I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1970)
Directed by David Durston
MTI/Grindhouse/Fangoria DVD
Reviewed 10.25.04
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba

THE FILM
I’m going to have to go ahead and declare a state of emergency this evening. You see, I’ve been shocked. Not creeped out...or even scared. Just shocked. And it took a twenty-four year old film to do it.

There’s only one way to do this. I Drink Your Blood is a frantic film. Total insanity. From the instant producer Jerry Gross’s name lights up the screen to the abrupt and baffling ending, the unknowing viewer is bombarded with dirt, gore, and sleaze. It’s an over-the-top trash melting-pot; a nightmarish tryst that could easily be defined as a patchy conglomerate of several familiar bad film icons. But that would be too easy. See, I Drink Your Blood is the first film in America to receive an “X” rating based on violence and content (as opposed to explicit sex). Obviously, this film stands alone in a historical context. But does it take the cake and deserve to throb side by side with your most favorite exploitation films? Sorta.

During a birthday-suit satanic ritual, a cult of eight LSD-laced hippies spot a girl, Sylvia, peeping in on their festivities. What’s the natural reaction? Send two of the toughest dudes on a beat/rape spree. Thankfully, we’re spared the visuals. The next day, our band of malcontents run into van troubles, forcing them to take up residence in an abandoned motel. Ironically, the motel happens to be in the same little ghost town that houses Sylvia and her family. Grandpa says, “Something’s got to be done about that gang of savage hyenas.” Sylvia’s little brother Pete seeks revenge, as only he can: rabid meat pies. The louts eat, mouths begin to froth, and soon enough, everybody gets violent. I’m not going to give away any of the other details. It’s better when you don’t know what’s coming. Or going, for that matter.

Caffeine editing, bizarre moog blips, and small town claustrophobia. Sounds good, right? For the most part it, is. As I mentioned, I Drink Your Blood is frantic -- the film flies by before you know it, barely letting up on the semi-realistic gore and weirdness (frequent dismemberment, rabies spread like an STD, close-ups of meat and eating) for some 50s sitcom-styled character interaction. The acting is never convincing and always outrageous, particularly the character of “Pete,” a little guy that surely covers every bad film acting base you could ever imagine. Unfortunately, the film also features several unsettling depictions of animal violence, switching gears from sleazy fun to downright gross-out. It’s not even a matter of whether or not the animals were already deceased: I know I never want to see another half-decapitated goat or mass rat burning ever again. The scenes severely impact the tone of the film, making the whole that much more jolting. So is that a good thing? I guess it depends on who you are.

I’m left shocked and astounded. I Drink Your Blood is a sickie, but it’s also a pretty enjoyable night of drive-in grind, the kind you often read about, but don’t believe exists. It’s too outlandish for me to fall in love with, but I can’t deny that the film delivers on its promises. Twenty-four years later, even.

AUDIO AND VIDEO
A direct port of last year’s limited edition Grindhouse DVD, this wide release version looks fantastic. The picture quality of the full frame print is achingly nice, directly opposite the grime on display. Colors are bright, detail is perfect, and while slight blemishes do exist (white speckling and lines), they just add to the feel. Probably one of the crispiest pictures I’ve ever seen on such a low-budget exploitation film. The mono sound was an exact match for the picture: clear-cut and audible.

EXTRAS
Now this is how you do it. Film aside, the extras presented here constitute a trash film smorgasbord! In addition to a choice between the X-rated theatrical cut or the R-rated director’s cut of the film (which, strangely, are both identical), there’s a boatload of ads, deleted scenes, easter eggs...it just doesn’t stop.

Let’s start out small. We’ve got three still galleries: production stills, random cast shots, and an amazing ad art section (focusing strongly on the double feature drive-in pair up with Del Tenney’s I Eat Your Skin), which features posters, lobby cards, ads, video boxes, etc. All very nice. Next up, there’s a brilliant trailer for the previously mentioned double feature, a two minute scorcher that features the very best in exploitation tag lines. Following that, a minute long radio spot does a similar bang-up job. Moving along, we get bios and filmographies for director David Durston, actress Lynn Lowry, actor Bhaskar, and producer Jerry Gross. Gross’s bio is particularly in-depth. Tucked away within each bio are a few film clips -- a 10 minute video of Durston at a Cult Movies convention, a trailer for George Romero’s fantastic The Crazies (featuring Lynn Lowry), and an extremely bizarre six minute interpretive dance routine from actor Bhaskar.

And onto the more extensive supplements. Four deleted scenes, all of which are pretty entertaining, focus on a few of the comedic elements that were excised from the film before release. Grandpa’s extended acid trip is a highlight. From there, we have a 3 minute outtake roll, directly from the cutting room floor. Botched lines, frequent clapboard appearances, and alternate versions of scenes are featured. Next up is a 30 minute feature titled “The I Drink Your Blood Show.” This is a fun segment featuring Durston interviewing four vets in his backyard (actors Lynn Lowry, Jack Damon, and Tyde Kierney, and the guy who designed the film's ads). The interviews are brief, fun, and pointed. Finally, we get an excellent feature length commentary with Durston, Bhaskar, and an unnamed moderator that pops up a few times. The track is jovial and packed, with slight overlap from the other features. Juicy bits include Durston’s doctor-supervised LSD session to prepare for the film, the story behind the film’s ghost town sets, and setting things straight on the animal scenes.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Regardless of the film, this is a stunning DVD. Fan of I Drink Your Blood? This extras-packed edition is a definite must-own. Casual viewer that would like to finally experience this notorious picture? A solid rental should be your choice.

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