I Feel Violated – August Underground’s ‘MORDUM’ (2003) Blu-ray Review

It’s as if TOETAG Inc honcho Fred Vogel (The Redsin Tower) said, “Boundaries?? We don’t need no stinkin’ boundaries!!” after the grass roots success of 2001’s August Underground and decided to ratchet up the sickness to the nth degree for August Underground’s Mordum.

Synopsis:

“Two friends bring along a newcomer to go on a killing spree.”

Reprising his role of Peter in a brand-new exercise in depravity, Mordum sees Vogel teaming up with Crusty (Cristie Whiles – The Redsin Tower) and her mentally challenged brother Maggot (Michael T. Schnieder – The Wickeds) to once again leave a path of torture and murder in his wake. Made for a reported budget of $300, Mordum is a collaborative effort by everyone at TOETAG (the four principal actors share director credit) and still, after 20 years, impacts the viewer like a hammer to the forehead.

Obviously having learned a thing or two since the events of the first film, Peter and his friends up the ante with rape, vomit, torture, genital mutilation, and even more in a film that, while an important piece of genre film, isn’t an “easy watch” by any means. The unrepentant glee that they exhibit during the sadistic goings on make you genuinely wonder about the actual mental state of the actors involved. And, as with the first film, the seemingly “ordinary weird guy on the street” quality of the characters make them all the more chilling, even more so when they team up and share notes with another psychopath (late Necrophagia vocalist Frank “Killjoy DeSade” Pucci).

The violence onscreen, interspersed with spates of “normalcy,” makes Mordum stand out from its predecessor by wallowing (figuratively and literally) in its gory excesses and turning an unflinching camera eye on humanity’s forgotten dregs. There’s been plenty of discussion of a film that Australian customs said, “Offends against the standards of morality, decency and propriety generally accepted by reasonable adults to the extent that they should not be imported.” So, without further ado, let’s jump into what this (finally) wide release Blu-ray/DVD package from Unearthed Films has to offer.

Like the earlier August Underground release, Mordum features three different versions of the cover art: slipcase and reversible box art. I especially like the sepia toned artwork with its classic aesthetic. The Blu-ray and DVD discs both present a different slew of extras, with comprehensive interviews with Vogel, and an all-new chat with EFX artist/director/actor, Jerami Cruise. A Killjoy remembrance piece and a Necrophagia promo video serve as a fitting tribute to the crew’s fallen comrade, and there’s an exhaustive amount of BTS scenes and photos. Also included is footage from Mordum festival screenings and all new commentary tracks from the cast & crew.

With a great looking transfer, audio that’s a step up from previous releases, and extras that not only supplement the film but also serve as a great “history of TOETAG Pictures,” Unearthed Films really put together the definitive, be-all-end-all package. A microcosm of extreme cinema and found footage at the time (and of the then burgeoning “torture porn” sub-genre), Mordum deserves a wide release package, both for fans of the series, and for the curious.

Consider this your warning…

Unearthed Films’ Limited Collector’s Edition Blu-ray/DVD of August Underground’s Mordum is available now from all fine retailers.