I wish I could sit here before you today and say that Hard Gore is the first pornographic horror film I've ever seen. But instead, I must hang my head in shame (or should I be holding it up high?). For it's not the first. Truth be told, I've seen more than my share (I certainly hope my mother isn't reading this) Plenty of films have crossed this fine line...American, European and otherwise. Some are designed as such while others have the hardcore elements inserted after the fact (Hard Gore is the former). So here we are with Alpha Blue Archives DVD release of Hard Gore (previously available from Something Weird Video). And after watching, I may be a changed man for it.

Believe it or not, there is actually a story held within this 60-minute perverted oddity, and at times, it's handled quite cleverly. Diane Galke stars as a young woman named Maria who's admitted into a psychiatric hospital for being some kind of sex fiend (we're complaining why again?). One by one the nurses administer 'medicine' to Maria, in the form of little sexual encounters (usually involving fingers, tongues and/or sex toys). "Take off your robe, lie down here, insert this dildo there," you get the idea. In the mean time, Maria is awakened in the night by shudders and screams, only to find that there is some bizarre 'cultish' activity taking place deep within the bowels of the hospital. Or is there? Those around her try to play it off as if it's all in her imagination, or part of her 'disease,' but we all know the truth. Or do we?

Each nurse that tends to Maria eventually disappears, never to return. Victims of the bizarre bloody rituals? Who knows, the doctor tries to convince Maria that each nurse never even existed to begin with! Maria is eventually sucked in and becomes part of these depraved orgies/rituals herself. She bears witness to all kinds of unspeakable sexual/violent acts. Before it's all over, her doctor will take Maria to "The Room". Within 'The Room,' Maria will be taken advantage of by the good doctor while surrounded by blood spattered walls, the bodies of her deceased former nurses (I knew they were real!), and a young man who likes to please himself with the deceased nurse's bloodied remains. Believe it or not, we still haven't even reached the end of it all. Not just yet.

There's really no reason to recommend Hard Gore as anything other than a perverted 70's oddity. It's certainly not sexually stimulating in any way, despite all of the hard core sexual acts. While there is plenty of gore as well, the film is likely not to appeal to a strictly horror based audience either considering the fact that there are really no other horror elements other than the gore itself. Sure, there are some nightmare sequences, flashing lights and colors, zoom ins and outs etc. but little else in these sequences to appeal to anyone but a strictly 70's psychedelic crowd. However, the film is strong as a grind house era perversion and will definitely appeal to those in need of that particular fix. Make no mistake about it, this is 70's grind house era filth all the way.

I know what you are thinking. "This is all fine and good, but we want specifics!" Well let's see, in addition to the usual hardcore shenanigan's (male and female oral, penetration, toys etc.) you'll gleefully witness the following; necrophilia, castration of the penis (while oral is being performed even!), masked orgies, flying dildo's (with sparkler ignitions that shoot gobs of jiz!), beheading while being taken doggy style, more slashed nurses than you could shake a stick at and much, much more!

Audio and Video quality are exactly what one would expect, especially if you're used to Alpha Blue Archives releases in general. There are marks and scratches etc. all over the place and an 'ABA' watermark appears on the bottom of the screen from time to time. These releases don't generally need to be held up to the scrutiny of a remastered disc. They are what they are so they don't lose any points in this department. The mono audio is clear, no real problems to speak of here.

The only extra is a 15-minute short entitled NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS. No opening or closing credits on this one, and the box cover lays claim to the fact that one of the young ladies in this short is also Diane Galke. Two uncomfortably young looking women (dressed as schoolgirls) are taken advantage of by a greasy, scary looking older man. The clip features full on oral (both male and female) penetration, cutting, nipple clamps and the insertion of (what appears to be) garden shear handles into quite an uncomfortable place. Yeesh. All the while, an upbeat jazz score plays in the background! Both creepy and outstanding at the same time! (To say the least). That pretty much sums it up, creepy.

Still, releases like these are intended for not the mainstream, but their intended specific audiences. Which is why I can comfortably say that if you're a member of this elite group and are still able to sleep at night, you should not hesitate in picking up a copy of Hard Gore yourself. Visit Alpha Blue Archives to pick up a copy or to browse their insane catalog of titles.