Overview: The sixth feature film from acclaimed filmmakers The Adams Family (The Deeper You Dig), Hellbender is a spell-binding folk horror and coming-of-age story, boiling over with adolescent rage and wicked witchcraft.

Teenager Izzy lives in isolation with Mother because she has a rare immune disorder. Or so she is told. After befriending local girl Amber, Lizzy begins to question the reality of her disease. And when she eats a live worm as part of a teenage game, she soon develops a ravenous hunger for living things, learning that she is the latest in a line of hellbenders, supernatural beings who possess immensely powerful abilities.

Featuring a fantastic punk rock soundtrack with songs from the family’s band, H6LLB6ND6R, this truly unique film expertly blends beautiful and naturalistic cinematography, impressive and stylistic VFX and stunning performances from real-life mother and daughter team, Zelda Adams and Toby Poser.

Blu-ray Verdict: OK, telling it like it is, Hellbender may well be a C-Movie within its genre of filmmaking, but a horror film it most certainly is. And sure, it is a mixed bag, but the way the filmmakers have obviously reached far beyond what their budget permitted means this film is as impassioned, as devotedly heartfelt as it they could have ever hoped it to be.

The actors do what they have been instructed to, nothing or no one is a standout, nothing Oscar worthy going on here, but their all-encompassing performances range from acceptable to great; and that alone showcases how just they were also on in the whole let’s make this thing the best it can be.

As for the cinematography, well, overall it ranges from exceptionally competent to C-Movie quality! And I think you know what I mean by that, especially if you have ever seen a so-called C-Movie, of course. As for the editing, that ranges from highly effective to just full on questionable, but that’s half the fun of watching a movie of this ilk with its low budget.

The dialogue ranges from emotionally resonant to just downright laughably stupid, but personally that was where my humor bone lies and so I got major kicks out of it! Oh, and the visual effects range from extremely convincing to embarrassingly, er, well, unconvincing, I guess is the best way to describe it. And yet it was a joy to behold. Maybe not from start to finish, but all in all Hellbender is a film that knows it is an elevated low-budget film and thus should be praised from the rooftops! (especially, and if for nothing else, the climactic final scene!)

LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY CONTENTS:
High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentation
Original lossless stereo 2.0 audio
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Brand new audio commentary with filmmakers Toby Poser, John Adams, Zelda Adams and Lulu Adams
From the Forest She Rises, a brand new video essay by filmmaker Jen Handorf Black Magic Tricks, a featurette on the visual effects by VFX artist Trey Lindsay
Behind-the-scenes compilation footage
Fort Worden (2021), a short film by Zelda Adams
Four music videos: Hit and Run (2024), Drive (2021), Lovely (2021) and Black Sky (2020)
Original trailer
Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Beth Morris and original artwork by Sister Hyde
Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Natasha Ball and Kat Hughes

Official Purchase Link

www.arrowvideo.com