Deweyvision rescues Joseph Sarno's MARCY (review)

Code Red and Deweyvision have rescued Joseph Sarno's little-seen 1969 feature MARCY
Marcy's decision to take in pretty June to live with her on her father's farm sparks rumors of lesbianism in the community and she must choose between exploring her sexuality and rekindling a relationship with a married old flame.  Transferred from the only known surviving print of the film.  Uta Erickson (THE ULTIMATE DEGENERATE), Nick Dundas (THE SEX CYCLE), Linda Boyce (BACCHANALE), Alex Mann (BEHIND LOCKED DOORS), and Sheila Britt (THE LUSTING HOURS) star.

DVD REVIEW LINK: Deweyvision (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

MARCY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary with Sarno associate Gino Colbert, moderated by David DeCoteau

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red

Sazuma's SUSPECTED DEATH OF A MINOR (review)

Claudio Cassinelli (MURDER ROCK) stars in Sergio Martino's crime film/giallo hybrid SUSPECTED DEATH OF A MINOR (MORTE SOSPETTA DI UNA MINORENNE) along with Massimo Girotti (TEOREMA), Barbara Magnolfi (SUSPIRIA), Jenny Tamburi (THE PSYCHIC), and Mel Ferrer (BIG ALLIGATOR RIVER).  When a young girl is brutally murdered, Paolo (Cassinelli) looks into her background and finds an underage prostitution ring, kidnappings, and violent deaths among the rich and powerful and the low and sleazy.

REVIEW LINK: Sazuma (Austria) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

SUSPECTED DEATH OF A MINOR DVD specs:

• 2.40:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer
• Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional German, English, and Dutch subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Christian Kessler and Robert Zion (in German with optional English subtitles)
• Italian Theatrical Trailer
• "Crime Scene Milan" documentary (in Italian with optional German and English subtitles)
• Poster Gallery
• Booklet by Christian Kessler
• English and German menus

Shout Factory plays Cowboys and Aliens in OBLIVION (review)

Long before DreamWorks decided to play COWBOYS & ALIENS with Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig, Charles Band and Full Moon Entertainment played... well... cowboys and aliens in the 1994 production OBLIVION, back on DVD from Shout Factory.  Richard Joseph Paul (SATAN'S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS) and Jackie Swanson (LETHAL WEAPON) face off against alien outlaws.  Andrew Divoff (WISHMASTER), Julie Newmar (BATMAN), George Takei (STAR TREK), Isaac Hayes (ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK), and Meg Foster (THEY LIVE) also star.

REVIEW LINK: Shout Factory (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

Shout Factory DVD specs:

• Fullscreen 1.33:1 4:3 original aspect ratio transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Shout Factory

Scorpion Releasing and David Soul do the DOGPOUND SHUFFLE (review)

Drifters David Soul (SALEM'S LOT) and Ron Moody (DOMINIQUE IS DEAD) go to comical lengths to find a lost dog in DOGPOUND SHUFFLE, written and directed by Jeffrey Bloom (FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC).

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

DOGPOUND SHUFFLE DVD specs:

• 1.33:1 open matte 4:3 fullscreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary with writer/director Jeffrey Bloom

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

Donald Sutherland chases ALIEN THUNDER (review)

Donald Sutherland (DON'T LOOK NOW) stars with Kevin McCarthy (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATHERS), Francine Racette (FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET), Chief Dan George (LITTLE BIG MAN), and Gordon Tootoosis (LEGENDS OF THE FALL) in ALIEN THUNDER aka DAN CANDY'S LAW.  Sutherland plays a mountie who goes after the Cree who killed his best friend.  Is he out for justice or revenge?  Will the hunter become the hunted?  Released by Cinerama Releasing in 1974 and shown in cut, panned and scanned versions ever since, Scorpion has restored the film's original Panavision framing from a beautiful HD master.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

ALIEN THUNDER DVD specs:

• 2.35:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

Code Red spends A DAY AT THE BEACH (review)

When you've got a script by Roman Polanski about a hopeless alcoholic and a pathetically-adorable little girl in a leg brace, you know things are going to get real sad real fast.  Polanski was set to direct the film A DAY AT THE BEACH, but had to bow out due to a family tragedy (you know which one), which was held up until 1972 when it was taken over by unknown director Simon Hesera with Polanski producing (with collaborator Gene Gutowski).  The Paramount pick-up disappeared from the public eye until recently when it hit DVD from Code Red.

