Blu-ray Review: MADHOUSE (1974)

MADHOUSE

Directed by:  Jim Clark

Distributed by:  Eureka Video

  Once again I get the privilege of watching and reviewing a film I have always known about, but had never watched for one reason or another.   1974's MADHOUSE stars the legendary Vincent Price, one of my all time favorite horror icons.  I really should make a point of watching all his films.  I have seen many of them, but there are still quite a few I have not.   I was glad to check MADHOUSE off the list of his films I have seen!  

Here is the basic plot synopsis from the Eureka! website!

Paul Toombes (Price) is an actor whose trademark role is the enigmatic and terrifying Dr Death, a skull-faced serial killer and the central antagonist of a long-running series of horror films. When Toombes’ fiancée Ellen (Julie Crosthwait) is murdered in mysterious circumstances by an assailant dressed as Dr Death, the actor wonders if he has succumbed to madness – a question he will be forced to reckon with again when, years later, people begin dying on the set of a new television series based on his most famous character.

  This was such a fun film, and pretty tame by today's standards.  It does have a couple of creepy images, including the skull makeup/mask of the killer and one instance of a woman's head coming off after a decapitation.  I know it sounds bad, but it's one of the cleanest, bloodless decapitations I have ever seen!   It's exactly the type of decapacitation you would expect to see in a rated PG horror film!  That's right, MADHOUSE is rated PG!  Of course, these were the days before the creation of the PG-13 rating, so most likely this is a PG-13 film by today's standards.  

  I thought it was really neat how they used clips from older Vincent Price films in the movie, to show his character's past films.  We see clips from THE HAUNTED PALACE,  THE RAVEN, and THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM, just to name a few. 

 The movie was pretty tame overall, but it kept me entertained for the entire running time, a quick 89 minutes.   Also of note, is an appearance from another Horror icon, Peter Cushing.    You can't go wrong with both Cushing and Price in a film together!  

 I would definitely recommend MADHOUSE to any horror fan.  Don't expect a lot of blood and gore, but do expect the strange charm that comes with any Vincent Price film.  I don't know what it is about him, but I love anything he is involved with!  

MADHOUSE comes out tomorrow, 6/22, and contains the following Special Features:

• Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring original poster artwork [2000 copies]
• Limited edition booklet featuring new writing on Madhouse by genre film expert Christopher Stewardson and an archival interview with director Jim Clark conducted by John Hamilton, originally published in The Dark Side [2000 copies]
• 1080p HD presentation on Blu-ray
• Original English mono audio
• Optional English subtitles (SDH)
• New introduction to Madhouse by horror novelist Stephen Laws
• Lights, Camera, Murder! – new video essay on Madhouse by horror and gothic scholar Mary Going
• Audio commentary by film historian David Del Valle
• Archival making-of featurette
• Stills Gallery
• Original theatrical trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray 

Please note, this is a Region B release only.  You must have a Region B player, or Region Free player to play this disc. 

Blu-ray Review: SHOCK WAVES (1977)

SHOCK WAVES
Directed by:  Ken Wiederhorn
Distributed by:  Blue Underground

"Beneath The Living... Beyond The Dead... From The Depths of Hell's Ocean!"

  As much of a fan of zombie movies as I am, I am even more a fan of Nazi zombies.  There is something about these two evils that come together into one truly barbaric monster.  SHOCK WAVES is one of the earliest of the Nazi zombie sub-genre.  It is also one of my all time favorites as well.  Here is the synopsis of the SHOCK WAVES blu-ray courtesy of the Blue Underground website:

  In the dark days of World War II, the Nazi High Command ordered its scientists to create a top secret race of indestructible zombie storm troopers - un-living, unfeeling, unstoppable monstrosities that killed with their bare hands. They were known as The Death Corps. No member of this horrific SS unit was ever captured by the Allied Forces - and, somewhere off the coast of Florida, they have survived...
   Peter Cushing (STAR WARS), Brooke Adams (INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS) and John Carradine (THE BOOGEY MAN) star in this suspenseful and genuinely creepy shocker co-written and directed by Ken Wiederhorn (RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD PART II). One of the great horror "sleepers" of the 1970s, SHOCK WAVES has been freshly transferred and fully restored in High Definition from the only known surviving materials!

  One thing you'll immediately notice with this film is the lack of gore.  Unlike a lot of the zombie films of this time period, this film does not rely heavily on the blood and gore.  In fact, most kills are very tame, especially by today's standards.  What the film lacks in gore is completely made up by the film's creepy vibe.  There is something about seeing these zombies rise from the water after being down there for who knows how long, that is very frightening.   The film is very atmospheric and is perfect viewing for a dark, rainy night.

  The new 1080 HD transfer looks extremely good, especially since the last time I watched this film was back on VHS!  The film is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and is an ALL REGIONS disc.

SHOCK WAVES is available now on Blu-ray from Blue Underground and contains the following special features:

* Audio Commentary with Co-Writer/Director Ken Wiederhorn, Make-Up Designer Alan Ormsby and Filmmaker Fred Olen Ray
* Nazi Zombies On A Budget - Interview with Producer/Cinematographer Reuben Trane
* Notes For The Undead - Interview with Composer Richard Einhorn
* Sole Survivor - Interview with Star Brooke Adams
* From FLIPPER To SHOCK WAVES - Interview with Star Luke Halpin
* Theatrical Trailer
* TV Spot
* Radio Spots
* Poster & Still Gallery


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