DEATH WARMED UP (1984) / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: DAVID BLYTH / SCREENPLAY: MICHAEL HEATH / STARRING: MICHAEL HURST, DAVID LETCH, GARY DAY, MARGARET UMBERS, WILLIAM UPJOHN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (AUSTRALIA)
New Zealand isn’t particularly famous for horror films, certainly not before Peter Jackson shocked with Bad Taste (1987), but this curio predates Jackson’s gorefest by a few years but has a similar irreverent attitude.
Dr Howell (Day) has been carrying out genetic experiments but has been refused backing from his boss, Professor Tucker (David Weatherley). So, doing what any crazed scientist would, he injects Tucker’s son, Michael (Hurst) with his treatment and sets him on his way. Arriving home, he walks in on his parents while they’re ‘at it’ and offloads a shotgun at them. Seven years later, Michael is released from the mental institution he was confined – all the while making out he was brainwashed into committing the crime. He’s not wrong, of course, as Howell’s magic formula has a side effect of making recipients homicidal. Once released, Michael sets about getting revenge on the doctor, but has to face some ruffians – led by Letch’s brilliant Spider – along the way.
Clearly made on a low budget, Death Warmed Up is one of those films that has grown its own cult following since the early video days, but its reputation is greater than the execution. Which is not to say it’s not fun. There are some entertaining moments of gore that more than make up for the convoluted and occasionally wacky plot. The cast do wonders, though, with the material and there are some brilliant moments of hysteria and hamming to add to the pleasures.
Extras-wise, Umbrella’s Blu-ray – as well as looking as best as we can expect given the age and elements – are chock-a-block with goodies. The best being the interview with David Letch, who recalls playing the bad lad Spider and how it affected his career.
Despite being nearly forty years old, the film’s aged rather well. There are expressionistic coloured lighting that bathe the glorious NZ locations with an eerie, almost futuristic glow and Go in expecting less and you’ll be deeply rewarded.
