Jaws 50th Anniversary Edition Coming To Disc and Digital June 17th

April 29, 2025, 6:18 am

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DIVE DEEPER INTO THE SPIELBERG SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SENSATION THAT CHANGED CINEMA FOREVER

 

AVAILABLE ON DISC AND DIGITAL JUNE 17, 2025

FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

 

NOW INCLUDING AN ALL-NEW DOCUMENTARY FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC,

PLUS OVER FIVE HOURS OF BONUS FEATURES!

JAWS made history in 1975, turning a young Steven Spielberg into a household name and boldly establishing the summer blockbuster spectacle that revolutionized the film industry. Winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Original Score, JAWS has become a global phenomenon, and half a century later, it still holds a grip on audiences around the world. Universal Pictures Home Entertainment celebrates this cinematic milestone with the JAWS 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION, available on June 17, 2025 in 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and Digital. This Combo Pack features the never-before-seen documentary, JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY, a brand-new look at the making and legacy of the film directed by Laurent Bouzereau and from National Geographic, in partnership with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries, Nedland Media, and Wendy Benchley. The disc and digital include over five hours of bonus features with an inside look at the making of the film, deleted scenes, original on-set footage, and much more! JAWS will also be available in an all-new limited edition SteelBook with never-before-seen artwork.

 

When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, JAWS remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

 

JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY:

Steven Spielberg shares an authorized look inside the story of JAWS in this documentary. From Peter Benchley’s epic novel to Spielberg’s film, JAWS continues to influence pop culture, cinema and shark conservation. With interviews from Hollywood’s most influential directors and shark scientists, the legend of JAWS is endless.

 

BONUS FEATURES ON 4K UHD, BLU-RAY™ AND DIGITAL INCLUDE:

- Deleted Scenes and Outtakes – Over 13 minutes of content

- The Making of JAWS - An insider look into the making of this classic film, this original full-length documentary is filled with exhaustive cast and crew interviews, archival footage, outtakes, and much more!

- JAWS: The Restoration - An in-depth look at the intricate process of restoring the movie.

- The Shark is Still Working: The Impact and Legacy of JAWS - A fan-made documentary that focuses on the many ways JAWS has helped shape elements of pop culture and influence a generation of filmmakers.

- JAWS Archives

- Storyboards

- Production Photos

- Marketing JAWS

- JAWS Phenomenon

- From the Set – Available on Disc only

- Theatrical Trailer

 

FILMMAKERS:

Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, Murray Hamilton

Directed By: Steven Spielberg

Produced By: Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown

Music By: John Williams

Based on the Novel By: Peter Benchley

Screenplay By: Peter Benchley and Carl Gottlieb

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION FEATURE 4K UHD:

Street Date: June 17, 2025

UPC: 191329280812 (US) / 191329280829 (CDN)

Layers:  BD-100

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 2.35:1 Widescreen

Rating: PG

Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish 

Video: 2160p UHD Dolby Vision/HDR10+/HDR 10

Languages/Sound: Dolby Atmos, English DTS Digital Surround 2.0 Mono, Dolby Digital 2.0 ; French European DTS-HD High Resolution Audio 7.1 ; Latin American Spanish DTS Digital Surround 5.1

Run Time: 2 hours 4 minutes

 

TECHNICAL INFORMATION DOCUMENTARY BLU-RAY™:

Street Date: June 17, 2025

Layers: BD 50

Aspect Ratio: 16:9 1.78:1 Widescreen

Subtitles: English, French Canadian, Latin American Spanish

Sound: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Run Time: 01:27:58

 

ABOUT JAWS:

Directed by Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, Jaws set the standard for edge-of-your-seat suspense, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon and forever changing the movie industry 50 years ago on June 20, 1975. When the seaside community of Amity finds itself under attack by a dangerous great white shark, the town’s chief of police (Roy Scheider), a young marine biologist (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled shark hunter (Robert Shaw) embark on a desperate quest to destroy the beast before it strikes again. Featuring an unforgettable score that evokes pure terror, five decades later, Universal Pictures’ Jaws remains one of the most influential and gripping adventures in motion picture history.

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Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Announces 6-Film James Bond Collection

April 29, 2025, 10:11 am

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6-FILM JAMES BOND COLLECTION

STARRING SEAN CONNERY 

COMES TO 4K ULTRA HD 

The Sean Connery Collection

will be released on June 10, 2025

THE SEAN CONNERY COLLECTION from Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM), a collection of six James Bond films starring Sean Connery as 007, will be available to own on June 10 as a 4K UHD collection for the first time for the ultimate at home movie-watching experience. The collection includes Dr. No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice and Diamonds Are Forever. 

The collection will be available in collectible steelbook packaging and as a standard 4K collection.

These six films will also be available on Digital from MGM.

The action, the intrigue, the women… The films and THE Bond that established the enduring franchise. Experience the spy thrillers that made Sean Connery immortal like you’ve never seen them before in stunning 4K for the first time. The films are part of the 5th highest grossing film franchise of all time with more than $7.8 billion in worldwide box office revenues.

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs of THE SEAN CONNERY COLLECTION will feature Dolby Vision ultra-vivid imaging.  When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision® can deliver spectacular colors never before seen on a screen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter, and blacks that are 10 times darker.  With Dolby Vision®, you will feel as if you are inside the action alongside 007 as the picture comes to life. 

4K Ultra HD** showcases 4K resolution with High Dynamic Range (HDR) and a wider color spectrum, offering consumers brighter, deeper, and more lifelike colors for a home entertainment viewing experience like never before.  

About the Films:

Dr. No (1962)

James Bond, a resourceful British government agent, seeks answers in the disappearance of a fellow spy and a plot to disrupt an American space program.

Cast: Anthony Dawson, Bernard Lee, Eunice Gayson, Jack Lord, John Kitzmiller, Joseph Wiseman, Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Zena Marshall

Producers: Harry Saltzman

Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Terence Young

Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, Berkely Mather

From Russia With Love (1963)

James Bond willingly falls into an assassination plot involving a naive Russian beauty in order to retrieve a Soviet encryption device that was stolen by the organization Spectre.

Cast: Bernard Lee, Daniela Bianchi, Lois Maxwell, Lotte Lenya, Pedro Armendariz, Robert Shaw, Sean Connery

Producers: Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Terence Young

Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum

Adapted by: Johanna Harwood

Goldfinger (1964)

While investigating a gold magnate’s smuggling, James Bond uncovers a plot to contaminate the Fort Knox gold reserve.

Cast: Austin Willis, Bernard Lee, Bill Nagy, Cec Linder, Gert Frobe, Harold Sakata, Honor Blackman, Lois Maxwell, Martin Benson, Sean Connery, Shirley Eaton, Tania Mallet

Producers: Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Guy Hamilton

Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, Paul Dehn

Thunderball (1965)

James Bond heads to the Bahamas to recover two nuclear warheads stolen by S.P.E.C.T.R.E. agent Emilio Largo in an international extortion scheme.

Cast: Adolfo Celi, Bernard Lee, Claudine Auger, Desmond Llewelyn, Earl Cameron, Guy Doleman, Lois Maxwell, Luciana Paluzzi, Martine Beswick, Molly Peters, Paul Stassino, Rik Van Nutter, Roland Culver, Sean Connery.

Producers:Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Terence Young

Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, John Hopkins

Original Screenplay by: Jack Whittingham

Story by: Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, Ian Fleming

You Only Live Twice (1967)

James Bond and the Japanese Secret Service must find and stop the true culprit of a series of space hijackings, before war is provoked between Russia and the United States.

Cast: Akiko Wakabayashi, Bernard Lee, Charles Gray, Desmond Llewelyn, Donald Pleasence, Karin Dor, Lois Maxwell, Mie Hama, Sean Connery, Teru Shimada, Tetsuro Tamba

Producers: Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Lewis Gilbert

Screenplay by: Roald Dahl

Additional Story Material by: Harold Jack Bloom

 Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.

Cast: Sean Connery, Jill St. John, Charles Gray, Lana Wood, Jimmy Dean, Bruce Cabot, Putter Smith, Bruce Glover, Norman Burton, Bernard Lee, Desmond Llewelyn, Lois Maxwell

Producers: Harry Saltzman, Albert R. Broccoli

Director: Guy Hamilton

Screenplay by: Richard Maibaum, Tom Mankiewicz

THE SEAN CONNERY COLLECTION 4K ULTRA HD SPECIFICATIONS 

Street Date: June 10, 2025

Screen Format:  Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Goldfinger

Widescreen 1.75:1

Thunderball and You Only Live Twice Widescreen 2.35:1

Diamonds are Forever

Widescreen 2.39:1

Audio: Diamonds are Forever, Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice

English Dolby ATMOS

English 2.0 DTS-HDMA

English Descriptive Audio 2.0 Dolby Digital

Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1 

French Dolby Digital 5.1 

Subtitles:  Diamonds are Forever, Dr. No, From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, and You Only Live Twice

English SDH, Spanish, French 

CRASH AND BURN (1990) (Full Moon Blu-ray Review + Screenshots)

April 30, 2025, 5:52 am

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CRASH AND BURN (1990)

Label: Full Moon Features

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 84 Minutes 47 Seconds 

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo, 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1) 

Director: Charles Band

Cast: Paul Ganus, Megan Ward, Ralph Waite, Bill Moseley, Eva laRue, Jack McGee, John Davis Chandler

In the Charles Band directed Crash and Burn (1990), a low budget sci-fi flick that channels elements of Alien, The Thing and The Terminator it's the year 2030, the world is a post-apocalyptic wasteland where ultraviolet rays have decimated the ozone layer, and Unicom, an evil corporate empire has taken control of pretty much everything. Enter our deluxe-mulleted hero Tyson Keen (Paul Ganus, Lethal Weapon 3), an Unicom courier who arrives at a junkyard TV station to make a delivery and ends up hunkering down there overnight to wait out a sever solar storm. We discover that the TV station voices dissent against the Unicom corporation and is operated by Lathan Hooks (Ralph White, The Waltons) and his scrappy teen granddaughter Arren (Megan Ward,Joe's Apartment). Also hunkered down there for the night are the station's engineer Quinn (Bill Moseley, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), the station's sleazy tabloid talk show host Winston Wickett (Jack McGee, The Hidden) and a pair of his recent guests - adult film stars Sandra (Elizabeh McClellan, Puppet Master 2) and  Christie (Catherine Armstrong, The Arrival), as well as the  schoolteacher Parice (Eva LaRue, The Barbarians) who is the host of the station's educational programming. 

Over the course of the night Lathan is murdered by an unseen assailant, having been thrown to his death from a height, with some of the the survivor's  suspecting that a "synthoid" may have killed him - which is pretty much a human-skinned Terminator-esque killbot programmed to kill all who pose a threat to Unicom. This  leads to a paranoia about one of the gathered people being a secret robot assassin, complete with a very The Thing-esque blood-test, and a finale with full-on Terminator vibes as the robot-assassin in identified. 

Band's low-budget sci-fi horror romp certainly feels cheap with it's anemic production design and special effects, and lackluster direction, but it is not without it's charm.  As a Terminator knock-off there's certainly fun to be had, there's a bit of nudity, and how could I also not to love how he crams in a Robot Jox sort of giant-robot component by way of a "DV-8" robot, with stop-motion animation by David Allen (The Primevals), it's just a bit bananas with how many other better films it's channeling. The giant robot, which is actually very little seen in the film, was used to sell the flick as a sequel of sorts to Stuart Gordon's Robot Jox, even thought the two films have nothing to do with each other, even having been released in certain territories as Robot Jox 2: Crash and Burn.  

Honestly, Crash and Burn is not a terrific watch, it's a poorly directed, cheap, and uninspired, but if the idea of a low-budget Terminator knocks off with elements of Alien dystopia and The Thing type paranoia, all filtered through the low-budget genre-grinder of Full Moon, well, there's cheap thrills to be had here for sure. I would think that if you're a Full Moon fan and/or if you like those Italian knock-off flicks directed by Bruno Mattei like Terminator II, Cruel Jaws, or Robowar this should be a fun watch.  

Audio/Video: Crash and Burn arrives on Blu-ray from Full Mood in 1080p HD widescreen (1.78:1), advertised as being "presented here for the very first time in HD, remastered from the recently unearthed negative". The source is in solid shape, however, the image look very digital to me, sharpened and/or manipulated artificially, with weird looking grain structures. It's certainly not HD perfection, but generally colors look good, darker scenes fare well, and detail and texture in close-ups are solid. Audio comes by way of English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or 5.1 surround with optional English subtitles. The lossy tracks sound fine, dialogue, score and sound effects all register well, though I preferred the 2.0 option. 

Extras start off with a New Audio Commentary with Director Charles Band and Actor Bill Mosley. Band discusses finding the long thought lost film negative at Deluxe Labs, the casting of Megan Ward, and making fun of the cheap sets. It's a very casual track, not particularly informative or well-researched, and mostly just them commenting on the action happening onscreen, taking a moments to appreciate the stuntmen and make-up FX work. we also get a selection of archival extras by way of the 1-min Original Trailer; 7-min Making of Crash & Burn; a 6-min Blooper Reel, and a selection of Full Moon Trailers. 

Special Features:

- Original Trailer (1:05) 

- Making of Crash & Burn (6:59)

- Blooper Reel (6:00) 

- New Audio Commentary with Director Charles Band and Actor Bill Mosley 

- Full Moon Trailers; Deathstreamer, Quadrant, Bad Channels, Subspecies 5, Bad CGI Gator 

Screenshots from the Full Moon Blu-ray; 

Extras:

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ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE (1970) (Severin Films Blu-ray Review)

May 2, 2025, 7:34 pm

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ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE (1970) 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: A

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 94 Minutes 11 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Douglas Hickox

Cast: Peter McEnery, Harry Andrews, Alan Webb, Beryl Reid

Entertaining Mr. Sloane (1970), directed by Douglas Hickox (Theatre of Blood), opens with the lonely middle-aged Kath (Beryl Reid, Psychomania), dressed in a too-short and see-through dress wandering through the cemetery licking on a popsicle when she stumbles across the svelte sexual dynamo Mr. Sloane (Peter McEnery, Tales That Witness Madness) laying shirtless on a gravestone sunning himself. The obviously horny old broad invites him to be a lodger at her home, and Sloan doesn't seem to the sort to pass up the kindness of a stranger, so he accepts after feigning some wariness. Back at her home she makes come-ons and he plays off her advances coyly, and soon after her closeted upper-crust brother Ed (Harry Andrews, Theatre of Blood), arrives, driving up in a pink Pontiac Parisienne convertible, it's quite a site! He ostensibly checks out and questions Sloane to make sure he is not taking advantage of his warped-minded sister, but it's also quite obvious that he too is attracted to the still shirtless young man - and for his part Sloane seems to have a very negotiable sexuality, so he plays along when Ed asks him to be his chauffeur, and gets dandied up in a camel leather chauffeur outfit that fits snugly in all the right places. Less enthused to see his the horny sibling's elderly father Kemp (Alan Webb, The Duellists), who recognizes him as the man who killed his employer years earlier, which could potentially cause an issue for the morally diabolical Mr. Sloane. 

What ensues is a wonderfully delirious triangle of lust, murder and dry Brit wit with banger dialogue as the characters trade verbal barbs and coded come-ons, all charged with a psycho-sexual delirium that I found absolutely intoxicating. All four co-stars are firing with precision, the scenes of the horny sibling fighting over their sexual prize, with zesty double-entendres falling out of their mouths left and right had me in stitches. This is such a wonderful slice of transgressive cinema, it's cheerfully cheeky, slyly dark, and delightfully twisted, just the way I like 'em. 

