Redneck Zombies (Degausser Video) Blu-ray Review

Degausser Video is doing the Lord's work with this Blu-ray release of the Troma shot-on-video classic, Redneck Zombies

Studio: Degausser Video
Release Date: February 15th, 1989 (video premiere) / January 30th, 2024 (blu-ray)
Run Time: 1 hour 30 minutes 21 seconds (main feature) / 1 hour 30 minutes 16 seconds (20th anniversary)
Region Code: FREE

Disc Count: 1 (BD-50)
Picture: 1080i (1.33:1 aspect ratio) (both versions)
Sound: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (main feature) / Dolby Digital 2.0 (20th Anniversary)
Subtitles: English SDH (main feature)
Slipcover: Yes
Digital Copy: No
Starring: Lisa M. de Haven, William E. Bensen, William L. Decker, James Housley
Written by Zoofeet, P. Floyd Piranha, Fester Smellman
Directed by Pericles Lewnes
Rating: Unrated (strong horror violence and gory, language, and a rape)

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Poster

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What's It About?

Deep in the backwoods and winding trails of The Appalachian Mountains, Wilbur is leading a group of his friends to his old childhood stomping grounds. Just across the mountainous terrain, Pa and his three sons are making their patented moonshine. But when the military loses a canister of oozing, deadly and deforming toxic waste, all paths lead to terror! Soon the good ol' boys are hand delivering a new nuked-up batch of brew to all the locals, turning them into melting cannibal zombies with their eyes on the freshest flesh around; Wilbur and his camping buddies! Will they escape the monstrous hordes or will they be the next course on the menu!?

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Video/Audio

REDNECK ZOMBIES was shot on video in the mid-80s so you know exactly what you are getting. The picture was transferred from the original 1' source tape and it looks good. I didn't see too many problems with the picture here outside of the interlacing, a few colors that are a bit off, and a noisy picture. Sound is surprisingly good here with mostly clear dialogue and crystal clear gooshy sound effects.

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Extras/Packaging

Commentary #1 - 2023 Commentary Track wtih producer Ed Bishop, director Pericles Lewnes, and actress Lisa M Dehaven

Commentary #2 - producer Ed Bishop and director Pericles Lewnes

Commentary #3 - Critical Commentary Track with James Branscome and Nick Vance of The Cinematic Void Podcast

Isolated Score

"Sweet Redneck Memories" - 2023 Making-Of Documentary (1h 23m, HD, 1.78:1) This is a very nice and lengthy look back at the making of this shot on video masterpiece. Pericles Lewnes, Ed Bishop, 

20th Anniversary Director's Cut of Redneck Zombies (1h 30m, SD, 1.33:1) This version is five seconds shorter than the main version but I don't know what is missing from this version as I am not too familiar with the film.

Unfinished Archival Making-Of Documentary (13m 59s, SD, 1.33:1) The following text appears onscreen before the footage:

The following is a very rough assembly of what would have been a behind-the-scenes documentary if we had finished it. It was shot and out together while we were still making the movie by the awesome James Housley. The edits are deck to deck and the sound sucks donkey ass, butt we hope you enjoy it for exactly what it is - a glimpse at the making of Redneck Zombies.

We get 14 minutes of fly-on-the-wall footage shot during the movie's production. The scene being shot is a make-up heavy scene so we get to see many of the make-up effects.

Deleted Scenes (20m 30s, SD, 1.33:1) We get a breakdown of each deleted scene along with the length of each scene:

• Doctors Extended (with Additional Added Pontification) - 1:47
• Original Hikers/Soldier Intro - 2:38
• Andy's Tale - :46
• Secret Ingredient - 4:22
• Counting Cases (and One for Jr's Pecker) - 1:18
• Campfire/Transformations Extended) - 6:25
• Search Party - 1:18
• Bob's Trip Extended (Now with More Cheese!) - 1:13

Nothing too major here. Mostly character development scenes along with a lot more redneck antics.

Outtakes (43m 5s, SD, 1.33:1) These are exactly what you think they are. Lots of flubbed lines and tons of goofing around.

A Scene from Crabtown, USA - 1986 Local Cable Access Show That Was a Precursor to Redneck Zombies (2m 51s, SD, 1.33:1) This felt more like 3 scenes but what do I know?

In Memorium (1m 12s, HD, 1.78:1) An Oscar telecast worthy remembrance of those who have passed.

Archival Interviews:

• Director Pericles Lewnes (9m 59s, SD, 1.33:1)
• Producer Ed Bishop (9m 30s, SD, 1.33:1)
• Associate Producer William E. Benson (2m 46s, SD, 1.33:1), Co-Producer Bill Decker (3m, SD, 1.33:1), "Set Mother" Sandy Bishop (1m 25s, SD, 1.33:1)
• Composer Adrian Band (2m 27s, SD, 1.33:1), Actress Lisa M. DeHaven (3m 2s, SD, 1.33:1), actor Alex Lewnes (1m 11s, SD, 1.33:1), Actor Bucky Santini (3m 26s, SD, 1.33:1)
• Misc. Crew Jeff McKinstry (2m 31s, SD, 1.33:1), Actor Tyrone Taylor (2m 23s, SD, 1.33:1), Actor Martin J. Wolfman (2m 29s, SD, 1.33:1)

These interviews are set up very oddly. As you will notice in the list above, each of those bullet points contains more than one person (except for the first 2). These interviews run right after the other, each with their own chapter stops. Nothing wrong with that. The problem lies in the fact that you can't pick any of the other people in the bullet pointed list. You can only pick that whole list and chapter skip through the ones you don't want, to get to the one you want. It is a weird way of presenting something like this. I have a feeling Degassuer Video only wanted to have one special features menu instead of two so they crammed everything into one menu. 

