THE NICK MILLARD ACTION COLLECTION is part of our Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, celebrating forgotten cinematic oddities from the video store era. This collection was inspired by our own brick & mortar video stores, with locations in Bridgeport, CT,Denver, CO,Toronto, ON, and Pittsburgh, PA (opening soon!).
Unique to this line, each hand numbered limited edition release will come fitted in a specially designed, bottom loading VHS inspired slipcase, while also including a double-sided poster.
These releases will ONLY be available on our website and at participating indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. This spot gloss slipcase edition (designed by Luke Insect) is strictly limited to 5,000 units and and includes a 40-page perfect bound book. This release may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.
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After a hefty career making oddball erotica, followed by the brain-melting one-two punch of the horror classics Criminally Insane and Satan's Black Wedding, director Nick Millard helmed an increasingly bizarre series of low-budget action thrillers, combining his trademarks of stolen international locales, sureally mismatched footage, demented dialogue, and some of the fastest-cut shootouts in cinema history. Welcome to THE NICK MILLARD ACTION COLLECTION. Presented here are all five of Millard's shot-on-film action, thriller, and caper features, newly restored from their original negatives and featuring a new documentary on the life and films of Nick Millard.
.357 MAGNUM (1977, 68 minutes) - Millard's action debut follows assassin John Hightower as he attempts to take down a rival hitman who has gone on an unhinged rampage. Fearing that he's not up to the task, he enlists the help of his mentor to train him to become the ultimate killing machine. The most ambitious of Millard's low-fi epics, shot on location throughout Asia, this clever caper offers an abundance of bloody shoot-outs, all the way through to its twist-filled conclusion.
ALCATRAZ BREAKOUT (aka Alcatraz 1313-0) (1978, 58 minutes) - Due to his successful escape attempts at other facilities, maximum security prisoner 1313-0 has been sent to Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary. While his wife and young daughter hope for his parole, he plots his most daring escape yet. Filled with sneakily stolen footage shot at Alcatraz, this was Millard's final theatrically released feature film.
ONE-ARMED WARRIOR (aka The Terrorists) (1980, 55 minutes) - James Luke is assigned the case of tracking a group of German terrorists who have been responsible for a series of brutal attacks. But when he discovers a plot to assassinate the President of the United States on an upcoming international trip, he's in a race against time to foil the deadly plan. Between typically absurd action set pieces and an abundance of location footage, this was Millard's final international mini-epic.
STREET RACE (1981, 71 minutes) — Once celebrated race car driver John Ryan is now in a crisis. His love for racing, while unchanged, is now being betrayed by his aging body, which may no longer be up to the task. Sensing his decline, a younger racer vies to steal his spotlight. Millard's attempt at a serious, character-driven drama pits actual race car driving against more nuanced and thoughtful character development. Long thought lost, and one of the "longest" films he made, STREET RACE features great international racing footage, from California's Grand Prix of Long Beach to the French Riviera's famous Formula 1 races..
SHOTGUN (aka Gunblast) (1985, 66 minutes) - Career criminal Roy Grant has spent his life in and out of prison, but his latest attempt to go straight is quickly foiled when a mysterious woman enlists his help to steal a fortune's worth of drugs and money. After pulling off the heist, the two embark on a getaway road trip, but danger is following them everywhere. A more "conventional" crime thriller than one would expect from Millard, this was his final feature edited entirely on film and offers plentiful action and surprises throughout.
directed by: Nick Millard starring: Marland Proctor, Irmgard Millard, Nick Millard, Gary Boyd, Albert Eskinazi, Priscilla Alden, Barrett Cooper 1977-1985 / 318 min (combined) / 1.33:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
2-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
Newly scanned and restored in 4K from their 16mm original negatives
Commentary track with author Brian Albright for .357 Magnum
"Home Made Hollywood" (24 min) - a newly produced documentary on the life and films of Nick Millard
"Do it All" (9 min) - an interview with Valerie Millard, daughter of Nick Millard
40-page perfect bound book with essays by Brian Albright and Charles Devlin
Inside cover artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.5266666 / 5 from 150 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
The Nick Millard Action Collection offers a unique assortment of restored action films, praised for their engaging low-fi action and intriguing thrillers. While opinions vary on the quality and editing, the collection is highly recommended for fans of Nick Millard's work. The special features and limited edition packaging add to the appeal.
"Nice collection of five films, great quality release, highly recommended!" — Sebastian V.
"An entertaining collection of 5 unique and intriguing action/crime thrillers." — Logan G.
"A great collection of no-budget action flicks from Nick Millard." — Joe B.
Reviews
Weird regional action movies.
"Some of the cheapest movies ever, but there's a lot of charm. This is a really cool release for movies that probably wouldn't have a good release otherwise."
— Damon H. (4/5)
Nick Millard Action Collection
"You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, then do it all over again. Niche cult filmmaking of the highest order. So much goodness packed inside."
— Barb M. (3/5)
Amazing collection of action movies by auteur Millard
"One of the releases by VS that I ordered immediately as it came out. The charm of these films is undeniable. Some have a fun slant, others are a bit more serious. No matter the varying quality of the films, this will be a price entry into my collection."
— Tim V. (5/5)
Nick Millard Action Collection
"Great collection. Loved these films."
— Jason S. (5/5)
Exploitation Fun at Its Most Outrageous
"The Nick Millard Action Collection gathers several of Millard’s low-budget, high-energy films, delivering a mix of crime, sexploitation, and over-the-top action that epitomizes grindhouse cinema. These films prioritize shock, spectacle, and outrageous scenarios over narrative coherence, embracing a chaotic, anything-goes spirit. The visuals are raw and rough, often handheld or cheaply lit, which adds to the underground, DIY charm of the collection. Dialogue can be awkward, performances uneven, and plots thin, but that’s part of the appeal for fans of offbeat exploitation. Expect lurid storylines, bold editing, and a relentless embrace of genre extremes. For viewers interested in cult cinema, vintage B-movie energy, and unapologetic pulp entertainment, this collection is a guilty pleasure that captures the wild creativity of Nick Millard’s filmography."
— Thomas H. (5/5)
Must Have!
"Highly recommended if you’re into Nick Millard stuff (Criminally Insane)."
— Jeffrey L. (5/5)
Mixed bag
"Nick Millard is an acquired taste. Some of his films are extremely watchable and some drag. Overall, a good collection though."
— John H. (4/5)
I love these collections cause
"I love these collections cause it is alot of content to go through, Its not the best in terms of film quality, but they are a lot of fun to watch. Good release and happy to have it."
— Edward l. (4/5)
No Fi Garbage Blast Action
"Yeah the reactions are mixed. But for me this is the magic of VS. Cheapass bonkers action flix from Mr. Criminally Insane himself. It would be CRIMINAL if these fumbling, stumbling “action” treasures were to be lost in time and space. A thrilling inspiration to some of us! Worthy of a looksee for the others, even if just for the WHA?"
— Robert M. (5/5)
Who would’ve thought.
"Who would’ve thought."
— Miles M. (5/5)
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