Kino Lorber will be bringing the 1977 film "The People That Time Forgot" to Blu-ray. They are hoping to have it out in November. Walter Olsen of Scorpion Releasing will be producing some extras for the release. The only information available on special features so far is there should be a couple interviews.
When a message is found from lost explorer Bowen Tyler (Doug McClure) detailing a prehistoric world at the center of the Arctic Circle, fellow adventurer Ben McBride (Patrick Wayne) gets a newspaper to sponsor a search. The search takes McBride to the tropical oasis Tyler wrote about, the isle of Caprona, where he meets a feisty cavegirl named Ajor (Dana Gillespie). She explains that Tyler has been kidnapped by a warrior tribe called the Naga. Now it's up to McBride to rescue him.
Directed by Kevin Connor, the film stars Patrick Wayne, Doug McClure and Sarah Douglas.
Horror fans know that it can be difficult to keep up on the latest and upcoming releases due to the number of distributors that are out there. If you don't have the time to scour social media sites and/or forums on a regular basis, it can be near impossible to not miss out on something. Hopefully this helps a little bit.
For those that aren't aware, Code Red DVD has started selling titles on SAE (Screen Archives Entertainment). It is the same website that sells the Twilight Time releases, if you are familiar with those. For your convenience, you can click on the link above and it will take you to the Code Red releases that SAE currently carries that you can purchase.
The titles currently available at SAE:
Code Red DVD has a number of other Blu-ray and DVD releases available. Most are not available on more common sites like Amazon but you can check Diabolik DVD which carries a number of titles when available. You can also visit the Code Red Big Cartel Store which is usually open during weekends, but that can vary. In case you're wondering why weekends, owner William Olsen primarily runs the business by himself, so he needs time to fill and ship orders in addition to his other duties.
Code Red's other Blu-ray releases include:
Voices From Beyond
Nail Gun Massacre
Just Before Dawn
The Redeemer: Son of Satan
Savage Streets
Nightmare - 35th Anniversary Edition
Neon Maniacs
Mary, Mary, Bloody Mary
Messiah of Evil: The Second Coming - 35th Anniversary Edition
The Eerie Midnight Horror Show
Lady Stay Dead
Revenge of the Cheerleaders
Brotherhood of Death
The Man With 2 Heads
Torture Dungeon
Bloodthirsty Butchers
The Obsessed One
The Devil's Wedding Night
Night Child
Pit Stop
Recently two other titles were announced: Hide and Go Shriek and The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! and you can click on those links to read more about them. "The House on the Edge of the Park" is another title that should be coming sometime in the future. I believe a few more titles have been mentioned as future releases as well but I haven't read anything about them in awhile.
A few Italian titles have recently been hinted at, but as far as I am aware, they have not been officially confirmed. So at this time I would rather not get anyone's hope up just yet.
Released by:Arrow Films Release Date: March 10, 2014 Production Year: 1985 Region Code: B Running Time: 1:26:31 Audio: English LPCM Mono Video: 1080p (1.85:1 Aspect Ratio) Subtitles: English SDH
THE FILM:
The Stuff is the new dessert taking supermarket shelves by storm. It’s delicious, low in calories and – better still – doesn’t stain the family carpet… What’s not to like?! Well, for a start it has a life of its own, and we’re not talking friendly live bacteria…
Young Jason seems to be the only one who doesn’t love The Stuff – in fact he won’t go anywhere near it, after having seen the pudding crawling around the fridge one night. What’s more, everyone who eats The Stuff has started acting really weird… Now, teaming up with wise-cracking industrial saboteur “Mo”, Jason must put a stop to The Stuff and the organization behind it or face a gooey, gloopy demise.
Coming courtesy of horror auteur Larry Cohen (director of the It’s Alive series and scribe behind the Maniac Cop trilogy), The Stuff is a titillating treat for the taste-buds which blends elements of films such as Street Trash with the straight-up B-movie flavor of The Blob. So grab a spoon and dig on into The Stuff – the taste that delivers… much more than you bargained for!
