Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster
Hellmaster

Vinegar Syndrome

Hellmaster

$24.99
$24.99
$34.98
Sold Out

Edition Type: Limited Edition Slipcover

VS-284 SLIP
- +
The product is out of stock

Limit of per customer

My checklist
Have it Need it

You have reached the limit of this product.

Need a protector for the Limited Edition? Add this:
Slipcover Protector
$3.00
$3.00
App, frontpage merch, protector

Details

Sold Out / OOP

This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray/DVD combo. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Chris Garofalo) was limited to 2,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

Decades ago, deranged Professor Jones (John Saxon) concocted a diabolical drug at a rural college called 'The Nietzsche Experiment,' designed to give its users telepathic abilities, but instead turned anyone who took it into violent lunatics. Now, 20 years later, Jones has returned to resume his experiments and avenge himself against those he feels wronged him and his work. Armed with a group of hideously deformed mutant slaves, it's not long before the tranquil college becomes host to vicious violence and carnage.

A Detroit shot regional horror movie made at the decline of the direct-to-video era, HELLMASTER was the first feature from cult filmmaker Douglas Schulze (Dark Fields) and co-stars David Emge (Dawn of the Dead). Combining gothic horror and creature-filled narrative trappings with intensely colorful and Argento inspired visuals, courtesy of acclaimed cinematographer Michael Goi (American Horror Story), HELLMASTER was originally titled THEM, but was subsequently re-edited with new footage also added and released straight to video and cable several years after its initial completion. Vinegar Syndrome presents this fascinating slice of creature horror in its original theatrical THEM version for the first time on home video, along with its more commonly seen HELLMASTER recut, newly restored in 4k from its 35mm original negative under supervision from cinematographer Michael Goi.

directed by: Douglas Schulze
starring: John Saxon, David Emge, Amy Raasch, Edward Stevens, Robert Dole
1992 / 96 min / 1.85:1

Additional info:

  • Region Free Blu-ray/DVD combo
  • Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original negative
  • Original Theatrical Version (as "THEM")
  • Director's recut version (as "HELLMASTER") (SD)
  • Director commentary for both versions
  • “Creating Reality” - an interview with cinematographer Michael Goi
  • Conceptual artwork gallery
  • Behind-the-scenes stills gallery
  • Archival locations featurette
  • Reversible cover artwork
  • English SDH subtitles

Overall rating: 3.935065 / 5 from 77 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Hellmaster, a horror movie from the decline of the direct-to-video era, offers a unique blend of gothic horror and creature-filled narrative with colorful visuals. The Blu-ray/DVD combo includes both the original theatrical version and a director's recut, along with various special features. Customers appreciate the restored film quality, practical effects, and the unique slipcover design, though opinions on the story and overall movie quality vary.

Summary topics

  • Story Quality: 9%
  • Slipcover Design: 9%
  • Film Quality: 23%
  • Visual Quality: 15%
  • Practical Effects: 19%

Review topics: [looks, quality, buy, film, movie, effects, john saxon, release, story, slipcover, version, transfer, plot, features, fun, fan, horror, classic, gem, experience, watch, choice].

Review highlights

  • "Cool little horror film with John Saxon and David Emge (Flyboy from DOTD)." — Matthew H.
  • "I’m glad I grabbed; this version of helllmaster from the website, such a cool movie with some good features included." — robert p.
  • "The special effects looked wild, the plot was as well." — Conor T.

Reviews

The effects in the film

"The effects in the film are good for a low budget one. The vinegar syndrome version is well done. It looks very good on bluray. Definitely in the category of different horror with some interesting plot."

— Bradley T. (5/5)

Who needs your movie to make sense with creatures like this. . . And John Saxon?

"Synopsis: A group of students attempts to survive the night at the campus of the Kant Institute and must go toe to toe with such zany characters as Bobby Razor Face, Killer Nun and Joey the Monkey Man. All of the villains are under the control of the deranged Dr Jones who did experiments on students 20 years ago and was shunned from the medical elite. The best way to kill the monsters is to use the same compound Dr Jones created to have them under his power but to not dilute it with blood so it's pure face melting, goo coming out of every orifice, deadly acid. Review: Hellmaster decides to go the route of style and interesting makeup over substance and logic. John Saxon is amazing with some truly great lines and chews up every scene he is in. I'm unsure if it was cheaper to shoot on the ground but there are way too many characters crawling around in this movie. Carnage Count 3/5 Sleaze Score 2/5"

— Brett J. (3/5)

Excellent bluray of a fun 90's culture film

"The film itself is nonsensical fun with this bluray release being quite nice overall. Two cuts of the films of the film are presented here though only the theatrical cut is in HD."

— KEVIN D. (5/5)

VS-284 standard

"Sale purchase, already have the slipcover …"

— richard c. (5/5)

Hellmaster

"Quality release with a great transfer. Can’t go wrong with John Saxon!"

— Chris K. (5/5)

Vinegar Syndrome’s Hellmaster Resurrection

"Hellmaster (1992), the debut feature by Douglas Schulze, exemplifies the low-budget genre—serving as a blend of creature feature, academic apocalypse, and late-stage direct-to-video madness. The Blu-ray release by Vinegar Syndrome not only brings it back to life but also rehabilitates its fragmented identity, providing both versions (THEM and Hellmaster) with a suitable home for the very first time."

— Shawn G. (5/5)

Great release

"Great release"

— Robert P. (5/5)

Smellmaster

"This movie has some great scenes. The story is not very good, and the movie does not flow very well, but thanks to the miracle of fast forward, you can enjoy all the fun scenes and make up your own story."

— Mike H. (5/5)

Hellmaster

"Yeah. . . it sucks I'm afraid. You do have to be in the right mood for it and be very, very forgiving. Only then will you be able to enjoy it. I'll watch anything, but I don't think I'll be giving this another spin."

— Steven A. (3/5)

Just no

"It takes a lot for me to turn off a movie and this one hit every checkpoint on the list. I was really excited to watch it because I love John Saxon and had been led to believe that it was a kind of cheap hellraiser ripoff… which sounded great, in theory… but this is just one of the most boring and needless things ever put to video. I fell asleep twice before turning it off."

— Kyle K. (1/5)

Q&A

More Items to Consider