42ND STREET FOREVER! VOLUME 1: HORROR ON 42ND STREET (2004) *** ½

This excellent trailer compilation was released by Ban 1 Productions.  It is unrelated to the identically titled 42^nd Street Forever line that was put out by Synapse the following year.  However, it’s just as good, if not better than the compilations found in that series. 

Despite the subtitle, “Horror on 42^nd Street”, there are plenty of non-horror films featured.  In fact, about halfway through, there is a big shift in tone as we get a slew of trailers for skin flicks and nudie movies.  Some may be a little disappointed by the bait-and-switch, but since the other non-horror trailers mostly consist of oddities, time capsules, and actioners, it’s okay by me. 

The complete rundown features:  Freaks, The Crippled Masters, The Mutations, Aroused, Invitation to Ruin (which looks amazing), Skidoo, The Wild Scene, The Wild Eye, The Animals, a double feature of Hookers Revenge and The Photographer’s Model (AKA:  Thriller:  A Cruel Picture and The House of Whipcord, respectively), Vigilante Force, Fighting Mad (two different trailers are shown back-to-back), Welcome Home Brother Charles, Shantytown Honeymoon (AKA:  Honey Britches), The House of Missing Girls, The Sins of the Daughter, School Girl Bride, Josie’s Castle (AKA:  Teenage Divorcee), Chatterbox, a double feature of The Blood Spattered Bride and I Dismember Mama (a classic staple of many a trailer compilation), two previews for Carnivorous (AKA:  Jungle Holocaust), The Food of the Gods, Tales of the Bizarre (AKA:  Bizarre), The Devil’s Rain, Black Christmas, The Legend of Boggy Creek, Creature with the Blue Hand, Mark of the Witch, Mark of the Devil 2, Virgin Witch, a double feature for Women and Bloody Terror and Night of Bloody Horror, The Revenge of the Blood Beast, Wonder Women, Savage Sisters, and a German trailer for Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom. 

With a collection like that in your arsenal, it’s hard not to be impressed.  Even if they play a little loose with the “horror” label, 42^nd Street Forever! Volume 1:  Horror on 42^nd Street is a blast from start to finish.  Any trailer compilation fan worth their salt will want to get their hands on this one.