Audio/Video: Entertaining Mr. Sloane (1970) arrives on Blu-ray from Severin Film in 1080p HD framed in 1.85;1, scanned in 2K from the original camera negative, looking quite solid, with the source retaining filmic qualities, excellent grain structures, and plenty of textures throughout.  Colors look wonderful with Ed's pink  convertible looking wonderful, black levels are solid, and flesh tones look natural. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with optional English subtitles. The comically wry dialogue sounds terrific, no age-related issues I could detect, and score and modest sound effect fare well. 

Onto the extras, I must say that this is a very well-stocked edition. we begin with an Audio Commentary With Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson And Orton Scholar Dr. Emma Parker, it's a pleasantly conversational track, Parker is quite a knowledgeable resource, and combined with Thompson enthusiasm for cult cinema, it's just a dynamite track.  

Next, a 10-min Archival Interview With Actor Peter McEnery, whom discusses where his career was at the time he came onboard, just coming off contracts with Disney and United artists, he gets into what attracted him to the role, enjoying the play and trying to do something else with the character, the outrageous script, creating his own backstory for the character, and what it was like working with Beryl Reed, plus his thoughts on director Hickox, and his thoughts on the film. 

We also get the 27-min All My Sloanes – 60 Years Of Joe Orton's Mr. Sloane, Featuring Malcolm McDowell And Maxwell Caulfield, an appreciation of the ambiguous dark character with negotiable sexuality. McDowell has some wonderful tales of working with Beryl Reed on a later stage version, and working on an adaptation of Orton's The Collection with Lawrence Olivier, while Caulfield attributes landing Grease 2 based on his turn in the stage play during it's American debut. 

the 45-min Archival Interview With John Lahr, Author Of Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography Of Joe Orton, gets into Orton's younger life, background of Orton's partner Kenneth Halliwell, how Orton met him, his snide sense of self, and the particulars of his toxic personality. He also speaks about Orton's first getting into writing, his influence on 60s culture, and plenty more, it's in-depth and quite interesting. 

In the 28-min Archival Interview With Leonie Orton Remembering Her Brother Joe, Orton's youngest sibling recalls the four siblings growing up together in poverty, how he was her favorite and she his, and not realizing how groundbreaking Sloane was at the time she first saw it. She also gets into her brother's imprisonment, the controversy around the stage play Loot, and his relationship with Kenneth Halliwell, and how it fell apart and ended tragically, and what happened to Orton's his belongings after his murder. 

Then onto the 18-min Ortonesque – Screenwriter David McGillivray On The Lasting Influence Of Joe Orton, a look at the Lasting Influence of Orton, wherein McGillivray talks about first becoming aware of Orton with the scandalous stageplay Loot, and how his last play What the Butler Saw broke through into the mainstream, and but he was murdered before he saw it success. he also talks about how '"Ortonesque" was coined to group similar sort of works, and getting into authors, writers and entertainers who he feels were influenced by his style. he gives an appreciation of Clive Exton screenplay and direction of Hickox, noting the earlier TV adaptation in 1968, and differences between the stage play and the screenplay. 

the 22-min Act Of Character – Rosie White On The Inimitable Identities Of Beryl Reid, appreciation of Reid, her long career as a character actor, her preference for character actor work, her early career doing celebrity impersonations before developing her own comic characters, and a wonderful overview of her career on TV and in film, including her transgressive turn in Sloane. 

But wait, there's more! We get a 10-min Archival Locations Featurette With Richard Dacre, he visits the graveyard from the opening of the film, much changed, and other locations around the area. It's quite detailed with lots of history to accompany the sights. he also gets into the distinctive pink Pontiac Parisienne convertible, which has a celebrity pedigree, once belonging to Mickey Finn of glam-rockers T.Rex, who sold it to Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd. 

The last of the featurettes is the 10-min Threads Of Desire: Costuming And Sexuality In Entertaining Mr. Sloane – Video Essay By Costume Historian Elissa Rose, a well-stitched appreciation of the costuming seen in the film, offering a breakdown of the fashions, including the dandy dude look, the mono-kinis, the candy  pink Cadillac, that distinctive and of course that camel leather chauffeur outfit,,. the last of the extras is a 3-min Trailer.

The single-disc release arrives in a black keeepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork, a vintage movie poster design, featuring the original illustrated movie poster. This comes housed inside a very stylish and sharp-looking Side-Loading Rigid Slipcase, not unlike the slipcase used for their release of Scala!. the artwork for the slipcase featuring an artwork that looks to be based one of the original movie posters, a tasty phallic but of business with a spot-gloss elements. 

Special Features: 

- Audio Commentary With Film Historian Nathaniel Thompson And Orton Scholar Dr. Emma Parker

Archival Interview With Actor Peter McEnery (9:28) 

- All My Sloanes – 60 Years Of Joe Orton's Mr. Sloane, Featuring Malcolm McDowell And Maxwell Caulfield (27:36) 

- Archival Interview With John Lahr, Author Of Prick Up Your Ears: The Biography Of Joe Orton (45:00)

- Archival Interview With Leonie Orton Remembering Her Brother Joe (27:42) 

- Ortonesque – Screenwriter David McGillivray On The Lasting Influence Of Joe Orton (17:35) 

- Act Of Character – Rosie White On The Inimitable Identities Of Beryl Reid (22.29) 

- Archival Locations Featurette With Richard Dacre (10:14) 

- Threads Of Desire: Costuming And Sexuality In ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE – Video Essay By Costume Historian Elissa Rose (10:01) 

- Trailer (3:02) 

Screenshots: 

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IN MY SKIN (2002) (Severin Films 4K Ultra HD Review)

May 3, 2025, 9:43 am

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IN MY SKIN (2002) 

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 94 Minutes 34 Seconds 

Audio: French DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: Dolby Vision HDR 2160p Ultra HD Widescreen (1.85:1), 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)

Director: Marina de Van

Cast: Marina de Van, Laurent Lucas, Léa Drucker

In My Skin (2002) was the debut film by writer/director/star Marina de Van (Don't Look Back), which was part of the New French Extremity wave of films in the early '00s, but one that offered something just a bit more personal than it;s brethren, but no less visceral and disturbing. In it a young, attractive professional named Esther (de Van) horrifically wounds her lower leg on a piece of industrial equipment while wandering through he dark, which strangely she does not immediately notice or feel. Later while attending a party she notes the blood on her pant leg and the injury beneath,  taking herself to the hospital where she has the wound treated and stitched up. The physician (Adrian de Van) informs her that it will not heal well, and may require plastic surgery so it will not leave an unsightly scar, but Esther seems not to care about about any potential scarring. At home while inspecting her wound she starts to develop and unhealthy fascination with it, fingering her wound, and tasting the blood. The next day at work she finds her self alone in a supply closet and starts cutting into herself, creating new wounds, her unexplained behavior disturbing both her dutiful boyfriend Vincent (Laurent Lucas, Raw), who struggles to understand why she is doing this to herself, and her co-worker Sandrine (Léa Drucker, TV's War of the Worlds), who distances herself when Esther tells her nonchalantly confides in her that she's been mutilating herself at work . As her fascination with her wound continues she starts to become more solitary and secretive, continuing to take pleasure in the pain of her self-mutilation, which evolves into a disturbing sessions of self-cannibalism that had me squirming in my seat. 

One of the stellar sequences that stands out is a dinner engagement with her boss and clients, during which her left hand begins to act on it's own without her control, highlighting he growing dissociation between her brain and her body, eventually her forearm and hand detaching from her upper arm, and then she starts quietly stabbing at it and nibbling on bits of her own skin, seemingly without notice by those around her. It's a breathtaking and often jaw-dropping unraveling we witness, it gets under your skin while she is picking away at her wounds and eating her own bits of flesh, addicted to the taste of her flesh,. The film has the elements of Cronenbergian body-horror and the cracked-psyche of an early Polanski film, even now 20 years after I first saw it this slice of French extremity still makes me so queasy, and not because of the actual onscreen gore, unsettling though it may be, but the psychological implication of what she's doing to herself, it's unsettling on a much deeper level than viscera, it's the pathology of it all, and maybe the fact that I occasionally chew my own cuticles when I am nervous, and this makes me second guess my own mental health at times, and that's always a scary proposition.  

Audio/Video: In My Skin arrives on 4K Ultra HD from Severin Films in 2160p UHD widescreen (1.85:1) with Dolby Vision HDR color-grade, a brand new 4K restoration from the original camera negative, approved by cinematographer Pierre Barougier. This look fantastic, very filmic, grain is intact and well-managed, textures look terrific, especially those gruesome practical effects, the wound on her leg, moments of self-cannibalism, blood and bit of skin, the 4k presentation really comes across wonderfully, further enabling the deeply visceral imagery to penetrate your mind. The 2-disc set also includes a Blu-ray with a 1080p presentation that looks terrific as well, even without the deeper more nuances colors of the Dolby Vision. 

Audio on both the UHD and Blu-ray comes by way of French DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo and 5.1 surround with optional English subtitles. The tracks are clean and well balanced, he uncompressed audio does excellent work highlighting the disturbingly intimate sound design, the moments of her picking at her wounds, cutting herself, consuming herself, the sounds of teeth gnashing at bits of skin, it just gave me goosebumps.   

Onto the extras, starting off with disc one, the UHD, features two commentaries, the first is an  Archival Commentary By Writer/Director/Star Marina De Van, plus a second  brand new Audio Commentary By Film Critic/Fantasia International Film Festival Programmer Justine Smith. Acting as a third commentary of sorts is an Exclusive Faculty Of Horror Episode On In My Skin with Andrea Subissati And Alexandra West that plays over the film, this is only available on this release, at least for a limited time until they unleash it on their own feed. We also get the 2-min French Trailer and the U.S. Trailer. 

Disc two, the Blu-ray, features the film in HD plus the same extras as the UHD Disc, plus additional bonus content. 

First up is a 4-min Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women, as usual her enthusiasm for the film is a nice primer to watching the film. 

We also get a new 23-min Exposed Skin – Interview With Marina De Van, the very candid interview addresses how she spoke about the film today versus 20 years ago, and how the story is truer to her self than she would have admitted to when she made it, her belief that there is no freedom of will, some early trauma when she was eight, and the genesis of the film, and how completing the film stopped her from further acts of self-mutilating. She also gets into how she hates love stories, but gave her character a love interest for dramatic purposes to give her something to lose. 

Next up is the 21-mn Fear Of A Female Cannibal – Barbara Creed, Author Of The Monstrous-Feminine, On In My Skin. Creed addresses the new wave on horror directed by women, what attracts female directors to the genre, and how horror can be used to address social issues. The idea of "abjection", when the internal is made external, referencing various philosophers and writers including and the writing of author Julia Kristeva, classical mythology, and societal taboos, and discussing other subversive French Extremity films that deal with female cannibalism. 

Also new is the 17-min Under The Surface – Video Essay By Dr. Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Author Of 1000 Women In Horror, 1895-2018, offering a thoughtful dissection of the film, even examining the opening credits. We also get a pair of Marina De Van's Student Shorts by way of the 11-min Bien Sous Tous Rapports (1996), and the 16-min Retentiqon (1997), both of which are very much in line with the themes of the main feature. 

I also love that Severin have included a pair of of Short Films by other women directors that a wonderful complimentary viewing. First up is the 26-min A Exquis (2013) directed by Léa Mysius wherein a young woman finds a corpse floating in a pond on her property and decides to keep it for herself, plus the 24-min Fermenting Woman (2024) directed by Priscilla Galvez, starring former Much Music VJ Star Sook-Yin Lee, about a sous-chef worried her job is on the line, and prepares a meal meant to impress, using her own fermented menstrual blood. This short also features an Audio Commentary With Director Priscilla Galvez And Star Sook-Yin Lee. 

The 2-disc BD/UHD release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork. If you order direct from the Severin site also comes with Limited Edition Webstore Exclusive Horizontal Split Slipcase, which has a similar design to the House of Psychotic Women box sets, as this was originally intended to be part of the second volume of that box set series, and the design here is a nice nod to that. 

Special Features:

Disc 1: 4K Ultra HD: (Film + Special Features)

- Archival Audio Commentary By Writer/Director/Star Marina De Van

- New Audio Commentary By Film Critic/Fantasia International Film Festival Programmer Justine Smith

- Exclusive Faculty Of Horror Episode On In My Skin With Andrea Subissati And Alexandra West

- French Trailer (1:39) 

- U.S. Trailer (1:50) 

Disc 2: Blu-ray: (Film + Special Features)

- Introduction by Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women (3:48) 

- Archival Audio Commentary with  Writer/Director/Star Marina De Van

- New Audio Commentary By Film Critic/Fantasia International Film Festival Programmer Justine Smith

- Exclusive Faculty Of Horror Episode On In My Skin With Andrea Subissati And Alexandra West

- Exposed Skin – Interview With Marina De Van (23:00)

- Fear Of A Female Cannibal – Barbara Creed, Author Of The Monstrous-Feminine, On In My Skin (21:09) 

- U.S. Trailer (1:50) 

- French Trailer (1:39) 

Marina De Van's Student Shorts: Bien Sous Tous Rapports  (1996) (11:53), Retentiqon (1997)(15:35)

- Short Films: A Ezquis (Léa Mysius, 2013) (26:16), Fermenting Woman (Priscilla Galvez, 2024) (23:53) 

- Audio Commentary For A Fermenting Woman With Director Priscilla Galvez And Star Sook-Yin Lee

Screenshots: 

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THAT GUY DICK MILLER (2014) Dekanalog Blu-ray Screenshots

May 3, 2025, 12:05 pm

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THAT GUY DICK MILLER (2014)

Label: Dekanalog 

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 91 Minutes 21 Seconds 7

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1, 2.0 with optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78;1) 

Director: Elijah Drenner

Cast: Dick Miller, Lannie Miller, Roger Corman, Julie Corman, Joe Dante, Zach Galligan, William Sadler, Corey Feldman, Robert Forster and more

Dick Miller was the last of the great American character actors. Whether he was sharing the screen with Nicholson, DeNiro, Schwarzenegger or The Ramones, Dick has been stealing scenes since his screen debut in 1955. Every moviegoer knows his face, but few know his name and even fewer know his story - an aspiring writer turned accidental actor. Dekanalog is proud to present the 10th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-ray available for the first time in the U.S., loaded with special features and a special bonus film — “Starhops” (1978) — directed by Barbara Peters and featuring Dick Miller in a (what else?) scene stealing supporting role.

