Debbie Does Demons (Standard Edition)

Grindhouse movies are mostly a thing of the past, however, some creative filmmakers are still keeping that genre alive today with their exploitive movies which keep fans hungry for more. Jack-of-all-trades Donald Farmer has been making these types of films since the 1970s and has not slowed down since. Making movies for a few thousand dollars and loading them with blood, guts, and tits - Farmer has etched his name into the grindhouse cinema walls permanently. His latest feature titled Debbie Does Demons is a fun, quirky take on the iconic Debbie Does Dallas franchise had a one-night stand with Fright Night and added demons, witches, and vampires to the mix. 

All sense of detail and thorough storytelling goes out the window in Farmer's films where the budget is at an all-time low and the actors and actresses are having a splashy great time on film. And that is Farmer's charm in his films. The performers turn in schlocky performances and go over the top just enough so that the script and visuals don't matter, except when there are naked people on screen. Luckily, nudity is the normal mode in Farmer's movies with the talented and great Jessa Flux playing Carmilla the Witch who is brought back to life when a group of friends summons her at a party through an Ouija Board. 

Where does Debbie come in? Debbie is a horror tv show host who is contacted by this group of friends to lend a hand and help bring Carmilla the Witch back to hell, similar to Fright Night. And Carmilla doesn't mess with violence towards her victims. She's a sexually charged goddess of darkness who kisses and has sex with anyone that crosses her path which turns them into zombie-like witches. None of it makes sense, but then again, all of it makes sense. Debbie Does Demons will only attract the finest of cinephiles who appreciate those grindhouse films and all their charming mistakes with laughter and admiration for the content on screen. This is a winner for sure where Jessa Flux should be in every movie. Long live Carmilla the Witch. 

Oh, and yes, Carmilla does do a hand-puppet demon in the film. Five stars. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray
Debbie Does Demons seduces its way To Blu-ray via Culture Shock Releasing and OCN Distribution. The sole disc is housed inside a hard clear plastic case. The artwork is phenomenal and double-sided. It features new artwork of two green demons with Carmilla the Witch and Debbie herself. The opposite side is the full nude version. The disc itself features a topless Jessa Flux. This artwork needs to be a full-sized poster. If you were lucky enough to order from Vinegar Syndrome when it was available, you could have picked up another wild and crazy slipcover. As Culture Shock is no longer part of Vinegar Syndrome's distribution network, Amazon is your best bet for picking this one up. 

Debbie Does Demons comes with a 1080p HD transfer that was shot on consumer-grade HD cameras that virtually anyone can purchase. The well-lit sequences during the daytime give bright natural lighting to look the best. These sequences have bright blue skies, green leaves in the trees, and primary colors in the wardrobe. But Farmer loves those inexpensive color filters to physically light his movies, so there are heavy uses of purple, green, and red that light up the screen and not in a good way. This allows for all the banding and aliasing in these sequences. There is some vintage footage that crops up and other filters that make the film look older than it does. Black levels aren't exactly inky, but the skin tones on Carmilla are pitch-perfect. The detail is sharp and vivid during the well-lit sequences but can get a bit blurry and soft in other places. This is not the best-looking video presentation, but for a modern-day Grindhouse film, it's not too bad. 

This release comes with a DTS-HD 2.0 audio mix that sounds just about right for the type of movie it is. There isn't really any extra power or bass behind any of it and some of the dialogue is a bit soft, due to the extremely low budget here, but all dialogue can be heard clearly and is free of any issues. The funny sound effects are tiny but are satisfyingly pleasant. 

There are 37 (in a row) minutes of bonus material here, including new interviews, a director intro, and more. These are worth watching despite the poor visual quality.

• Intro (HD, 9 Mins.) - Director Gary Farmer sits in his car at night with his camera phone and films himself talking about making the movie, working with the cast, the story, and other inspirations. It's a candid talk, but it doesn't look too good. 
• Jessa Does Demons (HD, 13 Mins.) - Carmilla herself Jessa Flux answers a few questions about the film where she talks about witchcraft, working on Farmer's other movies and more. It's a good interview.
• Angel Interview (SD, 10 Mins.) - In a shoddy video, the Debbie actress Angel Bradford discusses making the film, working with the cast, her character, the costumes and more. This is also a good interview. 
• Demonic Design (HD, 2 Mins.) - A fun gallery that showcases how that demon hand puppet was made. 
• Trailers (HD, 3 Mins.) - Three trailers for the film. 

Debbie Does Demons is a wonderfully good time inside that Grindhouse genre where comedy, horror, and tits reign supreme. It's not for everyone, but combining zombies, vampires, witches, and horror show hosts is one fantastic romp. The video and audio presentations are serviceable and within their own low-budget wheelhouse and the extras are worthwhile. Highly Recommended!