This limited edition and painstakingly crafted box set (designed by Tom Hodge of The Dude Designs) is limited to 7,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
No sub-genre better reflects 80s horror than the Slasher. With the boom of Slasher franchises from major studios, filmmakers working across the country and at all budget and experience levels hoped that making a Slasher would be their ticket to success and set about creating films which reflected creative sensibilities which were far too "out there" for the majors to even consider. HOME GROWN HORRORS VOL. 2 collects a trio of highly diverse slashers produced at the tail end of the decade, each of which has been newly and exclusively restored in 4K for this release!
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MOONSTALKER
In a wintry forest near Reno, Nevada, a deformed and demented man-child named Bernie lives out of an RV with his elderly father...after observing the expensive microwave owned by a vacationing family, the old man sends Bernie out to steal it. But instead, Bernie commences a bloody rampage through the woods, gorily knocking off anyone and everyone who crosses his path and, with a nearby camp opening up for the season, the body count begins to rise to staggering heights!
Taking the formula of a late 80s slasher and injecting copious amounts of no-budget charm, along with creative kills and easily one of the highest number of murders in a film from the genre, Michael S. O'Rourke's MOONSTALKER (shot as Camper Stamper!) was a passion project for all involved. Featuring nearly all first time actors, including future TV stars Blake Gibbons (TV's General Hospital), Kelly Mullis (TV's How I Met Your Mother), and John Marzilli (TV's The Secret World of Alex Mack), this regional treasure hits Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome, stuffed with extras and looking more beautiful than ever thanks to our 4K restoration of its 16mm camera negative, which was approved by its acclaimed cinematographer, Michael Goi!
directed by: Michael S. O'Rourke
starring: Blake Gibbons, Ingrid Vold, John Marzilli, Tom Hamil, Jill Foors, Joe Balogh, Ann McFadden, Alex Wexler, Pamela Ross, Joseph Christopher, Kelly Mullis, Joleen Mullins
1989 / 92 min / 1.33:1 / English Mono
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DEAD GIRLS
All-girl rock band, Dead Girls, have made a name - and plenty of controversy - for themselves by recording songs which glorify death and suicide. However, everything changes when lead singer Bertha Beirut learns that her younger sister has been hospitalized following a group suicide pact which is associated with the lyrics to one of Dead Girls' songs. Reeling from the shock, the band decides to put their upcoming tour on hiatus while they reconsider the messages conveyed by their music, staying at a family property in the mountains to hash out their thoughts. But soon, an uninvited guest appears, dressed in a black coat, gloves, hat, and wearing a skull mask, who begins to hack, chop, strangle, and otherwise dispatch the band...
The first film feature from shot-on-video director Dennis Devine and his writing and producing partner, Steve Jarvis, DEAD GIRLS effortlessly blends 80s single location slasher tropes with a genuinely suspenseful and clever tribute to the giallo genre, offering effective twists up until the final fade out. Sadly rendered as a direct-to-video title by its distributor, DEAD GIRLS nevertheless takes full advantage of 16mm origins and offers stylish and gel heavy photography, evoking its passion for Euro-sleaze. Vinegar Syndrome presents this criminally under-seen whodunit in a stunning new 4K restoration of its original negative and bursting at the seams with newly produced extras.
directed by: Dennis Devine
starring: Diana Karanikas, Angela Eads, Kay Schaber, Angela Scaglione, Steven Kyle, Deirdre West, Jeff Herbick, David Chatfield, Ilene B. Singer, David Williams
1990 / 106 min / 1.33:1 / English Mono
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HANGING HEART
Denny, a young and handsome actor in surrealist theatre, is an object of desire for all who encounter him. When a young woman, with whom Denny has been having an affair, is found murdered, the police immediately suspect him of being her assailant. Managing to get off the hook for his potential involvement, pending additional investigation, it's not long before another woman in Denny's life is murdered with Denny again becoming the prime suspect. Is someone trying to frame him or is Denny himself a deranged lunatic weaving a bizarre plan to try and get away with multiple murders?
The first feature film from Korean Immigrant and American Film Institute graduate, Jimmy Lee, HANGING HEART is a highly stylized thriller with one foot planted firmly in the art-house genre and the other paying loving tribute to slashers and gialli alike. Featuring stunning, and often times expressionist cinematography by Silvio Santini and dream-logic editing from Steven Nielson (Microwave Massacre) along with mesmerizing "filmed play" sequences, Vinegar Syndrome proudly presents HANGING HEART on Blu-ray, newly restored in 4K from its 35mm camera negative and marking not just its disc debut, but its US video premier!
directed by: Jimmy Lee
starring: Barry Wyatt, Jake Henry, Francine Lapensée, John Stevens, Debra Robinson, Lea Dedrick, Dan Zukovic, Michael James, Ingrid Vold, William Derr
1989 / 103 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
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Overall rating: 4.551724 / 5 from 232 reviews.
Home Grown Horrors: Volume Two is a limited edition box set featuring three restored 80s slasher films in 4K. Customers praise the collection's value, the quality of the films, and the stunning box set design. Special features and extras are also highly regarded.
Review topics: ["quality","looks","feel","installment","design","value","deal","presentation","packaging","box","case","buy","set","work","girls","film","collection","movie","horror","features","moonstalker","artwork","boxset","release","slasher","volume","heart","art","acting","follow-up"].
"Beautifully illustrious slip covers, sturdy, amazing art work, and attractive design. Reminds me of the Clive Barker comics from the 90's. I happily follow VS for their obscure releases packed with oddities and just bizarre movies. Glad I stumbled upon their website!"