Special Features: 

- Region Free Blu-ray

- Audio Commentary with Director Elijah Drenner, Producer Lainie Miller and cinematographer Elle Schneider

- A selection of Dick’s home movies (11:46) 

- Theatrical Trailer (2:23)

- Outtakes (4:48) 

- Los Angeles Premiere Footage (48:36) 

- Special Bonus Film: “Starhops” (1978) Directed by Barbara Peters

- Brand new 2K transfer from the original uncut camera negative available for the first time on Blu-ray (81:49) 1080p HD Widescreen, English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

- Booklet essay by Caelum Vatnsdal, author of “You Don’t Know Me, But You Love Me: The Lives of Dick Miller”

- Introductions from Elijah Drenner and Lainie Miller

- English SDH subtitles

Screenshots from the Dekanlog Blu-ray: 

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THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009) Second Sight Films Blu-ray Review + Screenshot Comparison

May 4, 2025, 11:19 am

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THE HOUSE OF THE DEVIL (2009) 

Limited Edition Blu-ray 

Label: Second Sight Films 

Region Code: B

Rating: Cert. 18 

Duration: 95 Minutes 12 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1) 

Director: Ti West

Cast: Jocelin Donahue, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, AJ Bowen, Tom Noonan 

The House of the Devil (2009), directed by Ti West (Maxxxine), is a well-executed throwback to the terror titles of the 80s, set in 1983 we meets cash-strapped college student Samantha Hughes (Jocelin Donahue,Doctor Sleep), who after enduring being locked out of her dorm room overnight so her inconsiderate roommate can get laid, is desperate to find her own apartment. She finds a promising prospect via a sympathetic landlady (Dee Wallace, The Howling), but is desperate for money to pay the first month's rent and security deposit. To that end she spots an ad for a mysterious babysitting job on a campus job board and convinces her best friend Megan (Greta Gerwig, Baghead) to drive her out to the remote Victorian house. Arriving at the creepy house in the middle-of-nowhere she discovers her new employer Mr. Ullman (Tom Noonan,Manhunter) and his wife (Mary Woronov, Sugar Cookies) were less than truthful about the particulars of the babysitting gig, it's not for their kid, but for his elderly mother-in-law. Samantha rightfully has second thoughts about it, but when he offers to double her wage for the inconvenience and even throws in extras cash to order pizza on their dime, she agrees to stay. However, Mr. Ullman says her fried Megan cannot stay, and while Megan is wary of all of this she agrees to leave with intentions of picking up her friend after midnight. 

The Ullman's leave for their night, to witness the evening's  lunar eclipse which is alluded to throughout the film, and Samantha is left alone in the house with the elderly woman who is kept away in her third floor bedroom. As Samantha settles into the house for the night she begins exploring it, as babysitters are want to do, putting on her Sony Walkman headphones and dancing round the house to The Fixx's "One Things Leads To Another". As she explores the place she finds pictures that would seem to indicate that this is not actually the Ullman's home, that perhaps something sinister is afoot, and despite taking several phone calls attempting to reach her friend Megan and a former boyfriend, even dialing 911 at one point before hanging up, but she instead chooses to explore the strange sounds coming from the upper floor of the home with a butcher's knife she grabs from he kitchen. This leads to a surreal and pretty ferocious satanic hysteria as she realizes why she was really hired by the Ullman's this very night. 

The House of the Devil, as with a good number of Ti West's flicks, is a very measured and purposefully paced slow-burn, the early scenes introducing Samantha are drawn out, establishing her as a likable good girl whose looking for independence, and has financial instability, which makes her suspectable to making some poor decisions in regard to the suspicious activities of the Mr. and Mrs. Ullman, and the predicament she now finds herself in. It's a painstakingly crafted retro-pastiche of a flick, well thought-out, executed with precision, stylistically it's hitting all the right notes for the era beginning with the freeze-frame title card. The early 80's fashion and decor feels lived and accurate, as the 80s were my decade, it's when I went from single to double-digits, and as someone who lived it and was a pop-culture fan I just appreciated the authenticity of it. Also, the flick is super well cast, of course Noonan and Woronov are terrific as the creepy satanists, but also Jocelin Donahue and Greta Gerwig. That slow opening allows us to spend time with both, I love the scene of the two gals gabbing over pizza and cokes, both with retro feathered hairstyles, they're both charming, and it really makes you root for both of them, and it's a bit of a shock when Greta's character exits rather unceremoniously and ultra-violently.  

I will be getting into more spoilery territory here, so be warned reading ahead. I feel like the satanic panic-ness of it all is well-established, even at the time it was first released I was well-aware that there were satanic cult shenanigans afoot with this one, and knowing that did not and does not hinder my enjoyment of it. The first bit of violence comes rather unexpectedly, and it holds up. Megan alarmed that her friend is alone in a house with people who have lied to her decides to be a good friends, and while appearing to leave, pulls off on the side of the road nearby, perhaps to keep an eye her friend, She rolls down the window to have a smoke and is startled by the arrival of a stranger who strikes up a brief conversation before whipping out a handgun and blowing a hole in her face, like literally hollowing out her skull with a geyser of blood exploding onto the windshield Pulp Fiction style. Tis stranger then proceeds to get into the car, snatch the still lit cigarette from her hand and nonchalantly smoke it while disposing of the car. This same person later arrives at the house when Samantha orders pizza for delivery, using a phone number left by the Ullman's, so we know that he is in cahoots with the creepy older couple. It's while investigating the strange noises in the house that Samantha becomes woozy, suffering from the effects of the apparently drugged pizza, which she noticed tasted off at a certain point, passing out in the hallway floor and waking up to a Satanic panic nightmare, chained to the attic floor in the middle of a pentagram during the fullness of the lunar eclipse, surrounded by the Ullman's in cultist robes, and the pizza guy - who turns out to be their adult son Victor (A.J. Bowen, You're Next), and the "Mother", a witchy looking ghoul who cuts open her own wrist and draws satanic symbols on Samantha with her own blood, before pooling it into a goat's head skull and making Samantha drink her blood, ewww. I won't over-spoil the frenzied finale but it smacks of both Witchery and Rosemary's Baby, bringing this slice of satanic hysteria to a proper tone-perfect close, the tension building slow-burn paying off with a proper and bloody boil-over.

Audio/Video: The House of the Devil (2009) arrives in Blu-ray from Second Sight Films in 1080p HD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. Shot on 16mm film stock the mages has a thick layer grain, with textures that emulate the specific look of '80s horror flicks and TV movies. The HD transfer offers accurate color reproduction of director Ti West's intentions, it has that very early 80s specificity to that is total cinematic catnip for me. I could not find any verbiage about this being a new scan of the elements, so I think it's safe to assume this is the same HD master used for the 2008 Blu-ray, which checks out when comparing it to the 2009 Blu-ray from Dark Sky Films, there's a screenshot comparison at the bottom of the review. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA  5.1 with optional English subtitles. The track is clen and well-balanced, the taut sound design, dialogue and score sound terrific. The Jeff Grace score offers so wonderfully creepy piano and strings, and a main title by Mike Armstrong that sounds like The Cars jamming with John Carpenter on an creepy, alternate instrumental mix of "Moving in Stereo". 

As this was shot on film I am slightly disappointed that we did not get a 4K UHD release, but second Sight go a long way towards placating me with loads of new and archival extras. They carryover most the extras from the previous Dark Sky Films Blu-ray, these include  an Audio commentary with writer–director Ti West & actress Jocelin Donahue, plus a second Audio commentary with writer-director Ti West, producers Larry Fessenden & Peter Phok and sound designer Graham Reznick. Also licensed were the20-min In The House of the Devil, the 7-min Deleted Scenes, and a 2-min Trailer. The only thing not licensed is the 13-min Behind-the-Scenes, but I think that is represented on the second Sight release by a longer behind-the-scenes featurette that I believe incorporates that footage. 

New and exclusive extras start off with the 19-min The Right Vibe - a new interview with director Ti West, 17-min Satanic Panic - a new interview with actor Jocelin Donahue, the 24-min This Night Changes Everything: The Making of The House of the Devil, 26-min Slowing Down is Death - a new interview with actor AJ Bowen; 24-min A Level of Ambition - a new interview with producer Peter Phok, 28-min An Enduring Title - a new interview with Larry Fessenden, 14-min It All Feels Appropriate - a new interview with Director of Photography Eliot Rockett, 16-min Hiding the Seams - a new interview with composer Jeff Grace, and 25-min Writing Through Sound - a new interview with sound designer Graham Reznick. These are all terrific interviews, able to speak about the film in the contact of Wests larger filmography and the actors expanded careers, plenty of time has transpired and allows them to talk more insightful and honest recollections, discussing the casting process, West's vision for the film, and what it's like to collaborate with West. I quite enjoyed the conversation with Fessenden who speaks a lot about Glass Eye Pix, his first meeting West, and making his West's first film The Roost with him, and how Noonan ended-up in that film. 

The single-disc Blu-ray release arrives in an oversized charcoal grey keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork featuring new artwork by Nick Charge which appears very much to homage the theatrical artwork but also somehow makes it feel even more '80s. The keepcase is housed inside a Side-LoadingRigid Slipcase with more Nick Charge art, plus we get a 70-Page Illustrated Book with new essays by Martyn Conterio, Ariel Powers-Schaub, Jerome Reuter and Julieann Stipidis plus Behind the Scenes gallery, and cast and crew credits, and a selection of behind-the-scenes pictures. 

Getting into the booklet and the writing 'There's a Lot of Weirdos Out There' Satanic Panic in Suburbia by Jerome Reuter reflects on the era of Satanic hysteria and the influences that West channels here. Desperate For Money and Destined for Danger by Ariel Schaub compares the 2009 recession to the early 80's post-recession, the importance of living spaces in the film, and money as a motivator in the face of obvious threats, and how financial instability can cloud judgment What Awaits the Babysitter by Julieann Stipidis explores the urban legend of the babysitter in film, Curiosity Killed the Babysitter: The House of the Devil as Bluebeards Castle by Martyn Conterio, examines the film through the lens of the French tale of Blue Beard. This Limited Edition set also includes Six Collectors' Art Cards with more tasty Nick Charge artworks. 

Special Features: 

• Archival Audio Commentary with writer–director Ti West & actress Jocelin Donahue

• Archival Audio Commentary with writer-director Ti West, producers Larry Fessenden & Peter Phok and sound designer Graham Reznick

• NEW! The Right Vibe: Interview with director Ti West (19:00) 

• NEW! Satanic Panic: Interview with actor Jocelin Donahue (17:17)

• NEW! Slowing Down is Death: Interview with actor AJ Bowen (25:40) 

• NEW! A Level of Ambition: Interview with producer Peter Phok (23:44)

• NEW! An Enduring Title: Interview with Larry Fessenden (27:48)

• NEW! It All Feels Appropriate: Interview with Director of Photography Eliot Rockett (13:32) 

• NEW! Hiding the Seams: Interview with composer Jeff Grace (15:35) 

• NEW! Writing Through Sound: Interview with sound designer Graham Reznick (24:42) 

• This Night Changes Everything: Archival Making of The House of the Devil (24:16) 

• Archival In The House of the Devil (20:23) 

• Deleted Scenes (6:41) 

• Trailer (2:07) 

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by Nick Charge

• 70-page book with new essays by Martyn Conterio, Ariel Powers-Schaub, Jerome Reuter and Julieann Stipidis plus Behind the Scenes gallery.

• Six collectors' art cards

Screenshots from the Second Sight Films Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

Screenshot Comparison:

Top: Dark Sky Films Blu-ray (2009):

Bottom: Second Sight Films Blu-ray (2025)

Buy it direct from Second Sight!

Limited Edition Blu-ray: https://bit.ly/HouseoftheDevilLtd 

Standard Edition Blu-ray: https://bit.ly/HouseoftheDevilBlu 

THE COFFEE TABLE (2022) Second Sight Films Limited Edition Blu-ray Review

May 4, 2025, 4:58 pm

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THE COFFEE TABLE (2022) 

Limited Edition Blu-ray

Label: Second Sight Films 

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Cert. 18

Duration: 89 Minutes 48 Seconds 

Audio: Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1) 

Director: Caye Casas

Cast: David Pareja, Estefanía de los Santos

Spanish film The Coffee Table (2022) aka La mesita del comedor, is directed by Caye Casas (Killing God). it starts off with married couple Jesus (David Pareja,) and Maria (Estefanía de los Santo) going through a rough patch after the birth of their son, as evidenced by the opening scene here they are discussing the purchase of a particular coffee table at a furniture store. Jesus seems very much persuaded by the pitch of the salesman (Eduardo Antuña), while his wife is not. This starts a small heated discussion about how she gets to decide everything, even naming their son Cayetano, who was apparently named after Maria's fascist bullfighter grandfather. In the end Jesus ends up purchasing the peculiar piece of furniture, against his wife's wishes, to more or less assert his male masculinity in the relationship. Struggling to carry the boxed coffee table to their upper floor apartment we meet some of the couple's neighbors, including the the apartment supers 13 year-old daughter Ruth (Gala Flores) who has a seriously obsessive  crush on the much older man, who seems to be willing to accuse him of being a pedophile unless he admits he loves her. This seems like something that will definitely comes back to bite him in the ass, but he evades her and closes the door finally, and then sets about assembling his newly purchased coffee table. While doing so he discovers that he is missing one of the screws to properly secure the furnishing's glass pane, and must set aside completing it until the furniture store salesman brings the missing piece.  His wife reminds him that his brother Carlos (Josep Maria Riera) and his girlfriend Cristina (Claudia Riera), and that she needs to run tot he store to pick-up dinner and drinks, leaving him alone with the baby, seemingly for the first time. While he is alone caring for the infant the unthinkable happens... I won't spoil it, but it's absolutely horrific, I was gob-smacked by it, and i think it's best to go into this one completely cold. 

What follows is a terrifically tense bit of filmmaking, claustrophobically shot in the small confines of the apartment, with Jesus trying to avoid discovery of what has occurred, all the while wracked by deep guilt, the mounting pressure of when, not if, what happened while he was alone with the child is revealed, to not just his wife, but his brother and his companion as well. The film is stylishly shot and exquisitely acted, imbued with a pitch black sense of humor that is only outmatched by the searing existential dread the new father is experiencing in the wake of a horrific event, doomed by the destiny triggered by his purchase of a simple, and frankly quite tacky, living room furnishing. 

Just based on the title alone I had gone into this with a certain expectation, expecting something along the lines of Death Bed - The Bed That Eats, The Mangler, The Lift, or Amityville Dollhouse, some sort of cursed object, but I am peased to say this offered something quite unexpected, and very, very dark. It's actually quite a simple and direct set-up, but the sheer amount of soul-shredding melodrama and character interplay really makes for an enthralling watch, the strained relationship is key and for their part, Pareja and de los Santo nail it. As a father and someone who has had moments when my relationship was strained by a bad choice I found it super relatable, which made the dark humor that much more effective, and the soul-shredding horror of it all even more terrifying. I found this every bit as uncomfortable a watch as something like In My Skin which I also reviewed recently, but then it has this really pitch black sense of humor as well, and I think this mix might prove difficult for some viewers, particularly as a young infant is right at the heart of it all, but for me and my weird tastes, I thought this was a stunning watch that went to some seriously places that I would have never expected.   

Audio/Video: The Coffee Table (2022) gets a region-free Blu-ray from Second Sight Films, presented in 1080p HD framed in 2.39:1 widescreen. The digital shot film looks terrific, sharp and detailed, colors look solid throughout, skin tones are natural, and black levels are solid. It's a well-authored disc without any compression issues ro banding, very solid. Audio comes by way of Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1 with optional English subtitles. The Spanish dialogue is always intelligible, the score sounds great, a the sound design, including some grotesque sounds during the dinner sequences that accentuate the growing guilt of Jesus, and later anguished cries, all fare quite well in the mix. 

