Horror classics

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Tuesday, September 26, 2006

I'm getting over a virus, but fortunately after a few light weeks we've got a big list this week. Enjoy!

In our Prize Closet this week we have a copy of FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT, courtesy of Universal. To be eligible to win one, send an email to psycho@psychotronic.info containing your name and address, and put "F&F3" in the email subject.


SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week it was tough to choose among the special editions of classic horrors, but these two have "Labor o' Love" written all over them. Well, not literally that'd be poor package design.

(O) DUST DEVIL (Subversive) 5-disc(!) HD "final cut" 107-minute edition of Richard Stanley's acclaimed African horror opus, plus a reconstruction of the 114-minute work print, three of Stanley's documentaries, commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, production diaries, deleted footage, interviews, comic-book, CD soundtrack and more.
(O) STREET TRASH: Meltdown Edition (Synapse) Synapse released a single disc edition last year, but for fans this long in production special edition is the one they've been waiting for. Includes 2 commentraks, 2-hour Making-Of documentary, the original 16mm short version and more.


NEW RELEASES


(O) ABSOLUTE ZERO (Echo Bridge) Low budget weather disaster flick.
(O) AMAZING STORIES (Tai Seng) Hong Kong anthology present three supernatural tales.
(O) BEOWULF & GRENDEL (Anchor Bay) Stellan Skarsgaard and Sarah Polley in a new interpretation of the ancient tale of a Norse hero and a hulking monster. With commentrak, interviews, featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) BEST OF THE KIDS IN THE HALL Volume 1 (A&E) Sketches collected from the first two seasons, plus commentraks and more.
(O) BOLLYWOOD HORROR COLLECTION Volume 1 (Mondo Macabro) It's kind of a dirty little secret in India, but for a time outrageous horror pictures were quite popular there. Leave it to the folks at Mondo Macabro to deliver. This disc contains BANDH DARWAZA (1990), in which an undead evil sorcerer haunts the woman he helped have a child, and PURANA MANDIR (1984), about a family curse that turns all female members into hideous monsters.
(O) BOOK OF DANIEL Complete Series (Universal) Religious philosophy TV series that never had a chance.
(O) BUG BUSTER (Genius) Bugs!
(O) CHAOS (Razor) The horror of despair stains this unauthorized 2005 remake of LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (though the filmmakers claim it's based on a true crime from the '70s), as a gang of sadistic criminals abduct two girls from a rave. Brutal stuff. Also available in a director's cut edition with commentrak and featurettes.
(O) CHOI LEE FUT KUNG FU (BCI Eclipse) Cliff Lok and Phillip Ko in "Ratescope" edition of a 1979 kung fu epic. Includes interview and kung fu demo.
(O) THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW Complete First & Second Seasons (HBO) All 17 episodes plus commentraks.
(O) COMPLETE WALKING WITH COLLECTION (BBC) 5-disc set includes the original WALKING WITH DINOSAURS, ALLOSAURUS and WALKING WITH PREHISTORIC BEASTS, plus Making-Of featurettes, interviews, CD-ROM features, storyboards and more.
(O) CONNOR'S WAR (Sony) Blind CIA agent Anthony Criss is given back his eyesight for 48 hours to complete a mission.
(O) DANIEL BOONE Seasons 1 & 2 (Goldhil) 1964 series about the frontier hero. Includes commentraks, interview and more.
(O) DARK SHADOWS DVD Collection 26 (MPI) The final volume! 19 episodes on four discs, plus rehearsals, home movies and more.
(O) DARK WATERS (NoShame) The original Spanish horror in which a British insurance investigator travels to a remote island convent and finds supernatural secrets. 2-disc set includes commentrak, deleted footage, Making-Of, bloopers, screenplay and four shorts by director Mariano Baino. A limited edition gift set adds on a stone amulet replica and special 48-page booklet.
(O) THE DEAD ZONE (Paramount) Special edition of David Cronenberg's 1983 Stephen King adaptation with Christopher Walken includes four featurettes.
(O) DRACULA (Universal) 2-disc 75th Anniversary Edition includes the Bela Lugosi horror landmark, two commentraks, an alternate Philip Glass score, the Spanish version and documentary featurettes.
