The Mutilator

As a callow Fangoria reader and video store habitue, The Mutilator loomed large. As a low-budget film, it’s “got heart.” In what initially seems like a dragging ramp-up, screen-time is actually taken to develop likable characters with unique personalities—not simply establish machete fodder. Once we get to know and care about those characters, the killer wastes no time in dispatching with them in various grisly ways. One particular scene, in fact, is so over-the-top that I’m left wondering to this day how they were able to get away with it in 1985. Then again, it might be even more difficult to get away with something like it in today’s current culture of outrage. One scene, involving a gaff (a ominous looking fishing tool - a pole with a nasty hook at the end) and a woman’s hoo-ha, remains the most talked-about and notorious scene in The Mutilator. It’s a rough watch, not for the faint-of-heart.The Mutilator was shot in coastal North Carolina by Buddy Cooper, a first-time director with a cobbled-together crew of locals and American University (D.C.) film students. Though some reviews have described the production as “amateurish,” I’ve always felt that there was a vibe to this film indicating that everyone involved had a blast with what they were doing. I think that’s one of the reasons it’s always stuck with me: the actors’ performances, while not always perfect, are nonetheless engaging and fun. The special effects created by make-up wizard Mark Shostrom (later of From Beyond, Evil Dead 2, A Nightmare of Elm Street 3 fame) elevate The Mutilator to a higher tier of splatterdom than your typical ‘80s Halloween and Friday the 13th clones. The murder pieces are original and the ending is totally nuts.It’s also worth noting that the film’s theme music, unlike your typical Herrmann and Penderecki-inspired violin stabs, is an absurdly catchy bit of beach “shag” music, reflective of the North Carolina resort location. The theme song, “Fall Break,” alludes to the film’s original production title before the distributor suggested the more marketable Mutilator moniker. If you watch the film only once, you will have an Oliver Sacksian "earworm" stuck in your head for a week.So, what ought-to-have-been considered one of the great, classic, low-budget ‘80s splatter movies sort of got lost and forgotten. The primary reason for this is because, up until very recently, it never received a proper DVD release to introduce it to a new generation of horror fans. There were some pretty awful overly-dark bootlegs that floated around in collector circles, but that was about it unless you had one of those old VHS (or Betamax) copies. There were a couple of foreign DVD releases that, according to wikpedia, were unauthorized.The story behind why it never saw a release until now is interesting. The film had been doing well in New York in its original theatrical run as an unrated film, but in order to get a wider distribution it would need an MPAA rating. In order to get an “R” rating, much of the gore scenes were cut from the film. This was actually disasterous, as all of the most appealing aspects to the film’s target audience were now missing. The Mutilator was released in both “R” and “unrated” cuts on VHS and Betamax by Vestron Video, who later went bankrupt. Fast-forward to the DVD era. When it was first proposed that The Mutilator get a DVD release, it became apparent that there was no complete pristine print of the film that included all of the excised gore elements. Any release that was going to happen would need to be cobbled together from various elements, which would have looked pretty bad. For those of us who followed the saga of promised releases that never saw the light of day, it was beginning to look like we’d never see a high-quality complete print of the film on disc.Then Arrow came to the rescue:Arrow created a new 2K scan of the element. The final product drops the useless R-rated version and presents the unrated cut (86:09) in an MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen transfer retains an 1980s softness but is more detailed, brighter, and colorful than before and reveals that some of the darker scenes were moodily lit rather than underlit. The prosthetics and gore mostly hold up well in HD (the seams of a neck wound appliance is very obvious in HD), making one wonder if Shostrum would have been a rival for Savini had he been old enough to get his start with late seventies and early eighties unrated slashers and horror films. The LPCM 1.0 mono track is clean and boldly conveys the theme song and synthesizer suspense cues along with some of the wince-inducing foley effects for the kill scenes. Optional English SDH subtitles are also included. The film is preceded by an optional introduction by Cooper and Edmund Ferrell (who started out as a make-up effects assistant but would work several positions behind the camera including assistant editor in post-production) in which they touch upon the situation with the original elements.The film can also be viewed accompanied by two audio commentary tracks. The first features Cooper, assistant special make-up effects artist/assistant editor Edmund Ferrell (THE SUPERNATURALS), co-director John Douglass (who taught the American University screenwriting course Cooper took to develop his script), and actor Mitler, while the second commentary features Cooper and actress Ruth Tutterow née Martinez. Both tracks are moderated by disc producer Ewan Cant who discusses the film's playful nods the genre and foreshadowing dialogue and images – with input from Douglass – that enhance its replay value. Although Cant's questions keep the discussions focused (especially in balancing out discussion of the story points against the shooting anecdotes), Cooper's anecdotes have a certain rehearsed quality (see the retrospective featurette discussed below). Cooper discusses the support and enthusiasm of the locals who came to watch the shooting, the moral objections of some participants and city officials, and the hysterical reaction of one of the female crew members to the aforementioned - and infamous - gaff scene (necessitating another take). Mitler discusses some of his ad-libbed contributions to cast some suspicion upon his character while Martinez talks about picking up acting tips from Mitler (who was teaching in New York while looking for work) and points out places in which the actors conspired to ad-libbed bits to surprise the crew. The participants also go into a bit of detail about the practical jokes and the fun atmosphere on the set even as they were running over schedule and running out of materials. They also discuss the original ending and the scrapped shot (in the shooting script) meant to signify a sequel."Fall Breakers: The Story of THE MUTILATOR" (75:01) is a feature-length retrospective documentary featuring a mix of new and older interviews (presumably from last decade when Cooper first started searching for materials for a Blu-ray release) with actors Mitler, Chatham, Martinez (not a schoolteacher), and Hitchcock, as well as Cooper, Douglass, Ferrell, Cooper's son Trace and ex-wife Pamela (who worked on the wardrobe and then played Big Ed's wife when the original actress bowed out due to religious objections), and a handful of extras. Revisiting the original locations, the participants cover just about every aspect of the film from Cooper trying to decide what to do with $86,000, taking screenwriting and production classes under Douglass who would help him develop the project with some of his graduate students and recent grads, the casting (with local personality Ben Moore, who played the ill-fated beach cop, reading opposite the auditioners), practical jokes as the film went over schedule, effects mishaps, cooperation with the city thanks to the reputation of Cooper's resort owner father, post-production, the film's theatrical reception across the country (it played in New York in a double bill with PIECES), and the cuts imposed for an R-rating (Ferrell, who assisted in the editing and sound design, described the cuts as like "circumcising my own son"). The featurette closes out with the participants reflecting on the film's cult status and musing on the sequel (which Cooper insists that he left the script open for thanks to the prominence of a certain prop among Big Ed's trophies).In "Mutilator Memories" (15:57), effects artist Shostrum recalls THE MUTILATOR as his best experience on a film, covering some of the same effects mishaps as described by others in the "Fall Breakers" featurette (and ascribing fault for the pool setpiece to CHOPPING MALL's Anthony Showe while admitting his faults with the initial body cast and for the outboard motor prosthetic effects). In "Tunes for the Dunes" (8:13), composer Michael Minard (Larry Cohen's SPECIAL EFFECTS) recalls how excited Cooper was to work with him when he discovered he had worked with Artie Resnick ("Under the Boardwalk"), and how Cooper's enthusiasm was somewhat of a distraction. He also discusses the theme song, and how he realized too late that it was too up-tempo for North Carolina shag. The behind-the-scenes reel (16:31) largely focuses on the murder scenes, including Cooper's son taking some squib hits not seen in the finished film, while the screen tests (13:03) are amusing with Moore doubling for Pam in Mitler's audition, for Ralph in the convenience store cashier's audition, and Martinez demonstrating the fresh-faced charm that landed her the role.The alternate opening titles (4:32) showcasing the more familiar title card THE MUTILATOR are also included in their entirety. Trailers and TV spots are presented under both titles. FALL BREAK's theatrical trailer (1:42) and TV spot (0:32) have the tagline "The vacation that became a nightmare" while the MUTILATOR trailer (1:57) and two TV spots (0:32 each) sport "School was h***, but vacation was murder!" Radio spots for THE MUTILATOR (0:57) are also included. The FALL BREAK ones seem to be newly transferred from film while the MUTILATOR ones are upscaled from video. Just in case you did not get enough of them theme song in stereo over the menu screens, it is also presented in vocal and instrumental versions (3:30 each). Also included are storyboards for the opening sequence (4:27) and a stills gallery (8:49). Both the DVD and Blu-ray feature the original screenplay as a PDF file as well as two Easter Eggs: an extension of the director's introduction (3:22) and a piece in which actress Martinez reads some excerpts from her copy of the script (4:14).Another amazing job by Arrow.

