Second Sight explores DREAMSCAPE (review)

Dennis Quaid, Kate Capshaw, Max Von Sydow, Christopher Plummer, and Eddie Albert star in the eighties fantasy thriller DREAMSCAPE.  Telepathic Alex Gardener gets forcibly recruited into a dream therapy experiment where psychics project themselves into the nightmares of test subjects, but he comes to suspect that a government agent has more sinister plans for the project involving the President of the United States.

REVIEW LINK: Second Sight (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

DREAMSCAPE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with producer Bruce Cohn Curtis, writer David Loughery and special effects artist Craig Reardon
• "The Actor's Journey" interview with actor Dennis Quaid
• "Dreamscapes and Dreammakers" documentary
• "Nightmares and Dreamsnakes" featurette
• In-Depth Conversation Between producer Bruce Cohn Curtis and co-Writer/producer Chuck Russell
• Snake Man Test Footage
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

Vinegar Syndrome blooms RED ROSES OF PASSION (Review)

Joseph Sarno's first overtly supernatural take on suburban sexuality is the story of Carla, a frustrated woman living under the roof of her repressed aunt and goody two-shoes cousin.  Her friend Enid takes her to mystic Martha who leads the Daughters of Delphi who forgo relationships with men for the sweetest torment of magical roses and encounters with Pan himself behind a black curtain.  Martha gives Carla a drug that will expose her aunt and cousin for who they really are, turning the two women into man-hungry wildcats.  When things get out of hand, Carla is told that she must herself become a member of the cult to undo the damage she has done.

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

RED ROSES OF PASSION Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Limited Edition of 1,000 Copies
• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widsecreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Interview with Sarno biographer Michael Bowen

Arrow Academy unveils THE TAISHO TRILOGY (review)

After a long fallow period resulting from his termination by Nikkatsu Studios and his successful lawsuit against the company, Seijun Suzuki returned to the screen with THE TAISHO TRILOGY.  In ZIGEUNERWEISEN, a teacher of German at a military academy finds his bourgeosie marriage splintered by encounters with a lecherous former colleague, a geisha, and other mysterious women (and ghosts).  In KAGERO-ZA, a man comes to believe his soul has become erotically entangled with a woman he has just met and delves into the mysteries surrounding the two wives of a colleague (one of whom might be a madwom and the other might be a ghost).  In YUMEJI (shot ten years after the first two films), a womanizing poet and painter becomes involved with a young window and comes to believe that he is being haunted by her murdered husband and under threat by his killer.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Academy (US/UK) Region A/B Blu-ray/Region 1,2 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE TAISHO TRILOGY Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Three films on three BD50 Blu-rays and three dual-layer DVD
• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 fullscreen (Zigeunerweisen and Kagero-Za) and 1.66:1 widescreen (Yumeji)
• Japanese LPCM 1.0 mono
• DVD: 
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.33:1 fullscreen (Zigeunerweisen and Kagero-Za) and 16:9 anamorphic 1.66:1 widescreen (Yumeji)
• Optional English subtitles
• Introductions to all three films by Tony Rayns
• "The Taisho Trilogy" featurette with Tony Rayns
• Interview with director Seijun Suzuki
• The Making of YUMEJI featurette
• Trailers for all three Films
• FIRST PRESSING-ONLY: Booklet with writing by Jasper Sharp and others

Eureka Video documents CAPTURE KILL RELEASE (review)

When suburbanites Jennifer and Farhang decide to spice up their relationship by killing a random stranger and documenting the act, one of them may not have the necessary guts while the other is just getting started in this found footage thriller.

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

CAPTURE KILL RELEASE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Deleted Scenes
• Untreated VHS senes
• Trailers

Acorn Media lampoons THE WINDSORS: COMPLETE SERIES 1 AND 2 (review)

Acorn Media and Channel 4 lampoon the already soap opera-ish antics of the Royal Family in the sitcom THE WINDSORS as Prince Wills tries to connect with his subjects, Kate tries to leave her gypsy upbringing behind, sister Pippa tries to land a billionaire, illiterate party boy Harry gets drunk and bangs hookers, Prince Charles tries to remain relevant, and Camilla plots to destroy her enemies (including Theresa May).  And don't forget Fergie with her Right Royal Juicer, war profiteering Prince Andrew, hapless Prince Edward, and Fergie's flighty daughters Beatrice and Eugenie.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (US) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE WINDORS: COMPLETE SERIES 1 AND 2 DVD specs:

