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SKINNED ALIVE (1990)
3 stars
88 Films. Blu ray. 29th July
Presented as part of 88 Films ongoing, and ever more obscure, Slasher Classics Collection.
The film opens with a guy (played by director Jon Killough) walking along a countryside road trying to hitch a lift. Unsuccessful, he sleeps the night by the roadside. Next day a clapped-out van pulls up, with ‘Crawldadddy’s Traveling Tannery’ crudely painted on the side. Thinking he is finally going to get a ride, he is kicked to the ground by the female driver Violet (Susan Rothaker). He is then attacked by cackling old crone Crawldaddy (Mary Jackson, in a role originally intended for a man) – Violet’s mum – and whacked in the head with a hammer by her son Phink (Scott Spiegel) and then shot. That got your attention – it’s the much exploited story of the family that slays together stays together!
This is clearly patterned on the likes of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE from 1974 and it’s ilk. When their van breaks down and they are told by the local small town mechanic it is going to take a while to fix, they accept his hospitality to stay at his place – which you know isn’t going to end well. Especially, as the title spells out, they have a penchant for skinning people for their own amusement.
I am sure this the sort of film that probably has a coterie of passionate fans that appreciate it and it is kind of fun in a cheapjack, ramshackle and slightly shoddy way with scenery-chewing actors and low budget gore effects. Mary Jackson (possibly best known as Emily Baldwin in the TV series THE WALTONS), is having a blast with her role, and Scott Spiegel is suitably manic – one minute psychotic, the next having incestuous leanings towards his sister. Much fake blood is spilled along the way and this is an amusing time waster in a schlocky, low budget manner, with patently phoney make-up effects and wobbly acting, it’s one for completist gorehounds and fans of so-called hillbilly horror – thankfully it is only 77 minutes long!
Considering this was shot on 16mm, the film looks good in the 4×3 version, which had extensive work done to it, which is covered in one of the extras. There is also a cropped 16×9 version on the disc.
EXTRAS
A good selection of extras to back up the film
First off you get three audio commentaries – writer/director Jon Killough, moderated by Tempe Historian Ross Snyder of Saturn’s Core Audio and Video; Producer J.R. Bookwalter and make-up effects artist David Lange; Audio Commentary by Doug Tilley and Moe Porne of The No-Budget Nightmares Podcast (on the VHS version).
Carving Up 30 Years of Skinned Alive (16 mins): Writer/director Jon Killough talks about writing a script for Texas Chainsaw 3, being told to make this film as “offensive as possible”, also features actors Susan Rothaker, Floyd Ewing Jr. and Michael Render. Produced in 2020.
Call Me Daddy You Shit Head: Remembering Mary Jackson (10 mins). Interviews her son Dave Jackson and daughter Lorie (who was originally going to play Violet). They talk about her music career and her working on the film – and how she was nothing like the character she played. Also talks to the director and Susan Rothaker and Michael Render. Produced in 2020.
Prissy Boy Phink: (8 mins) Interview with Scott Spiegel who replaced original actor Michael Todd in the role. Produced in 2020.
2020 Location Tour: (5 mins) a recent look at some of the locations used featuring actors James L. Edwards, Michael Bender and Floyd Ewing Jr.
Restoration Grindhouse featurette: (9 mins). Producer J.R. Bookwalter talks about restoring the 2K scan of the original, damaged 16mm negative, which needed extensive work, plus creating the 16×9 version.
Cut to the Bone: Dissecting the Making of Skinned Alive featurette (34 mins) Archival making of talking heads documentary with J.R. Bookwalter, Jon Killough, Susan Rothaker, Mike Shea (Co-Story and Production Manager), Floyd Ewing Jr., Michael Todd (the original Phink), Mike Render, Dave Jackson (Source Music), James L. Edwards (Walkman victim), Bill Morrison (Special Makeup effects), Barbara Katz-Norris (Whinnie), Joe Contracier (FX Assistant/Sound). From 2002
Behind the Scenes featurette (7 mins). Archival bunch of behind the scenes footage edited together. From 2002
Camera and Wardrobe Tests (11 mins) pre production camera test shot on 8mm video compared to the same scenes in the movie. Plus rehearsal footage with Michael Todd – the original Phink. Footage of the original Violet and Phink. Archival from 2002.
About the 2002 Remastering (2 mins). Archival interview with Bookwalter. From 2002
plus you also get several stills galleries, the trailer, the 1990 VHS version (definitely one for the completists); two episodes of cable TV show Roommates which featured several of the actors; Joy Circuit a 1987 music video.
Reversible sleeve featuring alternative VHS artwork – The initial pressing also gets a double walled O-Ring (important to some collectors) and booklet notes from Calum Waddell.
