Scream Dream (Blu-ray Review)
Director
Donald FarmerRelease Date(s)
1989 (July 28, 2026)Studio(s)
New Image Video (Visual Vengeance/Wild Eye Releasing)- Film/Program Grade: C
- Video Grade: C
- Audio Grade: C
- Extras Grade: A
Review
Donald Farmer is one of those legends of the straight to video filmmaking world. He’s given us Shark Exorcist, Cannibal Hookers and the Red Lips series. Boobs and blood is a lost art, and no one did it as often as Farmer. He’s a prolific filmmaker and by all accounts, a pretty decent guy considering his favorite type of films to make. Scream Dream isn’t quite the best of his oeuvre, but it’s quite watchable for a terrible film.
Essentially, it’s about a heavy metal band fronted by Michelle Shocked, who turns out to be a succubus slash demon and because she’s bad at hiding her secret, rumors abound about her demonic status, and she ends up fired from her band which sends her on a journey of revenge. Chock-a-block with full body special effects and blood and boobs, this is a heavy metal horror film for the ages. Pulled straight out of the satanic panic 80s and thrown against the wall to see what sticks, it’s notable for being one of, if not the first film of the legendary Melissa Moore (Samurai Cop). It’s got a little bit of “something” going for it for as terrible and terribly made as it is, but if you like your movies awful but watchable, this is a must have for your collection.
This is another great edition from the folks at Visual Vengeance (VV). I’m here to tell you that this is a good version of a bad-looking film. It’s VHS quality and some of the video quality is so dark you’ll have trouble seeing what is going on. But there are other moments where it looks better than I’ve ever seen it—so that good. Overall, this fullscreen 1.33:1 presentation with English stereo (and optional English subs) looks and sounds as good as it ever will. But you don’t buy a VV title for the video quality—you buy it for the extras, and as per normal for them, it’s packed.
Starting off, the packaging contains a limited to the first pressing slipcase/O-card, a reversible sleeve featuring new art on one side and the original VHS art on the other, a folded mini-poster of the succubus for your wall, the VV “Stick Your Own” stickers and a limited to the first pressing replica concert ticket with a real Scream Dream guitar pick. On the disc you’ll find a commentary with Donald Farmer moderated by filmmaker Kevin J. Lindenmuth, a video podcast slash essay dealie entitled Heavy Metal Horror Primer with Justin Decloux from Important Cinema Club and Adam Thorn aka Riot at the Movies where they do a deep dive into heavy metal horror films and give their takes. There are four interviews: an hour-long deep dive with Farmer, one with Nick Riggins who plays Derek in the film, Jesse Raye who was the intrepid reporter breaking the news about Michelle Shocked and The Art of the Scream: Special Effects Artist Rick Gonzales, an interview about the make-up effects of the film. There’s also a behind the scenes image gallery, excerpts from a Q&A with Donald Farmer after a screening of Scream Dream done over Zoom, the film’s trailer and autoplay VV trailers for Todd Sheets’ Violent New Breed and Donald Farmer’s Vampire Cop.
- Todd Doogan