Mill Creek has DEADLY DESIRES times eight (review)

Mill Creek presents another two-disc, eight-movie collection of Sony/Columbia thrillers.  Meg Ryan and Mark Ruffalo are entangled in grisly murder in Jane Campion's IN THE CUT.  Elisha Cuthbert's deaf-mute adopted sister may be something more sinister in THE QUIET.  Charlize Theron is terrorized by her daughter's kidnappers in TRAPPED.  Doctor Gerard Depardieu investigates the case of a young nun in THE PACT OF SILENCE.  Richard Gere and Kim Basinger are on the run in the bayou in NO MERCY while Burt Reynolds is accused of murder in PHYSICAL EVIDENCE with Theresa Russell as his only hope.  Judd Nelson is nuts in RELENTLESS.  Dylan McDermott and Tom Sizemore square off in WHERE SLEEPING DOGS LIE (also starring Sharon Stone).

REVIEW LINK: Mill Creek Entertainment (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Compare)

DEADLY DESIRES 8 MOVIE COLLECTION DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• "In the Cut"
• Unrated Director's Cut
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• "The Quiet"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
  
• "Pact of Silence"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
  
• "Trapped" 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Disc Two:
• "No Mercy"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "Physical Evidence"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "Relentless"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
  
• "Where Sleeping Dogs Lie"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

Vinegar Syndrome's FANNY HILL meets THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER (review)

Vinegar Syndrome brings us a Blu-ray/DVD combo double feature of two oddball entries from producer Albert Zugsmith (TOUCH OF EVIL, WRITTEN ON THE WIND).  In FANNY HILL (started by Russ Meyer before Zugsmith decided it should be more comic than sexy), Leticia Roman plays the literary damsel whose virtue is threatened by a number of clients of her guardian Mrs. Brown.  In THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER, Troy Donahue is a bumbling divinity student deputized by the cowardly sheriff when "The Terrible Seven" ride into town and take over.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

FANNY HILL/THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER Blu-ray/DVD specs:

• Blu-ray (Disc One):
• 1080p24MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen versions of both films
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• DVD (Disc Two): 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 transfer of FANNY HILL
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• DVD (Disc Three):
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer of THE PHANTOM GUNSLINGER
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Interview with FANNY HILL's Ulli Lommel
• Interview with film historian Eric Schaefer
• Reversible Cover

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Shout! Factory unleashes a CULT MOVIE MARATHON VOLUME TWO (review)

In the second volume of Shout! Factory's CULT MOVIE MARATHON (volume one review coming soon), the ANGELS FROM HELL clash with the police of a small town while Candice Rialson's (PETS) vagina starts talking in CHATTERBOX! from Tom DeSimone (HELL NIGHT).  In THE NAKED CAGE, Shari Shattuck is thrown behind bars during a prison riot with rival girl gangs, lesbian wardens, and rapey guards.  Linda Blair gets grafted in a patchwork of two Spanish/Italian women-in-prison movies in Empire Pictures' SAVAGE ISLAND.

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

CULT MOVIE MARATHON VOLUME TWO DVD specs:

• Angels from Hell:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Chatterbox!:
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• The Naked Cage:
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Savage Island: 
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

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

Breaking Glass and QC Pictures stay up for LONGING NIGHTS (review)

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

LONGING NIGHTS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Burnt-in English Subtitles
• "A Day in the Life of Aitana" featurette
• Photo Gallery
• Trailer
• Breaking Glass Trailers

More Breaking Glass reviews at Update the Tags: Breaking Glass Pictures.

Breaking Glass Picturse and QC Cinema smoke PEYOTE (review)

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

PEYOTE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Burnt-in English subtitles
• The Making of "Peyote"
• Short film "El Autor"
• Photo Gallery
• Trailer
• Breaking Glass Trailers

More Breaking Glass reviews at Update the Tags: Breaking Glass Pictures.

MVD Visual babysits CHILDREN OF A DARKER DAWN (review)

REVIEW LINK: MVD (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

CHILDREN OF A DARKER DAWN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Music Video
• Trailer

Impulse Pictures releases SCHOOLGIRL REPORT #11: TRYING BEATS STUDYING (review)

Those naughty Germans take a peek into the sex lives of schoolgirls in SCHOOLGIRL REPORT #11 as a radio show panel argue over whether laws protecting youth are too liberal and in need of reform.


