5 Dead On The Crimson Canvas was recently spotlighted by Vinegar Syndrome under their Degausser Video banner. This late‑’90s shot‑on‑video homage to giallo -- helmed by Joseph F. Parda and produced by actor‑filmmaker Joe Zaso’s Cinema Image Productions -- follows the unsettling tale of artist Richard Streeb’s gruesome murder and the eerie disappearance of his paintings. The unsettling aesthetic "bounces between atmospheric stylings reminiscent of Deep Red and moments of raw, gritty amateurishness, making it both a heartfelt tribute and a deliberate nod to the lo‑fi charm of the SOV horror wave."
The film's connection to Long Island lies in its production roots: shot in the late 1990s across local settings -- including Glen Cove -- the film is part of a small but vibrant indie‑horror scene that flourished in the region. This community of resourceful filmmakers leaned into the aesthetic limitations of VHS and shoe‑string budgets to craft something distinct—fusing genre passion with local flavor. (This release was brought to my attention by librarian and filmmaker Greg “Grog” Zeichner.)
Researched by Darren Paltrowitz on July 9, 2025.