Toolbox Murders [Blu-ray] [1978] [US Import]

A handyman goes berserk and murders women he judges as immoral or bad. He uses the tools of his trade: screwdrivers, claw-hammers, a nail gun, and a power drill. A simple plot for a grisly film that offers no real redeeming values. But although this notorious 1978 grind-house title was roundly banned, censored, vilified and damned - there are those who see it as a cinematic exercise not only of the First Amendment, but also an opportunity for the release of pent-up anger and frustration. But is it art? Or does it fuel the rage of psychopaths until they act out? What can one say about vicariously experiencing the torture and murder of women as entertainment? Can you say the same thing about Hitchcock's "Psycho"?

Camereron Mitchell stars in this cult sickie (for some, that's high praise). Look for former child star Pamela Ferdin and adult film star Kelly Nichols aka Marianne Walter.

This classic exploitation film still shocks and can be "enjoyed" now in a true hi-def, uncensored transfer that has been newly remastered from the original negative.

Extras include a amazing audio commentary with producer Tony DiDio, cinematographer Gary Graver and actor Pamela Ferdin. The story of the making of the film is more interesting than the film itself. A featurette aptly titled "I Got Nailed in the Toolbox Murders" is a memorable interview with adult star Marianne Walter.

Few film posters have so clearly advertised the intent and content of the movie it heralds - and delivers.

This film is not for everyone. Maybe not for anyone but exploitation film scholars, misogynists and psychiatrists.

The original Toolbox Murders was a bona-fide guilty pleasure back in the 70s, and it remains so to this very day. What happens when a handyman goes on a murderous rampage through an LA apartment complex, taking out "immoral" women? Plenty of blood, gore, and nudity that's what! For what it is, The Toolbox Murders is an exercise in inventive slasher movie perceptions. It offers some decent examples of bloody brutality, yet also manages to be as cheesy as it is sleezy. In those regards, it's worth seeing if you've never seen it before, or have only seen the Tobe Hooper remake that came out a few years back. Blue Underground managed to produce another standout Blu-Ray disc, which features the film in a silky smooth transfer and intriguing extras including an insightful commentary track, a documentary/retrospective, and the usual assortment of trailers and TV spots to round things out here.

I saw this movie in 1978 with my brother(He took me)at the South Park Drive In.If the murders depicted in this movie were to take place in REAL LIFE it would be HORRIBLE.Thankfully they just happen in the movie Not in Real life.This movie is condemned because of the nail gun murder scene,but if you watch the interview with Kelly Nichols(The nail gun vctim),she and Cameron Mitchell had a good time filming the sequence.While this picture is no OSCAR contender,the acting of Pamelyn Ferdin as a teenager(She was 19 in real life)bound and gagged by Cameron Mitchell's character is very realistic for the situation her character was in.I have to say courtesy of this movie I admire Pamelyn Ferdin as an actress and as an animal rights activist.I looked up her website.For a laugh watch the scene where Cameron Mitchell brings dinner and a lollipop to Pamelyn Ferdin.LO,double L I POP spells lollipop.I gave this movie 5 stars but A MAKING OF"THE TOOLBOX MURDERS"and A Behind the scenes look at THE TOOLBOX MURDERS"would have been nice.Watch for Anetea Corsaut(Helen Crump on Andy Griffith)as Pamela's Mother.I suggest to watch the Kelly Nichols interview,to help you NOT TO TAKE this movie seriously,her talk is amusing and she had a GOOD time filming her demise with a nail gun.

I saw this movie when it came out. I remember being shocked by the extreme violence. It was a groundbreaking film in its day. Now more than 30 years have passed. By today's standards it seems a bit lame. But it has also become a period piece. It is cool seeing 70's TV sets, record players, radios, and so on. I still like this film, but if you want a film that meets contemporary slasher film standards, it may not be for you. I give it 3 stars but I understand whu some reviewers assign a lower rating.

