DRIVE-IN DISCS-Volume 1
Elite Entertainment
2001

review by Beth Kattelman

Remember those good old days at the drive-in?--Hiding friends in the trunk to save a few bucks; the cheesy movie trailers; the greasy fries, questionable hotdogs and extra-buttery popcorn; the horror movies that weren't really scary, but scared you anyway; the back seat? (ahem!) Well, you can relive all these great memories with Elite Entertainment's new DVD Drive-in Discs: Volume One. Elite has teamed up with The National Film Museum to produce a DVD that recreates all the best of the drive-in experience. The disc features two classic films, The Screaming Skull and The Giant Leeches and also contains all the extras from a typical night at the drive-in. You get previews, cartoons, classic ads, warning promos ("public displays of affection will not be tolerated!"), the National Anthem, and several other classic clips, including that ever-popular intermission song "Let's All Go To The Lobby."

Elite has included a Distorto Sound feature on the disc which recreates the sound quality of the old hang-on-the-window drive-in speakers. This track also includes ambient drive-in sounds such as cars pulling up and people talking in the car. You even hear the "other folks in your car" let a stowaway out of the trunk! What a kick!

The two films on the disc are classic drive-in fare. The Giant Leeches is your typical creatures-turned-monsters-by-atomic-energy flick. Originally released in 1960, this film features large, rubbery leeches that attack the inhabitants of a small backwoods town. Of course, the young hero comes and saves the day--and the girl. Complete with terrible acting and man-sized leeches that walk upright, this is a great example of the typical drive-in movies we all know and loved so well.

The Screaming Skull is a classic "who's behind the evil doings?" story. Peggy Webber plays a wife recovering from a nervous breakdown. In order to "help" with this process her husband (John Hudson) takes her to an isolated mansion (Hey, there's a good idea!) that is tended by the obligatory, slow-witted, sinister caretaker. Of course, weird things begin to happen and the wife is pushed back to the brink of madness. Just as you'd expect, this movie is filled with wonderfully overwrought performances and great, shadowy cinematography. And, if the film really sends you into a panic (doubtful), don't worry. The producers assure free burial services for anyone who dies of fright while seeing it!

Yeah, the acting is terrible, the plot lines are cheesy and the monsters aren't scary. None of this matters, however. These movies aren't intended to be great art. They are included on this disc to recreate the B-movie experience and they do that perfectly. Watching this DVD brought back a lot of great memories. Get this disc and you too can relive those moments from this vanishing bit of Americana.

FEAR FACTOR: Not scary at all, but lots of laughs---

BLOOD & GORE GAUGE: A little bit of blood (look quick or you'll miss it) and lots of rubber---

COOLEST THING ABOUT THE DVD: Distorto Sound which recreates the drive-in movie sound experience.---

TRIVIA TIDBIT: The name Distorto is an homage to infamous B-film director William Castle who created the Percepto and Emergo gimmicks to advertise his films---

BEST "OW, THAT'S GOTTA HURT" MOMENT: Actors realizing how bad their performances were---

BEST QUOTE: We need somebody outside the confusions of our love for each other.

Official Website:
http://www.eliteentertainment.com

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