Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[ScorpionReleasing]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

Maybe I'm on your ignore list, but I have mentioned numerous times in this thread that the Media VHS release mistakenly indicated 84 minutes on both the box and on the label, but the film actually ran 98 minutes on the tape. I don't think an 84 minute version exists. The 89-minute cut most likely was the US theatrical, but I never saw it in the theater.

Or the 89 min cut is a butchered 98min cut, due to regional edits, projectionist edits, damages through out the years, platter damage etc. Btw have a damon packard magnet

[Thomas Irwin]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

Maybe I'm on your ignore list, but I have mentioned numerous times in this thread that the Media VHS release mistakenly indicated 84 minutes on both the box and on the label, but the film actually ran 98 minutes on the tape. I don't think an 84 minute version exists. The 89-minute cut most likely was the US theatrical, but I never saw it in the theater.

Sorry, I just didn't read far enough back. Usually I try to read all of a thread, when short enough to do so. No excuse here.

[iamnoone]

Originally Posted by ScorpionReleasing

Or the 89 min cut is a butchered 98min cut, due to regional edits, projectionist edits, damages through out the years, platter damage etc. Btw have a damon packard magnet

It very well could be as I also don't think the 98-minute version would have needed anything to be trimmed to get an R rating back then. Why are all the good parts cut out and the film still rated R? It could play as a PG now. And as far as anyone's been able to prove so far, no other copy released on video has been this 89-minute cut.

Maybe we can find a vintage theatrical review from Variety or wherever that indicates the running time, although that's not always accurate. I'll check some of my back issues of Cinefantastique and report back....

[GilaFilms]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

It very well could be as I also don't think the 98-minute version would have needed anything to be trimmed to get an R rating back then. Why are all the good parts cut out and the film still rated R? It could play as a PG now. And as far as anyone's been able to prove so far, no other copy released on video has been this 89-minute cut.

Maybe we can find a vintage theatrical review from Variety or wherever that indicates the running time, although that's not always accurate. I'll check some of my back issues of Cinefantastique and report back....

You have to wonder why Dark Force didn't ask the rights holder for access to the negs or IP or a CRI when they licensed this title instead of using a cut print. Oh, wait a sec, never mind....

[iamnoone]

OK, I just went through the back issues of Cinefantastique from that time period, and they never gave the film a 'proper' review, but they did include it on the "Film Ratings" chart, which was a two-page spread of every movie in release at the time and each reviewer of the magazine entered their star rating in the column for each film they've seen.

In issue Volume 3 Number 4 ("The Exorcist" cover) on pages 36/37, the film is listed in the chart as being released by AIP-Hallmark on 9/74 and the running time is listed as 95 mins. On those chart pages, there are also very brief reviews, sometimes only a sentence long, for many smaller films playing at that time, and The House That Vanished is reviewed that way with this tiny review:

"Fairly standard tale of psycho knife killer. Tits and blood." (-2 rating)

So 95 minutes instead of 98? Hmmm. But definitely not 89. If there were no "Tits and blood" left at all in the 89-minute version, then this 'review' would be concrete proof the Dark Force doesn't even represent the full theatrical version.

Anyway, still nothing 100% concrete, but I'm beginning to definitely lean towards the print DF used just being chopped and cut for various uses as Scorpion said, and not simply for the distributor or MPAA.

[ScorpionReleasing]

looks like the post got deleted over there

[Mpmarks1975]

Latest post -
HOUSE THAT VANISHED will still be available throughout the weekend for those that still want it. It is now selling twice as fast as before obviously due to the fact that it will soon be UNAVAILABLE permanently. We will NOT be raising the price at any time. The version we are selling is the one that played in US drive ins along with LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT and DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT. It is the best version in terms of clarity and color currently available on home video. Dark Force is looking into a possible foreign version to see exactly what is different from the US one. We will update as soon as we get that information.
darkforcedvd.bigcartel.com

[Marsupial Werewolf]

Yeah, I'm really mad I've got no choice but to get KILL OR BE KILLED through these goons.

