Anything That Moves (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Alex PhillipsRelease Date(s)
2025 (July 28, 2026)Studio(s)
Special Movies (Vinegar Syndrome Pictures)- Film/Program Grade: B-
- Video Grade: A
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: A+
Review
If you’re looking for a good ol’ throwback to 70s/early 80s exploitation cinema, Vinegar Syndrome has your back with this second feature from writer/director Alex Phillips (2022’s All Jacked Up and Full of Worms). You have your sex, your violence, your intentional bad acting and an overall cinematic grit to the video thanks to Super 16mm film stock and a layer of faked film damage that will have you looking the film up to see if it was actually shot decades ago and only found recently.
Anything That Moves follows Liam (Hal Baum), a Chicago-based gig worker who delivers food and sex over an app call Snaxxx. He’s not a discerning person, as the title states, if you order—male, female or other—he fully delivers on Frank Booth’s most famous quote. Liam is part of an army of delivery folk, chief among them is his girlfriend Thea (Jiana Nicole) and they love their customers (in all ways). Liam may also have a bit of magic in him, as everyone he’s intimate with experiences a haunting glow in their nethers upon climax. Everything is hunky dory up until someone starts murdering Liam’s clients and the two cops assigned to the case, Rick (Frank V. Ross) and Dodge (Jack Dunphy), think Liam is the perp. Wrestling through his need to protect those he loves and protecting himself, Liam has to figure out who’s doing these horrible things while avoiding these cops who turn out to be quite unhinged.
Anything That Moves is a sex film. Not necessarily a porn, although it speaks the same language and shares some familiar faces thanks to two well placed cameos by legendary stars Ginger Lynn Allen and Nina Hartley. It’s also a bit of a murder mystery and straight splatterpunk thanks to some interesting kills and special effects makeup by artist Cyle Williamson. It all comes together in a fun way thanks to a steady hand by Alex Phillips. Anything That Moves isn’t a great film. It’s hardly a good one, but Phillips is a filmmaker I expect to see more from, and I have a good feeling I will end up really loving something of his in the future that may have me looking back at this film in a better light.
As I said above, the film was shot on film and transferred digitally to give it an even more archived look. For what it was trying to do, it really looks good. It’s gritty, grimy just feels like a good transfer of an old film that needed to be saved. Presented in 1.85:1 colors are deep and rich, detail is nice and the grindhouse grit plays its part well. Audio is a 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and is clear with good use of the score and plenty of atmospheric play.
Extras are pretty vast and all is fun and watchable. First up, inside the case, is a booklet/photo essay by film writer Brandon Streussnig who drills down on some of the subtext of the film, probably more than is there, but the world needs film essayists. On the disc is A Freaky Little Movie which is an interview with writer/director Alex Phillips going into his inspirations and part of the process of making the film including the hows and whys of casting the big name porn starlet cameos. Next up is I’m Down for It where actor Hal Baum talks about his theater background, how he met Phillips and what it was like filming the movie. A Lucky Girl is an interview with actress Ginger Lynn Allen where she discusses how she got involved, some of her legendary background and what it was like filming the sandwich scene featured in the film. Bubblegum and Popsicle Sticks has special effects makeup artist Cyle Williamson discussing his effects and his working relationship with Phillips. Keep Your Distance showcases the two “cops” Frank V. Ross and Jack Dunphy who have an easy relationship having worked together in Chicago theater for a while. Making Art Together interviews the two “sisters” Jade Perry and Jiana Nicole who discuss the set and how Perry came to be cast in the film thanks to an escort website. Behind-the-Scenes Footage is a quick collection of, well, behind the scenes footage. Rounding out the collection is footage from the World Premiere at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival as well as a 2025 Screening at Roxy Cinema NYC and the film’s trailer.
- Todd Doogan