Exile Media Group has THE TAPES (review)

Three kids are shooting an audition video for BIG BROTHER when they hear a rumor about a swingers' party at a remote farm.  They decide to break in and get some hot footage only to discover that the swingers are actually devil worshipers and they could end up as sacrifices.  See what they saw in THE TAPES!

REVIEW LINK: Exile Media Group, Inc. (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE TAPES DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen video
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio
• Behind the Scenes
• Interview with co-director Scott Bates
• Interview with co-writer/actor Jason Maza
• Interview with actor Arnold Oceng
• Interview with actress Natasha Sparkes
• Photo Slideshow

CANNIBAL from Matchbox Films

From Belgium comes CANNIBAL via Matchbox Films on UK Region 2 PAL DVD.  Former gangster Max has developed agoraphobia and has fled the city for the idyllic woods.  One day, he finds a bloodied and unconscious woman who he takes home and names Bianca.  They form an intimate if distant relationship.  When he finds out that she is a cannibal, he ends up helping her acquire food.  Unfortunately, a band of Turkish gypsies who own her are stalking the pair and Max may wind up as the next course.

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

CANNIBAL DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
• Optional English Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer

Code Red's STONEY/KILLER LIKES CANDY double bill (review)

Barbara Bouchet hits the Philippines in search of gold in STONEY with Richard Jaeckel, Michael Rennie, Mike Preston, and Vic Diaz (of course) in the first half of this double bill while UNDER THE SAND's Bruno Cremer stars in THE KILLER LIKES CANDY alongside Kerwin Matthews, Marilou Tolo, and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD's Venantino Venantini.

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

STONEY/KILLER LIKES CANDY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer of STONEY
• 4:3 fullscreen 1.33:1 transfer of KILLER LIKES CANDY
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

Code Red's BLADE/RING OF DEATH Detective Double Bill (review)

John Marley is BLADE, a Dirty Harry-wannabe fighting a "psycho-karate killer who brutalizes his victims AND YOUR EMOTIONS" while Franco Nero is a menace to society, "but it's okay, 'cause he's a cop" in RING OF DEATH (aka UN DETECTIVE aka DETECTIVE BELLI), the two films on Code Red's DETECTIVE DOUBLE BILL.  Jon Cypher, Keene Curtis, and Joe Santos also star in BLADE, while RING OF DEATH features Florinda Bolkan, Marino Mase, Adolfo Celi, Maurizio Bonuglia, and Roberto Bisacco.

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

DETECTIVE DOUBLE BILL DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfers of both films
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Trailer for RING OF DEATH (as INSPECTOR BELLI)
• Optional "42nd Street Experience" viewing option
• Code Red Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

Shameless visits the Green Inferno in CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (review)

Venture back into the Green Inferno with Ruggero Deodato's new edit of CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST, the infamous 1979 Italian cannibal film that inspired THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and more (although none have come close to the impact of Deodato's grisly, grueling film).  Robert Kerman (EATEN ALIVE) plays an anthropologist who travels deep into the jungle to discover what happened to four missing American filmmakers.  What he discovers is more insidious than a little flesh-eating.  Shameless' edition features Deodato's original version* as well as a new edit that reduces the amount of animal cruelty that the director himself dislikes.

*the original version has been cut by the BBFC by 15 seconds

REVIEW LINK: Shameless Screen Entertainment (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST (Shameless Director Edition) DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer
• English and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono tracks
• Original Version* and New Edit
• English introduction by Ruggero Deodato
• Introduction to the New Edit by Ruggero Deodato
• Film and Be Damned: interview with actor Carl G. York and director Ruggero Deodato
• The Long Road Back From Hell: featurette with Kim Newman, Professor Julian Petley, Professor Mary Wood, actor Carl G. Yorke, actress Francesca Ciardi, and director Ruggero Deodato
• Theatrical Trailer
• Shameless Trailer Park
• Easter Egg
• Reversible Cover

Chelsea Films' BLOOD RUNS COLD (review)

On October 3rd, the Swedish slasher BLOOD RUNS COLD hits Region 2 PAL DVD in the UK, courtesy of Chelsea Films.  Singer Winona is stressed out and wants to get away fro a couple of weeks so she has her manager rent her an out-of-the-say cabin in the snowbound woods.  Unable to take the silence of the run-down abode, she hits town and meets up with her old boyfriend and his friends.  She invites them back to her cabin for beer and to crash for the night.  Unfortunately, they have an unexpected visitor wielding an axe.  Shot on the Canon D7 digital SLR, BLOOD RUNS COLD has plenty of gore and an intense finale.

