Acorn Media and Shudder worship HELLBENDER (review)

A young woman sheltered from the world by her mother discovers that growing up is hell when you're not quite human in HELLBENDER from The Adams Family (THE DEEPER YOU DIG).

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

HELLBENDER DVD specs: 

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.90:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "The Visual FX of Hellbender by Black Magic Tricks" 
• Bloopers
• "Zelda's Alter Ego: Eville Adams"
• Behind the Scenes Footage
• "Travelling with Wonder Wheel"
• Music Videos
  

Eureka Video dabbles in MANIACAL MAYHEM (review)

Boris Karloff engages in MANICAL MAYHEM in three films from the Universal vaults.  In THE INVISIBLE RAY, Karloff is a scientist who become infected with a killer radiation touch and decides to take revenge on those who wronged him.  In BLACK FRIDAY, Karloff saves his friend's life with a brain transplant only to discover that the murderous gangster donor is taking over his friend's mind.  In THE STRANGE DOOR, a young man becomes a pawn in a plot of a sadistic aristocrat (Charles Laughton).

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

MANIACAL MAYHEM Blu-ray specs:

• DISC ONE:
• The Invisible Ray:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen 
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English HoH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by author Stephen Jones and author/critic Kim Newman 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Image Galleries 
• Black Friday:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen 
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English HoH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by film historians Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby 
• Theatrical Trailer 
• Image Galleries
• DISC TWO:
• The Strange Door:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen 
• English LPCM 2.0 Mono 
• Optional English HoH Subtitles 
• Audio Commentary by author Stephen Jones and author/critic Kim Newman 
• Three Radio Adaptations of the Source Story "The Sire De Malétroits Door" 
• Image Galleries
• The first pressing of 2,000 copies comes with a limited edition O-card slipcase and a collector's booklet featuring new writing on all three films by film writers Andrew Graves, Rich Johnson, and Craig Ian Mann.
  

Cult Epics crowns THE LAST ROMANTIC LOVER (review)

When a female magazine editor conducts a contest to find THE LAST ROMANTIC LOVER, the real battle of the sexes is to come after the award in this seventies slice of romantic erotica from the director of EMMANUELLE.

REVIEW LINK: Cult Epics (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

THE LAST ROMANTIC LOVER Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.66:1 Widescreen
• French DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby Digital 5.1, French LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by author Jeremy Richey
• Interview with director Just Jaeckin
• Interview with actress Dayle Haddon
• 2022 Cinémathèque Française Presentation
• Photo Gallery
• Bonus Trailers
  

Vinegar Syndrome digs up BURIED ALIVE (review)

A new teacher discovers that her students keep mysteriously vanising at a reform school that used to be an asylum in the Edgar Allan Poe-influenced slasher BURIED ALIVE starring Robert Vaughn and Donald Pleasance.

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

BURIED ALIVE Blu-ray specs: 

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.85:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• "Ginger's Antics" interview with actress Ginger Lynn Allen
• "Well, I Wanna Be an Actor" interview with actor/prosthetic effects assistant William Butler
• Reversible Cover
• The first 5,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome include a special limited edition embossed and spot gloss slipcover designed by Chris Barnes.
  

Vinegar Syndrome goes on a MUTANT HUNT (review)

When a mad scientists injects his cyborgs with illegal drugs that cause them to turn into vicious killers, a trio of bounty hunters hunts them down in this Charles Band production from Tim Kincaid (aka Joe Gage).

REVIEW LINK: Vinegar Syndrome (US) Region A Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

MUTANT HUNT Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.33:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian Elizabeth Purchell
• "Mutant Maker" interview with special makeup effects artist Ed French
• "If You Want Me to Box with a Kangaroo..." interview with actor Dr. J. Buzz Von Ornsteiner
• "Long Arm of the Hunt" interview with actor Mark Legan
• Reversible Cover
• The first 5,000 copies ordered directly from Vinegar Syndrome come with a special limited edition embossed and spot gloss slipcover designed by Ralf Krause.
  

Synapse Films attends a MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH (review)

When a gang of school bullies cripples new kid David, he doesn't rat them out, he gets revenge, but he doesn't just stop there in the satirical MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH.

