Oscilloscope gets political with IF A TREE FALLS (review)

Oscilloscope Laboratories presents the DVD special edition of IF A TREE FALLS: A STORY OF THE EARTH LIBERATION FRONT, a documentary on the ELA movement focusing on the story of Daniel McGowan, a PR employee turned radical activist, his transformation from peaceful protester to being branded a terrorist by the government.  It is a poignant yet balanced account with interviews from other ELA members, activist filmmakers, non-violent environmentalists, prosecutors, FBI agents, victims of the ELA property damage, and McGowan's family.

REVIEW LINK: Oscilloscope Laboratories (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

IF A TREE FALLS DVD specs:

• 1.78:1 anamorphic 16:9 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0
• Audio Commentary by director Marshall Curry, cinematographer Sam Cullman, and editor Matthew Hamachek
• Deleted Scenes
• Extended Interviews
• "You cannot control what is wild" updates from subjects in the film
• post-screening Q&A in Ashland, Oregon with Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
• Theatrical Trailer

It's FINAL EXAM time for Katarina Leigh Waters and Scorpion Releasing (review)

Scorpion Releasing presents Motion Picture Marketing and Jimmy Houston's FINAL EXAM, back on DVD as part of the Katarina's Nightmare Theater line.  It's final exam time at Lanier College and the atmosphere of pranks, hazings, Jack Daniels-chugging, and general horniness distracts the students and faculty from the presence of a hulking, knife-wielding killer bent on thinning out the student body.  Previously released on DVD by BCI, Scorpion's new disc features a beautiful transfer from a brand-new high definition master and a new commentary track, as well as interviews with the stars.


REVIEW LINK: Scorpion Releasing (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-In)


FINAL EXAM DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer (from a new HD master)
• English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono audio
• Audio Commentary by producer Myron Meisel, moderated by Katarina Leigh Waters
• Interviews with actors Cecile Bagdadi, Joel S. Rice, and Sherry Willis Burch
• Scorpion Releasing Trailers
• Playable with optional Katarina's Nightmare Theater intro and closing remarks
• Reversible Cover 

 RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Scorpion Releasing

THE HILLS HAVE EYES on BluRay (review)

Wes Craven's cannibal cult classic THE HILLS HAVE EYES (the original, not the crappy remake) hits Blu-Ray courtesy of Image Entertainment (and their deal with Lakeshore Entertainment) this September 6.  A family traveling through the desert in search of a silver mine becomes stranded and are attacked by a family of cannibals.  Dee Wallace (THE HOWLING), Robert Houston (CHEERLEADERS WILD WEEKEND), Janus Blythe (EATEN ALIVE), and Michael Berryman (CUT AND RUN) - in his iconic role - star.  You'll find a comparison between the new Blu-Ray transfer and the Anchor Bay special edition at the link below.

REVIEW LINK: Image Entertainment (USA) Region A Blu-Ray vs Anchor Bay (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE HILLS HAVE EYES Blu-Ray specs:

• 1080P widescreen 1.85:1 transfer
• English DTS-MA 6.1 audio and LPCM 2.0 original mono audio
• Audio Commentary by director Wes Craven and producer Peter Locke
• "Looking Back at THE HILLS HAVE EYES" documentary with Craven, Locke, actors Dee Wallace, Susan Lanier, Janus Blythe, Michael Berryman, Robert Houston, and cinematographer Eric Saarinen
• The Directors: Wes Craven - hour-long AFI special on Craven's career
• Restoration Demo
• US and German Trailers
• US and UK TV spots
• Alternate Ending
• Wes Craven Bio

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Anchor Bay Entertainment

MTI plays THE ECHO GAME (review)

A young woman tries to protect her adopted daughter from having her ESP powers stolen by a rogue government scientist in Brian Feeney's THE ECHO GAME, out on DVD this September from MTI Home Video.  Click on the review link below.

REVIEW LINK: MTI Home Video (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE ECHO GAME DVD specs*:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 surround audio
• Audio Commentary
• Behind-the-Scenes
• Trailers
• optional English subtitles

*DVD under review is a screener disc, specs posted above are based on press release specifications.

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: MTI Home Video

Paul Naschy is THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD (review)

Paul Naschy plays a gangster who gets a brain transplant from his worst enemy "The Sadist" in Juan Fortuny's THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD (aka CRIMSON) on DVD October 10th in the UK (although it will also be available as an HMV exclusive on September 12th).  A nutty Eurocine crime thriller featuring Jess Franco regular Olivier Mathot (REVENGE IN THE HOUSE OF USHER) and Spanish horror regulars Sylvia Solar (FURY OF THE WOLFMAN), Victor Israel (HORROR EXPRESS), and Evelyne Scott (DEVIL KISS).  The new UK disc is compared with the old US Image Euroshock disc at the review below:


REVIEW LINK: ArrowDrome (UK) Region 0 PAL DVD vs Image Entertainment (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

THE MAN WITH THE SEVERED HEAD DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen transfer
• English and French Dolby Digital 2.0 mono tracks
• Optional English Subtitles
• French Theatrical Trailer
• Alternate Erotic Footage
• Featurette on Paul Naschy featuring interviews Tony Timpone, Fred Olen Ray, Michelle Bauer, Brian Yuzna, and Caroline Munro
• Liner Notes Booklet
• Reversible Cover

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Arrow Video

Image Entertainment brings HELLRAISER back to Blu-Ray (review)

Ashley Laurence (WARLOCK III) and Andrew Robinson (DIRTY HARRY) star in one of the iconic horror hits of the eighties: Clive Barker's HELLRAISER, out on Blu-Ray through Image Entertainment on September 6.  You can read a review and see image comparisons with Anchor Bay's THX DVD special edition at the review link below:

REVIEW LINK: Image Entertainment (USA) Region A Blu-Ray vs Anchor Bay (USA) Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVDBeaver)

HELLRAISER Blu-Ray specs:

• 1080P 1.85:1 widescreen transfer
• English DTS Master Audio 5.1 audio
• Theatrical Trailer

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: Anchor Bay Entertainment

MTI's Bigfoot is SAVAGE (review)

Tony Becker (THE HUNTERS), Lisa Wilcox (NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 4 and 5), and Martin Kove (BLOOD TIDE) are hunting Bigfoot in a national park in Jordan Blum's SAVAGE, hitting DVD this September from MTI Home Video.

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

SAVAGE DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic widescreen transfer
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
• English Closed Captioning
• Optional Spanish subtitles
• MTI Trailers

*specs come from the press release.  review is based on screener disc.

RELATED LINK: Update the Tags: MTI Home Video