• Twelve episodes and Christmas Special on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• Series 1 Christmas Special
• Optional English HoH subtitles
• Picture Galleries

Acorn Media goes underground with VALKYRIEN: THE COMPLETE SERIES (review)

Beneath the tunnels of Valkyrien Pass station, doctor Ravn is carrying out secret test to bring his terminally ill wife out of a coma resulting from a drug she designed to treat her own illness.  Doomsday planner Leif has provided him with a network of supply contacts and Unn is prepared to violate her code of ethics to help her colleagues.  When a friend of Leif's is injured in a pressing plant heist, Leif hits upon the idea to continue providing Ravn and Unn with resources in exchange for opening up an underground clinic for those who reject corporate medicine, but other forces are closing in and threatening to expose them in this eight-part Norwegian thriller.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

VALKYRIEN DVD specs:

• Eight episodes on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.00:1 widescreen
• Norwegian Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Picture Gallery
• Behind the Scenes Picture Gallery

Gravitas Ventures takes BABY STEPS (review)

When Taiwanese Danny and American Tate decide to have a surrogate child, Danny's overbearing mother takes an interest even though she still wants to hide the fact that her son is gay in this warm family comedy.

REVIEW LINK: Gravitas Ventures (US) Region 0 NTSC Manufactured-on-Demand DVD-R (DVDBeaver)

BABY STEPS DVD-R specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen
• English/Chinese Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• English Closed Captioning
• Theatrical Trailer

Strand Releasing undergoes THE TRANSFIGURATION (review)

Ostracized by his classmates and bullied by the gangs around his apartment building, nascent serial killer Milo has moved on from thoughts of killing animals to drinking human blood.  Obsessed with vampires and believing that he is one, he slowly finds a new look out on life when he meets an orphaned girl contemplating suicide in this urban take on George Romero's MARTIN.

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

THE TRANSFIGURATION DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• "Milo's Notebook" gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Previews

Code Red feeds the GHOSTKEEPER (Review)

Code Red have rescued the obscure 80's Canadian chiller GHOSTKEEPER for its thirtieth anniversary with a special edition DVD.  Jenny, Marty, and Chrissy escape a boring New Year's Eve party at a ski resort to go exploring the mountains.  When one of the snowmobile's crashes, they take shelter in a creepy old hotel where they encounter the Wendigo!

REVIEW LINK: Code Red (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

GHOSTKEEPER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by producer/director Jim Makichuk, actor Murray Ord, and actress Riva Spier
• Interview with cinematographer John Holbrook
• Interview with actress Georgie Collins
• Alternate Opening Sequence (not approved by the director)
• Trailers 

Available directly from Ronin Flix and DiabolikDVD.

AGFA gets "duped" by EFFECTS (review)

Independent filmmakers working on a low budget horror film in the middle of the countryside are "duped" into something far more sinister in EFFECTS, a little-seen 1980 horror film from future George Romero collaborators John Harrison (composer of DAY OF THE DEAD and later director of TALES FROM THE DARKSIDE: THE MOVIE), Pasquale Buba (editor of Romero's eightis and nineties films), and documentary filmmaker Dusty Nelson.

REVIEW LINK: AGFA (American Genre Film Archive)/Something Weird Video/MVD Visual (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

EFFECTS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Dusty Nelson, composer/actor John Harrison, and editor Pasquale Buba
• "After EFFECTS" 2004 reunion documentary with the cast and crew (with optional commentary track)
• Short Films by John Harrison and Dusty Nelson
• Liner Notes Booklet by Michael Gingold

AGFA tracks THE ZODIAC KILLER with ANOTHER SON OF SAM (Review)

With the Zodiac killer loose on the streets of California, filmmaker Tom Hanson undertook his film THE ZODIAC KILLER solely as a lure to catch the guy, and he may have done it, but the film itself contrasts realistic and brutal recreations of the murders with the parallel stories of the private hells of two suspects.  Also included is ANOTHER SON OF SAM in which an escaped asylum inmate takes hostages in a college dorm.

