Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell - Collector’s Edition (1995)

Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye Releasing strikes again!

Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell is one wild ride through independent trash cinema. It is ugly and brutal, plunging sharpened knives deep into the necks of its audience from the very beginning and begging us to look away. We don’t, though. Gorehounds never do, which is why watching the main protagonist bury the woman he has just killed beneath the floorboards of his own home makes perfect sense . . . except she isn’t dead! Oh, man!

"may not be perfect, but it is definitely an oddity worth checking out"


Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell is a free-for-all shot on video affair. It is described as the Japanese version of Evil Dead and, honestly, that claim is not far off the mark as a bodybuilder learns of his family’s secret history after joining his girlfriend Mika (Masaaki Kai) and a professional psychic (Asako Nosaka) in a haunted house. Yes, it’s the house from the opening few minutes of this horror gem, but our beefcake bodybuilder fails to make the connection in this grudge gone gonzo horror flick, which sees a ghost knifing her way toward eternity thanks to her mad skills with the blade and a psychic who won’t stay dead, no matter how many body parts are cut off.

One by one, she will see them all coughing up her necklace!

Comically bad in that so-bad-it’s- great kind of way, Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell was originally shot in the 1990s and you can see that vibe is true thanks to the clothes worn and the details in the surroundings. For some unknown reason, this movie sat on the shelf for quite a while, but that gap is quickly overcome by the wild happenings when these three idiots - a bodybuilder, his girlfriend, and a psychic - enter the house and start snapping photos.Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell - Collector’s Edition (1995)

Something doesn’t want them there and its presence can be felt, reflecting back at them in all the poorly drawn pictures in the house. The psychic will be the first to go and his death - as he is killed multiple times - is hilarious and perfectly gory as body parts are chopped and then reanimated. It’s a visual punch in the gut for Horror Hounds, very exciting effects.

Just how long they will stay in this house of horror is anyone’s guess. When the blood flows, though, even you will not want to leave for missing out on the goopy, droopy effects and over-the-top gore being flicked at the camera.

Written and directed by Shinichi Fukazawa (who also stars as the body builder), the creepy crawlies begin when the psychic starts to see twisted things popping up behind the bodybuilder. Suddenly, he is knocked unconscious and, upon awakening, must deal with creepy dolls, that damn knife (from the opening scene), and the ghost which haunts these halls.

Strange through and through, Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell may not be perfect, but it is definitely an oddity worth checking out. And now, thanks to Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye Releasing, you can!

4/5 beers

 

Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell - Collector’s Edition (1995)

Blu-ray Details

Home Video Distributor: Wild Eye Releasing
Available on Blu-ray
- July 26, 2022
Screen Formats: 1.33:1
Subtitles
: English
Audio:
Japanese: Dolby Digital 2.0; Japanese: DTS-HD Master Audio
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; Single disc
Region Encoding: 2K Blu-ray: Region A, B

Alternately known as "The Japanese Evil Dead," this legendary, sought after independent Japanese cult film will enjoy its first ever North American release in any format and features new bonus content. Trapped inside a haunted house, a body builder must survive a blood soaked night of insanity to save himself and his friends from a demonic ghost that is hell-bent on revenge.

Video:

The region free blu-ray includes a new SD master from the original tapes. It’s crusty, out of focus, and definitely full of print damage, but that’s what we expect from this line of releases. These are not great movies. They are only great fun to watch.

Audio:

Fans get Dolby Digital Audio from the DTS-HD Master Audio. Again, not great, but what does it matter as a possessed psychic takes matters into his own hands in this hour-long romp

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • There are two included with this release; one with Japanese film historian James Harper and the other - far funnier - is with popular filmmakers Adam Green and Joe Lynch. You’ll laugh! You’ll cry! You’ll beg for more!

Special Features:

There is so much to enjoy with this release that it feels like a definite blessing to own. Fans of the release get a special effects video, a new interview with director Shinichi Fukazawa, an archival image gallery, and some original archival trailers. Visual Vengeance also includes a laminated video club membership card, a mini poster, some VHS style retro stickers, and liner notes in a small booklet.

  • Limited Edition O-Card/ Slipcase
  • Special Effects Video
  • Original Archival Trailers from Japanese release
  • Behind The Scenes Image Gallery
  • Archival Image Gallery
  • Outtakes
  • Folded mini-poster
  • Four Page Liner notes by Matt Desiderio of Horror Boobs
  • ‘Stick your own’ video store sticker sheet
  • Vintage style Laminated Video Store Rental Card
  • Visual Vengeance Trailers

Blu-ray Rating

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  2/5 stars
  Audio 2/5 stars
  Extras 4/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

3/5 stars


Film Details

Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell - Collector’s Edition (1995)

MPAA Rating: unrated.
Runtime: 6
2 mins
Director
: Shinichi Fukazawa
Writer:
Shinichi Fukazawa
Cast:
Shinichi Fukazawa; Masaaki Kai; Masahiro Kai
Genre
: Horror
Tagline:

Memorable Movie Quote:
Official Site: https://www.thehustle.movie/
Release Date:
1995 (Japan)
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
July 26, 2022.
Synopsis: Trapped inside a haunted house, a body builder must save himself from a gruesome ghost hell-bent on revenge.

Art

Bloody Muscle Bodybuilder in Hell - Collector’s Edition (1995)