ABSURD (1981) Review by Steve Kirkham

ABSURD (1981)

3 stars
88 Films. Limited Edition 4K UHD + Blu Ray

After working together on ANTHROPOPHAGOUS (also available from 88 Films) Joe D’Amato and George Eastman/Luigi Montefiori were originally going to create a sequel to their gut muncher – which morphed into this Italian take on HALLOWEEN. This film also ended up on the UK video nasties list!

Eastman once again penned the script, with D’Amato directing (credited as John Cart and Peter Newton respectively) in which gory George plays another bonkers killer, one Mikos Stenopolis – this time he staggers into a house with his guts hanging out, having been pursued there by a Greek priest cum scientist played by Edmund Purdom. Taken to the hospital to try and patch him up, he exhibits remarkable recuperative powers, with his blood rapidly coagulating. Not expected to pull through, he somehow recovers.

Copper Sgt Edelman (Charles Borromel), who is investigating, interviews the priest, who tells him a crazy story – that Mikos is effectively immortal, with his body able to regenerate dead cells.

In the meantime, our back from the brink of death maniac, makes his escape from the hospital by drilling into the head of the nurse attending to him and begins a killing spree in suitably blood soaked ways. Can the police stop this madman? The only way is to shoot him in the head it seems.

Cleared crafted after other, better examples of this type of horror, this has plenty to keep the gore fans appeased even if the script is rather unbelievable. Eastman makes for a suitably crazed killer, but never reaches the iconic heights of a Michael Myers – as he is just a tall bloke in jeans and a shirt going about slaying people.

The disc set here has both the English (Extended) version and the Italian version.

Also known as Rosso Sangue (in Italy) plus The Grim Reaper 2, Horrible, Anthropophagous 2 and bizarrely Zombie 6: Monster Hunter.

Steve Kirkham

EXTRAS
4 stars
Another great collection of extras put together by Eugenio Ercolani to support this movie.

UHD contents
Both Extended English Version (Absurd) and Italian Version (Rosso Sangue) presented via Seamless Branching. This is the same on the Blu Ray
Two Audio Commentaries – one with Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti (English Version) and one with The Hysteria Continues (English Version). This is also on the Blu Ray
Trailer

Blu-ray contents
When Luigi Met George – A 2023 Interview with Luigi Montefiori where he talks about his career (27 mins)
The Absurd Factor – An Interview with Luigi Montefiori where talks about this film, working with Michele Soavi etc (14 mins)
The Sound of Filmirage – A 2016 interview with composer Carlo Maria Cordio (18 mins)
An Uncredited Biker – An Interview with Michele Soavi from 2016 (17 mins)
How Absurd – An Italian slasher: A Visual Essay by Mike Foster
Original Trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring new art by Graham Humphreys and original Italian poster

88 Films are also offering a Web Exclusive version of this release limited to 1000 copies
This has a rigid slipcase with original VHS artwork; Double Sided A3 poster; 40 page booklet with writing from David Flint, Johnny Mains, Jon Dear, Pier Maria Bocchi and Mia Boffey