REVIEW LINK: AGFA (American Genre Film Archive)/Something Weird Video/MVD Visual Region ALL Blu-ray/Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE ZODIAC KILLER Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 pillarboxed fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.33:1 pillarboxed fullscreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Tom Hanson and producer Manny Nedwick with the AGFA team
• "Let's Get This Guy: The Origins of THE ZODIAC KILLER" interview with director Tom Hanson
• "Tabloid Terror Trailers from the AGFA Archive"
• Bonus Film: "Another Son of Sam" (71 minutes)
• Liner Notes Booklet by Chris Poggiali

Code Red celebrates HAPPY HELL NIGHT (Review)

It's a HAPPY HELL NIGHT for this year's Frathouse Follies where fraternities compete for the most dangerous hazing stunt for a freshman pledge.  When Pi Sigma Delta discover that seven of their members were once brutally murdered in a hazing stunt gone wrong twenty-five years ago, they send their pledges to get a photograph of the still alive and institutionalized murderer.  They accidentally set him free to return to the frathouse and reap a supernatural vengeance upon the new generation in this Canadian nineties slasher shot in the former Yugoslavia.

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

HAPPY HELL NIGHT Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Trailer

Available from Code Red's Big Cartel, Diabolik DVD, and Ronin Flix.

Code Red chomps on THE GREAT ALLIGATOR (review)

The developers of the Paradise House resort in the middle of the jungle are in for a rude awakening when they anger the local Kroona tribe's vengeful god. "It is not an animal, it is a demon!"  Barbara Bach, Mel Ferrer, Claudio Cassinelli, and Richard Johnson star.

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

THE GREAT ALLIGATOR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Interview with underwater photographer Gianlorenzo Battaglia
• Interview with cinematographer Giancarlo Ferrando, production designer Antonello Geleng, and effects artist Paolo Ricci
• Interview with camera operator Claudio Morabito
• Featurette with director Sergio Martino and production designer Antonello Geleng

Available from Ronan Flix, Diabolik DVD, and Code Red's Big Cartel.

Blue Underground contracts THE STENDHAL SYNDROME (review)

Asia Argento stars in her father Dario Argento's return to the Italian giallo after his Hollywood forays TWO EVIL EYES and TRAUMA.  Anna Manni, an Italian policewoman from Rome travels to Florence on the trail of a serial rapist who has recently started killing.  In the Uffizi Gallery, Anna experiences a fugue state in the presence of the great works of art and loses her memory, making her vulnerable to the killer.

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

THE STENDHAL SYNDROME Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 and 2.0 Surround, and Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
• DVD:
• 16: 9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English and Italian DTS 6.1-ES, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, and Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
• Optional English (for the Italian), English SDH (for the English), French, and Spanish subtitles
• Audio Commentary with author Troy Howarth
• “Three Shades of Asia” interview with star Asia Argento
• “Prisoner of Art” interview with co-writer Franco Ferrini
• “Sharp as a Razor” interview with special makeup artist Franco Casagni
• Theatrical Trailer
• Poster and Still Gallery
• Bonus Disc:
• "Director: Dario Argento" interview
• "Inspiration: Psychological Consultant Graziella Magherini" interview with the author of the book
• "Special Effects: Sergio Stivaletti" interview
• "Assistant Director: Luigi Cozzi" interview
• "Production Designer: Massimo Antonello Geleng" interview
• Liner Notes by Troy Howarth

Blue Underground gets AMSTERDAMNED (review)

A knife-wielding maniac is stalking victims along the famous canals of Amsterdam in Dick Maas' ambitious follow-up to THE LIFT.  Huub Stapel stars as the investigating police detective and Monique Van Voren is the comely diver/tour guide.  Featuring a show-stopping speedboat chase that rivals the one from PUPPET ON A STRING.

