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BLOOD SPLASH (1981)
aka NIGHTMARE
aka NIGHTMARES IN A DAMAGED BRAIN
Directed by Romano Scavolini
Platinum Productions, Inc. VHS
Reviewed 11.01.06
Review by Joseph A. Ziemba
THE FILM
The only reason that you, I, or
anyone watches a horror film is
to be shocked and scared. We
want to see what they can
give us. This is what they can give
us.
In 1982, David Grant, head of UK
video distributor Oppidan, served
six months in jail for selling the
uncut version of Video Nasty Nightmare
(U.S. theatrical title) aka Nightmares
In A Damaged Brain (UK video
title). According to Brewster, Fenton,
and Morris's Shock! Horror!,
this is the only time in history
that the distribution of a horror
film has led to a person's incarceration.
Think about that. A man went to
jail because his government deemed
the selling of this motion picture
a criminal offense. Incredible?
Ridiculous? Enticing? I know what
you're feeling. Doubt trickles in.
A sleazy, cheap, and somewhat rare
slasher can't possibly deliver against
archetypical scare films like The
Texas Chainsaw Massacre, let
alone the weight imposed by a jail
sentence.
Oust the doubt. Nightmare
can. And it will.
The less you know about the plot
of Nightmare, the better.
A schizo-amnesiac-OCD-dream fixated-murdering
nutjob named George Tatum (the frightening
Baird Stafford) has recently been
released from an asylum under the
guise of of a government controlled
drug experiment. They say he's cured.
A trip to NYC's 42nd street at its
most repellent proves he's not.
George weaves his way towards Orlando,
Florida on a blood-caked road trip.
A dysfunctional family (Mom: "I
hate this fucking house!")
may hold the key to his relapse.
Then again, certain pains of childhood
aren't so easily slain. Somebody
better check on the babysitter.
Unifying agitated violence and kinky
sex are no big shakes in the world
of obscure Video Nasties. From Night
Of The Demon (Bigfoot rape)
to Mardi
Gras Massacre (full frontal
disembowlment), there's a wide range
of perversion. Nightmare
balances it best. First and foremost,
the film was made to shock. Itchy,
ferocious gore scenes and grimy
sexual snapshots take a clear precedent
over the laughable community college
psychology and gaping, second-hand
plot holes. That's a given. Pieces
does the same thing; shock for shock's
sake. However, where most desperate
trashers from this era spin their
wheels within those confines, Nightmare
contextualizes. And scares you in
the process.
Suburbs. Shag carpeting. Football
pajamas. Woodgrain telelvision sets.
A man in a rubber mask, brandishing
the blunt end of a hammer. We've
seen it all before. Yet, we LIKE
these things. From cut-rate indie
junk to slick studio class, these
elements (and hundreds more) are
what make early 80s slashers so
attractive. Nightmare brings
all of this together and pulls no
punches; the grim nastiness, the
familiarity, and yes, even the genuine
scares. Director Romano Scavolini
provides an apropos atmosphere.
Handheld jitters. Odd, haunting
soundtrack cues. Dingy houses and
colorful locations. Convincing actors.
Obviously, this is a very powerful
low budget horror film. Tastes will
vary, but the immediate aftereffects
cannot be denied...or shaken.
AUDIO AND VIDEO
Full frame, a bit hazy, just a touch
of grunge. The presentation only
enhances the film. The mono sound
had a slightly audible, hi-pitched
buzz at first, but it faded away.
Nightmare was issued under
many different titles (and cuts)
during the early 80s video boom.
As far as I know, this Platinum
Productions, Inc. VHS (under the
title Blood Splash) is
the only North American release
that appears with the violence 100%
intact. Overseas tapes cut the grue,
but added expositional scenes that
do not appear on this release. Perhaps
a DVD reissue will one day combine
both versions for a complete cut.
Until then, this Platinum tape is
your best bet.
EXTRAS
There's a rumor that make-up wiz
Tom Savini had a hand in the impressive
gore sequences. He didn't. The Big
S was only a pre-production consultant.
You can read all about it in Phil
Hardy's Overlook Encyclopedia
Of Horror. On a related note,
does anyone out there actually care?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Was the jail sentence called for?
You be the judge. Nightmare
is not only an effective slasher
-- it's a touchstone in low budget,
perverted horror. The film stands
elbow to elbow with its more famous
peers and for people like you and
me, that's something to be excited
about. Seek it out at once. |
And that ain't all
Send help
Attic effects
The Jumps
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