In the 80's there were so many types of horror movies(including slashers) to choose from. Some went their own way to be creative and original and others just simply either attempted to ride on the coattails of the more popular ones thereby totally stealing another's ideas or just doing so in part. Either idea would give the audience either a great fresh concept to be enjoyed or a ridiculous attempt to steal another horror movies thunder and in turn you get a trainwreck. Once in a while one of those horror movies will allow the audience a tremendous pay-off by using the all too familiar formulas but still managing to be its own movie. Well The Mutilator aka Fall Break proves to be one of those such horror/slashers that still manages to hold its own even if the formula is a familiar one. Consistency is a great thing to have in any great work of art, I say.Some facts: The Mutilator's original title was "Fall Break". It was produced and written by Buddy Cooper. It was directed by Buddy Cooper and co-directed by John S. Douglass. It was released directly to video on January 4, 1985 in both R-rated and Unrated versions by Vestron. The cinematography is by Peter Schnall. The music is by Michael Minard. The special effects were done by Mark Shostrom and the make up special effects were done by Anthony Showe.The movie starts with this young kid simply referred to as Ed Jr who is cleaning his father, Big Ed's guns as a birthday surprise. As his mother is making a birthday cake for Big Ed in the kitchen, Ed Jr accidentally fires one of the guns and ends up killing his mother. Once Big Ed returns home to see what has happened he's never the same again. Years later as Ed Jr is all grown up and estranged from his father of whom never forgave Ed Jr for what happened, Ed and his friends are on Fall Break from college and just as they couldn't think of a way to spend it, Big Ed calls his son to come to his beach condo to clean and close it up for the winter. They all go to help Ed Jr and to party, but unfortunately an unexpected guest is single-handedly offing Ed's friends while they're there.While I totally hated that annoying Fall Break theme song, I did love the score used for the movie. It perfectly captured the exact mood of all of the scenes that it's used. The score has a romantic sound, a happy sound, and a menacingly creepy sound that works perfectly with the appropriate scenes.The kill scenes and the gore are both magnificently done by by Shostrom and Showe. There's a scene where one of the characters is killed with an outboard motor, a awesomely done scene of one of the victims being decapitated, also there's a character that gets impaled against a door through the throat with a pitchfork. That's just a couple of examples of this movies brilliantly realistic gore scenes and the awesomeness of the kill scenes. There's not alot of stalker element(s) but how these scenes are handled and wonderfully edited makes up for it.While the DvD transfer is nothing special the Blu-Ray transfer is beautifully rendered and incredibly clear. The sound quality is at its best also.Unfortunately there's not much in the way of nudity, but the nudity you get is very sweet.The characters are all very interesting and likable to the point where you'll actually find yourself caring about them and feeling sorry that they get killed. The guys are cool, relatable, and some are funny and the women are gorgeous, smoking hot, and really loyal to their friends as much as the guys are.All in all, if you love a good slasher and you love brilliantly done gone and kill scenes, sexy and attractive people, characters that you actually care about, plenty of shocking and scary moments, an effective score, beautiful scenery and a very beautiful location by the same token, then this 80's slasher is definitely for you.

