DVD and Blu-ray Releases: May 26, 2015
Fresh off of a 3-day weekend (hopefully for most of you anyway), we bring you another list of this week’s horror DVD and Blu-ray releases. Out of this week’s 14 releases, there are 2 collections, the first featuring Joan Collins in 1977’s Empire of the Ants along with Jaws of Satan from 1979.
The second collection pits The Food of the Gods against Frogs (with Sam Elliott) in a bit of a sci-fi-meets-horror dual appetite pleaser.
In addition to those classic releases, there are two offerings this week from 1981: The Escapees and Cannibal Ferox. Add to that 1982’s Madman, and you have a really decent handful of classics slashing their way into your week.
If you’re looking for something a bit more recent, The Purge Blu-ray + Digital HD (for all of you streamers) drops this week alongside a bunch of new releases from 2015. All in all I would say this is a good week for you collectors out there. Pleasant viewing, fellow gore fanatics.
MOVIES
As Night Comes (2015)
Starring:
Luke Baines, Myko Olivier, Evanne Friedmann
Synopsis:
Troubled seventeen-year-old Sean Holloway falls in with a group of teenage outcasts called “The Misfits,” known around town for their petty crimes and vandalism. But things begin to spiral out of control on “Mischief Night” – when their pranks culminate into a night of violence and mayhem on the eve of Halloween – and Sean finds himself deeply in over his head.
Purchase:
Beyond Remedy (2015)
Starring:
Rick Yune, Daniel Krauss, Edward Piccin, David Gant
Synopsis:
Therapy is deadly serious in the thriller Beyond Remedy. When a group of medical students are invited to participate in an alternative therapy study dealing with phobias, each student must face their personal fears head on in order to be cured. Who would have imagined that death is lurking just around the corner? A killer, targeting the students, has tailored each of the killings to a specific phobia with spectacularly terrifying results in Beyond Remedy. Director Gerhard Hross’ slasher-thriller brings together a group of talented actors that include Rick Yune, Daniel Krauss, and Marie Zielcke.
Purchase:
Cannibal Ferox (1981) (Blu-ray Deluxe Edition)
Starring:
Lorraine De Salle, Giovanni Lombardo Radice, Zora Kerowa, Danilo Mattei, Robert Kerman
Synopsis:
Here it is! The original uncensored, unrated director’s cut of one of the most notorious and violent films of all time. Banned in 31 countries, CANNIBAL FEROX assaults your senses as a group of Americans lost in the jungles of Amazonia experience brutal retribution at the hands of blood-crazed cannibals. Shot on location in the savage Amazon wilds of South America, CANNIBAL FEROX is one of the most violent and shocking films ever made. There are at least two dozen scenes of barbaric torture and sadistic cruelty graphically shown. If the presentation of disgusting and repulsive subject matter upsets you, please do not view this film.
Purchase:
Delirium (2015)
Starring:
Nathan Polzin, Jolene Kay, Jonathan Mandell, Taylor Pigeon, Shalaina Castle
Synopsis:
After being missing for over a year, Emily returns home… but something came with her. A family struggling with the lack of knowledge about their missing daughter fights to keep her safe. Who can be trusted?
Purchase:
The Escapees (1981)
Starring:
Laurence Dubas, Christiane Coppé, Marianne Valiot, Brigitte Lahaie, Louise Dhour
Synopsis:
Jean Rollin’s The Escapees revisits the director’s fascination with pairs of women who wander, dreamlike, through a modern dystopia (Requiem for a Vampire, Two Orphan Vampires). Two female patients one rebellious (Laurence Dubas), the other despondent (Christiane Coppé) flee the grounds of a mental hospital and drift across the French countryside. After finding refuge among a band of gypsy-like exotic dancers, they cross paths with a petty criminal (Marianne Valiot), an aging fortune-teller (Louise Dhour) and a quartet of swingers (including Brigitte Lahaie) with sinister intentions. Punctuated by moments of unexpected violence and lyrical beauty (as when the emotionless Marie returns to life in a vacant ice rink), The Escapees is among Rollin’s most personal films, and has been remastered in HD from the original 35mm negative.
Purchase:
The House Across the Street (2015)
Starring:
Ethan Embry, Jessica Sonneborn, Eric Roberts, Alex Rocco, Courtney Gains
Synopsis:
When Amy moves into a new apartment, she notices strange things happening at the house across the street. Always a curious girl, Amy is compelled to investigate further. The more she finds out, the closer she gets to the center of a horrific conspiracy that threatens to tear apart her new town and destroy the lives of its people.
