In a post-apocalyptic world, the city dwellers spend all their time connected – via a neck port – to a framework known as the Infinisynth, where they can experience all of their wildest fantasies. Judy and her mother are two such examples; however, whereas her mother is happy with her lot, Judy is frustrated and longs for the reality of life. The system's operator gives Judy her wish, but it is more than she bargained for when she is immediately attacked on the surface. Rescued by a man called Stover, they are later both assaulted and dragged underground, where they are brutally treated and put to work. But who is the Seer, and what are his plans for Judy...?

There is a Vincent Price soundalike who introduces the Infinisynth environment in this science fiction horror. Gore lovers will lap this up (so to speak!); however, the cannibalistic scavenger Crawlers make this scenario conducive to the plot – so, it isn’t just throwing blood at the screen for the sake of it. The pull for this movie is undoubtedly Bruce Campbell from the Sam Raimi Evil Dead films. In fact, he was about to begin filming the third in the trilogy while promoting this one in 1990 (it was released in the UK in 1991). He was also excellent in the outstanding Bubba Ho-Tep movie, adapted from the Joe R. Lansdale short story. Bruce Campbell is a cult hero of B-movies. Many fans collect his films, which – let’s be honest – range from excellent to barely noteworthy, due mainly to the resources and budget of the relevant flick’s originator. His performances are solid but similar, and we love him for it. Check out his entertaining autobiography, If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B-Movie Actor.

There is a nice barbaric form of steampunk going on here, with a conveyor-belt, chopping machine and many channels for directing blood to a bath, wherein it is scooped-up with skulls to drink from (like you do!). The Crawlers are both slaves and masters, and I like the idea of the badly treated workers frantically digging-up and uncovering common items from the past, such as an electric mixer or a child’s doll. All are subservient to the Seer, who is human. Another attraction for the horror fans is the appearance of Angus Scrimm (from the Phantasm franchise) as the Seer. He also plays another role. Although the film is played straight, there are certain darkly humorous moments, such as the Crawler walking along eating a severed hand, and Campbell’s reaction when he is first put to work. For a low-budget B-movie it is quite entertaining.

This is a first-time Blu-ray release in the UK for Mindwarp. It is part of the Eureka Classics range. There is a limited run of 2000 copies which incorporate a Slipcase and Collector’s Booklet featuring a new essay by film scholar and author Craig Ian Mann, and a reprinted article from Gorezone – the sister publication to Fangoria. General extras include reversible artwork, a new feature length audio interview with Tony Timpone – former longtime editor of Fangoria Magazine, Fangoria’s Weekend of Horrors 1990 – footage from the horror convention, with Bruce Campbell and Angus Scrimm.

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Ty Power