Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: TRUTH OR DARE (1986) from SRS Cinema - Oct. 11, 2018

TRUTH OR DARE Limited Blu-Ray

TRUTH OR DARE (aka TRUTH OR DARE?: A CRITICAL MADNESS)
Starring John Brace, Mary Fanaro, Bruce Gold , Joel D. Wynkoop, Terence Andreucci, Raymond Carbone, Rick Paige
Written by Tim Ritter
Cinematography by Ned Miller, Christopher M. Burritt
Edited by Jack Behrend
Produced by Yale Wilson
Directed by Tim Ritter
Originally released by Peerless Home Video
Released by SRS Cinema

Welcome horror hounds to Day 11 of Phil's Halloween Horror Watch! For today's viewing, I went back to the year 1986 to watch a notorious, low budget, slasher horror film that's a great example of the DIY movement that was happening within the genre. Regular people were going out making their own movie, and with the video market still booming, it was easier to get your movie on the shelf right next to that Hollywood blockbuster. And you could make some decent money from the sales. But this film is really gory, really violent, psychologically twisted and it's awesome indie filmmaking! May I present to you the horror film TRUTH OR DARE from SRS Cinema!

The film's official synopsis: When an already unbalanced Mike Strauber catches his wife Sharon in bed with his best friend, the result is a rapid descent into insanity. Mike's revenge is masked in the form of the seemingly innocent child's game "Truth or Dare", but playing his demented and twisted version results in a bloodbath the likes that has never been seen before... with a trail of victims leading right back to his wife! This all-time horror classic from 1986 includes a special performance from a young AJ McLean of The Backstreet Boys.

Based on his short "Truth or Dare?" from 1985 anthology film TWISTED ILLUSIONS, filmmaker Tim Ritter was only seventeen when he sold film's script and eighteen when production began! Are you kidding me? When I was eighteen, I was collecting comic books, chasing girls, and watching my B-movies and horror flicks on USA Up All Night! And here's this kid, who's only six years older than me, who's making movies in his community. Ritter shot the film on 16mm for $200,000, and had it released directly to the home video market, courtesy of Peerless Home Video.

Original In-Store Promotional Poster (1986)

The movie is a bit amateurish, but it's really amazing. Ritter opens the film with some intense psychological damage right out of the gate. As the story progresses, the film takes a sharp right turn onto slasher territory, and that's when it starts to get fun! The gore comes fast a plenty, and there are some shocking deaths that are extremely taboo, so taboo that we don't see these in modern horror films. The movie showcases the potential that Ritter had even back then, and it's interesting to see where he started and how he's grown as a filmmaker. Some of the films he would make for the horror genre like DAY OF THE REAPER (his directorial debut), KILLING SPREE, CREEP, and has contributed to anthologies like TWISTED ILLUSIONS 2, HI-8 (HORROR INDEPENDENT 8), and HI-DEATH.

The movie spawned four sequels: 1994's WICKED GAMES, 1998's SCREAMING FOR SANITY: TRUTH OR DARE 3, 2011's DEADLY DARES: TRUTH OR DARE IV, and 2018's I DARES YOU! TRUTH OF DARE 5. Ritter wrote and directed all three films (he co-directed part 5 with Scott Tepperman) for the direct-to-video market. SRS Cinema has remastered and released the original the fourth film on special limited edition Blu-ray, DVD, and VHS.

Of course, I purchased the Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray, cause that's how I roll. The special features include Director's Commentary, "30 Years of the Game" montage, Trailers for all Five Films, and a crap ton of Trailers: HOUSE SHARK, SHE KILLS, KILLING SPREE, NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE, EMPIRE STATE OF THE DEAD, GORGASM, GOROTICA, GORE WHORE, SPACE PSYCHOS, DEAD SILENCE, EASTER BUNNY BLOODBATH, LIGHTS CAMERA BLOOD!, TEENAGE SLUMBER PARTY NIGHTMARE, DEATH REEL, CHANNEL 13, THE HALLUCINATIONS/LETHAL NIGHTMARES DOUBLE FEATURE, DONALD FARMER COLLECTION VOL. 1, MASSAGE PARLOR OF DEATH, and KNIGHTMARE. *whew*

TRUTH OR DARE is an 80's horror slasher sick flick that will gross you out and scare you to death! It's proof that you don't need a major studio, big name stars, or a lot of money! If you have an idea for a horror movie, then go out and make it! Ritter and his film are testimonial of this mindset. With Halloween nearly upon us, why watch this slasher classic with that special someone? Just make sure they're not a deranged psychological killer!! 4 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

TRUTH OF DARE is available in a Special Collector's Edition Blu-ray (BD-R) from SRS Cinema. To purchase a copy for yourself and other titles, please visit their website at srscinemastore.com.

Thanks for watching, and enjoy the horror!