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The US DVD from MGM was compared with the US Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.
Rick and Melissa are a young couple living in a socially deprived neighborhood. Their relationship is put to a hard test when Rick's cousin Jesus is killed in a gang war. Rick assaults the enemy gang and is eventually arrested by the police. Meanwhile, Melissa falls into the clutches of drug dealer B.T., who gets her hooked on crack and eventually hands her over to the ruthless gangster boss Steadman. Rick desperately tries to free Melissa from the clutches of the gang and makes a deal with the police to do so... When Cannon Films produces an educational film about the dangers of drug abuse and the resulting gang crime, there is little room for subtle nuances. Instead, the film relies on drastic depictions: detailed scenes of drug use, bloody shootouts, sexualized violence, and human trafficking are staged without mercy. Despite the serious subject matter, the film often tends towards the exaggerated. Among the highlights are Melissa's drastic development from an aspiring designer to a crack prostitute, and the surprising revelation that Melissa's teacher is a drug dealer who immediately exploits her sexually. Richard Roundtree, who played Shaft, shines in the role of the honest cop. Former American football player Jim Brown, who has a controversial past himself – he is said to have abused several women – plays the mob boss Steadman. So there is a bitter aftertaste when he takes his belt in the role of Steadman and beats Melissa with it, grinning sleazily. Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray with longer cutIn the US, the film was released on DVD in 2005 by MGM. On January 28, 2025, Vinegar Syndrome released a Blu-ray that contains a longer cut of the film for the first time. The cover advertises a “never-on-video original version, featuring extended sequences of violence and nudity”. In fact, the Blu-ray presents additional shots of drug use and extended sex scenes. Presumably, the original cuts were made to get an R-rating – but Vinegar Syndrome unearthed the unrated version here. The release is convincing all along the line and comes highly recommended for fans of the film and the exploitation genre. You can order the film directly from Vinegar Syndrome.
Picture comparison: US DVD (MGM):
US Blu-ray (Vinegar Syndrome):
Running times:
[00:00:00][00:00:00]
The DVD starts with the MGM and Cannon logos.
DVD: 23 sec. [00:11:08][00:10:48] The Blu-ray continues with Danny holding the syringe with the liquid crack on a spoon.
BD: 5 sec. [00:12:19][00:12:04] Jesus can be seen again. He pulls Danny towards him and says that Danny should take a good look at his friend. Chico uses the syringe with the crack and whispers something to the woman.
BD: 31 sec. [00:21:57][00:22:13] The dead Jesus is further mourned in his car.
BD: 2 sec. [00:36:02][00:36:20] The DVD fades before you see Melissa snorting the cocaine.
The Blu-ray continues to show Melissa snorting a small amount of the cocaine. She says she doesn't feel anything. B.T. tells her that she didn't take enough and advises her to take a deep and fast puff. Melissa sniffs the rest of the line.
After that, you see B.T. and Melissa in the van, drinking beer. She says that she wants to design the best clothes in the world after school. B.T. thinks she has a lot of talent. Melissa spills some of the beer and asks what time it is. When B.T. says that it is already eight o'clock, Melissa says that she has to go home urgently and gets up. B.T. follows her.
DVD: 2 sec. BD: 1:24 min. [00:42:09][00:43:49] B.T. hands the crack pipe to Annie and heats the drug with the gas burner. Annie takes a puff. In the next shot, Melissa can be seen earlier.
BD: 19 sec. [00:42:11][00:44:09] B.T. can be seen earlier. He takes a puff from the crack pipe.
BD: 6 sec. [00:42:29][00:44:33] Finally, Melissa takes a drag from the crack pipe. B.T. says that she can do better than that. Melissa takes another drag.
BD: 22 sec. [00:43:06][00:45:33] During the party, a couple can be seen having sex in the bathroom. A man comes out of the toilet and is surprised by the sight.
BD: 6 sec. [00:43:17][00:45:50] After Melissa has wondered where the high tops are, the camera cuts back to the couple having sex.
BD: 10 sec. [00:43:58][00:46:41] Melissa lies down in B.T.'s van. He comes to her. Melissa says that she made an idiot out of herself at the party. B.T. replies that there is no reason for her to apologize. B.T. gets a crack pipe and takes a puff. He says that Melissa should breathe in some of the smoke. The DVD continues with the two kissing.
BD: 33 sec. [00:44:30][00:47:45] B.T. and Melissa can be seen having sex in another shot.
BD: 4 sec. [00:44:34][00:47:53] Before cutting to the van, there is another shot of B.T. and Melissa having sex.
BD: 8 sec. [00:59:11][01:02:39] Steadman can still be seen. He beats Melissa with his belt. Tripper and Youngblood wonder about the screams. Steadman continues to beat Melissa.
BD: 11 sec. [01:09:31][01:13:09] As Annie is held down on the table by the gang members, the Blu-ray continues to show Tripper pouring cocaine over her breasts and licking it off again.
BD: 15 sec. [01:09:47][01:13:41] Annie can be seen further on as she is raped by Tripper. There is a cut to Tripper.
BD: 2 sec. [01:09:51][01:13:47] There is a cut to Tripper raping Annie. Steadman leads Melissa to the back, followed by a cut to the rape.
BD: 9 sec. [01:17:38][01:21:44] The shot of Melissa in the shower starts earlier. Her intimate area can be seen.
BD: 1 sec. [01:30:58][01:35:01] After the movie, the DVD shows the Cannon and MGM logos.
The Blu-ray shows the Vinegar Syndrome logo.
DVD: 14 sec. BD: 11 sec. |
