Scream Factory receives a DEADLY BLESSING (review)

Maren Jensen (BATTLESTAR GALLACTICA), Sharon Stone (ACTION JACKSON), and Susan Bruckner (GREASE) are three young women targeted to receive a DEADLY BLESSING in Wes Craven's underrated eighties horror film.  When a young woman's husband is killed in a mysterious accident, she is terrorized by his Hittite relatives who believe she is a demon; but are they behind the terrifying and baffling deaths that terrorize both sides.  Ernest Borgnine (MARTY), Lisa Hartman (WHERE THE BOYS ARE '84), Michael Berryman (THE HILLS HAVE YES), Jeff East (THE CAMPUS CORPSE), Douglas Barr (THE UNSEEN), and Lois Nettleton (GENERAL HOSPITAL) also star.  See the review link below:

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

DEADLY BLESSING Blu-ray specs:

• 1080p24 1.85:1 widescreen
• English DTS-MA 5.1 and 2.0 mono
• Audio Commentary by Wes Craven
• Interview with effects creator John Naulen
• Interview with actress Susan Buckner
• Interview with actor Michael Berryman
• Interview with writers Matthew Barr and Glen Benest
• Theatrical Trailer
• 3 TV spots
• 5 radio spots
• Still Gallery

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Scream Factory discovers THE NEST (review)

In the tradition of producer Roger Corman's PIRANHA and HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, a New England island community is invaded by mutant cockroaches in THE NEST.  Robert Lansing, Franc Luz, and Lisa Langlois star.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout! Factory Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

THE NEST Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• 1080p24 1.78:1 widescreen (Blu-ray)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen (DVD)
• English DTS-MA 2.0 stereo (Blu-ray)
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo (DVD)
• Audio Commentary by Terence H. Winkless

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Second Run faces THE CONFRONTATION (review)

In Hungarian director Miklos Jancso's first color film, students representing the Peoples' School invade a Catholic seminary to convert the students over to communist ideals.  Laci takes an approach involving persuasion and debate while militant Jutka favors intimidation, considering resistance to be provocation and suffering in silence to be "peaceful fascism".  In between the two of them is a state police officer who finds both approaches useful towards his own ends.


REVIEW LINK: Second Run DVD (DVDBeaver) Region 0 PAL DVD (DVDBeaver)


THE CONFRONTATION DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 2.46:1 widescreen
• Hungarian Dolby Digital 2.0 mono
• Optional English subtitles
• Liner Notes Booklet by Graham Petrie

More Second Run DVD reviews at Update the Tags: Second Run DVD.

Scream Factory and Viggo Mortensen go to PRISON (review)

When an abandoned prison is re-opened, something more evil and deadly than a sadistic warden awaits the inmates and the staff as a series of grisly "accidents" begin to befall anyone who tries to escape PRISON.  Lane Smith (NETWORK), Chelsea Field (DUST DEVIL), and Viggo Mortensen (THE REFLECTING SKIN) star (also look for a very special appearance by Kane "Jason Voorhees" Hodder).  From Charles Band's Empire Pictures and Irwin Yablans, the producer of HALLOWEEN... a new place to haunt!

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout!Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

PRISON Blu-ray/DVD combo specs:

• 1080p24 1.78:1 widescreen (Blu-ray)
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen (DVD)
• English DTS-MA 5.1 and 2.0 stereo (Blu-ray)
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo (DVD)
• Audio Commentary by director Renny Harlin
• "Hard Time: The Making of PRISON"
• Poster and Still Gallery
• DVD-ROM: First Draft Screenplay (.pdf)

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream Factory.

Vampires don't sparkle in MIDNIGHT SON (review)

Security guard Jacob only works at night since he has a fiery allergy to the son, but he's not a vampire... at least not yet.  His craving for warm blood is a relatively new thing and his search for it involves him with shady characters and grisly killings, not to mention a new, quirky love interest who might also end up on the menu.

