This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, October 17th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 10/17:

*  BLACK GHOSTS  [DVD]
*  A DEVIL'S WIND  [DVD]
*  DREAMING PURPLE NEON  [DVD]
*  ESCAPE ROOM  [DVD]
*  FRANKENSHARK  [BD]
*  GRANNY OF THE DEAD  [DVD]
*  LILITH'S HELL  [DVD]
*  RAWHEAD REX   [DVD & BD]
*  RED CHRISTMAS  [DVD & BD]
*  REVENGE OF THE DEAD  [DVD]
*  ROLLING VENGENCE   [DVD & BD]
*  SPACESHIP TERROR   [DVD & BD]
*  SUMMER OF FEAR   [DVD & BD]
*  THE TERROR WITHIN II  [DVD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, October 10th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that came out today, 10/10:

*  DEMONIC  [DVD]
*  THE GREEN SLIME  [BD]
*  KILL BABY KILL  [DVD & BD]
*  KISS THE GIRLS  [BD]
*  THE LURE  [Criterion Collection DVD & BD]
*  OPEN WATER 3:  CAGE DIVE  [DVD & BD]
*  THE POUGHKEEPSIE TAPES   [Scream Factory DVD/BD combo]
*  TEMPLE  [DVD]
*  WISH  UPON  [DVD &  BD]

Blu-ray Review: CHILDREN OF THE CORN (1984)

CHILDREN OF THE CORN
Directed by Fritz Kiersch
Distributed by Arrow Films / MVD Entertainment Group

 I was super excited to hear that CHILDREN OF THE CORN was getting the Arrow Video Blu-ray treatment.  I saw this film about 20 years ago, but hadn't seen it since, so I was looking forward to checking this film out again.  If you're not familiar with the story, here is the basic plot from the MVD website:

   A young couple on a road trip find themselves lost in the back roads of rural Nebraska, eventually winding up in the seemingly abandoned town of Gatlin. But the town is far from empty - as the pair soon discover, it's inhabited by a twisted cult of murderous children thirsty for another blood sacrifice...
  Adapted from King's eponymous short story first published in 1977 and starring Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Children of the Corn has gone on to spawn one of the most enduring horror franchises of all time.

  Movies featuring creepy kids have always been a favorite of mine. There is just something so creepy about killer kids.  I guess since kids are supposed to be so nice and innocent, that it is extra scary to see them like this.  CHILDREN OF THE CORN is full of creepy kids, and the film starts off with a bang when it shows you the day the kids killed all the adults and took over the town of Gatlin.   This was an extremely disturbing and effective scene, and did a remarkable job of setting the tone for the rest of the film.   The film then jumps to present day when the traveling adults get lost and find themselves in the worst place imaginable,  the town of Gatlin.

  Aside from the opening scene, the film is rather tame, with little gore throughout the rest of the film.  The film maintains it's intensity and sense of terror throughout the film's running time, though.   This is easily one of my favorite Stephen King film adaptations, although I'll be honest....I've never read the short story this film is based on.  Because of that, I can not speak to how well the film matches up with the original story.  On it's own it is an extremely entertaining film that I highly recommend.  
 
  The new Arrow  Blu-ray video quality is amazing.  The 2K restoration is beautiful and looks like it was shot just recently.  It's amazing to think this film is over 30 years old!   This new Blu-ray is a must have in your horror collection!

 CHILDREN OF THE CORN is available now on Blu-ray from Arrow Films and MVD Entertainment and contains the following special features:

*  Brand new 2K restoration from the original camera negative
*  High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
*  Original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD MA audio options
*  Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
*  Brand new audio commentary with horror journalist Justin Beahm and Children of the Corn historian John Sullivan
*  Audio commentary with director Fritz Kiersch, producer Terrence Kirby and actors John Franklin and Courtney Gains
*  Harvesting Horror - retrospective documentary featuring interviews with Fritz Kiersch, John Franklin and Courtney Gains
*  It Was the Eighties! - an interview with actress Linda Hamilton
*  And a Child Shall Lead Them - a brand new interview with actors Julie Maddalena and John Philbin
*  Field of Nightmares - a brand new interview with writer George Goldsmith
*  Stephen King on a Shoestring - an interview with producer Donald P. Borchers
*  Welcome to Gatlin: The Sights & Sounds of Children of the Corn - interviews with production designer Craig Stearns and composer Jonathan Elias
*  Return to Gatlin - a look back at the iconic filming locations in Iowa with host John Sullivan
*  Cut from the Cornfield - an interview with actor Rich Kleinberg on the infamous 'lost' Blue Man Scene
*  Disciples of the Crow - 1983 short film adaptation of Stephen King's story
*  Storyboard gallery
*  Original theatrical trailer
*  Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
*  FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Fully illustrated collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Sullivan and Lee Gambin 
CLICK HERE to watch the trailer
CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, October 3rd

