Zodiac Rapist Grindhouse Collection, The Review

Distributor: Alpha Blue Archives Edition Details: Standard DVD Release Specs: Video Format: NTSC Format: DVD Regional Code (for DVD/Blu-ray): 0 (All) Number of discs: 2

The Zodiac Rapist Grindhouse Collection is an oddly titled box set to come from After Hours Cinema. It contains the two adult Sam Dobbs detective films from the early 70s. As to why After Hours Cinema did not call it the Sam Dobbs Grindhouse Collection, I don't know. The two films contained on the release are fun and in good shape except for one major issue. They have both been modified, seemingly by After Hours Cinema, by having additional material added for this release which is unacceptable. The only extra for the release is a linear note booklet by “The After Hours Collector” on the two films. If you choose not to read both reviews, you can jump to the review of Sam Dobbs and the Guru Gangbang or the review of Zodiac Rapist.

Sam Dobbs and the Guru Gangbang, which seems to be a title made up by After Hours Cinema for this release, is the first of the Sam Dobbs, private dick films, followed by Zodiac Rapist. In this film, Judy calls private detective Sam Dobbs (Buddy Boone) because there is a dead body by her pool. The plot for the film is thin, basically moving the film from sex scene to sex scene. Sam Dobbs ends up at a guru's (Jack King) in the course of the investigation. Sadly, one doesn't actually ever get to find out how all of this ties together. After Hours has put what they call the “Enhanced Version” of the film on this release. It appears that the print that After Hours Cinema used was either damaged beyond repair at the end or was missing footage. Either way, After Hours Cinema has taken it upon themselves to create a complete film and have added an ending and altered two earlier scenes to make their ending fit.

During the gangbang at the guru's After Hours Cinema has inserted shots of people at a radar station with alarms going off. The film ends with a shot of a comet destroying earth, which was an odd choice for an ending since there is a sequel to this film. Even worse, After Hours Cinema has dubbed the original audio for Lieutenant Ward when he is talking to Sam Dobb's secretary (Judy Angel) and her friend (Suzanne Fields). His original dialog has been completely removed and a poorly dubbed voice now announces that a comet is going to kill everyone. After Hours Cinema has also altered the scene where Sam Dobbs is being brought to the guru by some hippies. To make the footage of the radar station fit, After Hours Cinema has colored this scene completely blue, to appear as if it is night. If After Hours Cinema couldn't find a complete print of the film, instead of making major alterations to the film, I wish they had just put what they had on the release as it was and put a notification on the box that the film print was not complete.

The film features a nice looking cast and decent location work. There is some odd camera work, for instance there is a camera that keeps zooming in and out during a fingering scene that is a bit nauseating. A multifaceted lens is used for shots after Sam Dobbs has been drugged by one of the guru's hippies. The sex scenes are enjoyable. To top it all off, the film even manages to have the stereotypical television repairman scene.

After Hours Cinema has presented Sam Dobbs and the Guru Gangbang in anamorphic widescreen, which does not appear to be the original aspect ratio of the original film. It looks like a print was used for the master. There is dirt, grain, artifacts, and print damage present. The film is also jumpy in a few places. All in all, the transfer isn't bad. Sam Dobbs and the Guru Gangbang is presented with a Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural track, which contains hiss and crackles. As is mentioned in the main review, After Hours Cinema has heavily altered the film from its original release by adding new title cards, altered several scenes and added a new ending onto the film, seemingly to compensate for not having a complete print. After Hours Cinema has not included any extras relating to this film on the release.

Zodiac Rapist, also known as Zodiac Killer, is a rather misnamed adult detective film from the early 70s as there really isn't any raping or killing that goes on within the film. Zodiac Rapist is the second Sam Dobbs film, following Sam Dobbs and the Guru Gangbang and is more of a comedy than anything else. The story is Sam Dobbs (Buddy Boone), a private dick, has been taunted by the Zodiac (John Holmes) but Sam Dobbs keeps failing to catch him.

The film is lighthearted throughout, the story plays for laughs more than anything, with Dobbs missing Zodiac sometimes by seconds. The females whom the Zodiac targets are shown as willing participants, so there is no fear of non-consensual sex scenes. The story is rather flimsy, basically offering just enough plot to flow from one sex scene to another. However, the flow of the film works and makes for an enjoyable viewing. The cast looks nice and the sex scenes are well done.

Now, the bad news. After Hours Cinema is offering what they are calling the “Enhanced Version,” which seems to mean their altered version of the film. They have added new title cards, which is the least of the issues. Then at the end of the film they have added a new manipulated graphic with a voice over ending. There seems to be no need for this as the print they used certainly appears to have been complete.

Other than the needless alteration done to the film, Zodiac Rapist is a fun feature film that is well worth a watch featuring a fun story, cute cast, and some nice sex scenes.

After Hours Cinema has presented Zodiac Rapist in anamorphic widescreen, which does not appear to be the original aspect ratio of the original film. It looks like a print was used for the master. There is dirt, grain, and print damage present. A few scenes look a little overly red. All in all, the transfer isn't bad. Zodiac Rapist is presented with a Dolby Digital 2.0 monaural track, which contains hiss and crackles. As is mentioned in the main review, After Hours Cinema has altered the film from its original release by adding new title cards and adding a new ending onto the film. After Hours Cinema has not included any extras relating to this film on the release.

The Zodiac Rapist Grindhouse Collection combines the two Sam Dobbs films together on one release. The films are fun and lighthearted. However, After Hours Cinema has altered both films, one considerably, which makes it hard to recommend this set.

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