Kino Lorber/Redemption Films presents THE PETE WALKER COLLECTION (review)

Kino Lorber and Redemption Films bring Pete Walker in HD to the USA with THE PETE WALKER COLLECTION.  In DIE SCREAMING, MARIANNE, Susan George (STRAW DOGS) is Marianne "The Hips" MacDonald on the run from her crooked judge father and her incestuous half-sister.  In HOUSE OF WHIPCORD, French model Ann-Marie falls for the fatal charms of "writer" Mark E. Desade who takes her to his family's country home which is actually a correctional institute for depraved women.  In SCHIZO, no one believes ice skater Samantha (Lynne Frederick, VAMPIRE CIRCUS) when she tells them that she is being stalked by the man who murdered her mother.  Soon the bodies start piling up.  In THE COMEBACK, singer Nick Cooper (Jack Jones) comes to England to record his comeback album but is disturbed by the strange goings-on in the country house where he is staying.  Is a psychotic fan terrorizing him and killing his friends?

REVIEW LINK: Kino Lorber/Redemption Films (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-In)

THE PETE WALKER COLLECTION Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p AVC-encoded widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 mono
• HOUSE OF WHIPCORD
• Audio Commentary by director Pete Walker, cinematographer Peter Jessup, moderated by Steven Chinball (author of "Making Mischeif: The Films of Pete Walker")
• "Perversions of Justice" interview with Pete Walker
• Trailer
• Pete Walker Trailers
• SCHIZO
• "My Sweet Schizo" interview with Pete Walker
• Pete Walker Trailers
• THE COMEBACK
• Audio Commentary by Pete Walker and English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby
• "Slasher Serenade" interview with Pete Walker
• Trailer
• Pete Walker Trailers
• DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE
• Audio Commentary by Pete Walker and English Gothic author Jonathan Rigby
• Trailer
• Pete Walker Trailers

Raro Video presents NIGHT OF THE DEVILS (review)

Gianni Garko (SARTANA IS COMING), Agostina Belli (SCREAM OF THE DEMON LOVER), and Teresa Gimpera (SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE) star in this creepy Spanish/Italian vampire film by Giorgio Ferroni (MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN).  A businessman runs his car off the road in the middle of a forest and takes shelter with a family besieged by a bloodthirsty witch.  Based on Alexei Tolstoy's "Family of the Vourdalak" - the basis for "The Wurdalak" segment from Mario Bava's BLACK SABBATH - with special effects by Carlo Rambaldi (E.T.).

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

NIGHT OF THE DEVILS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English and Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English or German subtitles
• Video Interview with FANGORIA's Chris Alexander
• Video Interview with composer Giorgio Gaslini
• Liner Notes Booklet by Chris Alexander

More Raro Video reviews at Update the Tags: Raro Video.

Shout Factory paints a PORTRAIT OF A LADY (review)

Nicole Kidman (EYES WIDE SHUT), John Malkovich (DANGEROUS LIAISONS), Barbara Hershey (INSIDIOUS), Mary Louise Parker (FRIED GREEN TOMATOES), Martin Donovan (AMATEUR), Valentina Cervi (TRUE BLOOD), Christian Bale (AMERICAN PSYCHO), and Viggo Mortensen (LORD OF THE RINGS) star in Jane Campion's follow-up to THE PIANO.  Based on the novel by Henry James, it is the story of American heiress Isabel Archer whose independence and anticipation of what life has to offer leave her vulnerable to a scheming widow and a cruel suitor.

REVIEW LINK: Shout Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDBeaver)

PORTRAIT OF A LADY Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p AVC-encoded 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-MA 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Making of PORTRAIT OF A LADY documentary (55 minutes)
• Theatrical Trailer

More Shout Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Shout Factory.

ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS feast on Arrow Video (review)

Lucio Fulci's flesh-eating classic hits Blu-ray again, this time in a brand-new HD master from the film's original 2-perf Techniscope negative revealing new layers of gore and grue.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (UK) Region B Blu-Ray (DVDBeaver)

ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS DVD specs:

• DISC ONE:
• 1080P MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by actor Ian McColluch
• Audio Commentary by writer Elisa Briganti
• Audio Commentary by Stephen Thrower and Alan Jones
• US Trailer
• Vipco Trailer
• TV Trailers
• Radio Spot
• Italian Title Sequence
• Easter Eggs
• DISC TWO:
• "Aliens, Cannibals, Zombies" interview with Ian McColloch
• "Zombie Flesh Eaters" From Script to Screen
• "From Romero to Rome" zombie documentary
• Fabio Frizzi Q&A
• The Meat-munching Movies of Gino De Rossi
• Collectors booklet featuring contributions from Calum Waddell, Stephen Thrower, Craig Lapper and Jay Slater.
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys

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Monster Pictures performs an EXCISION (review)

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

EXCISION DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Richard Bates Jr. and Actor AnnaLunne McCord
• Theatrical Trailer

More Monster Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Eureka Video.

Breaking Glass Pictures raises a DUST UP (review)

REVIEW LINK: Breaking Glass Pictures (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

DUST UP DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Audio Commentary
• Featurettes
•  Making the World More Good
• Eye-Patch People
• Cannibals Anonymous
• Safely Smoking Crank
• The Desert Runs Red - Spindrift Scores
• ADR stands for Amazing Dialogue Recording
• Best Friends Forever - A Morning with Jack & Mo
• Ride the Pony!
• The Herm Dawg Diaries
• Stuff Shannon Saw
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Breaking Glass Pictures trailers

Other Breaking Glass Pictures reviews: ALMOST KINGS, NATE AND MARGARET, TWISTED ROMANCE 

Artificial Eye and Michael Haneke visit Kafka's THE CASTLE (review)

REVIEW LINK: Artificial Eye (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE CASTLE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.75:1 widescreen
• German Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Documentary "24 Realities per Second" (56 mins)
• Michael Haneke Trailers

More Artificial Eye reviews at Update the Tags: Artificial Eye.