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

BLOOD RUNS COLD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• Behind the Scenes featurette

Revolver Entertainment is ATROCIOUS! (review)

On September 19, Revolver Entertainment will release Fernando Barreda Luna's ATROCIOUS to Region 2 PAL DVD in the UK.  This "found footage" horror film presents the last five days in the lives of the Quintinilla family who were spending the Easter holidays at their long-abandoned country house in Sitges when teenage siblings Cristian and July decided to explore the local urban legend of "The Girl on the Road" who haunts the surrounding woods and encountered something "atrocious" in the estate's overgrown garden labyrinth.  Soon to be remade in the US by the producers of INSIDIOUS and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY.

REVIEW LINK: Revolver Entertainment (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

ATROCIOUS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio
• English Subtitles
• Making-of Featurette

STONEY/THE KILLER LIKES CANDY (review)

Barbara Bouchet hits the Philippines in search of gold in STONEY with Richard Jaeckel, Michael Rennie, Mike Preston, and Vic Diaz (of course) in the first half of this double bill while UNDER THE SAND's Bruno Cremer stars in THE KILLER LIKES CANDY alongside Kerwin Matthews, Marilou Tolo, and CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD's Venantino Venantini.

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

STONEY/KILLER LIKES CANDY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 transfer of STONEY
• 4:3 fullscreen 1.33:1 transfer of KILLER LIKES CANDY
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Code Red trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

Code Red's DETECTIVE DOUBLE BILL (review)

John Marley is BLADE, a Dirty Harry-wannabe fighting a "psycho-karate killer who brutalizes his victims AND YOUR EMOTIONS" while Franco Nero is a menace to society, "but it's okay, 'cause he's a cop" in RING OF DEATH (aka UN DETECTIVE aka DETECTIVE BELLI), the two films on Code Red's DETECTIVE DOUBLE BILL.  Jon Cypher, Keene Curtis, and Joe Santos also star in BLADE, while RING OF DEATH features Florinda Bolkan, Marino Mase, Adolfo Celi, Maurizio Bonuglia, and Roberto Bisacco.

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

DETECTIVE DOUBLE BILL DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfers of both films
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Trailer for RING OF DEATH (as INSPECTOR BELLI)
• Optional "42nd Street Experience" viewing option
• Code Red Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

Momentum Pictures is INSIDIOUS! (review)

From the makers of SAW and PARANORMAL ACTIVITY comes INSIDIOUS starring Patrick Wilson (), Rose Byrne (), and Lin Shaye ().  Strange things start happening to a young family when they move into an old house.  When their oldest son falls into an unexplainable coma and the mother starts seeing things, they move houses, but the apparitions only get worse.  They call in a paranormal expert who informs them that what is happening is more "insidious" than your run-of-the-mill haunting.

REVIEW LINK: Momentum Pictures (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

INSIDIOUS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• Horror 101: The Exclusive Seminar
• Insidious Entitites
• On-Set with INSIDIOUS
• Theatrical Trailer

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Momentum Pictures

Scorpion Releasing hits the beach in WHERE THE BOYS ARE '84 (review)

In this remake of the 1960 film with Paula Prentiss, George Hamilton, and Connie Francis, four Penmore College girls hit Ft. Lauderdale for spring break.  The difference is, this is spring break 1984 so these gals are off in search of "animal sex and debauchery."  Lisa Hamilton (KNOTS LANDING), Lorna Luft (54), Lynn-Holly Johnson (WATCHER IN THE WOODS), and Wendy Schaal (AMERICAN DAD) join Russell Todd (FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2), Christopher MacDonald (HAPPY GILMORE), Frank Zagarino (BARBARIAN QUEEN), and others on the beach.  Soap opera queen Louise Sorel (DAYS OF OUR LIVES) is a suitably outraged society matron and Alana Stewart (NIGHT CALL NURSES) is one hot cougar.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

WHERE THE BOYS ARE '84 DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio
• Interview with actress Wendy Schaal
• Interview with actor Russell Todd
• Theatrical Trailer
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

Code Red's LAWLESS LAND DOUBLE FEATURE (review)