The tranfer is visually stunning. They claim to have started with the original negative. I believe them. Some film grain is visible, but it never overwhelms the picture. The soundtrack is 7.1, but there is almost no use of the surrounds. The original soundtrack was mono. They have managed to present a decent stereo image and we can't really expect much more from a mono soundtrack. Some good effort was put into the menus. There are some decent extras. No region locks. Subtitles are available. All in all, it is a primo blu-ray production.

"THE TOOLBOX MURDERS" is certainly one of the strangest and disturbing little "cult" favorites,that has still managed to gain a large following! how or why,still remains to be fully understood here,but this 1977 Cal-Am Production,is still a Big Question mark! under the direction of Dennis Donnelly,who had moved-on to bigger pastures,directing episodes of "THE A-TEAM" among his credentials,this 1978 release really wasn't a big box office hit,although it was shown in a number of Theatres,it quickly faded into obscurity,until it was officially released on videocassette by VCI in the early 1980s. but the main course of this movie,was about a deranged killer,who murdered "sinful women" with a variety of tools-hardly the stuff that would inspire the likes of "Jason Vorhees",or the "HALLOWEEN" franchise,which also originated in 1978. but despite its violent "gore",the only really big notice of this movie,was its key players,,two of which,were known stars of Saturday morning TV,and the main actor,Cameron Mitchell,best remembered for his 1967-1971 NBC-TV Western,"THE HIGH CHAPARRAL",who played the religiously fanatical murderer-kidnapper,who abducts Pamelyn Ferdin,who plays "Laurie Ballard",is tied to a bed,listening to the rants of Mitchell's disturbing and murderous behavior,while even accosting his victim with the "Sometimes,I Feel Like a Motherless Child" singing,which in itself,was as brutal,as all the killings that he did! then,we have the killer's nephew,played by "LAND OF THE LOST" co-star,Wesley Eure,who would go on to star in another strange disaster called "C.H.O.M.P.S." in 1979,which is a whole other story! then Eure's charecter,goes mildly psycho,after killing his murderer uncle,and resorts to raping poor Pamelyn Ferdin,who,after a highly suggested scene in the aftermath,becomes a murderer herself,being justified by her being raped,after hearing how her brother (Nicholas Beauvy) was also killed! so in general,
"THE TOOLBOX MURDERS" was something of a luke warm slasher flick,that used actors,who were WAY better,then the intentions of this strange and tragic movie! it almost plays out,like a made for TV movie-but the graphic murder scenes,,especially watching Kelly Nichols being killed by a Nail Gun,
after the killer watches her masturbate,was likely about THE only R-Rated content that the movie used,which still didn't quite make the grade,here-but
still,a noble try! Pamelyn Ferdin,who was one of Hollywood's finest child and teen actresses of her time,sure must've needed the money,to work in this
kind of movie,,but she and Cameron Mitchell are no strangers to each other,as the child actress guest starred on "THE HIGH CHAPARRAL",and even
worked as guest stars,of an ABC Movie of The Week called "THE DELPHI BUREAU" in 1972,which was a series' pilot,shown as part of the "rotating format" called "THE MEN" in Fall 1972. so on my scale of one to ten,i give "THE TOOLBOX MURDERS a Three star rating,only because of the talented actors,who worked on this film-the people like Aneta Corseaut,Evelyn Guerrero,Tim Donnelly,likely related to the director,but uncertain! but this movie was also a first for Pamelyn Ferdin,who is best known as the voice of "Lucy" in CBS's "CHARLIE BROWN" TV specials in the late 60s,as well as starring in two Saturday morning TV shows,"CURIOSITY SHOP" for ABC-TV in Fall 1971,and "SPACE ACADEMY" for Filmation Studios and CBS in Fall 1977,among her lengthy and impressive credentials! this movie isn't for everybody,but you need great patience to sit through it,if one feels the need to do so!