Artificial Eye and Kristin Scott Thomas are IN YOUR HANDS (review)

Loneliness and solitude (enforced and otherwise) are a volatile mix in Lola Doillon's IN YOUR HANDS.  When adamantly single doctor Anna (Kristin Scott-Thomas, LOVE CRIME) returns from her holiday, she is abducted and imprisoned by Yann (Pio Marmai), an unhinged man whose wife died under Anna's care.  He torments her and plans to kill her but lust soon overcomes loss.  What will Anna do when she has the opportunity to escape?

REVIEW LINK: Artificial Eye (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

IN YOUR HANDS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer

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Scorpion Releasing sacrifices GEORGIA GEORGIA (review)

Diana Sands (A RAISIN IN THE SUN) plays Georgia Martin, the most popular American singer in Europe, and she has no plans to return to the states anytime soon.  Her companion Abigail (Minnie Gentry, THE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER PLANET) tries to keep her grounded in her heritage - including trying to get her to help the cause of a group of African American Vietnam War defectors in Stockholm - while her agent Herbert treats her like a queen far above the "little people" (black or white).  When she falls for a white American photojournalist (THE A TEAM's Dirk Benedict), she becomes targeted for betraying her race in this rare Maya Angelou-scripted drama from the producers of GANJA AND HESS/BLOOD COUPLE.  Diana Kjaer (FANNY HILL) also stars.

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

GEORGIA GEORGIA DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director Stig Bjorkman and actor Dirk Benedict
• Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery (photographs courtesy of Dirk Benedict)
• Theatrical Trailer (Spanish Language)

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Monster Pictures serves up an ULTIMATE ZOMBIE FEAST (review)

Monster Pictures serves up a five hour, two-disc ULTIMATE ZOMBIE FEAST featuring sixteen zombie shorts from the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and even India.  See fast-moving zombies, shuffling zombies, zombie Mormons, amorous zombies, and even zombie puppets!

REVIEW LINK: Monster Pictures (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

ULTIMATE ZOMBIE FEAST DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English/Spanish/French/Hindi Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• ZOMBEER (Netherlands, 11 min) 
• ZOMBIES AND CIGARETTES (Spain, 17 min)
• PLAGUE (UK, 17 min) 
• BITTEN (UK, 6 min) 
• ARISE (USA, 18 min) 
• NOT EVEN DEATH (USA, 5 min) 
• FEAR OF THE LIVING DEAD (USA, 16 min) 
• KIDZ (Canada, 9 min)
• THE BOOK OF ZOMBIE (USA, 64 min) 
• Disc Two:
• ZOMBIE HARVEST (UK, 11 min) 
• THE SKIN OF YOUR TEETH (USA, 14 min) 
• ZOMBLIES (UK, 47 min) 
• IT CAME FROM THE WEST (Denmark, 16 min) 
• PARIS BY NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (France, 12 min) 
• SAVAGES (India, 39 min)
• DEAD HUNGRY (UK, 10 min) 

More Monster Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Eureka Video.

Oscilloscope Laboratories and Charley Chase CUT TO THE CHASE (review)

Collected in this two-disc set are sixteen shorts of the prolific Charley Chase (not the porn star), fourteen of which were directed by Leo McCarey, who went on to direct the Marx Brothers' DUCK SOUP.  Oliver Hardy (of LAUREL & HARDY) appears in ISN'T LIFE TERRIBLE (along with an uncredited Fay Wray) and LONG FLIV THE KING.

REVIEW LINK: Oscilloscope Laboratories (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

CUT TO THE CHASE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• Dolby Digital 2.0
• DISC ONE:
• April Fool
• The Fraidy Cat
• Bad Boy
• The Caretaker's Daughter
• Be Your Age
• Bromo and Juliet
• Dog Shy
• Charley My Boy
• DISC TWO:
• The Uneasy Three
• Innocent Husbands
• Isn't Life Terrible
• What Price Goofy?
• Long Fliv the King
• Mama Behave
• Mighty Like a Moose
• Mum's the Word

Scorpion Releasing has an AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (review)

From the makers of PROM NIGHT and HUMONGOUS comes an AMERICAN NIGHTMARE.  When his younger sister disappears, a concert pianist searches for her in the seedy underbelly of the city and crosses paths with a razor-wielding killer stalking strippers and hookers.  Is it your run-of-the-mill psycho slasher or is there more to the mystery.  Michael Ironside (SCANNERS), Lenore Zann (HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME), and Page Fletcher (TV's THE HITCHHIKER) star.

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

AMERICAN NIGHTMARE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (open matte)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by producer Paul Lynch, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Audio Interview with writer John Sheppard
• Kat's Eyes: Interview with producer Paul Lynch
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Scorpion Releasing boards the DEATH SHIP (review)

The handful of survivors of an ocean liner crash take shelter on an abandoned WWII ship.  Once they board the ship, it begins to come back to life with the intent of terrorizing and killing them... of course, it could have just let them drown in the first place (but then it wouldn't be a DEATH SHIP).  Richard Crenna (THE EVIL), George Kennedy (BOLERO), Nick Mancuso (MILENA), and Saul Rubinek (BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES) star.

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

DEATH SHIP DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Isolated Music Score
• Deleted Scenes
• "Learn What the Ship is Saying" featurette
• Trailer
• Optional "Katarina's Nightmare Theater" introduction and post-script
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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