Two Visual Vengeance titles in a single month was a nice surprise, not knowing out of the gate though that both films featured would be from B-movie maverick Bret McCormick. Even more interesting is that both films, Repligator and The Abomination, couldn’t be more different from one another. They’re both born from the DIY mentality, with the latter being the superior film.
Visual Vengeance once again goes all out to make this release something special, and they definitely hit the mark. Until now, I’d never seen the movie, but I do remember seeing the VHS tape in all the video stores back in the day. Thankfully this release is affordably priced since I’ve seen the tape go for hundreds of dollars.
Down in Texas, Sarah (Jude Johnson) is suffering from what she believes to be cancer. Being a God-fearing woman, she enlists the aid of a TV evangelist to exorcise it from her. The cancer is some sort of life form that eventually makes its way into her son Cody (Scott Davis). He vomits up the creature as well and falls prey to its control. He finds himself feeding the creature that just continues to grow the more it eats. The problem with this is that it needs a human meal, and as it grows, it becomes apparent that the bloodlust is too much to handle.
The Abomination suffers from pacing issues. It starts out strong, only to barely string you along for a good portion of the film. With that being said, the final act is nothing short of impressive. With only a micro-budget, it delivers all the blood, guts, and killer creature effects you could want. There’s some really cool work on display, so if you can hang in there just long enough, you will be rewarded. For a film that was shot on Super 8, this release really cleans up some of the darker edges making for a much more satisfying viewing experience.
RELATED: Fulci’s ‘City of the Living Dead’ 4K Blu-ray Review: A Sight to Behold
As with the Repligator release, Visual Vengeance goes overboard on the special features. There’s a new SD transfer from the original tape source, two commentary tracks, a brand new, feature-length interview with McCormick, an interview with the original VHS distributor Michael Jack Shoel, outtakes, a location tour, behind-the-scenes, and loads more. There’s a limited edition slip by The Dude, a six-page booklet, a twelve-page mini-comic, a reversible sleeve, a mini-poster, and a sticker set. It’s quite the package for such an obscure film.
Despite its imperfections, The Abomination is a unique splatter flick that’s a showcase for some really talented and passionate people, and a huge shout out to Visual Vengeance for doing right by these video store gems.
We’re hardworking geeks who love to geek out, but we can’t do it without you! If you enjoyed this article and want to see more like it, please consider tipping our writers. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
