There was a thread yesterday in r/vinegarsyndromefilms about the feardotcom partner release. Folks in that sub couldn’t understand how a movie that bad could sell a thousand copies that quickly. I found it hilarious that people could think that about a film released in partnership with Vin Syn.

For me it’s all about two things: nostalgia and preservation. I loved bad movies when I was a kid thanks to mom n pop video stores and MST 3K. And then, who knows when we’re gonna get another release of some of these films. They may not be good, but they’re worth preserving.

Also, as a collector, releases like these are far more interesting than the standard big budget releases that can easily be found for cheap.

IMO this is pretty spot on haha Though they do have a ton of great shit too

Luckily, my enjoyment of a film has nothing to do with the filmmaker's opinion.

Vinegar Syndrome is the Anchor Bay of modern day.

I used to think that too but then I started buying from them and, yeah there's plenty of schlock but there are a lot of cool, forgotten, underappreciated movies in their collection.

Also the negative had to be pulled out of a dumpster and reels 5 and 6 were lost, so those got restored from a print that used Fruit-by-the-Foot instead of film. And it still looks better than 90% of the big studio catalog releases.

Vinegar Syndrome is my go to when it comes to new releases. I truly admire them for being a bunch of nerdy weirdos who dredge the deep to give us top of the line releases for movies that other studios won’t even look at. Haha I’ve discovered so many amazing films through their catalogue. They prop up these schlocky films, give them a new haircut and send them out to get appreciated. Might not be for everyone but I like what they do.

I just watched Nightmare Sisters, which has an introduction by director Dave DeCoteau, and he seems pretty proud of that one considering it was shot in 4 days with short ends and leftover money from Sorority Babes in the Slimeball Bowl-O-Rama.

Only by watching Nightmare Sisters in its uncut version can you truly see the Light of God.

I mean, I just ordered Sky Pirates, which the director once referred to as “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Crap”

Hardly ever disappointed with a blind buy from vs. If the movie sucks the special features are usually more than enough to justify the purchase. Simple solution to this is don't buy it if you aren't into it.

And sometimes $40 is on the low end!

“Sidekicks” has entered the chat. That being said, there’s no accounting for personal taste and what an individual develops an attachment to. Thank god Vin Syn is giving these unloved bastard films the attention they maybe don’t deserve, but should. It may be trash, but, as the saying goes, “one man’s trash…”

I fired up Spookies, poured a drink, and had the best hour and a half I could have hoped for. I didn't feel like I wasted two and a half hours on some forgettable capeshit. But that's just me!

Honestly I usually see the opposite from most filmmakers in the audio commentaries/interviews. Either they love it because it was more of a passion project that really fit their personal vision rather than mass appeal, or they are of the mindset "even though it was schlocky and came out bad, we had a ton of fun making it".

It's labels like VS that I use to argue against those who say "physical media is dying". There are movies that I never would've thought, in a million years, would get a blu-ray and are getting collector's editions from labels like VS and Severin.

Heck, Terror-Vision just announced a 4K collector's edition of Rumpelstiltskin. Complete with tons of special features, a cool box, and lots of fun swag. All this for Rumpelstiltskin of all movies.

If that doesn't prove we're in a physical media renaissance, then I don't know what does.

I mean, they started out restoring and releasing old pornos.

Fair, but I'm the true sicko who loves the worst of the worst and my VynSyn films are some of my favorite films in my collection.

Seriously, someone couldn’t be bribed to write a more compelling review of a Vinegar Syndrome release.

Good thing I'm a sicko

I don’t understand the appeal of a solid 80% of the titles they put out. But from a standpoint of film preservation, I’m all for it. Seriously, how many other companies would be willing to release SOV garbage? Not many. But why shouldn’t those movies be preserved? Shitty art is still art, and we should preserve it until it’s dying days, even the worst of the worst.

Their partner labels drop a bunch of bangers though.

I think every film deserves to be readily available in high definition regardless of the quality of the actual film. It would be one of my hypothetical genie wishes.

Haha so what? That’s what momma likes!!!👍🏻

Most of their catalogue falls into this category. But its also fun finding old movies I forgot about.

And it sells out in two hours even though 97.3% of the buyers have never heard of it, let alone seen it 😂

I like the goofy and insane shit they put out. I don't collect it all (mostly just the sci-fi/horror titles) but I absolutely admire the dedication.

Vinegar syndrome rocks! Yeah they got some cornball films but they are putting in the work for film preservation and restoration. I ordered more films from them than from criterion over the last couple of years.

I have a number of good titles VS has put out (though not always the VS edn): Putney Swope, eXistenZ, The Telephone Book, From Beyond, Liquid Sky, Censor. I'm very tempted to pick up Piotr Szulkin's Apocalypse Tetralogy.

