DVD and Blu-ray Releases: May 9, 2017
Greetings, and welcome once again to this week’s Blu-ray and DVD release list. Going back through my records, I realize that my first release list while working for Dread Central was published on May 12, 2015.
That means this is essentially my two-year anniversary of working with these wonderful folks. I plan on celebrating with a cupcake after lunch at my nine to five.
Anyhow, back to the task at hand. There are 22 titles to be on the lookout for this week. Here Alone, an apocalyptic viral outbreak film, will not be available until May 12th. Aside from that, everything else should be on schedule this week.
One of my favorite titles this week, despite not actually having seen the movie itself, is The Greasy Strangler. I must admit that my inner juvenile couldn’t help but look this up on Urban Dictionary just to see if it was something humorous. It was, but I will let you investigate that for yourself. It is fitting, though, as this movie has been compared to the works of John Waters due to its relatively off-the-wall content.
Speaking of John Waters, a movie of his that falls just a couple of years shy of being considered a classic, Serial Mom, will be released as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray this week. This dark comedy, directed by a legend in the industry, is on the top of my list of releases to pick up this week for my personal collection.
Slightly older than Serial Mom, our one classic release this week comes in the form of a 2-disc Special Edition of 1988’s Brain Damage on Blu-ray and DVD. From the mind that brought us Basket Case 1-3 and Frankenhooker comes this long-awaited hi-def transfer. Since Arrow Video is involved, you can be guaranteed a bunch of awesome extras as well.
For those who appreciate the beauty of old-school, practical special effects, try to check out The Void. In the beginning of April, this movie did surprisingly well during its limited theater release. Pick up the DVD and see for yourself what caused the word-of-mouth sensation that resulted in sold-out crowds across the country.
Keep reading below, and we will see you again next week, friends. Dracula will be making appearance along with The Mummy and The Wolf Man (among other werewolves), so you won’t want to miss it. As always, pleasant viewing.
MOVIES
Alena (2015)
Starring:
Amalia Holm
Synopsis:
With a traumatic event in her recent past, Alena transfers to a posh private all-girls school where her decidedly lower class roots makes her an outsider. While a gang of mean rich girls are determined to make Alena s life a living hell, she is mysteriously defended by a shadowy and jealous, yet beautiful guardian angel. Based on Kim W. Andersson’s internationally acclaimed graphic novel, Alena is a psychological thriller that combines the revenge themes of Carrie with the tough love of Let the Right One In.
Alien Implant (2017)
Starring:
Simon Oliver
Synopsis:
A brilliant female recluse sends a distress signal into outer space from a remote location. When the Aliens arrive, they realize it’s not a distress signal, it’s an ingenious trap designed to exact revenge on the extraterrestrials who abducted her as a child.
American Mummy (2017)
Starring:
Suziey Block, Aidan Bristow, Aaron Burt, Esther Canata
Synopsis:
A group of university students in the New Mexico desert unearth an ancient mummy, on which one of the students performs a secret blood ritual, awaking the death-hungry spirit of an Aztec king. This lord of the dead soon possesses each of the students, in his bid to spread evil to the world.
Bloodsucker’s Handbook (2017)
Starring:
Cory W. Ahre, Jessica Bell, Larry Boozer, Dustan Costine
Synopsis:
A Catholic priest is recruited by US Federal Marshals to decipher an ancient book after they capture what they believe is a vampire. But this ancient, powerful bloodsucker has other plans for the priest, and soon a deadly game of cat-and-mouse begins over possession of the book, and the soul of this once holy man.
Bodies (2016)
Starring:
Joe Bocian, Jenice Marshall, Brian Landis
Synopsis:
Two brothers posing as paramedics kidnap their victims and harvest their organs for the black market. That is until they kidnap a woman they find impossible to kill and it turns out she has more power over them than they over her.
Brain Damage (2-Disc Special Edition) (1988)
Starring:
Rick Hearst, Jennifer Lowry, Theo Barnes, John Zacherley
Synopsis:
IT’S A HEADACHE FROM HELL!
From Frank Henenlotter, the man behind such cult horror favourites as Basket Case and Frankenhooker, comes Brain Damage the ultimate head-trip, now finally on Blu-ray!
Meet Elmer. He s your local, friendly parasite with the ability to induce euphoric hallucinations in his hosts. But these LSD-like trips come with a hefty price tag. When young Brian comes under Elmer s addictive spell, it s not long before he finds himself scouring the city streets in search of his parasite s preferred food source brains!
Featuring late TV horror host John Zacherley as the voice of Elmer, Brain Damage boasts some of the most astonishing bad taste gore-gags ever realized, including the notorious brain-pulling sequence and another that let’s just say ends with a distinctly unconventional ”climax.
Cannibal Messiah (2016)
Starring:
Master W.
