Even though it was a box office failure, Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s “Grindhouse” was the impetus for a whole slew of grindhouse themed video releases of movies that either no one cared about or knew existed.

Somehow along the way, DVD companies seemed to miss the point that “Grindhouse” was a loving tribute to the films and an era that the directors fell in love with. The movies emulated were of low budget but were actual films that the filmmakers enjoyed. Many companies today cashing in on the now notorious and bankable grindhouse name have a ready–made dumping ground for movies that they previously had no market for. VCI’s Grindhouse Double Feature of “Don’t Look in the Basement” and “Don’t Open the Door” fits the above perfectly.

Both movies, directed by S.F. Brownrigg, are standard 70’s slashers hampered by pretty much everything that indie movies in the 70’s were hampered by including bad writing, atrocious acting and even worse fashions. Even though I love movies of this era, these movies both are a chore to sit through with “Don’t Open the Door” being the worse offender. Monotonous and just plain boring, the movie plods on with the identity of the killer revealed much too early. The dismal transfer does not help matters much either. You could probably pass the time more effectively counting how many times the boom mike makes an appearance. “Don’t Look in the Basement” is the better of the two with a creepy, disjointed atmosphere prevalent throughout. Not as bad as you might expect, the quirky characters and bizarre plot definitely make up for the low budget even if the “shocking” twist can be seen coming a mile away.

There is always a sense of menace in the film and it always seems as if any one of the inmates is just a hair away form the one final snap and a murderous rampage. Couple that with the nurse’s amazing ability to make the absolutely wrong decision in any situation and you’ll be amazed just as I was that she lives as long as she does.

I could think of worse ways to spend an evening and definitely worse movies to watch but then again I can think of much better, also. “Don’t Look in the Basement” can be a passable pleaser if you are in a forgivable mood but for “Don’t Open the Door” you might need to be duct taped to a chair so you don’t flee the room in frustration.