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:
Overall rating: 4.5397725 / 5 from 176 reviews.
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.
Review topics: ["quality","looks","design","set","packaging","value","sound","work","pleasure","box","buy","film","collection","release","acting","movie","millard","budget","ethel","restoration","filmmakers","fun","extras","booklet","treatment","vibe","vinegar syndrome","cheese","fare","thriller"].
"Millard is courageous, ambitious, and undoubtedly a little crazy. His films exist somewhere between B-movies and home movies, yet they retain a sense of dignity that's far from common. The Vinegar Syndrome box set is excellent."
"If you're a Millard Maniac, you're definitely sick in the head, but this is one of the releases of the year, IMO. 5 peeks at Nick's incredibly unique take on action cinema, presented in editions that sparkle (relatively) like we never could've imagined. A streamlined assortment of extras, but what's all here is really good, and sheds some much needed light on the man and his unique brand of "cinema. " It all comes wrapped up in a beautifully designed box with a fantastic booklet. You're a rare breed if this is up your alley, and it's definitely not for all tastes (if you're expecting real action, sit back down), but for those of us with the Nick bug, it's a jewel in the VS catalog!"
"For my full detailed review of these films, see my entry on Letterboxd: @M4N14K Nick Millard is not a director I ever expected to do a deep-dive on but here we are… thanks, VinSyn! I viewed these films on The Nick Millars Action Collection Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray Limited Edition physical media release and it is the same great premium level of packaging and presentation that you’ve come to expect from the generic releases of this boutique label. No other brand beats Vinegar Syndrome at the cardboard game and this great slipcover is no exception to the consistently fantastic artwork and component quality this company produces."
"Oh, Nick Millard. You might not be the best action director in the world. You might not even be the second best and continuing this wouldn't do either of us any favours. You lacked budgets, but you didn't lack passion. I mean there's only one reason to make movies like this and it must be passion. Easy winnings can't be had with movies like this. Or perhaps you did. The times were different and this leads back into these movies. Oh boy are these different! These movies are such a time capsule that seeing only one wouldn't do the viewer any favours. One needs to savour these vibes. The movies in the set are fairly short which makes it even more realistic to have a "two nighter" with Nick. I loved the times i had with this boxset and although some of the movies weren't that memorable and did in fact bore me at times. . . The net sum was more than its parts. Great set, great booklet. Interesting films."
"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!"
"A VSA box of surprise awaits in "The Nick Millard Action Collection", though these films would be out of place in a regular movie theater. That's not to say these five films aren't enjoyable; they are and would fit perfectly in an MST3K/RiffTrax environment, or at a party to watch and enjoy with friends who have similar tastes in films of this nature. Definitely a fun time and a no-regret purchase."
"It's just as low rent and enjoyable as it looks in the trailer. I think my favorite might be Gunblast just for the dialogue and the hilarious gun play."
"Loved Criminally Insane and was eager to see more, not disappointed - great set!"
"I won't belabor the technical aspects here, but knowing that what you're buying is obv. as home-made as they come should be an indication that the quality of films here varies widely. I had a decent time with most of them, a couple were just meh to awful, the Alcatraz joint and the racing film are just bad ideas executed without any real on-screen effort. But 3/5 of these aren't a waste of time. They're nicely paced and edited (technical aspect aside) and honestly decent character studies, providing you get past the wooden acting at times. Bonus features and booklet are cool, but I liked the features on Criminally Insane much more."
"This set is soooooo good. My actual introduction to filmmaker Nick Millard. Restoration looks great compared to old scenes and pics I looked up."
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