[home] [news] [reviews] [features]

THE TOOLBOX MURDERS (Blue Underground DVD) Rating: Tag-line: 'What he does to your nerves is almost as frightening as what he does to your victims!', 'Bit by bit by bit... he carved a nightmare!' Death Toll: Seven. You'd expect more, wouldn't you? Cutting Remarks: Finally, this 1977 cult schlocker - recently remade by Tobe Hooper - gets the treatment it deserves, presented beautifully on this new disc - with extras, and most importantly for gore hounds, uncut. We've certainly never seen Toolbox uncut in the UK, and possibly never will, as it contravenes many of the BBFC's 'sexualised violence' rules. If you've never seen it untrimmed, then be warned: it's bloody, but not quite as explicit as you'd imagine. Indeed, the murder scenes are erratically edited, giving you the impression that the movie remains censored. The scene in which Marianne Walter, aka porn star Kelly Nichols, runs around her appartment naked, while the killer fires nails at her, is however presented here in full, and is considerably longer than any UK version!          But we're getting ahead of ourselves. What plot there is, revolves around Cameron Mitchell's character Vance Kingsley, the landlord of a building in which various people are starting to die in DIY-centric fashions. It doesn't take much working out to realise that Vance is our balaclava-ed fiend, as you virtually recognise Mitchell's insane eyes through the mask. He makes a great psycho as always, though: humming in a decidedly unsettled manner as he goes about his grisly work. We are given a reason for the madness, and it's at least better than the usual 'mistreated in childhood' routine - his daughter Cathy died in a road crash          The Toolbox Murders hits the ground running with four murders pretty much in a row, but then runs out of steam. The second half is slow - albeit entertaining when Mitchell talks dementedly to his bound and gagged victim, Laurie (Pamelyn Ferdin). There's a rather unexpected plot twist to liven things up, although the abrupt ending lets the movie down a little. One of those 'Sweet Jesus, the budget's run out!' kinda moments, we'll wager... Most Memorable Demise: Definitely the nail-gunning of Tina (Marianne Walker/Kelly Nichols). Look Out For: The scene in which a cop tries to proposition the mother of missing Laurie. Very inappropriate. Killer Quote: "God knows, I'm humane, I'm compassionate - I did it as quickly as I could" - Vance defends his homicidal behaviour. Oh, that's alright then... Release Date: Out now. DVD Details: In an entertaining audio commentary, star Pamelyn Ferdin, Producer Tony DiDio and Director Of Photography Gary Graver discuss the movie in general - rarely seeming to take notice or comment on individual scenes. There's also a latter-day, eight-minute featurette on Marianne Walker/Kelly Nichols, who talks engagingly about her naked nail-gun death. Then there's the theatrical trailer, a TV spot, radio spots, a poster and still gallery and an onscreen bio on Cameron Mitchell. A very nice selection for an excellent DVD. [Check it out at Amazon US] [Check it out, censored but cheap, at Amazon UK] [Check out the remake at Amazon US] [Check out the remake at Amazon UK] [Reviews Menu] [Home] © Copyright Slasherama 2002-present