REVIEW LINK: Impulse Pictures (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

SCHOOLGIRL REPORT VOLUME #11 DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.66:1 widescreen
• German Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles

More Impulse Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Synapse Films.

Scorpion Releasing enters THE OCTAGON (review)

Chuck Norris battles ninjas and international terrorists in his second big action film THE OCTAGON.  Also starring Art Hindle (BLACK CHRISTMAS), Lee Van Cleef (THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY), Richard Norton (CITY HUNTER), Tadashi Yamashita (AMERICAN NINJA), John Fujioka (MORTAL KOMBAT), and Karen Carlson (FLESHBURN).


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

THE OCTAGON DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director Eric Karson
• Making of "The Octagon"
• Interview with actor Tadashi Yamashita
• Theatrical Trailer

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

Scorpion Releasing witnesses THE RETURN (review)

MOONLIGHTING's Cybill Shepherd, AIR WOLF's Jan-Michael Vincent, ED WOOD's Martin Landau, and PERRY MASON's Raymond Burr witness alien phenomena in THE RETURN.  Directed by Greydon Clark (SATAN'S CHEERLEADERS) and scripted by Jim and Ken Wheat (PITCH BLACK).


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

THE RETURN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen from the original negative
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary with director Greydon Clark
• Interview with director Greydon Clark
• Theatrical Trailer
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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

Scorpion Releasing on the DAY OF THE ANIMALS (review)

Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Richard Jaeckel, Leslie Nielsen, and Andrew Stevens experience "when animals attack" on a nature hike plagued with grisly (and grizzly) death when the depleted ozone layer starts to make animals and people go berserk.  From the director of GRIZZLY and THE MANITOU.

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

DAY OF THE ANIMALS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen from the original IP
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Fun Facts and Trivia with Katarina Leigh Waters
• Interview with actor Jon Cedar
• Interview with actor Paul Mantee
• TV Spot
• Scorpion Releasing Trailer

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

Film Chest bundles up for a SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (review)

The decades old secrets of Butler House spill out in an axe massacre in the seventies cult classic SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT starring Patrick O'Neal, James Patterson, Astrid Heeren, Mary Waranov, and a host of Andy Warhol players.

REVIEW LINK: Film Chest (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono 

Film Chest wishes you a SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (review)

The decades old secrets of Butler House spill out in an axe massacre in the seventies cult classic SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT starring Patrick O'Neal, James Patterson, Astrid Heeren, Mary Waranov, and a host of Andy Warhol players.

REVIEW LINK: Film Chest (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono 

Breaking Glass Pictures presents the world of PABLO (review)

You may not know who Pablo Ferro is by name, but you know his work.  Follow his story from his immigration from Cuba with his family to his work with Marvel Comics and revolutionary television commercials to working on trailers and the title design for Stanley Kubrick's DR. STRANGELOVE and A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and other major films which would not be the same without his spectacular contributions.

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

PABLO DVD specs: 

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• English Closed Captioning
• Audio Commentary by director Richard Goldgewicht and producer Jeremy Goldscheider
• "Who is Pablo Ferro?" promo
• "Jee Pablo" Preview
• Creator Final Animation Test
• Pablo Ferro's Original Art for "Pablo"
• Brief Lesson in the History of Trailers
• Brief Lesson in the History of René Magritte
• Animated Trailer
• Trailer
• Photo Gallery
• Breaking Glass Trailers

More Breaking Glass reviews at Update the Tags: Breaking Glass Pictures.

Strand Releasing looks into THE FUTURE (review)

Rutger Hauer stars as a reclusive actor in this strange tale of a pair of orphans embroiled in a scheme of seduction and betrayal.

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

THE FUTURE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Italian/Spanish/English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Strand Releasing Trailers

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

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED on Shout! Factory (review)

German agents Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, and Robert Duvall plot to kidnap Winston Churchill in the epic WWII film THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.  Jenny Agutter, Jean Marsh, and Judy Geeson also star.

REVIEW LINK: Shout! Factory (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED Blu-ray/DVD combo:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "THE EAGLE HAS LANDED Revisited" featurette
• "Tom Mankiewicz: Looking Back" featurette
• "ATV Today on Location" vintage featurette 
• Film Night Location Report
• "On Location in Norfolk"
• On Location Interviews
• Theatrical Trailer 

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

Scorpion Releasing presents a double bill of LURKERS/DIE SISTER, DIE! (review)

Roberta Findlay's LURKERS are after Cathy's soul while money hungry schemers want Amanda to DIE SISTER, DIE! in this strange double feature from Scorpion Releasing.

