Eureka Video asks WHO PAYS THE FERRYMAN? (review)

NEW YORK RIPPER's Jack Hedley stars in this well-remembered BBC miniseries as Alan Haldane, a British shipbuilder who returns to Crete where he was stationed during the war hoping to reunite with Melina, the woman he loved.  He is shocked to discover that she died four years before, but also that she was with child when he left Greece and he has an adult daughter whom he has never met.  He decides that he wants to get close to her, even if he can never tell her his true identity.  Things get more complicated when he finds himself falling for her aunt Annika.  Meanwhile, Annika's mother Katerina - who intercepted the letters Alan wrote to Melina - and declares a secret vendetta against Alan to protect the family honor.  Neil MacCarthy, Betty Arvanti, and Patience Collier also star.  Jack Watson, Gareth Thomas, Patrick Magee, and Lalla Ward are among the guest stars in various episodes.


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

WHO PAYS THE FERRYMAN? DVD specs:

• All eight episodes on 3 DVDs
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles

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Scoprion Releasing is HUMONGOUS (review)

Scorpion Releasing finally brings the long unseen Canadian slasher HUMONGOUS to DVD in a special edition.  Five twenty-somethings on a yacht trip pick up a stranded fisherman who tells them about the mysterious nearby Dog Island.  When an explosion forces the group to abandon ship, they take shelter on the island only to discover that something much more dangerous than wild dogs is lurking in the woods and in the big house on the hill.  Janet Julian (CHOKE CANYON), David Wallace (MORTUARY), Joy Boushel (TERROR TRAIN), and Janit Baldwin (RUBY) star.  Directed by Paul Lynch (PROM NIGHT) and written by William Gray (THE CHANGELING).

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

HUMONGOUS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary with director Paul Lynch, writer William Gary, film journalist Nathaniel Thompson, and moderator Katarina Leigh Waters
• R-Rated Opening Scene
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for other KATARINA'S NIGHTMARE THEATER titles

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Scorpion Releasing and Joan Collins get REVENGE (review)

Scorpion Releasing and Katarina's Nightmare Theater present Joan Collins in REVENGE.  When Jim (James Booth) learns that the suspect in his child's rape/murder has been let go by the police on a technicality, he and the father (Ray Barret) of another murdered schoolgirl abduct the man and keep him in the cellar of Jim's pub to get him to confess.  As the man refuses to die, and the police investigate his disappearance, Jim's already unraveling family are pushed to the brink.  Tom Marshall (KILLER'S MOON), Sinead Cusack (STEALING BEAUTY), and Zuleika Robsam (HEIDI) also star.

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

REVENGE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.66:1 letterbox
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional KATARINA'S NIGHTMARE THEATER play option
• Katarina's Nightmare Theater Trailers

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All aboard for Blue Underground's NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS Blu-Ray (review)

"It's the night before Christmas. Margaret and Lisa are going home for the holidays. But don't bother to wish them Merry Christmas. Their future isn't going that far."  Aldo Lado erects a NEW HOUSE ON THE LEFT with this elegant and brutal rape-revenge film set aboard a train.  Macha Meril (DEEP RED), Enrico Maria Salerno (BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE), Flavio Bucci (SUSPIRIA), and Irene Miracle (INFERNO) star.  Music by Ennio Morricone.

REVIEW LINK: Blue Underground (US) Region FREE Blu-Ray vs Blue Underground (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD vs Shameless Screen Entertainment (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS Blu-Ray specs:

• 1080P MPEG4 AVC 1.85:1 16:9 widescreen
• English DTS-MA 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles
• Interview with writer/director Aldo Lado (480i)
• US Trailer (480i)
• International Trailer (1080P)
• Radio Spots
• Poster and Still Gallery

LETHAL LADIES COLLECTION VOLUME 2 from Shout Factory (review)

