William Grefe´ made films in the 60’s and 70’s and he was a classic example of the “regional” filmmaker. He was based in Florida and working on low budgets influenced his films as far as using local and identifiably Floridian locations and culture. Also included in his films were music and go-go dancing girls. His films received good distribution and he was even able to enlist well-known names like Alex Rocco, Rita Hayworth, William Shatner and Harold “Oddjob” Sakata to appear in some of his productions.

Arrow has released a box set collecting seven of Grefe´’s films plus an extended cut of the documentary They Came From The Swamp, an excellent look at the man’s rather impressive achievements as a low budget filmmaker. Although Grefe´’s best known film, the snake thriller Stanley is not included, The Naked Zoo with Rita Hayworth and Mako: Jaws Of Death with Richard Jaeckel as the master of sharks are both included. The picture quality depends on the available source with the colossal Sting Of Death looking fantastic. The set is chockful of great extras and introductions by Grefe´. But the documentary really seals the deal. With comments from titans of exploitation like David F. Friedman and Herschell Gordon Lewis and goodies like the incredible behind-the-scenes footage of Shatner saving Sakata from a faulty noose rig during a take, this doc is a real winner as both a tribute to the man and as a time capsule of a bygone era in film.