This two-disc set is right up my alley. I was overjoyed when I got the press release announcing that it was coming out. I love the ’70s. I love exploitation films. I love over the top nonsense. And this double bill encompasses all that and more. The score to both films is like a time capsule. The wardrobe, the performances, and the decor in each are all so indicative of the time in which the films were released that I nearly went into a nostalgia coma.

The acting in A Woman for All Men is considerably better than in The Roommates. The Roommates has an overall more amateur quality to it but it predates Woman by two years and has a slightly greener cast. In spite of that, The Roommates is an early slasher prototype that even predates Black Christmas by a year. It certainly does not get everything right but it deserves points for being way ahead of the trend and for helping to kick off the post Peeping Tom slasher craze. Since the film has not been available on home video until now, it is almost universally overlooked in favor of titles like Black Christmas, Halloween, and Friday the 13th.

A Woman for All Men is sexy, clever, and spins a timeless tale of revenge with a smart twist ending. As ridiculous as it is, the characters are likable and the story is almost believable. This is the real standout of the set. It’s best watched as the feature presentation if you opt to marathon the flicks back to back.

The special features included with this release are not plentiful but they are definitely quality. Each film comes with a featurette with the director and one of the stars. It’s a lot of fun to hear the talent reflect on the making each of the films and much more. Also included is an audio commentary track and original trailers and TV spots!

While this set certainly will not be for everyone, I absolutely recommend it to fans of exploitation cinema and grindhouse filmmaking. It is a release that has brilliantly restored two lost classics, complete with new interviews and brilliant transfers of each film. I loved it.

WICKED RATING: 6.5

Director(s): Arthur Marks

Writer(s): Robert Blees (A Woman for All Men) Arthur Marks and John Durren (The Roommates)

Stars: Pat Woodell, Roberta Collins (The Roommates) Patty Bodeen, Judith Brown (A Woman for All Men)

Year: 1973 (The Roommates) 1975 (A Woman for All Men)

Language: English

Sub-Genre: Exploitation, Slasher, Suspense