This films brings back fond memories. The first time I saw the film was on VHS in the late 80's. A friend who had already seen the movie, introduced me to it. What a fun time we had! From the wacky commercials to "The Stuff" oozing and moving about... it was a blast! I was happy to hear the news when Arrow Video announced they would be releasing it on Blu-ray. I've had it for awhile now but reviewing this release gave me another reason to watch it again.
AUDIO: This Blu-ray comes with an English LPCM Mono track as its only audio option. The track does a great job balancing the dialogue, score and sound effects. Dialogue is easy to hear and understand. The sound effects and score do a nice job and sound very good as well. I did not notice any negative issues with the audio on this release. There are English SDH Subtitles included which can be accessed from the Setup menu.
VIDEO:
"The Stuff" oozes its way on to Blu-ray via a high definition restoration of the film from a new 2k scan of the original camera negative, courtesy of UK distributor, Arrow Video. The film is presented in 1080p with a 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio. Arrow has done a terrific job with making this Blu-ray look incredible. The color and skin tones look great and very natural. Black levels look nice as well. There is an abundance of fine detail present with close ups looking excellent. A nice layer of film grain is present throughout with it getting a little heavier in some darker scenes, which is to be expected. This is a very welcomed and amazing upgrade in video quality over the Region 1 DVD that I own.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Can't Get Enough of The Stuff (52:10) - This documentary features interviews with Larry Cohen (Director), Paul Kurta (Producer), Andrea Marcovicci (Nicole), Steve Neill (Mechanical Makeup Effects Creator) and Kim Newman (Critic). Many topics are discussed including practical effects, the cast, the actual 'stuff' used in the film, and the films cult classic status. This was interesting and definitely worth watching. Fans of the film should particularly enjoy it.
Darren Bousman Trailer Commentary (1:48) - Trailers From Hell segment with Darren Bousman giving his opinion about the film.
Original Trailer (1:35)
Reversible Cover Art
IN CONCLUSION:
Arrow Video did a great job with this Blu-ray & DVD Combo Pack. The audio and video quality is amazing. This is easily the best that the film has ever looked and fans should not hesitate to upgrade. The one unfortunate thing is that the commentary track from the Anchor Bay Region 1 DVD was not ported over. So if you own it like I do, hold on to it, unless special features are not important to you.
A Gruesome Tale of Man-Eating Rats and Blood-Sucking Werewolves!
Code Red DVD has announced plans to bring the 1972 Andy Milligan film, "The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!" to Blu-ray. No further information is available at this time.
If you lived near the Mooneys and watched their daily comings and goings from across the street, you'd think your neighbors are ordinary people. But you would never see poor demented Malcolm, who lives in the cellar with a lot of weird animals, including his sister's "man eating" rats. And you would not see his sister Monica when she tortures both the rats and Malcolm. You would see crisp and pretty Diana, who is a nurse. But you would not see her tend to her father;s bizarre "illness". The Mooneys do not live happily ever after... because The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! You can't see it from across the street, but we'll take you inside... if you have the stomach for it.
The trailer is of poor quality, but pickings are slim and it at least gives you a visual idea of the movie.
Released by:Starz / Anchor Bay Release Date: September 10, 2013 Production Year: 2009 Region Code: A Running Time: 1:32:37 Audio: English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Video: 1080p (1.78:1 Aspect Ratio) Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
THE FILM:
During a Turkish archaeological dig early last century, an ancient board game said to have entertained demons was unearthed. Now nearly 90 years later, a group of vacationing friends – including a cynic (Danielle Harris of HALLOWEEN), a rich jerk (James Duval of DONNIE DARKO), a slutty starlet (Mircea Monroe of “Hart Of Dixie”), a jock (Nick Menell of FRIDAY THE 13TH) and prudish twin sisters (Electra & Elise Avellan of GRINDHOUSE) – discover the game hidden in an old house on a remote Maine island. And with a roll of the dice, their darkest secrets will unleash all the greed, jealously and lusts of Hell itself. Richard Tyson (BLACK HAWK DOWN) and Robert Patrick (TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY) co-star in this gory shocker
"The Black Waters of Echo's Pond" sounds interesting and looks interesting from the trailer. But it's a horror film of average quality. It is still an alright way to spend 90 minutes. The film does have some good cast members like Danielle Harris and Robert Patrick, and some of them get their hands dirty during the film. Speaking of death scenes, some meet their demise in a variety of ways with a fair amount of blood and gore. This film reminds me of a horror version of "Jumanji" with the whole board game aspect.
