This DVD is offered as part of MGM's "Limited Edition Collection," which is available from select online retailers and manufactured only when the DVD is ordered. The DVD features a simple menu with no menu for chapters or scenes. Manufacture-On-Demand (MOD) DVDs are made to play in DVD playback units only and may not play in DVD recorders or PC drives. This DVD did not play in our laptop DVD drive but did play in our Toshiba DVD recorder.
DVD SPECS
RELEASE DATE: October 12, 2011
RUNNING TIME: 91 minutes
RATING: PG
ASPECT RATIO: 1.85:1
AUDIO: Dolby Digital 2.0
SUBTITLES: None
SPECIAL FEATURES: Theatrical trailer
THE SET-UP
A woman turns to a voodoo priestess and an army of zombies for revenge after her boyfriend is murdered.
Directed by: Paul Maslansky
THE DELIVERY
Originally released in 1974, Sugar Hill combined the blaxploitation genre with zombies, for an interesting and fairly entertaining result. Marki Bey plays Sugar Hill, a woman out for revenge after her boyfriend is murdered. Of course, Sugar Hill has a voodoo priestess in the family, who conjures up an army of undead to exact revenge on those responsible.
The film is not a great film. It isn't even a good zombie film. The writing and directing are sub-par. The acting is terrible, and the characters are shallow and wallow in terrible racial stereotypes. As the protagonist, Sugar Hill is not a particularly sympathetic character. Yes, she does lose the man she loves, but she goes overboard in the revenge. She is way too sadistic, and at times, you feel sorry for the idiots she kills.
Revenge films only work when there is a sense of justice being served. The lack of a moral center or a character to relate to is the film's major flaw. Is it too much to expect a movie like this to reach out and try to connect with viewers? Perhaps, but the film's flaws are probably what keep it as a fringe cult film and not a classic.
Despite the flaws, the film is oddly entertaining and keeps your interest. With a PG rating, the zombie violence never goes over the top, so it manages not to offend too much. There is enough 1970s groovy funkiness to give the film a off-kilter feel. The zombies are fairly unique, sporting mirrored, bug-like eyeballs that give them a different kind of creepiness. It is unique enough to keep genre fans entertained, so long as expectations aren't too high.
VIDEO AND AUDIO
The video transfer used here is surprisingly good, with little debris visible on the picture. It is not particularly sharp, but considering the quality of the film, it is to be expected. In addition, the director seems to give some scenes a bit of a frosty quality, hindering the detail. The colors are not very vibrant, and the film at times looks to be washed out. Audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 and has good clarity. There is not much of a surround quality, and some of the re-records and voice-overs sound a bit canned.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Only a theatrical trailer is included.
THE BOTTOM LINE: BUY IT OR REDBOX IT?
RATINGS
MOVIE: C+
VIDEO: B-
AUDIO: C+
SPECIAL FEATURES: C-
OVERALL GRADE: C+
Sugar Hill may not be a great movie, but it is goofy and fun. Try not to think too hard and if you are in the right frame of mind, you might enjoy it. I can't recommend buying it, but horror and zombie fans (and even blaxploitation film fans) might enjoy renting it.
Sugar Hill is now available on Manufacture-On-Demand (MOD) DVD from authorized online retailers.
