Since 1984, Todd Sheets has been racking up the credits, having directed more than fifty projects, all on shoestring budgets, but is somehow able to make them look like more has been spent. While not every film is memorable, some stand out more than others, especially Moonchild, an action-horror hybrid that delivers the goods on several levels.
The SOV (Shot on Video) genre very rarely rises above its limitations, but this film, in particular, is one of the exceptions. Visual Vengeance and Wild Eye Releasing have once again gone above and beyond to deliver a wonderful package for a film that could have just faded away but is finally being given a second life.
In the not-too-distant future, Jacob Stryker (Auggi Alvarez) has his DNA spliced with that of a wolf, which transforms him into a werewolf super soldier. He eventually escapes the clutches of the crooked government to search for his son. Stryker quickly finds himself being hunted by cyborgs and mutant bounty hunters while seeking help from a group of rebel fighters.
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With all this going down at once, he still has to worry about the bomb in his intestines, which is set to blow in 72 hours. Time isn’t on his side, but the revenge he seeks is far more powerful and driving than anything else he has to overcome.
For being a modestly-budgeted SOV flick, it really goes that extra mile to stand out from the pack. There were several sequences that are really impressive. A full-fledged car chase and a major brawl aren’t easy things to pull off, and Sheets did a really stand-out job. The effects work is pretty solid, and the werewolf transformation was passable, considering. The acting isn’t particularly up to par, but in films like these, you really shouldn’t expect much in that department. Overall, the film is one to remember, and it’s great to see it being given such a supreme edition.
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The package is loaded with an SD master from the original tapes, the CD soundtrack, new commentaries with Sheets, Alvarez, and the Visual Vengeance crew, an alternate VHS cut, a new documentary, archival interviews, a deleted ending, a music video, and more. Inside the package, you get a really cool retro VHS sticker sheet and a folded mini-poster. You really get your money’s worth with Moonchild, and Wild Eye’s Visual Vengeance arm is really proving to be something special.
