Skinned Alive, starring Evil Dead II’s Scott Spiegel, comes to Blu-ray

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Although writer/director Jon Killough's SKINNED ALIVE was released on VHS in 1990, I didn't have a chance to see it until it reached DVD in 2002 – and that's when it became one of my all-time favorite low budget horror movies. Produced by J.R. Bookwalter and executive produced by David DeCoteau, who provided around $27,000 of funding, SKINNED ALIVE is 

a movie that's fun for the whole family… the Manson family, that is! Crawldaddy and her kids travel cross-country selling fine leather apparel when their van breaks down in the Ohio backwoods. Auto mechanic Tom and his wife Whinnie put them up for the weekend, until ex-cop neighbor Paul discovers what their product is really made of…

Scott Spiegel (co-writer of EVIL DEAD II, writer/director of the 1989 slasher classic INTRUDER) stars alongside Mary Jackson, Susan Rothacker, Floyd Ewing Jr., Lester Clark, Barbara Katz-Norrod, and Michael Render.

To celebrate the film's 30th anniversary, Bookwalter's company Makeflix is giving SKINNED ALIVE an Ultimate Edition Blu-ray release that's packed with bonus features. Here's the info: 

Disc 1 (Blu-ray BD-25, Replicated): 

– NEW! 2K Restored Feature in 4:3 Original Aspect Ratio (1.33:1, 78 mins.)

– NEW! DTS HD-MA 5.1 Surround Remix

– Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Remix

– NEW! 2020 Audio Commentary with writer/director Jon Killough, moderated by Tempe historian Ross Snyder of Saturn’s Core Audio & Video

– 2002 Audio Commentary with producer J.R. Bookwalter and makeup effects artist David Lange

– NEW! Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Thai Dubbed Mix

– NEW! Carving Up 30 Years of “Skinned Alive” (16 mins.) featuring all-new 2020 interviews with writer/director Jon Killough and actors Susan Rothacker, Floyd Ewing Jr. & Michael Render

– NEW! Call Me Daddy You S#!thead: Remembering Mary Jackson (10 mins.) featuring all-new 2020 interviews with Foxx frontman Dave Jackson, original “Violet” Lorie Jackson, director Jon Killough, and actors Susan Rothacker & Michael Render

– NEW! Prissy Boy Phink: The Scott Spiegel Interview (8 mins.) featuring an all-new 2018 interview

– NEW! 2020 Location Tour (5 mins.) with cast members James L. Edwards, Floyd Ewing Jr., and Michael Render

– NEW! Restoration Grindhouse with Audio Commentary by producer J.R. Bookwalter discussing work performed for the new 2K restoration (11 mins.)

– NEW! Artwork & Promotional Gallery (5 mins.)

– NEW! Behind The Scenes Gallery (5 mins.)

– NEW! Production Stills Gallery (7 mins.)

– NEW! Optional English or Spanish Subtitles

– Tempe Digital Trailers

Disc 2 (Dual-Layer DVD-9, Replicated): 

– 1990 Original VHS Version with Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Mix (1.33:1)

– NEW! 2020 Audio Commentary with Doug Tilley and Moe Porne of The No-Budget Nightmares Podcast

– NEW! Never-before-seen 1987 “Roommates” TV Sitcom Episode One featuring “Skinned Alive” cast and crew (24 mins.)

– 1988 “Roommates” TV Sitcom Episode Two featuring “Skinned Alive” cast and crew (31 mins.)

– NEW! 1987 Joy Circuit “Love Turns To Darkness” Music Video directed by J.R. Bookwalter (6 mins.)

– Cut to the Bone: Dissecting the Making of “Skinned Alive” (35 mins.)

– Behind The Scenes (7 mins.)

– Camera & Wardrobe Tests (11 mins.)

– About The 2002 Remastering (2 mins.)

– Original 2002 DVD Release Trailer (3 mins.)

– NEW! Optional English or Spanish Subtitles

– Tempe DVD Trailers

Packaging: 

– Collectible slipcover with newly-commissioned artwork by Alex Sarabia, signed by writer/director Jon Killough and producer J.R. Bookwalter

– Reversible wrap with 2000 artwork by Dave Arcane and original 1990 Cinema Home Video VHS artwork

– Eight-page color booklet with behind-the-scenes photos and liner notes by Tempe historian Ross Snyder of Saturn’s Core Audio & Video

– Clear Viva Premium Two-Disc Blu-ray Case

The Blu-ray is available for pre-order on Makeflix.com, and for a limited time anyone who pre-orders will also receive a

Bonus Manufactured-On-Demand (MOD) Blu-ray with 2K Restored Feature in 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1, 78 mins.)

Plus the Blu-ray can be bundled with the soundtrack CD for just $5 more. (Ordered on its own, the CD is currently going for $12.99.) The official street date is September 15th, but pre-order copies are already shipping out!

Bookwalter directed several awesome movies himself, including THE DEAD NEXT DOOR (you can watch the movie HERE), ROBOT NINJA (watch it HERE), OZONE (watch it at THIS LINK), and POLYMORPH (also on Amazon Prime).

Skinned Alive

Source: Makeflix

About the Author

Cody is a news editor and film critic, focused on the horror arm of JoBlo.com, and writes scripts for videos that are released through the JoBlo Originals and JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channels. In his spare time, he's a globe-trotting digital nomad, runs a personal blog called Life Between Frames, and writes novels and screenplays.