basket case

Much like the early work of Tim Burton, the films of director Frank Henenlotter exist in their own twisted universe. Only instead of a gothic suburban fairyland, Basket Case (1982) puts down stakes in a seedy Times Square hotel populated by an endearingly colorful collection of hookers, thieves and pimps. The newest tenant is Duane Bradley (Kevin Van Hentenryck), a naive upstate import whose most defining characteristic is the large wicker basket he carries under his arm. What's in the basket? Why, his separated Siamese twin, Belial, who looks more like a stumpy octopus, on a mission of revenge against the doctors who performed their illegal operation and "broke up the band," so to speak.

Inheriting the "Midnight Movie" mantle from Rocky Horror (it had a two year run at one famous NYC theater), Basket Case wormed its way into the horror genre like a venereal disease. But Henenlotter's film has a DIY aesthetic that's charming even when it's being crude. The finale features some sexual shock tactics, but for the most part humor outweighs horror, slipping comfortably into Evil Dead territory. Belial himself, brought to life with a mix of puppetry, make-up and stop-motion, is never remotely convincing...yet still makes for an unforgettable co-star along with the grungy 42nd Street vibe.

Arrow Video's new limited edition Blu-ray offers up a stunning new 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative, interviews, outtakes, audio commentary, stills, trailers and Henenlotter's 1972 short film The Slash of the Knife, a Reefer Madness-style faux documentary about the perils of circumcision!

Part regional horror, part TV movie-of-the-week, 1977's Scalpel is a rather uneventful thriller set amongst the antebellum mansions and scenic Spanish moss of the old South. Plastic surgeon extraordinaire Dr. Phillip Reynolds (Robert Lansing) rescues and rehabilitates a disfigured woman, rearranging her face into the spitting image of his estranged daughter in order to collect on a handsome inheritance. But when his real daughter returns, the doctor is forced to choose which version of his flesh and blood to discard...permanently!

The story certainly has potential, but the script meanders when it should be tightening the screws. Even the incest angle (Reynolds develops a physical relationship with his replacement daughter, both played by soap opera veteran Judith Chapman) doesn't really raise an eyebrow. Brian De Palma's Obsession is the most obvious comparison here, but with no exploitation elements and plot twists that aren't nearly as limber as they should be, Scalpel withers on the vine despite good acting all around and some solid technical credits.

That said, Arrow's new restoration should have no trouble attracting some curiosity seekers. The transfer, which offers up a yellow-tinged "Southern Gothic" version along with a more traditional take, is flat-out gorgeous. Extras include interviews with cast and crew and a top-notch commentary from Richard Harland Smith along with a collector's booklet.

It's always fun to watch "serious" filmmakers dip their toe into the horror genre; the results can sometimes be game changing (a la The Shining) or surprisingly mediocre. Robert Altman's Images (1972) falls somewhere in the middle, with strong merits on the technical side - thanks to an innovative score from John Williams and lyrical cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond - but an intentionally idiosyncratic plot built around mental illness. Cathryn (Susannah York) is an author struggling with her latest children's story whilst vacationing with her husband at their isolated country estate. Persistent voices and visions plague her waking life, characters swap faces, identities shift with shocking abruptness and the arrival of an old lover pushes her completely over the edge.

While Images never spells things out completely, the use of "doubling" - Cathryn interacts with several different versions of herself - points towards schizophrenia rather than any supernatural explanation for the odd events. Even so, Altman and his collaborators do a tremendous job creating a sense of cinematic unease; splintering reality to the point where the audience is never sure who to trust. Of course, depending on one's taste for "artistic horror" and Altman's overuse of the zoom lens, those some qualities could make the film a chore. But even if the approach is unconventional, the effect it has on the viewer is undeniable.

Previously one of the hardest Altman films to acquire, Images makes its Blu-ray debut on Arrow's new special edition transferred from a 4K restoration and retaining the beauty of Zsigmond's work. Extras include a new commentary (plus scene select commentary from Altman), interviews, video appreciation and collector's booklet.

It seems like every Italian filmmaker who so much a poured a cup coffee for director Sergio Leone has tried to hitch their career to his wagon. But in the case of Duccio Tessari, who was an uncredited co-writer on A Fistful of Dollars, the connection certainly shows on this pair of spaghetti westerns: A Pistol for Ringo and The Return of Ringo, both released in 1965. In the first entry, Ringo (Giuliano Gemma) brokers a deal between a gang of bank robbers and the lawmen who have them surrounded inside a nearly impenetrable ranch. Quick-witted and quirky, the film is a reflection of its main character, a lovable outlaw who has an answer for every situation. A sequel in name only, The Return of Ringo takes a decidedly more serious approach as our hero, a civil war veteran, returns to his hometown to find it overrun by Mexican warlords.

On the surface, Tessari's films might seem like just another quick cash in on Leone's success; but the difference is in the details. Both Ringo films are filled with comic asides and dramatic flourishes, from the backstories and bad habits of its characters to the show-off camera moves peppered throughout. These are the sorts of movies that prove the genre was anything but a creative cul-de-sac. While the Western stagnated on American television, filmmakers like Tessari were blazing new trails on a well-worn cinematic map.

Arrow's double feature Blu-ray features a brand new 2K restoration from the original negative and it really shows (except for a few high contrast inserts in the first film)! Extras include audio commentaries on both films, archival featurettes, a new video appreciation plus trailer and promotional images.