The Gruesome Twosome Blu-ray Review

Arrow Films has provided a comprehensive restoration effort for "The Gruesome Twosome" as part of their Blu-ray collection, leveraging advanced scanning and restoration technologies to present the film. The video aspect of this release was scanned in 2K resolution from the best available 35mm prints using a pin registered 4K Lasergraphics Director Scanner at Deluxe Media in Burbank, before undergoing a meticulous restoration process at Deluxe Restoration in London. Despite these efforts, the film's video presentation, encoded in AVC 1080p on Blu-ray in the traditional 1.33:1 aspect ratio, reflects the significant challenges faced during the restoration. The original negative being lost, the restoration team worked with severely compromised film elements, which resulted in persistent visual issues throughout the transfer.

The presentation of "The Gruesome Twosome" on Blu-ray exhibits unavoidable flaws due to the condition of the source materials. Intensive cleaning managed to remove thousands of instances of dirt, debris, and light scratches, with efforts to improve image stability and mitigate density fluctuations. However, extreme color fading and damage, including large green scratches and instances of brown-dominated palettes, occasionally disrupt the viewing experience. These imperfections, while partially corrected through digital grading, reflect the film's history and physical state without introducing unwanted digital artifacts. Coarse grain structure is evident but does not hinder resolution integrity. The commitment to retain the film's original photochemical look meant accepting certain "warts and all" aspects of its appearance, aligning with its distribution history.

Despite these technical hurdles, the dedicated restoration supervised by James White at Arrow Films highlights an unwavering commitment to historical fidelity and technical precision. The audiovisual presentation endeavors to stay true to the original experiences of "The Gruesome Twosome," marked by occasional loose audio sync as per the source material. While this meticulous process acknowledges the limitation of existing materials with extreme deterioration, it underscores a pivotal balance between restoration and preservation, ensuring that the essence of this classic film is retained for audiences to appreciate within the constraints of its aged condition.

The audio track of "The Gruesome Twosome" on Blu-ray, presented in LPCM mono, suffers from technical pitfalls that detract from the overall auditory experience. While the track exhibits moments of clarity, particularly in rendering dialogue and the uniquely eerie yet surprisingly robust soundscape of harpsichord and James Bond-esque orchestral cues, it is not without its faults. Issues such as occasional missing audio snippets mirror the imperfections found in the video presentation, suggesting a consistency in the source material's preservation challenges. Moreover, a pervasive hiss and slight distortion across the track, especially noticeable in the higher frequencies, contribute to a diminished auditory fidelity.

The film's audio quality is marred by these technical deficiencies, which, despite not wholly detracting from the listening experience, certainly leave room for improvement. The consistent hiss and distortion are particularly problematic in scenes where the dialogue or music reaches the upper registers, introducing an unwelcome layer of noise that can occasionally obscure finer details. Such issues are indicative of the limitations inherent in the original recording or the transfer process to Blu-ray format, highlighting the aged nature of the film's audio elements.

Despite these setbacks, the LPCM mono track manages to convey the film's eccentric and macabre atmosphere effectively. The dialogue remains comprehensible throughout most of the film, a testament to the care taken in preserving the audio's integrity as much as possible. However, the occasional distortion and missing audio snippets serve as reminders of the film's age and the challenges involved in audiovisual restoration. The result is an audio presentation that, while flawed, still retains enough character and clarity to be engaging for the audience.

Arrow's Blu-ray release of "The Gruesome Twosome" provides a meticulously assembled extra section, intelligently combining both film-centric and general extras on a single disc. This approach facilitates an enriching experience that extends beyond the films themselves. The inclusion of specific features such as Peaches Christ’s unique take on "The Gruesome Twosome", Fred Olen Ray’s insights into Florida’s filmmaking scene, and H.G. Lewis’ candid reflections on his battles with censorship offer an in-depth look at the film's background and the broader context of its creation. Additionally, the promo gallery and audio commentaries by Herschell Gordon Lewis enrich this collection, making it an essential acquisition for aficionados of genre cinema and scholars interested in the history of independent filmmaking.

