The UK finally gets to see Susan Tyrell’s tour-de-force in Butcher Baker Nightmare Maker aka Night Warning.
Severin Films have given this 80s bizarro slasher the special edition treatment and then some, with a gorgeous 4K transfer plus a slew of special features.
We follow Billy, an orphaned teenager after his parents were killed in the most spectacular and bizarre automobile accident, long before Final Destination 2 did grizzly death sequences. He ends up staying with his aunt Cheryl, who makes Aunt Martha from Sleepaway Camp look like a positive role model.
When bodies start piling up, we wonder whether Billy has snapped or if there is someone else responsible for these murders. This isn’t helped by Bo Svenson’s unhinged (yes another one) cop who tries to implicate Billy while trying to out him as a homosexual.
Butcher Baker… really does have to be seen to be believed, as its wild plot will have your eyes glued to the screen, wondering what craziness will happen next. In that sense, it is quintessential 80s, and it even fell afoul of the Video Nasties scandal. It’s gory, twisted and hopefully will only grow in stature with this release amongst slasher afficianados.
Features wise, we have no less than 3 commentary tracks plus a series of fascinating interview segments with the likes of Svenson, editor Ted Nicolaou plus lead Jimmy McNicol and a bizarre interview, as expected with Tyrell, who you are never fully sure if she’s acting or genuinely insane.
Butcher Baker, Nightmare Maker is another essential for slasher collectors.
Butcher Baker, Nightmare Maker is available now from Severin Films.
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