DVD Talk Forum - The Official Vinegar Syndrome Thread

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The Official Vinegar Syndrome Thread

We’ll find out more tomorrow!

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VSU...You've probably been wondering what in the hell it means. We've seen some pretty wild and creative guesses but in anticipation of our Black Friday 2020 Flash Pre-order, coming this Friday, we think we need to kill the rumors and unveil the truth.

VSU = Vinegar Syndrome Ultra...as in UHD. Each VSU release will be an extra special edition UHD/Blu-ray combo pack, beginning with an internationally beloved early 80s, genre blending classic.
So you might be asking yourself "why another sub-label or spin-off?" Well, similar to VSA, these releases will not have a set frequency or yearly quantity. They'll happen as they happen. We have a couple more that we're working on, but no set plans for when they'll drop. However, just as significant, these titles might not 100% gel with the 'deeper cuts' and 'trashier' offerings many VS devotees expect and demand.

We want VSU to be a home for future RAD type titles. We saw an unexpected amount of diversity in responses to that release, ranging from excitement, to confusion, to disappointment. And we get it. Over our 8 years, VS has morphed and evolved to satisfy audience demands, while also trying to stay true to our original intention of being a home for genre films of all types (as long as they were shot on film) that were at the risk of being overlooked, forgotten, and lost, or that we simply decided needed love that they wouldn't get elsewhere. But not every film is for everyone. VSU titles are not, for the most part, going to be focused on sex and violence, which is not to say they won't include it. They're not necessarily going to be 'art' films or 'mainstream' movies either, but instead films that straddle and bend those lines a bit more than what's come to be expected with VS titles.

For subscribers (Yearly and those who picked up a Halfway package), the inaugural VSU release WILL BE INCLUDED in your subscription (and no matter what you thought of RAD, the pedigree(s) on this one should have you smiling from ear-to-ear). Future VSU titles, whenever they might emerge, will not be included in future packages but subscribers will receive exclusive discount codes (as with VSA) if they choose to pick any up.

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^ Nice! I'm down for that.

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And while all VSU releases will be in Ultra HD, not all of Vinegar Syndrome’s UHD titles will be branded as VSU.

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I'm excited to see what the preorders will be tomorrow.

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Never bought a VS release. What do they mean about a subscription?

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Hardcore VS fans pay up front for a guaranteed minimum number of titles throughout the year. These subscriptions tend to sell out very fast, as they're limited. VS still releases a good number of copies for non-subscribers, though... but subscribers are guaranteed to get everything in their chosen tier.

Think of it like a Loot Box sort of thing, but all pre-paid.

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Originally Posted by TomOpus (Post 13811204)

What do they mean about a subscription?

You can pay in advance for 6 months or a full year's worth of Vinegar Syndrome releases at a significant discount, with a huge shipment coming your way every month. It's expensive, but if you know you're going to get most/all of the titles they put out, a subscription works out in your favor. Plus they prioritize subscribers when shipping.

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Subscriptions are not limited by quantity, but you can only subscribe during the two big VS sales of the year: Black Friday(November) and Halfway to Black Friday(May). This is my third year of being a subscriber, I love getting a box of new movies every month.

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With ever new boutique label who joins in on UHD, it just makes Criterion look bad for not hopping on.

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Originally Posted by DaveyJoe (Post 13811208)

Subscriptions are not limited by quantity, but you can only subscribe during the two big VS sales of the year:

Ah thanks for clarifying. I wasn't aware of that bit.

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Originally Posted by DaveyJoe (Post 13811208)

This is my second year, and I've really enjoyed it as well and am planning to renew. I wish this new label was included, but a discount will be nice.

There's one thing I can say about VS: I'm rarely disappointed in the job they do with the presentation of their films. Granted, some of those movies might not deserve to look as good as they do, but it's great to see a company that seems to take some pride in what it does. I'm actually really excited that they are branching off.

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I like Vinegar Syndrome as a company, but not every release is for me. I probably wouldn’t commit to a subscription and am happy just picking and choosing titles as they drop.

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What amazes me is that they sell vintage porn shot on film from the 70s. I haven't bought any but I'm tempted to blind buy a title or two just to see what they are like.

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Thanks for the info, gang. If they had something like this back in my collecting days, I'd probably consider it.

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So the movie is The Beastmaster. I've never heard of it. They were supposed to reveal what the other four Black Friday Preorders are but they are still being kept a secret. :confused:
https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...ts/beastmaster

Edit: One of the other movies is called "Fade to Black" and what they said is the "Giallo Box Set". Two other titles remain a mystery.

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Ordered both Beastmaster and Dial Code Santa Claus. :up:

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Originally Posted by Bluelitespecial (Post 13811745)

So the movie is The Beastmaster. I've never heard of it. They were supposed to reveal what the other four Black Friday Preorders are but they are still being kept a secret. :confused:
https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collecti...ts/beastmaster

Edit: One of the other movies is called "Fade to Black" and what they said is "Giallo Box Set". Two other titles remain a mystery.

You've never heard of Beastmaster? You must be young'un.

Love the artwork on it but was never a big fan of the movie as a kid/teen. There were a lot better, bad Conan/Sword & Sorcery flicks of the 80's that I prefer.

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I'm not young as I was born in 1981. I looked it up on IMDB and its said it came out in 1982.

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Originally Posted by Bluelitespecial (Post 13811745)

So the movie is The Beastmaster. I've never heard of it.

