Robert Chipman
Welcome to my column dedicated to the appreciation of physical media supplements called: Feature Presentations. The goal of this column is not to say whether a film is good or bad and worth picking up or not—I would like to highlight the discs that go the extra mile and provide film fans with enough tasty tidbits to satisfy even the hungriest of cinephiles. With all that out of the way, today’s article will focus on Vinegar Syndrome‘s release of The Incredible Melting Man.
I’ve read many articles and watched many videos about the film of today’s article. Both positive and negative, the reviews highlight the makeup effects work courtesy of Rick Baker while chastising everything else. So, when Vinegar Syndrome announced that The Incredible Melting Man would be getting a 4K release, consider my curiosity piqued, surprise-surprise, I’ve never seen it!
One of the many benefits of being a Vinegar Syndrome subscriber is when a release like this comes along, I have no choice in adding it to my collection. I’m getting The Incredible Melting Man, whether I liked it or not. While getting films of questionable quality isn’t always positive, sometimes a Vinegar Syndrome release astonishes you in one way or another. Now that I’ve had the pleasure, was my hair blown back? Unfortunately, the disappointing answer is not really.
Trying to review The Incredible Melting Man is an unusual task. The original film, a send-up of creature features, was taken away in post-production and re-edited to a more conventional horror film. So, while the title might imply a homage to past cinema classics, you get a hybrid of a spoof and a low-budget horror movie. And when you have a film pulling at both ends, the final product is a film that satisfies no one. Of course, I can only speak for myself, but mashing these two ideas together creates a monstrosity that lacks the laughs needed for a spoof and the terror necessitated for outright horror.
While the feature film doesn’t work in either genre, it’s not a boring watch either. Buoyed by gooey melting effects courtesy of Rick Baker and understanding what William Sachs was attempting, the film is admirable in its scope, even if the execution is lacking. The Incredible Melting Man isn’t an unsung masterpiece, nor an outright failure. It’s an entertaining mess. And even if it didn’t tickle my fancy, I’m glad I saw it, and it will sit nicely within my physical media collection.
As is typical with a Vinegar Syndrome release, The Incredible Melting Man comes with a cardboard slipcover featuring newly-commissioned artwork. The disc case features a reversible art wrap offering a choice of the slipcover design and the original theatrical print. To get the most out of this package, I flip the wrap to feature the original art to get the best of both worlds.
The first feature on the disc, “It’s A War,” is an interview with writer/director William Sachs. This 30-minute interview is as quirky as quirkiness gets. Sachs is an interesting fellow as he discusses all aspects of his filmmaking career, from joining the military to his latest film, Spooky House. Some might find his tales and tangents too much, but there’s plenty of enjoyment listening to Sachs jump from topic to topic, throwing transitions to the wind. If you enjoy film history and the inner workings of various aspects of production, this interview is a must-listen.
Script supervisor Sand King sits down to discuss the film with the interview, “Just Show Up.” King spends the 15-minute chat recalling her experiences working on low-budget films The Incredible Melting Man included. King’s comments focus more on the production end than the film itself, though she has a few tales here and there. “Just Show Up” works best for those who enjoy the nuts and bolts of a film’s production, and I am one of those.
The next feature is an interview with William Sachs and special effects artist Rick Baker. This interview from Shout Factory features Baker and Sachs speaking honestly about the film’s production and history. Baker, especially, is honest with his feelings about his work on The Incredible Melting Man and his thoughts looking back. Sachs is slightly more subdued than in his earlier interview but more focused on the feature film. Both offer enlightening assessments of the film, and this one-two punch of an interview is a welcome inclusion on this Vinegar Syndrome release.
The last interview on the disc is a sit-down with special effects artist Greg Cannom. Cannom discusses his brief time on set, called to work on the film’s reshoots. Unfortunately, only working on the film after initial photography wrapped, Cannom only has a few bits of makeup effects to detail. While brief, it’s still worthwhile listening to him discuss working on the designs seen during the film’s opening sequence.
Vinegar Syndrome also includes a feature-length commentary with William Sachs. Sachs does well at riding solo as he recalls the initial inspiration for The Incredible Melting Man, his struggle with retaining control of his idea and taking shots at additional scenes filmed without his participation. While the track occasionally falls into periods of silence, Sachs recalls plenty of details and factoids that fans of The Incredible Melting Man will enjoy.
The disc rounds out with the film’s original theatrical trailer and a small stills gallery that features marketing materials, behind-the-scenes photos, and shots from the finished film.
And there you have it! After many years, I finally got my hands on a copy of The Incredible Melting Man, courtesy of Vinegar Syndrome. While the film may not have been worth the wait, it’s an unusual oddity in the history of cinema, and glad I had the chance to check it out. Now that Vinegar Syndrome has released The Incredible Melting Man on a 4K/Blu-ray combo, there isn’t a better version of this film.
