Olaf Ittenbach first made an impact in underground horror and gore with Black Past (1989), which was shot on video with a minuscule budget. He managed to turn it into a cult classic, which launched a long-running career in the macabre as a filmmaker and effects artist. He followed it up with The Burning Moon (1992), Premutos: The Fallen Angel (1997), and several others before landing on Garden of Love (2003), a film many consider his masterpiece.
It also happens to be the latest special edition Blu-ray release from Unearthed Films. I remember having a membership through Video Wasteland, where I would rent videotapes through the mail, and one of the first titles that I rented was Black Past. Garden of Love was one I’d never seen before, so I was really excited to give this disc a spin.
Haunted by violent visions of a past that she can’t fully remember, Rebecca (Natacza Boon) knows only that her entire family was brutally murdered when she was a child. Now, restless spirits demand vengeance, pushing her to track down those responsible. Reluctant but powerless to resist, Rebecca becomes their unwilling guide, and the path forward is paved with blood-soaked chaos.
I haven’t seen many of Ittenbach’s later films, but comparing this to his earlier stuff, I can see why this would be considered his magnum opus. Far too often, filmmakers who work in the extreme horror genre tend to put their focus on the gore aspect instead of the story. With Garden of Love, Ittenbach manages to craft a compelling narrative, pulling the viewer into Rebecca’s nightmare before unleashing an absolute splatterfest, a real assault on the eyes with expertly-crafted practical effects, taking it to the absolute extreme.
Unearthed Films has once again done a fantastic job with the actual transfer of the film. They kept the original aspect ratio intact while delivering an extremely crisp, vibrant transfer that’s clean and still manages to preserve a bit of grit.
Related: ‘Frightmare’ (1983) Blu-ray Review: B-Horror Defined by Great Performances
Garden of Love has several special features, including a making-of featurette, photo gallery, behind-the-scenes look, and a trailer. While the features offer plenty to give fans a casual look at the making of the film, I couldn’t help but wish there had been a little something more. This release is certainly a welcome surprise, and the fact that we’re getting a film like this preserved for eternity on physical media is more than any of us could have asked for.
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.