The well-stocked release has loads of extras, starting off with an Audio Commentary by Zoë Rose Smith and Amber T. then onto a series of interviews, these include the 23-min  

What Scares Us the Most: Interview with director Caye Casas; the 15-min A Sensory Journey: Interview with actor David Pareja; 12-min We Are All Nuts: Interview with actor Estefanía de los Santos; and the 11-min Natural Oppression: Interview with director of photography Alberto Morago. We also get the 20-min video essay Postpartum: Rebecca Sayce on The Coffee Table; and a pair of Caye Casas Short Films: the 16-min RIP and the 16-min Nada S.A. 

The single-disc Blu-ray release arrives in an oversized charcoal grey keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork by artist Luke Headland - its very minimalist but it does capture the anguish of the film quite nicely. The keepcase is housed inside a Side-Loading Rigid Slipcase with more the same artwork, plus we get a massive 120-Page Illustrated Book with new essays by Anton Bitel, Jennie Kermode, Joe Lipsett, Shelagh Rowan-Legg Josh Slater-Williams and Dolores Quintana, cast and crew information, and storyboard comparisons. This Limited Edition set also includes Six Collectors' Art Cards featuring the art of Luke Headland. 

Special Features:

• NEW! Audio Commentary by Zoë Rose Smith and Amber T

• NEW! What Scares Us the Most: Interview with director Caye Casas (23:07) 

• NEW! A Sensory Journey: Interview with actor David Pareja (15:21) 

• NEW! We Are All Nuts: Interview with actor Estefanía de los Santos (12:33) 

• NEW! Natural Oppression: Interview with director of photography Alberto Morago (11:22)

• Postpartum: Rebecca Sayce on The Coffee Table ,(19:33) 

• Caye Casas Short Films: RIP (16:12) and Nada S.A (16:06) 

Limited Edition Contents

• Rigid Slipcase with new artwork by Luke Headland

• 120-page book with new essays by Anton Bitel, Jennie Kermode, Joe Lipsett, Shelagh Rowan-Legg Josh Slater-Williams and Dolores Quintana plus storyboard comparisons.

• Six collectors' Art Cards

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Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment Announces Lethal Weapon on 4K UHD on June 24

May 6, 2025, 10:44 am

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LETHAL WEAPON

FROM DIRECTOR RICHARD DONNER, THE ACTION THRILLER FILM STARRING MEL GIBSON AND DANNY GLOVER WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4K RESOLUTION WITH HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE (HDR)

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL AND 4K UHD DISC ON JUNE 24, 2025

Lethal Weapon, the 1987 action thriller film from director Richard Donner and starring Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, will be available for purchase Digitally in 4K Ultra HD and on 4K UHD Blu-ray Disc on June 24.

The box office hit was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound and spawned a franchise that includes three sequels and a television series.

The Digital and 4K UHD disc release includes both the 1987 theatrical version of the film and the 2000 Director’s Cut which features an additional 7 minutes of footage not seen in theaters.

Directed by Donner (Superman), the film stars Gibson (Braveheart) as Detective Martins Riggs and Glover (Predator) as Detective Roger Murtaugh, along with Gary Busey (Point Break).  The film was written by Shane Black and was produced by Donner and Joel Silver and Silver Pictures.

Lethal Weapon will be available to purchase on Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc online and in-store at major retailers and available for purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Fandango at Home and more.

Mel Gibson stars as a one-man killing machine, a Los Angeles policeman who recently lost his wife and has been acting increasingly unstable. Danny Glover plays a by-the-book homicide detective with an impeccable record and a loving family. Now the two are stuck with each other as partners, investigating a suicide that leads to an international crime ring and ever-increasing danger in this blockbuster action thriller.

Lethal Weapon Digital release and Ultra HD Blu-ray disc contains the following new special features:

·   A Legacy of Inspiration: Remembering Richard Donner

·   “I’m Too Old for This…”

Lethal Weapon

Ultra HD Blu-ray Languages: English, Spanish, Parisian French

Ultra HD Blu-ray Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Parisian French

Theatrical Version Run Time: 110 minutes

Director’s Cut Run Time: 117 Minutes

Rating: R for strong violence, strong language, brief drug use, and some nudity

Digital Street Date: June 24, 2025

Physical Street Date: June 24, 2025

THE BECOMERS (2023) Dark Star Pictures Blu-ray Screenshots

May 6, 2025, 6:04 pm

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THE BECOMERS (2023) 

Label: Dark Star Pictures 

Region Code: A

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 86 Minutes 46 Minutes 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35:1) 

Director: Zach Clark

Cast: Russell Mael, Molly Plunk, Isabel Alamin, Keith Kelly, Mike Lopez, Frank V. Ross

Proving love is indeed the strangest force in the universe, Zach Clark’s oddball romance follows a pair of body-snatching aliens across America as they try to find both their place within this odd world and each other. Featuring narration by Sparks legend Russell Mael, this freewheeling science-fiction comedy is filled lo-fi effects and the heartfelt, emotionally astute exploration of what it means to find your own kind. For those familiar with Clark’s oeuvre THE BECOMERS is a smart addition; for the uninitiated, THE BECOMERS begs a deep dive into the filmography. A truly one-of-a-kind film that’ll make you feel closer to everyone in the cinema by the end.

Special features; 

- Audio commentary with Zach Clark and composer Fritz Myers, moderated by filmmaker Kit Zauhar

- Deleted Scenes (2:11) 

- "Happy Birthday" Short Film (1:02) 

- Isolated Music Audio Track (Dolby Ditital 2.0) 

- Trailers: Midnight Peepshow (1:31), Do Not Disturb (1:25), The Elderly, Property (1:42) 

- 16-Page Illustrated Booklet with writing on the film by  Justine Smith

Screenshots from the Dark Star Pictures Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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THEY CALL ME MACHO WOMAN (1989) Vinegar Syndrome Archive Blu-ray Screenshots

May 8, 2025, 8:09 pm

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THEY CALL ME MACHO WOMAN (1989) 

Label: Vinegar Syndrome Archive

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 82 Minutes 10 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 1.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Patrick G. Donahue

Cast: Debra Sweaney, Brian Oldfield, Sean P. Donahue, Mike Donahue, Jerry Johnson

This slipcase edition (designed by Robert Sammelin) is strictly limited to 4,000 units and may (but probably not) be followed by a standard edition in the future.

Susan Morris thought she could find peace and quiet by escaping the city and moving to a secluded country town. Unfortunately, she’s picked the wrong day to go house-hunting as she and her mousey real estate agent stumble on a big-money backwoods drug dealing scheme led by the vicious Mongo and his crude gang of inbred thugs. But, when the hillbillies take Susan hostage, they quickly realize they’ve got trouble on their hands and that the pretty, blonde city girl they’ve tied up is in fact a highly trained killing machine!

An expectedly over-the-top stunt spectacle from Northern California auteur Patrick G. Donahue (Kill Squad), whose entire family produced an unbelievable series of one-of-a-kind exploitation classics, THEY CALL ME MACHO WOMAN (originally titled The Edge of Fear) was picked up for distribution by the legendary Troma Entertainment, who have helped cement its legacy as one of the most insane action films in their catalog. Loaded with death-defying stunt work, fast and dangerous car chases, bloody kills, and jaw-droppingly bizarre dialogue, Vinegar Syndrome Archive is excited to offer the world Blu-ray debut of THEY CALL ME MACHO WOMAN, newly restored in 2K from its 35mm camera negative and featuring an ass-kicking assortment of extras.

Special Features; 

- Newly scanned & restored in 2K from its 35mm original camera negative

- Commentary track with William Morris & John Dickson of The Oscarbate Film Collective & Podcast

- "Shoot Her!" - an interview with cinematographer Mike Pierce (17:07) 

- "They Call Me Uncle Lloyd" - an interview with Troma President Lloyd Kaufman (8:24) 

- Original Video Trailer (3:30) 

- 18-Page Illustrated Booklet with an essay by film historian and author W. Richard Benash

- Reversible Wrap 

- Limited Edition Slipcase adesigned by Robert Sammelin

Screenshots from the Vinegar Syndrome Archive Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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TUNNEL VISION (1976) MVD Rewind Collection Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

May 9, 2025, 5:16 am

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 TUNNEL VISION (1976) 

Label: MVD Rewind Collection 

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 68 Minutes 

Audio: English PCM 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1), 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.33:1) 

Director: Brad Swirnoff, Neal Israel

Cast: Chevy Chase, Howard Hesseman, John Candy, Lynne Marie Stewart, Ron Silver

The comedy-anthology film Tunnel Vision (1976) is co-directed by Neal Israel (Bachelor Party) and Bradley R. Swirnoff (Prime Time), while made in '76 it's set in the near-future of 1985 where a new television channel called "TunnelVision", is free of censorship and has become incredibly popular, so much so that a Congressional Oversight Committee hearing has been organized by a Senator McMannus (Howard Hesseman, TV's WKRP in Cincinnati), because of it's perceived negative effects on the population, including increased murder rates, and basically creating a nation of shut-in who just stay home all day and binge-watch the network's wild programming. During the hearing the committee grills he network's CEO Mr. Broder (Phil Proctor, Cracking up) while playing a random selection of programming which includes shows, programs, commercials, and news programs that have aired on the channel. The senate hearing is the wraparound of this anthology, and the main feature are the clips being played. 

The idea is that the programs are supposed to be a prediction of what television we would be like in the 1980s, and predictably and perhaps not wrongly, they assume that TV programming and pop-culture would be, well, a lot dumber, racist, and sexist. We get commercials for a mail-order proctology school, and a pill that imbues you with the knowledge of a book without actually having to read it, plus a ridiculous PSA with SNL's Chevy Chase as himself, and an on-going gag about a mayoral race that satirizes the two political parties. We also get TV programming like the gameshow "Remember When" wherein contestants must answer deeply personal and embarrassing questions under threat of electric shocks, one of them being Joe Flaherty of SCTV in a dress, the "Young Peoples After School Press Conference", a children's show hosted by Henry Kissinger (Roger Bowen, M*A*S*H) and a dirty version of Kermit the Frog, a bumper for a Charles Manson starring show called Charlie's Girls, the action-cop show "Get Head!" whose star is a disembodied head, this one featuring John Candy (SCTV), the Candid Camera knock-off "Secret Camera" sponsored by the CIA, and a parody of All In The Family called "Ramon and Sonja": about a gypsy family who hurl non-stop racial and ethnic slurs, featuring SNL's Lorraine Newman. There's also a Mary Tyler Moore" styled single-girl sitcom parody called "Marie", the titular character played by Lynne Marie Stewart (American Graffiti) who is dating a character played by  Gerrit Graham (Phantom of the Paradise). Also included are a trailer for the high-concept comedy film "The Pregnant Man", sort of a precursor to Twins. 

Honestly, the humor here has not dated all that well, there's an overabundance and overreliance on stereotypes, misogyny, and racial humor, it punches down a lot of the time, and the parody and social commentary is not all that sharp or particularly witty in my opinion. That sad, I didn't hate this, I was born in the 70's and grew up in the 80's and for better or worse I do have a soft spot for this non-PC humor of the era, its part of my formative DNA, and I chuckled a fair amount, and laughed way too hard at the morning show film critic parody featuring "Gene Scallion", a riff on the mustached film critic Gene Shallot that I grew up with. While the humor has not dated all that well, some of it totally cringe in hindsight, just as an early peek at future stars like SCTV's John Candy, Doug Steckler, and Joe Flaherty, and SNL's slum Chevy Chase and Lorraine Newman, I found this worth a watch, and sort of fuzzily nostalgic viewing. It certainly doesn't hit the heights of comedy anthologies like Kentucky Fried Movie or Amazon Women on the Moon, but if you like that sort of sketch comedy, and stuff like SNL, SCTV and other lesser sketch comedy anthologies like The Groove Tube this 70's comic relic is still plenty entertaining. 

Audio/Video: Tunnel Vision (1976) makes its Blu-ray debut from MVD Rewind Collection in 1080p HD widescreen, with he option to view in both 1.33:1 fullscreen or 1.66:1 widescreen, sourced from a brand new 4K scan. The film looks pretty solid in HD, grain is present an well managed, grain structures are intact, and colors are well-saturated. Some of the content was filmed on video taps and transferred to film, so they look less stellar than those shot on film, but that is true to the source limitations. Audio comes by way of English PCM 2.0 stereo with optional English subtitles. The track is clean and well-balanced, no issues with age-related wear that I cold detect.  

Extras include a new Audio Commentary from Cult Film Historian Marc Edward Heuck; a new 45-in Interview with Co-Writer & Co-Director Neal Israel conducted by Stuart Shapiro; 8-min Tunnel Vision Continuity Script; 3-min Archival Photo Gallery; 4-min New Photo Gallery; 5-min of Radio Spots; a 3-min Theatrical Trailer and and 10-min of MVD Rewind Collection Trailers.

The single-disc Blu-ray arrives in a clear keepcase with a Reversible Wrap featuring a pair of vintage movie poster artwork, the first-pressing includes a Limited Edition Slipcover with the usual MVD Rewind Collection embellishment of faux-wear, VHS rental stickers, which always looks cool. inside in a Fold-Out Mini-Poster with he same artwork as the a-side wrap. 

Special Features: 

- New Feature Audio Commentary from Cult Film Historian Marc Edward Heuck

- New Interview with Co-Writer & Co-Director Neal Israel conducted by Stuart Shapiro (45:07) HD 

- Tunnel Vision Continuity Script (8:25) 

- Archival Photo Gallery (2:55) )

- New Photo Gallery (3:50) 

- Radio Spots (5:12) 

- Theatrical Trailer (2:56)

- MVD Rewind Collection Trailers: Mondo New York (1:23), The Linguine Incident(2:18),Ghoulies (1:55), Cheerleaders Wild Weekend (2:17), Terminus (1:26)

- Reversible Artwork

- Collectible Mini-Poster

- Limited Edition Slipcover (First Pressing Only)

Screenshots from the MVD Rewind Collection Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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THREE THE HARD WAY (1974) Warner Archive Blu-ray Screenshots

May 9, 2025, 5:39 pm

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THREE THE HARD WAY (1974) 

Label: Warner Archive 

Region Code: Region-Free 

Duration: 96 Minutes 47 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1)

Director: Gordon Parks Jr.

Cast: Jim Brown, Fred Williamson, Jim Kelly

At the height of their big-screen popularity, three 1970s superstars head the cast of the action-thriller THREE THE HARD WAY. Directed with style and panache by Gordon Parks, Jr., the film stars Jim Brown, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly as a unit out to stop a secret white supremacist organization that plans to contaminate the water supplies of Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington D.C. with a substance that is a lethal poison only to the Black population. Long only seen in an edited 89 minute version, this new Blu-ray presentation restores the film to its original theatrical version.

Audio/Video: REVIEW COMING SOON! 

