Backwoods Double Feature: Blu-ray Review

Hicksploitation is a term used for a genre of exploitation film that relies on the stereotypical depiction of rural whites of the American South and Appalachia. Now through the years there have been quite a few hicksploitation films. Some of the most popular would have to be, "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", "Thunder Road", "Smokey and the Bandit" just to name a few.

Now the Film Masters have been releasing some beautifully restored films on deluxe Blu-ray. Now this time around Film Masters joined forces with Something Weird and have brought us physical media fans a home video release like nothing we have seen at least in a long while. It is time for some hicksploitation with their Blu-ray release "Backwoods Double-Feature".

Our Rating System:

****=Don’t Miss it!

***=Worth a look.

**=An Ok way to spend an evening.

*=You haven’t missed anything.

Common Law Wife (1963) Wealthy old coot Shugfoot Rainey wants to trade in his over-the-hill mistress for his young niece, 'Baby Doll' Jonelle, a pouty-faced stripper from New Orleans. But Rainey's mistress, Linda, has a surprise for both: according to Texas law, she's Shugfoot's COMMON LAW WIFE and has no intention of leaving quietly. Jonelle, however, is so eager to get her greedy mitts on Uncle Rainey's loot that she ups the ante by having a moronic moonshiner put cyanide in Shugfoot's whiskey! All of which lead to the two women eventually squaring off in a surprisingly violent showdown. With its small-town setting and hilariously rotten characters, Common Law Wife is an overripe slice of Southern sleaze courtesy of cult director Larry Buchanan, the outrageous auteur of Mars Needs Women! **1/2

Jennie, Wife/Child (1968) A twenty-year-old is unhappily married to the way-too-old-for-her, Albert Peckingpaw. Jennie is so unhappy she puts the moves on Mario, the hunky hired hand. But when Albert realizes Jennie and Mario have been making' bacon in the barn, he drugs them, chains them in the cellar, and digs their graves. Which is when Lulu Belle, the cheerful 'town floozie,' unexpectedly pays Albert a visit. ***

Now these two films are important films in cinema history. These two films are not Citizen Kane or the great American western, far from it. But they are entertaining pieces of cinema from a different era that shows how many people thought southern people lived. Prejudices... maybe. But important to remember.

These two films have been transferred to Blu-ray in 1080p. Both films are presented in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The soundtracks of each of these films are a DTS-HD / Dolby AC3s. There is also the option for English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

These transfers are taken from the new 4k scans from original 35mm archival elements. To say these films look great doesn't do these 4K scans justice. To think this were low budget films and they look this crisp and clean, that is nothing short of miraculous! But gorgeous looking transfers is not all this Blu-ray set has going for it! Film Masters added some very cool bonus features!

* Archival commentary for Common Law Wife from Director Larry Buchanan
* Original new commentary for Common Law Wife by Millie De Chirico
* Original new commentary for Jennie Wife/Child by Millie De Chirico
* That's Hickploitation: : The Origin of Southern Sinema
* Restored Common Law Wife Trailer 
* 2024 trailer of Jeannie Wife/Child
* A Booklet insert featuring a write-up by Lisa Petrucci from Something Weird Video

This two disc Blu-ray set is something special. Both film restorations look pretty awesome. This double feature is enough to call this a must own, but C. Courtney Joyner takes us on a 50-minute trek through Southern Sinema. I thoroughly enjoyed all the knowledge be dropped during this featurette. I am always glad when Film Masters puts a Ballyhoo Pictures bonus feature on these releases. It makes these releases a must own.

So, make a jug of sweet tea and take a trip to the backwoods with this new weird cinema this double feature! Head over to Amazon and pick-up a Blu-ray or DVD copy of this Backwoods Double Feature.
 

Out of 4 Film Reels (4 Being the best) The Blu-ray release of The Backwoods Double Feature recieves.....