REVIEW LINK: Monster Pictures/Eureka Video (UK) Region 2 NTSC (DVDBeaver)

MIDNIGHT SON DVD specs:

• 16:9 anamorphic 1.78:1 widescreen
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Audio Commentary with director Scott Leberecht and stars Zak Kilberg, Maya Parish, and Jo D. Jonz
• Interviews:
• director Scott Leberecht
• actor Zak Kilberg
• actress Maya Parish
• actor Jo D. Jonz
• cinematographer Lyn Moncrief
• Music Tracks
• Deleted Scene
• U.K. Theatrical Trailer

More Monster Pictures reviews at Update the Tags: Eureka Video.

Scream Factory on TERRORVISION with THE VIDEO DEAD (review)

Terror comes out of the television, from outer space AND from beyond the grave in Scream Factory/Shout!Factory's Blu-ray/DVD double bill of Empire Pictures' TERRORVISION and the direct-to-video eighties cult hit THE VIDEO DEAD.  In the first film, a ravenous mutant is beamed from its home planet and unfortunately into the satellite of a well-to-do Los Angeles family of swingers, New Age rockers, and survivalists.  Gerit Graham, Mary Woronov, Diane Franklin, Jonathan Gries, and Chad Allen star.  In the second film, an old TV set is the gateway between worlds that unleashes the living dead into a pleasant suburban neighborhood.  Both films are surprisingly stacked with extras including commentary tracks (two on THE VIDEO DEAD and one on TERRORVISION), retrospective featurettes, trailers, galleries, and even a original screenplay for THE VIDEO DEAD.

REVIEW LINK: Scream Factory/Shout!Factory (US) Region A Blu-ray/Region 1 NTSC DVD (DVD Drive-in)

TERRORVISION/THE VIDEO DEAD Blu-ray/DVD specs:

• TERRORVISION:
• 1080p24 1.85:1 widescreen (Blu-ray)
• English DTS-MA 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen (DVD) 
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by director Ted Nicolau and actors Diane Franklin and Jon Gries
• "Monster on Demand" retrospective documentary
• THE VIDEO DEAD:
• 1080p24 1.85:1 widescreen (Blu-ray)
• English DTS-MA 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• 16:9 anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen (DVD)
• English Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo
• Optional English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by writer/director Robert Scott, editor Bob Sarles, and special make-up effects creator Dale Hall, Jr.
• Audio Commentary by stars Roxanna Augesen and Rocky Duvall, production manager Jacques Thelemaque, and make-up assistant Patrick Denver
• "Pre-RecorDEAD" - interview with make-up effects artist Dale Hall, Jr. and assistant Patrick Denver
• Behind the Scenes Photo Gallery
• Poster and Still Gallery
• DVD-ROM: Original Screenplay (.pdf)

More Scream Factory reviews at Update the Tags: Scream Factory.

Vinegar Syndrome premieres THE LOST FILMS OF HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS (review)

The last three "lost" films of "Godfather of Gore" Herschell Gordon Lewis are finally present and accounted for on DVD (and Blu-ray) from the original negatives no less.  In THE ECSTASIES OF WOMEN, bachelor Harry learns that he may not be so willing to give up his freewheeling lifestyle as he recalls his past conquests at his bachelor party.  In LINDA AND ABILINE, Todd and Abiline bury their parents and finally succumb to their repressed desires before seeking outside partners in this wild west softcore item.  Finally, in BLACK LOVE, Lewis takes a documentary look at what sets African American sexuality apart (or does he?) in this rare XXX effort.

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

THE LOST FILMS OF HERSCHELL GORDON LEWIS Blu-ray+DVD combo specs:

• 1080p24 pillarboxed 1.37:1 (Blu-ray)
• 4:3 non-anamorphic 1.37:1 fullscreen (DVD)
• Dolby Digital 2.0 mono (Blu-ray and DVD)
• Original Theatrical Trailers (Blu-ray and DVD)
• Liner Notes Booklet by Casey Scott
• Special Edition Lab Cards 
• Three Collectors' Pins