DERANGED / MOTEL HELL

From MGM, this budget R1 disc robs any self-respecting horror fan with a multi-region player of any excuse not to check out either of these films …

MOTEL HELL (side 2 of the double-sided disc) has already been reviewed on the SGM site, so for a more comprehensive account of the film itself … check out the review!

Okay, a brief overview:

MOTEL HELL is a low-budget horror from 1980, directed by Kevin Connor (AT THE EARTH'S CORE; FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE). It tells the tale of Farmer Vincent - whose flame-grilled meat is famous in the backwoods (but what's the secret ingredient?!).

After falling for the pretty girlfriend of one of his victims, Vincent finds she is reluctant to join the family business of harvesting humans until they are ripe to cook - and must therefore get rid of her to keep his secret safe. But his cop brother has other ideas …

MOTEL HELL's filled with great performances, likeable characters and enough inventive moments to keep the film compelling, despite it's lack of gore. It's strong points are the witty script and Rory Calhoun's standout turn as Farmer Vincent - at once amusing and totally sinister.

The version on offer here is uncut (unlike the slightly trimmed version released on pre-cert VHS in the UK all those years ago by Warner).

So let's move on to DERANGED …

Just as MOTEL HELL was overlooked at the time of it's release, due to the unfortunate timing of the more sensational (though infinitely less interesting) FRIDAY THE 13TH, DERANGED was released in 1974 and inspired by the true-life exploits of serial killer Ed Gein … oops, so was THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. With a title like that, CHAIN SAW was always going to steal the limelight!

But DERANGED has emerged over the years as a cult classic in it's own right. And deservedly so.

The film plays like a mock documentary in the early parts, with a walk-on character addressing the screen as he recounts the sad tale of Ezra Cobb (the brilliant Roberts Blossom - THE QUICK & THE DEAD, etc).

We see Ezra as a lonely middle-aged man, committed to tending for his sick elderly mother.

Mother has dominated Ezra's life, and we bear witness to her warning him away from women. Sex is, after all, evil …

Ezra's mother dies shortly afterwards (while being force-fed some horrible green goo by her son). In what is a strangely moving scene, Ezra tries desperately to stop the inevitable from happening - frantically begging his mother to be okay as blood pisses from her nose.

The film steps up a gear from here, as the presenter becomes little more than a narrator (before being dispelled with entirely toward the latter end of the film). Ezra combats depression and loneliness for a time, before eventually journeying to the local graveyard in the dead of night and digging the corpse of his mother up.

Once mother is home though, she begins to 'speak' to Ezra … and it's not long before he's digging up more corpses and taking them home as company for mommie dearest.

Grave-robbing soon leads to murder though, as Ezra begins setting his sights on women he'd like to bed … but can't because of the guilt his mother has instilled in his sexual urges!

It's at this point that DERANGED really becomes a joy to behold, with one bizarrely effective set-piece after another.

There's a failed date scene involving a fake sιance that will amuse as much as it does repel … and if that doesn't do it for you, what about when Cobb takes a waitress home and sits her round the table with his decomposing 'friends'?!

DERANGED benefits from excellent performances, some grisly FX from a young Tom Savini, great direction from Jeff Gillen and Alan Ormsby, and a clued-up understanding of it's own absurd subject matter. Pitch-black humour doesn't even come close to describing this one …

Blossom is simply wonderful in the role of Cobb. He illicits laughs from the audience when required, can effortlessly become menacing at the drop of a hat - and best of all, knows exactly how to play on the audience's emotions and make them feel sympathy towards his character. For this type of film, in fact, I'd go so far as to say it's a tour-de-force performance.

The print on offer here is superb. Really sharp and clear, it's a vast improvement on the VHS released in the UK by Exploited in the late 90s. Presented in 1.85:1, it's also been 16x9 enhanced, and looks a treat.

Sadly, this is not the full uncut version of the film. While MGM's disc includes the notorious finale that the BBFC excised from Exploited's release (approximately 18 seconds), it is unfortunately lacking a 4 (?) second shot of Ezra scooping a skull empty, that was originally cut by the MPAA upon the movie's theatrical release.

I wouldn't advise that the above dissuade potential buyers though - this is the longest, most complete version there's been so far … and UK rights are tied up with MGM, so even if they do release this classic film over here we're bound to get the same version!

MOTEL HELL looks great - again, nice and sharp and clear. MGM have done sterling jobs on the mastering of both of these films. Again, the film is presented in anamorphic 1.85:1.

Audio on MOTEL HELL is available in English (stereo surround - very competent, 2.0), Spanish (Stereo Surround) and French mono. Removable subtitles are available in each of these languages.

Both films have static menu pages, and carry their original US theatrical trailer as a token extra.

The disc is double-sided (DERANGED on side A/ MOTEL HELL on side B) and has been Region 1 NTSC encoded. Housed in a black keepcase packaging.

Worth the price for DERANGED alone. A true bargain when you take MOTEL HELL into consideration too (which actually improves upon repeat screenings …)!

Review by Stu Willis