Special Features: 

- Original Theatrical Trailer (3:05) 

Screenshots from the Warner Archive Blu-ray:

Extras: 

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THE NAKED WITCH (1969) AKA THE WITCHMAKER (VCI Entertainment Blu-ray Review + Screenshots)

May 10, 2025, 11:28 am

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THE NAKED WITCH (1969)

aka THE WITCHMAKER 

Label: VCI Entertainment 

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: R

Duration: 98 Minutes 28 Seconds 

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (2.35,:1) 

Director: William O. Brown

Cast: Anthony Eisley, Thordis Brandt, Alvy Moore, Shelby Grant, Tony Benson, Robyn Millan, Warrene Ott, Helene Winston, Burt Mustin, Rudy Haydel

The Naked Witch aka The Witchmaker (1969), directed by William O. brown, opens with a scantily clad young woman swimming in the dirty waters of the Louisiana Bayou when she is attacked by the hulking Luther the Berserk (John Lodge, In Like Flint), a swamp-dwelling warlock who looks like Solomon Grundy. He paints an ankh symbol in blood on her abdomen and then cut her throat, bloodletting her. Not long after Dr. Ralph Hayes (Alvey Moore, A Boy and Hos Dog) a paranormal researcher from the nearby university arrives in the area to research psychic phenomena and the areas mythological past,in tow with him is a reporter named Victor (Antony Isley, The Wasp Woman ) who is there to research the recent spate of murdered women, and four student research assistants; these include the psychic-sensitive Anastasia (Thordis Brandt, In Like Flint), Maggie (Shelby Grant, Our Man Flint), Sharon (Robyn Millan, Murph the Surf), and Owen (Tony Benson, Bye Bye Birdie) seduced and killed by Anastacia, who are brought into the remote swamp via local boatman (Burt Mustin, The Ghost and Mr. Chicken) and dropped off at a remote rental cabin to conduct their research. On the way out the fact that there gave been a series of ritualistic murders of women in the area, and how some suspect that witches still inhabit the deep swamp. 

Meanwhile, Luthor summons his coven's leader Jesse (Helene Winston, The Killing Kind) an old hag witch, and through a blood ritual she is transformed from an old gag into a rather sexy spellcaster, now embodied by actress Warrene Ott (The Undertaker and His Pals). When Luthor and Jesse discover that sexy blonde Anastasia is a psychic-sensitive they set out to induct her into the coven, but to do so more blood will need to be spilled. 

Towards the end of the film Luthor summons the rest of the coven to induct Anastasia to witness her signing her soul into the book of the devil. It's a colorful cast of witches and warlocks from around the world, these include Felicity Johnson (Sue Bernard), San Blas (Howard Viet), Goody Hale (Nancy Crawford, The Thrill Killers), the Hag of Devon (Patricia Wymer, The Babysitter), Warlock Le Singe (Del Kaye), El-ah Hishmach, Nautch of Tangier (pin-up model Diane Webber, The Trial of Billy Jack), Marta of Amsterdam (Carla Rhodimer), Amos Coffin (horror host Larry Vincent, Doctor Death), and Fong Qual (Gwen Lipscomb).

The regional horror flick has plenty going for it, terrific looking bayou locations with mangrove swamps and sweeping moss trees, fog-shrouded forests, and a bevy of sexy women, who somewhat frustrating are nude but hilariously their naughty bits are obscured through Austin Powers-esque objects and trees, are cupped by the women themselves as they run through the swamps. Eagle-eyed viewers will catch a brief glimpse of Thordis Brandt nude in the final sequence of the film, so keep that pause button ready you perverts. 

The film is quite well directed by writer/director William O. Brown who only directed one other film, the Hawaii set crime-thriller One Way Wahine (1965), which I have not seen. But his work, and that of cinematographer Jams Crabe (Night Shift) are solid, the film is moody and atmospheric, making great use of the swampy locales, with eerily lit witchy rituals and murder. We also get a creepy and effectively spooky score by Jaime Mendoza-Nava (The Creature from Black Lake, Mausoleum). The slowest parts of the flick are the dialogue exchanges between the pipe-smoking Dr. Hayes and skeptical reporter Victor, there's a ton of them and they without fail grind it to a halt. Thankfully it gets much more exciting as the frenzied finale that is meant to be a twist but seems rather silly to me. If you like witchy Satan-worship flicks like The City of the Dead, Enter the Devil, The Devil's Rain, The Brotherhood of Satan and Race with he Devil this is probably gonna be an entertaining romp, it's not perfect, but even with the pacing issues it has more than enough going for it for me to give it an easy recommend. 

Audio/Video: The Naked Witch (1969) arrives n region-free Blu-ray from VCI Entertainment in 1080p HD framed in 2.35:1 widescreen. This is advertised as  being "restored from a 4K-UHD scan of a 35mm print, grind-house style", and sure enough, it looks its. The source is certainly not restoration perfection, marred by speckling, and numerous vertical green and blue emulsion scratches, but generally colors look very good, and black are solid if a bit green at times. It's a rough looking print that nicely captures the grindhouse vibes of seeing a beat-up print at a flea-pit cinema or drive-in. Audio comes by way of lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 dua-mono with optional English subtitles, the track is completely adequete but limited by the source and some minor age-related wear, but never to the point of distraction.  

Extras start off with a pretty fantastic Audio Commentary by Robert Kelly, who offers a walth of details about the film, from alternate titles to confusion about producers Claude Alexander's involvement in the film, having directed a n earlier film called The Naked Witch, before getting into the background of the cast and crew, and composer Jaime Mendoza-Nava. We also get the 4-min 1960’S Horror: A Decade of Innovation and Fear, which is really just a poster gallery of notable horror films with some seemingly A.I. narration. We also get the 1-min Restored Original Theatrical, 1-min of TV Spots, and a couple of Radio Spots.

The film was previously issues on Blu-ray by the now defunct Code Red DVD, and while I have not seen it to judge video/audio quality I know that the extras for that include  an Audio Commentary with producer L.Q. Jones and director of photography John Morrill, as well as a Interview with L.Q. Jones, so if you;re  fan you might want to seek that release out. 

The 2-disc Blu-ray/DVD release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided sleeve of artwork that is truly horrendous, a photoshop nightmare that, it is seriously ugly, and is certainly not one of VCI's better looking designs. This is a film that has a couple of cool looking illustrated movie posters, at least under the alternate title The Witchmaker. This just looks like a bad bootleg artwork. Do better VCI. 

Special Features: 

- Audio Commentary by Robert Kelly, artist, reviewer and film buff extraordinaire!

-  1960’S Horror: A Decade of Innovation and Fear: Poster gallery of other notable horror films of the 1960's (4:05)

- Restored original Theatrical Trailer (1:13),

- TV Spot (1:00)

- Radio Spots (0:44) 

Screenshots from VCI Ent. Blu-ray: 

  

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SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS (1989) Cauldron Films Blu-ray Screenshots

May 10, 2025, 5:34 pm

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SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 82 Minutes 48 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Lucio Fulci 

Cast: Jean-Christophe Brétignière, Cinzia Monreale, Lubka Lenzi

A wealthy couple in a mansion are brutally murdered, leaving their two young children in the care of their aunt and uncle. The distraught kids seek to communicate with the ghosts of their parents, but they aren't the only spirits in the building. Chaos ensues as the confused aunt and uncle try to sell the property, prompting the dead to clearly make their desires known.

Sitting somewhere between a ghostly episode of Goosebumps and your tried-and-true gory Italian horror film, The Sweet House of Horrors is directed by Lucio Fulci (The Beyond) and stars Cinzia Monreale (Beyond the Darkness), Jean-Christophe Brétignière (Rats: Night of Terror), Lino Salemme (Demons), Franco Diogene (Midnight Express), Vernon Dobtcheff (Day of the Jackal), Ilary Blasi, and Giuliano Gensini with soundtrack by Vince Tempera (The Paganini Horror)

Cauldron Films is pleased to present Lucio Fulci's The Sweet House of Horrors restored from the original negative and loaded with extras!

Audio/Video: REVIEW COMING SOON! 

Special Features: 

- 2K restoration / 1080p presentation

- English 2.0 mono

- Optional English SDH subtitles

- Italian 2.0 mono w/ English subtitles

- Fulci House of Horrors: Interview with set designer Massimo Antonello Geleng (16:43) 

- Sweet Muse of Horrors: Interview with actress Cinzia Monreale (28:55) 

- Editing for the masters: Interview with editor Alberto Moriani (18:06) 

- Archival interview with Gigliola Battaglini (3:05) 

- Archival Intro with Cinzia Monreale (0:48) 

- Archival interview with Cinzia Monreale (6:49) 

- Archival interview with Jean-Christophe Brétigniere (3:49) 

- Archival interview with Lino Salemme (10:56) 

- Archival interview with Pascal Persiano (3:46) 

- Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth

- Front cover artwork by Matthew Therrien

- Promo (4:40) 

- Cast Audition Tapes (1:11:26)

Screenshots from the Cauldron Films Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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THE HOUSE OF CLOCKS (1989) Cauldron Films Blu-ray Screenshots

May 11, 2025, 8:04 am

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THE HOUSE OF CLOCKS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating:  Unrated 

Duration: 83 Minutes 36 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Lucio Fulci 

Cast: Al Cliver, Keith Van Hoven, Karina Huff

Three young thieves looking for a big score set their sights on the most lavish house they can find. Little do they know that this house and its inhabitants have murderous impulses of their own. Will they make it out alive? Only time will tell...

This bloody and violent tale of time and revenge is directed by Lucio Fulci (Zombie) and stars Keith Van Hoven (Black Demons), Karina Huff (The Black Cat), Paolo Paoloni (Cannibal Holocaust), Carla Cassola (The Sect), Bettine Milne (The Avengers TV series) and Al Cliver (The Beyond) with soundtrack by Vince Tempera (The Psychic)

Cauldron Films is pleased to present Lucio Fulci's The House of Clocks restored from the original negative and loaded with extras!

Audio/Video: REVIEW COMING SOON!

Special Features: 

- 2K restoration / 1080p presentation

- English 2.0 mono

- Optional English SDH subtitles

- Italian 2.0 mono w/ English subtitles

- Lighting the House of Time: An interview with cinematographer Nino Celeste (24:45) 

- Time and Music: An interview with composer Vince Tempera (28:27) 

- Working with a Master: An interview with 1st AD Michele De Angelis (23:57) 

- Time with Fulci: An interview with FX artist Elio Terribili (19:19) 

- Archival interview with Paolo Paoloni (5:28) 

- Archival interview with Carla Cassola (9:32) 

- Archival interview with Al Cliver (1:33) 

- Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth

- Front cover artwork by Matthew Therrien

- Promo (4:42) 

Sales Points

- US Blu-Ray Debut of all Four Houses of Doom Titles

- For Fans of Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi

- For Fans of Italian Horror

Screenshots from the Cauldron Films Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS (1989) Cauldron Films Blu-ray Screenshots

May 11, 2025, 1:46 pm

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THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 87 Minutes 27 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Umberto Lenzi 

Cast: Joseph Alan Johnson, Stefania Orsola Garello, Hal Yamanouchi

A group of young geologists get stranded in a dilapidated old hotel when their path home is washed out by the rain. This proves to be a wrong turn as the hotel comes alive with the vengeful spirits of the dead, hell-bent on taking their head chopping revenge upon the living. No one is safe in The House of Lost Souls!

Directed by Umberto Lenzi, this bloody haunted house of horrors is full of atmosphere, skeletons, tarantulas, fire, slashers, killer washing machines, demonic forces, decapitations and more! Stars Joseph Alan Johnson (Iced), Stefania Orsola Garello (King Arthur), Matteo Gazzolo (Body Puzzle), Laurentina Guidotti (Spectres), Hal Yamanouchi (Off Balance), and Charles Borromel (Absurd) with soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti (Goblin).

Cauldron Films is pleased to present Umberto Lenzi's The House of Lost Souls restored from the original negative and loaded with extras!

Audio/Video: REVIEW COMING SOON!

Special Features: 

- Working with Umberto: Interview with FX artist Elio Terribili (18.37)

- The House of Rock: Interview with composer Claudio Simonetti (14:22)

- The Criminal Cinema of Umberto Lenzi: Career spanning interview from 2001 (52:14) 

- Audio Commentary by Samm Deighan

- Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith

- Front cover artwork by Matthew Therrien

Sales Points

- For Fans of Italian Horror

- For Fans of Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi

- US Blu-Ray Debut of all Four Houses of Doom Titles

Screenshots from the Cauldron Films Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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THE HOUSE OF WITCHCRAFT (1989) Cauldron Films Blu-ray Screenshots

May 11, 2025, 3:13 pm

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THE HOUSE OF WITCHCRAFT (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films
Region Code: Region-Free
Rating: Unrated 
Duration: 89 Minutes 35 Seconds 
Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 
Director: Umberto Lenzi 
Cast: Andy J. Forest, Sonia Petrovna, Susanna Martinková

An over-worked journalist recovering from a breakdown has been suffering from nightmares. To help ease his struggles, his wife takes him to an idyllic country home for the weekend. Nightmares soon turn to reality as the dark truth about the house threatens to undo all who dare stay the night.

Featuring haunting imagery, ghosts, twisted mysteries, and a knife wielding witch, The House of Witchcraft is directed by Umberto Lenzi (Nightmare City) and stars Andy J. Forest (Lambada), Sonia Petrovna (Indian Summer), Marina Giulia Cavalli (Alien from the Deep), Maria Stella Musy (Frivolous Lola), and Maria Cumani Quasimodo (The Commander) with soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti (Goblin)

Cauldron Films is pleased to present Umberto Lenzi's The House of Witchcraft restored from the original negative and loaded with extras!

Audio/Video: REVIEW COMING SOON! 

Special Features: 

- Artisan of Mayhem: Interview with FX artist Elio Terribili (19:26) 

- The House of Professionals: Interview with cinematographer Nino Celeste (18:36) 

- Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth

- 2K restoration / 1080p presentation

- Front cover artwork by Matthew Therrien

Sales Points

- US Blu-Ray Debut of all Four Houses of Doom Titles

- For Fans of Italian Horror

- For Fans of Lucio Fulci and Umberto Lenzi

Screenshots from the Cauldron Films Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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The Houses of Doom: The House of Clocks, The Sweet House of Horrors, The House of Witchcraft, The House of Lost Souls (1989) Cauldron Films Blu-ray Reviews + Screenshots

May 13, 2025, 5:25 pm

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THE HOUSES OF DOOM (1989) 

Cauldron Films Standalone Blu-ray Releases 

THE HOUSE OF CLOCKS (1989)

THE SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS (1989) 

THE HOUSE OF WITCHCRAFT (1989) 

THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS (1989) 

With Italian cinema in a state of rapid decline in the ate-80's as attention turned towards television these four films were designed as made-for-TV terrors, two film each directed by titans of Italian genre-cinema. The House of Clocks and The Sweet House of Horror were directed by splatter-king Lucio Fulci (The Beyond) while The House of Witchcraft and The House of Lost Souls were directed by Umberto Lenzi (Almost Human) who made a name for himself with stylish gialli and violent Poliziotteschi films. Perhaps not surprisingly the four films were deemed a tad to gory, violent and risqué for TV audiences of the era, and went largely unseen for many years before creeping out on DVD from Media Blasters imprint Shriek Show in the early '00s, looking pretty ugly to be honest, until now, saved from unsightly SD purgatory with fresh 2K scans in HD! 