"A fun and worthwhile collection with plenty of regional horror charm. The films have a great vintage feel, and the presentation is strong considering the source material. A very enjoyable set for fans of obscure and independent horror."
"A great collection SoV horror. Excellent box art."
"No question about the quality and design of this set, it looks amazing. Moonstalker is the least of the films in this, nothing too special and certainly not that great a slasher but kudos to finding the locations where they shot it. For the other 2 films, which are more worth it (especially Hanging Heart), here follow some more elaborate reviews. Dead Girls : The Dead Girls are an all-girl rock band with lyrics about all things sinister and macabre. So much so in fact that a young group of fans form a suicide cult and commit the act after listening to a certain song of the band. One of the survivors of the cult is Brooke, the younger sister of the lead singer of The Dead Girls, Gina. To try and relax a little, the band members decide to retreat to a cabin in the mountains. Unfortunately for them a masked killer is trying to kill them off, with the gimmick being that the kills are based on song lyrics by the band. With a black trenchcoat, hat and skull mask, the killer dons an outfit that makes one think of the Italian giallo movies. And yes, those types of films were a big inspiration admitted by director Devine. This is also translated in a couple of false scares, red herrings and surprises near the end, some of which really stretch all credibility. There's also a lot of talk between the characters, though it never became really dull. The gore isn't too special for most of the part, though there's an axe murder where body parts get chopped off. Is the killer Elmo, the mentally-challenged handyman lurking around? Is it Mike, Gina's ex-boyfriend who stays behind? Is it the reverend, who is opposed to what the lyrics imply? Damn, it might even be aunt Annie, who keeps on verbally assaulting Gina about leaving behind her sister! Maybe there are multiple killers, as the director name-droppes Tenebre in the feature-lenght documentary included on the disc. Now, while most of the film takes place during the day, there is some moody nighttime action, showcased in a scene where a groupie is unceremoniously kicked out of the cabin and forced to go back to town through a forest where the wind is howling and the mist is blowing. With 105 minutes the running time is quite bloated for a slasher. It takes a while to really start going. There are touches of the supernatural (with hints of Gina apparently having dreams, or maybe even a psychic link, that warns her of the evil things that are happening), though nothing is really explained. Yeah, I had my fun with this! Visually the bluray is excellent but the sound mix is way off, apparently due to damage and technical faults. Keep those subtitles on! Hanging Heart : Denny is a young actor, very handsome and attracting the attention of everyone he comes in touch with. One night he finds the corpse of his girlfriend, making him the main suspect of the murder. Elliot Smith, a lawyer who is also in love with Denny, is offering to help him. It's the start of a very unique work that mixes in a lot of different elements that's clearly too odd to pigeonhole. There's a very clear homo-erotic vibe at work which already begins with the opening sequence where Denny is directed in a play that focuses mainly on the male body and that gets stronger as the film moves along. That part of the film culminates with a sequence where Denny is making love to his girlfriend, intercut with shots of traffic signs saying "ONE WAY" and "STOP". The director-writer even gives the killer the final say that paints him as a sad, lovestruck victim of his own feelings. Making it in the movie business is hard and ungrateful, which is reflected in the structure of the film and in certain characters. Denny ultimately sleeps with the director of the play and with Elliot. Another actress, Julie, admits that she's not getting the parts she needs and in the end tries to make it as a prostitute, literally saying "she would sell her soul if needed". The golden road to success is layered with the corpses of those who didn't make it and this film shows that ruthlessness. But that's not all! What about colored lighting and stylish photography straight out of a giallo? Fractured storytelling that incorporates odd editing and dream sequences? A flashback to Denny's youth where a harrowing experience is played out in black-and-white and makes one feel uneasy? The acting is very good, especially of the actor who plays Elliot Scott, Jake Henry, who according to IMDB only has 1 credit? Also, one of the best lines of dialogue I've heard in a long time : Denny is locked up in a jail cell where, for some reason, 2 men have graphic sex and he screams "Get me out of this nuthouse!". Part of the Homegrown Horror 2nd volume set released by Vinegar Syndrome. Essential release for the lovers of unique and personal works."
"I especially loved the hanging heart."
"After VS released the first Homegrown Horror set I was hoping for more and they answered my prayers lol. A great follow up to vol. 1, the extras and presentations for these films are on par with the first set. I hope they continue with these sets!"
"Home Grown Horrors: Volume Two is another strong entry in the series, showcasing regional genre filmmaking with real care and respect. What stands out most is the effort put into curating and preserving these films. It feels intentional, highlighting overlooked horror with context and appreciation rather than treating it as novelty. The transfer quality is impressive across the set. The films retain their raw, handmade texture while benefiting from clean restoration work. Detail is sharp, grain looks natural, and the image feels filmic rather than overly polished. The overall design of the collection is excellent. Packaging, artwork, and presentation feel cohesive and collector-focused. It looks great on the shelf and matches the grassroots spirit of the films themselves. Overall, this volume continues to prove that regional horror deserves serious attention. It’s a thoughtfully assembled set that balances nostalgia, preservation, and strong presentation."
"These Home Grown Horrors sets are so fun to explore regional, low budget horror films. This one is no exception and all three entries, Moonstalker, Dead Girls, and Hanging Heart are fun (if at times silly) films. And the packaging and special features are excellent."
"I really enjoyed Moonstalker and Dead Girls. Unique looking killers in both."
"Not quite as strong as the first set, for me, but still a good purchase on sale and often a lot of fun."
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