The original version was compared with the Bloodshed version.

 

In a remote forest area, fanatical cult leader Paul gathers a group of devoted followers who follow him unconditionally. Dropouts and renegades are brutally murdered. When the police put an end to it, Paul is committed to a psychiatric clinic. Years later, Paul is released and continues his murderous mission. Ygor, a submissive but dangerously disturbed follower, develops a particularly brutal zeal. It is up to former cult member Tom to end the bloodbath.

Igor and the Lunatics is a cheaply made trash film about a murderous hippie cult that commits various atrocities somewhere in the countryside. The plot is unbalanced and switches back and forth between Paul and his cult, Tom, who tries to stop him, and Mary Ann, who tries to start a new life in the countryside. Occasionally, there are a few bloodier moments that hardly make up for the slow pace.

The film was produced by Troma Entertainment, who were dissatisfied with the final product. The two directors, Thomas Doran and Brendan Faulkner, were hired to shoot additional bloody scenes.

The film has been available for direct purchase from Vinegar Syndrome Archive since mid-April. The Blu-ray includes the well-known original version as well as a longer 'Bloodshed' version. The latter is a good 13 minutes longer and offers several new scenes. The lives of Tom and Sharon in Paul's cult are examined in more detail, and we learn in great detail how Mary Ann moves from the city to her apartment in the country. The opening scene in which Sara's murder is brought forward is not included in the 'Bloodshed' version. No additional violent scenes are included in the 'Bloodshed' version. Some of the additional scenes in the 'Bloodshed' version come from a poor source, presumably VHS, while most of the extended scenes are of the same quality as the rest of the film.

Since the original version of the film may already feel too long for some, you should think twice before picking up the even longer 'Bloodshed' version. If you haven't seen Igor and the Lunatics before, it's best to stick with the original version.

Currently, the Blu-ray can only be ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome.

 

Running times:

• Original version: 79:15 min.
• Bloodshed version: 92:41 min.

[00:00:00][00:00:00]

The original version begins with Sara running across a yard toward a truck. She gets in the back and closes the door. Paul appears with Felix and Buck. He calls out to her and says he knows she's hiding. Sara gets out of the truck and tries to run away, but is caught by the men. One of the men tears Sara's dress off, then she is tied to a wooden saw. Sara is cut into pieces. Blood splatters everywhere. The credits are shown during the scenes.

OV: 2:29 min.


[00:04:35][00:02:09]

Mary Ann is seen in bed for longer after Tom leaves. In the next shot, the camera pans from the letter to Mary Ann sleeping.

When Mary Ann picks up the diary, the voiceover is different. In the original version, you hear Tom saying that he has to do something alone before he and she are killed. In the Bloodshed version, you hear Mary Ann saying that she didn't know Tom had a diary and wonders what might be in it.

BL: 14 sec.


[00:05:21][00:03:08]

Mary Ann is seen in bed for longer, reading the diary.

Tom reports that he was part of the peace movement that Rabiat cracked down on. He wore the number 487, but another fight awaits him. Scenes from the Vietnam War follow as the opening credits roll.

Hippies can be seen in a meadow and on a street. Tom remembers 1967 when he made love to Sharon in Central Park. They met Paul Byron, who was preaching to a small group of young people. He seemed very friendly, but the illness inside him was not visible. There is much he regrets. Then the street can be seen earlier.

BL: 2:37 min.


[00:06:09][00:06:33]

In the Bloodshed version, Tom goes on to say that he tried to convince Sharon and the others to leave with him, but they didn't recognize the threat. Tom stayed because of Sharon.

This is followed by a scene in which Tom goes to Paul to talk to him. Tom tells him that he is concerned about how things are developing. He admires Paul and what he can do to people, but Tom fears that they could quickly lose control. Tom only sees how people are being made to blindly listen to and trust Paul. Paul explains that this is necessary in order to be completely liberated. Tom counters that it makes no sense to enslave people in order to liberate them. Paul says that he cares about Sharon. He sleeps with her to speed up Tom's development. This is the greatest sign of love Sharon can give Tom. Upset, Tom says he is sorry.

