Universal B-horrors

By: Brian Thomas
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I received a special invitation in my mailbox this week. It's not exactly on topic as concerns DVDs, but it might pertain to DVD recorders or more specifically, the new HD format recorders - and material you can collect for same. Anyway, it gives me a chance to vent. Here's my response:

Dear TiVo,

Oh great.


Two words in particular stick in my craw from this special offer: "limited time". I was an early adopter of TiVo and I've been trumpeting the fact that it's the greatest revolution in TV technology since the VCR to all my readers, friends and family ever since. However, we're not quite ready to upgrade to an HD monitor, HD DVR and HD satellite service, as it would cost a small fortune that my bank account just doesn't hold at this time. But if I am able to upgrade after your time limit runs out, then I have to pay stiff annual subscriptions, right, even though I bought a lifetime subscription to TiVo service when I bought my DVR?


So here's my options: Spend $1000 by the end of the year for a TiVo HD package to get the HD I won't be able to use until I can afford to upgrade the rest of my system - at which point the price of TiVo HD DVRs will likely drop to under $200. Or, stick with the "lifetime" TiVo service and non-HD DVR I have now, wait until prices on HD stuff comes down, and then pay whatever crazy price TiVo decides to put on their subscriptions to get the service I thought I already paid for seven years ago.

Thanks for putting a gun to my head, TiVo. No wonder you're struggling. Oh wait, doesn't my satellite (or cable) provider offer an HD DVR receiver package? Hmm.


***


In our Prize Closet this week we've got 2 copies of the disturbing little confection HARD CANDY courtesy of Lionsgate. To be eligible to win one, send an email containing your name and address with "LEMONHEAD" in the email subject to psycho@psychotronic.info.

SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK

This week, Universal gets us ready for Halloween season with these collections from their vaults..

(O) BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION (Universal) Includes NIGHT KEY, TOWER OF LONDON (with Basil Ratrhbone and Vincent Price), his first color feature THE CLIMAX, THE STRANGE DOOR and THE BLACK CASTLE.
(O) INNER SACTUM MYSTERIES Complete Movie Collection (Universal) B-movie spin-off of the popular 1940s radio anthology. 2-disc set brings you Lon Chaney Jr. in CALLING DR. DEATH, WEIRD WOMAN, DEAD MAN'S EYES, THE FROZEN GHOST, STRANGE CONFESSION and PILLOW OF DEATH.


NEW RELEASES


(O) BACKDRAFT (Universal) Kurt Russell and William Baldwin are Chicago firemen battling a mad arsonist in this hit action drama from Ron Howard. 2-disc 15th anniversary edition includes extensive deleted footage, five featurettes and more.
(O) BATTLESTAR GALACTICA Season 2.5 (Universal) 11 episodes on three discs, including an extended version of the midseason cliffhanger, commentraks, producer Ron Moore's Podcast commentraks, producer David Eck's video blog, deleted footage and more.
(O) THE BOB NEWHART SHOW Complete Fourth Season (Fox) Every episode from the 1975 season, plus commentraks, featurettes and gag reel.
(O) BRAIN DAMAGE (Mackinac) Frank Hennenlotter's 1988 psychotronic classic.
(O) CHUCKY: THE KILLER DVD COLLECTION (Universal) Includes CHILD'S PLAY 2, CHILD'S PLAY 3, BRIDE OF CHUCKY and SEED OF CHUCKY on two discs.
(O) EDGAR ALLAN POE'S TALES OF MYSTERY & IMAGINATION (BFS) British TV anthology hosted by Christopher Lee. 11 episodes on 4 discs.
(O) THE EDISON DEATH MACHINE (ZP International) Thieves discover an old re-animation machine, but of course their plan to use it to revive the dead to steal from them runs into a few glitches. Includes director commentrak, featurettes and bloopers.
(O) ELVIRA'S MOVIE MACABRE: THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE / WEREWOLF OF WASHINGTON (Shout Factory)
(O) ELVIRA'S MOVIE MACABRE: LEGACY OF BLOOD / THE DEVIL'S WEDDING NIGHT (Shout Factory)
(O) ELVIRA'S MOVIE MACABRE: FRANKENSTEIN'S CASTLE OF FREAKS / COUNT DRACULA'S GREAT LOVE (Shout Factory) "Borrowing" a decree of her persona from 1950s TV horror hostess Vampira, Cassandra Peterson's bombshell looks and saucy sense of humor made her a hit on local TV in the 1980s, then expanded her empire to syndication, movies and home video to the point where she can now retire as a beloved media icon. Now Shout Factory is making her original MOVIE MACABRE shows available on DVD, both individually and in these 2-packs.
(O) THE EVOLVED (Troma) Detective Danny Glover goes to London to solve the case of a dog serial killer.
(O) EXORCIST MASTER (Image) 1993 HK action horror in which Catholics unwittingly free evil spirits from a shuttered church and it's up to Buddhists to save the day.
(O) GILMORE GIRLS Complete Sixth Season (Warner Bros.) Also available bundled with 1-5.
(O) HARD CANDY (Lionsgate) An internet predator hooks up with his latest victim, but just who is stalking who? Includes 2 commentraks, Making-Of, featurettes and more. See above for giveaway.
(O) HART TO HART Complete Second Season (Sony)
(O) HELLMASTER (Mackinac) College re-animation horror. Includes commentrak and more.
(O) HENRY FONDA SIGNATURE COLLECTION (Warner Bros.) Includes ADVISE AND CONSENT, BATTLE OF THE BULGE, MISTER ROBERTS and THE WRONG MAN.
(O) JIGOKU (Criterion) Uncanny 1960 Japanese morality play in which a hit & run driver witnesses the horrors awaiting him in Hell. With documentary, interviews, insert booklet and more.
(O) KING OF QUEENS 6th Season (Sony)
(O) LEFT IN DARKNESS (Anchor Bay) The latest from Stephen J. Cannell's horror factory. Includes commentrak, Making-Of, interviews and more.
(O) MARTHA'S HALLOWEEN IDEAS (Warner Bros.) Martha Stewart shows you how to make a centerpiece using a human head.
(O) MY NAME IS EARL Complete First Season (Fox) Second funniest show on TV (behind THE OFFICE). Includes commentraks, exclusive episodelet, bloopers, featurette and more.
(O) QUIET COOL (Image) 1986 action with James Remar battling reefer farmers in California.
(O) ROAR Complete Series (Universal) Heath Ledger stars as a Celtic warrior with magical powers for 13 episodes.
(O) THE SANDMAN (Tempe) A monster stalks a trailer park. Includes commentrak, Making-Of featurettes, deleted footage, music video and more.
(O) SHOGUN COLLECTION (Adness/Ronin/BCI Eclipse) Sonny Chiba in samurai action. Includes SHOGUN'S SAMURAI, SWORDS OF VENGEANCE, SHOGUN'S NINJA and SHOGUN'S SHADOW.
(O) THE SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE (Criterion) 1973 Spanish classic in which a girl is haunted by a screening of FRANKENSTEIN.
(O) SPIRITED KILLER (BCI Eclipse) Tony Jaa's first action flick, plus interview and featurettes.
(O) STAY ALIVE (Buena Vista) Yet another killer video game movie. Unrated director's cut edition includes commentrak, featurettes, games and more.
(O) STICK IT (Buena Vista) Girls gymnastics comedy with a double-twist ending. Includes commentrak, bloopers, outtakes, music videos and more.
(O) TOMIE Collection (Adness/Ronin/BCI Eclipse) All five J-horror features about the girl who would not die, plus Making-Of, interviews and more.
(O) VIRGIN WITCH (Image) 1972 UK horror in which sisters get involved with a coven at a remote castle.
(O) ZANE GREY WESTERN CLASSICS Collector's Edition 3 (Lionsgate) Includes:
(O) ZANE GREY WESTERN CLASSICS: Fighting Westerner (Lionsgate)
(O) ZANE GREY WESTERN CLASSICS: Light of the Western Stars (Lionsgate)
(O) ZANE GREY WESTERN CLASSICS: Wanderer of the Wasteland (Lionsgate)

HD-DVD CORNER

(O) BACKDRAFT (Universal) Includes extensive deleted footage, five featurettes and more.



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!

Questions? Comments? Let us know what you think at DVDShoppingList@cinescape.com.