By MICHAEL GINGOLD
It’s the U.S. home video debut of the long-lost thriller from the ’70s.
Following a series of well-received screenings at LA’s American Cinematheque and New Beverly Cinema and the Sitges, Night Visions and Fantasia festivals, the 4K restoration from the original camera negative of HOLLYWOOD 90028 is coming to Blu-ray from Grindhouse Releasing. Pre-orders for the three-disc set are now open, and shipping is expected to begin in October. Written and directed by Christine Hornisher and starring Christopher Augustine, Jeannette Dilger, Gayle Davis and Dick Glass, it also played drive-ins and grindhouses as THE HOLLYWOOD HILLSIDE STRANGLER and TWISTED THROATS; the first 2,000 copies ordered from Grindhouse’s webstore will include a limited-edition deluxe slipcase featuring the STRANGLER artwork. The synopsis: “HOLLYWOOD 90028 shows the dark side of the L.A. dream in the bleak and downbeat story of an aspiring movie cameraman turned serial murderer. Mark [Augustine] is a disturbed loner who toils in the sub-basement of the movie business as a cameraman shooting porno films for swinish boss Jobal [Glass]. In his off hours, Mark prowls the peep shows and strip clubs of Los Angeles to prey on random young women who he picks up and strangles to death. When Mark pursues a romantic interest in Michelle [Dilger], a model who he films in one of Jobal’s sleazy movies, the grim reality behind the fantasy leads the frustrated cinematographer to shoot a different kind of Hollywood ending.”
The set includes two Blu-rays and a CD featuring the original score by Basil Pouledoris (CONAN THE BARBARIAN, ROBOCOP), newly remastered from the original master tapes. Special features are:
- Provocative, in-depth interviews with stars Christopher Augustine, Jeannette Dilger, Gayle Davis, editor Leon Ortiz-Gil and Tom DeSimone
- Audio commentaries by Marc E. Heuck & Heidi Honeycutt, and Shawn Langrick
- Shocking alternate scenes from the original X-rated version
- Experimental 16mm short films by Christina Hornisher
- Outtakes, still galleries, theatrical trailers and radio spots
- Liner notes by cinema historians Marc E. Heuck, David Szulkin, Richard Kraft and Jim VanBebber
- And other surprises!
Retail price is $49.95, but the current Grindhouse pre-order price is $34.95.
