The Wizard of Gore [Blu-ray]

Overview

A sinister illusionist gets away with ghastly murders on-stage in this unique horror story. Though Montag the Magnificent (Ray Sager) appears to be eviscerating beautiful volunteers from the audience with railroad spikes, chainsaws, and punch presses, the girls always smile afterward and walk away unscathed, leading the adoring crowd to admire the magician's handiwork. However, each evening, those same women are found horribly murdered in similar fashions, leading a young couple to take interest in the case. Sherry Carson (Judy Cler) is fascinated with Montag's show and wants to feature his magic on her afternoon television program. Her boyfriend, Jack (Wayne Ratay), is a sports writer, but he decides to investigate the weird homicides that have plagued the city since Montag appeared. Eventually, it becomes clear that the magician is planning to commit mass murder by hypnotizing the audience of Sherry's TV show, and Jack has to act fast. But the evil Montag's magic has already warped the fabric of reality, and no outcome is certain.

Product Details

Release Date:	11/13/2018
UPC:	0760137185185
Original Release:	1970
Rating:	NR
Source:	Arrow Video
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Mono]
Language:	English
Time:	1:35:00

Special Features

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation; Original Uncompressed PCM Monoi Audio; English Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing; Bonus Feature! 1968's How to Make a Doll; Introductions to both films by Herschell Gordon Lewis; Feature-lengthl audio commentary on The Wizard of Gore with Herschell Gordon Lewis and Mike Vraney; Montag Speaks!- an interview with Wizard of Gore actor Ray Sager; Stephen Thrower on The Wizard of Gore; The Gore the Merrier - An Interview with Jeremy Kasten, Director of the 2007 Wizard of Gore remake; The Incredibly Strange Film Show - an episode of the cult documentary series focusing on the films of Herschell Gordon Lewis; Original theatrical trailer; Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by The Twins of Evil

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ray Sager	Montag The Magnificent
Judy Cler	Sherry Carson
Wayne Ratay	Jack
Phil Laurenson	Greg
Jim Rau	Steve
John Elliott	Detective Harlan
Don Alexander	Detective Kramer
Monika Blackwell	Girl
Corinne Kirkin	Girl
Karin Alexana	Girl
Sally Brody	Girl
Karen Burke	Girl
Jack Gilbreth	Maitre d'Hotel
Alex Ameripoor	Man on Stage,Man on Stage
John Elliot	Detective Harlan
Phil Lauenson	Actor
Larry Wellington	Composer

Technical Credits

Herschell Gordon Lewis	Director,Producer,Special Effects
Fred M. Sandy	Executive Producer

Editorial Reviews

Arguably the most interesting product from cinematic gorehound Herschell Gordon Lewis, The Wizard of Gore presents its Grand Guignol violence within a surreal, self-referential framework that stands out in any pack of cardboard slasher plots. The titular maniac prefaces his horrible on-stage acts by taunting his audience, challenging the space between reality and illusion, then proceeding to both exploit and satisfy their thirst for blood. The what, why, and how of Montag the Magnificent is never completely explained, with a bizarre nonlinear conclusion that places the audience right back in the theater, waiting for another gory magic trick. Ultimately, the viewers of the film are indicted along with the onscreen spectators, as guilty for the eventual dismemberments of Montag's victims as the evil magician himself. The desire for safe, sick thrills goes horribly awry and murder is the result. Written pseudonymously by the director himself, The Wizard of Gore could be taken as a pointed poke at the appetites of Lewis' own audience, and he served up a greater dose of cinematic carnage than his previous blood epics. While Lewis expressed displeasure with the film's special effects (many of which were compromised due to rushed schedules, budgetary limitations, and unforeseen accidents on the set), the squirm-worthy visions of eyeballs being dug out of heads and torsos torn open and rummaged through are more than adequate. As for the rest of the film, it's the standard Lewis collection of non-actors and clumsy cinematography, and it isn't unlikely that the script's elliptical qualities are due more to the hasty plugging of plot holes than any grand design. Still, the finished product has more heft than Lewis' other gore films and should be at the top of the list for anyone with interest in the director's career.