Grave Robbers

Grave Robbers (AKA Dead Mate), 1988, starts with a nightmare-plagued waitress (played by the striking Elizabeth Mannino) arriving at her dead-end job only to be impressed enough by one of her customers that she spontaneously accepts a proposal of marriage before heading off to live with the guy at - kind of another dead-end really - the funeral home he runs.  The romanticism doesn't end there: before she's barely settled in she realises that not all is quite right, not only with the inhabitants of the funeral place but extending to the surrounding town more widely, which is populated by some very strange individuals.  The owners of the home appear to be 'fiddling' with the deceased in various ways, and it becomes apparent that they may have plans for her also...

Routinely billed as a 'comedy horror' I wouldn't really say it particularly delivers, certainly not on the former aspect, although quite clearly the whole endeavour is not meant to be taken seriously (the necrophilia angle is certainly not handled in the same fashion as the likes of Nekromantik,or Kissed for example).  Occasionally gory with a little nudity, the entire project evolves in an offbeat fashion, the acting easily categorised as 'bad' if one chooses to view it in that way, and the unfolding events illogical from the very beginning.  I did become intrigued to a certain extent, but was left mildly frustrated: the conclusion was partly predictable, and is suffixed with a supposedly humorous 'where are they now' narrative that detracted from the film (for me).  For a while it almost steps into Lynchian territory, and I really feel the film-makers potentially had something pretty neat on their hands here.  Had they let the nightmarish scenario spiral further into the surreal without feeling the need to bail at the last minute, and also actually started the film a little more straight (i.e. normal people cast into an abnormal world, where the contrast can be felt, rather than moulding it as simply very odd right from the start), this could, I would controversially suggest, have been transformed into a minor classic.  As it is, it's an unusual, periodically atmospheric curiosity piece that possesses a degree of 'rewatchability'.

Vinegar Syndrome have a provided a reliably excellent 2K scan from the 35mm negative, making Grave Robbers look like nobody ever would have expected it to.  Audio is mono (DTS-HD), sounding deep and strong throughout, and the transfer is backed up with a commentary from the director, Straw Weisman, a thirty second introduction (optional), a 4:3 video trailer, and an eighteen minute on-screen interview with Weisman - this is quite a fascinating piece where he reveals his beginnings in the industry, his versatility in the range of jobs he undertakes, and some points about the film at hand of course.  Very interesting fella who I would have been happy to listen to more from.  The cover of the Blu-ray/DVD pack is reversible, and the limited edition comes with a premium slipcase, embossed in places and very nicely designed.  The Blu-ray will play on all regions.  Overall, an excellent package for another oddity exhumed by the legendary Vinegar Syndrome.