Second Sight tells FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY (review)

Leonard Whiting (ROMEO AND JULIET) plays Frankenstein and Michael Sarrazin (THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD) plays the monster in this grizzly Universal network TV two-part miniseries adaptation of Mary Shelley's novel.  James Mason (SALEM'S LOT), David McCallum (DOGS), and Jane Seymour (SOMEWHERE IN TIME) also star.

REVIEW LINK: Second Sight (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 original aspect ratio
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Original two-part miniseries version
• Introduction by James Mason

Scream Factory attends the SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (review)

While the parents are away, eighteen year old Trish decides to throw a slumber party for her basketball team buddies.  Among the uninvited guests are a watchful, nocturnal snail-hunting neighbor, prank-playing boys, the team coach, and the new girl next door and her pesky sister... but the ultimate buzz killer is an escaped maniac wielding a power drill in this slasher film directorial debut from the writer of MYSTIC PIZZA and INDECENT PROPOSAL.

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

SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Amy Holden-Jones and actors Debra De Liso and Michael Villella
• "Sleepless Nights" retrospective documentary
• Interview with actor Rigg Kennedy
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II and SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE III
• Stills Gallery

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Scorpion Releasing investigates THE DAIN CURSE (review)

James Coburn (IN LIKE FLINT) takes on diamonds, dames, and a family curse in this three-part five-hour miniseries adaptation of Dashiell Hammett's THE DAIN CURSE.  A suspiciously staged diamond robbery leads detective Hamilton Nash into the twisted world of the Gabrielle Leggett whose maternal family line has a history of death and destruction that pulls in kidnappers, adulterers, and the mysterious "Temple of the Holy Grail" into a convoluted case that may or may not have a supernatural solution.  Hector Elizondo, Jean Simmons, Beatrice Straight, Brent Spiner, Hattie Winston, and David Canary are among the series' interesting cast.

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

THE DAIN CURSE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• All three episodes on two discs
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Scream Factory feels the wrath of DARKMAN (review)

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

DARKMAN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by cinematographer Bill Pope
• Interviews with Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Larry Drake, Dan Bell, and Danny Hicks
• Vintage Interviews with Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Friels, and Sam Raimi
• Interview with effects artist Tony Gardener
• Interview with production designer Randy Ser and art director Phil Dagort
• Two Vintage Featurettes
• Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Galleries

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Strand Releasing presents ZAYTOUN (review)

When his father is killed in an air strike, twelve year old Palestinian refugee Fahed wants to take his father's cherished olive tree back to Palestine to plant it in their village.  When Israeli fighter pilot Yoni crashlands in Beirut, Fahed decides to use him to get across the border.  The two must look past their differences and depend upon one another to survive the treacherous journey home in this touching drama.

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

ZAYTOUN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English/Hebrew/Arabic Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH and English subtitles
• Making-of
• Theatrical Trailer
• Strand Releasing Trailers

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Impulse Pictures says yes to the OUI, GIRLS (review)

A private eye and a virgin go undercover at swingers' ranch to uncover a murder plot but get distracted getting hot and heavy with each other and the experienced and newbie swingers that are there for the weekend in Fred J. Lincoln's OUI, GIRLS starring Sharon Kane, Tiffany Clark, Paul Thomas, and Joey Silvera.

REVIEW LINK: Impulse Pictures (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

OUI, GIRLS DVD specs:

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

Arrow Films crosses THE BRIDGE: SERIES ONE (review)

When a body is found on the border between Denmark and Sweden, Swedish detective Saga Noren and Danish detective Martin Rohde must collaborate on the investigation which turns out to be just the first in a series of grisly acts by a terrorist who is always one step ahead of them in this thoroughly gripping Swedish/Danish "Nordic Noir" series.

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

THE BRIDGE: SERIES ONE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Danish/Swedish Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Burnt-in English subtitles
• All ten series one episodes on three discs.

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Vinegar Syndrome's PEEKARAMA BIG 2 UNIT SHOW!: DEEP ROOTS and STARLET NIGHTS (review)

Vinegar Syndrome brings us another Peekarama double feature with a pair of Lisa Barr features.  In DEEP ROOTS, Billy leaves the reservation to discover how the other half lives in Hollywood, throwing orgies and body painting parties.  In STARLET NIGHTS, wicked stepmother Joyce White finds that she has competition when a producer takes notice of her innocent stepdaughter Snow.

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

DEEP ROOTS/STARLET NIGHTS DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen transfers from 2K scans
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono

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

Scorpion Releasing leads FORCE: FIVE (review)

When a young heiress is recruited into a religious cult, secret agent Jim Martin recruits a team of four (including THE OCTAGON's Richard Norton) to rescue her from the clutches of its corrupt leader and his karate kicking minions.  From the people who brought you ENTER THE DRAGON and BLACK BELT JONES.