AUDIO:
This Blu-ray has one option which is a English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio track. It does a fair job with the sound effects, dialog and score. I did notice that sometimes the dialog was a bit lower in volume compared to the score or sound effects. Overall the audio is still fine and shouldn't have anyone straining to hear what is being said. There are English SDH as well as Spanish Subtitles included for those that need them.
VIDEO:
"The Black Waters of Echo's Pond" floats its way on to Blu-ray thanks to Starz / Anchor Bay. The film is presented in 1080p with a 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. Video quality is good for the most part but there is a definite lack of fine detail. It's not terrible or even bad. But it has a noticeable softer look than you would expect. However, in some well lit, close up shots, fine detail is improved and looks pretty good. Colors vary throughout, sometimes looking a bit flat and other times looking fine. It could be a combination of the lighting and camera used. Either way, again, it is not a huge detriment to the film. Black levels looked fine. Skin tones appeared natural although you may wonder sometimes, but I think it is because they may have filmed using only the lights in the actual scene and did not add extra lighting to brighten everything like some films do. It can make it seem like the lighting is uneven but I think it looks more natural.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Alternate Opening (2:36) - The only extra on this release is an alternate opening scene. It's worth watching at least for the blood and gore.
IN CONCLUSION:
An average film and an average Blu-ray release. Given the amount of time it took for the film to actually get a release after it was completed, a commentary track with the cast or crew could have been interesting. Even a making-of featurette or some interviews would have been nice. But that is the way it goes sometimes. The price on this release has come down a fair amount since its release so you may be able to pick it up cheap if it interests you. I would really only recommend this to those that had seen the film and want to own the Blu-ray or if you are a fan of one or more of the stars. It is not something I revisit often but it is probably the third time I have watched the film. I am a Danielle Harris fan, plus I like the movie just enough to not regret my purchase.
Arrow Video has announced the final specs for their upcoming Blu-ray release of Umberto Lenzi's 'Nightmare City'. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available on August 24, 2015. You can pre-order it from their site or from other retailers.
The list of extras include:
• Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative • Alternative High Definition transfer from the 35mm reversal dupe negative • High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations • Original Italian and English soundtracks in mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray) • Newly translated subtitles for the Italian soundtrack • Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack • Brand new audio commentary by filmmaker, Fangoria editor and Nightmare City fan Chris Alexander • Radiation Sickness – a brand new interview with director Umberto Lenzi • Sheila of the Dead – a brand new interview with star Maria Rosaria Omaggio • Zombies Gone Wild! – director, producer and actor Eli Roth on Nightmare City and the wild cinema of Umberto Lenzi • Nightmare City and The Limits of Restoration – featurette looking at the differences between the two transfers included on this release • Alternate Opening Titles • Original Trailer • Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys • Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Martin, author of Seduction of the Gullible: The Truth Behind the Video Nasty Scandal, illustrated with original archive stills and posters Release Date: 24th August 2015 Format: Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD Starring: Hugo Stiglitz, Laura Trotter, Maria Rosaria Omaggio Directed by: Umberto Lenzi
Synopsis: NOW THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! THERE IS NO ESCAPE!
Long before zombies took up jogging in 28 Days Later and Zack Snyder’s Dawn of the Dead remake, they were brandishing axes and other sharp implements in Umberto Lenzi’s utterly insane radiation-sickness opus Nightmare City.
In true Zombie Flesh Eaters form, our story begins with the arrival of an ominous, seemingly unmanned craft – in this instance, a military plane making an unscheduled landing at a European airport. Upon forcing the aircraft doors open, the waiting soldiers get a nasty shock when out bursts a horde of flesh-hungry, pizza-faced radioactive ghouls. The walking dead are here, and they’re hungry!
Counting amongst its fans the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Eli Roth, Nightmare City (aka City of the Walking Dead) is a bonkers slice of Italian zombie carnage from the man who shocked the world with the notorious Cannibal Ferox.
Code Red DVD will be bringing director Skip Schoolnik's 1988 horror film, "Hide and Go Shriek" to Blu-ray. No further information is available at this time as a new HD scan still has to be done. But good news so far!
