Severin Films peers into THE NIGHT OF OPEN SEX (review)

A stripper and a private detective hunt for Nazi gold in Jess Franco's sadomaschostic jungle adventure THE NIGHT OF OPEN SEX.

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

NIGHT OF OPEN SEX Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Spanish LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• "In the Land of Franco Part 2" location tour with writer Stephen Thrower
• "When Donald Met Jess and Lina Part 2" filmmaker Donald Farmer interviews Jess Franco and Lina Romay
• "The Night of Open Jess" interview with writer Stephen Thrower

Also available in

in The Open Pleasure Bundle

with co-feature CRIES OF PLEASURE or in The Astrologer's Open Pleasure Bundle with the aforementioned Franco feature and fellow February release THE ASTROLOGER.

Severin Films elicits CRIES OF PLEASURE (review)

A plot between a scheming husband and his mistress to murder his wealthy, unstable wife with sex is the centerpiece of Jess Franco's CRIES OF PLEASURE.

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

CRIES OF PLEASURE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Spanish LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "In the Land of Franco" location tour with writer Stephen Thrower
• "When Donald Met Jess and Lina Part 1" filmmaker Donald Farmer interviews Jess Franco and Lina Romay
• "Jess Franco's Golden Years" interview with writer Stephen Thrower

Also available
in The Open Pleasure Bundle
with co-feature THE NIGHT OF OPEN SEX or in The Astrologer's Open Pleasure Bundle with the aforementioned Franco feature and fellow February release THE ASTROLOGER.

Vinegar Syndrome engages in PUBLIC AFFAIRS (review)

The adult film industry sends up political corruption in PUBLIC AFFAIRS when a New York congressional hopeful pretends to be interest in cleaning up filth but uses prostitutes and sexual favors to line his wallet.  Annette Haven and Paul Thomas star.

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

PUBLIC AFFAIRS Blu-ray/DVD specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Going Public" interview with writer/produceer Joyce Synder
• Audio Interview with actress Annette Heinz
• Reversible Cover
• The first 2,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome come with a special limited edition embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr.

Vinegar Syndrome visits HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE (review)

A wheelchair-bound former Hollywood diva gets more than she bargained for when she hires a handsome young caregiver in the hagsploitation pic HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE starring Miriam Hopkins and John Garfield Jr.

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

HOLLYWOOD HORROR HOUSE Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker David Decoteau
• Image Gallery
• Reversible Cover
• The first 2,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome come with a special limited edition embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr.

Second Sight peers UNDER THE SHADOW (review)

During the War of the Cities, young mother Shideh is encouraged by her husband to flee Tehran and the bombings with their daughter while he is at the front.  She chooses to remain behind but it soon becomes apparent that something supernatural has found its way into their barricaded apartment in this British production set in wartorn Iran.

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

UNDER THE SHADOW Blu-ray specs: 

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 Widescreen
• Farsi DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with writer/director Babak Anvari, moderated by journalist Jamie Graham
• "Two & Two" Babak Anvari’s BAFTA Award nominated short film
• "Escaping the Shadow" interview with director Babak Anvari
• "Within the Shadow" interview with actor Narges Rashidi
• "Forming the Shadow" interview with producers Lucan Toh and Oliver Roskill
• "Shaping the Shadow" interview with cinematographer Kit Fraser
• Limited edition of 2,000 copies with a rigid slipcase featuring new artwork by Christopher Shy, softcover book with new essays by Jon Towlson and Daniel Bird, behind-the-scenes photos and concept illustrations, and poster featuring the new artwork.

Acorn Media investigates THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 6 (review)

Brokenwood, New Zealand police detectives Mike Shepard, Kristen Sims, and Sam Breen investigate a number of murder cases that all hit close to home in different ways in the six series of the popular comic thriller show.

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

THE BROKENWOOD MYSTERIES: SERIES 6 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:
• Behind the Scenes
• "Logan the Corgi"
• Costume Design
• Production Design
• Themes
• Tim Balme
• "What Have You Learnt?"
• "What Would You Be?
• Picture Gallery

Arrow Video picks up ONE MISSED CALL trilogy (Review)

An urban legend about a phone call that predicts the future death of the person who answers becomes a terrifying reality in this trio of J-Horror films.

