Blu-ray Review: DEATHDREAM a.k.a. DEAD OF NIGHT (1974)

 

DEATHDREAM  a.k.a. DEAD OF NIGHT (1974)

Directed by:  Bob Clark

Distributed by:  Blue Underground / MVD

  This is one of those movies I have always seen the cover for, but for whatever reason just never have watched.  I'm not sure why I have never watched it, but I was glad I finally got to with this new 4K release from Blue Underground.   Here is a brief plot synopsis from the Blue Underground website:

In this shattering variation on “The Monkey’s Paw,” grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award® nominees John Marley of THE GODFATHER and Lynn Carlin of FACES) refuse to accept the news that their son Andy (Richard Backus) has been killed in Vietnam. But when Andy returns home soon after, something may be horribly wrong: Andy is alive and well… or is he? Produced and directed by Bob Clark (BLACK CHRISTMAS) and written by Alan Ormsby (DERANGED), DEATHDREAM was one of the very first films to confront the domestic ravages of the Vietnam War and remains one of the most chilling horror films of all time. 

DEATHDREAM was released under several different titles, including DEAD OF NIGHT, THE NIGHT WALK and THE NIGHT ANDY CAME HOME, and marked the grisly debut of gore effects legend Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD). In honor of its 50th Anniversary, Blue Underground is proud to present this acclaimed shocker in a brand-new restoration, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the 35mm negative with Dolby Vision HDR, overflowing with exclusive new and archival Extras!

  I had no idea going into this that it was Tom Savini's first special effects credential.   That was fun to find out, as I am a huge Tom Savini fan.   There is a short documentary on the special features about Tom Savini and his early films.  Definitely check that out after you are done watching the film.   

  The film opens with war flashback scene showing the main character, Andy, getting shot and killed in Vietnam.    His Mom prays for Andy to come home that same night, and in a case of be careful of what you wish for, her prayer is answered and he shows up at their door in the middle of the night.

  Unfortunately for Andy's family, he is not the same when he returns.  He is very quiet and has no appetite...well, except for blood!!

  I have to admit the film is a slow burner, almost more like a family drama film at times instead of a horror movie.  Bob Clark knows his horror films, though, and I have to admit he got me good with one of the best jump scares I have seen in a while.  It was so predictable too....I can't believe that got me!  Ha!  I obviously won't tell you what it is, as I don't want to spoil it, but it's a classic that I should have seen coming!

  Andy's make up, especially toward the end of the film when he is literally rotting away, is very disturbing and very well done.   I guess we can thank Mr. Savini for that!    While slow at times, the creepy factor is very high throughout the entire film.  It definitely kept me entertained, and I can see myself giving this one a revisit somewhere down the line. 

 DEATHDREAM is available now in a 4K UHD/Blu Ray combo pack and is loaded with the following special features:

Disc 1 (4K UHD Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

• Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Producer/Director Bob Clark
• Audio Commentary #2 with Writer/Make-Up Artist (Uncredited) Alan Ormsby
• NEW! Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Theatrical Trailer

Disc 2 (Blu-ray) Feature Film + Extras:

• Audio Commentary #1 with Co-Producer/Director Bob Clark
• Audio Commentary #2 with Writer/Make-Up Artist (Uncredited) Alan Ormsby
• NEW! Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• A Recollection With Star Anya Liffey and Writer/Make-Up Artist Alan Ormsby
• Notes For A Homecoming – Interview with Composer Carl Zittrer
• Flying Down To Brooksville – Interview with Production Manager John ‘Bud’ Cardos
• Tom Savini: The Early Years
• Deathdreaming – Interview with Star Richard Backus
• NEW! The First Andy – Interview with Actor Gary Swanson
• Screen Test with Original Andy, Gary Swanson
• Alan Ormsby Student Film
• Alternate Opening Titles
• Theatrical Trailer
• Still Galleries

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD + Blu-ray

The 4H Blog is on vacation!

 

  Hayes Hudson's House of Horror is on vacation! I'll be taking the next week off to sit on the beach and sip on some Pina Coladas!  I'll also think about the film JAWS every time I get in the water!   

  I'll be back with  new posts next week!    

  Until then, stay scared!