Purchase:
Island of Death (1976) (Blu-ray/DVD Combo)
Starring:
Robert Behling, Jane Lyle, Jessica Dublin
Synopsis:
The lucky ones got their brains blown out!! Welcome to Mykonos, the holiday destination of choice for sun, sea and slaughter! From cult director Nico Mastorakis, Island of Death is a travelogue of atrocities with scenes so strong that the British Government was once compelled to ban it as a “video nasty”. Arriving on the idyllic Greek island, Christopher and Celia appear to be every inch the perfect, handsome young couple. Little do the welcoming locals realise that they are in fact a pair of murderous degenerates, determined to spread their own particular brand of perversion across the island. DIY crucifixions, opportunistic bestiality, sexual peeing and murder by all conceivable forms ensue – including death by makeshift blowtorch, samurai sword, dump truck and more! Shocking, brutal and totally politically incorrect in its outlook, Island of Death is a gruelling cinematic experience devised by director Mastorakis to out-do the excesses of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, which he was hugely inspired by. Now fully uncut and newly-restored from the original negative, fans can enjoy Island of Death in all its sleazy, lurid glory. Bonus materials include: Brand new restoration from the original negative High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentation Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Brand new interview with director Nico Mastorakis The Films of Nico Mastorakis â the director hosts this documentary covering his varied career in cinema, including a look at Island of Death Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film, illustrated with original archive stills and posters
Purchase:
Let Us Prey (2014)
Starring:
Liam Cunningham, Pollyanna McIntosh, Bryan Larkin
Synopsis:
Rachel (Pollyanna McIntosh, The Woman), a rookie cop, is about to begin her first nightshift in a neglected police station in a backwater town. Surrounded by both disgruntled officers and irate petty offenders, her job becomes all the more difficult and terrifying when a mysterious man (Liam Cunningham, Game of Thrones) is brought in and strange things start happening to everyone in the station. As it becomes clear that the enigmatic stranger has something to do with the supernatural events, Rachel finds herself in a fight for her life against cop and criminal alike as one by one they turn on each other and themselves. Now she must survive the night and uncover the stranger s true plans for the station s hapless denizens before she too falls prey to the unholy power that seeks to destroy them all.
Purchase:
Madman (1982)
Starring:
Gaylen Ross, Tony Fish, Paul Ehlers
Synopsis:
Years ago, Madman Marz violently murdered his family only to escape into the woods before his execution could be completed. Legend has it that anyone who calls his name can summon him back to continue his bloody rampage. But teenage Richie, away at camp, doesn’t believe the old legend and calls his name. As night falls, strange things start happening at at camp and soon Madman Marz is back, axe in hand, to finish the killing spree he started decades ago. One of the true classics of 80’s slasher cinema, Vinegar Syndrome proudly presents MADMAN on Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored in 4K from the camera negative!
Purchase:
Nightlight (2015)
Starring:
Shelby Young, Chloe Bridges, Carter Jenkins, Mitch Hewer, Taylor Murphy, Kyle Fain
Synopsis:
For years, the Covington forest has been shrouded in mystery, with a dark past as a final destination for troubled youths. Undeterred by the news of a classmate who recently took his life in those woods, five teens journey into the forest for an evening of flashlight games and ghost stories. But their plans go awry when the friends awaken a demonic presence, an unseen evil that will seize upon their deepest fears—and plunge them into a nightmare of absolute terror.
Purchase:
The Purge (2013) (Blu-ray with Digital HD)
Starring:
Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder, Rhys Wakefield
Synopsis:
If you could commit any crime without consequences, what would you do? From the producer of Paranormal Activity and Sinister, comes an inventive thriller that dares you to survive the most dangerous night in America – The Purge – when all crime is legal for 12 hours. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin’s (Ethan Hawke) gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary (Lena Headey), and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from whom they hide.
Purchase:
Zombies from Outer Space (2012)
Starring:
Florian Kiml, Siegfried Foster
Synopsis:
Rural Bavaria. The late 1950′s. Something very strange is taking place.
When Maria (Judith Gorgrass) happens upon the dead body of a woman little does she realize the terror that will be unleashed in Zombies From Outer Space. Noted scientist Dr. Robert Hoelzlein (Florian Kiml) and American Army Captain John Welles (Siegfried Foster), both brought into investigate the crime, soon butt heads over the case and their mutual attraction to Maria.
Romance takes a back seat when more bodies are discovered. Who or what has caused these mysterious deaths?
Purchase:
COLLECTIONS
Empire of the Ants / Jaws of Satan
Starring:
Joan Collins, Norman Lloyd, Christina Applegate, Nancy Priddy
Movies:
Empire of the Ants
Brace yourself for mutant mayhem and pestilent payback in this “scary”, (Los Angeles Times) creature feature about good bugs gone BAD! Starring Joan Collins (Dynasty, Tales From The Crypt), this incredible insect extravaganza is swarming with flesh-crawling chills, hair-raising thrills and spine-tingling terror. Directed by the great Bert I. Gordon (Attack Of The Puppet People, The Amazing Colossal Man, Village Of The Giants), Empire Of The Ants is a towering H.G. Wells tale come to terrifying life!
Jaws of Satan
Satan takes the form of a cobra in this spine-chilling tale of terror. Commanded by the Prince of Darkness, snakes terrorize a small town in Alabama just as the town’s new dog racing park is about to open. The local doctor, the town priest and a “snake expert”, must band together to save the town from his evil scheme! Fritz Weaver (Creepshow), Gretchen Corbett (Let’s Scare Jessica To Death), Jon Korkes (Syngenor) and a young Christina Applegate (Married With Children, Streets, Anchorman) star. New High-Definition Transfer!
Purchase:
The Food of the Gods / Frogs
Starring:
Movies:
The Food Of The Gods
On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance, they morph into bloodthirsty giants! Now, it’s up to the island’s few residents and visitors to destroy “the food of the gods”,… before the animals take over for good!
Frogs
Jason Crockett (Ray Milland, X: The Man With The X-ray Eyes) is an aging, physically disabled millionaire who invites his family to his island estate for his birthday party. The old man is more than crotchety… he’s crazy! Hating nature, Crockett poisons anything that crawls on his property. But on the night of his shindig, it’s nature’s payback time, as thousands of frogs whip up every bug and slimy thing into a toxic frenzy until the entire environment goes environ-mental. Sam Elliott (The Legacy, Road House) and Joan Van Ark (The Last Dinosaur) also star. New High-Defintion Transfer!
Purchase:
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