(O) DROP DEAD SEXY (Lionsgate) Jason Lee and Crispin Glover launch a blackmail scheme using the corpse of a wealthy woman.
(O) THE FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (Universal) Second "sequel" about a US driver competing in Japanese street races. Widescreen and "Fullscreen" editions include director commentrak, featurettes and more.
(O) FRANKENSTEIN (Universal) 2-disc 75th Anniversary Edition includes the Boris Karloff horror landmark, two commentraks, documentary featurettes, bonus short and more.
(O) FRANKENSTEIN, EL VAMPIRO Y COMPANIA (CineVision/Image) 1962 Mexican horror comedy, in Spanish with NO SUBTITLES.
(O) FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY (Universal) Classy 1973 miniseries interpretation of the Shelley novel starring James Mason and Michael Sarrazin (with Jane Seymour as the Bride) hews close to the text for much of its 183 minutes.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 1 (Image) Includes COW TOWN, WHIRLWIND, THE OLD WEST and SONS OF NEW MEXICO.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 2 (Image) Includes VALLEY OF FIRE, MULE TRAIN, BEYOND THE PURPLE HILLS and INDIAN TERRITORY.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 3 (Image) Includes BACK IN THE SADDLE, RIDE TENDERFOOT RIDE, RANCHO GRANDE and MELODY RANCH.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 4 (Image) Includes ROBIN HOOD OF TEXAS, WAGON TEAM, SIOUX CITY SUE and BLUE CANADIAN ROCKIES.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 5 (Image) Includes BELLS OF CAPISTRANO, HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE, UNDER FIESTA STARS and SHOOTING HIGH.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION Volume 6 (Image) Includes SOUTH OF THE BORDER, DOWN MEXICO WAY, MEXICALI ROSE and GAUCHO SERENADE.
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION: THE SAGEBRUSH TROUBADOUR (Image)
(O) GENE AUTREY COLLECTION: TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS (Image)
(O) GEOCHILMARU: THE SHOWDOWN (Tai Seng) Eight masters in martial arts receive an invitation to gather in a secluded mountain area and to engage in a competition in this 2005 Korean action flick.
(O) GHOST GALLEON (Blue Underground) Definitive edition of the third Blind Dead picture from 1975 (aka HORROR OF THE ZOMBIES) in which the Templaros haunt a spooky ship.
(O) GORMENGHAST (BBC) A wicked servant plots to usurp power in a gigantic castle in this four hour TV adaptation of Mervyn Peake's fantasy trilogy.
(O) HAIL MARY (New Yorker) Jean-Luc Godard's 1985 modern retelling of the Biblical story of the virgin birth. Includes Making-Of.
(O) HEAD TRAUMA (Heretic) A drifter tries to reclaim his inheritance, but an accidental head wound sprouts paranoia.
(O) HENRY 2: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (Dark Sky/MPI) Chuck Parello's interesting 1998 sequel to John McNaughton's horror classic has Henry pull a white trash couple into an arson scheme. With director commentrak, Making-Of, deleted footage and more.
(O) HOUSE OF CARNAGE (Sub Rosa) Backwoods cannibal family plots to birth demon babies.
(O) HYPOTHESIS OF THE STOLEN PAINTING (Facets) Surrealistic 1978 French exploration of an art theft mystery.
(O) KEKKO KAMEN LIVE! (Media Blasters) 4-disc set collects the manga adaptation about a sexy nude superhero: KEKKO KAMEN NEW, KEKKO KAMEN STRIKES BACK, KEKKO KAMEN RETURNS and KEKKO KAMEN SURPRISE.
(O) LADY VENGEANCE (Tartan) Third entry in Park Chan-wook's superb Vengeance Trilogy in which an innocent woman is imprisoned for murder and kidnapping and plots against the man responsible while serving her time. Includes three commentraks, Making-Of, interview and more.
(O) LAND OF THE MINOTAUR / TERROR (BCI Eclipse) A Crypt of Terror double feature.
(O) THE LAKE HOUSE (Warner Bros.) Lovers Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves are somehow separated by a time warp involving the strange house they both occupy at different times. Widescreen and "Fullscreen" editions include deleted footage and outtakes.
(O) THE LAST BROADCAST (Heretic) This sharp shot-on-DV docuhorror about the Jersey Devil beat THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT in technique and STAR WARS I with the first satallite digital screening, but failed to cash in. Includes reversible cover with art by Stephen R. Bissette, 2 commentraks, behind-the-scenes, interviews, booklet, mini-comic and more.
(O) LAUGHING IN THE WIND Complete Epic Saga (Facets) The full 34-hour Korean swordplay TV series.
(O) LOVE AND SWORD (BCI Eclipse) Rarescope Edition of 1979 swordplay action (aka THE SAMURAI) with Tin Peng, plus featurettes.
(O) MADMEN OF MANDORAS / BRIDE OF THE MONSTER (BCI Eclipse) Trash heaven with the rare original cut of THEY SAVED HITLER'S BRAIN (also included on the disc), plus Ed Wood's monster opus with Bela Lugosi. A Starlite Drive-In Theater double bill.
(O) MASTERS OF HORROR: Imprint (Anchor Bay) Takashi Miike's entry in the Showtime series proved too strong for cable. Includes commentrak, interview, featurettes, screenplay and more.
(O) MIKADROID: ROBOKILL BENEATH DISCO CLUB LAYLA (DiscoTek) An undead military cyborg buried under rubble since WWII breaks loose in this outrageous 1991 J-shocker. Includes Making-Of.
(O) MUNSTERS Two Movie Fright Fest (Universal) Includes MUNSTER GO HOME! And THE MUNSTER'S REVENGE.
(O) NAKED AND DEAD ON BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (Sub Rosa) Four movie 2-disc set includes VAMPIRA, NIGHT VAMPS, VAMPIRE CALL GIRLS and BATTLE OF COLOSSAL WOMEN.
(O) NEW LEGEND OF SHAOLIN (Tai Seng) Special edition of the incredible Jet Li/Wong Jing 1994 martial arts classic includes commentrak.
(O) NIGHT MARCHERS 2: RETURN OF THE KA'AI (Mountain Apple) Sequel to the first distinctly Hawaiian horror film! Includes featurettes and music video.
(O) NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Tapeworm)
(O) NIGHT OF THE SEAGULLS (Blue Underground) Definitive edition of the fourth and final Blind Dead movie.
(O) NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF (Deimos/BCI Eclipse) Paul Naschy's 1980 Spanish gothic wolfman movie.
(O) A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET (New Line) NL's Infinifilm treatment is applied to Wes Craven's horror classic, including Making-Of featurettes, commentrak, trivia quiz and more.
(O) THE NOTORIOUS BETTIE PAGE (HBO) Mary Harron's big screen treatment of the pin-up icon's story starring Gretchen Mol. Includes commentrak, featurettes, vintage Page shorts and more.
(O) PELIGROSA OBSESSION (Image) Mexican action.
(O) PET SEMATARY (Paramount) Special collector's edition.of the 1989 Stephen King adaptation includes commentrak and featurettes.
(O) POM POM GIRLS / THE VAN (BCI Eclipse) Authentis 1970s drive-in double feature under the Starlite Drive-In banner.
(O) POWER RANGERS MYSTIC FORCE: Dark Wish (Buena Vista)
(O) RETURN OF THE EVIL DEAD (Blue Underground) Definitive edition of the second Blind Dead movie.
(O) SAMURAI CHICKS (Media Blasters) A dance academy secretly trains its girls as warriors to battle supervillains.
(O) THE SEEKERS (Inspired) A young man is offered answers to life's questions via the supernatural.
(O) THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (Dark Sky/MPI) "Ultimate Edition" includes a new HD anamorphic transfer, the commentrak with Tobe Hooper, Daniel Pearl * Gunnar Hansen from previous releases, plus a new one from the actors, deleted footage, two documentaries and more.
(O) THRILLER Complete Season One (BBC) No, it's not the classic anthology hosted by Boris Karloff but a 1973 UK series produced by Brian Clemens. Includes interviews.
(O) THUNDER IN PARADISE Collection (Lionsgate) Hulk Hogan in a trio of action TV movies.
(O) TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (Blue Underground) Definitive edition of Armando de Ossorio's original Spanish cult horror classic. Includes alternate opening.
(O) THE TOMORROW SHOW: Tom Snyder's Electric Kool-Aid Talk Show (Shout Factory) 1960s interviews with acid icons Dr. Timothy Leary, Ken Kesey, the Grateful Dead and Tom Wolfe.
(O) VABANK 2 (Facets) Polish heist thriller sequel.
(O) VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (Deimos/BCI Eclipse) 1972 Spanish voodoo zombie horror with Paul Naschy.
(O) WINDY CITY HEAT (Comedy Central/Paramount) A character actor is fooled into believing he has the lead in a phony low budget feature in this cruel comedy prank documentary.
(O) ZOMBIE PACK 2 (Media Blasters) Includes ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST, BURIAL GROUND and FLESH EATER.

