with the alien narcotic Euphoron, which turns the Delta Sevens into a force that kills for pleasure. Z’s former colleague, Domina (Stormy Spill), is eager to control the system in her own way, but the progress of evil is challenged by mercenary Matt (Rick Gianasi), who’s hired by Inteltrax scientist Darla (Mary Fahey) to hunt down and destroy the Delta Sevens, and save her brother, Paul (Mark Umile), who’s being held captive by Z in the massive Inteltrax building. Joined by tech man Felix (Ron Reynaldi) and bounty hunter Elaine (Taunie Vrenon), Matt begins his mission, taking on a powerful gang of murder machines.

“Mutant Hunt” gets right to the point when it comes to Z’s diabolical plans, presenting the character as a powerful lunatic interested in experimentation when it comes to Inteltrax’s cyborg research. He’s corrupted the machines with Euphoron, which is a powerful drug for the public, with users dosing by dropping powder in their ears. The Delta Sevens are newly wired and sent to kill, and the viewing experience of “Mutant Hunt” mostly details Team Matt’s efforts to bring down a seemingly unstoppable enemy. There’s an early apartment battle to showcase cyborg power, with Matt taking on a few invaders while clad only in his underwear, and a faint sense of story emerges with Darla’s need to rescue her sibling, while Domina, a Euphoron addict, has cyborg plans of her own.

Acting is largely underwhelming, making the star of “Mutant Hunt” special makeup effects work from Ed French and his team, who deliver impressively deteriorating cyborgs and their various capabilities (including expanding limbs), and there’s neat puppetry when one of the enforcers is nearly destroyed, leaving him in a very “Terminator”-esque state with exposed metal parts. There’s not a budget to back up most of “Mutant Hunt,” but the production achieves a lot for very little, using imagination and skill to deliver some weird imagery. Kincaid helps the cause with some decent NYC atmosphere, working with the enormity of the Brooklyn Navy Yard to maintain a modicum of tension as Matt and his associates use gadgets and physical force to attack Z and his machines.

Mutant Hunt Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative. The results offer a crisp look at the low-budget workings of "Mutant Hunt," delivering terrific depth with New York locations, including the massive Brooklyn Navy Yard. Detail is excellent, picking up on skin particulars from both human and cyborg players, with the latter's "melt" emerging with superb texture. Costuming is fibrous. Colors are alive, with the production favoring bold red lighting at times to add atmosphere. Primaries are distinct, and the coldness of this concrete world is preserved. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in excellent condition.

Mutant Hunt Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides a simple listening experience, with the track often reaching the limitations of the production's technical capabilities. Dialogue exchanges are acceptable, offering an understanding of performance capabilities and cyborg speak. Scoring is more pronounced, periodically competing with the voices, but nothing is lost. Sound effects are emphasized.

Mutant Hunt Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Elizabeth Purchell.

• "If You Want Me to Box with a Kangaroo" (55:41, HD) is a lengthy interview with actor J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner (aka "Dr. Buzz"), who details his New York City acting training, working in the 1980s to develop his craft and acquire jobs, including extra work on "Turk 182." Attracting some attention with his physique, Dr. Buzz found a gig with director Tim Kincaid and producer Cynthia De Paula, who were launching the production of "Mutant Hunt" while finishing up "Breeders." Hired to play one of the mutants, Dr. Buzz wasn't offered a screenplay, left to deal with long hours of makeup application, where he was protected by makeup effects artist John Bisson. And there was a matter of hair, with the sides of his head shaved to fit the mutant look, weirding out the public. Brought to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the interviewee explores the filming event, and he even produces photographs of his gory look. Crew camaraderie is highlighted, along with the kindly ways of Kincaid and De Paula. Dr. Buzz recalls his need to see the finished product, ending up with a first look via VHS, and he goes into his relationships with co-stars and crew today.

• "Mutant Maker" (18:21, HD) is an interview with makeup effects supervision Ed French, who came to "Mutant Hunt" with a collection of credits, including "Sleepaway Camp." French discusses his career at the time, turning down work on "The Toxic Avenger" due to Troma's cheapness, eventually meeting director Tim Kincaid and producer Cynthia De Paula, beginning to collaborate with the couple. The interviewee examines his effort to shape a punk-ish look for the production, asking the actors to endure terrible haircuts and long hours buried under glop. Technical challenges are shared, with French only presented with three weeks of prep time, forced to make do with a tight schedule. He closes with his first impression of "Mutant Hunt," aware of its reputation as a bad movie.

• "Long Arm of the Hunt" (24:17, HD) is a video conference interview with actor Mark Legan, who describes "Mutant Hunt" as a "life-changing experience." Trained as a theater actor, Legan eventually found his way to New York City, sharing his experience as an aspiring actor during the 1980s, when technology wasn't around, making a quest for employment an adventure. Exploring the B-movie era, the interviewee highlights film exhibition in NYC, eventually becoming part of the scene when gigs started coming. Legan details the shoot at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and growing camaraderie with the cast and crew. Time with "Breeders" is presented, with Legan wearing a monster suit for a week, and he recalls his first impression of "Mutant Hunt," catching up with the picture on VHS.

• A Trailer has not been included on this release.

Mutant Hunt Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Mutant Hunt" is entertaining in its own way, cooking up various fight sequences and chases. There's broad villainy and a cyborg menace, creating a B- movie atmosphere of danger, despite some noticeable padding to get the feature to a 77-minute-long run time. Kincaid doesn't have much with the production, but there's an appreciable effort to conjure a dystopian understanding of various threats and dastardly plans, often sold with wonderfully low-fi effects from talented filmmaking professionals.