‘Mondo New York’ Blu-Ray Review – An Ode To Misfits, Perverts, And Forgotten Artists

“Home to outcasts, misfits, losers, perverts, lunatics, gangsters, pranksters, outlaws, neurotics, psychotics, maniacs, brainiacs, hippies, yippies, yuppies, junkies, flunkies, monkeys, all trying to claw their way to the top of trash heap, all screaming me, me, I want my fame my fortune, my lousy fifteen minutes, my, what the f*** whatever it is – You want it? We got it! It’s MONDO NEW YORK.”

Restored and remastered from a brand new 2K HD transfer from the original camera negative, “Mondo New York” is a cult classic celebration and perversely compelling tribute to the mutant artists and anti-stars of the Naked City circa 1980’s Berlin cabaret in all their glory including Joey Arias, Joe Coleman, Karen Finley, Phoebe Legere, Ann Magnuson, Lydia Lunch, Rick Aviles and Dean Johnson and more, in this unforgettable avant-garde time capsule of New York City that will leave you both shocked and enlightened.

For thoughts on Mondo New York, please check out our discussions on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/c93nHMgCOAU?si=kdryWXtPKzxKcWc3&t=1665]

Video Quality

Mondo New York debuts on Blu-Ray via the MVD Rewind Collection with a 1080p transfer that has been scanned and restored in 2K from the Original Camera Negative. The results are very enjoyable for this effort given the grimy nature of the production with a filmic presentation that holds up better than many may expect. Some very minor print damage remains, but there has been some effort taken to make this look as nice as possible. Colors are a standout, especially in the stark lighting of some of the locations. Black levels showcase some amount of depth in the shadows even if they could be firmer. The transfer is quite detailed with only the occasional shot that experiences fluctuations in density. Some of the detail in the material shown on screen may cause your stomach to churn in some shocking instances. Those who have been clamoring for this cultural artifact should be pleased by how good it looks given the source. 

Audio Quality

MVD Entertainment brings us this new Blu-Ray with an LPCM 2.0 stereo track in the original English. Given that much of this scene was musical, it is important to have the element firmly represented, and it thankfully succeeds on this front. There is occasional underlying hiss and small bits of distortion thanks to how the audio was captured, but this is mostly not an issue. Dialogue can sound slightly hollow, but it mostly holds up nicely without being overshadowed by the music or sound effects. Environmental effects are at the forefront when it comes to the chattering of gathered crowds, and this track provides as much power as the source will allow during the performances. Optional English (SDH) subtitles are provided on this disc.

Special Features

• Interview with Joe Coleman: A 50-minute interview with the featured performer from 2022 in which he reflects on the filming of Mondo New York, the desire to experiment and push taboos, the vulnerable places he took himself in certain situations, the mediums that interested him the most, the legacy he has left behind, how modern art compares to the scene he emerged from, and more. 

• Interview with Joey Arias: A 50-minute interview with the featured performer from 2022 in which they reflect on their experience with the film, his promotional efforts when the film was playing in theaters, how it impacted their career, the ways in which they made money to survive, the fluid nature of gender and sexuality, and more. 

• Interview with Shannah Laumeister: A 36-minute interview with the featured performer from 2022 in which she reflects on how she was cast in the project, the way her role kept expanding in the production, the way her curiosity for the world was taken for innocence, her own definition of art, what she learned during filmmaking, and more. 

• Interview with Producer Stuart Shapiro: A nearly 28-minute interview with the producer and self-proclaimed “beacon of counterculture” in which he discusses his background, the pride he has in his work, why he felt he needed to make this film and more. 

• Behind The Scenes Photo Gallery: A collection of images from the production and marketing. 

• Press Kits & Scripts Gallery: A collection of stills showing off documents. 

• Trailers: A minute-and-a-half-long trailer is provided for Mondo New York. There are also trailers provided for D.O.A.: A Right Of Passage, The Allins, Forbidden Zone, and Style Wars. 

• Booklet: An 18-page booklet is provided featuring an opening statement from Stuart Shapiro and photos of many of the main figures from the movie. 

• Poster: A fold-out poster of the cover art is included in the case. 

• CD Soundtrack

Final Thoughts

Mondo New York is a really fascinating cultural artifact that is purposefully abrasive and pushes against good taste. This was the purpose of the scene in some regard, and director Harvey Keith captures an interesting cross-section of individuals. Even allowing for the possibility that different audiences will want different things from this material, there are some detours throughout that do not feel artistically fruitful compared to the material surrounding it. MVD Entertainment has rescued this with a new Blu-Ray which sports a really good A/V presentation, some excellent supplements, and spiffy packaging. If you are open to the counterculture of this era, you will probably have a good time with this one. 

Mondo New York is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: MVD Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.