Film Movement enrolls in ALASTAIR SIM'S SCHOOL FOR LAUGHTER (review)

The talents of British comedy treasure Alastair Sim are showcased in this four-film set.  Sim plays a dual role as the headmistress of a gang of delinquent schoolgirls and her shifty twin brother in THE BELLES OF ST. TRINIAN'S.  In SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS, he is a professor of the school of lifemanship who tutors a hapless young man on the art of one upsmanship.  In LAUGHTER IN PARADISE, Sim is one of four heirs who must execute a humiliating and possibly illegal task in order to collect an inheritance.  In HUE AND CRY, he is a comic strip artist who learns that his work is being used by the criminal underworld to spread plans for citywide crimes, and it is up to a gang of schoolboys to stop it.

REVIEW LINK: Film Movement (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

ALASTAIR SIM'S SCHOOL FOR LAUGHTER Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - The Belles of St. Trinian's:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen 
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Interview with film historian Geoff Brown
• Interview with Dr. Melanie Williams, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies
• Interview with Alastair Sim's biographer Merlith McKendrick
• Interview with Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema, De Montfort University
• "The Girls of St. Trinians" interview with surviving cast members Gillian Ferguson, Pauline Drewett, Annabelle Covey, and Diana Day
• About Film Movement
• Disc Two - School for Scoundrels:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen 
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Interview with Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw
• Interview with Terry-Thomas biographer Graham McCann
• Interview with Stephen Potter's grandson Chris Potter
• Theatrical Trailer
• About Film Movement
• Disc Three - Laughter in Paradise:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• About Film Movement
• Disc Four - Hue and Cry:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Interview with Steve Chibnall, Professor of British Cinema, De Montfort University
• Location Featurette
• About Film Movement
• Collector's booklet with an essay by film critic Ronald Bergen

Cinema Libre is on the run FROM ICELAND TO EDEN (review)

Thrown together under strange circumstances, Oli and Loa become drug couriers and lovers, but their desire to realize their more noble ambitions may lead to betrayal and a large body count in this Icelandic drama.

REVIEW LINK: Cinema Libre (US) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

FROM ICELAND TO EDEN DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.35:1 widescreen
• Icelandic/Norwegian/Danish Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Burnt-in English Subtitles
• English Closed Captioning
• Two Deleted Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers

Mondo Macabro seeks out AN IDEAL PLACE TO KILL (review)

Paying for their globe-hopping vacation by selling pornography, hippies Dick and Ingrid run out of gas near an isolated villa and end up in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a woman who has just killed her husband.  Irene Papas, Ray Lovelock, and Ornella Muti star.  Umberto Lenzi directs.

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

AN IDEAL PLACE TO KILL Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Troy Howarth and Mondo Digital's Nathaniel Thompson
• "Porn Smugglers" interview with director Umberto Lenzi
• Theatrical Trailer 
• More from Mondo Macabro

Kino Lorber goes IN SEARCH OF DRACULA (review)

Christopher Lee hosts this seventies documentary that posits a link between the fictional Count Dracula and Vlad the Impaler as well as the influence of vampire lore in literature, television, and the characterization of certain sexually-motivated true life killers as figurative vampires.

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

IN SEARCH OF DRACULA Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison
• Trailers 

88 Films gives MACABRE head (review)

In Lamberto Bava's directorial debut, a woman who loses her lover in a car accident returns to the apartment she has been renting from her blind landlord after a year in a psychiatric hospital.  When she starts entertaining a mysterious lover, the blind man sets out to discover what she keeps in her padlocked freezer.  Scripted and produced by ZEDER's Pupi Avati.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

MACABRE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• "Don't Lose Your Head" interview with director Lamberto Bava
• Italian Opening and Closing Credits
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• LIMITED EDITION soft-touch slipcover and booklet by Rachael Nisbet included in the first pressing.

Available directly from 88 Films.

88 Films tastes THE DEVIL'S HONEY (review)

Lucio Fulci took a stab at the erotic thriller in 1986 with THE DEVIL'S HONEY.  Jessica is involved in a sadomasochistic relationship with musician Nicky.  When Nicky dies on the operating table after an accident, she blames the doctor and abducts him with the intention of torturing and murdering him.  Brett Halsey, Corinne Clery, Blanca Marsillach, and Stefano Madia star.

