27 August 2021

Review: Corruption

Blu-ray: Corruption (1968)

A Peter Cushing film that I’ve never watched before!

A Peter Cushing with him snogging!!

A Peter Cushing film where he murders a prostitute by slashing her throat with a knife…and then rubs his hands over her bloody bare breasts!!!

The gentleman of horror as I’ve never seen him before!

Also known as The Laser Killer (for reasons which will become apparent when you watch the film), Corruption stars Cushing as Sir John Rowan; a respected plastic surgeon whose current research project is put to good (then bad) use when his younger fashion model wife Lynn (Sue Lloyd) is facially disfigured in an accident involving Alf Garnett’s son-in-law…Anthony Booth to those that didn’t get my reference.

With the help of the pituitary gland from a recently deceased female, Rowan manages to restore his wife’s former looks…only for them to quickly fade away, along with his wife’s patience at finding a permanent cure.

Realising that he needs a fresh female pituitary gland, he is goaded by his wife to acquire one by any means necessary. Unfortunately for Rowan, this is only the beginning of what he will have to do to keep his wife looking good.

An evil Peter Cushing isn’t something I’m used to seeing, and as his character is conflicted by his actions, so too apparently was Peter himself about this role, especially the continental version which had a separate bloody and violent murder scene filmed for it, and is also included in this release.

Proceedings take a strange turn in the 3rd act when new (and quite bizarre) characters are introduced…I can never buy David Lodge as a bad guy…especially one called ‘Groper’…though his apple squashing ability is certainly something to be admired. This is also where a scene appears that inspired the alternative title of “The Laser Killer”.

There are some scenic location shots, especially a chase scene on the Seaford coast that plays out almost like a Benny Hill chase scene…have the music playing in your head as you watch it and you’ll see!

A film that divides Cushing fans, Corrupted is certainly an unforgettable experience, especially presented here with 3 separate versions, along with some very interesting and informative special features.

INDICATOR LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES:

2K restoration from the original negative
Three feature presentations: the censored UK theatrical cut (92 mins), the US theatrical cut (92 mins), and the graphic continental version (91 mins)
Original mono audio
Audio commentary with Peter Cushing biographer David Miller and English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby for the US cut and continental version (2013)
The BEHP Interview with Peter Newbrook(1995, 92 mins): archival audio recording of the producer and cameraman in a career-spanning conversation with Alan Lawson and Roy Fowler, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project
The Guardian Interview with Peter Cushing (1986, 72 mins): archival audio recording of the legendary actor in conversation with David Castell at the National Film Theatre, London
The Reluctant Beatnik (2021, 15 mins): actor Phillip Manikum revisits his time on the film
What Ever Happened to Wendy Varnals?(2013, 16 mins): the actor and TV host remembers playing Terry
Archival interview with actor Billy Murray (2012, 14 mins)
Archival interview with actor Jan Waters (2012, 9 mins)
Stephen Laws Introduces ‘Corruption’(2021, 7 mins): appreciation by the acclaimed horror author
Alternative Laser Killer opening titles (3 mins)
Isolated music & effects track
Original UK theatrical trailer
Original US theatrical trailer
Edgar Wright trailer commentary (2013, 3 mins): short critical appreciation
TV spots
Radio spots
Image galleries: production stills and promotional material
Director’s shooting script gallery
New and improved English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
Limited edition exclusive 80-page book with a new essay by Laura Mayne, a history of production company Titan International Films, an archival interview with producer and cinematographer Peter Newbrook, a look at the film’s music, cast and publicity, excerpts from the novelisation, an overview of contemporary critical responses, and film credits
Limited edition exclusive set of five replica production stills
UK premiere on any home video format
Limited edition of 5,000 copies