There's a bonus feature on the new August Underground Snuff Edition 2-Disc DVD Set that's called To Real for Comfort - An Outsiders Perspective. In this piece, people from within the industry and fans alike recount the first time that they saw August Underground and discuss their experiences with the film. Almost like a 'what does August Underground mean to me?" retrospective. It's actually kind of cool and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed I wasn't asked to tell my side of the story. So here it is.

When I first started Monsters At Play in August of 2001, I didn't know much about the current indie scene. I really had no intention of covering the indies on the site and had decided primarily to focus on DVD reviews from companies like Anchor Bay, Mondo Macabro and Blue Underground to name a few. There were no VHS reviews on the site and up until this point no indie reviews and no intention of providing them.

It wasn't until I received an email from an indie production company called Absu Films that I even considered reviewing an indie film, let alone a film on VHS tape. What kind of snob was I? Moving along...I was contacted by Fred Vogel and his partner at the time, and was asked to review their film August Underground. I was warned that the film was extremely violent and intense and that the film was told from the serial killer's perspective - I was warned that nothing was held back. Intrigued, I told them to send it over. The VHS Vault was born and we had one of our first indie reviews on the site (review here) - mind you, it's an old review and I'm not particularly fond of my writing skills from back then. I feel as if I've come a long way over the years (as a writer and a critic).

In the end, I can easily say that it was August Underground that gave birth to my interest in covering indie films on Monsters At Play. Today, we cover more indie films than I could ever have imagined and we place these reviews right alongside the majors. We give these indie filmmakers a tremendous amount of coverage, even offering them the opportunities to write stories and behind the scenes features for us. A short while after I reviewed August Underground, one of the producers had a change of heart. Fred's partner emailed me and asked if I would take his name off of the original review and send back the screener tape. He didn't want any trace of the film to be left 'out there.' It was evident that he was ashamed of what he had made and no longer wanted to be attached to the film. I honored his wishes, but stayed in touch with Fred Vogel. Fred, who starred in, directed and produced August Underground, is one of the nicest guys you will ever want to meet, and an exceptionally talented make-up artist. Hardly the monster you'd expect behind this madness that is August Underground.

Fred went on to start up Toe Tag Pictures. They've since released a sequel to August Underground on DVD, Mordum (review here) and have provided the gruesome special effects for Nick Palumbo's Murder-Set-Pieces (review here). Up until now, August Underground had been the film that I had received the most emails about from the site. People looking to obtain a copy, even pay me for a bootleg, but even I no longer had the film in my possession. And to this day there was really no official wide DVD release. That is until now. Toe Tag Pictures presents August Underground in a 2-Disc fan friendly set, and the presentation of the film on DVD is even more disturbing than the film itself. If that's even possible. This is a tremendous DVD release and as no real surprise, even the DVD menus are not for the faint of heart.

In it's simplest form, August Underground is a found tape. When you pop it in, you discover about an hours worth of homemade footage shot by a couple of the most despicable human beings on the face of the earth. They have victims that they torture and humiliate in the basement. Hungry, abused, covered in their own urine and feces, clinging to life their victims are left for dead. These maniacs run around town reeking more havoc, bored and looking to further their video diary. They take over a convenience store and humiliate those inside. They pick up a hitchhiker and persuade her to expose and touch herself for the camera. They frolic with a few hookers, knowing all along how they want their evening to end.

Is August Underground a pleasant experience? No. Is it a film that you are going to want to revisit many times over? Probably not. Does it shock, disgust, upset and disturb? You betcha. Is this an easy feat to pull of? No, not at all. It would be easy to dismiss a film like August Underground as filth. A worthless exercise in depravity with no redeeming social value whatsoever. Fair enough. However, when such a film is made, obviously premeditated to look and feel the way that it does and it doesn't feel stupid or cheap in the process, I'm willing to give credit where credit is due. As unpleasant an experience that August Underground is, it's more than successful in its efforts and still showcases tremendous amounts of talent (in front of and behind the camera), bar none.

Audio and video quality is exactly what one would expect. The film looks like a Z-Grade VHS dupe, which is exactly the desired effect. Audio is as clear as can be expected. There's no doubt that August Underground is presented here, exactly the way the filmmakers had intended for it to appear. Does it add to the effect and impact of the film? Oh yeah.

Extras on Disc One (alongside the feature film itself) include 3 feature length audio commentaries; #1 Fred Vogel, #2 Fred Vogel along with Aaron and Ben Labonte (producers), #3 Killer Commentary. The most valuable commentary to me was Fred Vogel solo. Anyone who doesn't understand this film (which really should be everyone) should listen to this track. Other extras on Disc 1 include a trailer and a couple of not so hard to find easter eggs. Disc 2 includes a Fred Vogel introduction, Hammer to the Head - A Closer Look at August Underground featurette (67 Min) which includes interviews with cast and crew members, August Underground - On Location, a walking tour with Fred Vogel of locations used in the film and August Underground - Behind The Brutality (14 min) a SPFX piece. Then there's To Real for Comfort - An Outsiders Perspective which is the piece I mentioned earlier. Running an impressive 100 minutes, this featurette includes interviews with many personalities from within the industry (mostly indie personalities, no Tobe Hooper or John Carpenter here, I don't want you to get the wrong idea) along with Toe Tag crewmembers and fans of the film. Most of this footage appears to have been shot at conventions and it's probably one of the most interesting bonus features I've ever seen on an indie-produced feature's release on DVD. Other extras on Disc 2 include a photo slide show (with musical accompaniment) and a few more hidden eggs that you shouldn't have any problems finding. There's even a bit in which the Toe Tag crew has filmed a scene 'August Underground Style' with a fan. Crazy, weird and disturbing all at the same time.

The one odd thing I found is the fact that there are still some people who seem to not want to discuss the film or participate in anything concerning it. Well, I guess I shouldn't find it all that odd actually. However, that being said, it appears as if Fred Vogel (along with some other cast/crew members) were given tremendous support from their family and friends. Cousins and Grandparents show up (both in the film and in the extras) to voice their support, it's pretty cool.

Should I mention the menu designs? Sure, why not. The menus have been specially created for this DVD release. They're pretty crazy, on disc two in particular. The Killer (Fred Vogel) taunts a young girl, who's been tied up and gagged, naked as the day she was born. Ho forces her to tell us to pick an extra as he yells and screams in her ear, taunting and torturing her. But there are no choices on the screen to select. This video bit loops endlessly as the viewer frantically tries to figure out how to access the special features. Almost as harrowing as the film itself, it's a fitting and clever design.

August Underground is available as a 2-Disc set and as a limited number 'Snuff Edition' as reviewed here. The Snuff Edition is limited to 1,000 pieces, is autographed by cast and crew members and includes the 'Killer Commentary' track.

There's really no doubt about the fact that August Underground holds a place in indie horror film history. It's almost become legendary in its status. Whether or not we choose to accept this or not is up to each and every one of us. If anyone has been anticipating this DVD release, I can honestly say that it was more than worth the wait. Toe Tag Pictures has really delivered the goods. This is a difficult film to watch and an even more difficult DVD set to enjoy. But this doesn't lessen its impact or validity. For those brave souls, willing to venture forth, I highly recommend this DVD set. However, if you don't like what you see, know that you have been warned - and keep your angry emails to yourself.

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