Schlock

Anchor Bay | minutes | | | Standard DVD reviewed by: Fusion3600

A rash of brutal murders has left the police baffled, with no leads or suspects in the least. The death toll has reached an astronomical number in just three short weeks, but aside from the bodies and banana peels, no evidence is left behind. As such, the police are left in the dark and the public is scared to death, of this beast known as The Banana Killer. The killer has just struck again during a picnic and left a pile of corpses behind, before returning to a secluded safe area, which no one has been able to discover. But when some goofy teens manage to stumble into a dark cave, two of them end up face to face with the beast, only to wind up as the next two victims. The two surviving teens scramble back to town and alert the police, who dispatch some men and cars, to seal off the area and capture this ruthless killer, at last. But we all know that life can involve some real twists and before long, the killer, known as Schlockthropus has fallen in love with a local blind girl, who has no idea she is with a prehistoric ape. Can this unusual, but deep romance work out in a world like ours, or is it doomed to fail, simply due to the murderous ape and his antics?

This movie is so horrific in nature, that no one was allowed in the theaters to see it. Ok, so that was just part of the promotional pitch, but Schlock is a horrific movie, if you hate to laugh, that is. I've seen this movie before with some friends and it divided the audience, to be sure. The cornball humor and zaniness don't seem to lock in with everyone, but if it connects with you, you'll be rolling the aisles, or rather in the living room, since this is the DVD. Schlock has a retarded premise that is exploited for every last possible chuckle, from sight gags to film parodies to you name it. John Landis serves as writer/director and he hits all the bases here, to inject as much humor as possible and of course, that's good news. You might wonder about a film based on the (un)true story of The Banana Killer, but rest assured, this little seen gem is hilarious from start to finish. Between the outlandish comedy and Rick Baker's great ape suit, Schlock is a wild ride and more than deserves a look, especially in this superb package from Anchor Bay. In addition to a gorgeous new anamorphic transfer, you'll also find some cool supplements and in truth, who else but Anchor Bay would give Schlock this kind of treatment?

This movie marked the feature film debut of writer/director John Landis, who went to direct a number of other pictures of course, including some very successful ones. I love Landis' earlier works, as they are so silly and over the top, but also well executed and effective, which means the laughs never end. As with The Kentucky Fried Movie, Schlock has a lot of parodies and seems dated, but if you know the references, the humor still works, I think. This kind of comedy won't win over all viewers, but if you like zaniness and outlandish antics, Schlock should be a worthwhile investment for you. Landis has gotten more praise and success with his later pictures, but I still love to revisit these earlier ones, as they're still madly entertaining. Other films directed by Landis include An American Werewolf in London, Trading Places, The Blues Brothers, Animal House, and of course, The Stupids. The cast includes Landis himself as Schlockthropus, as well as Saul Kahan, Eric Allison (Blood Mania), and Eliza Roberts (Animal House, Tv's Dr. Who).

Schlock is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. Wow! This is one of the true surprises out there in terms of visuals, as Anchor Bay has outdone themselves with this new anamorphic transfer. The print used is flawless and as sharp as could be, which means the visuals can shine and trust me, they do. The colors look bold, but a tad dated (as intended), while contrast is well balanced and never obscures detail. While I am talking about detail, this image is so clean and refined, the level of detail is stunning, I simply can't imagine a better effort than this. A couple minor errors can be seen, but nothing to be worried about and in the end, this is another superb visual treatment from Anchor Bay.

Not much to discuss here, as the mono option used is solid, but it is a mono track from the 1970s, so it isn't too impressive. The music and sound effects are dated of course, but sound decent enough and never seem distorted, which is good news. The real star of the audio mix is the dialogue, which comes across in crisp, well balanced form. This is a clean, proper presentation and while it isn't flashy by any means, this material simply doesn't need the bells & whistles.

This disc includes a selection of still photos & promotional materials, some talent files, four radio spots, and the film's theatrical trailer. But the real extra is still to come, as writer/director John Landis and creature creator Rick Baker provide a terrific audio commentary, as well. The two seem relaxed and very talkative, sharing all sorts of stories from the production, as well as other tidbits of information. I would have never expected an audio commentary on a flick like Schlock, but Anchor Bay has done one and as such, I once again commend their dedication to the fans.