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

LURKERS/DIE SISTER, DIE! DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Isolated Music Tracks for both films
• Theatrical Trailers for both films
• "Katarina's Nightmare Theater" intro and post-script for LURKERS
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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

Blue Underground rehabilitates MANIAC COP 3 (review)

The "Maniac Cop" is back and he's looking for a bride in the supremely ill-fated third installment of the franchise.  Robert Davi and Robert Z'Dar star.

REVIEW LINK: Blue Underground (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

MANIAC COP 3 Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround
• Optional English SDH, French (Canadian), French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (Castillian), and Spanish (Latin American) subtitles
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and Dolby Digital 2.0 surround
• Optional English SDH, French (Canadian), French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (Castillian), and Spanish (Latin American) subtitles
• Wrong Arm of the Law: The Making of "Maniac Cop 3"
• 7 Deleted and Extended Scenes (in Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Theatrical Trailer
• Poster and Still Gallery
• Original Synopsis (text screens) 
• Slipcover

More Blue Underground reviews at Update the Tags: Blue Underground.

Blue Underground resurrects MANIAC COP 2 (review)

The "Maniac Cop" (Robert Z'Dar) rises from his watery grave to take revenge in William Lustig's and Larry Cohen's exciting sequel.  Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon, Claudia Christian, Robert Davi, Leo Rossi, and Michael Lerner also star.

REVIEW LINK: Blue Underground (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

MANIAC COP 2 Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and 2.0 surround
• Optional English, Danish, Dutch, French (Canadian), Finnish, French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (Castillian), Spanish (Latin American), and Swedish subtitles
• Isolated Music Track (DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo)
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS 6.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX and 2.0 surround
• Optional English, Danish, Dutch, French (Canadian), Finnish, French (Parisian), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Spanish (Castillian), Spanish (Latin American), and Swedish subtitles
• Isolated Music Track (Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo)
• Audio Commentary by director William Lustig and filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn
• Back on the Beat: The Making of "Maniac Cop 2"
• Cinefamily Q and A with director William Lustig
• Deleted Scene: "The Evening News with Sam Raimi"
• Trailers: 
• International Trailer
• UK Teaser
• French Trailer
• German Trailer
• Poster and Still Gallery 
• Slipcover

More Blue Underground reviews at Update the Tags: Blue Underground.

Shout Factory gives George Romero's KNIGHTRIDERS a spin! (review)

Ed Harris gets his first leading role in George A. Romero's highly personal KNIGHTRIDERS as "King Billy" the leader of a gang of jousting motorcyclists fighting the dragons of commercialism and corruption.  Tom Savini, Patricia Tallman, Gary Lahti, Amy Ingersoll, Ken Foree, and many other Romero regulars star in this cult classic.

REVIEW LINK: Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

KNIGHTRIDERS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
•  Audio commentary by writer/director/co-editor George A. Romero, actor Tom Savini, actor John Amplas, actress Christine Romero, and film historian Chris Stavrakis
• "Conscience of the King" interview with Ed Harris
• "Code of Honor" interview with George Romero
• "Memories of Morgan" interview with Tom Savini 
• Behind the Scenes - The Stunts of "Knightriders"
• Theatrical Trailer and Two TV Spots

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

Vinegar Syndrome votes for THE CANDIDATE with JOHNNY GUNMAN (review)

Ted Knight is THE CANDIDATE facing political scandal in the arms of Mamie Van Doren and June Wilkinson while JOHNNY GUNMAN faces off in a streetfight against a knife-wielding opponent challenging his inherited turf in this rare noir gangster pic.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE CANDIDATE/JOHNNY GUNMAN DVD specs:

• The Candidate (1964)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Johnny Gunman (1957)
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Mill Creek has eight DEADLY SECRETS (review)

Mill Creek presents a two-disc, eight movie set of Sony chillers.  TWILIGHT's Kristen Stewart and HOSTAGES' Dylan McDermott are threatened on a remote farm by THE MESSENGERS.  Antonio Banderas investigates the origins of a crucified first century body found in a Jerusalem tomb in THE BODY.  A prank goes lethally wrong in the remake of APRIL FOOL'S DAY.  Ryan Reynolds' experiences upside down realities in THE NINES.  Julia Roberts is terrorized by John Malkovich in MARY REILLY.  A woman discovers terror at her aunt's remote country cottage in RING AROUND THE ROSIE.  Miguel Ferrer is stalked by organ harvesters in THE HARVEST.  Ron Eldard gets mad and then gets even in ALREADY DEAD.

