Blu-Ray Review: THE CRIPPLED MASTERS (1979)

 

THE CRIPPLED MASTERS

Directed by:  Chi Lo  (as Joe Law)

Distributed by:  Film Masters / MVD 

  If you are a fan of Kung Fu movies, and weird Grindhouse flicks, do I have a film for you!   This is Kung Fu like you have never seen before!   Frankie Shum and Jackie Conn star in this bizarre film about two Kung Fu masters that have mastered the martial art despite their disabilities (one born without arms, and one born with underdeveloped legs).  Together they form one master of Kung Fu in THE CRIPPLED MASTERS!

 Here is the official synopsis from the official press release:

Directed by Chi Lo aka Joe Law (Magic Swords, Hong men xiong di, Hei lung), the film tells the story of two martial arts artists, one who has lost both arms and the other who has lost both legs, as they seek revenge against the villainous master who disabled them. Portrayed by Sung-Chuan Shen aka Jackie Conn and Chao-Ming Kang aka Frankie Shum—who in real-life are martial arts artists with disabilities—they endure rigorous training, forming a deep bond as they rely on resourcefulness and determination to master their unique fighting styles … and to avoid challenges from other martial artists and the master’s henchman. Also starring Li Chung Keng, Chen Mu Chuan and Ho Chiu.

  I haven't seen too many Kung Fu movies, but I have seen a handful and have enjoyed what I have seen.  One of my favorites is the 1976 film, MASTER OF THE FLYING GUILLOTINE.  I like that one so much due to it's nice mixture of Kung Fu and Horror, it is not your typical Kung Fu film.   I put THE CRIPPLED MASTERS up there in that same category as well.  Kung Fu purists might night like this one, but I found it highly enjoyable.  It's just goofy, weird, and fun.   

  While the two main actors were born with their disabilities, in the film we see one of them get their arms cut off and the other get his legs crippled due to being tortured with acid.   The characters don't let this stop them, and they train with a Kung Fu master to become skilled martial artists.   The novelty of them coming together to create one unstoppable Kung Fu master is pretty unique.   

  I know DVD versions of this film have been around for years, but you'll definitely want to check out this newly restored version.  In fact, one of the special features is a side by side comparison of the film's original print and the new restored version.   The clean up Film Masters did on this print is pretty amazing!    For fans of crazy cinema, this one is a must see!

  THE CRIPPLED MASTERS is available now for on Newly Restored DVD and Blu-ray from Film Masters, and contains the following Special Features:

*  A new documentary, from Ballyhoo Motion Pictures, Kings of Kung Fu: Releasing the Legends, narrated by author/researcher Chris Poggiali

*  Original raw scan of the film (SD)

*  Before/after examples of restoration

*  Liner notes provided by disability advocate Lawrence Carter-Long

*  Commentary by Will Sloan and Justin Decloux of The Important Cinema Club

*  Compilation of Kung Fu trailers (SD) from Something Weird Video

*  A recut of the original theatrical trailer from restored elements

*  An original raw theatrical trailer

*  Mandarin-language track.

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-Ray

4K Ultra HD Review: NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER (1970)

 

NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER (aka THE BLOODY JUDGE)

Directed by:  Jess Franco

Distributed by:  Blue Underground / MVD

  If you like films about witches and period war films, you've come to the right place! The infamous Jess Franco brings you, NIGHT OF THE BLOOD MONSTER, or THE BLOODY JUDGE, which is actually the title I prefer, as there is no monster in this film!   Christopher Lee stars at the Judge that is sentencing innocent women to acts of torture and even death due to them being charged as practicing witchcraft.  There are also some very realistic battle scenes, and like most Jess Franco movies, it doesn't all makes sense!  Here is a brief synopsis from the Blue Underground website:

Christopher Lee (THE WICKER MAN) gives one of his most unforgettable performances as Judge Jeffreys, the infamous 17th Century witchfinder whose unholy obsession with a luscious wench (Maria Rohm of EUGENIE) fuels a jaw-dropping spree of torture, brutality and flesh-ripping perversion. Howard Vernon (SUCCUBUS), Margaret Lee (FIVE GOLDEN DRAGONS), Maria Schell (99 WOMEN) and Oscar® nominee Leo Genn (QUO VADIS) co-star in this landmark epic of sexual violence and sadism, complete with a superb score by Bruno Nicolai (COUNT DRACULA) and directed with spectacularly deviant glee by the one and only Jess Franco (VENUS IN FURS).

 I'm not going to pretend that this is some masterpiece by any means, although for a Jess Franco film, it is actually very impressive and I would assume one of his bigger budget films in his filmography.  It looks like much more of a mainstream film that I am used to seeing from his films.   The plot is a bit hard to follow, at least it was for me.  The mix of politics and war into the Salem witch trail type plot was hard to get around.   The torture scenes were dispersed in strange places in my opinion, but they did keep the film entertaining, as they were the best parts of the film to me.   The torture scenes are actually pretty tame compared to more recent movies, but there was one scene in particular that was very disturbing and realistic which was a scene of a woman's hand getting chopped off in a guillotine.  This scene happens very quickly and really catches you off guard....just don't rewind it like I did and pause right before she gets her hand cut off, as you will see a laughable fake hand that is a completely different color than her real hand.  Maybe this wasn't as noticeable on older releases, but it was hard to miss in 4K! 

