PSYCHOMANIA (1973)

Supernatural frogs are a big deal in Psychomania

Bikers... alive at this point

Gallows humour

Title: Psychomania
Year: 1973
Director: Don Sharp
Format: Blu-ray
Label: BFI Flipside

Notes: I was a bit jubilant when the BFI announced they were to release a blu-ray of PSYCHOMANIA (aka THE DEATH WHEELERS). I first saw this film over 4 years ago at a Flatpack festival screening presented by BFI Flipside and it was hilariously entertaining. I remember asking their representative at the event whether there were any plans for a blu-ray release and received the expected negative response. When you see what was done in order to produce this restoration (it involves colour separation prints from a Spanish vault) you can understand why it's taken some time to appear. Delighted it has though - I can finally throw away my dreadful DVD copy!

PSYCHOMANIA is a fantastically schlocky British curio, a hybrid of horror and biker exploitation. The supernatural elements are bizarre (necromantic frogs and crappy-looking magic stone circles) but the biker scenes on the road are fairly enjoyable. The script and the scenario about reincarnation after suicide are total nonsense but occasionally darkly humorous. You could slate the acting, but as interviews make clear, none of them were really taking the production very seriously. In addition to the infamous stars George Sanders and Beryl Reid, I enjoyed the cameos from Doctor Who's John Levene and Dad's Army's Bill Pertwee. This new release highlights that the photography is actually competent enough and the design is quite striking in places. The psyche soundtrack has always been a highlight.