REVIEW LINK: Mill Creek (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Compare)

DEADLY SECRETS 8 MOVIE COLLECTION DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• "The Messengers"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "The Body"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "April Fool's Day"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Unrated Version
• "The Nines" 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Disc Two:
• "Mary Reilly"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "Ring Around the Rosie"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "The Harvest"
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "Already Dead"
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo

Vinegar Syndrome spies on THE FIRST TIME with the ORIENTAL BABYSITTER (review)

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE FIRST TIME/ORIENTAL BABYSITTER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfers of both films
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Vinegar Syndrome studies THE ORAL GENERATION (review)

The (ahem) "Family Studies Institute" decides to make an informative film about oral sex for liberated women in Vinegar Syndrome's odd pairing of THE ORAL GENERATION and four short subjects from the mysterious "Extraordinary Films".

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE ORAL GENERATION DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (original aspect ratio)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer
• Outtake
• Shorts:
• "Clinical Sex"
• "Any Way You Like It"
• "Naked Sexes"
• "The Different Sex"

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Tidepoint Pictures gets SANGUIVOROUS (Review)

In this avant-garde vampire story, a young woman suffering from mysterious ailments discovers that she comes from a line of Romanian vampires who infested Japan five hundred years ago.

REVIEW LINK: Tidepoint Pictures/MVD Visual (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

SANGUIVOROUS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.63:1 widescreen
• Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Making-of
• Short film "Nowhere"

Monster Pictures teaches THE ABCs OF DEATH (review)

Twenty-six directors come up with twenty-six ways to die in the massive anthology THE ABCs OF DEATH.

REVIEW LINK: Monster Pictures/Eureka Video (UK) Region 2 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE ABCs OF DEATH DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles (for foreign segments)
• Audio Commentary by over thirty of the films' crew and cast
• Behind the Scenes and Deleted Scenes featurettes for fourteen of the films
• AXS TV look at THE ABCs OF DEATH
• Greenband Trailer
• Redband Trailer
• Do You Know Your ABCs? (animated short)

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

Shout! Factory takes in an ACTION PACKED MOVIE MARATHON VOLUME TWO

Shout! Factory delves into the MGM vaults for another quartet of action films in ACTION-PACKED MOVIE MARATHON VOLUME TWO.  Gary Busey heads south of the border to steal back an ambushed high-tech tank in BULLETPROOF.  Darlanne Fluegel, Henry Silva, and L.Q. Jones also star.  James Iglehart (DEATH FORCE) is stalked by assassins on his honeymoon in BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN.  Cowboy Jim Mitchum takes on seedy Los Angeles in search of his sister in TRACKDOWN.  Cathy Lee Crosby and Erik Estrada also star.  Connie Stevens is an undercover cop with a body as deadly as her gun in SCORCHY.  Cesare Danova, Greg Evigan, and William Smith also star.

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

4 ACTION-PACKED MOVIE MARATHON VOLUME TWO DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• "Bulletproof"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• "Bamboo Gods and Iron Men"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Disc Two:
• "Trackdown"
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.81:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• "Scorchy"
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

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

Breaking Glass Pictures comes OUT IN THE DARK (review)

Palestinian student Nimr meets Israeli lawyer Roy in a Tel Aviv nightclub.  Nimr is reluctant to start a relationship because of their cultural differences as well as his own academic aspirations to get out of the war-torn area.  When a gay friend staying illegally in Tel Aviv is sent back to his village on the other side of the border and murdered, Nimr finds himself caught between his own culture's rejection of his sexual identity and his lover's rejection of his nationality.  When his border-crossing permit is cancelled by Israeli security over suspicions involving his brother's shady activities, Nimr soon finds his life threatened by both sides as well.

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

OUT IN THE DARK DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Arabic/Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English subtitles
• Deleted Scenes
• Cast Interviews
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Breaking Glass Trailers

More Breaking Glass Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Breaking Glass.

Mill Creek takes flight with WINGS: SEASONS 1 & 2 (review)

NBC's Must See TV Thursday primetime comedy takes to the air in Mill Creek's complete season 1 & 2 disc set of WINGS featuring twenty-seven episodes.  Tim Daly (PRIVATE PRACTICE), Steven Bauer (SINGLE WHITE FEMALE), Crystal Bernard (SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II), Thomas Haden Church (SIDEWAYS), David Schramm (LET IT RIDE), and Rebecca Schull (SUITS) star.

