Odd 1970s biker horror cult classic Psychomania is being reissued as a dual format DVD by BFI Flipside, including plenty of special features, interviews and additional short films.
Originally made in 1973 it was largely filmed in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. The plot saw Tom Latham, teenage leader of ‘The Living Dead’ motorcycle gang make a deal with the devil so that any biker who commits suicide will return from the grave to continue terrorising people. Directed by Don sharp, the cast included veteran British actors George Sanders, Robert Hardy and Beryl Reid, with Latham portrayed by Nicky Henson.
It’s fairly safe to assume this isn’t exactly Easy Rider. But it does have a nice collection of early 1970s bikes being ridden through a local English supermarket.
They appear to include a 1967 BSA 250 Starfire, plus various Triumphs (1968 Bonneville, 1970 TR 25 W, 1958 Trophy and a 1966 Thunderbird). Plus typical cars of the era like the Mark 1 Ford Capri, various Morris Minors, and strangely a Plymouth Barracuda.
The new DVD and Blu-Ray edition will be released on September 14, 2016, and the launch will be celebrated with a screening at the BFI Southbank at 8.30pm on the day which will also feature a Q and A with Nicky Henson. It’s also appearing at various film festivals and events during August and September.
The Psychomania special features include:
- Newly remastered in 2K from preservation negatives and presented in both High Definition and Standard Definition
- Return of the Living Dead (2010, 25 mins): interviews with stars Nicky Henson, Mary Larkin, Denis Gilmore, Roy Holder and Rocky Taylor
- Sound of Psychomania (2010, 9 mins): interview with soundtrack composer John Cameron
- Riding Free (2010, 7 mins): interview with ‘Riding Free’ singer Harvey Andrews
- An interview with Nicky Henson (2016, 14 mins): the star of Psychomania recalls his time on the film
- Hell for Leather (2016, 8 mins): documentary about Lewis Leathers who supplied the film’s costumes
- Remastering Psychomania (2016, 2 mins)
- Discovering Britain with John Betjeman: Avebury, Wiltshire (1955, 3 mins): the celebrated British poet narrates this travelogue about the Avebury stone circle and nearby burial grounds
- Roger Wonders Why (1965, 19 mins): a church-made amateur film which sees two Christian biker youths visit the legendary 59 Club, where they meet its founder, Reverend Bill Shergold
- Original theatrical trailer
- Wilson Bros Trivia Track (2016, onscreen text): a newly-produced subtitle trivia-track by the horror aficionado siblings
- Illustrated booklet with new writing by Vic Pratt, William Fowler and Andrew Roberts; and full film credits
Also known ‘The Death Wheelers’ in other countries, if you fancy some low budget British motorcycle horror from the 1970s, the new edition will set you back £19.99.
And if you’re wondering what on earth this actually looks like…
Leave a Reply