REVIEW LINK: 88 Films (UK) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

THE DEVIL'S HONEY Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Samm Deighan
• "The Devil's Halsey” interview with actor Brett Halsey
• “Wild Flower: Corinne Cléry in Italy” interview
• “Producing Honey" interview with producer Vincenzo Salviani
• “The Devil's Sax" interview with composer Claudio Natili
• “Stephen Thrower on The Devil's Honey"
• “Fulci's Honey” audio essay by film historian Troy Howarth
• Alternate U.S. Video Opening
• Italian Titles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• First pressing includes a limited edition soft-touch slipcover.

Available directly from 88 Films.

The Film Detective fights with a FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH (review)

On the eve of a Madison Square Garden tournament to name Bruce Lee's successor, rumors swirl about that his death was actually a murder because he was revealing too much about the secret and deadly martial arts in this Brucesploitation pseudo-documentary starring Fred Williamson, Aaron Banks, Ron Van Clief, and Adolph Caesar.

REVIEW LINK: The Film Detective (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVD Drive-in)

FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "That's Brucesploitation! The Making of FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH" documentary
• U.S. TV Spot
• Mexican Theatrical Trailer
• 6-page leaflet featuring the essay "FIST OF FEAR, TOUCH OF DEATH: An Appreciation" by Will Sloan and Justin Decloux, hosts of the Important Cinema Club podcast. 

Masters of Cinema has a THROW DOWN (Review)

Johnnie To takes on Judo in this whimsical drama disguised as an action film THROW DOWN.

REVIEW LINK: Masters of Cinema/Eureka Video (UK) Region B Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THROW DOWN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese and English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• Audio Commentary by Hong Kong film expert Ric Meyers and Tai Seng's Frank Djeng (from 2004 DVD)
• Interview with director Johnnie To
• Making-of featurette
• 8 TV Spots with Cast & Crew Interviews

Kino Lorber rides with TAZA, SON OF COCHISE (review)

Rock Hudson is the son of Cochise, torn between honoring the peace treacy with the U.S. army and winning the hand of his beloved whose father is allied to renegade Apache chief Geronimo.  A 3D Technicolor western from Douglas Sirk.

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

TAZA, SON OF COCHISE Blu-ray specs:

• 3D and 2D versions
• 1080p24 MVC AVC 2.00:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian David Del Valle and filmmaker C. Courtney Joyner
• Slideshow Commentary by film historian Mike Bellew
• 3D Theatrical Trailer

Universal Pictures takes THE PHOTOGRAPH (review)

When her photographer mother dies, Mae Morton stumbles upon a mystery with the help of an ambitious New York magazine journalist.  Issa Rae and LaKeith Stanfield star.

REVIEW LINK: Universal Pictures (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDCompare)

THE PHOTOGRAPH Blu-ray/DVD Combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.40:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, French and Spanish DTS 5.1
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 2.40:1 Widescreen
• English, French, and Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
• English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH, French, and Spanish subtitles
• "Shooting The Photograph"
• "Culture in Film"
• "The Film Through Photographs"
• Digital Copy Code 

Eureka Classics takes aim at THE SPECIALISTS (review)

French singer Johnny Hallyday is a gunman on a mission to discovery the identities of his murdered brother in the French/Italian/German western THE SPECIALISTS from Sergio Corbucci, director of DJANGO.

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

THE SPECIALISTS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Italian, Spanish, and partial English dub LPCM 2.0 mono audio tracks
• English subtitles for the Italian version, English subtitles for the French version, and English subtitles for the places where the incomplete English track reverts to French
• Audio Commentary by filmmaker Alex Cox
• "Austin Fisher on THE SPECIALIST" video appreciation
• English-language Dubbing Script (gallery and .pdf)
• Italian Theatrical Trailer
• French Theatrical Trailer
• LIMITED EDITION: first pressing includes a slipcase and a 31-page collector’s booklet featuring film credits, the essays "Western Excess: Sergio Corbucci and The Specialists" and "Baguetti Westerns: Cowboys dans le Far-west" by Howard Hughes, as well as viewing notes and Blu-ray credits.

Vinegar Syndrome investigates FORGOTTEN GIALLI: VOLUME ONE (review)

Vinegar Syndrome unearths a trio of rarities with FORGOTTEN GIALLI: VOLUME 1.  In TRAUMA, a writer stays at a lakeside inn where the lovely proprietress lives in fear of her paralyzed husband and a razor-wielding killer.  In THE KILLER IS ONE OF 13, a widow invites friends of her late husband to an isolated mansion to accuse one of them of murder, but the real killer starts narrowing down the list of suspects to keep them silent.  In THE POLICE ARE BLUNDERING IN THE DARK, photo models start vanishing on a stretch of country road on the way to Rome.  A journalist starts investigating and meets a photographer who has invented a device that can photograph human thought.

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

FORGOTTEN GIALLI: VOLUME 1 Blu-ray specs:

• Trauma (1977):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Troy Howarth
• Photo Slideshow
• The Killer is One of 13 (1973):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historian Kat Ellinger
• Photo Slideshow
• The Police Are Blundering in the Dark (1973):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Italian DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Essay by film historian Rachel Nisbet
• Photo Slideshow
• Packaged in a painstakingly crafted boxset (designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) is limited to 5,000 units

Available directly from Vinegar Syndrome.

Vinegar Syndrome befriends DOLLY DEAREST (Review)

Killing is child's play, even when the killer is DOLLY DEAREST, the creepy nineties possessed doll flick starring Sam Bottoms, Denise Crosby, and Rip Torn.

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

DOLLY DEAREST Blu-ray/DVD Combo specs:

• Blu-ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• DVD:
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Playing with Dolls" interview with actress Denise Crosby
• "Dressing the Part" interview with actor Ed Gale
• Reversible Cover

The first 4,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome include a special limited edition embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr.

Vinegar Syndrome walks the streets with THE ANGEL COLLECTION (review)

High school honor student by day, Hollywood hooker by night Molly walks the streets as Angel, trying to make a living while taking on serial killers, gangsters, and drug dealers in the popular eighties series from New World Pictures.

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

THE ANGEL COLLECTION Blu-ray specs:

• Angel (1983):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Discovering an Angel" interview with director Robert Vincent O'Neill
• "Playing Both Sides: interview with actress Donna Wilkes
• "A Change Meeting" interview with screenwriter Joseph Cala
• "Angel's Theme" interview with composer Craig Safan
• Deleted Scenes and Outtakes
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for AVENGING ANGEL and ANGEL III: THE FINAL CHAPTER
• Avenging Angel (1984):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Chasing an Angel" interview with director Robert Vincent O'Neill and screenwriter Joseph Cala
• "Street Smarts" interview with actress Betsy Russell
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for ANGEL and ANGEL III: THE FINAL CHAPTER
• Angel III: The Final Chapter (1988):
• 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 Tom DeSimone, moderated by David DeCoteau of Rapidheart.TV
• Stills Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for ANGEL and AVENGING ANGEL
• Reversible Covers for Each Film
• Handcrafted case designed by Earl Kessler Jr.
• Limited to 4,000 copies.

Available directly from Vinegar Syndrome.

Kino Lorber peruses THE CHICKEN CHRONICLES (review)

Steve Guttenberg makes his film debut as a popular teenager who may just graduate high school without getting laid in THE CHICKEN CHRONICLES.

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

THE CHICKEN CHRONICLES 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 film historians Lee Gambin and Emma Westwood
• Trailers

Kino Lorber stays up ALL NIGHT LONG (review)

Gene Hackman is a mild-mannered salesman who snaps and is demoted to night manager at a pharmacy with quirky staff and dangerous customers.  When he learns that his son (Dennis Quaid) is seeing an older woman (Barbra Streisand), he tries to put a stop to it, but her involvement in his life is even more chaotic.  Diane Ladd and Kevin Dobson also star.

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

ALL NIGHT LONG Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Interview with screenwriter W.D. Richter
• Theatrical Trailer
• Radio Spots
• Bonus Trailers

Kino Lorber plots A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A BANK (review)

Donald Sutherland and Paul Mazursky put their computer skills to use in a high tech bank heist in this seventies comedy co-starring Brooke Adams.

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

A MAN, A WOMAN, AND A BANK 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 Noel Black and producer Peter Samuelson (from 2003 DVD)
• Audio Commentary by film historians Dean Brandon and Andrew Nette 
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers

Film Movement raises a ZOMBI CHILD (review)

Haitian immigrant Melissa is trying to fit in at an exclusive girls' school in Paris while privileged Fanny wants to be different.  When Melissa joins a secret sorority by telling a secret about her past, Fanny makes a decision that will have devastating repurcussions in Bertrand Bonello's horror-tinged and idiosyncratic take on the teen genre.

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

ZOMBI CHILD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• French/Haitian/English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by dirctor Bertrand Bonello
• Theatrical Trailer
• Short Film "Children of the Sky" by Philip Montgomery
• Bonus Trailers