Product Details

• Actors: Kevin Gage, Elizabeth Peña, Brett Harrelson, Robert Englund, Linda Cardellini
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Lions Gate
• DVD Release Date: March 23, 1999
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (151 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00000I1KK
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,532 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "StrangeLand" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

STRANGELAND - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Taste the pain, January 29, 2005

By 

Matthew King (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: StrangeLand (DVD)

The horror genre has introduced us to many memorable icons; Freddy, Jason, Pinhead, Leatherface and countless more. Some of these ghouls are scarier than others and some are really not scary at all, but rather comedic and foolish. If you've never seen "Strangeland" you've probably never heard of "Captain Howdy" which would be a shame because they don't come any scarier than this dude. His methods of torture and reasonings for his attacks had me squirming in my seat the whole time. Somebody give this man a franchise!

"Stangeland" opens up with two young women sitting in front of a computer screen and chatting up guys in an internet room. They become intrigued by a guy with the user name "Captain Howdy" who claims to lead a wild life and know what fun is all about. When Howdy writes the line "Wanna come to a party?" the girls go to his place and soon find themselves trapped in his underground basement of torture. One of the girls is the daughter of a police detective who will do whatever it takes to get her back safely before Howdy gets to sink another one of his patented hooks into her...

I find critiquing Strangeland as a horror movie to be twofold. The positives are the unique style and imagery scenes of things like goth clubs, torture chambers, Captain Howdy's appearance, a man of countless tattoos and piercings, all of it to the boom of a great heavy metal soundtrack. If you're a fan of this culture like I am then you will really enjoy this movie. On the negative side this film can appear downright amateurish at times, especially with its plot and awkward dialogue scenes with none too impressive actors. In other words a film of style over substance all the way. And of course it hasn't exactly aged very well, being a movie where "The Web" and chatrooms are portrayed as being cutting-edge.

But the real reason to watch this film is for Captain Howdy. Imagine a violent and twice as muscular Marilyn Manson with an insane glare in his eyes and you will get a good idea. Howdy's life revolves around the ultimate pursuit of pain as pleasure inflicted both upon himself and onto others. He fears nobody and nothing, not even death, as pain inflicted upon him gives him a rush. This guy is way more deranged than the usual horror movie villain. Sure, it's got its bad moments however if you like horror movies and goth/freak culture I would recommend you give this one a try but caution: it just might make you reconsider that nose piercing you've wanted so much...

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "So much flesh, so little time...", September 30, 2005

By 

Draconis Blackthorne (The Haunted Noctuary) - See all my reviews

This review is from: StrangeLand (DVD)

Cyber-predator and sadistic modern primitive Carleton Hendricks, A.K.A "Captain Howdy" {Dee Snider} captures a detective's teenage daughter 'Toni' and keeps her locked up in his candle-lit dungeon for S/M sensual pleasure. Enclosed in a body cage, her mouth is sewn shut as she witnesses the torture of others with various bloodily forced body-modification torments. A partially bright-red-headed and shaved Captain Howdy is tattooed from head to toe, reminiscent of Bali body art, and sports several piercings, seemingly everywhere that can be.

With the help of his partner and an internet savvy cohort, Detective Gage finds him 'chatting' in a teenage forum, as the trail keeps on getting hotter, leading him to an amusing club populated by the underground subculture. Like a cat batting around a mouse, Capt. Howdy teases Detective 'Kevin Gage' {Mike Gage}, until his dwelling is deciphered, daughter rescued, and Hendricks is apprehended.

In keeping with the musical story from Twisted Sister's "Stay Hungry", Hendricks is sentenced to a mental institution for the criminally insane, until "recuperated" and set free. Heavily-medicated and seemingly docile, he resembles more of a Forrest Gump now with facial markings covered in make-up, all in an effort to 'fit in' to 'vanilla' society. And all was going along just fine until a group of vigilantes headed by a 'Jackson Roth' {Robert Englund} subject him to some street justice, where he is beaten and hanged. But like a previous scene where he returned from the brink of death experiencing a hellish Near-death experience, he resurrects and resumes his sado-masochistic persona. And thus, seeking vengeance, manages to capture Roth after a necromantic dance sequence, as well as a boisterous lady who persecuted him. Both are remanded to Howdy's sexual torture devices, driving them insane in the process. He keeps them alive and suffering, rather than killing them, where his influence is felt for the rest of their lives.

To his mortification, Gage finds a live video stream playing through his laptop, wherein Howdy delivers another one of his philosophical rants, holding a sobbing Toni again. Once more they confront eachother for the final battle.

Dee Snider's brainchild comes alive in Strangeland, and is relatively well done, despite the rather bland acting, although the ideas make for a great B-grade cult horror movie. Now if only King Diamond would follow suit...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dee needs to stick to music, October 31, 1999

By 

Bogey (Scotland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangeland [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Although his intentions are there, there is no atmosphere of fright in this movie. I think he should have directed it with someone other than himself in this movie.

The plot is not a dull one and therefor should have been performed by someone like Anthony Hopkins. The scenes are sick and twisted but that is good however, Dee should really stick to making music as I didnt find him a bit scary but rather comical.

If you like gore and sexual exploitation, this movie is for you. If you want to be scared, look elsewhere.

Thank you.