This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, May 1st

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 5/1:

*  BLOOD HOOK  [BD/DVD combo]
*  BLUE VENGEANCE  [BD/DVD combo]
*  DESOLATION  [BD & DVD]
*  IN THE FADE  [BD & DVD]
*  JOSIE  [BD & DVD]
*  KALEIDOSCOPE  [BD & DVD]
*  TREMORS:  A COLD DAY IN HELL  [BD & DVD]
*  THE UNWILLING  [BD & DVD]
*  WINCHESTER  [BD & DVD]

This week's horror related DVD and Blu-ray releases, April 24th

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 4/24:

*  THE BONE YARD  [BD & DVD]
*  CYBORG  [BD]
*  DAUGHTERS OF SATAN  [BD]
*  DEAD MAN  [Criterion Collection BD & DVD]
*  LIQUID SKY  [BD]
*  THE MAZE 3D [BD]
*  MOON CHILD  [BD/DVD combo]
*  SALTWATER:  ATOMIC SHARK   [DVD]
*  THE STRANGE ONES  [DVD]
*  WAR OF THE PLANETS  [DVD]

Blu-ray Review: VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON (1982)

 

VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON
Written & Directed by Bruno Mattei
Distributed by CAV Distribution / Severin Films

 Just like the rise of the Cannibal films of the early 80's, another popular exploitation sub-genre was at it's peak....the women in prison films.   There are a multitude of titles, but one of the best is Bruno Mattei's VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON, also known by the other titles CAGED WOMEN and EMANUELLE IN PRISON.   If you are a fan of the EMANUELLE films, then you will realize why it has that alternate title and it fits perfectly into the BLACK EMANUELLE series of films.  Why the title changed to VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON is beyond me.   The amazingly beautiful Laura Gemser  once again stars as "Black Emanuelle" in this film that is a must see for fans of the EMANUELLE series.

  Here is the basic plot of the film courtesy of the Severin Films website:

  In an over-the-top career filled with cannibals, zombies, nuns and Nazis, only EuroSleaze maestro Bruno Mattei (THE OTHER HELL, SHOCKING DARK) – along with frequent collaborators/co-writers Claudio Fragasso and Rossella Drudi (TROLL 2, ZOMBIE 3 and 4)  – could take the BLACK EMANUELLE series to such insane depths of depravity: When Emanuelle (the legendary Laura Gemser) goes undercover in a penitentiary, she will endure a nightmare of sadistic guards, voracious lesbians, rat attacks, feces fights and enough graphic mayhem for a dozen women-in-prison trash epics. Gabriele Tinti (EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS), Lorraine De Selle (CANNIBAL FEROX) and Franca Stoppi (BEYOND THE DARKNESS) co-star in this “classic of exploitation” (Yell Magazine) – also known as CAGED WOMEN and EMANUELLE IN PRISON – now featuring a 2k scan from an uncensored inter-positive.

  If you have seen other "Women in Prison Films", also known by the inits WIP, you know exactly what to expect here.   WIP films are a mixture of soft-core eroticism, mixed with gore and torture of the inmates, usually ending with the inmates getting their revenge on the wicked warden and guards that administered the torture to them.   VIOLENCE IN A WOMEN'S PRISON pretty much follows that same pedigree, although there was not as much gore as in other WIP films.   The small amount of gore was good and effective though, especially when Emanuelle is thrown in solitary confinement which looks pretty much just like an old cave.  It is filled with nasty black rats that gnaw on her legs, body and face.  I couldn't help but wonder if actress Laura Gemser was actually scared of rats, because she looks absolutely terrified in this scene.   It looks like actual fright and panic on her face, and if it wasn't, then it was one of the best acting performances I have ever seen!

  If you are a fan of WIP films, you will definitely want to check this one out.  Severin films is putting out a wonderful new DVD and Blu-ray edition that will be available May 8th.   You can pre-order these now from the links below.   Special features include the following:

*  Brawl In Women’s Block: Interview With Co-Director/Co-Writer Claudio Fragasso and Co-Writer Rossella Drudi
*  Archive Interview With Director Bruno Mattei
*  Radio Spot

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

 

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

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 4/17:

*  DAY OF THE REAPER  [BD]
*  DEEP BLUE SEA 2  [DVD & BD]
*  SLEEPING DOGS  [Arrow BD]

Blu-ray Review: BASKET CASE (1982)

BASKET CASE
Written & Directed by  Frank Henenlotter
Distributed by Arrow Video / MVD Entertainment Group

  I always love getting the chance to check out an old classic horror film that I have never seen.  Such was the case when I recently watched the 1982 classic BASKET CASE.   I have always heard of this film, but somehow have managed to have never seen it until now.  