REVIEW LINK: Synapse Films (US) Region ALL Blu-ray (DVDCompare)

MASSACRE AT CENTRAL HIGH Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.78:1 Widescreen
• English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
• Optional English SDH Subtitles
• Audio Interviews with actors Andrew Stevens, Robert Carradine, Rex Steven Sikes, and Darrel Maury conducted by Mike White of The Projection Booth podcast
• Audio Interview with director Rene Daalder conducted by Michael Gingold
• "Hell in the Hallways" documentary
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot
• Radio Spot
• Photo Gallery
  

Second Run experiences DESIRE for ALL MY GOOD COUNTRYMEN (review)

Before the Soviet Invasion banned his films and drove him to self-exile and work abroad, Vojtech Jasny helmed a string of imaginative films including DESIRE - an anthology of life snapshots that equate the seasons with stages of life - and the masterful ALL MY GOOD COUNTRYMEN in which a Czech village is liberated by the Soviets after World War II and then shattered by their policies as the greedy and power-hungry victimize their former friends and compatriots.

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

TWO FILMS BY VOJTECH JASNY Blu-ray specs:

• DISC ONE (Desire):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Czech LPCM 2.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Interview with director Vojtěch Jasný 
• "It's Not Always Cloudy [Není stále zamračeno]" 1949 semi-documentary graduation film, co-directed by Karel Kachyňa
• DISC TWO (All My Good Countrymen):
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Czech LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by The Projection Booth podcasters Mike White, Chris Stachiw, and Spencer Parsons
• Introduction by director Vojtěch Jasný
• Interview with actress Drahomíra Hofmanová
• "Peter Hames on Vojtěch Jasný"
• "Bohemian Rhapsody [Česká rapsodie]" 1969 short film
• 19-page booklet by Peter Hames.
  

Eureka needs a SUPERCOP for POLICE STORY 3 (review)

Jackie Chan is back as a Hong Kong SUPERCOP on the trail of a major drug lord with the help of Chinese colleague Michelle Yeoh.  Maggie Cheung co-stars.

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

POLICE STORY 3: SUPERCOP Blu-ray specs: 

• Original Hong Kong Version:
  
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen
• Cantonese Dolby Atmos, LPCM 2.0 Stereo (home video mix), and LPCM 1.0 Mono (theatrical mix)
• English LPCM 1.0 Mono
• Optional English Subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Asian film experts Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival) and F.J. DeSanto 
• Audio Commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
• American Version:
• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 2.35:1 Widescreen 
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 
• Cantonese Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo 
• Optional English Subtitles
• Interview with stunt coordinator and action historian John Kreng
• "The Ultra Violent Jackie Chan Video Games" interview with film historian Mike Leeder 
• Trilogy Filming Locations Visit by film historian Arne Venema 
• "Flying High" interview with actor Jackie Chan 
• "Dancing with Death" interview with actress Michelle Yeoh 
• "The Stuntmaster General" interview with director Stanley Tong 
• "The Fall Guy" interview with Jackie Chan's bodyguard and co-star Ken Lo 
• 2004 interview with director Stanley Tong 
• 2005 Cannes Film Festival interview with director Stanley Tong 
• Outtakes 
• Trailers: 
• Hong Kong Theatrical Trailer 
• Japanese Teaser Trailer 
• UK English Export Trailer 
• US Theatrical Teaser 
• US Theatrical Trailer 
• 7 US TV Spots 
• US Video Promo 
• Comes with a reversible cover. 
• The first 3,000 copies come with a slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling and a collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver, as well as archival materials, imagery, and ephemera.

Eureka's Masters of Cinema honors THE SAPHEAD (review)

Buster Keaton is THE SAPHEAD, a young heir to a Wall Street fortune who gets disowned and has to find his own way with only a million dollars and his lady love by his side.

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

THE SAPHEAD Blu-ray specs: 

• 1080p24 MPEG-4 AVC 1.37:1 Pillarboxed Fullscreen
• Andrew Earle Simpson Score in LPCM 2.0 Stereo
• English Intertitles
• Audio Commentary by film historian David Kalat
• Complete Alternate Version featuring alternate takes with a score by Ben Model in LPCM 2.0 Stereo (77 minutes)
• "Bubbling Gravity" video essay by film historian David Cairns 
• "A Pair of Sapheads" version comparison by Kino Lorber disc producer Bret Wood 
• "The Scribe" 1966 short by John Siebert featuring Buster Keaton in his last role 
• Audio Commentary by director John Sebert, moderated by writer/silent film aficianado Chris Seguin 
• Buster Keaton Interviews: 
• "Buster Keaton in Conversation with Kevin Brownlow, Part 1" 1964 audio interview 
• "Buster Keaton in Conversation with Kevin Brownlow, Part 2" 1964 audio interview 
• Eastman House 1958 radio interview 
•  "Buster Keaton in Conversation with Torsten Jungstedt" 
• Comes with a collector’s booklet featuring new essays by journalist Philip Kemp and film writer Imogen Sara Smith, as well as an appreciation of The Saphead by film writer Eileen Whitfield. The first pressing of 2,000 copies comes with an O-card slipcover.