Nostalgia Kinky

A key work from the tail-end of the eighties’ Satanic panic, Scream Dream (1989) is a delightfully twisted SOV production that’s both endearing and unforgettable. Directed by Donald Farmer, just below me down in Tennessee, Scream Dream is now available from Visual Vengeance on Blu-ray with extensive extras.

Running less than 70 minutes, Scream Dream has it all with glammy metal and gratuitous blood and boobs packing every scene. Farmer gives the audience for a movie called Scream Dream exactly what it wants with no apology. The fact that he does so with a literal nickel and dime for a budget makes it even more noteworthy.

Donald Farmer spent his first decade, the seventies, behind the camera directing a series of short films before starting an influential zine. He made his first hour-long feature in 1987 with the SOV vampire film Demon Queen. Later the same year he made what is still one of his most popular films, the delightfully titled Cannibal Hookers. Scream Dream is just his third feature, although at this point he feels as at home in the SOV genre as any other director before or since.

Scream Dream stars a Playboy model, features makeup by one of Savini’s assistants from Day of the Dead, and features a theme song so catchy you’ll have it in your head for days. Budget be damned, every scene of Scream Dream features something for somebody. This is pure trash glam served on a platter of American cheese.

Watching Scream Dream, it is hard to not imagine that Donald Farmer was born for SOV productions. Dude just seems to know how to do this, understanding the camp appeal and having the kind of independent drive needed, as a lot of this is just sheer perseverance. Farmer delivers a great Friday night pizza with a beer movie. I kind of feel bad for someone who could watch something like this and come away not having a good time.

Visual Vengeance knock another one out of the park with this Scream Dream Blu-ray, continuing a phenomenal line of classic SOV works. Extras are plentiful, including a commentary and about an hour’s worth of interviews with Farmer. We are also treated to lengthy additional cast and crew interviews, promotional material, and a chat about the history of heavy metal films. Thrown in also are a poster, a guitar pick, ticket replica, slipcover and a reversible sleeve, making this an exceptionally fun package. Highly recommended and available to order from MVD.

-Jeremy Richey, July 2026-