THE HOUSE OF CLOCKS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 83 Minutes 36 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Lucio Fulci 

Cast: Al Cliver, Keith Van Hoven, Karina Huff

In Lucio Fulci's The House of Clocks three young weed-smoking hoodlums, Sandra (Karina Huff,The Black Cat), Tony (Keith Van Hoven, Black Demons) and Paul (Peter Hint, Zone Troopers), who are on A ClockworkOrange-esque countryside crime-bender when they stop off at a manor owned by elderly couple, Victor (Paolo Paoloni, Cannibal Holocaust) and Sarah (Bettine Milne, Tea with Mussolini), feigning car troubles. They off them alongside their hired-hand Peter (Al Cliver, Zombie) with the intention of robbing the place and moving on. However, once they kill them the elderly couple's guard dogs precent the killers from leaving, and all the clocks in the all start moving backward, and the dead return to life! It turns out the old couple were a couple of sadistic freaks, and already had three corpses lying around the house when the trio of hoodlums arrived, including their maid Maria (Carla Cassola, The Sect), and their greedy nephew (Paolo Bernardi) and his wife (Francesca DeRose). Even by the usual Fulci dream-logic standard this one is chockful of WTF-ery, and pretty gory as well with a crotch=impaling, stabbed hands, bloody shotgun blasts, grotesque corpse make-ups, and even a tiny little bit of nudity, plus a tasty synth soundtrack by Vince Tempera (The Psychic). Top-tier Fulci it is not, but it's got plenty of atmosphere, some nice countryside scenery, and plenty of gore, plus a ridiculous 'was it all just a dream' sequence finale is rather stupid, wrenching in a black cat angle that we did not need. 

Special Features: 

Disc 1: (Blu-ray - Features + Extras) 

- Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth

- Lighting the House of Time: An interview with cinematographer Nino Celeste (24:45) 

- Time and Music: An interview with composer Vince Tempera (28:27) 

- Working with a Master: An interview with 1st AD Michele De Angelis (23:57) 

- Time with Fulci: An interview with FX artist Elio Terribili (19:19) 

- Archival interview with Paolo Paoloni (5:28) 

- Archival interview with Carla Cassola (9:32) 

- Archival interview with Al Cliver (1:33) 

- Promo (4:42) 

THE SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 82 Minutes 48 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Lucio Fulci 

Cast: Jean-Christophe Brétignière, Cinzia Monreale, Lubka Lenzi

Also directed by Lucio Fulci is The Sweet House of Horrors, opening with a patented Fulci bit of ultra violence as wealthy couple Mary (Lubka Lenzi, Massacre) and Roberto (Pascal Persiano, Paganini Horror) return to their countryside mansion after attending a party. They interrupt a burglary in process and are brutally murdered, both have their brains smashed in by the masked intruder. Upon their death their two  young children Sarah (Ilary Blasi) and Marco (Giuliano Gensini) are left in the care of their mother's sister Marcia (Cinzia Monreale, The Beyond) and her husband Carloaunt (Jean-Christophe Brétignière, Rats: Night of Terror), living on the family estate of ther parents 

After the gory initial opening the film sort of settles into a kid-friendly ghost story with the grief-stricken kids looking to communicate with their dead parents. Fulci was no stranger to haunted kids, having made The House by the Cemetery and Manhattan Baby. The kids are hanted by their own parents, represented by floating candleflames, which is a nice old school haunting touch. 

The distraught kids seek to communicate with the ghosts of their parents, the spirits causing injury to real estate agent Mr. Coby (Franco Diogene, Strip Nude for Your Killer) and the secretive gardener Guido (Lino Salemme,Demons), causing the increasingly frustrated aunt and uncle to call in an exorcist (Vernon Dobtcheff, The Spy Who Loved Me) to rid the home of the restless spirits. I thought this as fairly entertaining ghost tale we get the Fulci violence the start before  settles into nearly kiddie friendly territory, only for the kid's parent's true killer to get what's coming to him. This one is lensed by cinematographer Sebastiano Celeste (The Spider Labyrinth) who also shot The House of Clocks, it has the same sort of soft, somewhat hazy lensing that a lot of these late-80s Italian horror flicks seemed to peddle in, plus another tasty synth score by Vince Tempera (The Paganini Horror). If memory serves me well, past watches of this and The House of Clocks had me favoring this over Clocks, but this time around, seeing them both in HD and looking better than ever, I have to say I preferred Clocks, I found the tone of this one off-putting, not to mention the atrocious dubbing for the kids, which is on the level of "Bob" from House by the the Cemetery. 

Special Features: 

Disc 1: (Blu-ray - Features + Extras) 

- Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth

- Fulci House of Horrors: Interview with set designer Massimo Antonello Geleng (16:43) 

- Sweet Muse of Horrors: Interview with actress Cinzia Monreale (28:55) 

- Editing for the masters: Interview with editor Alberto Moriani (18:06) 

- Archival interview with Gigliola Battaglini (3:05) 

- Archival Intro with Cinzia Monreale (0:48) 

- Archival interview with Cinzia Monreale (6:49) 

- Archival interview with Jean-Christophe Brétigniere (3:49) 

- Archival interview with Lino Salemme (10:56) 

- Archival interview with Pascal Persiano (3:46) 

- Promo (4:40) 

- Cast Audition Tapes (1:11:26)

THE HOUSE OF WITCHCRAFT (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 89 Minutes

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Umberto Lenzi 

Cast: Andy J. Forest, Sonia Petrovna, Susanna Martinková

The first of the Umberto Lenzi (Nightmare City) directed flicks is The House of Witchcraft, wherein journalist Luke Palmer (Andy J. Forest, Bridge to Hell) who has been recovering from a nervous breakdown at a mental health facility under the care of his physician sister Elsa (Susana Martinkova,Frivolous Lola), has been suffering from nightmares of a witch cutting off his head and throwing into a boiling cauldron. To help ease his mind his wife occult-obsessed Martha (Sonia Petrovna, TV's The Edge of Night) whisks him away to an idyllic country home for a weekend getaway at a cottage is owned by the blind Andrew Mason (Paul Muller, She Killed in Ecstasy). The cottage-getaway seems like a great idea, but it turns out it's the same cottage from his nightmares, which does not bode well. Things get off to a rough start when he and his wife are involved in a fatal accident and she decides to flee the scene, furthermore, he witness's the hag witch (Maria Clementina Cumani Quasimodo, Five Women of the Killer) from his dreams axe a priest to death, only for the body to disappear. Luke's wife continues to act very strange, walking around  in her sleep, and more victims fall prey to the witch, but again the bodies disappear, leaving the distraught journalist thinking that maybe he's imaging all of it, or maybe he's about to lose his head for real. 

The film is well shot by Giancarlo Ferrando (Troll 2), with an effective score by Claudio Simonetti (Opera), and features some, haunting imagery and effective bits of violence, most notably the decapitation sequences showing Luke losing his head, and the surreal moment that it starts snowing inthe basement of the rental coverage, and some not unappreciated nudity from the lovely Petrovna. I thought that Andy J. Forest was pretty wooden in the lead role, and he dubbing certainly didn;t help but I quite enjoyed the surreal occult vibes and the few visceral moments of violence, and it has strong vibes of Lenzi's spooktacular Ghosthouse (1988) which was made the previously year, and if you dig that one you will probably dig this made-for-TV witch tale. 

Special Features: 

- Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth

- Artisan of Mayhem: Interview with FX artist Elio Terribili

- The House of Professionals: Interview with cinematographer Nino Celeste

- Audio commentary by Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth

THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS (1989) 

Label: Cauldron Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 87 Minutes 27 Seconds 

Audio: English or Italian Mono 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.66:1) 

Director: Umberto Lenzi 

Cast: Joseph Alan Johnson, Stefania Orsola Garello, Hal Yamanouchi

The second of the Umberto Lenzi flicks is The House of Lost Souls, which has a strong The Shining vibe, wherein a group of young geologists, including Kevin (Joseph Alan Johnson, The Slumber Party Massacre), his girlfriend Carla (Stefania Orsola Garello, The Flesh and the Devil), goofball Guido (Gianluigi Fogacci) and his girlfriend Mary (Laurentina Guidotti, Spectres), and Massimo (Matteo Gazzolo, Body Puzzle) and the youngest of the group Gianluca (Costantino Meloni, Who Killed Pasolini?), find themselves stranded on the road in Italy because of a landslide, causing them to refuge in a dilapidated Hotel dell’Eremita where the sinister-looking proprietor (Charles Borromel, Absurd) rents them rooms. However after they have checked in and settled in for the night the hotel comes alive with the vengeful spirits of the undead who haunt the place. As with The House of Witchcraft we have a character with dream premonitions by way of Carla who experiences visons of tarantulas, a skeleton in a wheelchair, murderous monk (Hal Yamanouchi, Off Balance) and creepy crawlies. The flick has some solid ghostly atmosphere and creepiness, with some nice bits of violence by way of decapitation by dumb waiter, decapitation by washing machine, and visions of an old man axe murdering a woman and a child, plus an amped-up ghostly finale that is all sort of awesome, all of it enhanced by a soundtrack from Claudio Simonetti of Goblin, which sounds like it's recycling some of the music cues from Demons. Again, the dub on this one is pretty suspect, especially the kid, but it's also quite entertaining at the same time, so I will allow it.  

Special Features: 

- Audio Commentary by Samm Deighan

- Audio Commentary by Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith

- Working with Umberto: Interview with FX artist Elio Terribili (18.37)

- The House of Rock: Interview with composer Claudio Simonetti  14:22

- The Criminal Cinema of Umberto Lenzi: Career spanning interview from 2001 (52:14) 

Audio/Video: All four films are making their worldwide Blu-ray debuts on region-free discs from Cauldron films, presented in 1080p HD framed in 1.66:1 widescreen, advertised as sourced from 2K restorations of the original film negatives. These were all previously issued on DVD from Media Basters imprint Shriek Show back in 2002, and those releases while appreciated at the time looked like crud - murky, ill-defined and ugly-as-sin, but these new HD presentations look phenomenal. Grain is preserved and looks authentic to a shot-on-16mm film, colors look natural, and black levels are solid. The Fulci flicks have that soft-focus look to them that he was known for, but the HD presentation is much sharper and tighter looking than the old DVDs, it's quite remarkable looking actually. The Lenzi flicks are less hazy looking and look sharper and crisper with well-saturated colors and deep shadows.. Audio on all four includes choice of English or Italian DTS-HD MA 2.0 dual-mono with option English subtitles. Both are dubbed as Italian cinema at this time shot without sync-sound, and while the English dubs are a bit dopey and corny at times, they sound fine, but the Italian tracks are the more nuanced and pleasing to the ears. 

These discs are stacked with extras, including new audio commentaries for the four films, we get Eugenio Ercolani, Nathaniel Thompson, and Troy Howarth tackling House of Clocks and The House of Witchcraft, Ercolani and Howarth for Sweet House of Horrors, with The House of Lost Souls getting two new audio commentaries, the first with film historian Samm Deighan, plus another with Rod Barnett and Adrian Smith of the Wild, Wild Podcast. 

We also get hours of interviews, including new interviews produced by Eugenio Ercolani, these include cinematographer Nino Celeste, composer Vince Tempera, 1st AD Michele De Angelis for The House of Clocks, FX artist Elio Terribili; set designer Massimo Antonello Geleng, actress Cinzia Monreale and editor Alberto Moriani for The Sweet House of Horrors; FX artist Elio Terribili and cinematographer Nino Celeste for The House of Witchcaft; plus  FX artist Elio Terribili and composer Claudio Simonetti  for The House of Lost Souls. 

Archival interviews carried over from the previous Shriek Show DVDs include Paolo Paoloni, Carla Cassola  and Al Cliver for House of Clocks, Gigliola Battaglini, Cinzia Monreale, Jean-Christophe Brétigniere Lino Salemme, and Pascal Persiano for Sweet House of Horrors.  

Other goodies spread across the discs include a 52-min career spanning interview with Lenzi from 2001 on The House of Lost Souls, promos for both ofthe Fulci flicks, and 71-min of Production Footage and Audition Tapes for Sweet House of Horrors, plus an brief archival intro for The Sweet House of Horrors by actress Cinzia Monreale.

These standalone single-disc releases each arrive in an  oversize clear Scanavo keepcases with 2-sided non-reversible sleeves of artwork featuring tasty front cover artwork by Matthew Therrien with title treatments by Eric Lee on the front and a scene from each of the films on the reverse, the disc themselves also featuring excerpts of the same artwork. 

If you missed out on the Limited Edition set what you're missing are the Rigid Slipcase that houses the four keepcases, the 2xCDs featuring The Sweet House of Horrors and The House of Clocks scores by  soundtrack by Vince Tempera, but you get the same terrific A/V presentation and Blu-ray disc extras, and the very cool artwork. 

If you're an Italian horror fan these made-for-TV flicks from the iconic Fulci and Lenzi are must-haves, sure they seem slightly budget-anemic, and the stories themselves are not exactly original or gut-spewing gory, but they are each entertaining tales of old dark houses chock full of weirdness and atmosphere, plus they are surprisingly bloody for what were intended as made-for-TV, which is sort of shocking that they thought  these were gonna be suitable for prime time family viewing!

This is a terrific set, and it has me primed for Cauldron's next box set, that being the 4xBlu-ray 1xCD release of Brivido Giallo, celebrating the made-for-TV films of Lamberto Bava (Demons, A Blade in the Dark), marking the HD debuts of the flicks Graveyard Disturbance, Until Death, The Ogre, Dinner with a Vampire with new 2K scans, loads of extras, and a CD  soundtrack compilation by Simon Boswell (Santa Sangre)  - which can be purchased from Cauldron films HERE, and ships this month, so get on it! 

Screenshots from the Cauldron Films Blu-ray: 

THE HOUSE OF CLOCKS (1989)

THE SWEET HOUSE OF HORRORS (1989) 

THE HOUSE OF WITCHCRAFT (1989) 

THE HOUSE OF LOST SOULS (1989) 

Buy Them!

The House of Clocks (1989)

https://amzn.to/4jdwHqa

The Sweet House of Horrors (1989) 

https://amzn.to/44oBccK

The House of Witchcraft  (1989) 

https://amzn.to/4lDX7Dd

The House of Lost Souls (1989) 

https://amzn.to/4lwpYsZ

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UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) Severin Films Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

May 14, 2025, 6:09 pm

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UNKNOWN WORLD (1951) 

Label: Severin Films 

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Unrated

Duration: 74 Minutes 46 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.33:1) 

Director: Terry O. Morse

Cast: Otto Waldis, Marilyn Nash, Victor Kilian

Unknown World (1951) is a slice of Cold War-era hard science fiction, directed by Terry O. Morse (Godzilla: King of the Monsters) and produced by Jack Rabin and Irving Block (Rocketship X-M), who also did the film's impressive low-budget special effects. It's an earnest sci-fi- that is notable for being an early, if not first, film to tackle the idea of a Hollow Earth, with a script by Oscar nominee Millard Kaufman (Bad Day at Black Rock), and if rumors are true. also the multi-Academy Award winning  blacklisted Academy Award winner Dalton Trumbo (Spartacus). 