 Speaking of 4K, this new release from Blue Underground is a beautiful 4K Ultra HD edition.   If you didn't know this film was from 1970, you would never guess by the look of this transfer.  It looks as if it could have been shot recently with such picture clarity and vibrant colors.   Even if you have the old BLOODY JUDGE dvd, you will want to make the upgrade to this new release.  Also, for us lover of physical media, it comes with a beautiful slip cover featuring some great new cover art!

Also, check out all these amazing special features that are included on the discs:

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

• Audio Commentary #1 with Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Audio Commentary #2 with Film Historians Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
• Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians David Flint and Adrian Smith

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

• Audio Commentary #1 with Film Historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson
• Audio Commentary #2 with Film Historians Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw
• Audio Commentary #3 with Film Historians David Flint and Adrian Smith
• Bloody Jess – Interviews with Director Jess Franco and Star Christopher Lee
• Judgement Day – Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of “Murderous Passions: The Delirious Cinema of Jesus Franco”
• In The Shadows – Interviews with Filmmaker Alan Birkinshaw and Author Stephen Thrower on Harry Alan Towers
• Deleted and Alternate Scenes
• Trailers and TV Spot
• Still Galleries

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K Ultra HD / BD combo 

Blu-ray Review: CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER (1985)

 

CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER

Directed by:  Mark Blair

Distributed by:  Unearthed Films / MVD

  For as long as I've been a fan of horror, and as many horror movies I have seen, I'm always amazed at how many great films have slipped past me over the years.   CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER is a film that I can recall seeing the cover for way back when I was a kid.  This film came out in 1985, when I was 9 years old.  Later on when I was a teenager, I remember always seeing the VHS cover for this film on the shelves of my local Mom & Pop video rental store.   I remember looking at it, and always passing it up for some reason.  I don't know why I never decided to give it a chance, but I have a suspicion that the cover made me think it was going to be too scary, even for me.  

  Well, here we are almost 40 years later, and I am finally able to give it the chance I should have so many years ago, thanks to the beautiful new Blu-ray release from Unearthed Films.   Unearthed Films recently started a "Unearthed Classics" line, where they bring hard to find older films to DVD and Blu-ray.  This film is a wonderful addition to the Unearthed Classics line, and truly is a classic in my opinion.   I think I'm glad I waited all these years to watch this one, as it might have been a little much for me as a kid!  

  Here is brief synopsis of the film from the film's IMDb page:

  After being arrested, a Texas man begins confessing to the brutal murder of over 200 women. He recounts his random selection of victims and his traveling companions, his friend and friend's sister. But the police can't be sure whether to believe him or not until he locates a body and shows them some polaroids. Based on the true story of Henry Lee Lucas.

 The first thing I noticed about this film is how much actor Robert A. Burns resembles the real serial killer that this film is based on, Henry Lee Lucas.  The resemblance is uncanny, which really made this film feel more realistic.  The film consists of Burn's character, named Daniel Ray Hawkins, in a police interrogation room after being arrested, and recounting all the crimes he has committed.  We then see reenactments of these crimes that he committed, or at least what he says he committed.   I like that the film alluded to the fact that, like the real Henry Lee Lucas, the cops suspected that Hawkins might be confessing to crimes he didn't commit.    Henry Lee Lucas was notorious for confessing to murders and helping the police with their investigations in return for some special treatment in jail.  The problem was, Lucas was already locked up and had nothing to lose, so he just confessed to crimes he had nothing to do with in order to get the special treatment.  In fact, he confessed to approximately 600 murders in total. This earned Lucas the famed nickname,  "The Confession Killer". 

 I can't say enough about how much I love CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER.   It is a gritty, grimy, and just dirty film which a movie like this  should be.   Even though it came out in 1985, it has the look and feel of a 1970's horror film, which was the best decade of horror in my opinion.   The acting in the film is great, and reenactments are very well done with some very brutal kills.  This film just made me feel dirty after watching it, and with a movie like this, that is a good thing!   In 1986, another film came out about Henry Lee Lucas called, HENRY:  PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER.  I feel like that film get more notoriety for some reason than this one.   I honestly think this is the better of the two films.   If you are a fan of serial killer films and true crime, this is a must see! 

CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER is available now on Blu-ray and DVD from Unearthed Films and includes the following Special Features:

• *  Commentary with director John 'Mark Blair' Dwyer, director of photography Layton Blaylock and actor Sidney Brammer
• *  The Henry Lee Lucas Story by author and TV news correspondent James Moore
• *  'Rondo and Bob' Full length documentary on Robert A. Burns and actor Rondo Hatton
• *  Polaroid Gallery
• *  Promotional Gallery
• *  Trailer

CLICK HERE to watch the trailer

CLICK HERE to purchase the Blu-ray

CLICK HERE to purchase the DVD

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