With his feature film Header, director Archibald Flancranstin has done the impossible-he’s managed to bring one of extreme horror author Ed Lee’s most infamous and shocking works to the big screen without losing any of the things that made the novella so repulsive and beloved in the first place. Fans worried that a cinematic adaptation of Lee’s “Redneck Greek Tragedy” would be a neutered and spineless affair can rest easy-this is the same Header those of us fortunate enough to own a copy of the long out of print novella remember. It’s a rip-roaring, over-the-top, insane redneck splatterfest with subject matter so bizarre and offensive that most people would flee the room screaming if you played a scene or read a few sequences aloud. Seeing it recreated in front of a camera is both incredibly cool and very shocking.
Synapse Films is perhaps best known for their adventurous tastes when it comes to choosing projects to bring to DVD. Over the years, the company has released films like Flavia the Heretic, Brain Damage, and Entrails of a Virgin–much to the appreciation of people like myself, who enjoy obscure genre cinema lovingly restored by people with similar sensibilities.
So, given their track record, news of any new Synapse release is cause for excitement around Casa de Bracken. Their latest, a movie entitled Sick Girl, has me even more interested than usual. I hadn’t even heard of this film prior to the DVD announcement, but after checking out the synopsis, I’m expecting good things.
SICK GIRL tells the tale of teenage girl, Izzy (Leslie Andrews). Izzy is troubled. With her parents nowhere to be found (and perhaps dead) and her older brother off fighting in Iraq, Izzy is left to take care of her younger brother Kevin all by herself. Local biker Barney offers some assistance to Izzy and Kevin – but he can’t provide any help when it comes to Izzy’s issues… With intense scenes of torture and murder, SICK GIRL delivers a mix of dry humor and extreme gore. Packed with extras, SICK GIRL also comes complete with a horror geek alert! … keep your eyes peeled for Stephen Geoffreys’ (FRIGHT NIGHT, 976-EVIL) return to horror after a 19-year absence!
Here are the disc’s technical specs:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1) Transfer
Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
“DEATH BY …” Featurette
Original Promotional Teaser and Trailer
SICK GIRL Public Service Announcement
Bloopers and Outtakes Reel
Stephen Geoffreys Interview Segment
Chapter Selections
Look for Sick Girl to start spreading her disease on August 5th. Kudos to Dread Central for bringing attention to this release.
With his feature film Header, director Archibald Flancranstin has done the impossible-he’s managed to bring one of extreme horror author Ed Lee’s most infamous and shocking works to the big screen without losing any of the things that made the novella so repulsive and beloved in the first place. Fans worried that a cinematic adaptation of Lee’s “Redneck Greek Tragedy” would be a neutered and spineless affair can rest easy-this is the same Header those of us fortunate enough to own a copy of the long out of print novella remember. It’s a rip-roaring, over-the-top, insane redneck splatterfest with subject matter so bizarre and offensive that most people would flee the room screaming if you played a scene or read a few sequences aloud. Seeing it recreated in front of a camera is both incredibly cool and very shocking.