REVIEW LINK: Mill Creek Entertainment (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Compare)

WINGS SEASONS 1 and 2 DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• 27 episodes on three discs (10 hours 45 minutes)

Badlands and 1Kult present Lucile Hadzihalilovic's LA BOUCHE DE JEAN-PIERRE (review)

Lucile Hadzihalilovic's controversial short film from 1996 tells the story of young Mimi who goes to stay with her aunt after her mother attempts suicide.  Shot by Gaspar Noe (IRREVERSIBLE).

REVIEW LINK: Badlands (France) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

LA BOUCHE DE JEAN PIERRE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.66:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles (only accessible from remote)
• Featurette "Souvenirs de Jean Pierre" (French-only)
• Fearutette "Les Amis de Jean Pierre" (French-only)
• Trailer for the director's feature debut INNOCENCE
• Short Film

Buy directly from the distributor BADLANDS at their shop for offers of exclusive extras.

Scream Factory launches an ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (review)

The staff of a closing police station are in for a "white hot night of hate" when a street gang swears a blood oath to take vengeance on the police and anyone other unfortuante person who happens to literally stray into their crosshairs in John Carpenter's classic exploitation film.  Austin Stoker (HORROR HIGH), Darwin Joston (THE FOG), and Nancy Loomis (HALLOWEEN) star.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director John Carpenter
• Audio Commentary by art director Tommy Lee Wallace
• Q and A with John Carpenter and actor Austin Stoker
• Interview with actor Austin Stoker
• Interview with actress Nancy Loomis
• Theatrical Trailer and TV spots
• Radio Spots
• Still Gallery

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream Factory

Vinegar Syndrome presents GAME SHOW MODELS and THE SEVENTH DWARF (review)

How does the story of an idealistic young writer's encounter with the ugly side of Hollywood show business become a sexploitation pic from Sam Sherman's Independent-Interntional starring Dick Miller?  See Vinegar Syndrome's double-disc set which includes GAME SHOW MODELS as well as its original, artier previously unseen version THE SEVENTH DWARF.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

GAME SHOW MODELS DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director David Gottlieb
• Disc Two: 
• Original cut of the film titled THE SEVENTH DWARF
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Outtakes
• Still Gallery

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Scream Factory sells tickets to THE HORROR SHOW (review)

Serial killer "Meat Cleaver Max" (BLADE RUNNER's Brion James) has over 110 victims to his credit, and he's not gonna let the electric chair stop him.  His evil spirit transformed into pure energy infiltrates the home of the detective (PUMPKINHEAD's Lance Henriksen) and starts terrorizing his family.  Also known as HOUSE III.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE HORROR SHOW Blu-ray/DVD combo:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Audio Commentary by producer Sean S. Cunningham
• Interview with stunt coordinator Kane Hodder
• Interview with actress Rita Taggart
• Theatrical Trailer

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream Factory

Vinegar Syndrome stays up for THE BLUE HOUR (review)

Vinegar Syndrome's latest 2-disc DVD set compiles a trio of disparate sexploitation releases from the mysterious distributor Grads Corp.  In THE BLUE HOUR, Greek farm girl Tania flees her home under a dark cloud and finds herself sexually exploited when she arrives in the states.  Making her way from Nevada to California, she fights off rapists and pimps.  When she finally finds happiness with an architect, the demons of her own past come back to haunt her.  In ONE NAKED NIGHT, a virginal schoolgirl flees her small town when she discovers that her mother - who committed suicide - was a call girl.  She starts a new life in New York only to discover that her roommates are prostitutes and the men she meets are either "deadly dull or rotten".  Finally, in THREE IN A TOWEL, a man who fancies himself to be the incarnation of Shakespeare's Romeo tries to get laid as much as possible on his yacht and then sends "thought waves" to attract more women to his apartment for an afternoon orgy.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE BLUE HOUR DVD specs:

• Disc One:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfer of THE BLUE HOUR, mastered in 2K from the original 35mm negatives
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono 
• Disc Two:
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen transfers of ONE NAKED NIGHT and THREE IN A TOWEL mastered in 2K from the original negatives
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Trailer for THREE IN A TOWEL

More Vinegar Syndrome reviews at Update the Tags: Vinegar Syndrome.