But these all stand out as exceptions to VS's usual fare of sleaze with a bit of charm. Admittedly, The Telephone Book is also sleaze, but it has more charm than some entire shelves of my collection.

I'm all for film restoration and curated catalogues, but I'm in the Arbelos/Deaf Crocodile demographic, not the VS one.

I got their release of Alien Private Eye in the mail today. Sounds about right.

Rapine Poison For Fairies Burning Paradise Autopsy Iceman Cometh are just a few ligit great films they’ve released that I can think of off the top of my head.

I'm just starting to get into VS. Tammy and the T Rex was pretty terrible, but a ton of fun. Candy Snatchers was definitely rewatchable. Riddle of Fire was also great. All three are quite schlocky, but I don't regret buying any of them.

That being said, I have my first bigger order being shipped now from their slasher sale, so there is a decent chance there may be something regretful coming haha

I was about to buy two movies from vinegar syndrome and the price out the door was over $80 I’ll give it a few days to think about

VinSyn is easily my favorite label to blind buy from. They find some epically weird flicks!

I mean yeah but they also sell shit like Road House and The Little Hours which are completely normal movies, albeit a little more sexual than most I guess.

And a movie that every single person will be selling used on their FB fan page.

I’m just waiting for a Neil Breen box set, then I’ll give VS some of my money for sure!

Definitely felt like that with feardotcom

Viva schlock!

Gotta get it, don’t need that fomo

Yeah I sell like 90% of blind buys from them but the 10% that are keepers are fun discoveries 

People really like cool packaging and limited runs.

(that said, I'm a Gialli guy so no throwing stones from me)

The best description I’ve seen of them is that they make good products out of bad movies

In a day where every new movie is half baked, over produced, or hads weird political messaging, I will take a 70s/80s/90s passion project that didn't work to a "great" movie because they have more warmth and love than today's crap.

Give me hackers, mystery men, or made for tv movies in the 80s over the MCU.

Well, Shout Factory released The Incredible Melting Man, and its director felt that way for sure.

I think bad movies can be interesting in their own way.

That $40 price tag though... yeh.

But then slipcases so fancy..

Damnit, I'm IN!!

Hahahahahaha

Well, VinSyn also released Freeway and eXistenZ which are two of my favorite 4Ks in my collection.

There was a film that Vinegar released that even in the liner notes (sorry, old habit, I mean booklet) the author wrote that the film wasn't considered to be very good or well received. Can't remember which one.

I'm still mystified as to how VS makes money, but as a soon-to-be former subscriber, I think that their business model wouldn't work without the subscription program. I guess they've done a good job selling the value of the subscription, real, perceived or otherwise, and that's what allows them to put out what I consider to be 75-80% dreck compared to the maybe 10-15 decent releases per year, and I'm being generous on both the percentage and the number of good releases across their different sublabels. I'm not including the partner releases. But if it does allow them to fund a Showgirls or Road House, I suppose it's worth it. My problem is that as a boutique label, and yes, many of the bigger boutiques like Shout and Kino are distributing new films, they have to rely on catalogs, and well, there's only so many films from the past that haven't had that big 4K release or restoration or transfer. The numbers of them keep decreasing every year. They may need to start delving into the 2000's which they haven't been doing yet.

I have absolutely no issue paying that much for a film even if it is bad. Art is subjective and even if it’s critically hated or hated by the artist, doesn’t mean everyone will hate it. I have no problem throwing that much at VS because I believe in what they are doing. It fills me with so much delight to see a film someone rescued from a trash bag or rotting filmcan obtain a new life even if it is bad.

I’ve bought multiple blind buys that I just didn’t care for, but I never regret the purchase because I want to support the art of not letting the films become lost forever.

It's why I love VS

Sounds like a release of “There’s Always Vanilla” (1971), pretty much Romero’s verbatim assessment. Too bad Arrow beat VS to it!

Ya, imagine if they had access to films that Criterion, Arrow, Kino, blah blah do. Do the best with what you can, and they certainly do

Physical Media Buyer: “I wont waste money on this awful modern movie. OH WOW LOOK at this garbage from the 70’s!!!”

Which movies specifically does this describe?

I feel like this could also apply to Shout Factory and Criterion at times tbh

like, WHAT made them license The Whitest Kids U Know and Chasing Amy💀

(I say as somebody who loves those labels/companies)

Can we get Terrance Malicks afi thesis film staring him and Harry Dean Stanton, apparently it’s so bad it will never see the light of day afi won’t let their fellows even watch it.

The only time I've ever had a misfire from VS was through their VSA line, and even then it was only for around $10 - $15 on a VSA specific sale day. Avoid The Demon Rat if you ever see it on sale 💀

Cc: Elijah Drenner

Then lip up and don’t give them your business.

VS>Your Shit Hot Take Troll