In it scientist Dr. Jeremiah Morley (Victor Kilian, The Ox-Bow Incident) is worried that the Cold War will inevitably lead to a nuclear apocalypse, and as such is looking for a viable subterranean solution to escape the nuclear fallout and to save humanity, believing that there are large subterranean caverns capable of supporting life many hundred of miles below the surface of the earth. To that end he designs an atomic-powered tunneling vehicle that looks like a bit like a smooth-edged submarine with a large drill mounted at the front of it, which he dubs the Cyclotram

When funding falls through for the project it is saved at the last minute by newspaper heir Wright Thompson (Bruce Kellogg, The Eternal Sea) who agrees to fund the expedition under the condition that he can come along, with the scientist begrudgingly agreeing for the sake of the survival of humanity. The expedition is rounded out by geologist Dr. Max A. Bauer (Otto Waldis, Attack of the 50 Foot. Woman), Andy Ostergaard (Jim Bannon, The Shaggy Dog), Dr. James Paxton (Tom Handley, Command Decision), Dr. George Coleman (Dick Cogan), and the lovely biologist/medic Dr. Joan Lindsey (Marilyn Nash, Monsiuer Verdoux). It's a large group in a small space and as the expeditions gets underway tunneling to the center of the earth tempers flare, egos swell, and there are disagreements, plus the lonely malaise of being trapped underground, often inside cramped quarters. It was filmed in Carlsbad Caverns and looks pretty great for a low-budget sci-fi flick, aided by the impeccable use of stock footage by director Terry O. Morse to flesh out the anemic budget, and it works pretty aces. It's still low-budget and looks it, and while it freely borrows elements from Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Boroughs I would suggest not coming into this expecting the usual Hollow Earth creatures and privatives to appear, no sir, this is hard sci-fi, and sort of reality based. Instead of giant creatures and dinosaurs they face rugged terrain, poison gas, and the threat of sterility! That's not to say there are not some terrific set pieces, there are subterranean seas and caverns galore, a volcano, heck, it even snows down there somehow! This might not be the most zesty subterranean exploration flick ever made but I love how earnest it is, it's quite charming, even if the science of it is absurd, and the effects are chintzy. The focus on Cold War era atomic bomb fears didn;t quite make up for the lack of fantastical elements, but there's a warm retro vibe her that appeals to by inner-kid, the one who would literally watch very monster and sci-fi matinee that aired on WPIX NY in the '70s and early '80s, eating them (and a bowl of sugary cereal, 'natch) up with a spoon no matter how terrible or cheap they were.

Audio/Video: Unknown World (1951) arrives on region-free Blu-ray from Severin Films in 1080p HD framed in the original 1.33:1 fullscreen, sourced from a 4K scan of the projection internegative. The B&W flick looks solid, there are some source blemishes like vertical scratches and small nicks that show up, but generally the source has solid contrast and grayscale. Grain is a tad course and uneven at times, but textures and fine detail in the close-ups impressed me nonetheless. A few spots are softer than others, looking like a mix of source limitations and mismatched stock footage, but again, overall I was pleased. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 dial-mono with optional English subtitles. The track has some slight age related wear, but largely sounds  solid and accurate to what this probably sounded like at the cinema upon release. the depth of field is pretty shallow and the mono mix won't blow you away but it does the job just fine. 

Onto the extras, we start off with a terrific Audio Commentary with Film Writer Stephen R. Bissette, which i appreciated quite a bit, it was fact-filled and fun, lots of cast and crew information, and as I was not overly familiar with this film nor the cast it filled in a lot of the holes  for me. Then onto the 22-min Victor Kilian: A Blacklist Legacy – Interview With Crawford Kilian, Actor Victor Kilian's Grandson, who speaks about his grandfather's early years, getting into entertainment, coming from a verbose family, moving to the West Coast in '34 and starting his film career,. How he was accidentally slugged by John Wayne while filming Reap the Wind, his socialist affiliation and being blacklisted, moving to Mexico, working under the table and his rare lead role in Unknown World. h also touches on how the film reflected anxiety about the atom bomb, how groups of Hollywood exiles lived in Mexico, his later Broadway and TV career, and death later in life, having been killed during a robbery. 

In the 18-min The Unknown World Of Terrell O. Morse – Interview With Film Historian C. Courtney

Joyner, the noted film scholar gets into Morse's early career, how he bounced between A and B-pictures, as both an editor and/or director, his notable directing credits including the film British Intelligence with Boris Karloff, his skill as an editor and incorporating stock footage, and how he is probably best remembered as the director of the Americanized Godzilla: King of the Monsters. 

The 22-min Special Effects Maestros Of The 1950s – Video Essay By Comic Book Artist Stephen R. Bissette, s an appreciation of the vintage effects of the era from Jack Rabin and Irving Block, dissecting the effects work found in the film, We also get a Trailer for the film. 

 

The single-disc release arrives in a black keepcase with a single-sided wrap featuring the original movie poster artwork.  

Special Features:

- Audio Commentary With Film Writer Stephen R. Bissette

- Victor Kilian: A Blacklist Legacy – Interview With Crawford Kilian, Actor Victor Kilian's Grandson (21:40) 

- The Unknown World Of Terrell O. Morse – Interview With Film Historian C. Courtney

Joyner (17:32) 

-  Special Effects Maestros Of The 1950s – Video Essay By Comic Book Artist Stephen R.

Bissette (22:11) 

- Trailer

Screenshots from the Severin Films Blu-ray: 

Extras:

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EIGHT EYES (2023) Vinegar Syndrome Pictures Blu-ray Screenshots

May 17, 2025, 4:49 pm

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 EIGHT EYES (2023) 

Label: Vinegar Syndrome Pictures 

Region Code: Region-Free

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 88 Minutes 32 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Eugenie Joseph

Cast: Emily Sweet, Bradford Thomas, Bruno Veljanovski

This special limited edition side loading slipcase (designed by Robert Sammelin) is limited to 3,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

American tourists Cass and Gav are backpacking their way across the Balkans. Shortly after crashing a wedding, they run into a mysterious Slav who goes by “Saint Peter.” Offering to give them an authentic tour of the region, the young couple take him up on the proposal, but soon fall prey to Saint Peter’s increasingly strange and manipulative behaviors, culminating with Gav’s sudden disappearance. Desperate to find him, and confident that Saint Peter is somehow connected to his vanishing, Cass is pulled deeper and deeper into a sinister web of violence as she comes to realize Saint Peter’s terrifying true intentions.

The feature film directing debut of Austin Jennings (Shudder’s The Last Drive-In With Joe Bob Briggs), EIGHT EYES fuses a paranoid thriller through late period Euro horror aesthetics. Photographed on 16mm and Super 8mm, entirely on location in Serbia and Macedonia, and starring rising scream queen Emily Sweet (VHS ‘99) alongside a commanding debut performance from Bruno Veljanovski as Saint Peter, and featuring grisly gore effects by Miroslav Lakobrija (A Serbian Film) along with a nightmarish score composed by Devon Goldberg and performed by Morricone Youth, Vinegar Syndrome Pictures is proud to present the Blu-ray debut of our first entirely original production.

Special Features;

- Shot entirely on motion picture film and finished in 4K

- Commentary track with co-writer/director/editor Austin Jennings, Producer Justin Martell and co-writer/animator/sound recordist Matt Frink

- "So Much to Love" (14:46) - an interview with actress Emily Sweet

- "It's an Experience" (14 min) - an interview with actor Bradford Thomas

- "Answering Honestly" (12 min) - an interview with actor Bruno Veljanovski

- "A Piece of History" (16 min) - an interview with co-producer Seager Dixon

- "Doing Cowboy Shit" (19 min) - an interview with cinematographer Sean Dahlberg

- "Idea Man" (12 min) - an interview with co-writer/animator/sound recordist Matt Frink

- A group discussion with co-writer/director/editor Austin -Jennings, cinematographer Sean Dahlberg and co-producer Seager Dixon (52 min)

- "Production Diary" (18 min) - a collection of behind-the-scenes footage

- Reversible Wrap

Screenshots from the Vinegar Syndrome Pictures Blu-ray: 

Extras: 

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BAD CHANNELS (1992) Full Moon Features Blu-ray Review + Screenshots

May 18, 2025, 8:33 am

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BAD CHANNELS (1992) 

Label: Full Moon Features

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 80 Minutes 17 Seconds 

Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and 5.1 Surround with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1)

Director: Ted Nicolaou 

Cast: Martha Quinn and Aaron Lustig, Robert Factor, Aaron Lustig, Michael Huddelston, Sonny Carl Davis, Charlie Spradling, Ron Keel., Michael Deak, Tim Thomerson

Bad Channels (1992), directed by Ted Nicolaou (Terrorvision), is a rock n' roll sci-fi comedy that takes place at Pahoota's AM radio station KDUL, Superstation 66, where a new disc jockey Dan O'Dare (Paul Hipp, Lethal Weapon 3) is ringing in the new rock 'n roll format following a publicity stunt involving the DJ locked in chains playing the same polka song until a caller calls into the radio station with the right combination for the lock. Local newscaster Lisa Cummings (MTV VJ Martha Quinn, Tapeheads) is covering the publicity stunt, but when her station's star new anchor Flip Humble (Roumel Reaux) is the one who guesses the combo and wins the grand prize she suspect fowl play, but that whole conspiracy is short-lived because while confronting O'Dare about the fraud she notices some strange red rings swirling through the skies nearby, leading her to believe aliens activity is happening in the area. Right she is, because just a short time later a fungus-headed alien named Cosmo (Michael Deak, Ghoulies 2) and his MST3K reject-looking robot have arrives, and takes over the radio station, unleashing a fungus-bomb, and it starts using the airwaves to somehow miniaturize young ladies from around the area, then transporting and trapping them in specimen jars, apparently with the intention of taking them back to it's home planet for whatever reason. Meanwhile, for some reason O'Dare is allowed to stay on the air, trying to warn listeners not to listen to the alien broadcast, but they think it's all some sort of shock-jock war of the Worlds-esque prank. 

A couple of young ladies listening to the broadcast and rcoking out begin to hallucinate that they are appearing in rock music videos, with the bands Sykotik Sinfoney, Joker, Fair Game making appearances, and then while in that rock-radio induced trance are beamed into the alien specimen jars at the station in miniature version.  

This would make a great double-feature with Nicolaou's earlier Terrorvision, instead of an alien beamed in via satellite TV we have an alien using the radio waves to snag Earth women, and both have this super-silly, overwrought vibes, everybody is just going for it with heightened performances that I sort of loved, especially Paul Hipp with his exaggerated line deliveries and bugged-out facial expressions.  The whole film sort of seems to be an excuse to cram in three music video into a film, and it boggles my mind that they not only got Blue Oyster Cult to recorded two new songs for the soundtrack, but they also provided the score!

The fungus-headed alien, which you might mistake for a turd-headed alien, does have a pretty cool transformation, losing it's fungus-head to reveal what I would describe as a  three-headed Audrey 2 from The Little Shop of Horrors, with out earthbound DJ and his pals having to fend it off with... Lysol. 

It's a very zany sci-fi comedy, chock full of retro '50s sci-fi vibes, silly attempts at humor which mostly fail, and a mixed bag soundtrack, highlighted by the Blue Oyster Cult contributions. This was a first time watch for me, for some reason it had eluded me for years, and I am glad I finally caught up with it, I had a fun time with it, I enjoyed the retro-vibe, the low-budget Full Moon charm of it, and the corny humor, and I always find that Nicolaou's Full Moon flicks are among my favorite from the label. . 

Audio/Video: Bad Channels (1992) gets a region-free Blu-ray from Full Moon Features, advertised as being "remastered in HD from the original negative", presented on disc in 1080p HD framed in 1.78:1 widescreen. This was a first time watch for me so I have no comparison to the VHS or DVD, bit I thought it look pretty fantastic. The source looks flawless, there's modest depth and clarity, grain is intact and colors look accurate and are well-saturated. 

Audio comes by way of lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo or 5.1 surround with optional English subtitles. As usual FM go the lossy audio route, but it sounds fine.  The tunes and score by Blue Oyster Cult, and the lesser songs by Sykotik Sinfoney, Joker, Fair Game, and DMT fare well in the mix, dialogue is nicely prioritized, as are the sound effects.  

Onto the extras we get a new Audio Commentary with Director Ted Nicolaou and Producer Charles Band, with Niclaou offering a detailed convo about the flick, the making of it, the cast and crew, and the special effects. We also get a new 28-min Ted Talk Bad Channels: An Interview with Director Ted Niclaou - he talks about Terror Vision being his first film, how it was savaged by critics but found a life on home video, then getting a bad Channels, but initially resisting it because of the similarity to TV, doing Subspecies in the interim. The casting, score, music, and the special effects.  

Other disc extras include the 2-min Original Trailer, a 2-min Rare Trailer (2:15), a 12-min archival The Making of Bad Channels featurette with actors Martha Quin, Charlie Spraddling, Aaron Lustig, Melissa Behr, Paul Hipp, Michael Deak, director Ted Nicolaou, special effects guys Dennis dale and Greg Aronowitz. The single-disc release arrives in a standard keepcase with a single-sided wrap featuring  a version the original VHS illustrated artwork for the film. 

Special Features: 

- Original Trailer(1:40) 

- Rare Trailer (2:15) 

- The Making of Bad Channels (11:31) 

- Director's Audio Commentary with Ted Nicolaou and Producer Charles Band 

- Ted Talk Bad Channels (27:45) 

Screenshots from the Full Moon Blu-ray: 

 

Extras:

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THE CREEP TAPES: SEASON ONE (2025) Acorn Media International Blu-ray Revie with Screenshots

May 21, 2025, 5:25 am

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THE CREEP TAPES: SEASON ONE (2025) 

Label: Acorn Media International 

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating: Cert. 15 

Duration: 150 Minutes 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.78:1) 

Director: Patrick Brice

Cast: Mark Duplass, Josh Faden, Josh Ruben 

Director Patrick Brice (There's Someone Inside Your House) and actor Mark Duplass (Baghead) return to the found-footage Creep property with a six-episode Shudder Original series, with Duplass once more playing the charismatic and sinister, name-changing killer, who in the first two films in the franchise lured videographers to his remote home under the pretense of filming a diary of his life, or filming some acting experiments, only to find themselves axed to death after he's fucked with their expectations and emotions right up till their breaking point. Over the course of six roughly half hour long episodes the pernicious prankster, along with his sinister alter-ego Peachfuzz, once again plays mind games with more hapless and unsuspecting videographers, as well as a bird watcher, and even his own mother, and her new beau. He takes perverse pleasure in delivering jump scares, and making the situations so wildly awkward that they defy the usual logic of societal norms, luring and trapping his victims with the promise of increased paydays, some of them so confused by the his oddball rouses that they never even see it coming, until the ax is about to split open their skulls. 

I dig the half hour format and how we get a new victim every episode, it keeps things fresh, and Duplass is so engaging and supremely weird that the episodes fly by real quick, so much so that I binged the six episodes in one sitting, and then again the next day did the same thing again to watch it with my wife, and I did not regret it. 

The first episode features videographer Mike (Mike Luciano ), who is hired by ‘Jeff Daniels’ (Duplass) to shoot a film school application video. Things get really weird, the demands Jeff is making on the guy get progressively odder and darker, but he keep slapping more hundred dollar bills down and the guy just cannot say no. He eventually gets snowed in and is unable to leave, resulting in the pair shooting a murder scene in the snow with a "rubber axe", only realizing too late that he's involved in making a snuff film, and he's the victim. 

In episode two Duplass's ambiguous killer stages an sky diving accident in the middle of nowhere to meet-up with bird watcher Elliot (David Nordstrom), recruiting him to record a video for  ‘insurance purposes’, only to learn that he's not the only one who seeks out and stalk the objects of his desire, with the skydiver continuously baiting him along with the promise of knowing where a rare "blue footed" bird he seeks is located nearby, being strung along way past the point of reasonability, only to be snuffed out. 

In episode three Duplass's killer is disguised as a Catholic priest named Father Tim, who is approached by a ‘gotcha’ video YouTuber named Josh Faden (Twin Peaks: The Return), who secretly wishes to expose the crimes of the church, but who is instead surprised when the "priest" turns out to be a table-turning homicidal maniac - "gotcha" indeed!

In episode four Duplass's killer hires Brad (Josh Ruben, Scare Me), who is a  down-on-his-luck true-crime filmmaker, who decades ago made a true crime film that our demented psycho-killer absolutely loves. After arriving the killer shows the filmmaker a corpse in a bedroom, shocking him, revealing that as a huge fan of the his earlier film, and that he wants Brad to make a documentary about him. he hesitantly agrees, realizing that he has little choice. As the night wears on things only get stranger and stranger, another corpse appears, and he finds himself involved with disposing of a body.  

Episode five was my least favorite of of the six, it features Duplass as "Kyle" who is in a seedy hotel room waiting for the arrival of his next victim. It explores the psyche of his animalistic alter-ego  ‘Peachfuzz’ and  did not connect with me, Kyle is waiting for a videographer named Brandt (Scott Pitt) who is running late and who he fears ight not show, so he's left to deal with his and Peachfuzz's issues. Like I said, my least favorite of the six, but the last couple of seconds redeems it quite a bit.  

Saving the best for last is the season finale which gives us some of our ambiguous killer's backstory, we meet his mom (Krisha Fairchild, Channel Zero: Butcher's Block) as he goes tot he cabin to hang with her and meet her new beau Albert (John Craven). This episode is a banger, you now his mom is weird, he didn;t just come out of thin air. Right off the bat she's recreated his childhood bedroom complete with posters, music, and his prized stuff wolf (which he decapitated as a kid). The places this goes, oh my, behind every demented psycho-killer there's a lobing demented mom, for sure.  

The Creep Tapes doesn't really expand or stray much on what the two films did, but I like the bite sized offerings, and how we can peel through new victims in quick succession. The key to the shows success is exactly what the film had going for them, Mark Duplass's is terrifying as the unnerving, slyly manipulative and strangely charismatic killer. At first sight he sort of seems harmless, but with a just-off weird aura and energy, he has that smile and way about him that should make you want to flee in ambiguous terror, but social niceties, and sometimes because of financial considerations, the victims stays, and by the time they realized they're into it up to their neck, it too late, they're caught. 

Audio/Video:  The Creep Tapes arrives on region-free Blu-ray from Acorn Media International, presented in 1080p HD widescreen (1.78:1). As the film was meant to emulate, and was shot on, consumer grade, hand-held video it doesn't exactly translate to HD perfection, by design, but is generally looks quite strong in that regard. Audio comes by way of English DTS-HD MA 2.0 stereo with optional English subtitles, and again, it's limited by design, but seems accurate to the found-footage format of it. 

Extras include a Shudder Social Q&A with Mark Duplass & Patrick Brice, as well as Filmmaker Audio Commentaries for all six episodes. the single-disc release arrives in an oversized keepcase with a single-sided wrap.   

Special Features:
• Shudder Social Q&A with Mark Duplass & Patrick Brice (1:03) 
• Filmmaker Audio Commentary 

Screenshots from the Acorn Media International Blu-ray:

HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN: RARITIES COLLECTION VOL. 2 Severin Films Blu-ray Screenshots

May 21, 2025, 6:08 am

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HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN: RARITIES COLLECTION VOL. 2

BUTTERFLY KISS (1995)

MORGIANA (1972)

THE SAVAGE EYE (1959)

THE GLASS CEILING (1971)

In this second collection inspired by her “groundbreaking” (Screen Anarchy) book that “forever changed the landscape of film analysis” (Bloody Disgusting), producer/curator Kier-La Janisse presents a new quartet of international classics – along with nearly 11 combined hours of Special Features – that explores startling depictions of female neurosis on screen: Amanda Plummer gives a searing performance as a disturbed drifter on a cross-country killing spree in BUTTERFLY KISS, the breakthrough debut from director Michael Winterbottom. Legendary Czech actress Iva Janžurová portrays a pair of rival sisters in Juraj Herz’ crazed gothic melodrama MORGIANA. In Ben Maddow, Sidney Meyers and Joseph Strick’s ‘dramatized documentary’ THE SAVAGE EYE, Barbara Baxley stars as a bitter divorcee adrift in Los Angeles’ dark underbelly. And with the landmark Spanish thriller THE GLASS CEILING starring Carmen Sevilla, writer/director Eloy de la Iglesia crafts an unsettling story of paranoia, madness and murder. All 4 films in HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN: RARITIES COLLECTION VOLUME 2 have been scanned from their original camera negatives and are presented on Blu-ray for the first time ever in North America.

BUTTERFLY KISS (1995) 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating:

Duration: 87 Minutes 56 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Stereo with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Michael Winterbottom 

Cast: Amanda Plummer, Saskia Reeves, Ricky Tomlinson

In his “breathtakingly original” (Variety) debut feature, writer/director Michael Winterbottom (24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, THE KILLER INSIDE ME) shocked audiences with the startling drama The New York Times called “a twisted British answer to THELMA & LOUISE”: Amanda Plummer (PULP FICTION) delivers “a brave performance that sears itself permanently into the viewer's consciousness” (Austin Chronicle) as a disturbed drifter whose seduction of a lonely convenience store clerk (an equally daring Saskia Reeves of Slow Horses) triggers a cross-country odyssey of obsession, madness and murder. Ricky Tomlinson (RIFF-RAFF) co-stars in this “provocative masterpiece” (The Advocate) co-written by 2x BAFTA nominee Frank Cottrell-Boyce (WELCOME TO SARAJEVO) and featuring cinematography by 2x Oscar® nominee Seamus McGarvey (ATONEMENT), now scanned in 2K from the original camera negative by The British Film Institute and approved by Winterbottom and McGarvey.

Special Features:

- Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women (5:14) 

- Introduction By Writer Frank Cottrell-Boyce (3:51) 

- Audio Commentary With Film Historian Kat Ellinger

- Between Everyday And The Extreme – Michael Winterbottom On Directing BUTTERFLY KISS (22:07) 

- No Judgement – Amanda Plummer Remembers Portraying Eunice (21:23) 

- You're Not Judith – Saskia Reeves On Portraying Miriam (14:51) 

- Pestilence Through Petrol – Julie Baines On Producing BUTTERFLY KISS (6:56) 

- Front Light And Black Sky – Seamus McGarvey On Shooting BUTTERFLY KISS (17:51) 

- Trailer (1:24) 

- Short Film: PLEASURES OF WAR (Ruth Lingford, 1998) (11:40) 

MORGIANA (1972) 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating:

Duration: 103 Minutes 3 Seconds 

Audio: Czech Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.3:1) 

Director: Juraj Herz

Cast: Josef Abrhám (Václav Havel’s LEAVING) and Josef Somr

From internationally award-winning filmmaker Juraj Herz (THE CREMATOR, THE NINTH HEART) comes this “haunting” (Senses Of Cinema), “gorgeously baroque” (Starburst) and “deliriously exciting cult gem” (Culture Fix), considered to be the final film of the Czech New Wave: When their wealthy father dies, cruelly jealous Viktorie will lead her naïvely trusting sister Klára – both portrayed in “a frightening, stellar performance” (At The Mansion Of Madness) by legendary Czech actress Iva Janžurová – into a gothic nightmare of deception, blackmail and murder. Josef Abrhám (Václav Havel’s LEAVING) and Josef Somr (CLOSELY WATCHED TRAINS) co-star in this “terrific chamber piece that horror fans still haven't caught up to” (Mondo Digital), newly scanned in 4K from the original camera negative by The National Film Archive in Prague. 

Special Features:

- Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women (3:38) 

- Audio Commentary With Stranger With My Face Festival Director Briony Kidd And Cerise Howard, Co-Founder Of The Czech And Slovak Film Festival Of Australia

- Little Drop Of Poison – Actress Iva Janžurová Remembers MORGIANA (14:42) 

- The Stone Forest – Newly Commissioned Short Film On Shooting Location Pobiti Kamani, Animated By Leslie Supnet And Narrated By Kier-La Janisse (6:25) 

- NIGHTMARES – Juraj Herz' 1970 Vampire Rock Musical Made For Czech TV (26:22) 

- Short Film: REST IN PEACE (Rachel Amodeo, 1998) New 2K Scan Of This Cult Favorite By Rachel Amodeo And Dame Darcy (13:18) 

THE SAVAGE EYE (1959) 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: Region-Free 

Rating:

Duration: 66 Minutes 46 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Sidney Meyers, Joseph Strick

Cast: Barbara Baxley, Gary Merrill

In 1959, a trio of outsider filmmakers – formerly blacklisted screenwriter Ben Maddow (THE ASPHALT JUNGLE), Oscar® nominated editor/director Sidney Meyers (THE QUIET ONE) and future Oscar winning director Joseph Strick (INTERVIEWS WITH MY LAI VETERANS) – wrote, produced, edited and directed the ‘dramatized documentary’ that San Francisco Cinematheque calls “a masterpiece of verité cinema”: Adrift and bitter after her recent divorce, a woman (Barbara Baxley of NORMA RAE and NASHVILLE) confronts the grim realities of existence amongst the poetic grotesqueries of urban Los Angeles. The voice of Gary Merrill (ALL ABOUT EVE) co-stars in this “unique and unusual must-see” (FilmFanatic) – filmed on location by a team of cinematographers that included 2x Academy Award® winner Haskell Wexler (MEDIUM COOL) – now scanned in 4K by Severin Films from the original camera negative provided by the Academy Film Archive.

Special Features:

- Audio Commentary With Film Curator/Historian Elizabeth Purchell

- Judith X – Locations Video Essay By Esotouric's Kim Cooper (16:06) 

- Archival Interview With Co-Director Joseph Strick (17:06).

- Trailer (2:56) 

- Trailers From Hell Commentary By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women

Short Film: INTERVIEWS WITH MY LAI VETERANS (Joseph Strick, 1970)

(22:06)

- Archival Interview With Director Joseph Strick On INTERVIEWS WITH MY LAI VETERANS (5:23) 

- Short Film: MISS CANDACE HILLIGOSS' FLICKERING HALO (Vincenzo Core And Fabio Scacchioli, 2011)(14:33) 

THE GLASS CEILING (1971) 

Label: Severin Films

Region Code: Region Free 

Rating:

Duration: 95 Minutes

Audio: English and Spanish Mono with Optional English Subtitles 

Video: 1080p HD Widescreen (1.85:1) 

Director: Eloy de la Iglesia

Cast: Dean Selmier, Patty Shepard, Fernando Cebrián, Emma Cohen 

In his landmark 1971 feature, writer/director Eloy de la Iglesia – who would go on to create such subversively disturbing films as CANNIBAL MAN, THE CREATURE and the Quinqui classics NAVAJEROS and EL PICO 1 & 2 – brought an unnerving new perspective to female madness: When her husband leaves on a business trip, a frustrated housewife – an award-winning performance by Carmen Sevilla, star of CROSS OF THE DEVIL and NO ONE HEARD THE SCREAM – begins to obsess over unfamiliar noises in their apartment building and suspects that an upstairs neighbor has committed murder. Dean Selmier (THE BLOOD SPATTERED BRIDE), Patty Shepard (CRYPT OF THE LIVING DEAD), Fernando Cebrián (TRISTANA) and Emma Cohen (HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB) co-star in this milestone Spanish thriller, now scanned in 4K from the original camera negative.

Special Features:

- Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women (6:19)

- Audio Commentary With Shelagh Rowan-Legg, Author Of A Forthcoming Monograph On Director Eloy De La Iglesia, And Faculty of Horror's Alexandra West

- Connected At The Soul – Patty Shepard As Remembered By Her Sister, Judith Chapman (16:56) 

- Alternate Scenes From The TV Version (1:01) 

- Trailer (2:31) 

- Short Film: ANTA MUJER (Agustí Villaronga, 1976) (26:26) 

Screenshots from the Severin Films Blu-rays: 

THE GLASS CEILING (1971) 

Extras: 

THE SAVAGE EYE (1959) 

Extras: 

MORGIANA (1972) 

Extras: 

BUTTERFLY KISS (1995) 

Extras: 

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WHEN TOMORROW DIES (1965) Canadian International Pictures Blu-ray Screenshots

May 22, 2025, 6:24 pm

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WHEN TOMORROW DIES (1965) 

Label: Canadian International Pictures 

Region Code: A

Rating: Unrated 

Duration: 89 Minutes 20 Seconds 

Audio: English DTS-HD MA 2.0 Dual-Mono with Optional English Subtitles

Video: 1080p HD Fullscreen (1.37:1) 

Director: Larry Kent

Cast: Patricia Gage, Douglas Campbell, Neil Dainard, Nikki Cole, Desmond Smiley, Francie Long, Patricia Wilson, Caroline Kennedy, Lanny Beckman

This special limited edition spot gloss slipcover is limited to 2,000 units and is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.

From arthouse to Canuxploitation, Canadian International Pictures (CIP) is devoted to resurrecting vital, distinctive, and overlooked triumphs of Canadian cinema. This label is focused on the country’s original cinematic boom years – spanning the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s – occasionally venturing past that period (and the country’s borders) to highlight the films of Canada’s most inspired actors and filmmakers. Vinegar Syndrome’s sister company, OCN Distribution, is thrilled to be representing CIP's brand new line of home video releases!

Frustrated housewife Gwen James (Rabid’s Patricia Gage) feels like little more than a servant to her accountant husband (Strange Brew’s Douglas Campbell) and two daughters. Devoting all her time to their needs – and the demands of her cantankerous father – she feels her sense of self-worth slipping. As Gwen wrestles with increasingly despairing thoughts, she escapes into a world of glamorous fantasy and eventually finds a new sense of purpose by enrolling in a university course, where she strikes up a special bond with her young professor (American Nightmare’s Neil Dainard). But as Gwen reverts to a more youthful, carefree state, her family descends into chaos.

Arriving on the heels of The Bitter Ash and Sweet Substitute, When Tomorrow Dies concluded Larry’s Kent Vancouver Trilogy with a vivid new sense of style and daring. Working with a larger budget and a more seasoned crew, the director fused elements of film noir and the Hollywood melodrama to deliver a lurid – yet compassionate – investigation of the housewife psyche. Applying Kent’s preoccupation with youthful disaffection to an older generation, When Tomorrow Dies brought new depth to his approach and cemented his reputation as a maverick of Canadian independent filmmaking.

Audio/Video: Guest review coming soon towww.rockshockpop.com

Special Features: 

- Region A Blu-ray

- Newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original 16mm A/B negatives by Canadian International Pictures with sound transferred from the original 16mm magnetic final mix

- NEW! Audio Commentary featuring film historian and author Samm Deighan

- Archival Audio Commentary featuring film professor Peter Rist

- NEW! Introduction to When Tomorrow Dies by Larry Kent (1:37) 

- NEW! Tomorrow Lives (2024, 9 min) - Interview with Kent

- NEW! Independent Evolution (2024, 18 min) Interview with film professor David Douglas

- NEW! Audio interview with Heather Whitehead, daughter of star Patricia Gage (2024, 9 min.)

- Talking to Larry Kent (2005) – Archival conversation featuring Kent and Rist (19:09) 

- Kent on Kent (1965-1967, 20 min.) – Archival audio interviews with Kent

- Mothers and Daughters (1993, 85 min.) – Little-seen Kent feature exploring some of the same themes as When Tomorrow Dies

- NEW! Introduction to Mothers and Daughters by Douglas

- Booklet featuring a new essay by film critic and professor Tom McSorley

- Reversible Wrap 

Screenshots from the Canadian International Pictures Blu-ray: 

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