REVIEW LINK: Code Red (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

A DAY AT THE BEACH DVD specs:

• 1.75:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Code Red Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red

Masters of Cinema: SCHLOSS VOGELÖD (review)

On August 23, 2011, Eureka Video will release F.W. Murnau's SCHLOSS VOGELÖD (THE HAUNTED CASTLE) on Region 2 PAL DVD as part of their "Masters of Cinema" series.  Restored from the original negative and a Brazilian nitrate print with the original German intertitles (and optional subtitles), the film has been long out of circulation.  A weekend hunting party at an isolated castle is the scene for drama and murder.  Pre-dating Murnau's masterpiece NOSFERATU, THE HAUNTED CASTLE shows both the influence of theatrical director Max Reinhardt as well as Murnau's own burgeoning cinematic explorations of nightmare worlds and visually representing the psychological.

REVIEW LINK: Eureka Video (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

SCHLOSS VOGELÖD DVD specs:

• Fullscreen 1.37:1 original aspect ratio transfer
• Dolby Digital 2.0 music score
• Original and restored German Intertitles
• Optional English Subtitles
• "The Language of the Shadows" documentary on F. W. Murnau's early works
• Illustrated Booklet

Bounty Films vampire pic STRIGOI (review)

On August 22, Bounty Films will release a Region 2 PAL DVD of Faye Jackson's multi-award winning* vampire comedy STRIGOI.  Vlad Cozma (Catalin Paraschiv) returns to his native Romanian village from Italy to discover a series of mysterious deaths that seem to be linked to wealthy ex-communist landowner Constantin Tirescu (Constantin Barbulescu) and his wife.  He encounters vampires, superstitious townspeople, politicians, priests, and other quirky folk.

REVIEW LINK: Bounty Films (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

Awards

• Best Film, Best Actor (Catalin Paraschiv) and Best Actress (Roxana Guttmann) at Montevideo Fantastico in Uruguay
• Best Independent Feature at Toronto After Dark Film Festival
• Audience Award and Best Fantasy Feature at Cinefantasy in Sao Paolo
• Melies d'argent at Neuchatel Fantastic Film Festival
  

STRIGOI DVD specs:

• 1.85:1 16:9 anamorphic transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• LUMP - Short film by director Faye Jackson
• Theatrical Trailer

ALICE IN WONDERLAND: AN ADULT MUSICAL COMEDY (review)

Code Red has released Bill Osco's and Bud Townsend's ALICE IN WONDERLAND: AN ADULT MUSICAL COMEDY on DVD.  Kristine DeBell (CHEERLEADERS' WILD WEEKEND) plays a virginal librarian who gets whisked away into Wonderland in pursuit of a talking rabbit.  She meets a very flexible Tweedledee and Tweedledum, a flashing Mad Hatter, and attends the King's ball in the Queen's box.  Jason Williams (COP KILLERS) also stars.

REVIEW LINK: Code Red (US) NTSC Region 0 DVD (DVDBeaver)

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Intervision Courts Controversy: JEFFREY DAHMER - THE SECRET LIFE (review)

Out today, Intervision's DVD of the 1993 film THE SECRET LIFE: JEFFREY DAHMER. Carl Crew (URBAN LEGENDS), who also scripted, stars as the infamous serial killer in the controversial first film after the killer's arrest (and before his death).  Publicly reviled and critically lauded, the film is reportedly truer to the material than the higher-budget 2002 film.

REVIEW LINK: Intervision Picture Corp. (USA) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE SECRET LIFE: JEFFREY DAHMER DVD specs:

• 1.33:1 fullscreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary with director David Bowen and actor/writer Carl Crew
• Trailer
• Trailers for THINGS, SLEDGEHAMMER, and A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER

The THINGS about Intervision (new review)

From the bowels of suburban Canada comes this bizarre independent Super 8 celluloid nightmare: Andrew Jordan's THINGS on Region 0 NTSC DVD from Intervision Pictures Corp on July 12 in a packed special edition.  It's three guys in a cabin with toothy monsters, drills, chainsaws, and beer.  You'll think you're already drunk before you open your first beer (or mind-altering beverage of your choice).

REVIEW LINK: Intervision Pictures Corp. (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

THINGS DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by director Andrew Jordan and stars Barry J. Gillis, Jan W. Pachul, and Doug Bunston
• Audio Viewing Party with the Cinefamily
• Testimonials on THINGS featuring all new interviews with
• Tobe Hooper (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE)
• Jason Eisener and Rob Cotterill (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN)
• Canuxploitation.com's Paul Corupe
• Bleeding Skull's Joseph A. Ziemba and Dan Budnik
• THING's 20th anniversary cast and crew reunion
• Behind the Scenes with Amber Lynn
• Vintage Barry J. Gillis TV appearances
• THINGS trailer
• Trailers for BURNING MOON, SLEDGEHAMMER, and JEFFREY DAHMER: THE SECRET LIFE

