This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Tony Stella) was limited to 6,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.
Fans of the Western genre will agree that the 60s and 70s were the height of the "Spaghetti Western" - Western films produced by Italians that were more gritty and violent than their American counterparts. However, some fans may not be aware that equally violent Westerns were being made in Mexico around the same time. Presented here are two excellent examples, both darker and bloodier then many of the Spaghetti Westerns produced during the same time period.
HOT SNAKE (86min): A sadistic and ruthless outlaw has been terrorizing the town of Hot Snake. A bounty hunter named Emiliano is hired by the local sheriff to hunt down the outlaw after he murders a woman and steals money belonging to the Army. Warned by a local bruja (witch) not to take the bounty, Emiliano soon finds himself the target of a mysterious man who seeks to settle a personal vendetta. Directed by Fernando Durán Rojas, HOT SNAKE is a dark and atmospheric western with supernatural elements.
GUNS AND GUTS (90min): An outlaw and a scorned husband both team up to track down and kill the man that wronged them. Along the way, the two men meet a hired gun that loves money just as much as he loves the company of women, so the two men decide to hire him in order to help them on their mission. However, things become complicated when the man they all seek to kill has risen to become a wealthy sheriff with a small army of gunmen at his disposal. Directed by acclaimed Mexican director René Cardona Jr., GUNS AND GUTS is a rough-and-tumble western with an explosively bloody ending that rivals anything created by Sam Peckinpah.
Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present these two gunsmoke-filled features for the first time on Blu-ray, scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives.
directed by: Fernando Durán Rojas, René Cardona Jr.
1974-1976 / 176 min (combined) / 2.35:1
Hot Snake = Original Spanish Mono with newly translated English subtitles
Guns & Guts = Original English Mono
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.430303 / 5 from 330 reviews.
This limited edition Blu-ray set features two Mexican westerns, Hot Snake and Guns and Guts, scanned and restored in 4K from their original 35mm camera negatives. Customers praise the transfer quality, artwork, and the fantastic nature of the films, making it a must-have for western fans. The release is considered excellent and worth the gamble for those who enjoy Spaghetti westerns.
Review topics: ["quality","looks","packaging","edge","value","sound","deal","work","detail","price","set","westerns","features","film","movie","hot snake","transfer","release","artwork","slipcover","guts","buy","bill","art","presentation","snakes","restoration","title","flick","story"].
"I kind of zoned out at times for Hot Snake (no English dub, btw), but it was violent and vibey (the atmosphere it maintains is gritty) with great music. Guns and Guts’ sets felt like Mardi Gras Massacre vibes. The English dubs did what they could, but were also kind of ridiculous. One fella’s voice was fantastic; almost too good delivering impossible lines (especially the diatribes about 'whores'). There’s something sleazy here."
"A double feature of two fairly unmemorable Spaghetti Westerns. The films are okay, but I would probably only recommend them to someone interested in Mexican cinema or looking to deep dive into the Spaghetti Western genre. When it comes to Westerns, there are better options out there."
"Hot Snake / Guns and Guts is a really cool double feature if you like rough, dusty 70s westerns with a meaner exploitation edge. Both films have that sweaty revenge-and-gunfire atmosphere, and it is great to have them together instead of buried as forgotten curiosities. The 4K restorations from the 35mm negatives keep the texture intact while giving the image real detail. This is exactly the kind of deep cut western release Vinegar Syndrome does so well."
"This is exactly the sort of VS double feature I enjoy taking a chance on. Hot Snake and Guns and Guts are rough, violent, dusty little Mexican action films that have a personality all their own. Neither is particularly polished, but I liked the toughness and energy running through both of them. There is something refreshing about films that just get on with the business of revenge, gunfights, and people behaving badly without worrying too much about finesse. I probably would never have come across either film without VS, and discovering two pieces of Mexican genre cinema like this in one release is a lot of fun."
"This double feature rules because both movies feel way meaner than the usual western stuff. Hot Snake is probably the more interesting one for me — it has this dark, almost supernatural vibe with the bruja warning and a really grim atmosphere that makes it feel a little different from a straight revenge western. Guns and Guts is more straightforward, but once it gets moving it turns into a rough, bloody revenge movie with a finale that goes full Wild Bunch. It’s violent, sleazy, and has exactly the kind of dusty ’70s exploitation energy I like. The restorations look great too. Both were scanned in 4K from the original 35mm camera negatives, so you get plenty of texture and detail without losing that gritty look. And the Tony Stella slipcover is killer — loud, colorful, and perfect for the movies inside. Two grimy westerns, plenty of violence, and a great physical release. Easy one to keep on the shelf. 😁"
"Some gore , nudity, ans shootouts! Both movies are entertaining. Check it out"
"Great movies with nice restorations."
"If you like your westerns rough, this is a double feature for you. Restorations are done with great care as you would guess. Beautiful slipcover!"
"2 GREAT CLASSICS WITH A MEXICAN WESTERN CINEMA FEEL. SLIPCOVER HAS SOME NICE ARTWORK ALSO. RECOMMENDED"
"Hot Snake is such a discovery. Unjustly unknown gothic taco western, this film has it all. Fantastic story, setting, cinematography, soundtrack, and great replayability. Special mention to the ridiculously awesome slip art. Essential."
0 Item(s)
