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:
Overall rating: 4.221239 / 5 from 226 reviews.
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.
Review topics: [quality, looks, packaging, presentation, sound, effort, detail, service, buy, work, movie, film, restoration, comedy, flick, transfer, release, features, fun, extras, effects, vsa, plot, soundtrack, mind benders, slipcover, art, line, control, mind].
"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."
"I enjoyed it for what it is. Fun if you like the era."
"Is it a drama? A comedy? A horror or sci-fi movie? No. It's kinda all of them, but the execution is so poor. The humor is sloppy af. I enjoy seeing Lee Tergesen (Tobias in OZ) in his first movie, but this is silly. And not so much in a fun way. It's a curiosity get fer sher. The packaging is excellent as always, and it's expected the "making-of" doc is going to great"
"Entertaining high school comedy about mine control. Super fun soundtrack loaded with eighties stuff. Excellent quality audio and video. Next level stuff, including the cool artwork on the slipcover, sleeve and poster."
"zany, mid-80s Canadian cult comedy serves up a hilariously absurd high school mind-control plot loaded with quintessential retro charm."
"The quality level of the marvelous slipcover was awesome! The movie itself was also high-quality and an intriguing, enjoyable watch! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"Those of us who lived through the 80s are complicit in this."
"The comedy is hit or miss but the visual effects and bizarre plot make up for it. If you like campy 80’s humor and low budget effects you’ll have a good time with Mind Benders."
"Look, if you don't know what your are getting when you purchase a VSA title I can't help you. Is it good? No. Will you like it? Well, that depends on your taste. Another VSA release that brings you exactly what you are looking for or one where you hopefully at least appreciate the effort that went into it. I was satisfied with my purchase."
"A film with atmosphere to spare gets a nifty restoration that upgrades not only the film’s picture quality, but its audio as well."
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