BLU-RAY DISC CORNER

(O) FOUR BROTHERS (Paramount) With commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) THE FUGITIVE (Warner Bros.) With commentrak, featurettes and more.
(O) HOUSE OF WAX (Warner Bros.) With video commentrak, featurettes, alternate opening, gag reel and more.
(O) LETHAL WEAPON 2 (Warner Bros.) With featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) SKY CAPTAIN & THE WORLD OF TOMORROW (Paramount) With 2 commentraks, featurettes, original short and more.
(O) SLEEPY HOLLOW (Paramount) With commentrak, featurettes and more.
(O) SPACE COWBOYS (Warner Bros.) With featurettes, interviews and more.
(O) SWORDFISH (Warner Bros.)
(O) TOMB RAIDER (Paramount) With commentrak, featurettes, deleted footage, music video and more.

HD-DVD CORNER

(O) THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (Warner Bros.) Includes commentrak, documentaries, outtakes, newsreel, radio shows and 3 Looney Tunes shorts!
(O) DAZED AND CONFUSED (Universal) With vintage film strips and shorts, deleted footage and more.
(O) THE DIRTY DOZEN (Warner Bros.)
(O) END OF DAYS (Universal)
(O) THE FAST & THE FURIOUS (Universal) With Making-Of featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) THE FAST & THE FURIOUS: TOKYO DRIFT (Universal) Hybrid disc.
(O) GRAND PRIX (Warner Bros.) 1966 racing epic.
(O) LAND OF THE DEAD (Universal) Hybrid disc.with extras on DVD side includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, deleted footage and more.
(O) NIGHT OF THE WEREWOLF (Deimos/BCI Eclipse)
(O) TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (Warner Bros.) With 3 commentraks, featurettes and more.
(O) 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (Universal) With commentrak, featurettes, outtakes and more.
(O) VENGEANCE OF THE ZOMBIES (Deimos/BCI Eclipse)



And be sure to check back next weekand every weekfor CINESCAPE's DVD Shopping List! And don't forget Anime Avalanche every Saturday!

DVD Shopping List (© 2006 Brian Thomas) is our weekly DVD column. Brian Thomas is the author of the massive book VideoHound's DRAGON: ASIAN ACTION & CULT FLICKS, available now!

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