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

FORCE: FIVE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Mondo Macabro worships THE SNAKE GOD (review)

Scandalous Nadia Cassini gives it up for THE SNAKE GOD in Piero Vivarelli's anti-colonial exploitation flick.  A young Italian woman travels to Jamaica to join her factory owner husband and falls under the sway of the local superstitions and under the spell of the snake god of love.  Beryl Cunningham and Evaristo Marquez also star.

REVIEW LINK: Mondo Macabro (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE SNAKE GOD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Italian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Interview with director Piero Vivarelli
• Theatrical Trailer
• Production Notes (text essay)
• Mondo Macabro Promo Reel

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88 Films consults DR. MORDRID (review)

Jeffrey Combs (RE-ANIMATOR) and Brian Thompson (THE TERMINATOR) battle for the future of the Earth in DOCTOR MORDRID.  Criminologist Anton Mordrid fights more than just crime, he also fights to keep the demons of other dimensions at bay.  When equally powerful sorcerer Kabal escapes his fourth dimension prison and wreaks havoc upon the Earth, Mordrid and a police consultant must take him on.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (US) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

DOCTOR MORDRID DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• VideoZone making-of featurette
• Trailer
• 88 Films Trailer Park

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88 Films fears ALICE, SWEET ALICE (review)

Alfred Sole's underrated American Catholic giallo ALICE, SWEET ALICE hit DVD uncut for the first time in the U.K courtesy of 88 Films (who are branching out from their Full Moon library releases).  When young Karen (Brooke Shields) is brutally murdered on the day of her first communion, suspicion points to her disturbed older sister Alice who likes to play cruel pranks on her neighbors and family.  Her continuing odd behavior and a series of vicious attacks and murders cast even more certainty as to her guilt, although she swears that it is dead Karen who is responsible.  The film was re-released as HOLY TERROR in 1981 to capitalize on Brooke Shields' then-popularity, and many a fan was disappointed about her short screen time; but the film's continual availability on home video (thanks to its American public domain status because distributor Allied Artists did not put a copyright on their version when the changed the title to ALICE, SWEET ALICE from the original COMMUNION) and it has justifiably become regarded as a cult classic.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (US) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

ALICE, SWEET ALICE DVD specs: 

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director Alfred Sole, editor Edward Salier, and assistant make-up effects artist William Lustig
• Original COMMUNION title sequence
• HOLY TERROR reissue trailer
• Still Gallery
• 88 Films Trailers

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Vicious Circle Films gets ANTISOCIAL (review)

A college New Year's Eve bash goes south when its guests switch from taking selfies and making sex tapes to paranoia and violent murder thanks to a particularly nasty kind of "computer virus" taking over their social media interaction in this Canadian horror thriller.

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

ANTISOCIAL DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Audio Commentary by director/writer Cody Calahan and cinematographer Jeff Maher
• Behind the Scenes
• Photo Gallery
• Trailer
• Breaking Glass Pictures Trailers

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

Entertainment One gets chills from FROST (review)

At an arctic research center, a documentary filmmaker and his scientist girlfriend find themselves pitted against something malevolent and possibly alien when the rest of the research team mysteriously disappears and strange noises and lights emanate from a recently discovered abyss in this Icelandic found footage film.

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

FROST DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Icelandic Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Making-of

Scorpion Releasing persecutes FLAVIA THE HERETIC (review)

Florinda Bolkan (A LIZARD IN A WOMAN'S SKIN) stars in this especially brutal piece of Italian nunsploitation as Flavia, a young aristocratic woman forced into a convent by her family.  As she witnesses the hypocrisy and sadism of the church upon women, she revolts and takes up the sword to do battle with the invading Turks.  Maria Casares (ORPHEUS), Anthony Corlan (VAMPIRE CIRCUS), and Claudio Cassinelli (ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN) also star.

REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

FLAVIA THE HERETIC Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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Grindhouse Releasing witness THE BIG GUNDOWN (review)

Lee Van Cleef (THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY) takes center stage here as a sheriff-turned-bounty hunter on the trail of Cuchillo "The Blade" (Tomas Milian), attempting to capture him before he crosses the border into Mexico and coming upon several eccentric characters along the way.

