The Incredible Torture Show

It's VERY hard to believe that it has already been four years since I first saw this film. I vividly remember the non-stop tastelessness, the pathetic attempts at humour, the frequent gore, and of course, Ralphus, who is one of the most vile characters that I have ever seen in the movies. Yet, having said all that, I liked this movie. There are some scenes that are as funny as anything that you're ever likely to see...although in a SICK way. It isn't for the squeamish or the easily offended, but if you can appreciate low-budget trash for what it is, then you'll probably find that this movie is well worth your time.

Bloodsucking Freaks is genuinely disgusting, but it's hard to say it's absolute trash, because it's so obvious that everything is done in a tongue in cheek way. It's as much a satire on the theatre world as it is a grimy, gory exploitation film.

The premise of the film is that the head of an experimental theatre group named Sardu is miffed that his torture stage show has been panned by a powerful critic so he kidnaps the critic, a ballet dancer, and a few other vixens and tortures them.

The entire film is absolutely ridiculous, but you'll recognize a few actors from the film Alice, Sweet Alice and the gore effects manage to be both impressive and hokey at the same time. It's not must see entertainment, but there are worse movies out there.

Blood Sucking Freaks is often considered an exploitation classic, and is one of the select few Troma films to receive a reputation anything like that. It's not hard to see why this film is so well revered among fans of wayward cinema - the gore is disgusting, the torture scenes are extended and make for highly unpleasant viewing and there's an extremely misogynistic tone running throughout the film; something that is very popular with many fans of this sort of cinema. I definitely consider myself an exploitation fan, but I'm only going to rate this film as a must see for people like me; as in it's own right, Blood Sucking Freaks really isn't all that good. The film reminded me a lot of a HG Lewis movie, and the plot seems to take some influence from the "classic", The Wizard of Gore, as it follows a stage act. The stage act here concerns S&M and torture, and the "magician" at the centre achieves his realistic effects through actually killing his actors on stage while his crowd watch. Furthermore, the girls are put to use again for his own sick pleasure, and he has a cage full of rabid, meat-eating naked women in his basement...

The main problem with this film as far as I'm concerned is that it gets too caught up in the sadistic acts and the plot doesn't move fast enough, so after a while it starts to get boring. Director Joel M. Reed clearly has an eye for nasty torture, however, as this film features some of the sickest sequences I've ever seen; chief among them being the guillotine scene, and the part where someone drills a hole in someone's head and proceeds to suck out their brains with a straw! Seamus O'Brien is the lead actor, and it's not surprising that this was one of only two roles for him. His acting is campy and silly, and I really couldn't see him fitting into any other kind of film...which is both praise and a criticism. The locations and special effects all look very cheap, and it's clear that this film was shot on a very low budget; but this grittiness creates a very unclean atmosphere, which helps the film overall as it bodes very well with the nastiness of the action on display. Overall, Blood Sucking Freaks isn't exactly a classic film for my money - but it is mandatory viewing for exploit fans.

Having acquired this on Blu-ray, I was most surprised to discover that I had never seen it. I certainly saw plenty of its ilk back in the video collecting days. It has to be said, however, that like the old sex film posters, there was a considerable gap between what was offered and what was provided. Imagine my surprise then to find not only had I never seen it but that it was as described complete with a cage of 'bloodsucking freaks', well naked ladies who eat chunks of human flesh. At the start we cut from an on stage atrocity to an audience shot where some 'complain' that it is all a sham, 'just acting'and the impresario informs us not so. As a film audience, of course, when we see the body parts cut off and eyeballs removed know well that this is acting and effects but it becomes clear that within the film these activities are real Its all very silly and over the top but the effects aren't bad, the humour is amusing and the low budget not as obvious in some. Trouble has been taken with the set design too and most scenes actually look good as opposed to ill lit basement sequences badly put together. Hardly something to recommend to just anyone but if the title appeals, give it a go.

The term "torture porn" came into vogue some years ago, referring to movies deemed to have no value, purpose, or anything to offer, other than shocking violence / gore. It's a bit humorous that many people act as if this were some new phenomenon.

BLOODSUCKING FREAKS stands as part of a tradition started by the likes of Herschell Gordon Lewis in the early 1960's. Basically, these are true, updated Grand Guignol theater presentations on film. Grand Guignol didn't rely heavily on plot, but on pure shock. This movie does what it sets out to do. It's violent, vile, and visceral, much like LAST HOUSE ON DEAD END STREET, though with decidedly less structure or story line. It does have a wicked sense of humor to -somewhat- offset the senseless, grisly acts.

If you are averse to cannibalism, dismemberment, decapitation, degrading female nudity, etc., you might find this quite disturbing. However, if the thought of a mad doctor drinking someone's brains through a straw intrigues you, then this is your movie! Is it art? Is it pointless rubbish? Is it dangerous? Well, perhaps it's none or all of these things. One thing is certain, it's not easily forgotten...