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

AMSTERDAMNED Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• Dutch DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo, and French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Dutch Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo, English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, French Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English (for Dutch audio), English SDH (for English audio), and Spanish subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Dick Maas and editor Hans van Dongen, and moderated by David Gregory
• "The Making of Amsterdamned" vintage featurette
• "Tales from the Canal" interview with actor Huub Stapel
• "Damned Stuntwork" interview with stunt coordinator Dickey Beer
• Loïs Lane "Amsterdamned" music video
• Still gallery of poster and video art and lobby cards
• Dutch and American Trailers
• Liner Notes Booklet by Michael Gingold

Acorn Media seeks out DICTE - CRIME REPORTER: SERIES 2 (review)

Crime reporter Dicte returns in a second series investigating underground prostitution, diamond smuggling, sadomasochistic societies, a missing teenager, a murdered football goalie, and helps to clear detective John Wagner's name in a murder case.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

DICTE - CRIME REPORTER: SERIES 2 DVD specs:

• Ten episodes (five cases) on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Danish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Picture Gallery

Acorn Media investigates DICTE - CRIME REPORTER: SERIES 1 (review)

Forced to give up her newborn at sixteen by her Jehovah's Witness parents, Dicte runs away to the Copenhagen and returns years later to Aarhus to cover the crime section of one of the local papers.  As she searches for the identity of the child she gave up for adoption, she also finds a number of cases hitting close to home as she becomes a thorn in the side of detective John Wagner in the search for truth.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

DICTE - CRIME REPORTER: SERIES 1 DVD specs:

• Ten episodes (five cases) on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• Danish Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Picture Gallery

Omnibus Entertainment and Film Movement are INSEPARABLES (review)

Wealthy quadriplegic attorney Felipe hires his wrong-side-of-the-tracks gardener's assistant Tito to be his new therapeutic assistant.  Felipe wants someone who will not pity him, and he gets that, but the two form a deep friendship that offers both new hope and opportunities in their once dismal futures.  An Argentinian remake of THE INTOUCHABLES, based on a true story.

REVIEW LINK: Omnbius Entertainment (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

INSEPARABLES DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen
• Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles

Breaking Glass Pictures has a KEPT BOY (review)

When kept boy Dennis turns thirty, his sugar daddy Farleigh gives him an ultimatum to get a job or move out.  Believing that Farleigh is planning to replace him with poolboy Jasper who Farleigh has also made an assistant on his reality show, Dennis whisks Farleigh away to Columbia for a vacation to make him fall in love with him all over again only for Jasper to coincidentally show up in a dramatic comedy about love and other material things.

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

KEPT BOY DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.73:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo
• English Closed Captioning
• 2017 World Premiere MIFO Q&A
• Cast and Crew Interviews
• Behind the Scenes
• Deleted Scenes
• Trailer
• Previews

Kino Lorber spies on THE BUREAU: SEASON 3 (review)

Having given information to the CIA in order to save his trainee agent Marina and his lover Nadia captured in Syria, French agent Paul has been captured by ISIS and is under torture.  With the Americans and the French government preferring to abandon Paul in the field rather than face scandal, Paul's team seeks ways to rescue him even though they have no idea what consequences he will face if they get him back.

REVIEW LINK: Kino Lorber (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

THE BUREAU DVD specs:

• Ten episodes on three dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• French Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Trailers for all three seasons

Ruthless Studios is terrorized by CHARLOTTE (review)

A babysitter settles in for a night of horror movies and gets more than she bargained for when a creepy doll binds and gags her, forcing her to watch its own special mix of horror shorts from the producers of ALL HALLOWS' EVE, THE PORTAL, and THE INVOKING 3: PARANORMAL DIMENSIONS.

REVIEW LINK: Ruthless Studios/MVD Visual (US) Region 0 NTSC DVD (DVD Compare)

CHARLOTTE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo

Second Sight has ELECTRIC DREAMS (review)

The eighties cult classic romantic comedy ELECTRIC DREAMS comes to Blu-ray.  When architect Miles buys a home computer system, it's interactive system starts to smoothly run his life but things become complicated as it takes on a personality of its own and is soon vying with Miles for the affections of lovely neighbor Madeline.  Lenny von Dohlen, Virginia Madsen, Maxwell Caulfield, and Bud Cort star.

