Media Blasters (Shriek Show) still around?

[SilentNight]

So....I popped in my Blu-ray of the wonderfully horrible Burial Ground from Shriek Show tonight and got to wondering, is Media Blasters (parent company to Shriek Show among other genre labels) still in business?

If they are not, who has the rights to their titles at this point? They had some cool and pretty obscure titles that I happen to love. The chances of those moves getting an HD release are probably zero but it would be nice to know what happened.

I checked Media Blasters website and it looks like nothing has happened since mid 2013 which in physical media terms is an eternity IMO. Anyone have any info on what's going on with the company and/or their titles?

[OrlandoEastwood]

They're still slowly kicking. A FB post from a week or so ago stated that they're working on deals with Netflix and other streaming sites. The hack known as John Sirabella is now producing shows with his side studio called Fever Dreams. Not dead...yet.

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

They're still slowly kicking. A FB post from a week or so ago stated that they're working on deals with Netflix and other streaming sites. The hack known as John Sirabella is now producing shows with his side studio called Fever Dreams. Not dead...yet.

I really hate it when a company like that has a huge library but does NOTHING with it. I can only think of about 3 horror titles they released which were all fairly crappy quality (I have them all of course).

I wonder what happens if they go belly up? Where do the rights of these movies go?

[manicsounds]

Originally Posted by SilentNight

I really hate it when a company like that has a huge library but does NOTHING with it. I can only think of about 3 horror titles they released which were all fairly crappy quality (I have them all of course).

I wonder what happens if they go belly up? Where do the rights of these movies go?

If nobody buys up the company, the video rights usually revert back to the film company they licensed from.

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by manicsounds

If nobody buys up the company, the video rights usually revert back to the film company they licensed from.

they have some pretty obscure (but cool) Italian stuff like House of Witchcraft, House of Lost Souls, House of Clocks, Zombie 3, 4, 5, Ghosthouse, Witchery etc. I'm sure the DVD's are as good as it's ever going to get with those types of movies (unfortunately).

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by SilentNight

they have some pretty obscure (but cool) Italian stuff like House of Witchcraft, House of Lost Souls, House of Clocks, Zombie 3, 4, 5, Ghosthouse, Witchery etc. I'm sure the DVD's are as good as it's ever going to get with those types of movies (unfortunately).

Media Blasters has GHOSTHOUSE? Is it one of those titles they acquired but never released? I have a whole bunch of their DVDs - most of which I'm happy with, but they're not a company I want to see resurrected if the same people are running it. Between all the delays, cancellations without explanation and mysterious backroom haggling it's just not worth the headache IMO. Scream '81 was the last DVD they released and it almost didn't make it out. If they do an Arrow-style turnaround then I'm in.

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by cine74

Media Blasters has GHOSTHOUSE? Is it one of those titles they acquired but never released? I have a whole bunch of their DVDs - most of which I'm happy with, but they're not a company I want to see resurrected if the same people are running it. Between all the delays, cancellations without explanation and mysterious backroom haggling it's just not worth the headache IMO. Scream '81 was the last DVD they released and it almost didn't make it out. If they do an Arrow-style turnaround then I'm in.

whoops, they have Witchery but not Ghosthouse. I have the Vipco DVD release and for some reason thought Shriek Show had it as well.

They also released on DVD Oxen Split Torture which has to be seen to be believed.

[redrunner97]

Code Red has Ghost House.

I believe a lot of their aquired horror films are slowly reverting back to their original rightsholders, as many are popping up from other (mostly smaller) boutique labels.

[Braktastic]

If they are, it appears to be in name only.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

Code Red has Ghost House.

I believe a lot of their aquired horror films are slowly reverting back to their original rightsholders, as many are popping up from other (mostly smaller) boutique labels.

Do you mean Ghostkeeper?

[JimmyTwoTimes]

Not to step on anyone's toes, but in my opinion this company has been a turd since the DVD days. Years of problematic releases and titles that are delayed again and again and never come out. I'm kind of surprised people still expect anything from them at all at this point. Not saying anything against any of the titles in their library, but as a label, they're pretty useless.

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by JimmyTwoTimes

Not to step on anyone's toes, but in my opinion this company has been a turd since the DVD days. Years of problematic releases and titles that are delayed again and again and never come out. I'm kind of surprised people still expect anything from them at all at this point. Not saying anything against any of the titles in their library, but as a label, they're pretty useless.

Oh, believe me. I've been on the assault with them delaying movies left and right. Even some people who report on a Japanese Sci-Fi website sent me dirty messages going on and on about how Media Blasters is doing a service. How are you doing a service if you're not keeping up with your release dates?

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by cine74

Do you mean Ghostkeeper?

Yep lol. My bad.

[Kriztoffer Swank]

MB movies on Netflix are the worst, by the way. Horribly delayed subtitles. Zombie Ass was completely unwatchable because of it. Well, it looked like it sucked anyway, but I kinda wanted to see the whole thing.

[kstebor]

Originally Posted by Kriztoffer Swank

MB movies on Netflix are the worst, by the way. Horribly delayed subtitles. Zombie Ass was completely unwatchable because of it. Well, it looked like it sucked anyway, but I kinda wanted to see the whole thing.

Interesting you should say so, considering they posted the following on Facebook a few months ago:

Man I thought anime fans were tough about subtitles. Geez Netflix are like the subtitle nazis! Lets hope no one from Netflix sees this but man they are putting me through the ringer for like one line of text.

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by JimmyTwoTimes

Not to step on anyone's toes, but in my opinion this company has been a turd since the DVD days. Years of problematic releases and titles that are delayed again and again and never come out. I'm kind of surprised people still expect anything from them at all at this point. Not saying anything against any of the titles in their library, but as a label, they're pretty useless.

I tend to agree. If you can't follow through on releasing titles get out of the business and let a more competent company actually release movies they have the rights to (Scream Factory immediately come to mind as does Raro and Arrow). I know things can come up and companies want to release the best possible product but looking at the poor quality of the Burial Ground Blu-Ray it's like they don't even try or don't have the funds to put out a proper actual HD release.

I would love to see some of their titles on Blu-Ray. Riki-O, Oxen Split Torture, the House of Horror TV series from Umberto Lenzi and Lucio Fulci, heck, I think this company also has some other Lucio Fulci titles in their library. Not sure but I am thinking Demonia and some of the later day lesser efforts.

[Brian81]

Of all the Media Blasters titles I own, the only ones which I thought were superb were the second release of 'Lizard in a Woman's Skin' and the 25th Anniversary edition of 'Zombi 2'.

Honorable mention to the BD of 'Buio Omega' despite it missing footage.

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by Brian81

Of all the Media Blasters titles I own, the only ones which I thought were superb were the second release of 'Lizard in a Woman's Skin' and the 25th Anniversary edition of 'Zombi 2'.

Honorable mention to the BD of 'Buio Omega' despite it missing footage.

I remember when Media Blasters and Blue Underground both released Zombie around the same time with slightly different transfers and extras but both packages were superb. Same applies for Lizard in a Woman's Skin. Great release. Sucks that we may never see that title on Blu-Ray as it is one of Fulci's best movies. I suppose Blue Underground or Arrow could release if if the rights are up for grabs but other than Zombie, City of the Living Dead, The Beyond and maybe House By the Cemetery most Lucio Fulci titles are pretty niche with a much smaller fan base, which is unfortunate.

[OrlandoEastwood]

Originally Posted by SilentNight

I tend to agree. If you can't follow through on releasing titles get out of the business and let a more competent company actually release movies they have the rights to (Scream Factory immediately come to mind as does Raro and Arrow). I know things can come up and companies want to release the best possible product but looking at the poor quality of the Burial Ground Blu-Ray it's like they don't even try or don't have the funds to put out a proper actual HD release.

I would love to see some of their titles on Blu-Ray. Riki-O, Oxen Split Torture, the House of Horror TV series from Umberto Lenzi and Lucio Fulci, heck, I think this company also has some other Lucio Fulci titles in their library. Not sure but I am thinking Demonia and some of the later day lesser efforts.

Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky is on Blu-ray. Only a few odd retailers carry it. Amazon doesn't have it. However, I have read that the transfer is an upscale by Fortune Star, the Chinese studio that owns the rights.

[Beauvoir]

Originally Posted by SilentNight

I remember when Media Blasters and Blue Underground both released Zombie around the same time with slightly different transfers and extras but both packages were superb.

I grabbed both of those!