Shout Factory is back with another trio of lethal ladies in LETHAL LADIES COLLECTION 2 featuring the restored, widescreen version of Steve Carver's THE ARENA, which reteams Pam Grier and Margaret Markov from BLACK MAMA WHITE MAMA in ancient Rome as gladiator women.  The film was shot by Aristide Massacessi (better known to cult audiences as Joe D'Amato of the BLACK EMANUELLE films) and scored by Francesco De Masi (NEW YORK RIPPER).  Disc 2 includes two rare Cirio H. Santiago films (both with Vic Diaz).  In FLY ME, three stewardesses in Hong Kong are up against kung fu killers and white slavers, while in COVER GIRL MODELS three models in Hong Kong are up against spies in search of a roll of microfilm hidden in the lining of one of the models' dresses.  Pat Anderson (TNT JACKSON) stars in both, and COVER GIRL MODELS also features Mary Waranov.

REVIEW LINK: Shout Factory (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)

LETHAL LADIES COLLECTION VOLUME 2 DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen transfer of THE ARENA (disc 1)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfers of FLY ME and COVER GIRL MODELS (disc 2)
• Audio Commentary on THE ARENA by director Steve Carver, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• "In the Arena" featurette with Roger Corman, producer Mark Damon, director Steve Carver, and actress Margaret Markov
• THE ARENA theatrical trailer
• FLY ME TV spot

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Scorpion Releasing and Ian Whitcomb present L.A. IS MY HOMETOWN (review)

Faded British Invasion rocker Ian Whitcomb explores Los Angeles in search of its secret British society who live an almost pre-WWII life of private clubs, tea houses, cricket, polo (and a little jousting), as well as the more scandalous exiles like erotic photographers Roy Dean and Suze Randall in this controversial documentary that angered UK TV critics when it was shown on the arts educational program OMNIBUS in 1976.


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

L.A. IS MY HOMETOWN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (original fullcreen aspect ratio presented inside 16:9 window)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by writer/star Ian Whitcomb, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Shameless about FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET (review/comparison)

Shameless give their special treatment to their restoration of Dario Argento's long unavailable third giallo FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET in its first UK DVD and Blu-Ray release.  Michael Brandon (DEADLY MESSAGES) is a drummer who has been stalked for the last few weeks by a man in sunglasses.  One night he confronts the man and accidentally kills him.  Unfortunately, a witness in a strange mask photographs the killing and starts tormenting him with notes threatening his death.  As people start dying around him, he must discover the identity of the killer (and what it all has to do with a strange dream that may be a premonition of his own death).  Mimsy Farmer also stars.  Music by Ennio Morricone.

BLU-RAY CAPS ADDED!

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

*DVD comparison with Retrofilm and MYA DVD editions.

FOUR FLIES ON GREY VELVET DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio tracks
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by Luigi Cozzi
• "The Art of Murder" 45 minute interview with Luigi Cozzi
• English Trailer
• Italian Trailer
• English Opening and Closing Credits
• Still Gallery

Scorpion Releasing revisits the HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW (review)

The girls of THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW are in hot water when a prank goes horribly wrong and their cruel housemother winds up at the bottom of the swimming pool with a bullet in her body.  Still, life must go on and there's a big end-of-the-semester party, so they hide the body and party down.  Unfortunately, someone or something else has seen everything they've done and is stalking them down one by one.  Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson, Harley Jane Kozak (and the eighties band 4 Out of 5 Doctors) star.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC 2-DVD set (DVDBeaver)

HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Brand New HD transfer from original IN
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional opening and closing segments by hostess Katarina Leigh Waters
• Audio Commentary by director Mark Rosman, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Audio Commentary by stars Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson, and director Mark Rosman
• Interview with actress Harley Jane Kozak
• Alternate Ending
• Storyboard to Film Comparison
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• 4 TV spots
• Brand New Interview with actress Kate McNeil
• Brand New Interview with actress Eileen Davidson
• Brand New Interview with director Mark Rosman
• Interview with composer Richard Band
• Interview with producer Igo Kantor
• Other Katarina's Nightmare Theater trailers