REVIEW LINK: Second Sight (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

ELECTRIC DREAMS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 stereo
• Optional English HoH subtitles
• Interview with director Steve Barron
• Interview with writer/producer Rusty Lemorande
• Interview with stars Virginia Madsen and Lenny von Dohlen
• Slipcover

Arrow Video stalks THE SLAYER (review)

Troubled by vivid nightmares of a monster since her childhood, Kay's artwork has taken on a surrealistic bent that appears to be a bad omen of her trip to an isolated island getaway with her husband, her brother, and his wife.  As the killings start, Kay comes to believe that the monster from her dreams has found a way into reality in this eighties slasher classic restored from the original negative after years of neglect.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region AB Blu-ray/Region 1+2 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE SLAYER Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director J.S. Cardone, executive in charge of production Eric Weston, and actress Carol Kottenbrook
• Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues
• "Nightmare Island" making-of documentary
• "Return to Tybee Island" location featurette
• The Tybee Post Theatre Experience (audio track with the Tybee audience screening from June 2017) as well as introduction by director J.S. Cardone and post-screening Q&A with 2nd Unit Cinematographer Arledge Armenaki
• Stills Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Collector's Booklet with the FIRST PRESSING ONLY

Kino Lorber asks WHO'S CRAZY? (review)

The long-lost experimental film WHO'S CRAZY? comes to Blu-ray in a new Film Anthology Archives restoration.  Members of The Living Theatre, then looking for work in Paris after trouble with the authorities in New York, play a band of asylum inmates who escape a broken-down transport bus into the snow and seek shelter in an abandoned farmhouse where they form their own world from scratch to the accompaniment of Ornette Coleman and his trio and the vocals of Marianne Faithful and Nino Ferrer.

REVIEW LINK: Kino Lorber (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

WHO'S CRAZY Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 pillarboxed widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Burnt-in French subtitles and optional English SDH subtitles
• "Tempo International: France - 'David, Moffett & Ornette'" 1966 television production
• Q&A with Director Thomas White, March 11th 2017 at the Film Society of Lincoln Center
• Trailer
• Essay booklet by Adam Shatz (Contributing Editor at the London Review of Books)

Code Red plays HIDE AND GO SHRIEK (Review)

When eight teenagers decide to celebrate their high school graduation by spending the night partying in a furniture store, a game of hide and seek turns deadly as a killer starts picking them off in this eighties slasher classic.

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

HIDE AND GO SHRIEK Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Interview with director Skip Schoolnik
• Interview with actor Jerry Levine
• Interview with producer Dimitri Villard
• Unrated Scene (from tape source)
• Theatrical Trailer

Available directly from Ronin Flix, Code Red's Big Cartel, and Screen Archives.

BRINKvision warns DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT (review)

The original DON'T film DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT comes to Blu-ray.  Nurse Charlotte comes to work at the Stephens Santarium but it soon becomes apparent that something is very wrong with the patients and the staff.  In the director's son's 2015 sequel, a patient from the original massacre is transferred to the Green Park Clinic and awakens murderous ghosts of the past.


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

DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT/DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT 2 Blu-ray specs:

• Don't Look in the Basement (1973):
• 1080p24 MPEG-2 1.37:1 pillarboxed widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by director's son Tony Brownrigg
• Restoration Demo
• Trailer
• Don't Look in the Basement 2 (2015):
• 1080p24 MPEG-2 2.40:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1
• Audio Commentary by director Tony Brownrigg
• Behind the Scenes (70 minutes)
• Trailer
• Slipcover
• Seven-page booklet

Redemption Films toys with KILLER BARBYS (review)

Jess Franco goes punk with the band Killer Barbies whose van breaks down along a lonely Spanish country road.  Accepting the hospitality of a countess and her servant to stay in her creepy castle, they are unaware that the countess needs life fluids to retain her youth.  Maria Angela Giordano and Aldo Sambrell star.

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

KILLER BARBYS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 widescreen
• Spanish DTS 2.0 stereo; English DTS 2.0 stereo; French DTS 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Troy Howarth

Garagehouse Pictures fears THE INTRUDER (review)

The long-lost 1975 thriller from actor/director Chris Robinson is another take on the TEN LITTLE INDIANS formula as relatives of a dead man are summoned to an island in search of lost gold but end up being picked off by a killer.  Chris Robinson, Mickey Rooney, Yvonne de Carlo, and Ted Cassidy star.

REVIEW LINK: Garagehouse Pictures (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE INTRUDER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by writer/director/star Chris Robinson
• 2008 Video Interview with Chris Robinson
• Previews

Vinegar Syndrome takes a SNAPSHOT (Review)

Sigrid Thornton and Chantal Contouri star in this classy slice of Ozploitation in which a dowdy hairdresser becomes an overnight success as a model in a topless ad campaign but discovers that fame has a price, as well as a stalker.

