Written by: Michael Den Boer on January 10th, 2008
Theatrical Release Date: Various
Directors: Various
Writers: Various
Cast: Various
DVD released: January 29th, 2008
Approximate running time: 101 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Synapse Films
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.95
Synapse Films returns with yet another addition to their 42nd Street Forever series with volume three titled “Exploitation Explosion”. This collection includes forty vintage exploitation trailers coming from a wide variety of genres including action, martial arts, sexploitation, horror, WIP, thriller, drama, western and so much more.
The list of trailers included for this collection are SUDDEN DEATH, THE ONE-ARMED EXECUTIONER,JAGUAR LIVES!, ENTER THE NINJA, LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH, FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH, THE STRANGER & THE GUNFIGHTER, BEYOND THE DOOR, DEMONOID, THE NIGHT CHILD, DEVIL TIMES FIVE, PATRICK, JENNIFER, PHASE IV, THE UNCANNY, THE PACK, ALLIGATOR, KILLER FISH, SHARK’S TREASURE, BLOOD BEACH, HOT T-SHIRTS, CHEERLEADERS WILD WEEKEND, SUMMER SCHOOL TEACHERS, GORP, KING FRAT, PRISON GIRLS, 1000 CONVICTS AND A WOMAN, CHAIN GANG WOMEN, THE PENTHOUSE, THE HOUSE BY THE LAKE, NIGHT CALL NURSES, THE YOUNG NURSES, CANDY STRIPE NURSES, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF XAVIERA HOLLANDER, HAPPY HOOKER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD, SURVIVE, GUYANA: CULT OF THE DAMNED, SEVEN, SAVAGE STREETS, HIGH BALLIN’, FROM NOON TILL THREE, LIES, TATTOO, SCORCHY.
Once again the selections included vary in quality with the majority of the trailers being at least more entertaining than the films they were made for. The best trailers this time around are ENTER THE NINJA, FIVE FINGERS OF DEATH, THE STRANGER & THE GUNFIGHTER, PRISON GIRLS (in 3-D), CANDY STRIPE NURSES and THE PENTHOUSE. The trailers in this collection tend to lean more towards it is so bad its good cinema. Ultimately no matter what your taste in cinema is you are sure to find something in this collection that connects with the exploitation fan with in you.
The DVD:
All the trailers in this collection are presented in an anamorphic widescreen which frames the image at about 1.78:1 aspect ratio. All the trailers are in really good shape with colors looking strong, details crisp and print damage minimal. Also this release has been flagged for progressive scan.
One audio option is included with this release a Dolby Digital mono mix in English. The audio sounds clean and balanced.
Extras for this release consist of TV Spots for some of the trailers included in this collection and an audio commentary with Fangoria managing editor Michael Gingold, Film Historian Chris Poggiali and AV Maniacs editor Edwin Samuelson. The audio commentary is filled with many wonderful tidbits of info about the various trailers shown in this collection. The commentary is insightful and entertaining enough that multiple listening sessions don’t take away from its overall value.
Synapse Films latest addition to their 42nd street series is their best release to date, highly recommended.