Synopsis of Wicked World

The serial killer Harold is on the loose in Toronto. Among his numerous victims is the girlfriend of the tough cop Grant Ekland, who finally confronts him and wounds him badly. Harold ends up in a mental hospital and continues to give in to his dark thoughts. When Grant finds out that Harold is about to be released, he sees only one way out: Harold must die.

In 1989, the film Things was released. It was shot by Andrew Jordan and Barry J. Gillis and deals with a group of people who encounter various monsters in an old house. The film was shot on a cheap budget, with bad actors, poor special effects, endlessly dragging scenes and a spooky picture quality. Because of these flaws, Things gained a certain reputation among genre-enthusiasts, who get their kick out of bad movies. A year later, Barry J. Gillis made his second movie, Wicked World. Gillis did a rough cut, but he was dissatisfied with the result. It would take several years before he had both the motivation and the financial means to continue working on the editing. A final cut appeared in 2009. 10 years later, Gillis created a new Director's Cut for the Blu-ray release.

Wicked World is an unusual film on many levels. The plot of the film is not told in a linear way, so that it is up to the viewer to decide how the events should be arranged chronologically. However, you shouldn't be put off by this, because large parts of the movie consist of scenes in which Harold kills several people who only recently turned up. Important characters like the cop Ekland or the daughters of Harold only appear towards the end of the movie.

The way the movie is edited is very special. Sometimes it is cut very fast, sometimes wildly zoomed into the picture or crude distortion effects are inserted, fragments of shots that are only seen later are inserted seemingly without sense at other places, scenes are played back, sometimes slowed down, sometimes accelerated, weird sound effects were put on the soundtrack or dialogue lines are repeated without any sense. To get a first impression of the madness, please have a look at the corresponding Best of the Worst episode by Red Letter Media. Despite all the shortcomings, it has to be mentioned that the film manages to create a very threatening atmosphere at times.

Many small differences between original version and Director's Cut

AGFA's US Blu-ray, which was released on 17 December 2019, is indeed the first release of the film. It is remarkable that you can see two versions at once. Firstly, the original version from 2009 and secondly the revised Director's Cut from 2019. The runtime difference only indicates minor differences but in fact, Gillis has extensively revised the film. Many of the differences are only minimal. Be it a short alternative scene, lengthening or shortening of scene transitions or the revision of previously inserted effects during editing. The relevant differences can be summarized as follows:

• The Director's Cut image has been filtered. Details were lost and the image looks a bit softer.
• The opening and closing credits have been reworked. Quotes removed, new ones added or the order was changed.
• The text insertions are identical, but were newly created for the Director's Cut.
• The Director's Cut zooms into the picture less often. At these points, the film appears less chaotic.
• Many of the murder scenes have been reworked, either by adding CGI blood or by a more stable editing. The original version seems a lot more hectic here.
• Many effects like a distorted picture can't be found in the Director's Cut.
• The Director's Cut seems generally a bit calmer due to the somewhat moderate editing.

Ultimately, which version you watch makes no big difference. The Director's Cut generally looks a little rounder because of the improved editing, but the additional CGI effects look a little strange. The wild zooms and weird effects contribute to the entertainment, so that you should rather use the original version.

The Blu-ray by AGFA is highly recommendable. In addition to the two versions, the bonus material includes an extensive Behind the Scenes and in "Tomorrow's Dream", Gillis himself gives an insight into his cinematic legacy. Recommendation: Take a look at the Best of the Worst episode and if you feel like watching the movie, you can buy the US Blu-ray without hesitation.

Picture comparison:

DC:

OV:

Runtimes:

Director's Cut: 100:46 min.
Original version: 101:55 min.

The original version was compared to the Director's Cut. Both are included on the US Blu-ray by AGFA.

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

The original version begins with a quote from Barry J. Gillis about the alleged murder of the professional boxer Arturo Gatti.

OV: 18 sec.


[00:00:32][00:00:48]

The original version has two additional quotes from Nick Palumbo and Black Sabbath.

OV: 9 sec.


[00:02:57][00:03:22]

In the DC, the camera moves to the left.

In the OV, there is only a short movement at the end.

DC: 3 sec.
OV: 3 sec.


[00:03:09][00:03:34]

In the DC, the camera pans down.

In the OV, there is only a slight swing to the left at the end.

DC: 5 sec.
OV: 5 sec.


[00:05:32][00:05:56]

After Janet gets up in the DC, Harold is shown once again.

Then you see Janet running into the bathroom.

In the original version, the camera follows Janet into the bathroom. The next shot starts a little earlier.

DC: 9 sec.
OV: 10 sec.


[00:06:51][00:07:15]

In the DC, they switch earlier from Harold to the boy.

No time difference. (each 5 sec.)


[00:07:51][00:08:16]

When Brad is shot, the many short cuts on Brad in the DC and the OV are mounted differently.