In the next scene, Sharon and Tom are seen. Tom makes it clear to her that he doesn't like living in this commune and doesn't agree with what Paul is trying to do. He suggests talking about something else. Sharon says that they can learn so much from Paul and wants Tom to stay. Tom asks why he should stay. Sharon explains that Paul wants them to free themselves from all the chains of society. Tom is fed up with what Paul says and wants to know what Sharon has to say. Sharon asks if he is jealous. Tom asks if Sharon doesn't realize what is happening to them. Sharon says they should be quiet. A man enters the room and gives them a blessing before leaving. Tom asks Sharon if she slept with Paul. Sharon tells him that he still has a long way to go. The two lie down in bed and kiss.

BL: 3:39 min.


[00:25:50][00:29:53]

The camera pan across the cars is slightly slower in the original version. The cars are visible for longer.

OV: 8 sec.
BL: 7 sec.


[00:25:58][00:30:00]

In the Bloodshed version, the cars are visible for longer. Mary Ann says that she left town at that time. She says that she wasted several years working as a waitress in a diner and now had to leave town. She wanted a fresh start. At first she was nervous, but happy that she had taken the plunge. Mary Ann drives out to the countryside and parks in front of a bar. A rock band is rehearsing there. Mary Ann asks three of the audience members where the old school building is, but they ignore her. A man is using cocaine. Mary Ann is taken with the band's music. Her friend Colette finally arrives at the bar and greets Mary Ann.

The next morning, Conway sits in a bar with a man and wants to tell him a story. The man makes it clear that he doesn't want to hear it. A fight breaks out between the two. Colette and Mary Ann enter the bar. Colette is happy that Mary Ann has moved to the country with her. Mary Ann says that she was fed up with city life and explains that her divorce is now final. She explains that the relationship wasn't working and it was time to move on. Colette tells her that the apartment is still available. The two clink glasses.

Colette helps Mary Ann move in. The two carry a box upstairs and talk about old times. When they have carried the box into the room, Colette wants to know what is in it. Mary Ann jokes that the box contains a dead body.

Mary Ann looks around the small town. She makes some drawings. In the evening, she lies in bed and falls asleep. She dreams that Ygor is chasing her with an axe. Ygor catches her and strikes her with the axe. Mary Ann wakes up screaming from the nightmare.

Mary Ann says that she went for a walk the next morning to clear her head. She met a man who scared her. She runs away and passes two men sitting on a park bench. Mary Ann says that there are strange people in the area. One of the men explains that a group of cultists live in the woods. Mary Ann asks if there is a cult in the area. The other man says that there was some time ago, but that the cult has since disbanded. Mary Ann thanks them and continues on her way. One of the men remarks that Mary Ann has a nice butt.

BL: 9:13 min.


[00:27:48][00:41:03]

After Paul turns to the hitchhiker, the original version continues with the scene in which Mary Ann talks to the two men on the park bench.

OV: 43 Sek.


[00:28:34][00:41:06]

In the Bloodshed version, Mary Ann is seen earlier on the couch. She says that she remembers the afternoon and that she was watching the neighbor's dog. She says that she was bored.

BL: 8 sec.


[00:36:51][00:49:31]

After Mary Ann meets her friends at the bar, the original version shows the scene where she dreams of being chased by Ygor.

In the Bloodshed version, Mary Ann's house is shown. She is sitting at her desk when the phone rings. Jarry Hatfield from “The Chronicle” calls her and offers her a job because he likes her drawings. Mary Ann is thrilled and wants to meet him right away.

OV: 49 sec.
BL: 41 sec.


[00:42:17][00:54:49]

The car rental agency is shown for longer. Then there is a cut to a highway while Tom says that he drove to where he thinks his son is. Mary Ann runs up the steps. Then you see the man searching through the drawings earlier.

BL: 27 sec.


[00:42:21][00:55:19]

The original version shows Mary Ann running up the stairs. However, the shot is shorter than in the Bloodshed version.

In the Bloodshed version, the desk is visible for longer.

OV: 5 sec.
BL: 2 sec.


[00:43:50][00:56:46]

You can see Mary Ann helping the man to his feet for longer. She explains that he gave her a strange feeling and that he was like a bad omen. Then the forest can be seen earlier.

BL: 10 sec.


[00:43:53][00:56:59]

Mary Ann gets out of the car and runs to the cabin. She says she knew the man was following her. She doesn't like the idea of meeting Hawk, but she had no choice because she wanted to help the man. The cabin can be seen earlier.

BL: 15 sec.


[01:19:04][01:32:25]

After the credits, the black screen is longer. The music plays a little longer than in the original version.

BL: 6 sec.