Scream Factory shows up for the EVE OF DESTRUCTION (review)

Gregory Hines (WHITE NIGHTS) and Renee Soutendijk (THE FOURTH MAN) race to stop the killing spree of a sophisticated android (also Soutendijk) whose circuitry has gone haywire in the nineties sci-fi thriller EVE OF DESTRUCTION.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

EVE OF DESTRUCTION Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 stereo
• Theatrical Trailer

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream

Vicious Circle Films shivers AS NIGHT FALLS (review)

Eighty years ago, a young girl's psychotic parents put her to sleep... permanently.  Now they're back at their old homestead and the new owners (and their rocker groupies) are losing their heads and other body parts... but tonight, the victims fight back!

REVIEW LINK: Breaking Glass Pictures/Vicious Circle Films (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

AS NIGHT FALLS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Video Diary
• Music Video
• Photo Gallery
• Trailer
• Breaking Glass Trailers

More Breaking Glass Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Breaking Glass.

Second Run's Czech double bill: THE WHITE DOVE/JOSEF KILIAN (Review)

Second Run presents double bill of Czech New Wave films.  In THE WHITE DOVE, a carrier pigeon gets lost in a storm on the way to a Baltic island and ends up in Prague where it is wounded by a young wheelchair-bound boy.  He nurses it back to health, but is he prepared to let it go when it's ready to fly free?  In JOSEF KILIAN, a mild-mannered man experiences a Kafka-esque bureaucratic hell when trying to return a cat to a "cat rental agency" that has mysteriously disappeared overnight.

REVIEW LINK: Second Run DVD (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE WHITE DOVE/JOSEF KILIAN DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (original aspect ratio)
• Czech Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Liner Notes Booklet

More Second Run DVD reviews at Update the Tags: Second Run DVD.

Code Red and Maria's B-Movie Mayhem play with JOCKS and CLASSROOM TEASERS (review)

JOCKS hit the tennis courts for some unsportsmanlike antics in Crown International's zany comedy while three girls are released from prison to take part in a college experimental drug program in the seventies exploitation pic CLASSROOM TEASERS (aka THE STUDENT BODY) from Gus Trikonis (THE EVIL).

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

JOCKS/CLASSROOM TEASERS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary on JOCKS by director Steve Carver
• Maria's B Movie Mayhem Playback Mode
• Code Red Trailers

More Code Red reviews at Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing.

Scream Factory unzips John Carpenter's BODY BAGS (review)

John Carpenter's and Tobe Hooper's nineties Showtime anthology BODY BAGS gets a high definition resurrection - in its uncut, unrated version - in Scream Factory's special edition with all brand new extras.  Carpenter helms the first two stories in which a gas station attendant on her first night encounters a series of weirdos (one of which might be a serial killer) and the story of a man (Stacey Keach) resorting to an unusual miracle hair-growth treatment that gives his scalp a life of its own.  Tobe Hooper directs the third story in which a ball player (Mark Hamill) loses an eye in a car accident and gets an experimental transplant from a donor whose memories are still very much present in the eye.  Robert Carradine, David Warner, and Twiggy also star.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

BODY BAGS Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• DVD: 
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 setreo
• Audio Commentary by director John Carpenter, producer Sandy King, and actors Robert Carradine and Stacey Keach
• "Unzipping BODY BAGS" cast/crew interview featurette
• Trailer

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

Code Red swings a MACE (review)

HILL STREET BLUES' Ed Marino plays a big screen detective in this rare eighties thriller released on home video as DEAD AIM.  A series of murders disguised as overdoses are plaguing Atlanta.  Corbin Bernsen (L.A. LAW), Isaac Hayes (SOUTH PARK), and John Hancock (BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES) also star.

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

MACE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio commentary with director William VanDerKloot and associate producer Toby Murphy
• Code Red Trailers

More Code Red reviews at Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing.

The BFI and the BBC dig up ROBIN REDBREAST (review)

Anticipating the folk horror of THE WICKER MAN, this long unseen "Play for Today" teleplay ROBIN REDBREAST tells the story of a script editor (Anna Cropper) who decides to clear her head by leaving the city for a country cottage in a quaint little village.  The locals are eccentric and prying, and soon she begins to realize that she has become part of a mysterious plot involving the local harvest festival.  Written by John Bowen, author of "A Woman Sobbing" for the series DEAD OF NIGHT as well as "The Treasure of Abbot Thomas" and "The Ice House" for A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS).

