Last August we shared with Bloody Disgusting readers the unearthed trailer for the later 80’s slasher, The Violence Movie. The passion project was shot entirely on VHS by horror-loving teenage brothers Eric D. and David E. Wilkinson and was done as a tribute to Friday the 13th — they even stole Harry Manfredini’s legendary score and plopped it over their film.

“First of all, please let me say that The Violence Movie was never meant for public consumption,” explained Eric. “My little brother and I were teenagers and we loved movies like Friday The 13th, Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street. It was summer 1988 and we had nothing to do so I had this ‘brilliant’ idea to pool our money, rent a VHS video camera at Erol’s and had 24 hours (before we had to return the camera) to make our ‘movie’. I scribbled a story and script out on scrap paper, had my brother call his best friend to join in our adventure and we just kind of made it up as we went along. I dumped it down to my Sony Betamax to edit it and the back to VHS to add music from my record collection, which included generous use of my Friday the 13th album, and we had this funny short to share with our family and friends.”

Many years passed, the brothers grew up and Eric became a successful producer in indie film circles and creator of the MVD Rewind Collection. Having long moved on to new projects, Eric had mostly let this first filmmaking venture fall off into obscurity. And then last year it suddenly resurfaced when a friend Eric had previously shown the film to wanted to upload it to Sundance Now. For the full details on that you can refer to my article from last August, but long story short Eric was actually able to bring Manfredini on to create an original score, re-edit the film, submit it to Sundance Now and have it premiere at the New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival.

What I didn’t know at the time is way back all those years ago, Eric and David actually made a sequel because as we know all great slashers get a sequel.

“I made a few copies [of The Violence Movie] and the tapes were passed around locally and we became local legends so, a year later we made a sequel…The Violence Movie 2,” Eric said in a Facebook post. “I basically was Adam F. Goldberg or Chris Strompolos (and probably everyone else here… I’m sure there are a lot of collectors that made their own horror movies with their parent’s camcorder as well).”

The screening of the first film was so popular at the New Jersey Horror Con that audience members in attendance wanted to buy copies but the brothers didn’t have any on had. That will all change on May 8th when MVD Entertainment Group releases The Violence Movies: Parts 1 & 2 on DVD!

The DVD will run your $12.95 and can be pre-ordered now from Amazon. If you’d like to get a taste of what the films offer before the DVD release you can currently stream the first entry on Prime. I’m super stoked for this release. I think it’s an awesome story that all horror fans can relate with.

THE VIOLENCE MOVIE
When a deranged killer (David E. Wilkinson, ”Jersey Girl”… but as a lame extra in a scene with Ben Affleck… still counts!) escapes from prison, he inexplicably invades the home of Joey Hammond (Joseph Shaugnessy) who must fight for his life in order to stay alive.

THE VIOLENCE MOVIE 2
Was it real or was it a dream? For some unexplained reason Joey Hammond (Joseph Shaughnessy) returns in this action packed sequel. This time the crazed serial killer (David Wilkinson) is relentless in his pursuit of the innocent Joey with 2 times the action, 2 times the gore, 2 times the body count, and 2 times the fun (well, not really)! It’s the sequel in which you will keep asking yourself, ”Why?”

SPECIAL FEATURES
• Audio Commentary featuring star David Wilkinson and writer / director Eric D. Wilkinson
• Unreleased alternate version of ‘The Violence Movie 2’ with optional audio commentary
• Deleted scenes and outtakes from ‘The Violence Movie’ and ‘The Violence Movie 2’
• ‘Violence in 2003: The brothers Wilkinson re-visit the scene of the crime (the original location) for re-shoots 15 years later
• The original opening credit sequences for both ‘The Violence Movie’ and ‘The Violence Movie 2’
• The Violence Movie Trailer
• Original ‘Script’ (if you want to call it that… basically a bunch of scribble on scrap paper)
• Photo Gallery
• Reversible artwork (Violence Movie 2 artwork of the inside)
• Collectible Poster