Deadline

Sleeve Design : Unknown

Mario Azzopardi | Canada | 1980

Filmed just as the slasher boom was hitting its stride, Canadian based Maltese émigré, Mario Azzopardi co-wrote and directed this off-the-wall drama/horror oddity; described by Azzopardi himself as a “non-horror” effort. Deadline juxtaposes several gory and violent vignettes, which are periodically injected within its linear storyline, documenting a family breakdown in late 70s Toronto. Typical of the sort of anomalous offering one might expect from Canada, this would make a perfect double-bill with Murray Morkowitz’s equally eccentric I Miss You, Hugs and Kisses.

Steven Lessey (Stephen Young) is a supremely successful writer of controversial horror novels and film screenplays. With his latest work, he experiences a spot of writer's block, exacerbated by both his public and private life, not to mention his pushy film producer Burt Horowitz (Marvin Goldhar), who constantly pressures Lessey for another smash hit. Immersed in writings, Lessey becomes a stranger to his children, with his wife Elizabeth (Sharon Masters) — amongst her other transgressions — developing a destructive cocaine habit.

At a chi-chi party, Lessey informs Burt that he’s no longer interested in writing schlock, preferring instead to create ‘the ultimate horror’. However, this ultimate literary piece soon arrives in the form of personal tragedy: home alone with her two brothers, his young daughter Sharon (Cindy Hinds, better known as The Brood’s Candy) is accidentally hung after watching ‘The Executioners’ — a film based upon one of Lessey’s lurid books. His wife leaves and Lessey begins a downward spiral into psychosis…

Purchased by distributor Atlantis for the video rental market in July 1984, it appears that the film’s somewhat gory and controversial content proved too much (most likely after the problems caused by DPP titles Nightmare Maker and Faces of Death), and Atlantis opted to tone down the film’s more contentious scenes.

Screen In Doors’ ‘18’ rated release from 1987, of which the BBFC have no official record, is taken directly from the Atlantis master (including the long trailer for Operation Ganymede which appears after the film) and like the earlier Atlantis edition, this re-release has had the following scenes removed and/or truncated:

The scene from Lessy’s film: a mechanic is pulled into a snowplough — gory, bloody sequences, which show his arm, leg and head being chopped off, have now been replaced with still images.

Two young children tie their Grandma to a bed, douse her with petrol and look on with glee whilst she burns to death.

A crucified, semi-naked priest with has a chunk of flesh cut off his chest, which is passed around a group of nuns — each take a bite.

All images of Lessy’s daughter, Sharon, being hung by her two brothers have been replaced; extended moments showing the girl swinging from the noose have also been transposed with still images or removed entirely.

The front panel of the sleeve shows the head of lead guitarist Kevin Staples from Canadian new wave group Rough Trade, with the close-up screaming head in the foreground being the derelict whose stomach expands and explodes whilst the band perform their song Revenge.

aka : Anatomy of a Horror

cast : Stephen Young, Sharon Masters, Marvin Goldhar, Jeannie Elias, Cindy Hinds, Phillip Leonard, Tod Woodcroft, Carole Pope, Bev Marsh, Kevin Staples, Rough Trade, Mary Risk, Ken Camroux, Philip Akin, Bill Yack, Virginia Reh, Louis Negin, Brandy, James Kidnie, Henry Less, Peter Manierka, Walker Boone