 For those unfamiliar with the film, here is the plot synopsis courtest of MVD Entertainment website:

THE TENANT IN ROOM 7 IS VERY SMALL, VERY TWISTED, AND VERY MAD.

The feature debut of director Frank Henenlotter (Brain Damage, Frankenhooker), 1982's Basket Case is perhaps his most revered - a riotous and blood-spattered midnight movie experience, now immortalized in a lavish new 4K restoration by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
  Duane Bradley is a pretty ordinary guy. His formerly conjoined twin Belial, on the other hand, is a deformed, fleshy lump whom he carries around in a wicker basket. Arriving in the Big Apple and taking up a room at the seedy Hotel Broslin, the pair set about hunting down and butchering the surgeons responsible for their separation. But tensions flare up when Duane starts spending time with a pretty blonde secretary, and Belial's homicidal tendencies reach bloody new extremes.
  Filmed on a shoestring budget against the backdrop of 1980s New York (where the movie would become a staple of the infamous 42nd Street grindhouse circuit), Basket Case has clawed its way from its humble origins to become one of the most celebrated cult movies of all time.

  First off, I'll start by saying that this movie was just a lot of fun!  It is not a movie to be taken seriously by any means.  It is a campy, gory, and pretty cheesy movie....and I loved every minute of it!   The creature in the basket was very well done.  He is extremely creepy looking and makes some of these most hideous and disturbing screams/sounds I have ever heard!   

  The gore effects were also very well done and, of course, all practical effects since this was made back in the early 80's.   I know I say it often, but practical effects are so much better when it comes to blood and gore.  The CG effects nowadays just doesn't look nearly as realistic as the practical effects do. 

  If you are a fan of campy cinema, you will love this film!  It reminded me of something from Troma films or Full Moon films back in the day.    As always, Arrow has packed this release with tons of amazing special features.  I really enjoyed "In Search of the Hotel Broslin", a short doc where director Henenlotter goes around to find original filming locations from the movie.   Definitely check this one out if you get the chance!

  BASKET CASE is available now on Arrow Blu-ray and contains the following special features:

• Brand new 4K restoration from the original 16mm negative by MoMA

• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation

• Original Uncompressed Mono Audio

• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

• Brand new audio commentary with writer/director Frank Henenlotter and star Kevin Van Hentenryck

• Basket Case 3-1/2: An Interview with Duane Bradley - Frank Henenlotter revisits Duane Bradley decades after the events of the original Basket Case

• Seeing Double: The Basket Case Twins - a brand new interview with Florence and Maryellen Schultz, the twin nurses from Basket Case

• Brand new making-of featurette containing new interviews with producer Edgar Ievins, casting person/actress Ilze Balodis, associate producer/effects artist Ugis Nigals and Belial performer Kika Nigals

• Blood, BASKET and Beyond - a brand new interview with actress Beverly Bonner

• Belial Goes to the Drive-In - a brand new interview with film critic Joe Bob Briggs

• Outtakes Featurette

• In Search of the Hotel Broslin - archive location featurette

• Slash of the Knife (1972) - short film by Frank Henenlotter

• Belial's Dream (2017, 5 mins) - brand new Basket Case-inspired animated short by filmmaker Robert Morgan

• Behind-the-scenes of Belial's Dream

• Trailers, TV Spots and Radio Spots

• Extensive Still Galleries

• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sara Deck

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet with new writing on the film by Michael Gingold

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

 

 

 

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

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 4/10:

*  CRUCIBLE OF HORROR  [BD]
*  DECEIVED  [DVD & BD]
*  DEEP RED  [Arrow BD/DVD]
*  DISEMBODIED  [BD]
*  FULL MOON HIGH  [BD]
*  GRINDSPLOITATION TRILOGY  [BD]
*  MOHAWK  [DVD & BD]
*  THE PSYCHOPATH  [DVD & BD]
*  RED RINGS OF FEAR  [BD]
*  SUPERBEAST  [BD]

Magazine Review: GORE NOIR MAGAZINE

 As long as I can remember, I have always been a fan of horror comics and magazines.   I grew up reading the old "Fangoria" and "Gorezone" mags, and in later years have mainly read "Rue Morgue" and "Horror Hound" magazines.
These magazines are great, but I always love finding a new horror magazines to read.  

  I recently stumbled across a new magazine called "GORE NOIR MAGAZINE".    I came across their booth at a horror convention and the beautiful covers on these magazines instantly caught my eye, especially the Return of The Living Dead 30th Anniversary issue, which is the one I picked up and am reviewing here.   This has to be one of the most beautiful magazine covers I have ever seen!   The cover art was done by an artist that goes by "Munk One" and is actually interviewed in this issue!

  GORE NOIR is packed full of interviews with some of your favorite films hottest stars!  For this issue's interviews, GNM talks to Tarman himself, Allan Trautman, as well as scream queen legend Linnea Quigley!  Other interviews include one with William Stout, the production designer for ROTLD, who is credited with the design for the amazing Tarman! 

  Along with the interviews, this issues also featured an amazing ROTLD retrospective, complete with full color pics and some awesome pics of foreign movie posters for the film, most of which I had never seen.   ROTLD is one of my favorite horror films of all time, so this was definitely an awesome discovery for me!  

  GNM also has some great articles and interviews with bands in the horror/metal genre in this issue, as well as an article about tattooist Kat Wilson, who specializes in horror themed tattoos!  The pics of her work are amazing, and if I were ever to get a tattoo, I'm headed to Kat's studio to get it done!

  If you have never read a copy of GORE NOIR MAGAZINE, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy asap!   Check out their website at  www.gorenoir.com for back issues, subscriptions, and other merch!  You can also follow GORE NOIR MAGAZINE on the following social media sites:

Facebook:  @gorenoir
Instagram:  @gorenoirmag
Twitter:  @GoreNoirMag

 

Blu-ray Review: THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME (1979)

THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME
Written & Directed by  Jesús Franco
Distributed by Severin Films

  Jesús Franco (a.k.a. Jess Franco) is a very unique director and gave us some of the strangest films in the horror genre.  A lot of his films are really not that good (in my opinion), yet I still find myself drawn to them.  If I hear of a film I haven't seen and notice it was directed by Franco, I put in at the top of my list of movies to see!

  Such was the case with THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME (El Sadico de Notre-Dame).   Once again Franco brings us a weird tale of perversion, mixed with part slasher film, part occult film, and part Giallo.  His films are really a mixture of things, which sometimes can cause for confusing plots.  That is some of the charm of his films, though.   Here is the basic plot courtesy of the Severin Films website:

  In 1979, legendary writer/director Jess Franco (VAMPYROS LESBOS) re-purposed elements of his satanic sex shocker EXORCISM with all-new footage to create a depraved new epic that – even by Uncle Jess standards – achieves new levels of EuroSleaze insanity: Franco himself stars a defrocked priest turned hooker-slashing psychopath, prowling the streets of Paris in a fever of violence, voyeurism, rampant nudity and S&M depravity. Olivier Mathot (TWO FEMALE SPIES WITH FLOWERED PANTIES), Pierre Taylou (HOT NIGHTS OF LINDA), Antonio DeCabo (VIRGIN AMONG THE LIVING DEAD) and Jess’ beloved muse Lina Romay (MACUMBA SEXUAL, MANSION OF THE LIVING DEAD) co-star in what Franco considered to be his most personal film of all, now scanned in 4k from elements discovered in the crawlspace of a Montparnasse nunnery.

  If that sounds like a pretty simple plot, it's because it is.  This film is basically just Franco running around and killing those he thinks are sinners, mainly prostitutes he comes across.  It seems to be a good excuse for some Eurosleaze nudity.  In a somewhat weird and out of place plot element, he also targets those attending an orgy in a castle complete with virgin sacrifice!   Ha!  Again, the charm of a Jess Franco movie is what keeps me coming back for more! 

  The film clocks in at 99 minutes, and honestly it can feel a little slow at times.  I feel like a running time of 86-88 minutes would have helped the flow of the film.  There were many scenes of characters just walking around and some stock footage of the town that I feel could have been cut out to speed the film along a bit.  That is my only complaint, though.  If you are a fan of Franco's other films, I think you will like this one as well.

  THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME is available now on Blu-ray and DVD and contains the following Special Features:

*  The Gory Days Of Le Brady – Documentary Short On The Legendary Parisian Horror Cinema

*  Stephen Thrower On Sadist Of Notre Dame – Interview With The Author Of ‘Murderous Passions  – The Delirious Cinema Of Jesus Franco’

*  Selected Scenes Commentary With ‘I’m In A Jess Franco State Of Mind’ Webmaster Robert Monell

*  Treblemakers: Interview With Alain Petit, Author Of ‘Jess Franco Ou Les Prosperites Des Bis’

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

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

Here are this week's horror related DVD/BD's that come out tomorrow, 4/3:
 
*  4/20 MASSACRE  [DVD]
*  BROKEN  [DVD]
*  FOX TRAP  [DVD]
*  THE HUNTED  [DVD]
*  INSIDIOUS:  THE LAST KEY  [BD & DVD]
*  LOOKING GLASS [BD & DVD]
*  THE SADIST OF NOTRE DAME  [BD & DVD]
*  SINFONIA EROTICA  [BD & DVD]
*  A STUDY IN TERROR  [BD]
*  THELMA  [DVD]
*  TOKYO GHOUL  [BD/DVD combo]