The Zero Boys - The Zero Boys( DVD/ Blu-Ray) [Arrow Video - 2016]The Zero Boys blends together two of the most popular B- movie genres of the 1980’s- action & slasher. Here we have a well deserved & long overdue reissue of this late 80’s genre blending movie. The reissue comes from Arrow Video( both in the Uk & US). And as you’d expect from Arrow alot of love & care has gone into this reissue- the film is presented in both DVD & blu-ray form, with the film getting a great 4K restoration, so it almost seem like it could have been filmed recently, and not thirty years ago. You also get a good bundle of extras taking in- star commentary, director interview, & a feature on one of the films female stars. As well original trailer, stills gallery, and original script. You also get a glossy 16 page booklet, and reversible sleeve- taking in the original & newly created cover artwork The film was released in the 1986. And was the first lo-budget US feature film of Greek director Nico Mastorakis; who up until this point was most known for his perverse & depraved 1976 movie Island Of Death, which landed it’s self on the UKs video nasties list. The Zero Boys tells of a group of young survival game/ paint balling addicts, who land-up fighting for their life’s when they come across a group of killers in the woods. The films a fun, campy & suspenseful ride, which sees the action & slasher clichés been nicely blended together. I actually recall watching this back in 1987/ 1988, when it first came out on video in the UK, and I remember it having quite a impact on my early teen self. Today it does feel a little tame, but is still worthy- with some quite creative & original elements for the time. Such as video camera taped torture, which of course nods towards the torture porn trend of the early 2000’s, and found footage themed serial killer movies. So if you are a sucker for either( or both) action & slasher films, you really have got to check out The Zero Boys. And as always kudos goes to Arrow for doing such a great job at the reissuing of the film. Roger Batty
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