Blu-ray review: DANZA MACABRA Vol. 3 THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION

 

DANZA MACABRA Vol. 3 THE SPANISH GOTHIC COLLECTION

NECROPHAGOUS (1971)

a.k.a. The Butcher of Binbrook

Directed by:  Miguel Madrid

CAKE OF BLOOD (1971)

a.k.a.  Pastel de Sangre

Directed by:  Francesc Bellmunt, Jaime Chavarri, Emilio Martinez Lazaro, & Jose Maria Valles

CROSS OF THE DEVIL  (1975)

Directed by:  John Gilling

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD (1975)

a.k.a. Strange Love of the Vampires

Directed by:  Leon Klimovsky

Distributed by:  Severin Films

  If you are a fan of physical media, you are certainly familiar with Severin Films.   They distribute some of the best genre films, and their box sets are always amazing releases.   This new entry into the DANZA MACABRA sets is no different.  You can always expect the best picture quality, special features, and excellent physical packaging when Severin Films is involved. 

  DANZA MACABRA Vol. 3 features 4 more Spanish Gothic films from the 1970's.   Below is a brief synopsis of each film, courtesy of the Severin press release, followed by a few thoughts I had of each one.  

NECROPHAGOUS - The most misunderstood Spanish gothic shocker of the early ‘70s can now be reassessed like never before: A young nobleman (Bill Curran) returns to his crumbling family castle, only to learn that his wife has died giving birth to their stillborn child. But why is her coffin empty? What follows is a uniquely told shocker of grief, lust, dark secrets and the hungers of the grave. 

  

CAKE OF BLOOD - With Spanish cinema still under the oppressive Franco regime, four filmmakers banded together to create a horror anthology that examined classic themes through transgressive perceptions: Directed by José María Vallés, TAROT stars Julián Ugarte (ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK) in a grim tale of fanaticism set in the Middle Ages. Eusebio Poncela (THE CANNIBAL MAN) and Marisa Paredes (ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER) star in VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN, a unique take on Mary Shelley’s classic directed by Emilio Martínez-Lázaro (THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BED). TERROR AMONG CHRISTIANS, directed by Francesc Bellmunt, is a jolting vampire allegory set during Roman times. Jaime Chávarri – co-writer of VAMPYROS LESBOS and future icon of New Spanish Cinema – directs the twisted ghost story THE DANCE OR EMOTIONAL SURVIVALS starring Luis Ciges (THE CREATURE). 

CROSS OF THE DEVIL - In the early ‘70s, Spanish horror icon Jacinto Molina (aka Paul Naschy) wrote a screenplay for a Knights Templar film to compete with the popular BLIND DEAD series. Meanwhile, Hammer Films director John Gilling – whose hits for the UK studio included THE PLAGUE OF THE ZOMBIES and THE REPTILE – had retired to Spain. Molina shared his script with Gilling, who took over the project without Molina. The rarely seen result is a sumptuous tale of supernatural horror in which a writer (Ramiro Oliveros of THE PYJAMA GIRL CASE) plagued by violent nightmares investigates the murder of his sister by an ancient occult order.

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD - Though best known for his collaborations with Spanish horror star Jacinto Molina/Paul Naschy, Argentinian director León Klimovsky also crafted several of Spain’s finest vampire films of the ‘70s, especially this “magnificent” (Taliesin Meets The Vampires) 1975 gothic classic: In a 19th century village ruled by superstition, a vulnerable young woman (Emma Cohen of HORROR RISES FROM THE TOMB) is seduced into an aristocratic family of the sensuous undead.

 

  I love discovering old films I have never seen before, and all four of these films fall into that catagory.  All four were entertaining, but a couple did stand out for me.   My favorite film was THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD.   With that title, I was expecting a zombie film, but instead you get a very cool vampire film.   I will say though, that these vampires rose from the graves, so it was very reminiscent of a zombie film.  I liked that aspect and hadn't really seen that in a vampire film before.  CAKE OF BLOOD was my second favorite in this set.   I am a fan of anthology films, as I like getting multiple stories in one watch.  Each short is about 20-25 mins in length which is perfect for my short attention span!   My favorite short from this anthology was "Victor Frankenstein".  It was a very different take on the Frankenstein story, with the "monster"  just looking and acting like a regular guy, although with no capacity to speak.  CROSS OF THE DEVIL was an ok film, but I did find my mind wandering at times, and even though it clocks in at just 92 mins, I felt like it really dragged in several places.   NECROPHAGOUS.....well, I don't even know what to say about this one.  I'm glad I read the plot synopsis from IMDb.com, because that is the only way I would have known what was going on with this one!  This was definitely my least favorite of the films, but the lizard man makeup was pretty funny and gave me a good laugh.  Now that I think of it, that's probably not what the filmmakers were going for here, being a horror film and all. Maybe it was scary at the time, but it definitely did not hold up with today's makeup effects.  

