Embalmer [Blu-ray]

Embalmer Blu-ray brings a rare and vital piece of 1990s independent horror to disc for the first time, presented in partnership with Something Weird Video and preserved by the American Genre Film Archive. Directed by S. Torriano Berry, the film stands as one of the few slasher features of its era made specifically for Black audiences, blending urban legend, social commentary, and genre conventions.

Set in Washington, D.C., the story follows Chiffon, a troubled teenager whose life collides with a mortician known as Undertaker Zach, a figure tied to a string of murders and a funeral home turned into a nightmarish trap. Shot on 16mm with a raw, regional feel, the film uses hip-hop-inflected atmosphere, dark humour, and slasher imagery to explore themes of trauma, abuse, and survival.

Long overlooked and difficult to see, Embalmer is a powerful example of regional horror filmmaking and an essential recovery of marginalized genre history. AGFA presents the film on Blu-ray with extensive supplemental material, including alternate cuts, short films, and rare archival content.

directed by: S. Torriano Berry
starring: Jennifer T. Kelly, Kenneth E. Mullen, Myron Creek, Tracy Owens, Dexter K. Tennie
1996 / 86 min / English

Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0