Grave Robbers



Director - Straw Weisman (Bikini Model Academy, American Beach House)
Starring - Elizabeth Mannino, David Gregory (Big Deal, Black Beauty), and Larry Bockius (An Empty Bed)
Release Date - 1988
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "What they do to your body after you're dead is the ultimate nightmare"
Format - Bluray (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

 

     

      I love the obscure and weird films that Vinegar Syndrome releases.  Companies like Arrow and Scream Factory focus on films they know they can make their money back on and then some because horror fans will double and triple dip for the same movie when released on a new format.  Vinegar Syndrome offers horror fans and cult collectors something different with films they could only get on moldy VHS tapes or VHS rips on DVD at cons.  These beautifully restored films are usually packed with tons of extras and feature decent cover art.  Not long ago Vin Syn released the 1988 horror film Grave Robbers that was originally released under the title Dead Mate.  I want to thank Vin Syn for sending this one my way!

     The film follows a young woman who suffers from horrible nightmares about her death.  She works late nights at a diner when she meets a handsome young man who offers her his hand in marriage.  She goes with him to his small town and meets some of the locals who seem odd to her.  She puts it in the back of her mind as she adjusts to the married life and being married to the local mortician.  Things take a dark turn when she discovers a young woman was recently murdered and that her husband was married twice before resulting in his bride's death.  When she starts investigating she discovers a dark secret about her new husband and some of the town's folk.

     I wasn't expecting a lot with this one and though it was severely flawed I still really enjoyed myself it.  It was a goofy ass horror flick with a crazy story and several fun scenes.  The acting in this one isn't bad but no one is winning awards for their performances here.  The cast does a solid job at getting into their characters but their emotional range is similar to a cardboard cut out.  The story for this one is goofy at times but still finds a way to entertain the viewer.  We get some very heavy dialogue through most of the scenes but the story finds a way to keep moving.  It does get a little sloppy as the film enters the third act but it still holds you with the off the wall moments and goofy story.  Finally, the film has several scenes full of solid and fun gore.  The practical effects we get compliment the film very well and makes the scene work but if it was a more serious film the effects would look very cheap.  Overall, Grave Robbers is cheap good time.  The movie is nothing special but I had a lot of fun with it.  The cheesy story and weird characters made for a fun late night flick.  Check it out.