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Released by: Breaking Glass Pictures
Released on: March 27, 2012.
Director: Aramis Sartorio
Cast: Aramis Sartorio, Mia Tyler, Kimberly Kane, Vincent Cusimano, Gia Paloma
Year: 2010
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The Movie:
Aramis Sartorio's mainstream feature debut, the first for Baby Yeti productions, is The Gruesome Death Of Tommy Pistol, a low budget horror/comedy in which Sartorio's infamous alter ego, star of such cult XXXr's as Re-Penetrator and The XXXorcist, finds himself on a twisted tour through the Hollywood machine in which seemingly anything is possible.
When the movie begins, Tommy Pistol (played by writer/director Aramis Sartorio) has just lost his lousy job at a bookstore after telling the boss' mother to go to the bathroom on his chest. He has to break the news to his wife (his real life wife Gia Paloma) who calls him on his bullshit and leaves with their child, leaving Tommy to pursue his dreams of making it as an actor without them. So with the house to himself, he does what anyone would do in his situation - he puts a hot dog in the microwave, grabs a penis pump, puts some porn on TV and starts to jerk off - but that hot dog is quickly being overcooked as Tommy drifts off to sleep and his career starts to take some insane turns.
Before you know it, he's answered an ad off the internet and is being let in the backdoor of a rundown studio where the naí¯ve Tommy is convinced he's going to be starring in a real horror film, completely unaware that the cheese grader he just used to shave off a bound woman's breast is all too real and the special effects not effects at all. A few blood-soaked scenes later and Tommy is running around Hollywood wearing the skin he's just taken off of Arnold Schwarzenegger and he soon finds himself directing an infected actress in a porno movie, her pussy sores adding some extra oomph to her no holds barred performance.
For some of us, it's easy to see a bit of yourself in Tommy Pistol. He's a man who knows the importance of well groomed sideburns and of hamming it up any time there's a camera around. He's a man who appreciates Aqua Teen Hunger Force enough to get it permanently etched on his body and he's a man who is unafraid to sing and dance when called upon. He's also not afraid to roll his sleeves up and get gooey, and The Gruesome Death Of Tommy Pistol provides him with ample opportunity to do just that as the film moves from one twisted set piece to the next until it reaches a surprisingly poignant conclusion.
The film is effects heavy, but there's no CGI in sight, and the old school make up, latex and fake blood tossed up on the screen is all done with such delightful glee that you can't help but love it, even when it gets incredibly gross. The third act, in which the director works in his adult film themed short film Attack Of The Staph Spider and makes it work in the context of the story being told, is a landmark in horror porn as Pistol, behind the camera looking all the world like a younger Ron Jeremy, lets his camera leer between the legs of a masturbating actress, the furious friction of her dildo opening her wounds and spreading her disease. It sounds harsh, and it is, but it's done with such a cartoonish twist that you can't help but laugh, even when you know you shouldn't.
As far as the performances go, Sartorio is awesome in the lead. The three different 'adventures' he goes on in his dream allow him to do three different takes on the character - initially he's naí¯ve, overanxious and eager to believe he's going to make it; in the second part he's starting to snap and this lets him show off some cool stunt work while running around in an adulterous governor's skin; and in the third act his character has become one of the scumbags he's been surrounded by, content to trudge away in the porno industry and keen on capturing his actress' sickness on camera. Cameos from a tough talking Kimberly Kane, Burning Angel model Daisy Sparks and Mia Tyler (Steven Tyler's other daughter!) are fun, but this is Sartorio's show all the way and he does everything he can to make the most of it.
Given Mr. Pistol's different experiences in the adult industry a shrink could probably have a field day psychoanalyzing the movie, but hoity-toity over thinking aside, Sartorio has made a really entertaining movie. It's gory as all Hell and downright disgusting at times but amazingly enough it manages to have a bit of heart to it. The horror movie elements are really just a backdrop for the comedy that's the focal point of the film, and while some low budget hiccups here and there are sometimes painfully obvious, you've got to admire the insanity of it all.
Audio/Video/Extras:
The movie is presented in a good 1.78.1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that looks as good as the low budget digital video roots of the film probably allow for. Detail won't blow you away but the picture is clean, stable and colorful. There are no issues with compression artifacts and only some mild shimmer here and there.
The only audio option is a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track, in English, with no alternate language options or subtitles offered. Clarity is fine, you'll have no trouble following the dialogue, and the levels are well balanced so that the score and ultra gross sound effects come through nice and clear without burying the performers.
Breaking Glass and Baby Yeti Productions have gone to some pretty ridiculous lengths to jam this disc full of extra features. Things kick off with a commentary from Mr. Pistol himself, Aramis Sartoria, who talks about his inspiration, how this movie started off as a short and wound up becoming a feature, who he worked with on this and why and about the various performances we see in the movie. It's good commentary that's both informative and humorous.
From there, check out the Interviews section where a few different people involved in the movie sit down in front of the camera for some face time to talk about the movie. First up is bizarre Russian MC Comeczechmi, followed up actor Caleb Emerson, director Sortorio, and actress Kimberly Kane (who is obviously intoxicated and who appears on camera with her pet dog in tow). The interviews all more or less cover the same ground - how they became involved with the project, what it was like working with the various participants, and their thoughts on the movie. Also included is a Behind The Scenes featurette that runs over fifty-two minutes and includes a load of footage showing the cast and crew dealing with effects, setting up for various shots, and dealing with the day to day issues involved in making a low budget horror movie like this one - keep your eyes peeled towards the end for bonus nudity courtesy of Ms. Kane.
From there, some older material from Sortorio's days as an improve/comic are revealed, starting with a quick but amusing short that originally appeared on Funnyordie.com. Entitled Space Camp it stars Sortorio as a naí¯ve guy who reunites with a classmate of his from space camp played by Joanna Angel, now a low rent prostitute. Welcome To Queens is a half hour long show that looks like it was originally made for public access that features Sortorio on his home turf with his old comedy group from Queens, Cheese Theater. It's a bizarre collection of sketches done Troma style (the studio is thanked in the end and eagle eyed viewers and fans of their output will spot a few familiar faces).
Sticker Robot…Zoltran Is Watching You is a very quick montage of robot stickers placed in random places, while Acting Job is a music video for an MC Comeczechmi centered around the scene in which Tommy Pistol applies for his acting job in the movie, the one that turns out to be a snuff movie.
Rounding out the extras are a behind the scenes still gallery, a short trailer for the soundtrack release inexplicably titled Something With Balls, a trailer for the feature, trailers for a few other Breaking Glass Pictures releases, a list of rules for the Gruesome Death of Tommy Pistol drinking game, a hilarious DJ Tommy Pistol music video, a slideshow for the hardcore band Amorea (they contributed to the soundtrack and Sortorio does vocals in the band), the movie's entire soundtrack, animated menus and chapter selection.
The Final Word:
Completely insane, frequently hilarious, often disturbing and never short of bold, brazen and original, The Gruesome Death Of Tommy Pistol is a wonderfully fucked up movie and Breaking Glass Pictures have done a great job on the release, offering it up in good quality and with a shitload of extras, many of which are just as insane as the feature itself.
http://www.buried.com/horrorpress/ex...docs-box-sets/