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

SNAPSHOT Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 1.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Simon Wincer, producer Tony Ginnane, actress Sigrid Thornton, and cinematographer Vincent Monton
• Longer Australian theatrical cut (from video master)
• Interview with producer Tony Ginnane
• "Not Quite Hollywood" extended interviews with Simon Wincer, Sigrid Thornton, Tony Ginnane, Vincent Monton, assistant director Tom Burstall, and actress Lynda Stoner
• Poster and Still Gallery
• TV Spots

Acorn Media probes THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 2 (review)

Detective Mike Shepherd, partner Kristin Sims, and the gang return in series 2 of THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES with four new cases involving a brutally-murdered rugby coach, a real poisoning in a local production of HAMLET, a severed hand found in a fishing trap, and the murder of Mike's favorite country singer.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 2 DVD specs:

• Four feature-length episodes on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH subtitles
• Behind the Scenes
• Picture Gallery

Acorn Media investigates THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 1 (review)

Country music-loving Mike Shepherd decides to put the field in Field Investigator to investigate a mysterious death on New Zealand's far North Island and the village of Brokenwood.  Quitting big city life, he settles down as the new head investigator and finds himself unearthing old skeletons while solving new murders with the help of partner Kristin Sims, constable Sam Breen, medical examiner Gina Kadinsky, and local jack-of-all-trades Jared Morehu.

REVIEW LINK: Acorn Media (UK) Region 2 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 1 DVD specs:

• Four feature-length episodes on two dual-layer DVDs
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH subtitles
• Interview with actors Neill Rea and Fern Sutherland
• Interview with head writer Tim Balme
• Picture Gallery

Film Movement has AMNESIA (review)

Marthe Keller and Max Riemelt star in this intimate drama about a reclusive German woman who has lived alone on the Ibiza coast for forty years since WWII.  Into her life comes a young German man eager to become part of the Ibiza DJ scene.  They form a friendship even though he does not know that she is also German, and he starts to discover the reasons that she has disowned her homeland.  Bruno Ganz also stars.

REVIEW LINK: Film Movement (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

AMNESIA DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English/German Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles for the German dialogue
• English Closed Captions for the English dialogue
• Theatrical Trailer
• Short Film
• Previews

Arrow Video USA resurrects RE-ANIMATOR (review)

Medical student Herbert West has a good headon his shoulders... and another one in a dish on his desk in Stuart Gordon's outrageous, gore-drenched unrated directorial debut H.P. LOVECRAFT'S RE-ANIMATOR.  Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Barbara Crampton, Robert Sampson, and David Gale star.

REVIEW LINK: Arrow Video USA (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

RE-ANIMATOR Blu-ray specs:

• New 4K restoration
• Disc One (Unrated Version):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, LPCM 2.0 stereo, and LPCM 1.0 mono
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Stuart Gordon
• Audio Commentary by producer Brian Yuzna and cast members Bruce Abbott, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Robert Sampson
• Audio Commentary by Stuart Gordon with Jesse Merlin and Graham Skipper
• "Re-Animator Resurrectus" documentary (68 minutes)
• Interviews:
• director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzn
• writer Dennis Paoli
• composer Richard Band
• former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone
• Music Discussion with composer Richard Band
• "Barbara Crampton In Conversation"
• "The Catastrophe of Success" interview with Stuart Gordon
• "Theatre of Blood" interview with musical lyricist Mark Nutter
• Extended Scenes
• Deleted Scene
• Multi-angle Storyboards
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Screenplay (BD-ROM Content)
• Disc Two (Integral Version):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• "A Guide to Lovecraftian Cinema"
• "Doug Bradley's Spine Chillers: Herbert West - Re-animator" read by Jeffrey Combs
• Limited edition digipak packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Justin Erickson
• A collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer Michael Gingold
• A 92-page perfect-bound booklet containing the original 1991 comic book adaptation of the movie, reprinted in its entirety:

Scream Factory howls for TEEN WOLF TOO (Review)

Opportunist Stiles and Coach Finstock hope for lightning to strike twice when Scott Howard's cousin Todd enrolls at Hamilton College with an athletic scholarship as the newest recruit for a flagging boxing team.  Todd just wants to study science and live a normal life, but the family curse has not skipped his generation as he had hoped, and he is soon the "Big Wolf on Campus".  Jason Bateman stars.

