The Incredible Torture Show (1976)

Director:

Joel M. Reed

Writer:

Joel M. Reed (written by)

Genre:

Horror

Tagline:

Join The Fun!... Human Dart Boards... "Home Style Brain Surgery"... Dental Hijinks!

Plot:

Sardu runs the theatre of the macabre. Sardu is into S&M. Sardu likes to kill people in public and make them think it's fake.

Plot Keywords:

Stage | S&M | Sick | Torture | Theater

Cast

Seamus O'Brien	...	Master Sardu
Viju Krem	...	Natasha D'Natalie
Niles McMaster	...	Tom Maverick
Dan Fauci	...	Sergeant John Tucci
Alan Dellay	...	Creasy Silo
Ernie Pysher	...	The Doctor
Luis De Jesus	...	Ralphus
Helen Thompson	...	Master's Assistant
Saiyanidi	...	Master's Assistant
Alphonso DeNoble	...	White Slave Dealer (as Alphonso)
Carol Mara
Linda Small
Illa Howe
Lynette Sheldon
Jenny Baxter		(as Janis Beaver)
Karen Fraser
Michelle Craig
Crystal Sync		(as Erica Wolfe)
Gail Renay
Rita Montone
Judy Best
Carol Henry
Athena Anderson
Joann Friedman
Sharani Gomez
Juliet Graham
Suzanne Wall
Arlana Blue	...	Naked Cannibal Woman
Evalyna Wade
George Davalos	...	Shipping Van Guy
Robert Kirsh	...	Shipping Van Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Stock	...	Girl Torn in Half by Rack (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel M. Reed

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joel M. Reed		written by

Produced by
Alan C. Margolin	....	producer
Joel M. Reed	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Sahl

Cinematography by
Ron Dorfman		(as Gerry Toll)

Film Editing by
Joel R. Herson
Victor Kanefsky

Casting by
Dorothy Palmer

Makeup Department
Bob O'Bradovich	....	makeup artist

Sound Department
Michael Becker	....	sound mixer
Emil Neroda	....	sound re-recordist
Freddie Rottnest	....	sound

Special Effects by
Bob O'Bradovich	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
John Coleone	....	assistant camera
Stephen DeVita	....	gaffer
Ben Jennings	....	grip
Richard Louis	....	grip
Gale B. McCarty	....	still photographer

Music Department
Michael Lobel	....	music recordist
Cleve Polar	....	musician: percussion

Other crew
Gyles Fontaine	....	choreographer
Mayo Gray	....	continuity
Dan Tieger	....	production assistant

Distributors

• American Film Distributing Corporation (AFDC) (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Troma Entertainment (1981) (USA) (theatrical) (retitled re-release)
• Palace Academy Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Astro Distribution (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Haxan Films (France)
• Magnum Entertainment (USA) (VHS) (as The Heritage Of Caligula - An Orgy of Sick Minds)
• Rochelle Films
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Vestron Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Blood Sucking Freaks (USA) (reissue title)
Bloodsucking Freaks (USA) (promotional title)
Heritage of Caligula
Sardu (USA) (informal alternative title)
Sardu, Master of the Screaming Virgins (USA) (original script title)
The Heritage of Caligula: An Orgy of Sick Minds (USA) (video title)
The House of the Screaming Virgins
Akuma no shitatari (Japan) (DVD title) [ja]
Bloodsucking Freaks (Argentina) [es]
Bloodsucking Freaks (Italy) (original subtitled version) [it]
Incredible Torture Show (France) (video box title) [fr]
Sardú, el teatro del miedo (Argentina) [es]

Runtime:

91 min | Australia:89 min (uncut version) | France:88 min | USA:88 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:18 | Canada:(Banned) (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Manitoba) (re-rating) | Finland:K-18 | Germany:(Banned) | New Zealand:R18 | USA:Open (rating surrendered) (1984) | USA:R (re-rating) (1981) | USA:X (original rating) | Australia:R

Trivia:

Originally titled "The Incredible Torture Show". Troma re-named it "Blood Sucking Freaks" for its 1980s re-release.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sardu is done eating off the girls back, the plate of food is still full when he begins smoking. When he knocks the girl there is nothing on the plate.

Quotes:

[While playing a game with Ralphus]
Master Sardu: How often to I have to tell you, I'm brown, your white!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Raising the Stakes (2005)

The dynamic duo!

"Bloodsucking Freaks" may have been quite the shocker back when it was first released, but by today standards it comes across as a pretty funny, low budget classic that gets better and better as your watching it. "Bloodsucking Freaks" serves it's purpose nicely. It also has a VERY generous amount of unshaven bush and 70's boobies in practically every scene. Awesome!! Although the special effects aren't all that special, "Blooduscking Freaks" contains a very nice share of blood, quirky sadistic murders, and fun elements of torture sprinkled throughout. The real charm of "Bloodsucking Freaks" lies within the perfect partnership of Master Sardu and his little henchman Ralphus. The scenes with them together (whether its a game of backgammon or a gleeful torture sequence) play out beautifully and comically. Ralphuses smile alone is sure to melt your heart. Sardu and Ralphus are really the stars of this show, and they seem to be having a great time in the movie. The more I watched them together, the more I couldn't stop laughing.

Brazen, unrelenting, and carefree, "Bloodsucking Freaks" is by definition a "B" movie at it's finest.

Perfect for all you cult classic lovers.....