THE INSTRUCTOR is part of our Vinegar Syndrome Archive collection, celebrating forgotten cinematic oddities from the video store era. This collection was inspired by our own brick & mortar video stores, with locations in Bridgeport, CT; Aurora, CO and Toronto, ON!
Unique to this line, each hand numbered limited edition release will come fitted in a specially designed, bottom loading VHS inspired slipcase, while also including a double-sided poster.
These releases will ONLY be available on our website and at participating indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them. This slipcase edition (designed by JJ Harrison) is strictly limited to 5,000 units and may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.
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The Instructor (played by real-life martial artist Bob Chaney) runs a local karate school where he spends his days training his students in the art of defense, including his best friend Thumper. Since discovering his wife dead under mysterious circumstances, The Instructor has vowed to only use his martial arts training for good in an attempt to overcome his desire for revenge. However, when a rival martial arts school run by the slimy Bud Hart begins engaging in crime and corruption, The Instructor finds himself struggling to contain his anger and is pushed to a breaking point when Hart sets his sights on The Instructor's students. After Thumper is mercilessly beaten in a locker room during a martial arts tournament, The Instructor can no longer suppress his anger and sets out to take revenge on his evil rival.
A regionally-shot action extravaganza, THE INSTRUCTOR was the only film made by director Don Bendell and lead actor Bob Chaney. In the vein of films such as Champagne and Bullets and Death Promise, THE INSTRUCTOR is a low-budget tour de force that will leave you absolutely stunned. One of the most requested Vinegar Syndrome Archive titles of all time, we are proud to present THE INSTRUCTOR for the first time on Blu-ray, newly restored from the director’s own personal print, and featuring some of the most jaw-dropping fight scenes ever filmed. This one is truly unlike anything you've ever seen before!
directed by: Don Bendell
starring: Bob Chaney, Don Bendell, Steve Boergadine, Bob Saal
1981 / 94 min / 1.37:1 / English Mono
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.6114864 / 5 from 296 reviews.
The Instructor, a Vinegar Syndrome Archive release, is celebrated for its well-staged fight sequences, great transfer, and generous special features. While opinions on the acting and scenes vary, the film is appreciated for its low-budget charm and unique art. This limited edition release is a must-have for fans of action cinema.
Review topics: ["fit","quality","cover","instructor","looks","packaging","style","issues","effort","wife","work","movie","film","acting","scenes","art","release","sequences","features","project","vsa","flick","artwork","restoration","transfer","fights","budget","fun","poster","slipcover"].
"It's wonderful to see what keeps getting dregged up from the depths of movie land. A vanity project with lots of action and grandstanding, enthusiasm and energy. It's lovingly packed and presented with a transfer that does it justice, cool features and thus making it a one-of-a-kind experience!"
"My favorite genre of film is where a martial arts instructor or person like that writes, directs, and stars in a movie promoting his own skills and dojo, and the community shows up because it's fun. This happens in this movie and I like that."
"Subpar acting, dialogue and action, but still delivered in an enjoyable way. Good enough transfer from best available elements and great extras as well."
"If you like 80s low budget/homegrown action films this is essential. Its the perfect combination of baffling and hilarious. The film also maintains suspense through its action scenes by making you genuinely fear for the safety of the actors as they preform stupidly dangerous amateur stunts."
"The Instructor is a fun movie to put on late at night with your friends. The acting isn't the best, nor is the story, but it's a barrel of laughs."
"The slipcover is awesome, as always with anything VS or their awesome partner Labels release! It is a cool movie that was a lot of fun to watch! I always love the unique VS service of allowing you to stack as many movies as you like in your cart during any release period and ship them for free! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"Bob Chaney is . . The Instructor! A low-budget, frequently hilarious, labor of love, The Instructor is bound to warm the hearts of any serious devotee of home-made movie-madness. Seriously, who would ever have thought that this DIY gem would receive the Vinegar Syndrome restoration treatment? It looks fabulous, of course, even if some of the fight-scenes reveal their artifice a little more clearly. But then, that's part of the charm of this feature! File this one next to Champagne & Bullets, or Death Promise! Highly recommended!"
"For a movie directed and starring guys with no other credits, this was surprisingly good! The action is really awesome, and Bob Chaney is a great martial artist. A real hidden gem!"
"Another one of those VSA deep catalog gets that makes the label worth the subscription. Disc and case both arrived in great condition, well packed, no issues at all. Picked it up during the halfway to Black Friday sale and it's the kind of blind buy that only makes sense at that price point."
"The gang fight scene alone is a major reason why this is a must have… Absolutely love this film. Released in Australia in K-Tel video in the very early 80’s. Rented it many times during my childhood."
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