Stephen Thrower's Nightmare USA: A Blu-ray Checklist

[NoirFan]

It could be the Naschy one from 1970, aka Assignment Terror* (the Dracula in the image looked like the actor from the Adamson film to me, but I'm no expert), but the 1972 Franco film is usually known as Dracula, Prisoner of Frankenstein. I'll shoot Severin an email.




* This had been previously announced by Code Red

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by Damonstein

There were 2 other films called dracula vs frankenstein. Could it be one of those?

That's definitely the old VHS artwork for the Al Adamson film.



Severin had previously hinted at this on Facebook, just after Christmas.



https://www.facebook.com/severinfilm...e=3&permPage=1

[NoirFan]

Thanks, I wonder if this will be a new transfer then? I thought the Shriek Show disc looked quite good (and considering their history, I was definitely approaching it with caution!). From that (awesome) VHS stack, Blackenstein and (a wide-release of) The Grim Reaper are two more check-list titles checked.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I wonder if this will be a new transfer then?

From an email reply:

Originally Posted by Severin

New scan and new features are planned if the elements and time allow it...

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

From that (awesome) VHS stack, Blackenstein and (a wide-release of) The Grim Reaper are two more check-list titles checked.

THE GRIM REAPER tape in the photo is D'amato's ANTHROPOPHAGOUS, not the Ron Ormond film.

[NoirFan]

Thanks for the correction. That's one handy storage case it comes in! Who knew a mandatory and universal piece of packaging could also be marketed as some sort of bonus. (Shades of the 'interactive menus' that early DVDs boasted.)

[NoirFan]

These VS checklist-titles are 50% on their site through Monday (free shipping over $50):

Blu-ray:

Blood Mania/Point of Terror
Horror House on Highway 5
Evils of the Night
Pigs
Psychic Killer
Corruption (for the Last House on Dead-End Street Easter Egg)

DVD:

Sometimes Aunt Martha Does Dreadful Things
The Executioners Part II/Frozen Scream



Link


From that list, I heartily recommend Pigs (directed by and co-starring Noir stalwart Marc Lawrence) and the truly bizarre (and wonderfully so!) Aunt Martha.

[NoirFan]

88's upcoming (dual-layer!) disc of Just Before Dawn will include a 35-minute 'Grindhouse All-Star' doc, as part of 'High Rising Productions' excellent new package of extras', per their Facebook.

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Regarding Deathdream:

I emailed them for an update (that quoted post was from last August), and this was the reply:

We have no information to report on DEATHDREAM at this time

[NoirFan]

From the Code Red thread:

Originally Posted by Frightener22

"Banana Man visit an audio commentary with actress Tiffany Bolling today (for Kingdom of the Spiders)! Upcoming Blu-ray has a new audio commentary with actress Bolling, producer Igo Kantor and moderated by "BEAT THE GEEK" TV star Marc Edward Heuck ! She had fun and enjoy seeing Igo (after 30+ years) and had fun with Banana man! Blu ray will be our summer of 2017! Damon Packard is editing the Bolling featurette!!!"

Mondo-Digital on Scream (aka The Outing)

[NoirFan]

From the Wish List forum:

Originally Posted by Fordyce

I've got the scoop on the Ruby Blu-ray. Short story long:

VCI ran into a problem trying to locate the film negative. It was originally thought to be stored at Warner Brothers, but a search came up empty. A 35mm print was later found at HBO, of all places. HBO said they needed Steve Krantz Productions to grant them permission to release the film elements. (Krantz passed away ten years ago.)

Finally, in January, after months of wading through legal red tape, VCI gained access to the elements and now the film is in-house. Next comes the restoration process and finalization of the extras. It seems like we will be getting just one version: the theatrical cut, with most of Harrington's scenes intact. The version recut for network television and put out on VHS in the 1980s with new scenes shot by a different director was officially disowned by Harrington, who replaced his name with the dreaded "Alan Smithee" pseudonym.

The same commentary with Harrington and Laurie from the original 2001 DVD release will be carried over, along with the hourlong interview with Harrington and David Del Valle. The most significant new extra is a brand new audio commentary by Del Valle and Nathaniel Bell, both of whom collaborated on last year's excellent Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Blu-ray.

So, it looks like this will be available soon, perhaps as early as June. All the delays and setbacks notwithstanding, it seems like VCI is pouring a lot of care into this release. Personally, I can't wait to see what the film looks like in HD, since Harrington is one of my favorite horror stylists.

Being VCI, I'll have to wait on reviews/screencaps, but I really hope they've learned their lesson from the last few BD debacles.

[Damonstein]

Vcis horror blus have been so DNR'd. I hope this one is different.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Being VCI, I'll have to wait on reviews/screencaps, but I really hope they've learned their lesson from the last few BD debacles.

What lesson would they have learned, if people still bought the discs? I get the impression they are just totally oblivious to any buzz or criticism and will never change!

[NoirFan]

From 88 Films' Facebook:

Beloved cult filmmaker Jeff Lieberman already horrified audiences across the world with his killer-worm epic SQUIRM (1976) but he arguably outdid himself with JUST BEFORE DAWN (1981) one of the most popular slasher classics to ever tear up the inside of a grindhouse movie theatre. In this powerful bout of plasma splashing cinema, a group of teenage vacationers opt for an ill-advised hike around the beautiful national forests of Oregon. But Lieberman is quick to show that backwoods baddies do not just exist in the American South - they can also be found preying on campers in the supposedly more liberal (and safe) West Coast too!! With machete massacres galore, masked maniacs on the prowl and plenty of skinny dipping and flesh ripping to enjoy, JUST BEFORE DAWN is a horror masterpiece that is finally available in the UK, fully remastered in HD. Starring George Kennedy (THE NAKED GUN) and Chris Lemmon (WISHMASTER), 88 Films is proud to present one of the most sublime and stylish slice and dice creepers ever concocted!

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Being VCI, I'll have to wait on reviews/screencaps, but I really hope they've learned their lesson from the last few BD debacles.

I was really hoping Arrow, having already worked with Blair & co. on BLOOD & BLACK LACE and THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, would've licensed RUBY for part of their American Horror Project series, but alas...

[NoirFan]

Yes, I'm sure they would have a superior job on Ruby. What were the titles you said Arrow were including on Volume 2, again?


From VS' Facebook page (video at link):

One of our special features for our upcoming Malibu High blu-ray/dvd combo! Final QC happening!!

I'm not familiar with the film so I'll leave it to others to identify the two interviewees.


Also, in response to a query on May's release of The Hearse, they posted 'Should be up on the site shortly' on 3/28.

[Boggle]

Heads up, people. Set your DVR:

The Zodiac Killer (1971) is playing on Turner Classic Movies this Saturday, April 8th at 2:30am.

It'll be interesting to see if this is sourced from the upcoming release distributed by AGFA/Something Weird...

[bruce holecheck]

Originally Posted by Boggle

The Zodiac Killer (1971) is playing on Turner Classic Movies this Saturday, April 8th at 2:30am.

It'll be interesting to see if this is sourced from the upcoming release distributed by AGFA/Something Weird...

It should be -- TCM already screened the AGFA restoration a few months back.

[Boggle]

Originally Posted by bruce holecheck

It should be -- TCM already screened the AGFA restoration a few months back.

Sweet, I totally missed it first time around.

[NoirFan]

Extras for the 7/25 release of The Zodiac Killer:

Bonus film: Another Son of Sam (1977)
Interview with director Tom Hanson conducted by Chris Poggiali of Temple of Schlock
Collection of tabloid-horror trailers from the AGFA archive
On-camera interview with director Tom Hanson and producer Manny Nedwick
Audio Commentary with director Tom Hanson and producer Manny Nedwick
Booklet with liner notes

Amazon pre-order