The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm
The Severed Arm

Vinegar Syndrome

The Severed Arm

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Edition Type: Limited Edition Slipcover

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Details

Sold Out / OOP

This listing is for the standard edition Blu-ray. The limited edition slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) was limited to 4,000 units and is sold out. The two versions are identical, aside from the slipcover.

While camping, a group of friends become trapped in a cave. Desperate and starving, they draw straws to decide which one should suffer the severing of his arm so that the others can eat. But no sooner than making this fateful amputation, they're rescued, though their unfortunate victim has been driven hopelessly mad by the experience. Years later, the survivors have all moved on with their lives, that is until someone with a very sharp axe to grind begins stalking them and chopping off their arms, one by one...

A drive-in and home video staple, thanks in large part to a notorious title and insane concept, Tom Alderman's THE SEVERED ARM is a stylish and atmospheric murder mystery/proto-slasher. Co-starring Deborah Walley (Beach Blanket Bingo), Marvin Kaplan (Wild at Heart) and Vince Martorano (The Candy Snatchers) and featuring expectedly excellent cinematography by Robert Maxwell (Blood Mania, The Centerfold Girls), Vinegar Syndrome brings THE SEVERED ARM to disc, fully uncut and in its very first authorized edition, from a brand new 4K scan of its original 35mm camera negative.

directed by: Tom Alderman
starring: Deborah Walley, Marvin Kaplan, Vince Martorano
1973 / 89 min / 1.85:1 / English Mono

Additional info:

  • Region A Blu-ray
  • Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm original camera negative
  • “Severing the Past” - an interview with actor Vince Martorano
  • “A Cut Above the Rest” - an interview with producer Gary Adelman
  • Reversible cover artwork
  • SDH English subtitles

Overall rating: 4.322034 / 5 from 177 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Severed Arm is a stylish and atmospheric murder mystery/proto-slasher film, praised for its clean presentation, engaging storyline, and excellent cinematography. Customers appreciate its shocking and satisfying ending, well-liked twist, and mesmerizing score. The film's transfer and soundtrack are also highly regarded, making it a standout in the Vinegar Syndrome catalogue.

Summary topics

  • Presentation: 8%
  • Slasher Genre: 16%
  • Ending: 5%
  • Twist: 6%
  • Score: 5%

Review topics: [quality, looks, feel, work, sound, effort, set, buy, price, movie, film, slasher, flick, transfer, twist, score, soundtrack, ending, premise, release, kills, features, arm, artwork, low-budget thriller, characters, presentation, mystery, story, slip].

Review highlights

  • "A simple and fun revenge slasher flick with some hilarious twists and great kills." — Jacob
  • "Pretty good slasherish movie, great setup and great ending" — Colin B.
  • "This is a great early stalk and slasher where the killer has a brutally unique MO." — Gunnar A.

Reviews

Poetic justice

"1973's The Severed Arm was a genuine pleasant surprise! This overlooked proto-slasher, directed by Thomas S. Alderman, flips the usual formula by making us root for the killer—after witnessing the horrific betrayal he suffered during a disastrous caving expedition—while still feeling genuine sympathy for his doomed victims. It's a clever moral twist that gives the film real emotional depth. Deborah Walley, David G. Cannon, and Paul Carr stand out with strong, memorable performances, but honestly, the entire cast delivers solid work across the board. The film's eerie atmosphere owes a huge debt to Robert Maxwell's (aka Bob Maxwell's) striking cinematography and Phillan Bishop's haunting, effective score—both elevate what could have been a simple revenge tale into something genuinely atmospheric and tense. Hats off to Vinegar Syndrome for this perfect restoration; the Blu-ray looks and sounds fantastic. I really hope VS continues digging into Deborah Walley's filmography and gives us Blu-ray releases of more of her gems, like It's a Bikini World (1967), The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1966), and Drag Racer (1972)."

— Pedro G. (5/5)

The Severed Arm

"Interesting concept for a slasher film. Not something I would go back to often but definitely a good choice for something a little different."

— Andres P. (3/5)

One Arm Down

"Unfortunately this just didn't work for me. I went in pretty blind even though I knew it was sort of a cult classic and Vinegar Syndrome fan favorite. It was ok but kind of boring and the bag guy seemed silly (but not in a good way). In the end I just didn't get invested even though I was on the guy's side). Maybe worth a watch but not worth staying in the collection."

— holden a. (2/5)

Underrated flick

"Thank you, Brad!"

— Thomasin G. (5/5)

Uniquely Bizarre Flick!!!

"Such an atmospheric murder mystery style horror flick, straight from the early 70s! Totally entertaining and it’s looking absolutely beautiful thanks to Vinegar Syndrome’s beautiful transfer and fantastic presentation!"

— Jay S. (5/5)

A certain low budget appeal

"It’s been almost a year now since I watched this one and there isn’t a week where I’m not thinking about it. It’s by no stretch a “good movie” but especially the first part with our protagonists trapped in the cage had a low budget appeal that apparently has me recall it splendidly. Looking forward to revisit it some day."

— Henrik Ø. (3/5)

Excellent

"Amazing low budget “slasher”. Kept my interest, great camera work, but what what really interested me was the cool synth soundtrack. Definitely enjoyed this one and have rewatched since."

— Adrian S. (5/5)

The Severed Arm.

"A great slasher with a fantastic transfer !"

— PATRICE C. (5/5)

The Severed Arm

"Good low-budget thriller with giallo elements. Must appreciate VS quality and effort with this one."

— Matti J. (4/5)

Fun early slasher

"Very entertaining proto slasher reminiscent of later works like I know what you did last summer. Excellent restoration effort and nifty package art. Of your a fan of suspense slasher flicks, pickup the severed arm."

— Kresh R. (4/5)

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