MIND BENDERS 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 and Toronto, ON!
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 slipcase edition (designed by Robert Sammelin) is strictly limited to 4,000 units and may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.
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Frankie and Crash run the most popular high school radio show in town, keeping the students buzzing with rock 'n' roll music and rebellious influences. But when Principal Borden decides the good times are rolling too freely, he brings in the mysterious Dr. Gunbow to implement a new Behavioral Modification Program. Almost immediately, the school's radio station is commandeered by agents of the program, and shortly thereafter, the students start displaying increasingly disturbing and zombie-like behavior while developing a newfound taste for violence against anyone who won't conform. Realizing that whatever is going on is forcibly changing their friends, Frankie and Crash take it upon themselves to find out what Dr. Gunbow is up to and the ultimate goal of his mind-bending conspiracy.
An over-the-top and zany sci-fi comedy oozing with mid-80s aesthetics, actress-turned-director Eugenie Joseph's (finishing director of Spookies) crackpot Canadian cult classic, MIND BENDERS stars Skip Lackey (Once Bitten), Lee Tergesen (TV's Oz, Weird Science) in his first on-screen role, along with veteran character actor Roy Thinnes (Airport, Rush Week). Produced by notorious New York exploitation filmmaker Jack Bravman (Snuff), Vinegar Syndrome Archive presents the worldwide Blu-ray debut of MIND BENDERS, newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative and featuring the first-ever on-camera interview with director Eugenie Joseph!
directed by: Eugenie Joseph starring: Skip Lackey, Lee Tergesen, Roy Thinnes, Françoise Robertson, Sarah Hayward, Gregory Calpakis, Robert Dubac 1987 / 87 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Region Free Blu-ray
Scanned and restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative
Commentary track with director Genie Joseph and writer/actor Skip Lackey
Commentary track with James Branscome and Nick Vance of the Cinematic Void Podcast
"High Tension High: The Making Of Mind Benders" (37 min) - a making-of documentary featuring interviews with producer Jack Bravman, director Genie Joseph, writer/lead actor Skip Lackey, and actors David Kener and Bill Curry
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.218107 / 5 from 243 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Mind Benders, a part of the Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, is a restored 80s sci-fi comedy with a fun, entertaining movie experience. The release includes a beautifully designed VHS-inspired slipcase, clear sound transfer, and engaging special features. Customers appreciate the unique packaging and the overall fun addition to the VSA line.
Summary topics
Entertainment Value (23%): A significant amount of customers expressed appreciation for the movie, stating that it is entertaining and one of the most entertaining and fun movies they've had the blessing of watching.
Packaging Design (7%): It was reported by customers that the packaging for the film Mind Benders is nice and excellent.
Special Features (6%): Customers expressed appreciation for the great and fun special features provided on this VSA flick.
Transfer Quality (8%): It was noted by customers that the transfer was good, with clear sound and a beautiful slipcover.
Restoration Quality (10%): It was reported by customers that the restoration looks great and top-notch, with a sharp 2K transfer.
"The VSA line always delivers excellent treatment, extras and transfers, and "Mind Benders" is no exception." — Jeff M.
"I love sci-fi, and cheesy 80s comedy, and high school movies so this is a triple win for me." — chris b.
"The high-quality restoration, thoughtful packaging, and extensive special features make it a standout release." — Adam C.
Reviews
Mind Benders
"The packaging sold me on this movie more than anything. I wish the movie lived up to my excitement for the box. It was really bad. I'm all for a bad, cheesy movie as long as it's entertaining but I was bored by it."
— Travis H. (1/5)
A high school radio station,
"A high school radio station, a mind-control conspiracy, and a very young Lee Tergesen: this 1987 Canadian oddity is peak VSA territory. It's goofy, it's sincere, and the 4K OCN scan makes the mid-80s color palette pop in ways that feel almost hallucinatory. The 37-minute making-of doc and the first-ever on-camera interview with director Eugenie Joseph make this an easy recommendation for cult completionists."
— Tristin B. (5/5)
Mind benders
"Mind Benders is a fascinating and atmospheric psychological thriller that plays with perception, identity, and reality in intriguing ways. Its surreal touches and increasingly unsettling ideas keep the viewer guessing as the story unfolds. It’s an engaging cult curiosity that rewards anyone who enjoys cerebral genre cinema with a strange edge."
— Jeffrey W. (5/5)
Pure '80s Brain-Melting Mayhem
"Mind Benders is an infectiously goofy mix of teen comedy, sci-fi, and horror that could only have come from the video store era. Packed with outrageous behavior-modification hijinks, cheesy charm, and unmistakable mid-'80s energy, it's the kind of forgotten oddity Vinegar Syndrome excels at resurrecting. The gorgeous 4K restoration, extensive extras, and deluxe VSA presentation make this an easy recommendation for fans of offbeat cult cinema."
— JEREMY S. (5/5)
80s cult classic
"I love 80s teen movies. This one is great, nice blend of 80s teen and horror/sci fi. It's pretty crazy. The characters just look and talk exactly how you want them to in an 80s movie. If you're into that kind of thing definitely check this one out."
— John M. (5/5)
Great slip, okayish flick
"Okayish comedy. . had Another idea of the movie. . but still fun enough"
— Richard J. (3/5)
An Interesting Experiment
"Mind Benders presents an intriguing premise and a handful of genuinely effective moments, but it never quite reaches the psychological heights its concept promises. The film creates a respectable sense of unease, and the performances are solid enough to keep the story moving, yet the pacing often feels uneven and the tension fades just when it should be building. There is enough atmosphere and ambition to make it worth watching, particularly for fans of cerebral science fiction and psychological thrillers, but it stops short of becoming truly memorable. A respectable three-star effort with flashes of something greater."
— Antonio T. (5/5)
Lovely packaging
"Movie was interesting, altough I expected a different vibe from the movie based on the nice artwork of the packaging"
— Jerker Ö. (4/5)
Mind Benders
"Typical made for video flair but loved everything about it."
— Gary R. (5/5)
STRANGE BEHAVIOR, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, and now, Some Mind-Bending Behavior
"So late ‘80s it hurts. MIND BENDERS may be too silly for VS fans who seem to complain when any film has intentional jokes in it, but folks who can hang with “USA Up All Night” and Rick Sloane movies will enjoy themselves. As always, great to see great extras for something as silly as this."
— Maxim P. (3/5)
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