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Indomina Releasing and Johnnie To present PUNISHED (review)

When his daughter is kidnapped, a ruthless businessman Wong (Anthony Wong, UNTOLD STORY) pays the ransom only to discover his daughter has been murdered by her abductors.  His bodyguard Choi (Richie Ren, FIRE OF CONSCIENCE) mercilessly tracks down each of the people involved in the kidnapping and punishes them, but the cost of revenge may end up being too much for everyone involved.  Produced by Johnnie To (BREAKING NEWS).

REVIEW LINK: Indomina Releasing (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

PUNISHED DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Chinese Dolby Digital 5.1 and English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English and French subtitles
• International Trailer
• Two Behind the Scenes Featurettes
• Exclusive QR code for additional extras

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Scorpion Releasing and Katarina Leigh Waters revisit the HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW (review)

The girls of THE HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW are in hot water when a prank goes horribly wrong and their cruel housemother winds up at the bottom of the swimming pool with a bullet in her body.  Still, life must go on and there's a big end-of-the-semester party, so they hid the body and party down.  Unfortunately, someone or something else has seen everything they've done and is stalking them down one by one.  Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson, Harley Jane Kozak (and the eighties band 4 Out of 5 Doctors) star.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region 0 NTSC 2-DVD set (DVD Drive-In)

HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Brand New HD transfer from original IN
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional opening and closing segments by hostess Katarina Leigh Waters
• Audio Commentary by director Mark Rosman, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Audio Commentary by stars Kate McNeil, Eileen Davidson, and director Mark Rosman
• Interview with actress Harley Jane Kozak
• Alternate Ending
• Storyboard to Film Comparison
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• 4 TV spots
• Brand New Interview with actress Kate McNeil
• Brand New Interview with actress Eileen Davidson
• Brand New Interview with director Mark Rosman
• Interview with composer Richard Band
• Interview with producer Igo Kantor
• Other Katarina's Nightmare Theater trailers

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Scorpion Releasing's NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT (review)

Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing are back in this understated British occult thriller NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT (aka THE RESURRECTION SYNDICATE aka THE DEVIL'S UNDEAD).  The illustrious trustees of an orphanage charitable fund are being brutally murdered one by one and a young girl's traumatic nightmare may be the key to the killings.  Based on the novel by John Blackburn.  Diana Dors and Georgia Brown co-star.  Directed by Peter Sasdy.

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

NOTHING BUT THE NIGHT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer
• Liner Notes
• Optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater segments
• Other Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Scorpion Releasing and Katarina Leigh Waters drink SATAN'S BLOOD (review)

Don't you just love it when you run into old school friends who just happen to now be swinging devil worshipers?  A young copuple out for a afternoon drive wind up in just such an awkward situation in the "S-rated" - for sex - Spanish horror film SATAN'S BLOOD (ESCALOFRIO) directed by Carlos Puerto (EL FRANCOTIRADOR) and produced by Juan Picquer Simon (PIECES).  Soon the clothes come off and the blood starts flowing.  A shockingly explicit slice of seventies Euro horror.

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

SATAN'S BLOOD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.75:1 widescreen
• English and Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Still Gallery
• Optional Katarnia's Nightmare Theater segments
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Jack Palance in KILL A DRAGON (review)

When a shipload of Nitra2 explosives wash up on a small island off Hong Kong, the islanders decide to sell them on the black market to better their circumstances.  The islanders approach salvager Rick Masters (Jack Palance) and his  rag-tag crew to get the cargo safely to Hong Kong for a cut of the profits.  Unfortunately, the cargo's sadistic owner Patray (Fernando Lamas) will stop at nothing to get it back. Can Rick's "St. George" slay Patray the dragon?

