The most controversial, incendiary and forbidden documentary of all time comes to Blu-ray in October, with a screening at FrightFest this weekend and a UK theatrical tour in October and November.
The Killing of America, directed by Sheldon Renan and written (and, uncredited, co-directed) by Leonard Schrader, was made in 1981 – financed by Japanese producers who expected anther Faces of Death. Instead, they got a savage, cutting, brilliant polemic about American violence – a chilling study of a society out of control and a cry for gun control. Unsurprisingly, the film was never released in the nation that it is about – Severin’s Blu-ray will be the first ever American release of the film.
Even more excitingly, while sourcing the materials for the new release, Severin found the alternative Japanese version, Violence USA – which has 20 minutes of previously unseen material! Both versions, together with brand new extras, will be on the disc.
The original cut of the film plays FrightFest on August 29th, and then will tour selected cinemas in the UK – London, Derby, Nottingham and more to be confirmed. We’ll be reviewing the extended cut next week (the original version is on record as being one of your editor’s ten greatest films of all time, so don’t expect a negative review).
