Video Violence

Last updated
Video Violence
Directed byGary Cohen
Written byGary Cohen
Paul Kaye
StarringGary Schwartz
Chick Kaplan
Distributed byCamp Video
Release date
  • December 2, 1987 (December 2, 1987)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$6

Video Violence, also known as Video Violence... When Renting is Not Enough, is a 1987 American horror film directed by Gary Cohen and starring Gary Schwartz and Chick Kaplan. The film was shot entirely on a VHS camcorder.

Contents

Cast

Production

Writer and director Gary Cohen came up with the idea for the film while working as a video store clerk. A fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood, he was disheartened by the fact that horror films, particularly slashers, were the most popular films among his clientele. The idea for the film came about one afternoon when a young mother with her children asked if the film I Dismember Mama contained any sex. Cohen informed her that he was unsure about the film's sexual content but that he knew it contained graphic violence. The woman decided to rent the film, telling Cohen that as long as the film were devoid of sex, she considered it appropriate viewing for her children. The same exchange occurs in Video Violence, concerning the film Blood Cult. [1]

Cohen had initially secured the use of a local access television station to edit the film over the course of two six-hour shifts. When the station owner found out that Cohen was editing a horror film, he reneged on the agreement and only permitted Cohen the use of the station for two hours during the second shift. After the film's editing was complete, Cohen shopped it around to multiple distributors, only two of which responded. Cohen sold the rights to Camp Video because they were the only ones to offer to design video box art. [1]

Cohen has claimed that the film had a budget of $6. [2]

Release

Video Violence was first released in 1987 and per Brian Albright, was "one of the most widely distributed SOV horror films of the era". [3] The movie's video jacket featured an endorsement from the parody religious group, the Church of the SubGenius, and the claim that Camp Video released "more movies by low-budget auteur Ray Dennis Steckler than anyone else in the world." [4]

In 2007, Camp Motion Pictures released the film on special edition DVD including the sequel Video Violence 2 . [5] Cohen also directed a sequel: Video Violence 2 as well as Captives, shot between the two VV films. All three have since been re-released by Camp Video as part of their Basement collection. Video Violence has been screened several times at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema locations as part of film festivals and retrospectives such as the 2018 film festival VHStival in Raleigh and the "Killer Tapes and Shattered Screens" series in Yonkers. [6] [7] [8]

In 2013 Cohen screened Video Violence: Redux Deluxe, a mashup of the first two films, at the Cinedelphia Film Festival. [9]

In 2022, boutique label TerrorVision released Video Violence on a Blu Ray 2 pack with the sequel.

Soundtrack

The film score for Video Violence was released in 2020 through Graveface Records's Terror Vision imprint. [2] The label also held a limited screening of the film in October of the same year. [10]

Reception

Bleeding Skull reviewed the film in 2018, stating that it "should be admired for its prominence in SOV history, rather than its actual entertainment value." [11] A reviewer for DVD Talk was highly critical, writing "a big, fat, hairy, parasite-infested and pus laden set of sores on anyone who believed that this pair of productions had any meaningful motion picture merit whatsoever". [12] The Oklahoma Gazette reviewed both Video Violence 1 and 2 as part of a set released by Camp Motion Pictures, noting that the first film "takes itself seriously, whereas 'Video Violence 2' somehow realized there was a joke at stake, and it was past time to get into it." [13]

Cohen has referred to Video Violence as "a piece of wonderful, campy trash". [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troma Entertainment</span> American film production and distribution company

Troma Entertainment is an American independent film production and distribution company founded by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz in 1974. The company produces low-budget independent films, or "B movies", primarily of the horror comedy genre, all geared exclusively to mature audiences. Many of them play on 1950s horror with elements of farce, parody, gore, and splatter.

<i>House on Haunted Hill</i> 1959 horror film directed by William Castle

House on Haunted Hill is a 1959 American horror film produced and directed by William Castle, written by Robb White and starring Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long, Alan Marshal, Carolyn Craig and Elisha Cook Jr. Price plays an eccentric millionaire, Frederick Loren, who, along with his wife Annabelle, has invited five people to the house for a "haunted house" party. Whoever stays in the house for one night will earn $10,000. As the night progresses, the guests are trapped within the house with an assortment of terrors. This film is perhaps best known for its promotional gimmick Emergo.

<i>Killer Klowns from Outer Space</i> 1988 film by the Chiodo Brothers

Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a 1988 American science fiction comedy horror film written, directed and produced by the Chiodo Brothers and starring Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson and John Vernon. It is the only film written and directed by the Chiodo Brothers, who also created the practical effects and makeup. It concerns evil extraterrestrials who resemble clowns arriving on Earth and invading a small town in order to capture, kill and harvest the human inhabitants to use as sustenance.

<i>Friday the 13th Part 2</i> 1981 film by Steve Miner

Friday the 13th Part 2 is a 1981 American slasher film produced and directed by Steve Miner in his directorial debut, and written by Ron Kurz. It is the direct sequel to Friday the 13th (1980), and the second installment in the franchise. Adrienne King, Betsy Palmer, and Walt Gorney reprise their respective roles from the first film as Alice Hardy, Pamela Voorhees, and Crazy Ralph. Amy Steel and John Furey also star. Taking place five years after the first film, Part 2 follows a similar premise, with an unknown stalker killing a group of camp counselors at a training camp near Crystal Lake. The film marks the debut of Jason Voorhees as the series' main antagonist.

<i>Night of the Demon</i> (1980 film) American horror film by James C. Wasson

Night of the Demon is a 1980 American horror film directed by James C. Wasson, written by Jim L. Ball and Mike Williams, and starring Michael Cutt, Joy Allen, Robert Collings, Jodi Lazarus, Richard Fields, Michael Lang, and Melanie Graham. The film centers on an anthropologist who, along with a group of his pupils, embarks on an expedition to prove the existence of Bigfoot in a rural region of Northern California, only to be stalked and systematically slaughtered by the creature.

<i>Dont Go in the Woods</i> (1981 film) 1981 American slasher film directed by James Bryan

Don't Go in the Woods is a 1981 American slasher film directed by James Bryan and written by Garth Eliassen. The film follows four campers confronted by a murderous woodsman slaying hikers on a wooded mountainside. It is one of the infamous "video nasties" banned in the United Kingdom in the 1980s.

<i>Phantasm IV: Oblivion</i> 1998 American film

Phantasm IV: Oblivion is a 1998 American science fantasy horror film. The film was written, produced and directed by Don Coscarelli and starring A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm. It is the third sequel in the Phantasm series and is followed by Phantasm: Ravager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alamo Drafthouse Cinema</span> American movie theater chain

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema is an American cinema chain founded in 1997 in Austin, Texas, which is famous for serving dinner and drinks during the movie, as well as its strict policy of requiring its audiences to maintain proper cinema-going etiquette. Sony Pictures Experiences acquired the chain in June 2024.

<i>I Drink Your Blood</i> 1971 American exploitation horror film by David E. Durston

I Drink Your Blood is a 1971 American hippie exploitation horror film written and directed by David E. Durston, produced by Jerry Gross, and starring Bhaskar Roy Chowdhury, Jadine Wong, and Lynn Lowry. The film centers on a small town that is overrun by rabies-infected members of a Satanic hippie cult after a revenge plot goes horribly wrong.

<i>Spookies</i> 1986 film

Spookies is a 1986 American independent horror film directed by Brendan Faulkner and Thomas Doran, with additional footage directed by Eugenie Joseph. It stars Felix Ward, Dan Scott, Alec Nemser, and Maria Pechukas, and follows a group of partying adults who find an abandoned mansion and become trapped inside as a warlock tries to sacrifice the group with the intention of using their vitality to keep his wife alive.

Twin brothers and filmmakers Mark Polonia and John Polonia founded Polonia Bros Entertainment and Cinegraphic Productions. Between them they have written, directed and produced over 40 feature films, often shot-on-video and mostly in the horror and science fiction genres, making them low-budget or even no-budget film cult icons.

Splatter Farm is a 1987 horror film directed by the Polonia Brothers and starring them along with Todd Smith.

Drafthouse Films is an independent film distribution company based in Austin, Texas which releases "provocative, visionary and artfully unusual films new and old from around the world". It was founded in 2010 by Tim League, who had previously founded the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain. Drafthouse Films has released a variety of films since its inception.

