Psychos in Love (1987) - Blu-ray Review

Details: By Loron Hays; 17 September 2017

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Psychos in Love (1987) - Blu-ray

This is the story of what happened when Joe met Kate ... and then rented the Debbie Reynolds workout tape. Psychos in Love is a fully realized version of Annie Hall by way of Psycho. It is, from beginning to end, a very funny film. Forget the horror aspects, man, this is an endlessly quotable movie that - due to its limitations in finances - is actually a better film due to the sheer creativity forced upon it.

“Then I found out she likes grapes. I HATE grapes,” says Joe (Carmine Capobianco), the owner of the strip club with just one dancer, before he launches into a hilarious monologue about all the types of grapes he despises. It is a series of lines that will be repeated throughout the movie, making this highlight in trash cinema an unforgettable journey into the meaty heart of a romance. You see, Joe is also a serial killer and Psychos in Love, a black comedy shot over weekends with the 16mm ends from other productions, is about how to remain in love when you meet that special someone and still wish to pursue your … hobbies.

The comedic moments running throughout this flick – especially when the romance between Joe and the equally psychotic Kate (Debi Thibeault) is in full (and very bloody) bloom – are damn sharp. In one scene, Joe poisons someone with one too many scoops (of what appears to be baking soda) and then attempts to stir it before his victim chokes it down. In another, once our two psychos decide to work together, a victim just won’t stay dead, spurring them to discuss where their relationship is headed as they repeatedly try to keep her from getting up again. No knife is sharp enough. No shotgun blast strong enough. This is then followed by one of the funniest marriage ceremonies to ever be filmed.

Psychos in Love just won’t quit. It can’t stop, won’t stop. And that’s due to Capobianco’s natural wit and goofball charm. Or maybe it is simply because this movie was written by Capobianco and the film's director, novelist Gorman Bechard, in a strip club.

Featuring enough insanity to start its own asylum, Psychos in Love is the type of low-rent film you simply have to watch twice to solidify its appeal. It’s not terrible by any means. It’s just a quick-witted flick that barely breathes before its final credits run. Horror fans should recall their first trip into Evil Dead’s cabin while watching this killer madness. Or remember when they finally developed an appreciation for the many, many flavors found in Peter Jackson’s Bad Taste while chomping down on the severed hands served in the salad greens of this psychotic flick.

And Psychos in Love is destined for rediscovery thanks to Vinegar Syndrome’s Blu-Ray/DVD combo. Horror Hounds, with their taste for darkest of funny things, are going to love it and its collection of unscripted moments. Newly minted in 2k from the original 16mm camera negative, this razor-sharp comedy has simply never looked as good as it does here.

The fourth wall is broken repeatedly in this darling of the underground and the kills are as contagious as the comedy is wild. Even its own star-sung theme song – set to a clever montage as two psychos upend all the rom-coms seen before – works. The first thing to note about this trashy flick (which I love) is that there is quite a lot happening on the screen. From the kills to the comedy, the camera edits are quick and stylized and seldom give viewers the chance to finish laughing before moving on to another sadomasochist situation that flips the script on domestic bliss.

Psychos in Love is an insane joyride through the halls of horror as two crazy killers meet and fall in love. Home grown and twisted as fuck, this release is a damn revelation in 1080p. Eat my taco of love.

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MPAA Rating: R.
Runtime: 88 mins
Director: Gorman Bechard
Writer: Gorman Bechard, Carmine Capobianco
Cast: Carmine Capobianco, Patti Chambers, Carla Bragoli
Genre: Horror | Comedy
Tagline: Love hurts...
Memorable Movie Quote: "I fucking hate grapes!"
Theatrical Distributor: ICN Bleeker
Official Site:
Release Date: May 1, 1987
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: September 26, 2017
Synopsis: Joe (Carmine Capobianco) runs a strip club and Kate (Debi Thibeault) is an attractive young manicurist. After bonding over their mutual dislike of grapes, they discover another commonality: both of them are bloodthirsty serial killers. As they begin to balance their obsession with murder and each other, they meet Herman (Frank Stewart), a cannibal who, upon discovering their bloodlust, attempts to lure them into killing as a means to satisfy his craving for human flesh!

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Psychos in Love (1987) - Blu-ray

Blu-ray Details:

Home Video Distributor: Vinegar Syndrome
Available on Blu-ray - September 26, 2017
Screen Formats: 1.33:1
Subtitles: English SDH
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio Mono
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set (1 BD-50, 1 DVD); DVD copy
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Vinegar Syndrome presents Psychos in Love on 1080p with an aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Newly scanned and restored in 2k from the 16mm original camera negative, the film simply has never looked as good as it does with this release. The colors are solid and the black levels are thick. Lines and edges aren’t great due to the 16mm source but the film’s new transfer doesn’t disappoint. The film and all its interludes is supported by a strong DTS-HD stereo track

Supplements:

Commentary:

There are two fabulous commentaries included with this release. One with Gorman Bechard and Carmine Capobianco and another, not as funny, with just Bechard.

Special Features:

Full of NEW interviews with Gorman Bechard, Carmine Capobianco, a fully-loaded making-of featurette, behind the scenes galleries, the stageplay, outtakes, and an alternate opening sequence, this release is definitely going to satisfy fans of rock and schlock movies. There are also four short films directed by Bechard and a booklet with essays by Art Ettinger and Matt Desidero. It should be noted that the first 2,000 copies sold through Vinegar Syndrome will include a double-thick ‘stickered cover’ limited edition slipcover designed by Derek Gabryszak.