If you're like me and have a bit of a twisted sense of humor then the odds are pretty good that you will like PSYCHOS IN LOVE. Made in 1987 while the video boom was still going strong the movie was one of those straight to tape films that filled the shelves at mom and pop video stores across the country. With its cover depicting a wedding couple kissing while the groom is stabbing a woman and the bride is decapitating someone with a chainsaw pretty much summed up the movie in a single picture it was either one you sought out or were repulsed by. Back then I was at least curious.

At the time I wasn't all that impressed but then again I was watching so many releases while owning a store and trying to decide what to buy that I was a bit jaded. With the film's release by Vinegar Syndrome I can now make a better call on if it was good or not.

Joe (Carmine Capobianco) owns a bar where he meets women. Once he finds himself alone with them rather than what most would expect, a quick roll in the hay, he instead kills them. Until he meets Kate (Debi Thibeault). Kate has the same compulsion as Joe in that she goes out with a guy, takes him home and then kills him.

As any fan of TV crime shows will tell you it usually takes a trigger to provoke a serial killer. In this case it's grapes. Both Joe and Kate have an aversion to grapes in any way, shape or form as well as anyone who likes grapes. Thus when grapes or wine are mentioned they kill the person promoting them.

The couple eventually move in together and carry on with their hobby of killing people. It's not cheating as no sex ever happens and the end result is always the same, a dead body. That becomes an issue when their drain gets clogged with body parts. The good/bad news is their plumber doesn't hold that against them since he's a serial killer as well. He just asks that they give him the body parts once their deeds are done so he can eat them.

Here's where a problem comes up. Finding happiness with one another both Joe and Kate have begun to feel that they no longer need to kill anyone. Their psychopathic ways are stifled by their love life. What are they to do? The movie is a mix of good and bad parts. The good is that there are some truly funny moments in the film. It does a decent job of combining the dark humor necessary to make it work with the gore factor that will keep gore fans happy. On the downside the acting is pretty weak and perhaps that's intentionally so. The cinematography is also very low budget. In some cases that helps with the humor as boom mics pop into a scene and are grabbed by the actors. Moments of the fourth wall being broken also add some funny spots.

Vinegar Syndrome has done a bang up job with this release. Not only are they offering it in much better condition than ever before with a new 2k scan from a 16mm camera negative. The amount of extras included here is amazing for a film that's more cult favorite than box office smash. Included are a commentary track with director/writer/producer Gorman Bechard and Carmine Capobianco (who also helped write the script and the music),a commentary track with Gorman Bechard, DIRECTING PSYCHOS an interview with Bechard, PLAYING A PSYCHO an interview with Capobianco, DISCUSSING PSYCHOS a discussion with Bechard and Capobianco, MAKING PSYCHOS a making of featurette, a Q&A session shot at Cinema Wasteland in 2016 with Capobianco, the original trailer, behind the scenes photo gallery, promotional image gallery, rough edit outtakes and extended scenes, highlights from the PSYCHOS IN LOVE stage play, four short films directed by Bechard, a booklet essay by Art Ettinger and Matt Desiderio, original artwork from Derek Gabryszak and a reversible cover artwork. Whew! That's quite a load of extras! As I said this movie is not for everyone and the more mainstream your movie tastes run the odds decrease in how well you will like this one. But if you enjoy the quirky, if you like movies that are a bit off base, if you sense of humor runs toward the dark end of the spectrum then you'll want to add this one to your collection.

The loose and wacky splatter comedy "Psychos in Love" isn't quite perfect for what it is, as it gets dull in places and some scenes simply go on too long. But when this movie hits the mark, it's a riot. It satirizes the slasher film while also supplying enough female flesh to keep its audience happy and delivering some major gut busting laughs. It's at its brightest when playing with the conventions of filmmaking. It makes sure to remind us that we're watching a movie and has some terrific moments of fourth wall breaking.

One senses that this was a labour of love; various cast members also work behind the camera. Star Carmine Capobianco composed the silly, often hilarious music score, and was on the special effects team. And his leading lady Debi Thibeault designed the costumes. The two play Joe and Kate, a bar / strip club owner and manicurist respectively, who each has the bad habit of murdering the people that they date. When they meet, and confess to each other their big secrets, it's a case of true love. And while this is going on, an incredibly creepy plumber named Herman (Frank Stewart, who also did the hair and makeup) regularly kills his customers and then eats them. You know it's just a matter of time before his path crosses that of Joe and Kate.

There are some truly wonderful moments; one occurs around the 25 minute mark and another takes place close to the end. You'll know them when you see them. Capobianco and Thibeault are an engaging pair. Among the ladies delivering the goods are Cecilia Wilde, Ruth Collins, LeeAnn Baker, Angela Nicholas, and Patti Chambers. The (lack of a) budget may be evident at all times, but this is hardly an issue as the cast and crew have a hell of a time, and show their viewers a good time in the process.

Capobianco co-wrote the playful screenplay with Gorman Bechard, who directed, shot, and edited the movie as well.

If you love good trash, a good comedy, and the prospect of filmmaking in general, you should find this quirky gem to be quite a hoot.

Eight out of 10.

I saw this movie when it first came out. Was in charge of ordering movies for a large video store. Saw it in the catalog and had to buy it.

This is a fun movie. The theme song is catchy, has a nice chorus. I even put it on a number of tapes I made. (it always impresses my dates when they hear it) A low-budget flick that doesn't take itself seriously, it is a unique love story. It probably was a blast to film, wish I could have been there.

I really enjoyed this movie, wish I could find my copy to watch it again.

"Grapes. We hate grapes."