PopHorror Let's Get Scared
In 1968, the world of horror was changed forever as George Romero brought “the living dead” into the public conscience for the first time on a mainstream basis. Twenty years later, Romero’s friend and filmmaking teammate, Bill Hinzman, brought the same concept back from the grave for another feeding frenzy with Flesheater. With Vinegar Syndrome releasing a new 4K showcase, now is the perfect time to revisit the hidden un-dead gem that is Flesheater.
Released in 1988, Flesheater was directed by Bill Hinzman (Cemetery Zombie – Night Of The Living Dead 1968) and co-written by Hinzman and Bill Randolph (Bloodscent 1995). Much like the do-it-yourself Night of the Living Dead (read our retro review here) crew from twenty years prior, Flesheater was a grass roots team that was undersized but dedicated.
The story was simple: a group of rowdy kids go off to party on a Halloween hayride, but the grounds soon become infested with zombies. Hinzman is not only the lead antagonist in this film, but he actually reprises nearly the exact same zombie he played in Romero’s iconic tale. While the budget is low and the plot is basic, the callbacks to previous zombie films and the standout special effects of Jerry Gergely (My Bloody Valentine 2009) make this a fun entry to the genre. Everyone had multiple jobs and overcame financial and environmental restrictions, which just adds to the charm of this indie gorefest.
Vinegar Syndrome not only restored the audio and video quality to make this awesome 4K/Blu-ray release, but they also compiled a ton of extras for fans of the film. Aside from a three-person commentary track and near ten minute gallery of behind the scenes still photos, there are nine different interview featurettes. From actors to effects, from cinematographers to hair stylists, we hear from nearly everyone who was present on the days of production. Each person speaks at length on their first-hand accounts, ranging from seven minutes all the way up near twenty. This pristine Flesheater release holds nearly two hours of bonus interviews alone, including touching words from Bonnie Hinzman, the wife of the late creator of this movie.
The colors that Vinegar Syndrome restored will jump off the screen just as much as the hilarious tales of the production follies that the crew recounts in the bonus features. Any fan of the popular zombie subgenre of horror will surely find something to fulfill their cravings in this new release.