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that came out today, 10/3:

*  976-EVIL  [BD]
*  AMERICAN HORROR STORY:  ROANOKE  [DVD & BD]
*  BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER  [DVD & BD]
*  CHUCKY:  COMPLETE 7 MOVIE COLLECTION  [DVD & BD]
*  CULT OF CHUCKY  [DVD & BD]
*  DEVIL'S WHISPER  [DVD]
*  DON'T TORTURE A DUCKLING  [Arrow DVD/BD combo]
*  A GHOST STORY  [DVD & BD]
*  HAUNTERS:  THE ART OF THE SCARE  [BD]
*  iZOMBIE:  COMPLETE 3RD SEASON  [BD]
*  JACKALS  [DVD & BD]
*  KILL ANOTHER DAY  [DVD]
*  NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD: 50TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION  [BD]
*  POPCORN  [DVD & BD]
*  STONE COLD DEAD  [DVD & BD]
*  VAMPYR  [Criterion Collection BD]
*  WITHIN  [DVD]
*  WOLVES AT THE DOOR  [DVD]

Blu-ray Review: SPIDER (1991)

SPIDER
a.k.a. Zirneklis
Directed by  Vasili Mass
Distributed by Mondo Macabro / CAV Distributing

  I love when I come across films that I have never seen and better yet, even heard of!  Vasili Mass' SPIDER was this kind of film.   The film shows to be the only directing credit to Mass' resume.   Being released under the Mondo Macabro label, I knew I was in for a treat.   Mondo always puts out such rare and weird films!   Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the CAV website:

  Vita, a beautiful teenage girl, is asked by a controversial artist to pose as the Virgin Mary for a painting. She visits his studio and finds herself swept up into the bizarre world of the artist and his bohemian friends. She seems to see his paintings come to life and is pursued by strange shadowy figures. Later she has nightmarish visions of the artist visiting her at night in the form of a huge spider. The next morning she finds marks on her body that look like the bites of a large insect.
  Vita’s mother becomes worried about her and sends the girl off to stay with relatives in the countryside, believing that the change of environment will help her to recover. However, it seems the dark forces that threatened Vita in the city have followed her and an ancient evil is being awakened that feeds off Vita’s burgeoning sexuality.
  This Latvian shot, Russian language film was produced in the post Glasnost years of the former Soviet Union, when the barriers were down and previously unacceptable material was being explored for the first time. This is one of the very few sex-horror films to come out of that period and still stands today as a daring and unique production, packed with elaborate and astonishing visual sequences of morbid eroticism.

   I really don't know how to describe and/or review SPIDER.  I really liked the film, as I love weird cinema.  Usually the weirder the better for me.  I feel, though, that this is one you must actually see for yourself to come to a conclusion on.  I don't think you can take the opinion of a random online reviewer/blogger.  I have a felling a lot of people will love this film and a lot will hate it.   It seems to me to be one of those films that doesn't fall in the middle with most people.    I personally loved this film, but I can definitely understand those that don't care for it.   

  The plot seems simple enough when reading it, but the film doesn't make it that easy to understand.  There are also a couple of sections of the film that move really slow.   What I loved about this film was the crazy imagery of it.  I was shocked to see it was made in 1991, as this film looks much older than that to me.  It looks like a film from the 1970's and reminded me of the works of Jean Rollin.  It was very atmospheric and very visual.

  If you are a fan of weird films, this is one you don't want to  miss!  SPIDER is available now on Blu-ray from Mondo Macabro.  This is the first time this film has been released in the U.S.  The Blu-ray contains the following Special Features:


- Newly created English subtitles
- Interview with director
- Rare on set footage
- Mondo Macabro previews
- Cover art from Gilles Vranckx


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