Arrow Video's reunion at SLAUGHTER HIGH (review/comparison)

Arrow Video reminds those of us who got through high school relatively unscathed that extreme bullying did not start with cellphones, Facebook, and MySpace with their Region 0 PAL special edition DVD release of the 1986 British-American slasher SLAUGHTER HIGH starring Caroline Munro.  Ten years after they caused the fiery accident that disfigured school nerd Marty, ten "kids" have been invited back to their now derelict school (one of those remote, gargoyle-glutted brick piles you find all over America) for a very bloody high school reunion.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

SLAUGHTER HIGH (Arrow Video) DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen 1.78:1 transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary with actress Caroline Munro (moderated by Callum Waddel and Allan Bryce)
• Audio Commentary co-writer/co-director Mark Ezra (moderated by Justin Kerswell)
• Jesters and Jolts: Interview with Mark Ezra
• Lamb to the Slaughter: The Scream Queen Career of Caroline Munro
• Theatrical Trailer
• Easter Egg
• Reversible Cover
• Liner Notes Booklet
• Double-sided fold out poster

SLAUGHTER HIGH (LionsGate) DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen open matte video
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Theatrical Trailer
• Triva Track

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Arrow Video

Code Red is THE CARRIER (review)

From Code Red Releasing comes Nathaniel White's ambitious and creepy late eighties horror pic THE CARRIER on Region 0 NTSC DVD.  When a storm washes out the only bridge out of the deeply religious town of Sleepy Rock and a bizarre contagion causes tainted inanimate objects to absorb living creatures (including humans), the townspeople turn on each other.  This little-seen film features cinematography by Peter Deming (MULHOLLAND DRIVE), music by Joseph LoDuca (ARMY OF DARKNESS), sound effects recording by actor Bruce Campbell (THE EVIL DEAD), all of whom had worked on EVIL DEAD II just before this (EDII's effects artists are also on hand for the film's visual effects).  Code Red's DVD features an audio commentary with the director.

REVIEW LINK: Code Red (US) NTSC Region 0 DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE CARRIER DVD specs:

• 1.33:1 fullscreen original aspect ratio 4:3 transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by director Nathaniel White, moderated by Scott Spiegel
• Theatrical Trailer
• Other Code Red Trailers

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

THINGS takes a bite out of Intervision (review)

From the bowels of suburban Canada comes this bizarre independent Super 8 celluloid nightmare: Andrew Jordan's THINGS on Region 0 NTSC DVD from Intervision Pictures Corp on July 12 in a packed special edition.  It's three guys in a cabin with toothy monsters, drills, chainsaws, and beer.  You'll think you're already drunk before you open your first beer (or mind-altering beverage of your choice).

REVIEW LINK: Intervision Pictures Corp. (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THINGS DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by director Andrew Jordan and stars Barry J. Gillis, Jan W. Pachul, and Doug Bunston
• Audio Viewing Party with the Cinefamily
• Testimonials on THINGS featuring all new interviews with
• Tobe Hooper (TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE)
• Jason Eisener and Rob Cotterill (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN)
• Canuxploitation.com's Paul Corupe
• Bleeding Skull's Joseph A. Ziemba and Dan Budnik
• THING's 20th anniversary cast and crew reunion
• Behind the Scenes with Amber Lynn
• Vintage Barry J. Gillis TV appearances
• THINGS trailer
• Trailers for BURNING MOON, SLEDGEHAMMER, and JEFFREY DAHMER: THE SECRET LIFE

THE UNKNOWN COMIC/URBAN LEGENDS/ART OF NUDE BOWLING (review)

Code Red presents this trio of the truly execrable from Bill Osco (COP KILLERS/THE BEING).  In URBAN LEGENDS (no to be confused with the Sony slasher, and who would?) talk show host Rusty DeFage takes his late night audience through re-enactments of urban legends occurring around Los Angeles.  Features heavy use of stock footage from THE UNKNOWN COMIC, THE BEING, a Doris Wishman nudie, and PINK TV.  In THE UNKNOWN COMIC, Murray Langston (CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND) does his "unknown comic" stand up routine with some additional stand-up from Johnny Dark and all of the faux-commercials recycled in URBAN LEGENDS.  Finally, THE ART OF NUDE BOWLING is a silent film that purports to be the debut of Alfred Hitchcock.

REVIEW LINK: Code Red (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE UNKNOWN COMEDY SPECIAL DVD specs:

• 4:3 fullscreen video
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• audio commentary on URBAN LEGENDS by writer Carl Crew, moderated by Marc Edward Heuck
• "The Unknown Comic" comedy special
• "The Art of Nude Bowling"

RELATED POST: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing