The Manson Family (2003) (10th Anniversary Edition)

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Oh man, this is some exciting news to wake up to. One of my favorite exploitation movies hitting Blu-ray along with the director's new short film, Gator Green.

Press release from Severin:

Severin Films Releases THE MANSON FAMILY!
Jim VanBebber’s Controversial Masterpiece Gets
Blu-Ray Treatment, Theatrical Dates & New Poster.

Special Edition Of Underground Epic Will Include HD Transfer, VanBebber’s New GATOR GREEN Short & Other Exclusive Extras!

LOS ANGELES, CA, February 21st, 2013 – Severin Films today announced the May 7th Blu-ray debut of Jim VanBebber’s legendary, award-winning indie THE MANSON FAMILY on the 10th anniversary of its original release. US theatrical dates in 20 major cities are scheduled through March and April and new poster artwork has been created by artist Stephen Romano for the occasion. VanBebber’s highly anticipated new short GATOR GREEN will accompany many of the screenings and will also be included in the extras-packed Special Edition Blu-Ray release.

The theatrical run launches at Landmark Theatres locations in Denver and San Francisco on March 22nd and will continue through April taking in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Boston and many more (see below for a partial list of engagements, with more to be announced in the coming weeks).

THE MANSON FAMILY delivers an uncompromising, brutal vision of the collapse of the “Love Generation.” On a ranch outside of LA the hippie dream is perverting into something evil. What was once an oasis of free love and acid trips has become ground zero for a madman’s paranoid visions. An average group of kids, the "Family", become engulfed in a delusional world where torment and slaughter is considered the path to righteousness. The Manson Family is a dizzying, rapid-fire vision of the sex and violence that unifies the misguided group, and at the direction of their leader, ends in a brutal spree leaving seven people dead in 48 hours. Now re-mastered in stunning HD for the first time ever in America. Extras include an all-new Director’s commentary, the brand new short GATOR GREEN, the uncut version of the previously censored, feature length documentary THE VANBEBBER FAMILY on the film’s near-mythic production, and much more.

Severin Films was formed in 2006 with offices in Los Angeles and London. The company produced the acclaimed 2012 horror anthology THE THEATRE BIZARRE and their previous releases include Richard Stanley’s restored HARDWARE, the all-star War classic THE WILD GEESE, the unrated Director’s Cut of Just Jaeckin’s GWENDOLINE, Enzo Castellari’s original action classic INGLORIOUS BASTARDS, Oscar®-nominee Patrice Leconte’s THE HAIRDRESSER’S HUSBAND, the midnight movie sensation BIRDEMIC – SHOCK & TERROR, Eugenio Martin’s restored HORROR EXPRESS, and Alejandro Jodorowsky’s incomparable masterpiece SANTA SANGRE.

Interviews With Director Jim VanBebber available on request.

All Press Enquiries / screener requests to david.szulkin@gmail.com (508-566-4553

THE MANSON FAMILY
2013 Theatrical Screenings

March 22 & 23 – Clay Theatre, San Francisco
March 22 & 23 – Esquire Theatre, Denver
March 27 – Boston Underground Film Festival - Brattle Theatre, Cambridge MA
March 29 & 30 – Landmark’s Sunshine Cinema, New York City
March 29 & 30 – Alamo Drafthouse Vintage Park, Houston
March 29 – Plaza Theatre, Atlanta
April 3 – Granoff Center for the Arts, Providence RI
April 5 – Ritz Bourse, Philadelphia
April 5 & 6 – Egyptian Theatre, Seattle
April 12 – Logan Theatre, Chicago
April 12 & 13 – Hi-Pointe Theatre, St. Louis
April 13 – Cedar Lee Theatre, Cleveland
April 19 & 20 – E Street Theatre, Washington DC
April 19 & 20 – Inwood Theatre, Dallas
April 21 – Screenland Crossroads, Kansas City MO
April 23 – New Beverly Cinema, Los Angeles

If you're sick and like exploitation and haven't seen this, ya gotta. Here's a trailer:

THE MANSON FAMILY - Official Trailer - YouTube

Dunno if Gator Green has a trailer (I think it just got finished), but here's a poster:



Aaaaaand, I hope this means the door's open for a Blu-ray of VanBebber's Deadbeat at Dawn, which is one of my favorite movies, and it needs to include some of his short films and also the trailer for the unfinished Chunk Blower. Loads of fun. Spoiler tag for those trailers.

[Show spoiler]

Deadbeat At Dawn Trailer 1988 - YouTube

Chunk Blower Trailer HQ - YouTube

As a fan of industrial music, having a cEvin Key and Dwayne Goettel soundtrack in the style of their Doubting Thomas material and also seeing Dwayne and Bill Leeb hamming it up would have been incredible. Shame the movie never got made, but also shame it hasn't been released on DVD even.

[davidthenikonuser]

Awesome! Jim VanBebber is one crazy ass film maker.

Hope Severin does a good job on the blu-ray. Some of there blu's haven't been to good, (using out dated MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital)

[Kriztoffer Swank]

I'm a bit nervous myself; they haven't had a very good history so far in terms of video quality, but I'm hoping they'll do an all right job here.

I'll nab it anyway just to see Gator Green, but it'll be a real pisser if the Dark Sky DVD ends up being preferable or if the upgrade is minute.

[Bad Feeble]

Great news. I bet the transfer will be top notch, David Gregory & all helped finish the post-production back then. I'm sure they'll go all out if they're planning/producing an HD release unlike their recent releases which seems to be transfers licensed to them, unless I'm mistaken.

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

As a fan of industrial music, having a cEvin Key and Dwayne Goettel soundtrack in the style of their Doubting Thomas material and also seeing Dwayne and Bill Leeb hamming it up would have been incredible. Shame the movie never got made, but also shame it hasn't been released on DVD even.[/spoiler]

It did appear as an easter egg on the first release of DEADBEAT AT DAWN by Synapse (Van Bebber's Spasmolytic music video was also on there).

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Originally Posted by Bad Feeble

It did appear as an easter egg on the first release of DEADBEAT AT DAWN by Synapse (Van Bebber's Spasmolytic music video was also on there).

Well I'll be. I may just have to pick up the Synapse DVD for that alone if I can nab it cheap. Already got the Skinny Puppy music video DVD, woo.

[Bad Feeble]

If I remember correctly (it's been quite a while), there's also a commentary by JVB for the video (you have to switch the audio with the remote as it's not mentioned anywhere since the video itself is an easter egg). Might be one for CHUNKBLOWER but I really can't remember for sure.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

Thanks for the heads-up. I would have never even thought to check out the Synapse DVD.

Bought it. Horrible image quality (and missing Goose's inebriated roundhouse kick)—glad Dark Sky did a proper DVD—but the commentary is great. Commentaries too for "My Sweet Satan", "Chunkblower", and the "Spasmolytic" video. Good stuff.

Wish there were more people discussing the main feature at hand. The Manson Family treads a very strange line between entertainment and shame; making an exploitation movie about Charlie's family seems very sick but the end result is amazing. I suppose it's the intercut faux-interview segments that pull it away from being pure sleaze.

[Bad Feeble]

I think the visceral quality wins out in the end.

In any case, what's up with this release: it's supposedly coming out in two weeks but can't be pre-ordered anywhere. Severin's june releases have been available for pre-order for a couple of weeks now.

I guess the theatrical showings are going great and they decided to push back the release ?

EDIT: Just got my answer: it's being delayed 'til June 4th for those that wanted to know.

[drownsoda]

Recently bought this and watched it for the first time in years. I saw it back in the mid-2000s and didn't really "get" it--I was younger. Upon revisiting, I found it an effective and surprisingly disturbing account of the Manson murders. It's low budget, but quite an achievement no less. What is the status of it exactly? I got a copy from a private seller on Amazon, but the Severin store lists it as out of print. Is it actually that hard to find?

[Member-167298]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

Recently bought this and watched it for the first time in years. I saw it back in the mid-2000s and didn't really "get" it--I was younger. Upon revisiting, I found it an effective and surprisingly disturbing account of the Manson murders. It's low budget, but quite an achievement no less. What is the status of it exactly? I got a copy from a private seller on Amazon, but the Severin store lists it as out of print. Is it actually that hard to find?

I had the same reaction to the film.

I think the director had some kind of falling out with Severin, so they just washed their hands of the release a few years ago.

[drownsoda]

Amazon is apparently getting it back in stock on August 25, so maybe the OOP thing was a gimmick to push sales? Either that, or the director resolved whatever issue there was with Severin.