 Overall, this set was a fun watch.  A lot of these old Spanish horror films just have a certain charm to them.  Most are pretty tame by today's standards as well, so don't expect a lot of gore.  Severin has done another great job with this release, and I'll now be tracking down Volumes 1 and 2 for my collection!

  The DANZA MACABRA Vol. 3 Blu-ray set is available now from Severin Films.  Special Features include the following:

NECROPHAGOUS Special Features

*Audio Commentary With Andy Marshall-Roberts, Host Of The Nasty Pasty Podcast

*Something You've Never Seen – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

*The First Horror Film Festival In The World – Remembrance By Maria Pilar Rafáles, Daughter Of Sitges Film Festival Founder Antonio Rafáles

*Trailers

CAKE OF BLOOD Special Features

*Audio Commentary With Rod Barnett Of NaschyCast And The Bloody Pit, And Dr. Adrian Smith, Co-Author Of Norman J. Warren: Gentleman of Terror

*My Generation – Interview With Actress Marisa Paredes

*I Just Wanted To Have Fun – Interview With Co-Director Jaime Chávarri

*To Whoever Wants To Watch – Interview With Actor José Lifante

*An Arthouse UFO – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

CROSS OF THE DEVIL Special Features

*Audio Commentary With Kim Newman, Author Of Anno Dracula, And Barry Forshaw, Author Of Brit Noir

*Fascinated By Bécquer – Interview With Screenwriter Juan José Porto

*The Real Templar Knights Movie – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

*Fantasy And Imagination: The Legacy Of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation

THE NIGHT OF THE WALKING DEAD Special Features

*Audio Commentary With Kat Ellinger, Author Of Daughters Of Darkness

*A Deadly Invitation To Another Dimension – Appreciation By Ángel Sala, Head Of Programming At The Sitges Film Festival

*Leo's Signature – Interview With Writer Juan José Porto

*Dead Man Walking – Interview With Actor José Lifante

*Spain's Cinematic Vampires – Video Essay By Xavier Aldana Reyes, Author Of Spanish Gothic: National Identity, Collaboration And Cultural Adaptation Alternate Spanish Credit Sequence

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the box set

Blu-ray Review: BACKWOODS DOUBLE FEATURE - COMMON LAW WIFE (1963) & JENNIE, WIFE/CHILD (1968)

BACKWOODS DOUBLE FEATURE

 

COMMON LAW WIFE

Directed by Eric Sayers & Larry Buchanan

JENNIE, WIFE/CHILD

Directed by:  Robert Carl Cohen & James Landis

 

    While horror is my main go to on this page, I like to be well rounded and cover some similar genres as well.  I have covered some Sci-fi, some Exploitation, some Sexsploitation, and even some Nunsploitation!  I thought I had covered all the different "sploitation" sub-genres, but I had been missing one.   This post will be my first foray into the Hicksploitation genre!  What is Hicksploitation you ask, well, it's basically just a sub-genre of films about the people and culture of the Southern United Sates, usually in a very stereotypical way.  

  This new BACKWOODS DOUBLE FEATURE brings two examples of Hicksploitation.   

First up is COMMON LAW WIFE from 1963.   Here is a brief synopsis courtesy of the film's press release:

  Shugfoot Rainey (George Edgley) trades in his longtime girlfriend, Linda (Annabelle Weenick) for a newer model... who just happens to be his niece, Baby Doll (Lacey Kelly). Unfortunately, his mistress does her research and discovers she is his common law wife… and he won't be able to get rid of her that easily! Directed by Eric Sayers, the film is actually spliced together with an unfinished film, Swamp Rose, directed by Larry Buchanan (Mars Needs Women, 1968; It’s Alive, (1969); Naked Witch, 1964). Marketed as an “educational film” in the original trailer, it warned its potential viewers of the lecherous lives its characters led. As parts of the film were shot a few years later, Baby Doll is allegedly played by a couple different actresses, contributing to a frenzied, not completely cohesive, storyline. It's backwoods at its best!