Synopsis:
Cannibal Messiah follows the journey of documentary film makers, Crippler Cris and Master W of P.S.Y.C.H.O Productions and The Pathfinder, a man with a revenge mission against a cannibal cult in the woods of Germany. After torturing a woodland hermit for information on the cult, the three travel deep into the woods. Things go wrong quickly as Master W turns against his companions and ends up among the cannibals. Will Master W and Crippler Criss eventually make it out of those woods? Will the Pathfinder get his revenge? And what is the deal with the mysterious videotapes that a mystery figure keeps delivering to them, tapes that give them horrible insights into their own futures? You’ll have to watch to find out… but bring a raincoat, as blood, guts and gore will fly like you’ve never witnessed before! German with English subtitles. Spanish, French or German subtitles are also available. From SRS Cinema Awesome underground movies you need to see now!
Clown Kill (2017)
Starring:
Roy Basnett
Synopsis:
Jenny, an ambitious, feisty but very successful advertising executive, has her drink spiked at a fancy dress party, leading to a brutal attack in the pub toilets by a mysterious figure dressed as a clown. Slowly she rebuilds her life, and as she regains confidence in herself, she returns to work after a six month absence. Almost immediately, however, she becomes bogged down with work and when her bullying boss gives her a huge, last minute advertising account with a Saudi-backed circus company, the pressure begins to mount.
Forced to work alone throughout the night in the huge office block, it soon becomes apparent she is not alone. Stalking the empty corridors is a familiar, unwanted figure, and Jenny soon discovers she is locked in with Charlie Boy the psychotic clown, driven by a blood lust and an obsession with torment and murder, and her only line of defence are three of the world’s most incompetent and lazy security guards.
Blending suspense, horror and dead-pan humour, the film weaves a twisting tale that takes the viewer in a direction they never expected, without ever insulting their intelligence.
Dead Gamers (2017)
Starring:
Chiara Alivernini, Alessandra Angeli, Alessandro Baccini, Alessio Cherubini, Stefano Guerriero
Synopsis:
Five gamers are tricked into entering a virtual reality game by a demented computer programmer. Once inside, they are trapped, strapped with weapons and an army of undead creatures, demons and zombies are unleashed for them to fight off. Who will survive this ultimate game of life and death?
The Evangelist (2017)
Starring:
Keith Collins, Doug Bollinger, Samantha Artese, Michael Billy, Ron Thal
Synopsis:
The Evangelist, a bible-quoting serial killer, has a small New Jersey town gripped with fear.
The Gorenos (2017)
Starring:
Derek Simmons Jr, Ken Sagoes, Lamar George, Marquis Wood, Aidaa Peerzada
Synopsis:
A young man is haunted by a supernatural entity in the wake of his 18th birthday.
The Greasy Strangler (2016)
Starring:
Michael St. Michaels, Sky Elobar, Elizabeth De Razzo, Gil Gex
Synopsis:
Ronnie runs a disco walking tour with his son, Brayden. When a sexy woman takes the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her love. It also signals the arrival of an oily strangler who stalks the streets at night.
Here Alone (2017) (5/12)
Starring:
Lucy Walters, Gina Piersanti, Adam David Thompson, Shane West
Synopsis:
Isolated in the wilderness, Ann (Lucy Walters) struggles to survive after a mysterious epidemic decimates society. Ann’s solitary and regimented life is haunted by memories of her past and threatened by bloodthirsty zombies, known as “the infected,” that lurk just outside of the forest border. On a desperate journey to forage for food, Ann meets a teenage girl and her injured stepfather. Initially reluctant to let others into her world, Ann relents for both physical and emotional survival. As the infected close in and the trio is forced to fight for their lives, Ann must face the painful truth that these survivors may be more dangerous than the infected.
Injecting Aluminum (2017)
Starring:
Dr. Romain Gherardi, Dr. Jerome Authier, Professor Christopher Exley, Michel Rivasi, Didier Lambert
Synopsis:
In the 1990 s, a mysterious muscular disease with symptoms that included severe muscle and joint pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, and fever began to surface among multiple patients in France. A team of doctors and researchers who were tasked with their care relentlessly studied the patients, searching for anything that could be causing this troubling condition. In 1993, they identified this new disease as macrophagic myofascitis syndrome, or MMS, and finally found proof that condition occurs when the aluminum hydroxide adjuvant from a vaccine remains embedded in the body tissue and causes an immune reaction. Since the 1920 s, aluminum, the most common adjuvant used in most childhood and adult vaccines, has been used to optimize the body’s immune response to the injected disease. Although it is used to make vaccines more efficient, aluminum is now known to be neurotoxic and the root cause of many serious illnesses. What the pharmaceutical companies don t admit is that aluminum did not go through rigorous testing before being approved as a vaccine adjuvant. It was only tested for 28 days, on two rabbits, the remains of which have mysteriously disappeared. Injecting Aluminum features interviews with patients, doctors, scientists, and influential politicians who are speaking out for the very first time about the dangers of aluminum in vaccines. This groundbreaking documentary calls in to question the public health policies around vaccine ingredients and safety testing, expanding the discussion beyond mercury, and the failure of health agencies globally to respond to the known neurotoxic effects of this powerful vaccine ingredient on the human body.
