DVD released: September 27th, 2011
Approximate running time: 96 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Full Frame
Rating: R
Sound: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: N/A
DVD Release: Code Red
Region Coding: Region 0 NTSC
Retail Price: $19.98

There are ‘bad’ films and then there are films ‘that are so bad, they are good’. Unfortunately of late, far too many films are undeservingly being enshrined in the latter category. Even though they often lack the one ingredient that ultimately drives any film ‘that is so bad it is good’, they have to be entertaining.

This brings us to Mardi Grass Massacre, a film that easily ranks as one of the most inept attempt s at horror cinema to ever grace the silver screen. And while the film tries extremely hard to deliver something remotely viable on screen. The end result is like watching a train wreck happen, albeit at a very tedious pace.
 
Where to begin, the plot, at least what there pretends to be one is woefully underdeveloped and it appears that most of it may have been made up on the spot. The plot revolves around a leisure suit wearing psychopath, who needs sacrificial victims for his ritual. And apparently three is his lucky number, because he has done this before and has always moved on after three sacrifices. Besides the hookers that are being stalked by this psychopath, the film also gives ample screen time two a pair of bumbling detectives.

And as if they lack of interesting characters or stilted dialog was not already enough to put the final nail in this schlocky films coffin. Its kill scenes also fail to deliver and if you come away from them with a feeling of deja vu, don’t worry this is not some kind of side effect brought on due to the delirium from watching this film.

Finally there is no need to go into depth about the performances in the film, let’s just say that they are all painful bland to watch. And perhaps this film’s greatest con, is the way in which they throw in a few minutes of Mardi Grass footage, hoping then that the film’s title would become all the more clearer. Ultimately Mardi Grass Massacre can be best summed up as a unholy union between Herschell Gordon Lewis’s Blood Feast and Saturday Night Fever.

The DVD:

Code Red presents Mardi Grass Massacre in a 1.33:1 full frame aspect ratio, that retains the film intended aspect ratio. It should be noted that before the film that there is a disclaimer about the source which was used for this transfer. And while there are many limitations to this tape sourced transfer, none of these shortcomings ever become distracting and at best they are just minor bumps in the road.
 
This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital Mono mix in English. The audio does not fare as well as the transfer and there are many instances in which back ground is very noticeable. Also there are numerous instances in which distortion becomes a issues as well.

Extras for this release include a interview with William Metzo (12 minutes 7 seconds – 4;3 full frame), who gives a candid interview about the various aspects of this production, a music video with Maria Kanellis, who sings a song titled ‘Fantasy’, while dancing around in skimpy outfits and trailers for Blood Mania, The Hearse, The Babysitter and a brief promo clip for the Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem DVD series.

Also there are two ways to watch the main feature, ‘Watch the Movie Only’ or ‘Watch the Movie with Maria!’. This seconds option is essential two segments with Maria Kanellis, one before the film and the second one follows the film. In her opening she set’s what this film is about, while dressed up as a character from the film. For the closing segment she capsulizes what we have just watched, of course all of her comments are done in a tongue and cheek way. Overall Mardi Grass Massacre gets a good release from Code Red.