REVIEW LINK: MGM (US) Region 1 NTSC MOD DVD-R (DVD Drive-In)

KILL A DRAGON DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer

My other MGM MOD DVDR reviews:
ACT OF VENGEANCE at DVD Drive-In
BOBBIE JO AND THE OUTLAW at DVD Drive-In
BURIED ALIVE at DVD Drive-In

A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY at DVD Drive-In

Joan Collins has THE DEVIL WITHIN HER (DVD review)

DYNASTY's Joan Collins stars as Lucy, a new mother with a very unusual child.  Little Nicholas is not so little, he bites, claws, and punches his loved ones all because Lucy spurned the advances of a strip club midget named Hercules who cursed her to give birth to a child possessed by the devil!  Ralph Bates (LUST FOR A VAMPIRE), Caroline Munro (SLAUGHTER HIGH), Hilary Mason (DON'T LOOK NOW), Donald Pleasance (HALLOWEEN), and Eileen Atkins (WOLF) also star.

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

THE DEVIL WITHIN HER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Interview with actor John Steiner
• Theatrical Trailer
• Playable with optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater wrap-arounds
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

More Scorpion Releasing reviews at Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing.

Raro Video USA: 2011 in Review(s)!

Raro Video USA's first year has given us an impressive roster of releases.  Raro USA has made several titles previously only available as imports more accessible.  They has added English subtitles to previously unsubtitled extras.  More importanly, they have upgrade transfers of some of their highly prized titles with HD masters (with some Blu-Rays planned for 2012).  Below you will find links to all of my 2011 Raro Video USA coverage.  Titles in GREEN are highly recommended.

THE ANGER (La Rabbia) at DVDBeaver
BODY PUZZLE (Misteria) at DVD Drive-In /
THE BOSS (Il Boss/Murder Inferno/Wipeout) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
CALIBER 9 (Milano Calibro 9/The Contract) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
FERNANDO DI LEO CRIME COLLECTION (Caliber 9/The Boss/The Italian Connection/Rulers of the City) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
I CLOWNS at DVDBeaver
THE ITALIAN COLLECTION (La Mala Ordina/Manhunt/Black Kingpin/Hired to Kill) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN (Uomini si nasce poliziotti si muore) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
MURDER OBSESSION (Follia Omicida) at DVD Drive-In / DVDBeaver
PERFUME OF THE LADY IN BLACK (Il Profumo della signora in nero) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
RULERS OF THE CITY (I Padroni della Citta/Mister Scarface) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
THE SECRET OF DORIAN GRAY (Il Dio Chiamato Dorian) at DVDBeaver / DVD Drive-In
TO BE TWENTY (Avere Vent'Anni) at DVD Drive-In / DVDBeaver
THE VANQUISHED (I Vinti) at DVDBeaver

Raro's MURDER OBSESSION DVDs compared (review)

HORRIBLE DR. HICHCOCK director Riccardo Freda's final film is a gory body count supernatural thriller about an actor who returns to his childhood home where he killed his father as a child.  His clingy cougar of a mother and her sinister manservant receive his friends coldly, and pretty soon someone is prowling the grounds with an axe and a chainsaw.  Stefano Patrizi (CONVERSATION PIECE), Silvia Dionisio (LIVE LIKE A COP, DIE LIKE A MAN), Anita Strindberg (THE ANTICHRIST), John Richardson (BLACK SUNDAY), and Martine Brochard (PAPRIKA) star.

REVIEW LINK: Raro Video USA (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD vs Raro Video (IT) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

MURDER OBSESSION Region 0 NTSC DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• English subtitles for Italian-only scenes
• Interview with Sergio Stivaletti
• Liner Notes Booklet

MURDER OBSESSION Region 0 PAL DVD:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.85:1 letterbox
• English and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• English subtitles for Italian-only scenes
• Interview with Sergio Stivaletti
• Deleted Scene
• Liner Notes Booklet

More Raro Video USA review links at Update the Tags: Raro Video.