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

ONE MISSED CALL TRILOGY Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - One Missed Call:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Takashi Miike biographer Tom Mes
• "The Making of One Missed Call" archival documentary
• Cast & Crew Interviews:
• actress Ko Shibasaki
• actor Shinichi Tsutsumi
• actress Kazue Fukiishi
• director Takashi Miike
• Archival Interview with director Takashi Miike
• "Screening" premiere footage
• "Live or Die" TV special in the film viewed from two camera angles
• "A Day with the Mizunuma Family" videotape from the film
• Alternate Ending
• Theatrical Trailer
• Teaser
• TV Spots
• Disc Two - One Missed Call 2 and One Missed Call - Final:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• "The Making of One Missed Call 2" archival documentary
• "Gomu" short tie-in film by director Renpei Tsukamoto
• Deleted Scenes with introduction by director Renpai Tsukamoto
• "Prayer for Love" music video
• Theatrical Trailer
• Teasers
• TV Spots
• "The Making of One Missed Call: Final" archival documentary
• "Maki and Meisa" archival behind-the-scenes featurette with actresses Maki Horikita and
• Meisa Kuroki
• "Behind the Scenes with Keun-Suk Jang" archival featurette with the film's South
• Korean star
• "The Love Story" short film tie-in
• "Candid Mimiko" archival location tour with the series’ iconic villain
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the films by Anton Bitel

Scream Factory gifts MY BLOODY VALENTINE (review)

"There's more than one way to lose your heart" when Harry Warden returns to town in MY BLOODY VALENTINE, the Canadian slasher savaged by the MPAA with most of hits brutal gore restored.

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

MY BLOODY VALENTINE Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One (Theatrical Version):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "An Anemic Valentine" interview with director George Mihalka
• "From The Heart" interview with actor Paul Kelman
• "Friends Of Mine" interview with actress Lori Hallier
• "Axel, Be My Valentine" interview with actor Neil Affleck
• "Becoming Sylvia" interview with actress Helene Udy
• "The Secret Keeper" interview with actor Rob Stein
• "Broken Hearts And Broken Bones" interview with special makeup effects designer Tom Burman
• "Holes In The Heart" version comparison
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Radio Spots
• Still Gallery
• Disc Two (Unrated Version):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary with director George Mihalka
• Introduction by director George Mihalka
• My Bloody Valentine 35th Anniversary Cast Reunion Panel At The Bay Of Blood Convention
• “The Ballad Of Harry Warden” live performance by Thomas Kovacs
• Reversible Cover
• Collector's Slipcover

Arrow Video inherits DEADLY MANOR (review)

Six twenty-somethings and a shady hitchhiker seek shelter from a storm at DEADLY MANOR where human scalps are in the closet, coffins are in the basement, and a knife-wielding killer is in the shadows.  From director Jose Ramon Larraz.

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

DEADLY MANOR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan
• “House of Whacks” interview with actress Jennifer Delora
• “Making a Killing” interview with producer Brian Smedley-Aston
• Archival interview with director José Ramón Larraz
• “Savage Lust” VHS Trailer
• Original Promotional Reel
• Still Gallery
• BD-ROM: Original Script and Shooting Schedule (.pdf)
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Adam Rabalais.
• FIRST PRESSING ONLY: collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by author John Martin

Eureka Video takes BLISS (review)

An artist seeks inspiration from drugs for her masterpiece but discovers a side effect is a craving for blood and a series of blackouts in which she may be committing real murders in this psychedelic take on the vampire film from Joe Begos (ALMOST HUMAN).

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

BLISS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan (Daughters of Darkness podcast)
• Audio Commentary by director Joe Begos and actress Dora Madison
• Audio Commentary by director Joe Begos, producer Josh Ethier, and the Russell FX team
• Deleted Scene
• Trailer
• Limited edition of 1,000 copies including an O-Card slipcase with silver laminate finish and collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas; and an interview with writer/director Joe Begos

Strand Releasing frequents THE GOLDEN GLOVE (Review)

Director Fatih Akin takes an idiosyncratic approach to the true crime film with THE GOLDEN GLOVE and its depiction of the real life murders of serial killer Fritz Honka in 1970s Hamburg.

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

THE GOLDEN GLOVE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen
• German Dolby Digital 5.1
• Optional English Subtitles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers