The EuroShock Crypt Examined! Part Two

By: Andrew Hershberger
Date: Sunday, January 06, 2002

These days, as DVD becomes more and more standard in households everywhere, fans of obscure cinema are finding that their favorite titles are experiencing a second coming of sorts as they are released in their original, uncut form on disc. European horror in particular has reaped the benefits of the new format, with several specialty labels releasing films like FEMALE VAMPIRE, OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES and THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF, to name just a few. Industry mainstay Image Entertainment has been responsible for a great many such releases via their popular "EuroShock" line. CINESCAPE recently got the chance to speak with Image's Nathaniel Thompson about the company's EuroShock titles.

Often European horror films have been released and re-released so many times over the years that various cuts exist of the same film. Which begs the question: which version do you release on disc?

"[For Jess]

Franco's FEMALE VAMPIRE, which has had a really strange history around the world, the [EuroShock] disc compiles the erotic and horror footage though not the later date inserted hardcore footage - from two of the more widely seen variations," explains Thompson, while also pointing out that the disc marks the film's American widescreen debut. "There's no way you could really do a 'definitive' edition of most Franco films, and that one is no exception; the same applies to the upcoming EuroShock DVD of Franco's A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD [a.k.a. AMONG THE LIVING DEAD, CHRISTINE, PRINCESS OF EROTICISM and ZOMBIE 4: A VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING] which is hopefully going to approximate Franco's original vision as closely as possible with the surviving film elements."

As EuroShock's collection grows, bringing in more and more fans and filling collectors' shelves, the concern for the newly initiated and the "I'll get to it later" fan may be that a personal favorite will eventually be dropped from the line. Different offerings have varying degrees of success depending on "the film's reputation and how much hunger there is for fans to purchase a clean digital video," according to Thompson. Consequently, one might fear that a weaker seller will be soon off the market. But to date only one title has been discontinued - ZEDER - due to the expiration of a "brief licensing deal," and as things stand Thompson says the remaining titles will not "be discontinued in the near future."

To those

not overly familiar with European horror and the joys it can bring, it may prove helpful to explain what the more sought-after offerings are. In terms of directors, the most popular are the aforementioned "Jess Franco, Lucio Fulci [VOICES FROM BEYOND] and Peter Walker [HOUSE OF WHIPCORD, SCHIZO]" according to Thompson. Films dealing with vampires or zombies are also particularly popular, along with EuroShock's Amicus titles such as ASYLUM.

As far as Thompson's own EuroShock favorites... While he's particular to many of the line's titles, having been a fan of this type of film since youth, a few items stand out. "I'm really grateful for the release of FLESH AND THE FIENDS, a title I never thought would be released in scope, much less in two different versions on the same disc! Pretty much any '60s or '70s British horror is close to my heart HORROR EXPRESS, ASYLUM and all of Pete Walker's, like FRIGHTMARE and SCHIZO. Of the Franco's, FEMALE VAMPIRE and the ORLOFF films are my favorites." He is quick to point out, though, that all the EuroShock titles "have their charms; even laughably bad titles like ZOMBIE LAKE [directed by J.A. Lazer, a pseudonym for Julian de Laserna and French horror auteur Jean Rollin] are just so much fun to watch if you're in the right mood."

With numerous titles currently available (see the checklist below), are there any special films for EuroShock that Thompson is working on now? "Most recently, I've been working on overdrive to put together the best possible disc for CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE, which was filmed in Atlanta, Georgia while I was growing up there. I've always had a real soft spot for that one, and it's turning out to be a seriously jam-packed disc thanks to the help of lots of kind people around the world who are willing to [lend a hand] with it."

With high

quality prints, extras where available and titles that fans have been clamoring after for years, EuroShock has proved its worth in a competitive market. As the titles are not going anywhere soon, one can rest assured that at least for the next few years EuroShock will be with us, continuing to give consumers long desired product at reasonable prices. Now let's pop the cork on the champagne and celebrate this golden age of horror DVDS!

A EUROSHOCK CHECKLIST

Available Now:


AENIGMA
ASYLUM
THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF
THE BEAST MUST DIE
THE BLOOD BEAST TERROR
CAVE OF THE LIVING DEAD
DIE SCREAMING MARIANNE
DOOMWATCH
FEMALE VAMPIRE
FRIGHTMARE
HORROR EXPRESS
HOUSE OF WHIPCORD
OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES
ORLOFF AND THE INVISIBLE MAN
PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE
PSYCHOMANIA
REVENGE IN THE HOUSE OF USHER
THE SADISTIC BARON VON KLAUS
SCHIZO
TOMB OF TORTURE
VOICES FROM BEYOND
WAX MASK
ZOMBIE LAKE


Coming Soon:


DR. ORLOFF'S MONSTER
CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE
CRIMSON
DEVIL KISS
SEVEN NOTES IN BLACK (THE PSYCHIC)
THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE
AND NOW THE SCREAMING STARTS


Top 10 Best-Selling Titles:


FEMALE VAMPIRE
FLESH AND THE FIENDS
HORROR EXPRESS
AENIGMA
ZOMBIE LAKE
OASIS OF THE ZOMBIES
ASYLUM
PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE
THE AWFUL DR. ORLOFF
DOOMWATCH