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: 4.480198 / 5 from 202 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.
"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
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)
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)
This is actually strange movie
"This is actually strange movie but very interesting. And the packaging is great."
— Michael S. (5/5)
Quality work, questions raised
"Whoa. I may need a second viewing. This is quality work, no doubt. But I feel like the numerous sex scenes (yeah, that much) are there to shock more than entertain, that many (interesting) questions are left unanswered and that the cyberpunk/absurd set up suffers from the movie's low budget."
— Luc T. (5/5)
Scooter McRae finally returns on 16mm!
"He certainly hasn't lost his touch. This movie is just as transgressive and boundary pushing as his SOV films. Definitely not for all audiences but this is a really good meditative and unsettling film that I won't soon forget."
— Ian B. (5/5)
Really good.
"I know it's different but it reminded me of Ex Machina, which is a very good thing."
— Chris S. (5/5)
Great box art and quality
"Very awesome slipcase artwork. Love the looks of the cinematography and composition of this one. Some weird themes but I overall enjoyed it"
— Nicholas V. (4/5)
Looks great, nice release
"Great extras, sort of loses its way in the end but the ways it’s filmed on 35mm looks stunning"
— Rohan J. (3/5)
Black Mirror, Darker Still
"Even the more desensitized sleaze buffs among us may have trouble with this one. The violence and abuse aren’t what disturb most (though they’re plenty effed up). What truly crawls under the skin is the plausibility: a future so dependent on artificial intelligence that it seeps into our sex lives—and enables the worst impulses imaginable. “That scene” at the end, frequently mentioned in the comments, really is as upsetting as advertised. You’ll know it when you see it. The acting is solid across the board, with Yvonne Emily Thälker especially fearless as the AI sexbot. The decision to shoot on 16mm is intriguing, though one wonders if the coldness of digital might have better served the material. Extras are plentiful—two commentaries, cast and crew interviews, deleted scenes, and more—and the packaging is, as always, superb work from the VS art department."
— Shawn P. (4/5)
A gut punch of a film
"Scooter McCrae has never hid from controversy or transgressive imagery, so its great to see him back with this literal gut punch addressing male violence against women and toxic masculinity. Visually interesting and featuring a truly revelatory lead performance. Worth a purchase."
— Ryan L. (4/5)
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