Watch The CYBORG Director's Cut Opening Now!
[Updated with new DVD art by Jerry Scullions. Purty.]
Before it was Cyborg it was Slinger, a dark post-apocalyptic action film that would introduce Jean Claude Van Damme to the world. Though the film was directed by Albert Pyun he was forced out late in the process, his vision deemed to dark and violent for release, and the edit placed in new hands.
But just last week we heard that the Pyun edit had survived and the director had received a VHS copy of the film dubbed from the workprint telecine the day before he left the film. This is Pyun's version of the film, as close as he ever got to completing it. It's a version that would have been rated X for violence. A version that includes a rock score by Tony Riparetti and Jim Saad. A version that has all of Van Damme's dialogue - including extensive narration - dubbed by another actor. And Pyun is making it available to fans.
But first he wants to show you a bit.
The opening few minutes of the Cyborg Director's Cut have arrived online, essentially in the shape they were in when left. A few notes on what you're going to see. One, Pyun has clearly added a rudimentary credit sequence in to fill the blank gap that was left for it so we don't have to look at blank screen while listening to the score. Credits and titles are always one of the last things to be done, so none of that would have existed in this version. Two, video and audio quality are grainy and a bit degraded as it comes from a VHS copy (ie low quality) from a telecined, unmastered work print (ie also low quality). Don't be expecting BluRay here. You'll also notice that this was cut together from a pair of VHS sources as neither is 100% complete on its own.
So, here's a bit of history for you. And if you like the music, composer Tony Riparetti is making it available here.
Before it was Cyborg it was Slinger, a dark post-apocalyptic action film that would introduce Jean Claude Van Damme to the world. Though the film was directed by Albert Pyun he was forced out late in the process, his vision deemed to dark and violent for release, and the edit placed in new hands.
But just last week we heard that the Pyun edit had survived and the director had received a VHS copy of the film dubbed from the workprint telecine the day before he left the film. This is Pyun's version of the film, as close as he ever got to completing it. It's a version that would have been rated X for violence. A version that includes a rock score by Tony Riparetti and Jim Saad. A version that has all of Van Damme's dialogue - including extensive narration - dubbed by another actor. And Pyun is making it available to fans.
But first he wants to show you a bit.
The opening few minutes of the Cyborg Director's Cut have arrived online, essentially in the shape they were in when left. A few notes on what you're going to see. One, Pyun has clearly added a rudimentary credit sequence in to fill the blank gap that was left for it so we don't have to look at blank screen while listening to the score. Credits and titles are always one of the last things to be done, so none of that would have existed in this version. Two, video and audio quality are grainy and a bit degraded as it comes from a VHS copy (ie low quality) from a telecined, unmastered work print (ie also low quality). Don't be expecting BluRay here. You'll also notice that this was cut together from a pair of VHS sources as neither is 100% complete on its own.
So, here's a bit of history for you. And if you like the music, composer Tony Riparetti is making it available here.
Do you feel this content is inappropriate or infringes upon your rights? Click here to report it, or see our DMCA policy.