Code Red pairs the utterly gory Spanish western CUT-THROATS NINE with Fred "The Hammer" Williamson's foray into the genre JOSHUA on their LAWLESS LAND DOUBLE FEATURE.  In CUT-THROATS NINE, Emma Cohen (HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB) is at the mercy of a gold-hungry chain-gang trekking across the snowy north without food or provisions.  There's shootings, burnings, slashings, disembowelings, and plenty more in this grim Eurowestern also starring Alberto Dalbes (MURDER MANSION), Eduardo Calvo (BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL), and Mabel Karr (DIABOLICAL DR. Z) and shot in the snowy Pyrenees (also seen in HUNCHBACK OF THE MORGUE and THE HANGING WOMAN).  In JOSHUA, Fred Williamson plays a Civil War solder who returns home to discover that his mother has been killed by five bandits.  He tracks them across the desert and takes his vengeance on them one-by-one.  Isela Vega (THE FEAR CHAMBER), Brenda Venus (FOXY BROWN), and Calvin Bartlett (SEXTETTE).

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

LAWLESS LAND DOUBLE FEATURE DVD specs:

• 1.78:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer of CUT-THROATS NINE
• 2.35:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen transfer of JOSHUA
• Trailers for other Code Red titles

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing

Scorpion Releasing knows WHERE THE BOYS ARE (review)

In this remake of the 1960 film with Paula Prentiss, George Hamilton, and Connie Francis, four Penmore College girls hit Ft. Lauderdale for spring break.  The difference is, this is spring break 1984 so these gals are off in search of "animal sex and debauchery."  Lisa Hamilton (KNOTS LANDING), Lorna Luft (54), Lynn-Holly Johnson (WATCHER IN THE WOODS), and Wendy Schaal (AMERICAN DAD) join Russell Todd (FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2), Christopher MacDonald (HAPPY GILMORE), Frank Zagarino (BARBARIAN QUEEN), and others on the beach.  Soap opera queen Louise Sorel (DAYS OF OUR LIVES) is a suitably outraged society matron and Alana Stewart (NIGHT CALL NURSES) is one hot cougar.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

WHERE THE BOYS ARE '84 DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo audio
• Interview with actress Wendy Schaal
• Interview with actor Russell Todd
• Theatrical Trailer
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

Scorpion Releasing and Katarina Leigh Waters take their FINAL EXAM (review)

Scorpion Releasing presents Motion Picture Marketing and Jimmy Houston's FINAL EXAM, back on DVD as part of the Katarina's Nightmare Theater line.  It's final exam time at Lanier College and the atmosphere of pranks, hazings, Jack Daniels-chugging, and general horniness distracts the students and faculty from the presence of a hulking, knife-wielding killer bent on thinning out the student body.  Previously released on DVD by BCI, Scorpion's new disc features a beautiful transfer from a brand-new high definition master and a new commentary track, as well as interviews with the stars.


REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)


FINAL EXAM DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer (from a new HD master)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by producer Myron Meisel, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Interviews with actors Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice, and Sherry Willis Burch
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers
• Playable with optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater intro and closing remarks
• Reversible Cover

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

Oscilloscope gets political with IF A TREE FALLS (review)

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents the DVD special edition of IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT, a documentary on the ELA movement focusing on the story of Daniel McGowan, a PR employee turned radical activist, his transformation from peaceful protester to being branded a terrorist by the government.  It is a poignant yet balanced account with interviews from other ELA members, activist filmmakers, non-violent environmentalists, prosecutors, FBI agents, victims of the ELA property damage, and McGowan's family.

REVIEW LINK: Oscilloscope Laboratories (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

IF A TREE FALLS DVD specs:

• 1.78:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0
• Audio Commentary by director Marshall Curry, cinematographer Sam Cullman, and editor Matthew Hamachek
• Deleted Scenes
• Extended Interviews
• "You cannot control what is wild" updates from subjects in the film
• post-screening Q&A in Ashland, Oregon with Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• Theatrical Trailer

It's FINAL EXAM time for Katarina Leigh Waters and Scorpion Releasing (review)

Scorpion Releasing presents Motion Picture Marketing and Jimmy Houston's FINAL EXAM, back on DVD as part of the Katarina's Nightmare Theater line.  It's final exam time at Lanier College and the atmosphere of pranks, hazings, Jack Daniels-chugging, and general horniness distracts the students and faculty from the presence of a hulking, knife-wielding killer bent on thinning out the student body.  Previously released on DVD by BCI, Scorpion's new disc features a beautiful transfer from a brand-new high definition master and a new commentary track, as well as interviews with the stars.


REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)


FINAL EXAM DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer (from a new HD master)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by producer Myron Meisel, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Interviews with actors Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice, and Sherry Willis Burch
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers
• Playable with optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater intro and closing remarks
• Reversible Cover 

 RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

THE HILLS HAVE EYES on BluRay (review)

Wes Craven's cannibal cult classic THE HILLS HAVE EYES (the original, not the crappy remake) hits Blu-Ray courtesy of Image Entertainment (and their deal with Lakeshore Entertainment) this September 6.  A family traveling through the desert in search of a silver mine becomes stranded and are attacked by a family of cannibals.  Dee Wallace (THE HOWLING), Robert Houston (CHEERLEADERS WILD WEEKEND), Janus Blythe (EATEN ALIVE), and Michael Berryman (CUT AND RUN) - in his iconic role - star.  You'll find a comparison between the new Blu-Ray transfer and the Anchor Bay special edition at the link below.

REVIEW LINK: Image Entertainment (USA) Region A Blu-Ray vs Anchor Bay (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE HILLS HAVE EYES Blu-Ray specs:

• 1080P widescreen 1.85:1 transfer
• English DTS-MA 6.1 audio and LPCM 2.0 original mono audio
• Audio Commentary by director Wes Craven and producer Peter Locke
• "Looking Back at THE HILLS HAVE EYES" documentary with Craven, Locke, actors Dee Wallace, Susan Lanier, Janus Blythe, Michael Berryman, Robert Houston, and cinematographer Eric Saarinen
• The Directors: Wes Craven - hour-long AFI special on Craven's career
• Restoration Demo
• US and German Trailers
• US and UK TV spots
• Alternate Ending
• Wes Craven Bio

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Anchor Bay Entertainment

MTI plays THE ECHO GAME (review)

A young woman tries to protect her adopted daughter from having her ESP powers stolen by a rogue government scientist in Brian Feeney's THE ECHO GAME, out on DVD this September from MTI Home Video.  Click on the review link below.

REVIEW LINK: MTI Home Video (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE ECHO GAME DVD specs*:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio
• Audio Commentary
• Behind-the-Scenes
• Trailers
• optional English subtitles

*DVD under review is a screener disc, specs posted above are based on press release specifications.

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: MTI Home Video

Paul Naschy is THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD (review)

Paul Naschy plays a gangster who gets a brain transplant from his worst enemy "The Sadist" in Juan Fortuny's THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD (aka CRIMSON) on DVD October 10th in the UK (although it will also be available as an HMV exclusive on September 12th).  A nutty Eurocine crime thriller featuring Jess Franco regular Olivier Mathot (REVENGE IN THE HOUSE OF USHER) and Spanish horror regulars Sylvia Solar (FURY OF THE WOLFMAN), Victor Israel (HORROR EXPRESS), and Evelyne Scott (DEVIL KISS).  The new UK disc is compared with the old US Image Euroshock disc at the review below:


REVIEW LINK: ArrowDrome (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD vs Image Entertainment (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English and French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono tracks
• Optional English Subtitles
• French Theatrical Trailer
• Alternate Erotic Footage
• Featurette on Paul Naschy featuring interviews Tony Timpone, Fred Olen Ray, Michelle Bauer, Brian Yuzna, and Caroline Munro
• Liner Notes Booklet
• Reversible Cover

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Arrow Video

Image Entertainment brings HELLRAISER back to Blu-Ray (review)

Ashley Laurence (WARLOCK III) and Andrew Robinson (DIRTY HARRY) star in one of the iconic horror hits of the eighties: Clive Barker's HELLRAISER, out on Blu-Ray through Image Entertainment on September 6.  You can read a review and see image comparisons with Anchor Bay's THX DVD special edition at the review link below:

REVIEW LINK: Image Entertainment (USA) Region A Blu-Ray vs Anchor Bay (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

HELLRAISER Blu-Ray specs:

• 1080P 1.85:1 widescreen transfer
• English DTS Master Audio 5.1 audio
• Theatrical Trailer

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Anchor Bay Entertainment

MTI's Bigfoot is SAVAGE (review)

Tony Becker (THE HUNTERS), Lisa Wilcox (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4 and 5), and Martin Kove (BLOOD TIDE) are hunting Bigfoot in a national park in Jordan Blum's SAVAGE, hitting DVD this September from MTI Home Video.

REVIEW LINK: MTI Home Video (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

SAVAGE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• English Closed Captioning
• Optional Spanish subtitles
• MTI Trailers

*specs come from the press release.  review is based on screener disc.

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: MTI Home Video