(1987/USA)
REVIEW BY- Michael Den Boer (June 17th, 2006)
DIRECTED BY-John Fasano
CAST-Jon Mikl Thor, Jesse D'Angelo, Clara Pater, Chris Finkel, Jillian Peri, Teresa Simpson, Frank Dietz, Liane Abel Dietz.
SOURCE-Synapse Films DVD (NTSC DVD / REGION 1 / 83MIN / 2006)
The Film:
Jon-Mikl Thor plays the leader of Rock N’ Roll band who rent a remote farmhouse in hopes of getting everyone creative juices flowing again. Unknown too them the house has had some really bad shit going down like people being eaten by monsters that live in ovens. Evil lurks around every corner of the farmhouse as the band try to rehearse in the recording studio they built in a barn. Strange things soon happen shortly after their arrival like various members of group and of their entourage disappear without a trace leaving those who remain wondering what the hell is going on.
Rock N’ Roll Nightmare is a cheap horror film that was made mostly due in part to the creative powers of Jon-Mikl Thor who not only produced and wrote the films screenplay. He also starred in this bad boy. The movie while full of your typical horror movie clichés starts off strong before ultimately morphing into bad B film territory. The acting is wooden and Jon-Mikl Thor takes the cake as John the lead singer of a rock band named The Triton’s. Thor plays a character that is all business and has no time to play well at least he takes his lady up on her offer to shower together. His facial expressions are priceless and his delivery of dialog brings about comic relief. His look especially during the “We Live to Rock” segment is vintage David Lee Roth.
With a title like Rock N’ Roll Nightmare one would expect to see a few scares and this films seriously lacks any scary moments. The violence is many cases is off screen as the film never even attempts to go for the viewers jugular with balls out horror bloodshed. The film does have a lot of sex and heavy petting going on. These scenes feel like they might have been added to pad the film. The films score is its strongest asset as it perfectly balances hair metal with creepy horror music. The fashion and hairstyles have the 1980’s all written all over them. Despite the many shortcomings this film does have its direction is actually pretty good as it gives the film a more polished feels overall. The plot even though it started off strong enough goes off the deep end as the film progresses. The films final act literally feels like you are watching a completely different film all together. Overall Rock N’ Roll Nightmare is far from the masterpiece Thor had envisioned, still it is has its enjoyable moments which are best watched after downing a few cold ones.
The DVD:
Synapse Films have sparred no expense in putting together this DVD release of the cult classic film Rock N’ Roll Nightmare. The film comes with a stunning and nearly flawless anamorphic transfer which is also in the films original aspect ratio. There are two audio choices the films original mono mix, purists should rally enjoy this mix and a new supped up Dolby Digital 5.1 remix. Both audio mixes are in English and they are in great shape with no audio defects.
Extras for this release include a new video introduction and afterward with Jon- Mikl Thor, two music videos “We Live to Rock” & “Energy”, and liner notes about the films star Jon- Mikl Thor which were written by Ian Jane. There are two behind the scenes featurettes "Creating a Child-Wolf" & "Rock N' Shock Memories" and there is a third featurette which is also the best of the three is titled “Revelations of a Rock 'N' Roll Warrior". Now if that wasn’t enough the final extra and without a doubt the most important extra is a mind blowing audio commentary with Jon- Mikl Thor and the director of the film John Fasano. Fans of this campy horror film will drool over Synapse Films special edition DVD release for Rock N’ Roll Nightmare.
STORY/FILM-2/5 BITCH SLAPS
PICTURE-4.5/5 BITCH SLAPS
AUDIO-4/5 BITCH SLAPS
EXTRAS-5/5 BITCH SLAPS
OVERALL DVD-4.5/5 BITCH SLAPS
Street Date: June 27th, 2006-or-
© 2006 cinema-nocturna.com
