Shot on video in 1987, SPLATTER FARM achieved underground notoriety as part of the direct-to-video movement of the 1980s and continues to win new fans through consistent availability in new formats.
Selected by Camp Motion Pictures’ owner Michael Raso in 2007 as part of Camp’s new “Retro 80s” sub-label – a curated DVD series showcasing outstanding, subversive and just plain cool shot-on-video and 16mm films – SPLATTER FARM was made available to a new generation of fans too young to have watched it on VHS; albeit in a new, director-approved cut. But nostalgia for the original Donna Michelle VHS version of the film remained strong, and with director Mark Polonia on board – and a VHS of the original version loaned to Camp by founder of film collective Horror Boobs Matt Desiderio – the new 30th anniversary edition was put into work.
The first feature film by the then-teenaged Polonia Brothers, whose last name would soon become synonymous with polarizing micro-budget genre features, SPLATTER FARM tells the story of twins Alan and Joseph, who uncover murder, madness and necrophilia during a summer visit to their Aunt’s home.
Despite the shocking content, SPLATTER FARM was warmly reviewed by several online critics including DVDTalk, commenting that “the film had an audacity that was startling in a film made by teenagers.” While TheReviewBin.com claimed, “I can’t think of a film more ambitiously disgusting as “Splatter Farm”–and you may think of a few examples of gross-out movies, maybe even “Salo”. No, “Splatter Farm” is far more depraved.” And Joe Ziemba’s 1980s Trash-Horror Odyssey BLEEDING SKULL! exclaimed:
“Like Black Devil Doll From Hell and 555 before it, Splatter Farm was a shot-on-video cesspool of button-pushing mayhem. But unlike those movies, it was not made by adults. It was made by the Polonias, who were seventeen. Splatter Farm had gay rape, vagina mutilation, and grandmother incest. If the brothers stopped making movies after this, their status as young gods of perversion would have been secured forever. But the Polonias would go on to create a kingdom of no-budget, D.I.Y. horror movies with titles like Hellspawn, Bad Magic, and Gorilla Warfare: Battle of the Apes. They did it to please no one but themselves. Their legacy could only be stopped by John’s sudden passing in 2009.”
The most comprehensive release of SPLATTER FARM to date, this new version includes:
- New VHS Big Box Packaging
- Original VHS Donna Michele cut of SPLATTER FARM on new VHS, nestled inside a replica of the original 1987 slip-sleeve
- 2007 Polonia Brothers remastered edition SPLATTER FARM on DVD, with commentary by Mark and John Polonia, “Back to the Farm” Documentary, Early 8mm Polonia Brothers Gore Shorts, Camp Motion Pictures trailer Vault
- “Monster Movie”, the final film from co-director John Polonia with commentary by Mark and John Polonia, “How to Make a Monster Movie” featurette, Deleted Scenes, John Polonia tribute and Trailer Vault
- New Essay by Matt Desiderio, owner of Horror Boobs media brand and VHS enthusiast
Camp Motion Pictures have announced it will unveil the long-anticipated 30th Anniversary SPLATTER FARM Big Box VHS & DVD Collection on Friday 6th July at the Mahoning Drive-In VHS Fest in Mahoning, PA. Special guest is SPLATTER FARM star and co-director Mark Polonia of Polonia Brothers Entertainment, who will make the trip to greet fans and sign copies of this new iteration of his most notorious cult movie.
For those not familiar with the event, the Friday 6th July and Saturday 7th July Mahoning Drive-In VHS Fest is a joint endeavor by the Mahoning Drive-In and Lunchmeat Magazine of (from their Facebook page) “2 nights packed with Movies, Vendors, Games, Music, Contests, and so much more… Some of the rarest VHS titles and home video horror hits will be coming at you on the big Big BIG screen! That’s right, we’re running VHS TAPES at one of the largest drive-in theaters around! We’re also hosting a VHS and cult cinema flea market both evenings before the show!”
For those unable to attend the Mahoning Drive-In VHS Fest, Camp Motion Pictures plans to make the new SPLATTER FARM available to consumers online at a new URL showcasing the limited-edition VHS products and shot-on-video, Super 8 and 16mm Camp Retro line, look for an announcement confirming the address and 6th July 2018 online street date.
Don’t miss the opportunity to own your copy, subscribe to this newsletter by signing up right on the Alternative Cinema home page – https://www.alternativecinema.com/
PopMatters Article – https://www.popmatters.com/outsider-john-polonia-1968-2008-2496170554.html
CinemaSlave Article – https://cinemaslave.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/a-tribute-to-john-polonia/