Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Slaughterhouse Rock Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 18, 2018

Dimitri Logothetis' "Slaughterhouse Rock" (1988) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors 88 Films. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film and exclusive new video interview with author Jim Harper. The release also arrives with an 8-page illustrated booklet featuring "A Life in Focus: An Interview with Cinematographer Nicholas von Sternberg" by Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain. In English, with optional English subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The happening

I would like to mention something that is only partially related to 88 Films’ recent Blu-ray release of Dimitri Logothetis’ Slaughterhouse Rock but I think is important to highlight when these types of genre films are addressed. It is also representative of a good current trend.

A long time ago there were a couple of very good independent video stores where I used to live, but one of them was particularly well-organized. I did not know its owner, but because I was a frequent visitor there over time I got to know the guys that worked behind the counter. They were really passionate and knowledgeable film buffs and one of them was a diehard rocker who had a deep collection of albums from older but great rock bands like The Electric Banana/The Pretty Things, Humble Pie that the current generation is practically unfamiliar with. So in this store there was a large section where these guys placed all sorts of different genre films that would be rented by customers that would fancy something ‘different’. The bulk were B and C-grade horror and campy films, but amongst them there were also some important ‘different’ films like Alejandro Jodorowsky’s El Topo and Luis Bunuel’s Un Chien Andalou. Going there and spending some time browsing through the VHS boxes was essentially as good an experience as sitting down and watching one of these films because the overwhelming majority of them had great cover art that could easily sell them to an undecided customer. This was truly a crucial part of the thrill of discovering a ‘cool new’ film because it was the great cover art on the VHS box that basically initiated and made the connection between the film and the customer.

Okay, why do I mention this and how does it relate to Slaughterhouse Rock? Well, when I received the Blu-ray release I instantly knew that the cover art was from the old days because it sells the film the right way – the image is revealing but very attractive and if you enjoy these types of genre films you would certainly want to read what is on the back of the case and (if there was still a store in your area) rent or buy it. Now, what is the good trend that I mentioned earlier? I have been seeing more and more of the films from that special section in the video store because they are being released on Blu-ray by different labels in different regions, and many of these label s are doing the right thing by promoting them with the vintage cover art that they had back in the VHS era. It is a fantastic trend that I wish the big studios would embrace as well.

The story of Slaughterhouse Rock is quite ridiculous, but if its cover is not a good enough clue for you what type of entertainment you will be getting if you sit down to watch it then you probably need to repolish your deductive skills a bit. (Smile). Somewhere in San Francisco handsome teenager Alex Gardner (Nicholas Celozzi) begins having very intense nightmares that not only scare the hell out of him but make him feel like a complete loser as well. Initially a few of Alex’s friends conclude that he just needs to get laid to clear his mind, but when they witness an invisible force lifting his body over his bed they finally realize that their friend has a different problem. Attractive occult expert Carolyn Harding (Donna Denton) then reveals to Alex that the force is roaming free on Alcatraz and he has to gather the courage to confront it if he is to have a normal life again. The poor boy gets some unexpected help from the spirit of a dead rocker (Tony Basi), but the decisive encounter still ton of nasty surprises.

The entire film looks like something that Fred Olen Ray might have been interested in directing but lacks the edge and goofiness that typically make his work attractive. There is a part of it that has a decent ‘80s vibe but the script is loaded with clichés that make it awfully difficult to stay excited about the action. Basically, after a while it becomes too obvious that Logothetis and his cast are trying to create something decent but don’t have a crystal clear idea how to do it.

*In the synopsis that is placed on the back cover of this release, the folks from 88 Films rightfully point out that Playboy Playmate Hope Marie Carlton has a meaningful contribution to the fun activates throughout the film. I feel that this is the right opportunity to mention that she is a lot more effective in Andy Sidaris’ ‘bimbo-action’ masterpieces Hard Ticket to Hawaii, Picasso Trigger, and Savage Beach.

Slaughterhouse Rock Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Dimitri Logothetis' Slaughterhouse Rock arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of 88 Films.

The release is sourced from a recent remaster and the film looks very healthy. I have only two minor reservations. First, ideally density levels should be better, and this is something that would also impact overall fluidity. Currently, some of the footage appears a bit too 'thick' for my taste and lacking the consistent vibrancy that a fresh remaster would typically produce. Second, some of the darker footage could been graded better to avoid the black crush that sneaks in. The visuals are still quite pleasing, but the end result could have been more convincing. This being said, the rest of the presentation is indeed very nice. There are absolutely no traces of poor digital adjustments. Image stability is also excellent. Debris, cuts, large damage marks, and all other age-related imperfections have been fully removed. My score is 3.75.5.00. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Slaughterhouse Rock Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is clean, stable, and nicely balanced. However, it quickly becomes clear that the film was shot with a small budget because the native sound deign is quite unimpressive. On the other hand, there a couple of very cool tracks by Devo that can be heard during key sequences.

Slaughterhouse Rock Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for Slaughterhouse Rock. (2 min).

• Rock'N'Schok - Back to the Slaughterhouse - in this new video program, Jim Harper, author of Legacy of Blood, discusses the 'slasher' identity of Slaughterhouse Rock and some of the other '80s qualities that the film shares with other similarly themed genre projects. The program was produced by Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill. In English, not subtitled. (10 min).

• Booklet - 8-page illustrated booklet featuring "A Life in Focus: An Interview with Cinematographer Nicholas von Sternberg" by Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain.

• Cover - reversible cover.

Slaughterhouse Rock Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I think that Slaughterhouse Rock could have been a much better film if it had a substantially bigger soundtrack with popular hair metal or punk rock tracks from the '80s. A greater emphasis on the supernatural material and perhaps more nudity almost certainly would have helped its image as well. As it is I much prefer this film that Jim Wynorski did a few years later, though it also lacks the type of rock music that I think was right for it. Fred Olen Ray's Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers is a lot more fun, but also the goofiest of the three. Anyway, if you enjoy these types of genre films, I think that you will like this release because it is sourced from a decent new remaster. RECOMMENDED (to fans of the film).