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

TEEN WOLF TOO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• "Working with the Wolf" interview with director Christopher Leitch
• "A Man of Great Stiles" interview with actor Stuart Fratkin
• "Otherworldly" interview with actress Kim Darby
• "Nerdy Girl Saves the Day" interview with actress Estee Chandler
• "A Wolf in Eighties Clothing" interview with costume designer Heidi Kaczenski
• Stills Gallery
• Reversible Cover and Collector's Slipcover

Shameless Screen Entertainment discovers THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH (review)

Sergio Martino's landmark giallo that crowned George Hilton and Edwige Fenech as the king and queen of the genre comes to Blu-ray.  Returning to Vienna with her diplomat husband, Julie Wardh finds that she has more to worry about than the attentions of a sadomasochistic ex-lover when she may be the next victim of a razor-wielding sex fiend.

REVIEW LINK: Shameless Screen Entertainment (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE STRANGE VICE OF MRS. WARDH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• "Dark Fears Behind the Door" featurette with director Sergio Martino, producer Luciano Martino, writer Ernesto Gastaldi, and stars Edwige Fenech and George Hilton
• "Thrills, Chills, and Cleavage" interview with director Sergio Martino
• "The Genesis of Mrs. Wardh" visual essay on Edwige Fenech
• Fact Track by Justin Harrries 
• Reversible Cover
• Shameless Numbered Edition

Lightyear Entertainment solves the riddle of THE HIPPOPOTAMUS (review)

Based on the comic novel of actor Stephen Fry, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS finds burnt-out poet and recently fired dramatic critic Ted Wallace implored by his ex-lover's daughter to travel to her family estate of Swafford to investigate miracles.  Working his way back into the family by way of his godson David, Ted discovers that the people at Swafford do indeed seem to believe that there is something magical going on but he cannot believe it unless he sees it for himself, and even then...  Roger Allam, Matthew Modine, and Fiona Shaw star.

REVIEW LINK: Lightyear Entertainment (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE HIPPOPOTAMUS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• "From Book to Screen"
• Behind the Scenes
• "British Comedy Special"
• Q&A with Stephen Fry
• Interview with actor Roger Allam
• Interview with actress Fiona Shaw
• Interview with actor Matthew Modine
• Theatrical Trailer

Kino Lorber pursues BEGGARS OF LIFE (review)

Before she was Lulu, Louise Brooks was an orphan on the run with hobos in BEGGARS OF LIFE based on the novel by Jim Tully.  When she accidentally shoots her adoptive father fending off his assault, Nancy takes to the rails with handsome tramp Jim but the two are soon under threat from vagabond Oklahoma Red and the pursuing police.

REVIEW LINK: Kino Lorber (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

BEGGARS OF LIFE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 pillarbox
• Mont Alto Orchestra Score DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• English Intertitles
• Audio Commentary by actor William Wellman Jr.
• Audio Commentary by Louis Brooks Society founder Thomas Gladyz
• Ten-page essay booklet by Nick Pinkerton

Wolfe Video debuts OPENING NIGHT (Review)

Topher Grace, Anne Heche, Taye Diggs, Rob Riggle, and J.C. Chasez star in this musical comedy about a stage manager contending with backstage disasters on the opening night of "One Hit Wonderland" starring J.C. Chasez (the "other guy from NSYNC").

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

OPENING NIGHT DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Previews

Strand Releasing's I, OLGA HEPNAROVA (review)

This black-and-white film attempts to visually convey the world of Olga Hepnarova, a twenty-two year old Czech woman who one day got into her truck and plowed into a bus stop, killing eight people and injuring more than twenty in the 1960s.

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

I, OLGA HEPNAROVA DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• Czech Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Previews

Shout! Factory gets burned by SCORCHY (review)

Singer Connie Stevens plays a hard-as-nails cop working undercover as a one-woman charter pilot trying to bust the heroin trade.  When her chief suspect hires her to transport a statute carrying drugs, she thinks she's got him made but falls into a web of double crosses and murder.  Cesare Danova and Greg Evigan also star.

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

SCORCHY Blu-ray specs:

• Uncut Theatrical Version with Home Video Score
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer