Film Movement Classics shelters in RAINING IN THE MOUNTAIN (review)

A Buddhist temple is the setting for intrigue as an Abbot is about to name his successor and other parties attempt to get their hands on a priceless scroll in King Hu's final feature film.

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

RAINING IN THE MOUNTAIN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Mandarin LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by critic and Asian cinema expert Tony Rayns
• "Treasure of the Spirit" video essay by Chinese-language film expert and author Stephen Teo
• Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers
• 20-page booklet with a new essay by New York Asian Film Festival Executive Director Samuel Jamier

 

88 Films clones a REPLICANT (Review)

It's two times the Van Damme when "The Muscles from Brussels" plays a serial killer and the genetic clone teamed up with detective Michael Rooker to track him down in REPLICANT from Hong Kong action director Ringo Lam.

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

REPLICANT Blu-ray specs:

• Numbered Limited Edition of 3,000 Copies (no standard edition repress)
• 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 by film journalists Dave Wain and Marty Budrewicz
• "Transfixed by the Light" feature-length interview with cinematographer Mike Southon
• "Looking Back" archival interview with actor Jean-Claude Van Damme
• Theatrical Trailer
• Comes with a reversible cover, numbered slipcover, A3 foldout poster, and collector's booklet featuring text interviews with screenwriter Lawrence Riggins and camera operator Ross Clarkson.
  

Vinegar Syndrome conjures NECROMANCER (review)

When drama student Julie is raped by a trio of frat brothers and threatened into silence, a friend takes her to a sorceress who offers up a demonic form of vengeance.  When Julie realizes that people are really dying, she tries to stop the spell but the price of damnation comes with the NECROMANCER's services.

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

NECROMANCER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Taking the Reigns" video conference with director Dusty Nelson
• "A Despicable Job" inteview with actor Lee Cole
• "Conjuring the Past" interview with actor Waide Riddle
• Strictly limited to 3,000 copies 
• Comes with a double-sided poster and reversible cover artwork in a VHS-style bottom-loading hard slipcase.

88 Films and Jackie Chan become karate ghostbusters in SPIRITUAL KUNG-FU (review)

Jackie Chan is a monk who becomes a "karate ghostbuster" when a quintet of ghosts teach him a lost style of fighting in order to take on a deadly clan leader in SPIRITUAL KUNG-FU.

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

SPIRITUAL KUNG-FU Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese, English, and Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Alternate Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track with alternate music cues
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Hong Kong cinema experts Mike Leeder and Arne Venema
• "Rick Baker on Spiritual Kung Fu" interview
• "Fighting Style" archival interviews with filmmakers Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong and Sammo Hung
• Scenes from the Korean Version
• Alternate Shot from the Mandarin Cut
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer
• English Theatrical Trailer
• Japanese Theatrical Trailer
• Comes with a reversible cover
• The first 2,000 copies include a Limited Edition Slipcase, set of 4 double-sided art cards, A3 foldout poster
  

Flicker Alley sculpts WAXWORKS (review)

A down-on-his-luck poet meets a pretty girl and gets a job writing fantastic stories to promote the grisly backstories of historical figures at a waxworks museum, but Jack the Ripper may prove only too real for the author and his lady love in Paul Leni's culmination of the German Expressionist cinematic movement.

REVIEW LINK: Flicker Alley (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

WAXWORKS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Ensemble Musikfabrik score in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Richard Siedhoff score in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• English Intertitles with optional subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish
• Audio Commentary by film and arts critic Adrian Martin
• "In Search of the Original Version of Paul Leni’s Das Wachsfigurenkabinett​" interview with Julia Wallmüller of teh Deutsche Kinemathek
• Kim Newman on "Waxworks"
• "Rebus-Film Nr. 1-8" Paul Leni animated shorts
• 31-page collector’s booklet featuring "Paul Leni: A Career Cut Sadly Short" by Philip Kemp, "Waxworks: Three Times a Romance" by Richard Combs, "Waxworks: The Restoration" by Julia Wallmüller, viewing notes, and Blu-ray credits

 

Eureka Video and Masters of Cinema summon MOTHRA (Review)

When an expedition to an atomic testing island discovers natives and foot-high faeries, an unscrupulus businessman steals them to exploit them in a traveling show.  Unfortunately, the faeries are protected by the fiersome goddess MOTHRA who makes a beeline for Tokyo in this classic kaiju from the director of GODZILLA.

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

MOTHRA Blu-ray specs:

• Japanese Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Japanese LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Isolated Music and Effects Track
• Audio Commentary by film historian and writer David Kalat
  
• English Version:
  
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Audio Commentary by authors and Japanese sci-fi historians Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski
  
• "Kim Newman on MOTHRA" interview
• Still Galleries
• U.S. Teaser Trailer 
• U.S. Theatrical Trailer
• Limited edition of 3,000 copies with a hardbound slipcase, reversible poster featuring the film’s original US and Japanese poster artwork, and a 60-page collector’s booklet.

Second Run bids GOODBYE, DRAGON INN (review)

On the night that a Taipei second run cinema is set to close its doors for good, the final screening of the night draws out more than just the ghosts of the past in director Tsai Ming-Liang's award-winning arthouse drama.

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

GOODBYE, DRAGON INN Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Mandarin/Taiwanese/Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English Subtitles
• Interview with director Tsai Ming-Liang
• "Madame Butterfly" 2009 short film
• 20-page booklet featuring new essays by curator and critic Tony Rayns, plus a personal appreciation by filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul
  

Vinegar Syndrome digs up CEMETERY OF TERROR (Review)

Halloween night tricks turn deadly when a group of medical students steal the body of a recently dead Satanic serial killer for a gag in the Mexican supernatural slasher CEMETERY OF TERROR.

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

CEMETERY OF TERROR Blu-ray specs: 

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Rubén Galindo Jr.
• Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues
• "Digging Your Own Grave" 2020 interview with director Rubén Galindo Jr.
• "South of the Border Horror" 2020 interview with actor René Cardona III
• Reversible Cover
• The first first 3,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome include a limited edition embossed slipcover.
  

88 Films gets stabby with MOON IN SCORPIO (Review)

Three Vietnam vets and their girlfriends are in for a deadly voyage on the high seas when there is a MOON IN SCORPIO.  Obscure eighties slasher starring Britt Eklund, John Phillip Law, Lewis Van Bergen, Robert Quarry, Jillian Kesner, and April Wayne, directed by Gary Graver.

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

MOON IN SCORPIO Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by co-producer Fred Olen Ray
• Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues, The Slasher Loving Podcast
• Audio Commentary by film journalists Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain 
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• The first pressing of 3,000 copies includes a limited edition slipcover, foldout poster, and booklet notes on director Gary Graver by Andrew Rausch.
  

Vinegar Syndrome guesses WHODUNIT? on the Island of Blood (review)

A group of talentless hopefuls with stars in their eyes head to an island to make a movie, but someone’s slashing the competition in WHODUNIT? also known as ISLAND OF BLOOD and SCARED ALIVE.

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

WHODUNIT? Blu-ray specs:

• 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
• Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues
• "Blood & Sweaters" interview with actor Terence Goodman
• "Dying for the Opportunity" interview with actor Jim Piper
• "Containing the Excitement" interview with actress Marie-Alise Recasner
• "Cutting a Long Story Short" interview with editor Hari Ryatt
• Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover

 

Vinegar Syndrome bids you to REST IN PIECES (review)

"Their dream house brought them together...Their neighbors are tearing them apart!" when Jose Ramon Larraz gets as mainstream as he ever could in REST IN PIECES, on Blu-ray from Vinegar Syndrome.

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

REST IN PIECES Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Spanish Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historians Kat Ellinger and Samm Deighan
• "Piece by Piece" interview with actor Scott Thompson Baker
• Reversible Cover
• The first 3,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome come with a limited edition embossed slipcover.

 

Cult Epics gets "plucked" by DEATH LAID AN EGG (review)

Jean-Louis Trintignant, Gina Lollobrigida, Ewa Aulin, and Jean Sobieski tear each other apart... "then see what they do with the pieces" in Giulio Questi's completely bizarre giallo DEATH LAID AN EGG in which an industrialist plots to murder his chicken farm heiress wife to be with her younger cousin.

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

DEATH LAID AN EGG Blu-ray specs:

• Director's Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by authors Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Giallo Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English and Italian LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
  
• "Doctor Schizo and Mister Phrenic" 2002 short by Giulio Questi
• "Giulio Questi: The Outsider" interview with director Giulio Questi
• A Movie Review by Antonio Brushini
• English Theatrical Trailer
• Italian Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible Cover
• Slipcase with the first 1,000 copies.

 

Eureka's Masters of Cinema molds WAXWORKS (review)

A down-on-his-luck poet meets a pretty girl and gets a job writing fantastic stories to promote the grisly backstories of historical figures at a waxworks museum, but Jack the Ripper may prove only too real for the author and his lady love in Paul Leni's culmination of the German Expressionist cinematic movement.

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

WAXWORKS Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Ensemble Musikfabrik score in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• Richard Siedhoff score in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and 2.0 Stereo
• English Intertitles with optional subtitles in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish
• Audio Commentary by film and arts critic Adrian Martin
• "In Search of the Original Version of Paul Leni’s Das Wachsfigurenkabinett​" interview with Julia Wallmüller of teh Deutsche Kinemathek
• Kim Newman on "Waxworks"
• "Rebus-Film Nr. 1-8" Paul Leni animated shorts
• 31-page collector’s booklet featuring "Paul Leni: A Career Cut Sadly Short" by Philip Kemp, "Waxworks: Three Times a Romance" by Richard Combs, "Waxworks: The Restoration" by Julia Wallmüller, viewing notes, and Blu-ray credits
• The first 2,000 copies come with a limited O-Card slipcase
  

Second Sight rises with DAWN OF THE DEAD (review)

There's no more room in hell, and now DAWN OF THE DEAD has been resurrected in a definitive high definition Blu-ray and separate 4K UHD package with all three cuts of the film, commentaries, documentaries, interviews, soundtrack CDs, and limited edition books featuring new writing on the film and the original novelization.

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

DAWN OF THE DEAD Blu-ray specs:

• Disc One - The Theatrical Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.0 Stereo, and 1.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director George A Romero, effects artist Tom Savini, and associate producer Christine Forrest
• Audio Commentary by film historian Travis Crawford
  
• Disc Two - The Cannes Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 1.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by producer Richard P Rubinstein 
  
• Disc Three - The Argento Cut:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, 2.0 Stereo, and 1.0 Mono
• Optional English HoH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by actors Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger, Gaylen Ross, and David Emge 
  
• Disc Four:
• Documentaries:
• "Zombies and Bikers"
• "Memories of Monroeville"
• "Raising the Dead: The Production Logistics"
• "The Dead Will Walk"
• Interviews:
• "The FX of Dawn with Tom Savini"
• "Dummies! Dummies!" interview with actor Richard France
• "The Lost Romero Dawn Interview" archival interview
• Super 8 Mall Footage (with optional archival audio commentary by Robert Langer or new audio commentary by Ralph Langer)
• "Document of the Dead" 1998 Special Edition Cut
• "Document of the Dead" The Definitive Cut"
• Audio Commentary by director Roy Frumkes
• Trailers, TV Spots, Radio Spots
• 3 US Trailers
• 2 German Trailers
• 3 US TV Spots
• 2 UK TV Spots
• 3 US Radio Spots
  
• Discs Five:
• The Goblin Soundtrack CD
  
• Discs Six and Seven:
•  Dawn of the Dead: A De Wolfe Library Compilation
• Comes in a rigid box with lid, featuring the original iconic artwork
• A 160-page hardback book featuring 17 new essays, an archive article and George A Romero interview, original marketing, artwork and merchandise images, and behind-the-scenes stills
• "Dawn of the Dead: The Novelisation" book by George A Romero and Susanna Sparrow (with exclusive artwork).

Eureka crosses swords with THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR (review)

Before BRIDE OF CHUCKY and FREDDY VS. JASON, Hong Kong director Ronnie Yu first made a name in the West with the visually-dazzling Hong Kong fantasy THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR in which starcrossed lovers are caught between a ruthless clan and a demon cult.  Lesley Cheung and Brigitte Lin star. 

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

THE BRIDE WITH WHITE HAIR Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 Stereo, English LPCM 2.0 Stereo, English LPCM 2.0 Stereo, and Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng of the NY Asian Film Festival 
• Audio Commentary by director Ronny Yu
• Audio interview with editor David Wu by Frank Djeng
• Interview with director Ronny Yu by Frank Djeng
• Interview with actor Joe Tay
• Interview with screenwriter Jason Lam Kee To
• Interview with composer Richard Yuen
• Archival “making of” featurette
• THE FIRST 2,000 COPIES come with a Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a 27-page collector’s booklet featuring film credits, "Between Two Worlds: The Bride With White Hair in Context and Beyond in Context and Beyond" by James Oliver, "The Icon with Early Retirement: The Films of Brigitte Lin" by Travis Crawford, viewing notes, and Blu-ray credits.
  

Film Movement butters up MR. TOPAZE (review)

Peter Sellers' first and last directorial effort casts him as the idealistic teacher MR. TOPAZE whose naivete makes him vulnerable to the schemes of a local politician and his mistress.  From the play by Marcel Pagnol.  Herbert Lom, Nadia Gray, Leo McKern, Billie Whitelaw, and Michael Gough co-star.

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

MR. TOPAZE Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Abigail McKern Remembers Her Father, Leo McKern inteview
• "The Poetry of Realism" video essay by Kat Ellinger
• "Let's Go Crazy" 1951 short with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan
  
• Theatrical Trailer
• Bonus Trailers
• Booklet