I was still a kid when it was in endless rotation on HBO (cue Dennis Miller's "HBO = Hey, Beastmaster's On" joke), but even though I've seen bits and pieces of it a million times over, I'm not sure I've ever sat down and watched the whole thing. I'm really excited about this release, and -- with the giallo box and the never-thought-it-would-happen Fade to Black -- I went ahead and ordered the whole November shootin' match.

https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/imag...01043870_1.jpg

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We are beyond excited to introduce you to Vinegar Syndrome Ultra, a new Vinegar Syndrome sub-label focused exclusively on extravagant UHD/Blu releases of ‘major’ 80s and 90s titles that might not always fit into the regular VS milieu (although the first one definitely does!).

For the first VSU release, we’re unleashing the worldwide UHD and North American Blu-ray debut of acclaimed genre filmmaker Don Coscarelli’s 1982 supernatural/fantasy/action blockbuster, THE BEASTMASTER, presented in a brand new 4K restoration, along with an exclusive, multi-part, feature length making-of documentary, 40 page bound book, and a stunning new case designed by Earl Kess.

Quote from director Don Coscarelli:
I am happy to report that Vinegar Syndrome has embarked on a meticulous restoration of my film The Beastmaster that it has always deserved. Vinegar Syndrome has done commendable legwork and tracked down a pristine printing element, a high quality Interpositive, in the Warner Bros. vaults. VS has also assembled a plethora of fascinating new supplemental materials that I cannot wait to share with fans. I am so excited that finally The Beastmaster will be released on 4k Ultra HD and Blu-ray in North America.

When he was a baby, Dar (Marc Singer, TV’s ‘V’) was cursed by an all-powerful wizard named Maax (Rip Torn, Men in Black) to prevent him from rightfully ascending as the leader of his people. But the curse left him with a unique gift: the ability to telepathically communicate with all forms of animal life. But when Maax all but wipes out his tribe leaving Dar to fend for himself, he begins a quest of vengeance, accompanied by his animal friends, to Maax and end his reign of terror and violence.

Directed by legendary genre filmmaker Don Coscarelli (Phantasm, Bubba Ho-Tep) and co-starring Tanya Roberts (Sheena), John Amos (Coming to America), and Rod Loomis (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure), THE BEASTMASTER is a thrilling mix of fantasy, action, and adventure, with touches of horror. Photographed by Academy Award winning cinematographer John Alcott (Barry Lyndon, A Clockwork Orange) and featuring incredible production design by Conrad Angone, Vinegar Syndrome Ultra brings THE BEASTMASTER to UHD and Blu-ray in a brand new 4K restoration!

Directed by: Don Coscarelli
Starring: Marc Singer, Rip Torn, Tanya Roberts, John Amos, Rod Loomis
1982 / 118 min / 1.85:1 / English 5.1

Additional info:
• Region Free 4k Ultra HD / Blu-ray combo
• Newly scanned & restored in 4k from its 35mm interpositive
• 4k UHD presented in HDR
• Limited edition VSU magnet clasp hard case containing a Slipcover and a 40-page bound book
• Newly produced multi-part feature length making-of documentary
• Select extras ported over from previous DVD releases
• Additional extras to be announced
• Reversible Blu-ray sleeve cover artwork
• English SDH subtitles

And don’t forget! By pre-ordering these now, your package will be first to ship (after our subscribers) following our Black Friday sale: November 27th - November 30th!

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Originally Posted by Bluelitespecial (Post 13811745)

and what they said is the "Giallo Box Set"

The movies in that are an extended version of French Sex Murders (which I have on DVD and love, although I haven't seen it in ~20 years; it has Mighty Peking Man's Evelyne Kraft as well as The Man with Bogey's Face!), My Dear Killer, and The Girl in Room 2A. Not familiar with the last two, I have to admit. Their first giallo box wasn't anything amazing but still kinda fun, and it looks like this one'll be way better.

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I used to watch Beastmaster on KTLA Channel 5 out here when they still showed films. Early to mid-90's. Beastmaster was always on rotation.

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I am a sucker for nice packages and this looks especially nice.

If you pre-order it, can you add things to that order for the Black Friday sale? How limited is this? Am I overlooking the available #?

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Originally Posted by Spiderbite (Post 13811779)

If you pre-order it, can you add things to that order for the Black Friday sale?

Yup! There'll be an option to combine at checkout.

I think it'll be like Tammy and the T-Rex in that the only thing that's limited is the case. And you're not overlooking anything -- at least, I don't see a number listed on the product details page either.

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Originally Posted by Adam Tyner (Post 13811760)

It felt like Beastmaster was on HBO every day for a good stretch of the 1980s. But, like you, I don't think I ever actually sat to watch it start-to-finish in one sitting.

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I noticed in their write-up on the 'Everything!' pre-order package they say:

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But that’s not even close to being all as there’s two more titles which we’re not gonna tell you about…perhaps even the best two…the surprise titles, both of which are 80s horror must haves and include our much speculated on 3D release along with an incredible supernatural slasher. We can basically guarantee that you're not gonna be disappointed…

I wasn't aware they had a 3D title coming, nor that there was much speculation about it. I'm assuming it might be SILENT MADNESS as that's just about the only 3D "80's horror" title that hasn't been released on the format yet. Or maybe TALES OF THE THIRD DIMENSION? The latter would be cool because it might lead to releases of Earl Owensby's other 3D productions from the period: ROTTWEILER, HOT HEIR, CHAIN GANG, HYPERSPACE etc.

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Went ahead and pre-ordered.