REVIEW LINK: Grindhouse Releasing (US) Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD combo (DVD Drive-in)

THE BIG GUNDOWN Blu-ray specs:

• Blu-ray (Disc One - Expanded U.S. Cut):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by western enthusiasts C. Courtney Joyner and Henry Parke
• Isolated Music and Effects Track
• Interviews 
• Easter Eggs
• Blu-ray (Disc Two - Italian Director's Cut):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Stereo Isolated Score Track
• Optional Text Commentary on the Score
• Grindhouse Releasing Trailers
• DVD (Disc Three - Expanded U.S. Cut):
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by western enthusiasts C. Courtney Joyner and Henry Parke
• Isolated Music and Effects Track
• Interviews
• Promotional Materials Galleries
• American and Italian Trailers
• TV Spots
• Easter Eggs
• CD (Disc Four):
• Expanded 25-track Ennio Morricone Soundtrack
• Reversible Cover
• Liner Notes Booklet

StudioCanal melts the BLOOD GLACIER (review)

In Marvin Kren's follow-up to his debut RAMMBOCK (aka SIEGE OF THE DEAD or BERLIN UNDEAD), he takes on THE THING-esque horrors at a research station at the foot of a glacier that has started leaking a red fluid causing the wildlife to mutate and attack humans.

REVIEW LINK: StudioCanal (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

BLOOD GLACIER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• German Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Creature Design Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

88 Films fights ROBOT WARS (review)

In this sequel to Stuart Gordon's ROBOT JOX, ROLLING VENGEANCE's Don Michael Paul and FROM BEYOND's Barbara Campton must pit mega robot against mega robot in a stop motion battle to the finish to save their city from toxic annihilation.  Lisa Rinna (DAYS OF OUR LIVES) also stars in this Full Moon production directed by Albert Band.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

ROBOT WARS DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• VideoZone making-of
• Trailer
• 88 Films Trailer Park

More 88 Films and Full Moon reviews at Update the Tags: 88 Films.

Code Red takes VENGEANCE (review)

Richard Harrison (BEAST WITH A GUN) is out for VENGEANCE in Antonio Margheriti's brutal spaghetti western as an outlaw hunting the killers who ambushed his gold heist and murdered his friends.  He hunts them down one by one until he discovers the shocking identity of the last murderer.

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

VENGEANCE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Interview with actor Richard Harris
• Interview with producer Alfredo Leone
• Trailers

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

Arrow Video and HELL COMES TO FROGTOWN (review)

Rowdy Roddy Piper stars in his other eighties cult film as Sam Hell, a scavenger in the wastelands of a nuclear war that have left much of the population sterile.  When it is discovered that he is very potent, he is wrangled into a government operation to infiltrate Frogtown where Captain Toady is holding a harem of fertile babes.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray/Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

HELL COMES TO FROGTOWN Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 mono audio
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• "Grappling with Green Gargantuans" interview with actor Roddy Piper
• "Creature Feature Creator" interview with effects wizard Steve Wang
• "Amphibian Armageddon" interview with actor Brian Frank
• Extended Scene
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jeff Zornow
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author and critic Calum Waddell

More ArrowDrome and Arrow Video reviews at Update the Tags: Arrow Video.

Scorpion Releasing faces THE POWER (review)

In Jeffrey Obrow and Stephen Carpenter's follow-up to THE DORM THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, a trio of teenagers out for a thrill and a pair of tabloid journalist encounter THE POWER residing within an ancient idol of an Aztec demon that demands a terrible price of those who use it to carry out evil.

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

THE POWER DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Theatrical Trailer
• Katarina's Nightmare Theater playback mode
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers

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

Arrow Films investigates with UNIT ONE: SERIES THREE (review)

Denmark's special National Police Unit One is back for a third series of investigations of grisly crimes all over the country including crimes of passion, serial murders, arson, hostage situations and more. 

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

UNIT ONE: SERIES THREE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.73:1 widescreen
• Danish/English/German Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Eight episodes on two discs

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

88 Films visits the SHADOWZONE (review)

Louise Fletcher (EXORCIST II), James Hong (BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA), and David Beecroft (TV's FALCON CREST) star in this Full Moon monster flick from J.S. Cardone (THE SLAYER).  A NASA captain investigates a grisly death associated with the secret ShadowZone project, a deep sleep study that takes its subjects beyond normal levels of dreaming that has allowed something from another dimension to cross the border and use the fears of the scientific team against them.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

SHADOWZONE DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Trailer
• Full Moon Trailer Park

More 88 Films and Full Moon reviews at Update the Tags: 88 Films.

88 Films gets THE CREEPS (review)

When a young rare books librarian and a private detective/video store manager hunt for the stolen manuscript of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN, the stumble across a mad scientist's plans to bring the classic monsters to life.  The botched experiment results in quartet of undersized monsters (Dracula, The Mummy, The Wolfman, and Frankenstein's Monster) who need a human sacrifice in order to restore them to their full size.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE CREEPS DVD specs:

• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• VideoZone behind the scenes segment
• Trailer
• Bonus feature THE BEST OF SEX AND VIOLENCE hosted by John Carradine
• Full Moon Trailer Park

More 88 Films and Full Moon reviews at Update the Tags: 88 Films.