Tiene uno de los mejores finales que he visto en una pelicula de terror, la pelicula en si esta bien imagen bien sonido normal es una pelicula de hace años, al estilo de la primera de viernes 13 etc, un clasico von un gram titulo y de los mejores finales que he visto.

Conforme et envoi rapide.

although this movie started a bit slow, once the killing started...it didn't stop...the acting was good, the kills were inventive and the back story to the killer was believable...i loved this as i am a fan of 80's slasher films...even the script was good, which is surprising for this genre...the ending was great, even a little contrived...but this is why we love slasher movies..this was well worth the money and the blu ray transfer was fantastic...extra features are a great bonus for any fan...i'm impressed...

THE... I mean THE lost slasher from the 80s. Gore. Silliness. A theme song (for the original title of FALL BREAK)... an unbelievable transfer from ARROW films (having found the original uncut print a few weeks before they went into production on the disc)... A gem in my horror collection. Pure 80s cheese... a great time with a few beers and the homeboys gathered.

PLOT...A group of youngsters take a fall break to an empty family condo on the beach, they intended it to be a weekend of sex drinking and fun but it turns in a nightmare when they start to be horribly murdered one by one, being a remote place with hardly anyone around will anyone survive!!This is certainly and amazing Arrow Blu-ray release of probably one of the more outrageous and genius slasher movies of the 80's, an easy to follow story that has a simple set up right from the start, a cool cast of youngsters lined up for the slaughter, your usual stereotype cool dudes and hot girls, the movie is a little predictable and some of the acting is cheesy but the lavish gore effects keep you drawn to these types of movies, and the brutal kill sequences in this movie are very well done indeed, plenty of blood and limbs everywhere, this movie has been passed uncut and is the full unrated version. If you love classic 80's slashers this is a must have on the list!!Movie looks great in HD 1080p (New 2K restoration)English Subtitles.Features are great, a new making of featurette 1hr-15mins, audio commentaries, effects feature, interviews, screen tests, and moreReversible sleeve with original Fall Break cover, A nice slipcase too.Region FREE ABC, DVD region FREE 0, 86-mins running time, 1984.