By Ernie Magnotta
To hardcore horror fans, the filmmaking team
of Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter is well known. The dynamic duo first
appeared on the horror scene in 1982 when they directed the cult slasher film The Dorm That Dripped Blood aka Pranks, a movie that featured the big
screen debut of actress Daphne Zuniga and, thanks to a murder scene involving a
drill, was put on the UK’s infamous “Video Nasty” list. Obrow and Carpenter’s
sophomore effort would be 1984’s The
Power, a supernatural tale about a man who becomes possessed by an evil
Aztec doll. Recently, the creative team’s third film, a creature feature titled The Kindred, was released on Blu-ray.
The Kindred (1987)concerns scientist
John Hollins (David Allen Brooks) who, at the behest of his dying mother—a
molecular scientist played by Kim Hunter—returns to her home with Melissa
Leftridge (Amanda Pays) and several of his friends in order to destroy the
“Anthony Journals”; his mother’s notes detailing her genetic experiments.
However, evil scientist Phillip Lloyd (Rod Steiger) desperately wants the
journals so that he can continue the unholy experiments himself. But there’s
another problem—John’s murderous “brother”, Anthony, a horrible-looking,
tentacled creature born from genetic experimentation, is lurking somewhere in
their mother’s old house and he’s not a happy camper.
Besides once again directing, Obrow and
Carpenter also co-wrote The Kindred
(along with John Penney, Earl Ghaffari and the legendary Joseph Stefano) while
Obrow produced and Carpenter handled the cinematography. Shot in California,
this is a well-made and enjoyable 80s horror flick with lots of amazing, gooey
special effects (one of the main reasons to watch the movie) by Academy Award
winner Matthew Mungle, and a decent-looking creature. The film’s talented cast
also includes Talia Balsam, Peter Frechette and Julia Montgomery, and there’s a
memorable musical score by Oscar nominated composer David Newman.
The Kindred has been released on
a region 1, 2 and 3 Blu-ray by Synapse Films and it is presented in its
original 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The 4K HD remaster of the unrated version is
flawless and it has a new 5.1 English stereo surround remix as well. (The
original 2.0 mono theatrical mix is also included along with optional English
subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.) The disc not only contains an
informative audio commentary by directors Obrow and Carpenter (moderated by
horror journalist Steve Barton), but it also features a terrific, all-new 52
minute documentary titled Inhuman
Experiments-The Making of “The Kindred”; an interesting 18 minute
featurette showing effects artist Michael McCracken Jr.’s never-before-seen
on-set footage, as well as a still gallery, storyboards, trailers and TV spots.
Pure 80s fun. Recommended.
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