  Ok, after reading this synopsis, I now know I am not going crazy.  I could have sworn Baby Doll looked different in her earlier scenes.  That explains it I guess!    This was an interesting one.....very slow in parts, but it builds to a surprisingly bloody climax for this type of film.   This film reminded me of an old pulp novel come to life,  with a dramatic love triangle between Baby Doll, Shugfoot, and Sheriff Jody.   Although Baby Doll does have a fling with the local moonshiner, Bull, so I guess it's more of a love rectangle.   Obviously Linda doesn't like Baby Doll coming in and taking Shugfoot from her, and is persistent on staying with Shugfoot no matter what.    All this builds to the climax that I mentioned previously.   While this is the lesser of the two films on this set in my opinion, it's still worth a watch. 

The next film is JENNIE, WIFE/CHILD from 1968.   Here is a brief synopsis of the film:

In Jennie, Wife/Child, aka Albert Peckingpaw’s Revenge, Albert Peckingpaw (Jack Lester) takes Jennie (Beverly Lundsford) to be his wife... But Jennie is a whole lot younger and has her eye on the young farm hand, Mario (Jim Reader)! Old Man Peckingpaw is bound to find out what's happening on his farm sooner or later and, when he does, watch out! A catchy theme song draws you in immediately and the film features even more country-style earworms throughout. Cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond, a later Oscar winner for Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), elevates this film above others in the genre.

 This was my favorite of the two films in this set by far.   I didn't know what to expect from a film with this title, and I was a little concerned there would be a major cringe factor from the WIFE/CHILD portion of the title.  Rest easy, though, as Jennie is far from a "child".  She is in fact 20 years old, so we are safe from that worry!   This film has so much more action and plot to it in my opinion.    Jennie and Mario form a relationship while Mario is working for Mr. Peckingpaw.  There is a lot of sneaking around by both parties, and eventually they proclaim their love for each other and form a plot to steal Peckingpaw's money and run away together. 

  The main thing that caught my attention was the style of this film.   It was very unique in the way they used silent film era story cards throughout the film to set up certain scenes.  I thought that was a unique touch and one I hadn't seen before in a non silent film.   The music is also fun in this film.  It is very campy and the songs were original songs made for this film, as they sung about what was happening and used the characters names in the songs.   I also need to mention how good some of the shots were in this film.  Some of the shots I felt were way ahead of their time and really set this movie apart from the first feature on this set.    After reading the plot synopsis, and seeing Vilmos Zsigmond mentioned as the film's Cinematographer, it makes sense now.   He has been the Cinematographer or Director of Photography for many great films over the years.  In addition to CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND as mentioned above, he also worked on DELIVERANCE, THE DEER HUNTER,  and THE BLACK DAHLIA among many other great films. 

 One thing I like about these films, is their charm.   They are very tame by today's standards, but I can see how a few scenes from these films were probably very disturbing when they first came out.  

  This is great set and one I highly recommend.   BACKWOODS DOUBLE FEATURE is available now on DVD & Blu-ray, and contains the following Special Features:

* Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary, That’s Hicksploitation: The Origin of Southern Sinema

* Archival audio commentary for Common Law Wife by director of Swamp Rose, Larry Buchanan, and film historian/Mondo Digital founder, Nathaniel Thompson

* New, feature-length commentary for Common Law Wife by Millie De Chirico, film programmer, writer and host of the podcast I Saw What you Did, and Ben Cheaves, programmer at Turner Classic Movies

* Full-length commentary for Jennie Wife/Child by Millie De Chirico 

* Liner notes by Lisa Petrucci

* Original, restored trailer for Common Law Wife

* Newly created trailer by Film Masters for Jennie, Wife/Child.

CLICK HERE to watch the BACKWOODS DOUBLE FEATURE trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray