My journey to find the Holy Grail - GHOST OF GUTS EATER

09/05/09 – My first day of searching.

My search for the Holy Grail has begun. And my Holy Grail is the rare movie GHOST OF GUTS EATER. Yes, this is a movie in the ''flying head with intestines dangling underneath'' genre. This is one of about twenty five movies in the genre, and not many of them are out on DVD. Most of them are out on VHS and VCD. And GHOST OF GUTS EATER, as I know, was only ever released on a Swedish rental tape. So, to get this movie I’ll have to get a Swedish ex-rental VHS! I live in Norway, so I’m not far away! But it’s still hard to find. Even people in Sweden have to announce this on the want ads on Swedish Ebay. So how lucky am I going to be in my search for this movie?

Today I kept searching for the rare Swedish and very pink ex-rental VHS of GHOST OF GUTS EATER. I searched all through the web, just to find all the forums and blogs I’m registered at and follow, so nothing new on that front. But I almost had a heart attack today – I was searching to the web, when suddenly an Ebay link popped up when I was searching for GHOST OF GUTS EATER – “Holy shit! Have I found it? Already?” – No I hadn’t! It was the wanted lists on Ebay. There seems there also is two other people who are very interested in this tape as well. One of the guys even stated that he would give anything the seller asked for, no matter what. Which can be a dumb thing to do – What if the seller doesn’t know the rareness or the high value of the movie? What if the seller just wants to get rid of what he thinks seems like a piece of shit VHS? Ramble ramble ramble.

Well, I’m keeping a low profile until I find it. If the seller knows his shit I’ll pay the cost and be happy, and if the seller doesn’t know shit I’ll be a lucky bastard.

I’ve asked somewhat around here in Norway if someone has it. I haven’t got any response yet, but I’ll probably get some answers soon, but I’m not hoping to much since I’ve just started my search for a very rare tape.

10/05/09 – Second day of searching

Today I woke up and went straight to the computer to do some research. I haven’t received any mails yet. I’m also trying to locate some old rental places here in Norway. I know that there still are some around, but they don’t have a web page – Because they now only have DVD, and so you have to ask if they have some left in the basement that they might be interested in selling. I went to a Videonova (Video rental shops in Norway) about 3 years ago, and they where having a sale of old VHS’s in the basement, but it was just shit, nothing good.

And the thing that irritates me most is that I almost only get links for VHS to DVD transfer and that sort of stuff when searching for old rental shops that have VHS.

My parents knew a guy once who had a video rental shop, and when he was closing the business he gave a bunch of tapes to my parents. But it was tapes like Smokey and the bandit, and that sort of movies. I’ll give it a try, but what is the possibility that this guy has GHOST OF GUTS EATER. Or that my parents have it! Haha, should I even be that lucky! I sent yet two emails to small video shops in Norway that still have some VHS left. I think I need breakfast now, so I’ll continue later.

I called my mother and asked about the guy my parents knew who owned a video rental shop. He’s dead! And I didn’t remember this, but he was my dad’s uncle. My mother told me that he died many years ago, but he sold the shop long before he died. So his ex-wife didn’t keep any tapes. My mother actually worked there for a few weeks when she was a teenager. And apparently my dad’s uncle was drunk at work all the time. Hehe. I really doubt that he had the tape anyway, since it was a small store in a small town in Norway in the 70-80’s. People in Norway haven’t even heard about this town! Haha.

11/05/09 – A helping hand

Paul Cooke was very excited to hear what movie I was talking about after I posted my secretive ''My Journey to find the Holy Grail'' post. So I sent him a PM over at Avmaniacs, and he said he would check it out for me, and see what he could find. Which is very kind of him, most movie collectors wouldn't do that, I know I wouldn't. Hehe. But now I owe Paul one, even if he doesn't find anything.

Thanks, Paul.

I haven't heard from the people I have contacted here in Norway yet. I'm checking my mail every hour.

I'm really thinking about asking Jack J if he can make a DVD-r for me out of the DVD-r copy he has. Which he got from the only guy I ever heard had the original Swedish VHS, which he still has. Man, I want it!!

But I'll search some more - After all, owning the Swedish ex-rental would be better then a DVD-r disc. But the whole purpose of getting the tape in the first place is to watch the movie! So why not settle for a DVD-r? It's just not the same. I'll hang in there some more - I haven't received any messages yet, so I might be lucky.

14/05/09 – No results

There hasn't been much progress. I have yet to receive answers to the mails I sent two stores in Norway that still sell VHS. So I'm nowhere closer to getting GHOST OF GUTS EATER. I'd love to have it up on my shelf, glowing pink and proud!!

Haven't heard anything from Paul either. I'm excited, but I'm not going to bug him. He'll take the time. The fact that he is even doing it is incredible. Most people wouldn't have done that. So yet another thank you, Paul! It really depends on how much this can become a ''Diary''/journal with such little progress, but hey, I only started searching for one of the rarest tapes I know, about 5 days ago.

04/07/09 – Giving up… for now.

The search has been immense, and I've looked everywhere. The hunt will never end, but I'll calm it a bit down and I'll suck it up and ask Jack J if he can make me a DVDr.

Since my last entry in my Holy Grail diary I have been trying to look for one of the rental places in Sweden that carried the VHS, but with no luck. Couldn’t find the address, nor the shop. The shop probably hasn’t been in business for many years.

Jack was more then happy to make me a copy. And now I can finally see the movie! This is the purpose! I hope Jack doesn't make me do unpleasant things as payment for the DVDr.

And old art school buddy of mine made a DVD cover for GHOST OF GUTS EATER. So I'll get an empty DVD case and use this for the DVDr I'll be getting from Jack J.