This shocking thriller captures the horror eight teenagers face when they sneak into a furniture story for an all-night graduation party. A game of hide and seek turns into a grisly nightmare as members of the group are murdered, one by one, leaving the others to the chilling realization that they could be next. Close your eyes, count to ten, and run for your life... "Hide and Go Shriek" is one game you'll be dying to finish.
I still don't really have an opinion of the show. I want to like it. I want to really like it. But I'm struggling. Most episodes have left me with a somewhat blah feeling. They have their shining moments but unfortunately they don't happen often enough for me I suppose. I loved the opening of the premiere. It took me back to the opening of the first Scream film. But since then I find myself waiting mostly for some action or kill scenes. I'll keep watching to see how it goes because this is a series and not a film, so they do need to focus more on story instead of killing off the entire cast, save a few. Anyhow, on to the news you came here for.
From their press release:
MTV today announced the second season pick-up of its hit series "Scream" with Dimension Television. More than 21 million viewers have tuned in to the debut season of "Scream" on-air and the series has generated another 7.9 million streams across platforms. Additionally, "Scream" has averaged 60% increases in L+3 over L+SD ratings week to week.
MTV Executive Vice President of Series Development and Head of Scripted Programming, Mina Lefevre said, "It has been a wonderful experience working with Bob Weinstein and his team who are such connoisseurs of this genre and we are thrilled by how our viewers have responded to the reinvention of 'Scream.' We look forward to another season filled with suspense, horror and more twists and turns."
"We couldn't be happier 'Scream' has been renewed for a second season and that we have a wonderful working relationship with Doug Herzog, Stephen Friedman, Susanne Daniels, Mina Lefevre and her team," said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company and Dimension Films. "The 'Scream' franchise has been such a huge part of our history and to watch it evolve, find a new generation of fans and succeed at MTV makes this all the more sweet. We promise even more scares, surprises, romance and of course kills in season two."
Attention horror fans..... Toolbox Murders 3 needs your help and support in order to fully bring the film to life. There are some great perks like a Blu-ray or DVD copy of the film and for a limited time you can lock in your donation of only $10 to get a Digital Download of the film when its completed. Please read on for more information on how you can help make a difference.
Toolbox Murders 3 will Shock and Mesmerize Horror Film Fans
The Toolbox Murders movie franchise has been terrifying viewers since 1977 when the first film, directed by Dennis Donnelly and produced by Tony DiDio, was released. Toolbox Murders became an instant horror classic that was banned in the United Kingdom and has served as an inspiration for generations of independent, horror filmmakers. In 2003, Tony hired Tobe Hooper and rebooted the Toolbox Murders franchise, which left an indelible mark on viewers who were exposed to a truly grotesque super-natural villain that reveled in unprecedented gore and violence using his trademark tools. On August 4th, 2015, Shout!Factory will release the third movie in the series entitled Toolbox Murders 2 in the U.S. The movie will horrify audiences around the country.
Tony DiDio has finally assembled a team of talented filmmaking professionals to build on the legacy of these three horror classics. The director of Toolbox Murders 3 will be Kevin Connor who directed other horror favorites like Motel Hell, The House Where Evil Dwells, and Frankenstein.
To learn more about the Toolbox Murders 3 campaign on Indiegogo please visit http://bit.ly/1CQMENf.
This newest installment of the Toolbox Murders series promises to be the most gruesome and stomach churning so far. In addition to an outstanding production team, Toolbox Murders 3 may also involve acting talent familiar to fans of previous movies in the franchise as well as actors like David Arquette, Rob Zombie and Sheri Moon Zombie.
The script has been written, and the film crew is preparing to begin shooting, but this project is still looking for the support from fans. In order to complete this project, the Toolbox Murders team will need $325,000 and has sponsored a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. If you were a fan of the earlier Toolbox Murders or just someone who loves to scream, please consider backing this worthwhile project from one of Hollywood’s most esteemed film producers.
In return for your generous support, you can receive valuable perks like joining the Toolbox Murders mailing list, participation in the TBM3 secret Facebook group, digital downloads, T-shirts, poster, DVD, Blu-Ray, signed script, TBK’s hammer/screw driver/saw, signed movie poster, movie “Special Thanks” credit, photo inclusion in the movie, movie series set, ToolBox Killer’s complete toolbox, invitation to the movie premiere, extra role in the movie, and even a victim role in the movie, or associate producer credit. To learn more about Toolbox Murders 3, or to make a financial pledge, please visit http://bit.ly/1CQMENf.
"If you're not back by midnight... you won't be coming home!"
Released by:Synapse Films Release Date: September 9, 2014 Production Year: 1980 Region Code: A Running Time: 1:32:44 Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / English DTS-HD 2.0 Mono Video: 1080p (1.78:1 Aspect Ratio) Subtitles: English SDH
THE FILM:
Jamie Lee Curtis (the “HALLOWEEN” film series) and Leslie Nielsen (“THE NAKED GUN” film and TV series, FORBIDDEN PLANET) star in this celebrated “slasher” horror classic.
Four Hamilton High seniors are hiding a terrible secret. What happened to Robin Hammond six years ago was a game that turned into a horrible tragedy, and someone saw what they did… someone waiting for gruesome revenge! Wearing a black hood and wielding an axe, a killer brutally slaughters the teenagers one by one at their high school prom. As the spotlight falls on the newly crowned prom king and queen, the psychopath will show everyone his new favorite game to play…
"Prom Night" is another slasher from the 80's when they were being made to capitalize on any holiday and special occasion possible. The film has its fair share of red herrings to keep you guessing at the identity of the killer. It also features a scene with some disco dancing by Jamie Lee Curtis and Leslie Nielsen. It's the kind of thing that takes you back to when you were a kid, watching a parent dance. But then there's also a killer on the loose to make sure they don't have too much fun. So dance at your risk.
AUDIO:
There are two English audio options on this Blu-ray, a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track and a newly created DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track. Both tracks sound great but the 5.1 track does have a little more to offer, most noticeably during the disco music scenes. Hey, maybe they will inspire you to get up and 'shake your groove thing.' There is a nice sense of balance with the score, sound effects and dialogue.
VIDEO:
"Prom Night' dances its way on to Blu-ray thanks to Synapse Films via a new HD master created from the films original negative. The film is presented in 1080p with a 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio. Bravo Synapse Films. Bravo. This film has never looked particularly good on its home video releases and those familiar with the film can testify to that. Fans that followed along on the journey that Synapse Films took to get the film looking like this will remember how long we waited and how surprised we were when we saw the comparison frames well before this Blu-ray was released. Well, the time they spent to restore the film was well worth the wait. It does still have a softness to it and its more noticeable in some scenes than others, but that is the way the film was shot and there is no way to totally fix that. The film looks amazing compared to any previous release. It is like night and day. Colors look alive and vibrant with a nice rich saturation. Skin tones have a natural appearance. Black levels look great throughout the film. There is a nice thin layer of grain present which really helps add to the ambiance when the characters are dancing to the disco music. It's almost like you could step right back in time. There is a very nice amount of fine detail present as well. I can't imagine this film looking any better than it does now. It certainly has never looked anywhere near as good as it does with this Blu-ray.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Audio Commentary - Director Paul Lynch and Screenwriter William Gray are joined by Moderator Pat Jankiewicz as they discuss the film. The conversation rarely pauses for long as the trio cover many topics relating to the film. They do a great job at entertaining listeners. Fans will definitely want to listen to this commentary. Some things covered here will be heard again in the making-of featurette.
The Horrors of Hamilton High: The Making of Prom Night (41:04) - This featurette includes interviews with Director Paul Lynch, Art Director Reuben Freed, Prosthetics Creator Warren Keillor, Composer Paul Zaza, Stars Mary Beth Rubens "Kelly", Joy Thompson "Jude", Jeff Wincott "Drew" and Michael Tough "Alex". Paul Lynch, among other things, talks about how the idea for "Prom Night" came to be and how Eve Plumb (The Brady Bunch) was almost cast in the role that ultimately went to Jamie Lee Curtis. The group shares stories from the set including working with Leslie Nielsen and the fart machine he carried around, working with Jamie Lee Curtis, other cast members, the set, death scenes, the music used in the film and much more.
Original Theatrical Trailer (1:49)
Original TV Spots (3:17)
Original Radio Spots (1:06)
Motion Still Gallery (6:20)
Additional Footage Added for Television Broadcast (11:11) - Michael Maclaverty the Editor for the TV version of "Prom Night" talks about needing extra footage for the movie to play on television. We then get to watch the extra footage.
Never-Before-Seen Outtakes from the Original "Prom Night" Shoot (23:15) - Music accompanies the outtake footage. Another nice bonus feature fans may want to watch since it's not too often we get to see behind the scenes footage or outtakes from older horror films.
IN CONCLUSION:
What more can be said. This is an incredible release. If you are a fan of the film and do not already own this Blu-ray, go buy it now. If you are new to the film and are a slasher fan, you should watch the movie. Now, the film is not as heavy on action or rather, kills, as you might expect from a slasher of this era, but it is still a decent film and now it has a Blu-ray release that could only be topped if Jamie Lee Curtis participated in some extras.
Universal Studios: Home Entertainment will release Tremors 5: Bloodlines on October 6, 2015.
A deadly threat resurfaces halfway around the world when giant, man-eating worms attack a South African wildlife park in the sci-fi comedy, Tremors 5: Bloodlines, available on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and Digital HD on October 6, 2015 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Michael Gross ("Family Ties," "Suits,") returns as Graboid hunter extraordinaire Burt Gummer, with Jamie Kennedy ("The Cleveland Show," Scream franchise) as his new tech-savvy second-in-command, in this all-new adventure. The latest chapter of the franchise known for its campy humor and voracious monsters features thrilling new special effects, 25 minutes of bonus features; extended scenes and outtakes, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film.
The stakes are raised for survivalist Burt Gummer (Michael Gross) in his most dangerous monster hunt yet. When Gummer's hired to capture a deadly Assblaster terrorizing South Africa, he and his new sidekick, Travis Welker (Jamie Kennedy), find themselves in a battle to the death against the fiercely aggressive Assblasters and Graboids. Discovering that the monsters have evolved into even more lethal creatures, their mission takes on a whole new level of unseen terror -- far more than they bargained for.
Special Features on Blu-ray + DVD Deleted And Extended Scenes Outtakes Tremors 5: Behind The Bloodlines featurette
Severin Films has released Turkey Shoot to Blu-ray and DVD on September 8, 2015.
The Infamous Ozploitation Splatter Classic Now Presented Totally Uncut In HD For The First Time Ever!
In a totalitarian near future, defiant citizens are labeled ‘deviants’ and sentenced to brutal ‘behavior modification’ camps. But when new prisoners Anders (Steve Railsback of THE STUNT MAN and HELTER SKELTER) and Walters (Olivia Hussey of ROMEO & JULIET and BLACK CHRISTMAS) are chosen as human prey for rich people to hunt, they will be thrust into a nightmare of depravity, dismemberment, cleaved skulls, exploding heads, lesbians with crossbows, the insane hungers of a deformed cannibal circus freak, and more. Michael Craig (THE VAULT OF HORROR), John Ley (BMX BANDITS) and Roger Ward (MAD MAX) co-star in this notorious blood-and-thunder shocker – also known as ESCAPE 2000 and BLOOD CAMP THATCHER – from maverick Ozploitation director Brian Trenchard-Smith (STUNT ROCK, DEAD END DRIVE-IN) and producer Antony I. Ginnane (PATRICK, THIRST), now fully restored in HD from the original vault negative.
Special Features include: Not Quite Hollywood Extended Interviews with:
Brian Trenchard Smith
Antony I. Ginnane
Steve Railsback
Lynda Stoner
Roger Ward
Gus Mercurio
Bob McCarron
The Ozploitation Renaissance – round table discussion with director Brian Trenchard-Smith, producer Antony I. Ginnane and Ozploitation cinematographer Vincent Monton.(26 minutes)
Released by:Universal Studios Release Date: February 3, 2015 Production Year: 2014 Region Code: A Running Time: 1:29:30 Audio: English DTS-HD MA 5.1 / Spanish DTS 5.1 / French Canadian DTS 5.1 / DVS Video: 1080p (2.40:1 Aspect Ratio) Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, French
THE FILM: How far would you go to make contact with someone you lost? From the Producers of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Insidious comes a supernatural thriller in which a group of friends must confront their most terrifying fears when they unwittingly release a dark power from the other side. What started as a game will unleash an evil only they can stop. Starring Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel), Douglas Smith (Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters), Bianco Santos (The Fosters), and Daren Kagasoff (The Secret Life of the American Teenager).