Extras included in this disc:

• Peaches Christ Flips Her Wig!: San Francisco performance artist Peaches Christ discusses "The Gruesome Twosome".
• It Came From Florida: Fred Olen Ray talks about filmmaking in Florida.
• H.G. Lewis vs. the Censors: H.G. Lewis details his experiences with film censorship.
• Promo Gallery: Includes trailers and radio spots for "The Gruesome Twosome" and "A Taste of Blood".
• Audio Commentaries: Featuring Herschell Gordon Lewis on both films.
• Herschell Gordon Lewis Introduction to The Gruesome Twosome: A brief introduction available under the play menu.
• Herschell Gordon Lewis Introduction to A Taste of Blood: Another insightful introduction by Lewis available under the play menu.

The Gruesome Twosome," part of the acclaimed Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast collection by Arrow Video, stands as a testament to the unique cinematic concoctions of H.G. Lewis, often dubbed the Godfather of Gore. While H.G. Wells' literary achievements transformed into unforgettable films have etched a profound legacy in the annals of science fiction, Herschell Gordon Lewis carved his niche in splatter and exploitation cinema with an unparalleled blend of humor and horror. This film, nestled within a lavish compilation that highlights fourteen of Lewis's works, with nine making their blu-ray debut, represents an era where gore was an art form explored with both earnestness and a tongue-in-cheek approach.

Embarking on a bizarre journey, "The Gruesome Twosome" introduces its narrative through a peculiar stop motion-esque sequence involving two styrofoam heads—a whimsical touch that sets the tone for the ensuing narrative. The film weaves a grotesque tale mirroring another of Lewis's works, "Color Me Blood Red," but with a unique twist where human hair becomes the coveted element. The narrative orbits around Mrs. Pringle and her son Rodney, who manage a wig shop as a front for their sinister operations—murdering young women to harvest their hair for wigs. Despite its grim premise, Lewis intersperses moments of levity and absurdity, embodying the film’s distinct capacity to entertain through its lo-fi execution and quirky charm.

Kathy, a coed delving into the mystery behind her missing classmates, soon finds herself entwined within the macabre world of the Pringles. "The Gruesome Twosome," though not as drenched in gore as other mid-to-late '60s Lewis offerings, showcases Lewis’s knack for balancing horror with eccentric humor. The result is a film that captivates with its oddball allure and maintains a remarkably whimsical spirit amidst its chilling plot. Arrow Video's meticulous presentation of this film not only honors Lewis’s legacy but also ensures that this piece of cult cinema garners appreciation from both aficionados and newcomers to Lewis’s gore-laden yet humor-infused filmography.

The Gruesome Twosome," a film that nestles within the intriguing promise of Herschell Gordon Lewis's cinematic universe, offers a premise that distinctively outshines many of its counterparts in the realm of horror and gore. However, despite the engaging setup that draws viewers into its macabre narrative, the film struggles with several inherent pitfalls common to Lewis's body of work. Predominantly, its execution falters under the weight of ineptitude in directing and moments of exaggerated content that detract from its potential. These inconsistencies in quality present a significant obstacle that the film cannot surpass, despite the intriguing storyline and foundational concept it brings to the table.

Regarding technical merits, the Blu Ray presentation of "The Gruesome Twosome" leaves room for improvement. While issues such as picture quality and audio fidelity are noticeable, they don’t entirely diminish the viewing experience for enthusiasts of classic horror and exploitation cinema. Where the Blu Ray edition truly shines is in its supplementary materials. The inclusion of extensive bonus features provides a commendable depth that enhances the overall appreciation of the film and its place within Lewis’s filmography. These extras not only cater to hardcore fans but also offer intriguing insights for newcomers to the genre.

In conclusion, while "The Gruesome Twosome" stumbles due to directorial flaws and moments of unnecessary hyperbole, there is a latent potential in its unique premise that retains a certain charm. The technical aspects of the Blu Ray presentation might not meet the highest standards, yet the wealth of supplementary material compensates for these shortcomings, making it a worthwhile addition for collectors and aficionados of Herschell Gordon Lewis's work. Whether one is drawn by curiosity to the genre or holds a seasoned appreciation for exploitation cinema, this release presents both challenges and rewards in its exploration of gore and horror.