This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, May 30th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 5/30:

*  BLACKENSTEIN  [BD]
*  DARK HARVEST  [DVD]
*  EVIL ED  [Arrow BD]
*  THE HEARSE  [Vinegar Syndrome BD]
*  HIDE AND GO SHRIEK  [BD]
*  HORROR HOUSE ON HIGHWAY 5  [Vinegar Syndrome BD]
*  SLAUGHTERHOUSE ROCK  [DVD]

Blu-ray Review: OBSESSIONS (1969)

OBESSIONS
Directed by  Pim de la Parra
Distributed by Cult Epics / CAV Distributing

 I haven't done a review for a Cult Epics release in a while, so I was glad to get the chance to review one of their latest releases, OBSESSIONS.  This is a very interesting crime/thriller from director Pim de la Parra and was co-written by Martin Scorsese!  I had never heard of this film before, but I really enjoyed this one.  Here is some more info about the film from the Cult Epics website:

  The obscure film OBSESSIONS (aka HOLE IN THE WALL) was directed by Dutch artsploitation auteur Pim de la Parra and co-produced by longtime collaborator Wim Verstappen (BLUE MOVIE). This gritty, psychedelic Hitchcockian mystery, which is notable for being the first Dutch film shot in English-language, starts in a savagely brutal fashion. When a bloody painting of Vincent van Gogh falls from a wall and exposes a makeshift peephole, student protagonist Nils Janssen (played by the film’s German co-producer Dieter Geissler) becomes an unwitting witness to a gruesome sex crime next door.  When his young fiancée Marina (Alexandra Stewart of Truffaut’s DAY FOR NIGHT), an enterprising journalist, tells him about a report of a murder that she is writing, he naturally wonders if it’s the very same killing.

  This classic exploitation film was the birth of auteur cinema in Holland, and inspired legendary filmmakers such as Paul Verhoeven to make their start in the industry.  Originally distributed in over 100 countries, the film remained unreleased in the U. S. (and France) – until now.  Perhaps most notably, the film was co-written by a young Martin Scorsese, who shot the legendary erotic dream sequence for his first feature WHO’S THAT KNOCKING AT MY DOOR (1968) in Amsterdam, that same year.  Additionally, the film also stars legendary Dutch filmmaker Fons Rademakers (MIRA, THE ASSAULT), is edited by Henry Rust (CHILDREN OF PARADISE) and scored by Hitchcock composer Bernard Herrmann (TAXI DRIVER, SISTERS, VERTIGO). OBSESSIONS is a curious cultural hybrid where late-1960s Dutch exploitation and classic Hollywood Hitchcock collide in a provocative and revolutionary fashion. Blu-ray/DVD Combo.

 

  This was a very interesting film, not horror so much, more of just a dark mystery/thriller.  It reminded me of the early Giallo films of Dario Argento, although this is not a true Giallo film by any means.    The movie was very well made and was different in that a lot of the key action takes place in the apartment next to our main character, Nils,  with the camera looking through the peephole in the wall.  This was a unique way to witness key scenes and made you feel like you were a part of the action!  

  

   The film was very suspenseful throughout, but especially so in one scene where Nils breaks into the neighbor's apartment and gets trapped there as the man comes back before he has a chance to get out.  Nils hides under the bed hoping to not get caught, while his girlfriend makes a distraction and gets the man to leave his apartment so Nils can finally escape.  I was on the edge of my seat during the scene, nervous that Nils was going to get caught! 

 

  While OBSESSIONS is pretty tame by today's standards, it has a good story and keeps you entertained the entire running time, or at least it did me anyway.   I would definitely recommend this one!

  OBESSIONS will be available May 30th on Blu-ray/DVD combo pack and will contain the following special features:


. New HD Transfer (from original 35mm film)
. Introduction by director Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Introduction by actor/producer Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Pim de La Parra (HD, 2017)
. Interview with Dieter Geissler (HD, 2016)
. Interview with Martin Scorsese (Volkskrant, 2017)
. Scorpio Films (Excerpt from Parradox documentary, HD 2010)
. Original Dutch Theatrical Trailer (HD)
. Script notes by Martin Scorsese 
. Obsessions photo video gallery


CLICK HERE to watch the trailer  (**NSFW**)
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray/DVD combo

Blu-ray Review: DARK WATERS (1994)

DARK WATERS
Directed by:  Mariano Baino
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

  I always love getting films for review that I have never heard of before.  I think of myself as being pretty informed when it comes to horror movies, but every now and then I find a film that I have heard nothing and know nothing about.  DARK WATERS is one of those films.   I went into it not knowing what to expect, I came out of it wondering how this one is not more well known.  Maybe it is more well known and I just missed it somehow.   It's a remarkable film that has some of the creepiest imagery I have seen in a long time.   Here is some more info about the film from the CAV press release:

It has been acclaimed as visually amazing (Videoscope), deeply disturbing (BBC Radio One), a must see for serious horror buffs (Film Review), and compared to the works of Bergman, Bava and Argento. Now experience the modern Nunsploitation masterpiece from co-writer/director Mariano Baino as you've never seen or heard it before: When a young Englishwoman attempts to discover her mysterious connection to a remote island convent, she will unlock an unholy communion of torment, blasphemy and graphic demonic depravity. Louise Salter (INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE) stars in this stunning and horrifying debut (Digitally Obsessed) - filmed on location along the grim Ukraine coast - now transferred in HD from the original 35mm negative and featuring over 4 hours of startling Special Features.

  The film is very strange as it is not very dialog heavy at all....as I mentioned before the imagery is some of the best, and the director lets that take the main stage in the film.   The camera work is amazing and the practical effects are very well done.  While I found it interesting that the film was told more with imagery than with dialog, the lack of dialog could have led to my confusion about the plot/story.   It was a little hard to follow at times, and some things weren't explained as well as I thought they could have been, but honestly this did not keep me from enjoying the film.

 While this film is advertised as a "Nunsploitation masterpiece", this is not your typical Nunsploitation flick at all.  In fact, I would not even begin to put this film in that classification.   This is a dark Italian horror film that just happens to have a plot that revolves around Nuns and a convent.  These are not like any Nuns you have ever seen before....they are almost coven like and very evil.

  This is a very creepy film that I highly recommend for all horror fans, especially Italian horror fans.
DARK WATERS is available now on DVD and BD from Severin Films and CAV Distributing and contains the following special features:

Audio Commentary With Writer / Director Mariano Baino

Lovecraft Made Me Do It Featurette

Let There Be Water Featurette

Controlling the Uncontrollable Featurette

Deep Into the Dark Waters Featurette

Director Intro

Deleted Scenes

Silent Blooper reel With Audio Commentary by Director Mariano Baino

Short Films Of Mariano Baino: Dream Car, Caruncula, Never Ever After

Making of Never Ever After

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray
CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, May 16th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 5/16:

*  ANOTHER YOU  [DVD & BD]
*  BEN  [DVD/BD combo]
*  CABIN FEAR  [DVD]
*  HE KNOWS YOU'RE ALONE  [DVD]
*  RESIDENT EVIL:  THE FINAL CHAPTER  [DVD, BD, & 4K]
*  STREETS OF FIRE  [BD]
*  WILLARD  [BD]

Check out this hilarious killer clown prank compilation!

 I love a good prank, especially when they are a good horror related prank!  I ran across this awesome prank compilation on Facebook that involves some creepy killer clowns!  Check it out and imagine what you would do if you came across one of these guys!  

*** If the video doesn't play from here, click the link at the bottom left of the video to go to the
original link and it should play from there***

Check out GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS, available now on DVD!

 
  If you are a follower of this blog, you might recognize the name Scarlet Fry.  I have reviewed a few films of his in the past, 2 of which are now being re-released in a cool double feature DVD set!   The new DVD is called GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS and it includes the films SCREAM MACHINE  (read my original review HERE) and SCARLET FRY'S JUNKFOOD HORRORFEST  (read my original review HERE).    

  Here is a bit more about the new DVD set from the film's official press release:

 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!

  I was a big fan of these films.  I love the 80's VHS throwback feel and the practical gore effects were a lot of fun!   If you haven't seen these films, I highly suggest you check them out!

  Scarlet Fry's GRINDHOUSE GUTMUNCHERS is available now on DVD from World Wide Multi Media...it's a 2 Disc buffet of gore!! 

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, May 9th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 5/9:

*  AMERICAN MUMMY  [DVD]
*  BLOODSUCKERS HANDBOOK  [DVD]
*  BODIES  [DVD]
*  BRAIN DAMAGE  [Arrow DVD/BD combo]
*  CANNIBAL MESSIAH  [DVD]
*  CLOWN KILL  [DVD]
*  DEAD GAMERS  [DVD]
*  THE EVANGELIST  [DVD]
*  THE GORENOS  [DVD]
*  INSIDE THE DARK ROOM  [DVD]
*  MAKING CONTACT  [DVD & BD]
*  PSYCHO  (remake)  [BD]
*  SERIAL MOM  [BD]
*  SEVEN DORMS OF DEATH  [DVD]
*  TALL MEN   [DVD & BD]
*  THE VOID  [DVD]

Guest Blu-ray Review: CALTIKI: THE IMMORTAL MONSTER (1959)

CALTIKI:  THE IMMORTAL MONSTER
Directed by:  Riccardo Freda and Mario Bava
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

  I haven't had a guest review posted on my website in a long time.  I figured it's about time to change that.  You're all probably tired of my ramblings anyway!   This time though, you don't get just one guest reviewer, you get two!  It's not a fellow blogger, or a known writer, either.  Nope, this time the guest review is being done by my twin 10 year old boys!   I don't review too many horror films that the boys can watch with me, so they were super excited to be able to watch this one.  It's a pretty tame black and white horror film from 1959 called CALTIKI:  THE IMMORTAL MONSTER.  Here's the synopsis of the film courtesy of the MVD website:

 Arrow Video presents a collaboration between two giants of Italian cult cinema - Riccardo Freda (The Vampires, The Horrible Dr Hichcock) and Mario Bava (5 Dolls for an August Moon, Blood and Black Lace)! A team of archaeologists led by Dr John Fielding (John Merivale, Circus of Horrors) descends on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its inhabitants. However, the luckless explorers get more than they bargained for when their investigation of a sacrificial pool awakens the monster that dwells beneath its waters - the fearsome and malevolent god Caltiki. Though Riccardo Freda received sole directing credit, a significant portion of the film was in fact the work of Mario Bava, who also served as its cinematographer and was responsible its striking special effects. Drawing on a diverse array of influences, from The Quatermass Experiment to the works of HP Lovecraft, Caltiki the Immortal Monster is a unique and unforgettable sci-fi chiller which showcases these two legendary filmmakers at their most inventive. Presented here for the first time in a newly restored high definition transfer, Caltiki shines - and terrifies! - like never before.

  I've shown my kids THE BLOB (1958) and THE BIRDS (1963), and they loved those, so I figured they would enjoy this one.  I also knew being from 1959 (and doing a little internet research) that it was going to be tame enough to let them watch it.   So here you go, each review is just a short paragraph, but I think they did a pretty good job!   **SPOILER ALERT **  Bewarned, there are some spoilers in these reviews! 

 
  I have not seen too many horror movies in my life but I enjoyed this one. Caltiki came out in 1959 so it was tame enough for me to watch.  This movie had good parts and bad parts. One of my favorite scenes was when Max was running from the police. It was very intense and kept me on the tip of my chair.  Another one of my favorite scenes were when the mother and the baby were crawling outside the windows trying to escape from the monster that was taking over their house.  Something that I really enjoyed about this movie was the music. I think it really fit the movie considering the intensity of it. Also considering the effects were not as great as they are today back in the late 50’s,  these effects were pretty good. A few things bad were that some of the story was sort of hard to follow. Also, they quickly came to the conclusion that you could just burn him, making him not that immortal. Over all the movie was great.  Good for someone who doesn’t want something too scary, but just a little creepy.
   - Levi

  I am not the biggest horror movie fan but I enjoyed “Caltiki the immortal monster” because it was not as scary as some as the new movies coming out today. I liked the scenery on the jungle ruins, they showed a lot of hard work and effort put into them. The music was not often played as in some other movies, but when it was played it sounded really good! The effects were good for the time of 1959. A bad thing that I found was that the natives wore American looking clothing instead of tribal and/or old clothes. Another not so great thing was that they said “You can only kill it with fire but they only tried 2 things, guns and fire.  It’s more like “Caltiki the bullet proof monster”. Also they killed the “immortal” monster and there wasn’t even a twist ending that he was still alive, so much for immortal! Finally the fire effects and fire tanks where really cool! If you love horror movies or even if you're not a big fan like me,  you can still enjoy this movie whoever you are.
  - Luke
 

Well, there you have it.  I couldn't have said it better myself!  I think they did a great job and I found it interesting that they both mentioned the music in the film, pretty good observation I thought.

CALTIKI:  THE IMMORTAL MONSTER is available now from Arrow Video and MVD Entertainment and contains the following special features:

Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative

High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations

Original mono Italian and English soundtracks (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc)

Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack

Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack

New audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark

New audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of The Haunted World of Mario Bava and So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films

From Quatermass to Caltiki, a new discussion with author and critic Kim Newman on the influence of classic monster movies on Caltiki

Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master, an archival interview with critic Stefano Della Casa

The Genesis of Caltiki, an archival interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi

Archival introduction to the film by Stefano Della Casa

Alternate opening titles for the US version

Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing by Kat Ellinger and Roberto Curti

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, May 2nd

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 5/2:

*  AXE GIANT:  THE WRATH OF PAUL BUNYAN  [DVD]
*  BEYOND THE GATES  [DVD & BD]
*  CAMINO  [DVD & BD]
*  THE CURSE OF SLEEPING BEAUTY
*  DEVIL IN THE DARK  [DVD]
*  FEAR INC.  [DVD]
*  THE HEXECUTIONERS  [DVD]
*  HUNTING GROUNDS  [DVD & BD]
*  THE NAKED CAGE  [BD]
*  PANDEMIC  [DVD & BD]
*  RINGS  [DVD/BD Combo]
*  VIRUS  [BD]
*  WAIT TILL HELEN COMES  [DVD]
*  ZOMBIE NINJAS VS. BLACK OPS  [DVD]