Blades (1989)

You can slice 'em and dice 'em any which way you want to, but they simply don't make movies like this anymore!  No budget?  No problem, when done correctly!  Just ask Deke Slater, the man thought responsible for the killings at Tall Grass Country Club.

"Just when you thought is was safe to putt again!  Blades has returned."


Blades does for the golf course what Jaws did for the open sea.  Instead of a monster shark running rampant, though, we have a possessed lawnmower and the results, just as soon as the movie feels confident enough to let its hair down, are downright hilarious.  The director might have had no idea on how to direct the actors, but it pays off mightily with a straight comedy.  Now, thanks to Vinegar Syndrome, Blades gets released again in brand-new 2K scan from the original 35mm camera negative!

Simply put, there is NO WAY to prepare you for Blades.  There have been many parodies of Jaws since it first was released upon our shores, but none of them feature a demonically possessed lawnmower with a taste for grinding up human flesh.  Blades does, though, and - as ridiculous as it might sound - it pulls off a competent and entertaining rip of everything we’ve come to expect from the horror/comedy hybrid as it sends up Jaws in a gloriously funny and absurd way. 

This is what happens when you play comedy straight.  Even the corny lines work.  In fact, everything comes together and creates a successful film that is both entertaining and refreshing when it comes to the art of scoring the perfect parody. Even in the film's wuiet moments, you can't help but giggle.Blades (1989)

Starring Robert North, Jeremy Whelan, Victoria Scott, Holly Stevenson, and William Towner, Blades is what happens when a greedy Country Club owner refuses to close the golfing green down on the eve of a big tournament.  Who cares if there is a demonic lawnmower hunting down people all across Tall Grass Country Club?  There is money to make!  Besides, it makes for good television!

There are only three people traversing the greens who care about stopping this demonic machine.  And, much like Jaws before it, it is their time to shine.  Blades shoots from the hip and delivers a solid spoof of the Jaws formula.  Directed by Thomas R. Rondinella, written by William R. Pace, and originally released by Troma Entertainment. Blades slashes at all the right angles to land both a cut-throat attitude when it comes to horror AND a nice bellyful of laughs.

Just when you thought is was safe to putt again!  Blades has returned. This special limited edition embossed slipcover (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) is limited to 5,000 units and is only available here at VinegarSyndrome.com.

4/5 beers

 

Blades (1989)

Blu-ray Details

Home Video Distributor: Vinegar Syndrome
Available on Blu-ray
- September 28, 2021
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles
: English SDH
Audio:
2.0 Stereo
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc set
Region Encoding: Region-free playback

The Tall Grass Country Club offers its members a luxury getaway, with all the best in sport and relaxation. But when a mangled body is discovered on the club’s prized golf course, right before a nationally televised tournament, panic ensues at the possibility of a killer on the loose, and even worse, that the death might cause some bad press. Enlisting the expertise of Roy, a has been golf pro, along with disgruntled pro-hopeful, Kelly, to unmask the culprit behind the carnage, the club’s hard nosed owner soon finds himself with even bigger problems when additional victims begin to turn up, and all signs point to the killer being an out of control, bloodthirsty lawn mower!

Video:

Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm original camera negative, Blades looks as good as it is going to get.  Skin tones are ripe.  Colors are bold.  Saturation levels are intense.  Even black levels retain their edges thanks to the remastering job done here.  Framed in an aspect ratio of 1.85:1, the 1080p transfer, while not as sharp as you might be expecting, are certainly a plus.  The interiors and the grounds are crisp and, while there is a lot blackness in this movie - details are never lost.  The effects - especially when the lawnmower bites it - are quite strong and the bloodletting is thick and goopy with bold reds.  The clothing and some of the furniture items are a reason to appreciate the visual “pop” throughout the high definition transfer, too.  Even the bare-bottom effects look better than remembered.

Audio:

An English stereo track provides the possessed lawnmower sounds.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • This release includes a funtastic commentary track with director Thomas R. Rondinella and writer William R. Pace.

Special Features:

A highly original send up of Jaws, from the makers of Girls School Screamers, Thomas R. Rondinella’s Blades is goofy, gory, and more than a little bit absurd. Vinegar Syndrome presents the worldwide Blu-ray debut of this Tromatic classic, freshly restored in 2K from its 35mm original negative and featuring an in-depth making-of documentary.

  • “Fore Warning” - a making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew
  • Still Gallery
  • Reversible Cover Artwork

Blu-ray Rating

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  4/5 stars
  Audio 4/5 stars
  Extras 5/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

4/5 stars


Film Details

Blades (1989)

MPAA Rating: PG-13 on appeal for crude sexual content and language.
Runtime:
94 mins
Director
: Thomas R. Rondinella
Writer:
Mark Frost, Daniel F. Bacaner
Cast:
Stanley Shapiro; Paul Henning; Dale Launer; Jac Schaeffer
Genre
: Comedy | Crime
Tagline:
They're giving Dirty Rotten Men a run for their Money.
Memorable Movie Quote: "I had no idea how small time I was until I met you."
Theatrical Distributor:
MGM
Official Site: https://www.thehustle.movie/
Release Date:
May 10, 2019
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
August 20, 2019.
Synopsis: The Tall Grass Country Club offers its members a luxury getaway, with all the best in sport and relaxation. But when a mangled body is discovered on the club's prized golf course, right before a nationally televised tournament, panic ensues at the possibility of a killer on the loose, and even worse, that the death might cause some bad press. Enlisting the expertise of Roy, a has been golf pro, along with disgruntled pro-hopeful, Kelly, to unmask the culprit behind the carnage, the club's hard nosed owner soon finds himself with even bigger problems when additional victims begin to turn up, and all signs point to the killer being an out of control, bloodthirsty lawn mower!

Art

Blades (1989)