Note: This listing is for the standard edition 2-disc Blu-ray set. The limited edition slipcover variants (designed by Earl Kessler Jr. and Gary Pullin) were limited to 3,000 units each and are sold out. The standard edition is identical, aside from the slipcover.
After their car breaks down, a group of travelers find themselves stranded in a remote part of New England. After taking shelter in a spooky old mansion, complete with a graveyard, they discover a ouija board and decide to spend the night attempting to summon some spirits. But the group soon learns that playing with the forces of black magic isn't fun and games, and it's not long before they're head-to-head with all sorts of demonic creatures, shape shifters, and other forms of evil, all of whom are more than happy to pick them off in the most gruesome of ways.
Of all of the bizarre horror films made in the 1980s, SPOOKIES easily ranks among the weirdest. Produced by Michael Lee, founder of the adored UK home video distributor VIPCO, the film became a fan favorite thanks to its expertly rendered creature effects and notorious for its bizarre production history in which its original creators, co-writers/directors Brendan Faulkner & Thomas Doran and co-writer/producer Frank M. Farel, were fired and replaced by Eugenie Joseph, who added new scenes and re-edited the previously shot footage, resulting in the legendary oddity SPOOKIES has become. Vinegar Syndrome proudly brings SPOOKIES to Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored in 4K from its long lost original negative and including a brand new, feature-length 'making of' documentary, charting its incredible and often unbelievable production history.
directed by: Thomas Doran, Brendan Faulkner and Eugenie Joseph starring: Peter Dain, Nick Gionta, Joan Ellen Delaney, Peter Iasillo, Charlotte Alexandra, Anthony Valbiro, Kim Merrill, Lisa Friede, Soo Paek, Maria Pechukas, Felix Ward 1985 / 85 min / 1.85:1
Additional info:
Region Free 2-disc Blu-ray Set
Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original camera negative
“Twisted Tale - The Unmaking of Spookies” - a feature-length making-of documentary, including a commentary track with documentary co-directors Michael Gingold & Glen Baisley and extensive deleted scenes.
“VIPCO - The Untold Story” - a feature-length documentary on the notorious UK home video label, including extended interview footage with Michael Lee (founder of VIPCO) and a trailer.
2015 Alamo Drafthouse screening introductions with Spookies director Thomas Doran and co-writer/producer Frank M. Farel.
Q&A from a 2015 Hudson Horror Show screening with actor Peter Iasillo, actor Anthony Valbiro and production assistant Tom Sciacca
Archival locations featurette with actor Peter Iasillo
Pinreel outtakes and bloopers
Behind the scenes still gallery
Theatrical trailer
Reversible cover artwork with new artwork by Gary Pullin
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.6277776 / 5 from 180 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Spookies, a 1985 horror film, is now available on a newly restored 2-disc Blu-ray set from Vinegar Syndrome. Customers appreciate the film's unique 80s horror charm, the quality of the restoration, and the extensive special features, including a making-of documentary and archival extras. The practical effects and the fun of the movie are highlighted, though opinions on the film itself are mixed.
Summary topics
Restoration Quality (9%): Customers raved about the transfer, describing it as phenomenal and the best they've seen.
Special Features (7%): Customers appreciated the special features included in the Spookies Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray release.
Horror Experience (9%): The feedback is varied, with some mentioning it as one of the weirdest low budget horrors out there.
Making-of Documentary (9%): Customers loved the documentary included in this release, describing it as great, insightful, and worth picking up.
Additional Extras (7%): It was reported by customers that the extras on this film were great and exceeded their original expectations.
"Packaged well, loved the movie the transfer and the special features and all for a good price." — Michael P.
"The film looks great of course coming from VS with fun creature work and excellent extras as well!" — Brandon T.
"The restoration on this obscure late-'80s gem is high quality and the extras are unexpected and great." — Richard D.
Reviews
Spookier is a stitch
"Great B movie horror. What you get when the director spends all the money on practical effects and the score but forgets to pay a script writer."
— Patrick B. (4/5)
Totally insane in the best way
"A gloriously unhinged patchwork of a monster movie and VSA gave it the respect it never got on release. Disc looked clean, case arrived in perfect shape, no bent corners or crushed spines like you sometimes worry about with mail order. This is a prime example of why the VSA line rules, weird stuff nobody else would touch getting a real release. Snagged it on the HBF sale and happily paid full price would've been worth it too."
— Jeremy A. (5/5)
Spookies!
"This is a great, weird 80s Horror movie. All choppy and barely makes sense, but so much fun. Transfer looks great."
— John M. (5/5)
Monstrous fun
"It's a mix of two movies somehow intertwined, loaded with 80's practical effects and cheesy lines . . ."
— Luiz J. (5/5)
Finally bought spookies on sale
"Glad I did. Definitely fits the VS brand. Mostly stands out for the wide variety of creatures and practical effects. Fun stuff that lends itself to multiple viewings."
— Mitchell Y. (5/5)
A Spooky Good Time
"Theres some kind of story in here, but really, we're all here for the practical effects and fun monsters"
— Dakota D. (5/5)
I resisted this one for
"I resisted this one for a long time after initially learning of it on RLM's Best of the Worst. I don't know. . . looked kinda dull to me for some reason. But I'm glad I pulled the trigger, as it turned out to be better made than I expected and a lot of fun!"
— Matthew P. (5/5)
Spookies
"Spookies is the kind of gloriously messy horror oddity that could only have come from the 1980s. The troubled production history is obvious, with competing storylines and uneven pacing, but somehow the film's bizarre energy turns those flaws into part of its charm. From the unforgettable muck men to the spider woman and an endless parade of strange monsters, there's almost always something entertaining happening on screen. Practical creature effects are the real stars, delivering inventive, gooey horror that still impresses decades later. Vinegar Syndrome has given this cult favorite the deluxe treatment it deserves. The restoration looks fantastic, preserving the film's grainy atmosphere while revealing impressive detail in the elaborate makeup and creature work. The extensive special features, including multiple commentaries and documentaries exploring the chaotic production, are worth the price alone. While Spookies isn't a great film in the traditional sense, it's an endlessly watchable cult classic presented in an outstanding collector's edition."
— Joshua M. (4/5)
Blind Buy
"I waited a long to time to pick this one up, as I had never seen it before. Enjoyable watch and excellent video and audio quality. Give it a shot."
— Richard R. (4/5)
Rubber Mask Madness
"I'm so excited I get to own this version of an old video store shelf mainstay. Weird movie with a great treatment."
— Jeremy S. (5/5)
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