Before I begin this revoltin’ review let me state that Henrique Couto is both a pal and a co-conspirator in the horror picture-makin’ biz…therefore this is going to be a bit more of a “why I think this release is worth your while” than a blow by blow technical breakdown of the monstrous minute or some such shit; anyway…
Henrique Couto, simply put, is one of the hardest workin’ dudes in the horror biz today; don’t believe me, just feast your putrid peepers on his Imdb…I’ll wait…for shit’s sake where have you been?!! What not content with just checkin’ out that page you surfed on over to Brazzers or something? Anyway, yeah ol’ Uncle Henny has been a busy lil’ beaver that’s for sure, but he didn’t get to make his monstrous masterpieces before putting in his dues…and that’s where this Blu-ray comes in!
Comprised of an arcane ass-load (that’s like waaay over six hours for you non-scientific folks) of shot-on-video goodness; the Backyard Legacy collection (comprised of Vamp Killa, Patches, Patches 2, Bark at the Moon: Malice, Mummy Sleepover Massacre, Teen Suicide, HeadCheese, Nerd’s Night Out, Diagnoses Terror, Songs in the Key of Satan, and the feature length film Marty Jenkins and the Vampire Bitches as well as the lost Couto flick Slumber Party Murder Mania) showcases Henrique’s work before he became the legend in independent cinema he is today…and that is what makes this collection absolutely essential for anyone with a desire to create their own terror tales for the silver scream!
While not the most polished or technically proficient of films, these pictures nevertheless show what can happen when you have an over-abundance of heart, drive, and the desire to make your dreams come true. With each passing segment, you can see Henrique’s talent mature and blossom until he finally makes a feature length film (most of the material runs under an hour a piece)…and that is the most important lesson here; keep your head in the game, stay true to the genres you are working in, never give-up, and head ever forward until you just make the damn thing happen…traits Couto exhibits to this day! Also pretty rad-ass awesome is the fact that the man himself introduces each n’ every segment to provide us with anecdotes, a lil’ history, and how it all fits into the big picture of his career!
In the interest of fairness, there are a few negatives to be had with this release. If you aren’t a fan of S.O.V. style film making, then this release will not be to your liking style-wise (though I dare say the fascinating look into the creative life of a developing talent may outweigh that), and for those nit-picking boils and ghouls in my audience, and my eerie eyeballs see every single one of you; there are some segments that are not strictly horror (not surprising given Couto’s forays into the realms of westerns and comedy), so be forewarned.
So there ya have it creeps; if you have an aspiration to make your own poisonous pictures, or have an interest on how the creative process grows and changes over the years, then the Henrique Couto’s Backyard Legacy collection is well worth your time!
To order a copy of Henrique Couto’s Backyard Legacy head here!
Spoiler-Free Review: MEANWHILE ON EARTH
Official synopsis: Elsa (Megan Northam, in her debut feature starring role), along with her family, is struggling...