DC:

OV:

No time difference. (2 secs. each)


[00:07:54][00:08:18]

In the DC, the Harold can be seen earlier as he opens the balcony door.

DC: 2 sec.


[00:07:57][00:08:19]

Same shot as for the previous cut. Harold can be seen longer in the OV.

OV: 3 sec.


[00:08:16][00:08:41]

In the DC, the cuts on the gun when the boy is shot on the ground are distorted.

No time difference. (each 1 sec.)


[00:08:35][00:09:00]

In the DC, the shot is longer as the girl has the guns put in her mouth.

In the OV, the subsequent shot starts earlier instead. There you can also see how the weapon is pushed into her mouth.

DC: 1 sec.
OV: 1 sec.


[00:08:37][00:09:01]

The view of the girl being shot was distorted in the DC.

No time difference. (each 1 sec.)


[00:08:38][00:09:03]

After the girl was shot, another view of Janet in the shower.

DC:

OV:

DC: 2 sec.
OV: 2 sec.


[00:08:47][00:09:11]

Again an alternative shot of Janet in the shower.

DC:

OV:

DC: 3 sec.
OV: 3 sec.


[00:08:59][00:09:23]

The DC is mounted differently when Harold attacks the killer. A cracking sound also makes it clearer that he broke his neck.

DC:

OV:

DC: 4 sec.
OV: 5 sec.


[00:09:06][00:09:30]

Again an alternative shot of Janet in the shower.

DC:

OV:

DC: 2 sec.
OV: 2 sec.


[00:09:53][00:10:17]

The shots of Janet when she is murdered in the shower are distorted in the DC.

No time difference. (each 1 sec.)


[00:10:01][00:10:26]

The subsequent sequence in which the blood runs over the camera was also revised for the DC.

No time difference (10 seconds each)


[00:11:01][00:11:26]

The sequence during the opening credits with the drive through the cemetery was revised for the DC. The OV shows a different scene at the beginning, for the DC, the picture was slightly altered.

No time difference. (each 3 sec.)


[00:11:26][00:11:51]

The DC adds two more credits during the opening credits.

Instead, the OV shows alternative scenes from the gravestones.

DC: 14 sec.
OV: 2 sec.


[00:11:44][00:11:57]

The DC shows only a short cut to the cemetery before the Director of Photography is shown.

The OV shows different scenes from the cemetery.

DC: 2 sec.
OV: 12 sec.


[00:11:50][00:12:13]

Other scenes of the cemetery can be seen.

DC:

OV:

DC: 4 sec.
OV: 4 sec.


[00:12:26][00:12:50]

The credit fade-in of Shapur Ahurani is a bit longer in the OV.

OV: 1 sec.

[00:15:29][00:15:53]

The DC shows different scenes as Harold says "We discover the reality of the world around us." The OV is also distorted.

DC:

OV:

DC: 3 sec.
OV: 4 sec.


[00:15:44][00:16:08]

The DC fades from the grid to the "Steak Express" shop.

The OV shows a black screen instead.

Afterwards, we see other scenes from the Steak Express.

DC: 7 sec.
OV: 8 sec.


[00:16:29][00:16:54]

When Harold goes to the store, the DC continues to show the same shot.

When the shop is raided, the DC cuts to the man in the wheelchair for a longer time.

On the OV, Harold also raids the store. But the scenes were distorted. In between there is only a short cut to the man in the wheelchair.

DC: 34 sec.
OV: 33 sec.


[00:17:43][00:18:07]

In the OV, the scene when the seller is shot is distorted.

DC: 3 sec.
OV: 3 sec.


[00:17:56][00:18:20]

The OV zooms in a little when the robber is unmasked.

DC: 3 sec.
OV: 3 sec.


[00:18:03][00:18:27]

When the robber is shot, the OV shows other, zoomed images.

DC: 1 sec.
OV: 2 sec.


[00:18:18][00:18:43]

When the woman is shot in the store, there is a flash of light in the DC copied into the picture. In the OV, instead, there are wild cuts all over the place.

DC: 1 sec.
OV: 1 sec.


[00:19:35][00:19:59]

In the DC, the car can be seen a little longer.

The OV cuts earlier on to the red wagon.

In the OV, this and the following scenes are somewhat zoomed.


DC: 1 sec.
OV: 3 sec.


[00:19:40][00:20:06]

The red car can be seen a little earlier in the DC.

DC: 1 sec.


[00:19:43][00:20:08]

Again, in the DC we see the car a little earlier. The scene also runs slower.

DC: 8 sec.
OV: 5 sec.


[00:19:51][00:20:13]

In the OV, we see the dark car longer and in the next shot the red car earlier.

OV: 4 sec.


[00:19:51][00:20:17]

The shot in which the red car drives around the curve is again slowed down in the DC.

DC: 7 sec.
OV: 5 sec.


[00:19:58][00:20:22]

The DC shows the car earlier.

In the OV, we see the red car a little longer instead.

DC: 2 sec.
OV: 1 sec.