REVIEW LINK: British Film Institute (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

ROBIN REDBREAST DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• English SDH subtitles
• Interview with writer John Bowen
• Short film "Around a Village Green" (1934)
• Collector's Booklet

Wild Eye Releasing enrolls in MURDER UNIVERSITY (review)

In this throwback to the eighties slashers, young Josh enrolls in Greensboro College and immediately fails to fit in.  His teachers hate him, his classmates hate him, and he witnesses a devil-masked killer murder three of his classmates.  Barely surviving the ordeal, he teams up with a detective and the man's daughter to catch the killer nicknamed "The Greensboro Devil" on the campus of "Murder U" where the tuition is killer and the alumni is six feet under.

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

MURDER UNIVERSITY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Audio Commentary
• Audio Commentary
• Deleted Scene
• Trailers

BFI wakes in the DEAD OF NIGHT (review)

Venture into the DEAD OF NIGHT with the British Film Institute as they rescue from the BBC vaults that three surviving episodes of this seventies TV chiller series.  In THE EXORCISM, two couples celebrating Christmas dinner in a renovated country cottage are chosen for centuries old supernatural retribution.  In RETURN FLIGHT, an aging airplane captain has an encounter in the sky with what might be a literal "phantom" aircraft.  In A WOMAN SOBBING, an unhappy housewife believes she is either going mad or the ghost of a woman is haunting the attic of her country home.  Anna Cropper, Clive Swift, Peter Barkworth, and Anna Massey star.

REVIEW LINKS: British Film Institute (UK) Region 2 PAL (DVDBeaver)

DEAD OF NIGHT DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (original aspect ratio)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• The three surviving episodes "The Exorcism", "Return Flight", and "A Woman Sobbing"
• Photo galleries from two of the missing episodes
• PDF screenplays for all seven episodes

Scream Factory has CHILLING VISIONS: 5 SENSES OF FEAR (review)

Originally broadcast on the Chiller channel, CHILLING VISIONS: 5 SENSES OF FEAR features five short horror films by the makers of 2012 DOOMSDAY (Nick Everhart), YELLOWBRICKROAD (Jesse Holland and Andy Mitton), MADISON COUNTY (Eric England), and THE RETELLING (Emily Hagins), as well as the directorial debut of Miko Hughes (the creepy kid from PET SEMATARY).

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

CHILLING VISIONS: 5 SENSES OF FEAR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Deleted Scene
• Teasers and Trailers

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

Code Red peeks in on James Hong's THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (review)

Before he was KUNG-FU PANDA's Mr. Ping, prolific actor James Hong also dabbled in directing low budget sexploitation pictures including THE GIRL NEXT DOOR.  Carol and Neeley decide to volunteer for the police force rather than camp with their boyfriends for the summer and find themselves mixed up in prostitution, drugs, and more thanks to both their boyfriends and their randy cop trainers.  Kristin Baker (FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 2), Perry Lang (JOCKS), and Richard Singer (AMERICAN POP) star.

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

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR/TEEN LUST DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfers of the director's cut THE GIRL NEXT DOOR and the re-release version TEEN LUST
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary on TEEN LUST by director James Hong, moderated by Bill Olsen and Marc Edward Heuck
• Trailers for THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

More Code Red reviews at Update the Tags: Code Red Releasing.

Severin Films sweats out THE HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA (review)

Eager to get away from rainy, dreary Paris, Marie-France (Alice Arno) takes a position as a nurse to the paralyzed daughter of eccentric author Radeck (Paul Muller) who lives abroad in a Greek villa with his nymphomaniacal niece Olivia (Lina Romay) and mute servant (Pierre Taylou).  All are hot-to-trot but they are also guarding a devastating family secret, and Marie-France soon finds that THE HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA are full of sex and death.  Also known as BUT WHO RAPED LINDA and THE BRUTAL NIGHTS OF LINDA.

REVIEW LINK: Severin Films (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Interview with Jess Franco
• Jess Franco and Lina Romay on THE HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA
• Interview with Franco expert Stephen Thrower
• Jess Franco Lifetime Achievement Award
• Outtakes
• Theatrical Trailer
• BONUS LIMITED THIRD DISC of the hardcore French version (quantities are limited so check with Severin's direct sale website for copies of the 3-disc version which will be replaced with a 2-disc combo when supplies are exhausted).

More Severin Films reviews at Update the Tags: Severin Films.