<i>Klown</i> 2010 Danish film

Klown is a 2010 Danish comedy film directed by Mikkel Nørgaard, and written by and starring Frank Hvam and Casper Christensen. It was developed from the successful Danish television series of the same name, in which Hvam and Christensen play fictionalized versions of themselves.

<i>The FP</i> 2011 film by Brandon Trost and Jason Trost

The FP is a 2011 American comedy film written and directed by Brandon and Jason Trost. The film focuses on two gangs, the 248 and the 245, fighting for control of Frazier Park. The gangs settle their disputes by playing Beat-Beat Revelation, a music video game similar to Dance Dance Revolution. Gang member JTRO trains to defeat L Dubba E, the leader of a rival gang. The film also features Caitlyn Folley, Art Hsu, Nick Principe and Dov Tiefenbach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mondo (American company)</span> American screen printed posters company

Mondo is an American company known for releasing limited edition screen printed posters for films, television shows, and comics, as well as vinyl movie soundtracks, clothing and apparel, toys, and re-issues of VHS releases. Founded in 2004 as Mondo Tees, the company is a former subsidiary of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain in Austin, Texas, and currently hosts a permanent gallery space there which features original artwork and custom posters.

<i>Attack of the Beast Creatures</i> 1985 film

Attack of the Beast Creatures is a 1985 American independent horror film produced, and directed by Michael Stanley. It stars Robert Nolfi, Julia Rust, Robert Lengyel, Lisa Pak, and Frank Murgalo. The film centers on a group of survivors who wash up on the shores of a seemingly deserted island in 1920, after their ship capsizes. While there, it slowly becomes apparent that the island is home to a tribe of small doll-like creatures, who begin stalking and killing the survivors one by one.

<i>Ogroff</i> 1983 film by N. G. Mount

Ogroff, also known as Mad Mutilator is a 1983 French slasher film written, directed by, and starring Norbert Moutier and Howard Vernon. Its plot follows an isolated backwoods lumberjack who attacks and murders people passing through his woods.

<i>Ozone</i> (film) 1993 film by J. R. Bookwalter

Ozone is a 1993 American independent horror film written, produced, and directed by J. R. Bookwalter. The film stars James R. Black, Tom Hoover, James L. Edwards, Bill Morrison, and Mary Jackson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shot-on-video film</span> Type of film shot on camcorder

A shot-on-video (SOV) film, also known as a shot-on-VHS film or a camcorder film, is a film shot using camcorders and consumer-grade equipment, as opposed to film stock or high-end digital movie cameras.

References

  1. 1 2 Cohen, Gary. Video Violence DVD commentary
  2. 1 2 Galil, Leor (19 October 2020). "When shot-on-video horror met the Hot Mix 5". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  3. Albright, Brian (2012-10-24). Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990: A State-by-State Guide with Interviews. McFarland. p. 241. ISBN   978-0-7864-7227-7.
  4. Kerekes, David; Slater, David (May 2016). Killing for culture: from Edison to ISIS: a new history of death on film (Revised and expanded ed.). London: Headpress. ISBN   978-1-909394-34-6. OCLC   995605473.
  5. "Video Violence / Video Violence 2 (Double Feature)". dvdempire.com. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
  6. Cook Johnson, Daniel (October 19, 2018). "Sorry, Betamax. The Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a festival to celebrate all things VHS".
  7. Cacioppo, Cristina. "Pop-up Events in July and August". Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  8. "NY: "MAN BITES DOG," "[REC]" and more Killer Tapes at Yonkers Alamo Drafthouse this month". Rue Morgue. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  9. "Cinedelphia Film Festival Wrap-up Part 1". Cinedelphia. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  10. "Video Violence Film Screening". Graveface. Retrieved 2020-12-29.[ permanent dead link ]
  11. Ziemba, Joseph A. "Video Violence (1987)". BLEEDING SKULL!. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  12. Gibron, Bill (April 8, 2007). "Video Violence 1 & 2". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  13. Lott, Rod. "The Basement: Camp Retro '80s Collection". Oklahoma Gazette. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  14. Coyle-Saeed, Sharon. "Gary Cohen: The Me Everybody Knows". MyCentralJersey.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.