This special limited edition spot gloss side loading slipcase + slipcover (designed by Luke Insect) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Derek’s life has taken a turn for the worse. Barely surviving off of ride-share income and living in his car, a chance encounter with childhood friend Gil offers new hope in the form of an unusual job offer: serving as a live tester for a highly sophisticated and unsettlingly realistic AI-powered sex doll named Susan; one specifically designed to handle extreme physical abuse. Initially concerned about how working on such a project might affect his already fragile mental health, the allure of a regular salary is too hard to resist, and Derek agrees. As their sessions become increasingly intense and personal, Derek begins feeling an unexpected emotional attachment towards Susan, which forces him to confront more of his submerged inner demons…
From acclaimed underground writer/director Scooter McCrae (Shatter Dead) comes BLACK EYED SUSAN. Starring Damian Maffei (The Strangers: Prey At Night) and newcomer Yvonne Emilie Thälker in their captivating screen debut as Susan, this unsettling exploration of contemporary sexuality and moral posturing, set against a science-fiction backdrop, offers a stark glimpse at a future that is likely just around the corner. Scored by renowned Italian composer Fabio Frizzi (The Beyond, Zombie) and photographed entirely on 16mm film, Vinegar Syndrome Pictures is proud to present BLACK EYED SUSAN on Blu-ray, loaded with engrossing interviews and commentaries with the cast and crew.
directed by: Scooter McCrae starring: Damian Maffei, Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Marc Romeo, Scott Fowler, Kate Kiddo, Vito Trigo 2024 / 84 min / 1.85:1 / English DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
Additional info:
Region Free Blu-ray
Shot entirely on motion picture film and finished in 4K
Commentary track with writer/director Scooter McCrae, moderated by film historian and author Michael Gingold
Group commentary track with producer Aimee Kuge and cast members Yvonne Emilie Thälker, Damian Maffei, Marc Romeo, Scott Fowler and Kate Kiddo
"Tough Love" (27 min) - writer/director Scooter McCrae on Black Eyed Susan
"Test Subjects" (27 min) - a conversation with the cast of Black Eyed Susan
"A Whole New Sensation" (18 min) - producers Justin Martell and Aimee Kuge on the making of Black Eyed Susan
"Admire Me, or Fuck Me: Creating the World of Black Eyed Susan" (17 min) - an interview with cinematographer Anton Zinn
"Listen to the Replicants Warbling" (20 min) - an interview with composer Fabio Frizzi
Deleted and extended scenes (9 min)
Yvonne Emilie Thälker's screen tests (4 min)
Multiple trailers
Saint Frankenstein" (2015, 17 min) - a short film by writer/director Scooter McCrae
Reversible sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Overall rating: 4.49763 / 5 from 211 reviews.
AI Generated Review Summary
Black Eyed Susan, a limited edition Blu-ray, impresses with its stunning cover artwork, exceptional film quality, and captivating performances. The unique packaging and intriguing plot make it a must-have for horror enthusiasts. The release is exclusive, adding to its appeal.
Summary topics
Cover Artwork (6%): It was observed by customers that the artwork on the cover of the product is great and beautiful.
Film Quality (4%): It was noted by customers that the quality of the product is amazing and of high standard.
Film Experience (32%): Many customers stated that the film is great, awesome, interesting, and delivers in horror moments.
"Great packaging as always from VS, the artwork and slipcase are of the high quality we've come to expect." — Chris C.
"It has an original plot and performances are solid." — james b.
"This particular release is especially beautiful in its design, love the artwork and color theme." — Steven B.
Reviews
Great Sci Fi
"A taught indie sci fi feature that feels very hand made. The themes could be a challenge and the first 10-15 minutes are *brash* to acclimate you, but it never feels unnecessary to the story. The print is great, with rich color and pleasant film grain. Special features are thorough, and include great interviews as well as a short film by the director. Took a risk getting this one blind on sale and now I’m really looking forward to watching again."
— Travis W. (5/5)
Great film
"This movie blew me away. I did not expect it to be so good, but man. What a concept, what a twist. Highly recommend. I watched it on plex for free initially, but had to buy it."
— Kevin D. (5/5)
Black Eyed Susan VSP bluray review
"Black Eyed Susan is another banger from the publishing arm of Vinegar Syndrome. This 2024 shot of film title is really different and well done. A guy low on money takes a friends job offer. He gets to test an advanced AI sex doll. He is told to really abuse it as it can take it. Unfortunately, he becomes infatuated with the doll. This is a a creepy, odd horror scif-fi mashup. It was really well done. The 16mm cinematography looks great. The disc is stacked with interviews, deleted scenes, a short film and more. The OCN hardbox and slipcover look fantastic. Please give this one a chance."
— Mark P. (5/5)
A. I. Surrogate
"The third act of this movie blew me away. What people will do or create to supposedly make the world a better place. The idea of this movie has a - if you can't beat them, join them kind of a plot. In one of the extras, the director compares Gil, the entrepreneur of the film, to the panel of "judges" on the show, Shark Tank, who he personally thinks are a-holes, I chuckled at his description of the TV show. I believe Gil was based on them. This was a better movie than I thought it would be."
— Philip S. (4/5)
Black Eyed Susan
"Had never heard of this one and decided to give it a chance since it was on sale. Glad that I did as I was very surprised by the film and what it was about. As always, there was lots of cool features and the slip looked cool as well. Glad I gave this one a try!"
— Stephen H. (5/5)
Great film!
"Black Eyed Susan is a must-watch from the VinSyn catalog. And the package looks amazing."
— Norberto S. (5/5)
A Thoughtful Psychological Thriller with Great Extras
"Black Eyed Susan is a psychological thriller that quietly builds tension through strong character work rather than relying on big twists. The biggest surprise is how much emotional depth it finds within its unsettling premise. It keeps you invested by focusing on shifting power dynamics and moral ambiguity instead of easy answers. The transfer is excellent, with crisp detail, balanced colors, and a clean presentation that complements the film’s restrained visual style. It looks polished without feeling overly processed. The included interviews are worthwhile, offering thoughtful insight into the creative process and the themes behind the film. They add meaningful context and make the release feel more complete. Overall, this is a well-crafted release that combines a compelling psychological story with strong technical presentation and valuable extras."
— Tim L. (5/5)
Amazingly good!!
"What an interesting story about a sex robot. One on the best movies a long time."
— Mika V. (5/5)
Nothing short of incredible
"Scooter Mccrae coming back to show Late Style SOV filmmaking, just thrilling."
— Nicolas V. (5/5)
Dark!
"Crazy gross art flick with SOV aesthetics by turned up to pro. This is an amazing and dark film. Prescient work."
— Ben C. (4/5)
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