Unless there's any overseas version I'm not aware of.

[iamnoone]

Official US presskit from back in the day from AIP-Hallmark on ebay. "Approximate running time 99 minutes" in second photo. And this is the presskit for the ***US*** release of the film so no questions about being a different or shorter version in the US than Europe. I guess that ends that!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/original-...item21162ee139

Here's the photo again to preserve as that ebay listing will eventually expire:

housevanished.jpg

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by ScorpionReleasing

looks like the post got deleted over there

Yep - I was in the middle of typing up a response to it and when I went to post it, bam! Thread deleted.

[jmat91]

Ordered house that vanished today as I have the feeling this titles gonna be gone soon.

I;m holding out on the other titles as they will be numbering the spines soon.

[Se.Vero]

Originally Posted by jmat91

Ordered house that vanished today as I have the feeling this titles gonna be gone soon.

I;m holding out on the other titles as they will be numbering the spines soon.

it seems the threat of creating pseudo scarcity actually works to a certain extent, sad to say.

[cloudnine]

Can someone let me know the aspect ratio (1.33:11 or 1.85:1) of the Dark Force HOUSE THAT VANISHED Bluray?

[eric_angelus]

There are probably about three people still left alive who actually saw The House That Vanished in a drive in in the 70s. And they were probably either getting high or getting blown. So I highly doubt anyone can confirm or deny this.
Maybe THIS print did play A drive in. It may have been cut by drive in manager who wanted to get it to below 90 minutes to save on time, piece of the print may have been damaged by the projector...etc...etc. Again no one is ever going to be able to prove this.
On facebook dark force actually says "even Last House on the Left" had scenes cut in drive ins. While this may be true (I saw a theatrical screening of Last House in the early 90s that was cut and had the reels out of order), no one would ever want to own it.

[AKNewbie]

Originally Posted by jmat91

Ordered house that vanished today as I have the feeling this titles gonna be gone soon.

I;m holding out on the other titles as they will be numbering the spines soon.

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

it seems the threat of creating pseudo scarcity actually works to a certain extent, sad to say.

jmat91 is being facetious ... surely.

[dawnofthediscs]

Originally Posted by Se.Vero

it seems the threat of creating pseudo scarcity actually works to a certain extent, sad to say.

It is absolutely shocking that people still want to support this company and this release especially. I can’t believe people are picking it for fear of missing out. I don’t feel I’m missing out on anything other than dealing with a huge shitbag.

[GilaFilms]

Originally Posted by iamnoone

Official US presskit from back in the day from AIP-Hallmark on ebay. "Approximate running time 99 minutes" in second photo. And this is the presskit for the ***US*** release of the film so no questions about being a different or shorter version in the US than Europe. I guess that ends that!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/original-...item21162ee139

Here's the photo again to preserve as that ebay listing will eventually expire:

Attachment 195510

Call me paranoid, but I just bought this item rather than seeing Dark Force or his silent partner acquire it...I can just see them rereleasing this title down the road and still trying to claim it's the "US cut". But I'll be happy to post pics of it should they try that.

[Marsupial Werewolf]

I've never seen this film, would like to see it, and was going to purchase it.

But I've never been turned off of a label faster than their gradual reaction to this reaction to this disc.

I don't care if they pull it tomorrow and it's never available again. I'm not supporting them.

[cloudnine]

I just noticed it says 1.78 aspect ratio on the back cover of THTV. Is this accurate?

[dawnofthediscs]

Just raised this question on the fb page and he’s refusing to answer me, even though he is answering other people.

Since you aren’t answering on the other post I’ll ask again

Dark Force Entertainment I heard that on the THTV disc box there isn’t any copyright information in regards to THTV but there is for EMHS. What’s up with that? People are saying this a bootleg and you didn’t have permission to put the film out. That’s why it’s cut, because you bought a cut 35mm print from whoever and didn’t deal with the company with the rights and materials. And that’s why Kino won’t put it out. And that’s why you’re pulling because you got caught and you’re using this cut film controversy as a cover. Any truth to it?