Inside the Dark Room (2016)
Starring:
Maria Lee Metheringham, Paul Andrews, Scarlet Louise
Synopsis:
Years ago a number of aspiring models went missing under strange and suspicious circumstances. All were connected to one photographer and his fatal photo shoot. None of them were ever found, and the case was closed. Now the same thing is happening all over again to a new group of models. When Saph’s sister Carrie goes missing, she seeks the help of two detectives (Cross and Harris) who soon realize the weird and messed up world of the sinister photographer and his sidekicks. The sidekicks lure young girls into another world where daytime and nighttime always switch within minutes and they are thrown into various dark rooms and terrifying scenarios so the photographer can capture their fear and terror in a picture.
Justice Served (2017)
Starring:
Lance Henriksen, Gail O’ Grady, Chase Coleman, Lochlyn Munro
Synopsis:
Luke has been depressed since his wife’s killer was acquitted. One day he is drugged and wakes up in a room with an electrified chair. Soon the accused killer is brought in and secured to the chair and Luke will have to make his choice…
Psycho (1998)
Starring:
Vince Vaughn, Anne Heche, Julianne Moore, Viggo Mortensen
Synopsis:
Anne Heche stars as Marion Crane, the criminal on the run who takes refuge at the motel owned by Norman Bates (Vaughn) and his mother. After Marion is killed in Hollywood’s famous shower scene, the suspense continues when Marion’s sister (Moore) and a private investigator (Macy) come looking for her at the Bates Motel.
Serial Mom (1994) (Collector’s Edition)
Starring:
Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterston, Ricki Lake
Synopsis:
A seemingly perfect wife and mother from Baltimore gains celebrity status as a serial killer.
Seven Dorms of Death (2015)
Starring:
Anna Rizzo, Aaron Andrade, Michael Zuccola, Hannah Lum, Tobias Wilson
Synopsis:
Seven Dorms of Death tells the tale of a cursed stage play that is about to be performed at a New England college. Unfortunately for the director, the young cast, and anyone else unlucky enough to be involved with the production, someone has deadly plans for the play! Can a pair of homicide detectives and a student with psychic powers solve the mystery before it’s too late.
The Void (2017)
Starring:
Ellen Wong, Kathleen Munroe, Kenneth Welsh, Stephanie Belding, Evan Stern, Aaron Poole, Art Hindle
Synopsis:
Drawing inspiration from a number of horror influences including Hellraiser, The Beyond, H.P. Lovecraft and Lucio Fulci, TheVoid is “both stunning and disturbing”! Officer Carter stumbles upon a crawling man in the forest in need of help. A trip to the desolate and nearly closed hospital kicks off the beginning of the end for several hospital patrons. Carter’s estranged wife and head nurse Allison is the head nurse (Munroe) along with Dr. Powell (Welsh) are the two in charge when Carter brings in the drifter. The father and son tracking the drifter burst onto the scene to demand that the man be handed over. But there’s a dangerous cult in white robes following the pair and everyone barricades themselves inside the hospital. The trick is to survive the night and the monsters.
COLLECTIONS
Grindhouse Gut Munchers
Starring:
Scarlet Fry, Lloyd Kaufman, Calico Cooper, Sandra Williams, Paul C. Hemmes
Synopsis:
Gutmunchers don’t have to be Zombies They can be anything that will get under your skin and eat away at your flesh and your soul! Gutmunchers is two discs worth of horror, gore and more that will have you crying home to your momma. Demented Nurses, Freaky Perverts, Satanic Slashers, Zombies, Vampires & more Grindhouse Gutmunchers is full of Gutmunching Madness, so dive in and get your awesome gore fix on!
Scarlet Fry’s Junkfood Horrorfest
Scarlet Fry takes you on the thrill of your life with: Blood-Thirsty Cannibals, Satanic Zombies, Demented Nurses, Junkie Serial Killers, Freaky Perverts and More! This Blood Drenched Deluxe Horrorfest isn’t for the weak of heart. A drug dealer has made his last deal after he decides to hand a junkie serial killer some bad junk.
Scream Machine
As a gift to Dr. Fry from his long lost friend Lloyd Kaufman, comes 5 twisted tales guaranteed to make you faint, puke and quite possibly soil your pants! Not even the Plague can survive the Scream Machine and only a few have made it through to the end of these six twisted tales of Gore Stew!
Zombies: The Aftermath
Starring:
Various
Synopsis:
A Mondo Non-Stop Zombie Collection like no other! – Get your Zombie Carnage Groove on with hours of Zombie Apocalypse re-animated Gore and Action!
Movies:
Rise of the Fourth Reich
A bizarre scientific and occult training ground of Nazi descendants are working on an energy they call VRIL and utilizing it to grow an army of men and women who cannot be killed, because they’re already dead.
Zombie Factory
A college field trip for a group of students turns into the trip from Hell when they discover they are stranded in the midst of a host of dead walkers re-animated by an evil scientist hell-bent on turning the world into a Zombie Armageddon.
Zombie Holocaust
Earth is blasted with radiation and a strange virus emerges affecting 99% of the world’s population and turning them into flesh eating cannibals. A group of shell shocked survivors band together but grow weary as the undead multiply.
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