DVD Releases: Double Feature A Go-Go!
A lot, and I mean a lot of discs are due out on Tuesday, September 11th, kids, so pay attention!
The Addams Family: Volume 3
Directed by Various
Man, the just don’t make shows like this anymore, you know? When was the last time we had a really good horror-themed sitcom? I think this might actually be it, sadly enough. But it is a high bar to be set so I guess it’s good no one has tried to top it since, at least not with any success. MGM has the third volume of “Addams” eps out this week, but you might wan to hold off sine there’s a complete collection (which we told you about here) due in November. Your call! Buy it here!
April Fools (2006)
Directed by Nancy Norman
My God what a horrible cover; and the premise doesn’t help matters much. Taking a cue from I Know What You Did Last Summer and Urban Legends 3, the story is about a group of friends who torment a nerd until things go horribly wrong and he’s killed. Of course they vow to keep it a secret and never tell anyone, but a year later, on April Fool’s Day if you can believe, they all start dropping like flies. It’s up to a pair of detectives to get to the bottom of things before they all end up dead. Buy it here!
The Beast Within/The Bat People (1982/1974)
Directed by Phillip Mora/Jerry Jameson
The return of MGM’s Midnite Movies line, and it’s a HUGE one this week! Alphabetically, our first entry is the Beast Within/Bat People double feature. The first tells of a boy, the result of a woman being raped by some kind of beast creature, now out on his own looking for a woman or two to rape to start the cycle all over again. Bat Peopleis about just that; a bat expert and his wife who turn into bat creatures after the doctor is bitten on their honeymoon. Buy it here!
Beauty Queen Butcher (1991)
Directed by Jill Zurbog
Is it me, or does this sound really familiar? A fat, shy teenager is relentlessly picked on by here peers, who decide to enter her into a beauty queen pagent for the sole purpose of humiliating her. It works, but it’s also the last straw to the girls damaged psyche, and she snaps and begins relentlessly slaughtering anyone who ever made fun of her. And really, they kind had it coming, don’t you think? Another Retro 80’s release that’s not actually from the 80’s. You figure it out. Buy it here!
A Blueprint for Murder/Man in the Attic (1953)
Directed by Andrew L. Stone/Hugo Fregonese
Sure these are more noir than horror, but damnit it’s a double feature so stop your bitching! A Blueprint for Murder tells of two orphans who live with their stepmother, who dies under the same mysterious circumstances that their father did. I wonder who the finger is pointed at? Man in the Attic takes place during the Jack the Ripper killings, which a strange man seeking lodging in a gloomy attic to conduct mysterious experiments. A girl starts to find him more and more attractive but is she putting herself in danger? Buy it here!
The Burning (1981)
Directed by Tony Maylam
The Burning is just one of those movies that got a lot right but never managed to find its way to DVD before now. I guess that’s a good thing, since MGM took some time with it and gave it a modicum of special features, but man it’s been a long wait! The tale is about a weird man named Cropsy who is paid back for his deeds by a pack of camp kids, who burn him beyond recognition. Somehow he manages to maintain his physical strength, though, and gets to work making sure every single one of them pays for what they did to him. Buy it here!
Chosen Survivors/The Earth Dies Screaming (1974/1965)
Directed by Sutton Roley/Terence Fisher
A group of randomly selected individuals are taken from their homes and transported to an underground bunker, where they’ve been chosen to be the ones to restart the human race after a nuclear explosion in Chosen Survivors. The suck ratio is upped quite a bit when bloodthirsty vampire bats find their way into the survivor’s hideout. The Earth Dies Screaming, aside from being one of the best titles ever, tells of a group of survivors of some random apocalypse who have to fight off killer robots. Nice! Buy it here!
The Curse/The Curse 2: They Bite (1987/1988)
Directed by David Keith/Fred Goodwin
A man with strong religious beliefs is trying to keep both his farm and his family from falling apart, but it’s not easy in The Curse. On the night of a horrible storm, a strange object crashes to earth that will seriously change the lives of anyone near it. Then in The Curse 2: They Bite, a man is bitten by a radioactive snake and sees the damaged hand actually turn into a snake head, out to kill anyone who comes close. Matters aren’t helped when he realizes he has snakes growing inside of him, as well. Now that sounds like either a really good or really bad trip, depending on your fondness for snakes. Buy it here!
Devils of Darkness/Witchcraft (1965/1964)
Directed by Lance Comfort/Don Sharp
In Devils of Darkness, a vampire cult living under a major town cemetery, hunts for new victims to join their legion of the damned. Good times are had by all, I’m sure. Witchcraft is about the art and joy of making stuffed mushrooms with friends and… wait, sorry, wrong movie. It’s actually about a witch who’s been buried alive for 300+ years and is understandably in a pissy mood when she’s taken out of the ground against her will. Buy it here!
The Evading (2007)
Directed by Rick L. Waters
What the hell kind of title is The Evading? Seriously? It sounds like something Edgar Wright would come up with as a parody or something. Anyway, the story is about a man who becomes entangled with a society of weirdos who are trying to learn the secrets of the universe after his wife dies tragically. He begins seeing a figure in a black cape and realizes that he’s either crazy, or living in a DC Comic. Yeah, I know that’s not very witty but you try and come up with theses synopsis on a weekly basis and lemme know how sharp your wit stays! Buy it here!
Food of the Gods (1976)
Directed by Bert I. Gordon
While out on a hunting trip with his friends, Morgan is attacked by giant wasps. That’s a suck way to spend the weekend, but it gets worse when they try and take shelter only to be attacked by giant chickens. They soon learn the entire island they’re on is inhabited by monstrously sized animals, the most dangerous of which are the rats, who are assembling and preparing to move against the entire human race. Rats, you see, are wicked smart and only become more so when they’re HUGE. A true nature gone amok classic! Buy it here!
From Beyond (1986)
Directed by Stuart Gordon
Now this is another long time coming DVD, and man what a disappointment that DVD cover is, eh? I mean it’s really, really bad. Really bad. I don’t get it. And yes, I know it was the cover of the soundtrack so don’t e-mail with “duh” statements. It’s still ugly. Anyway, Stuart Gordon’s somewhat forgotten masterpiece of Lovecraftian terror is finally on DVD so we’re really not going to complain too much. And it’s that lost footage re-inserted into the final film, so we can see it the way Gordon intended! Buy it here!
Gorilla at Large/Mystery on Monster Island (1954/1981)
Directed by Harmon Jones/Juan Piquer Simon
At the sinister carnival called The Garden of Evil (hell yeah) one of their main attractions is the gorilla Goliath. When a new barker joins the gorilla act and is later found with a broken neck, the carnies wonder if it was someone in a gorilla suit or if they have a Gorilla at Large. A man is reluctant to get married until he travels the world, but while cruising the open sea he becomes shipwrecked on an island populated by prehistoric beasts. Who can solve the Mystery on Monster Island? Buy it here!
The Haunting of #24 (2005)
Directed by Sean Hogan
Originally called Lie Still, for those of you who might have heard of it before, this urban ghost story (it says so on the front!) tells what happens to John when he moves into the titular apartment. The nightmares that have plagued him as long as he can remember start getting much worse, and he’s pretty sure those noises outside his front door are real. They sure sound it. When the door doesn’t lead to the right place anymore, that’s when he knows he’s really and truly fucked. Buy it here!
The House of Usher (2007)
Directed by Hayley Cloake
Wow, I wonder how Mr. Poe would feel seeing his story updated and modernized? After he got over the whole being alive and able to microwave food thing, of course. You’d have to introduce him to such things slowly. Anyway, the story is about girl who returns to the titular New England mansion after the death of her best friend, where she learns that her former lover is suffering from a horrible ailment that makes him ultra sensitive. Matters aren’t helped when the ghost of her best friend starts showing up, too. Buy it here!
House on Skull Mountain/The Mephisto Waltz (1974/1971)
Directed by Ron Honthaner/Paul Wendkos
Here’s one that’s been done to death before and since; a family is gathered to the House on Skull Mountain for the reading of the will of one of their rich relatives. Soon they begin to be systematically picked off, however. The Mephisto Waltz concerns a young piano playing protégé who befriends a famous ivory tickler when he’s on his death bed. Unbeknownst to the young man, the older one is a Satanist who arranges for their souls to switch place when he dies. Buy it here!
MGM Scream Legends: Vincent Price
Directed by Various
Though I tend to avoid putting re-issues on this list, especially when they’re just re-packaged with some other films and given a spiffy title like “Scream Legends”, you can’t say no to Vincent Price. Within this set is some of the man’s most notable work; The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Tales of Terror, Theater of Blood, Madhouse, Witchfinder General, Dr. Phibes Rises Again and Twice Told Tales. All those for just a bit more than you’d pay for each film on their own! Great for both the Price novice and the unapologetic fan, plus everyone in between. Buy it here!
Nailed (2007)
Directed by Adrian O’Connell
So you’re a thief, right? All you’re really concerned with is breaking into someone’s house, getting their valuables, and taking off before you get caught. Hopefully you never have to deal with what the leads in Nailed do, when they break into someone’s house and find a man lying on a bed, covered in bandages, and a caretaker whose intentions are vague at best. Eventually the supernatural comes into play, as it always the case these days, doesn’t it seem? Not to be confused with the other movie of the same title that came out a few weeks back. Be sure to visit the official Nailed site, created by our own Jon Condit, to learn more! Buy it here!
Phantom From 10,000 Leagues/Beast With a Million Eyes (1955)
Directed by Dan Milner/David Kramarsky
Now this is what I want in my double feature, damnit! Phantom From 10,000 Leagues tells of an unusual rock at the bottom of the sea that mutates ocean life into a big, slavering monster. Sorta like Uncle Creepy, but with less slavering. Then, in Beast With a Million Eyes, we get to see what happens when aliens land in our desert and take over the minds of all the humans and animals in the area. Lots of rampant destruction, for one! Buy it here!
Pirates of Ghost Island (2007)
Directed by Mitcheal Toles
Wow, is Lionsgate really sinking lower and lower as we watch? It’s a bit scary if you ask me. Here we have the story of six friends who become shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island, but when one of them is kidnapped before dawn they realize they’re not alone. Nope, they’re sharing the island with the Pirates of Ghost Island, who have haunted the shorelines for 200 years. Wow. If that doesn’t sound like a lame “Scooby Doo” episode, I don’t know what does. Jinkies! Buy it here!
The Return of Dracula/The Vampire (1958/1957)
Directed by Paul Landres
Wow, so Dracula was the first identity thief? Only difference is he would drain those whose lives he was going to take over of blood and leave empty husks. How badass is that? In The Return of Dracula, he steals an identity to head out to California, where he finds another young girl to torment. The Vampire takes an interesting spin on the mythos, finding a doctor who invents a pill that is supposed to help humans improve, but instead turns them into bloodthirsty killers. Of course the doctor dies before he can tell anyone this, so those following in his footsteps have to figure it out the hard way. Buy it here!
Return of the Living Dead: Collector’s Edition (1985)
Directed by Dan O’Bannon
What can be said about Dan O’Bannnon’s pitch-perfect zombie comedy that’s not already been said by people far smarter and more articulate than myself? Not much, actually, but I gotta fill the space here somehow! This new release contains a longer cut of the film (not approved by O’Bannon, of course) and new commentary by the cast and crew, as well as more added goodies. Personally I’m gonna stick with the last RotLD DVD release, it’s just classier. Buy it here!
Scarecrows (1988)
Directed by William Wesley
When five men decide to heist the payroll at Camp Pendleton, they kidnap a pilot and his daughter and make them fly them to Mexico. When one of the thieves’ double-crosses them on the way there, he parachutes and finds himself in the middle of a graveyard surrounded by creepy scarecrows. The rest of the team parachute down to get their money back and pretty soon they’re dealing with something much worse than the police; bloodthirsty, maniacal scarecrows. Buy it here!
Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror (2006)
Directed by Stacy Title
Wow, this one’s been a long time coming, eh? Who would have thought that an anthology film about urban horror stories would take so long to finally come home? Not I. Although from what I’ve heard it’s not that great, still you’d think the Snoop Dogg name alone would get it out to the public before now. In here you have the stories of an artist out for revenge, a redneck forced to spend time with Vietnam vets, and a rapper who kills his partner to go solo, but pays for it. Read our Hood of Horror review for more! Buy it here!
Supernatural: The Complete Second Season
Directed by Various
Yet another show I’ve never had a chance to watch but I’ve heard good things about. The second season follows Sam and Dean as they continue to hunt all the things that go bump in the night. After finding their missing father and learning what happened to their mother, Sean begins to develop some very spook abilities. They learn that a demon was responsible for the death of their mother and they have their sights set on eradicating him from the face of the earth before he can kill again. Buy it here!
Tales From the Crypt/Vault of Horror (1972/1973)
Directed by Freddie Francis/Roy Ward Baker
Back before it became of the best anthology horror shows in the history of television, Tales From the Crypt was an anthology movie from the early 70’s that found five people trapped in a crypt and shown their futures by an evil cryptkeeper. The only way to beat their futures? Die now! Vault of Horror finds another five people trapped, this time in basement, sharing visions of their own horrific demises. Vampires, art, and dismemberment are just some of the topics covered in that discussion. Buy it here!
Urban Gothic: Season One
Directed by Various
By the description I believe it’s an anthology show with one primary focus; to point out that being you and pretty won’t save you. Ha! I knew it! Anyway, the show examines the back alleys and seedy underbelly of London, where virtually anything can happen. Vampires, ghosts, aliens; it’s all here in “Urban Gothic”, a pretty well-regarded show from the UK. Nice to see more and more UK shows getting DVD love over here in states; there’s a lot of good stuff we’d normally never get to see. Hope this is one of ‘em! Buy it here!
Witchfinder General
Directed by Michael Reeves
Definitely one of Vincent Price’s creepiest roles, in this he plays the infamous Matthew Hopkins, who travels across England destroying anyone who is suspected of being a witch. And he’s not very nice about it, either. This is one of those classic films that’s never really been properly recognized by horror fans. Hopefully now that it’s out under it’s real title, as opposed to the horribly ill-fitting Conqueror Worm that will change. Be sure to get this without questioning! Buy it here!
Yongary: Monster From the Deep/Konga (1967/1961)
Directed by Ki-Duk Kim/John Lemont
Damn those earthquakes Korea’s always getting, always waking up monsters. Like Yongary: Monster From the Deep, for example, who awakens from his centuries of slumber with an insatiable thirst for… gasoline? So of course he has to destroy Seoul to get it. Konga tells of a professor who brings home a baby chimp from a land in which he insists the animals grow to monstrous size, then gets freaked out when his monkey gets huge and goes rampagin’. Why would you be surprised? Buy it here!
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