Trailers:

• Original (1m 46s, SD, 1.33:1) The original company that produced this film was Full Moon Pictures. It's not that Full Moon Pictures but a production company that was set up to make this one film.
• Troma (2m 49s, SD, 1.33:1) This is the trailer I remember being on every Troma release for the longest time.
• Trans World Entertainment (1m 21s, SD, 1.33:1) Trans World actually got THE trailer guy, Don LaFontaine, to do the voice for a Redneck Zombies trailer. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. 

When it comes to the packaging, Degausser Video has stuck to the tried and true "Vinegar Syndrome style". This means every inch of the packaging, from slipcover to disc art, is an exact duplicate of the style of packaging VS has been using for the longest time. 

The slipcover features artwork by Robert Sammelin, who has done artwork for a ton of VS releases including THE INVISIBLE MANIAC, STEEL AND LACE, and UNMASKING THE IDOL. He does great work and this artwork is no slouch. 

The blu-ray case is clear with the artwork being reversible. One side features the new artwork while the other side features the original Troma poster art.

Inside the case, you will find a single blu-ray disc featuring the new artwork.

Troma released REDNECK ZOMBIES on DVD as part of their shortlived "Tromasterpiece Collection". This release contains a wealth of special features along with the film's soundtrack.

Special Features:

Denim Cut-Offs (6m 24s, SD, 1.33:1) These are outtakes

Robert E.-Leted Scenes (14m 39s, SD, 1.33:1) 4 deleted scenes. The blu-ray has 4 more scenes and runs 6 minutes longer.

Incestuous Interviews - These are the same interviews found on the blu-ray.

I Aint No Homo Promos (8m 32s, SD, 1.33:1) All of the trailers that are present on the blu-ray are here too along with a trailer for another film Pericles Lewnes made called Loop.

Tromatic Trailer Trash

• Poultrygeist Trailer (3m 16s, SD, 1.85:1, 4x3)
• Getting Lucky Trailer (2m 20s, SD, 1.33:1)
• Radiation March (54s, SD, 1.33:1) This thing was on every dvd Troma released in the 90s and 2000s. Its an interpretive dance thing about pollution.

Extra Interview (6m 7s, SD, 1.33:1) This is an interview with Pericles Lewnes where he talks about how he talks about selling his film to Troma. This led to him working for Troma for the next few years. He worked on Troma's War, Toxic Avenger 2 and 3, and Sgt. Kabukiman NYPD.

The Soundtrack Listing:

• 1. The Beginning of the End
• 2. Love Theme (Opening Titles)
• 3. Redneck Zombies Blues
• 4. Stabbing Eyeballs
• 5. I Feel Funny
• 6. Chemical Nuclear Warfare Toxic Waste Barrel Polka
• 7. Gut Munch Suite
• 8. Leggo My Leg, Yo
• 9. Spitting Body Ache
• 10. Great Gobs of Zombie Guts (Trippin' on)
• 11. Tomorrow's Blue Plate Special
• 12. Cabin Fever
• 13. Subliminal Satanic Track (Do not PLay Backwards!)
• 14. Redneck Zombies (End Credits)

(Includes Top Secret Hidden Bonus Track - Ellie May's Lament)

As you can see, there isn't a whole lot that is missing from the DVD. Basically, every extra pertaining to the film can be found on the blu-ray. The blu-ray even has more deleted scenes. What is missing are the Troma-based extras like the Troma trailers along with the Radiation March. Then there is the soundtrack. That is the biggest thing that is missing from the blu-ray.

So, which one would I pick? The blu-ray, all the way. The picture quality is better in many aspects and the sound is lossless. The extras found on the disc are very entertaining and informative. I had a really fun time going through all the extras. The DVD isn't bad but the blu-ray is the way to go. Now, if you can find the DVD for cheap, then pick it up. This is all because of the soundtrack. 

The blu-ray is REGION FREE

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Overall

I have to admit: I didn't like REDNECK ZOMBIES all that much. The gore is amazing and this might be the best produced shot-on-video movie I have ever seen. If it weren't for the standard definition video, you could mistaken this for being a professionally produced flick. I didn't like any of the characters and I felt the film would have worked better as a short. There is some really good stuff here but its surrounded by lesser stuff. 

Degausser has done a great job with this release. Nice picture and sound for being shot on video. The special features are where the goods are. Multiple commentary tracks, an isolated score, a feature-length documentary, a different version of the movie, and all the Troma extras. Definitely check this one out.