While not the best film based on a Ouija board, "Witchboard" arguably holds that title, "Ouija" is still an okay movie. Thin on plot? Sure. But horror films aren't typically known for being plot driven. Not that it is an excuse, but let's face it, we don't usually watch horror films for thought provoking stories. They are surely welcome, just not common. This film was bashed by many for its PG-13 rating which I don't really understand since its not a slasher film or anything remotely close to one. Haunted house, supernatural and ghost based films don't normally rely on spilling the blood of its cast to be effective. "Poltergeist (1982)", "The Legend of Hell House (1973)", "The Haunting (1963)", anyone? I'm not about to call this film a masterpiece or great. It mainly relies on jump scares to spook the audience and it is effective at that at times.
AUDIO:
The film offers several audio options, a English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track which did a great job with the dialogue, score and sound effects which the film makes good use of at certain times, especially when jump scares occur. Also included are a French Canadian DTS 5.1, Spanish DTS 5.1 and a DVS (Descriptive Video Service) track.
VIDEO:
"Ouija" comes to Blu-ray from the beyond thanks to Universal Studios. The film is presented in 1080p with a 2.40:1 Aspect Ratio. Video quality of the film is fantastic. I have no complaints. Colors look strong and have good saturation. Black levels look great throughout. Skin tones look natural. There is a great amount of fine detail present as well, with the texture of objects looking terrific.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Spirit Board: An Evolution (4:07) - Producer Bennett Schneir, Director & Co-Writer Stiles White, Co-Writer Juliet Snowden and Talking Boards Collector & Historian Robert Murch, talk briefly about Ouija boards and their history. Adapting the Fear (3:45) - This featurette includes brief comments from Producers Jason Blum and Brad Fuller, stars Olivia Cooke, Ana Coto, Daren Kagasoff and Bianca Santos. They talk about the Ouija board and its use in the film. One interesting part was seeing how they filmed the planchette moving on its own.
Icon of the Unknown (4:00) - Talking Boards Collector & Historian Robert Murch discusses how there are three main explanations that people believe in, in regards to how the boards work. Co-writer Juliet Snowden mentions how the film makers spoke to people who have had experiences using Ouija boards in preparation for the film. Director Stiles White talks about what tends to happen when people use ouija boards, like blaming one another for moving the planchette.
IN CONCLUSION:
While not a great film, I still find it entertaining. I've been interested in Ouija boards for over 25 years so I am always interested in watching films about them, especially if they are the main subject of the film. I would recommend renting this unless your are a big fan of Ouija boards or if this style of film appeals to you. The trailer below may help you decide.
Rey Ciso (Adam Brooks) was once the greatest editor the world had ever seen. Since a horrific accident left him with four wooden fingers on his right hand, he's had to resort to cutting pulp films and trash pictures. When the lead actors from the film he's been editing turn up murdered at the studio, Rey is fingered as the number one suspect. The bodies continue to pile up in this absurdist giallo-thriller as Rey struggles to prove his innocence and learn the sinister truth lurking behind the scenes.
Functioning as a straight-up send-up of Dario Argento, Mario Bava and the cinematic sorcerers of '70s slasher films, Canadian horror comedy The Editor is a charming tribute to the unsung classics of giallo, an Italian subgenre known for its gory and gruesome erotic horror.
Exciting stuff to report this morning on Astron 6's energetic, colorful and sex-&-blood-soaked homage to the Italian giallo genre that’s been generating a lot of buzz.
The final list of bonus supplements on our upcoming DVD & Blu-ray combo release are locked and loaded, which includes:
• Audio commentary with Adam Brooks, Connor Sweeney and Matt Kennedy • “Making Movies Used to be Fun” documentary • Music and poster featurettes • Astron-6 film festival introduction • Deleted scenes
