Tuesday, July 25, 2017

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New DVDs & Blu-rays for 07/25/2017!


Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

July is over Vault Dwellers, and it is closing out in a big way! This week we get a good dose of genre fare with a lot of old classics getting a new lease on life in glorious high-definition!

Shout Select kicks things off with THE COMPLETE BILLY JACK COLLECTION, which features BORN LOSERS, BILLY JACK, THE TRIAL OF BILLY JACK, and BILLY JACK GOES TO WASHINGTON!

The Vestron Video Collector's series also drops a cool set this week featuring all three films in the WARLOCK saga! For a mere $25, you can have all three films remastered in HD, with a TON of extras. (More details HERE.)

Also worth noting are The American Genre Film Archive's release of THE ZODIAC KILLER, Warner Archives' BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM, Severin Films' BEYOND THE DARKNESS, and Blue Undergrounds Limited Edition release of THE STENDHAL SYNDROME!

There's a lot of other cool stuff, so be sure to scroll down and scope it them all out!


NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY
Awaken the Shadowman
Bag Boy Lover Boy
Beyond the Darkness (Limited Edition w/CD)
The Complete Billy Jack Collection
Dragon Ball Super: Part One
Emerald City: Season One
The Final Master
Ghost in the Shell (2017)
Monster Musume: Every Day Life with Monster Girls


NEW TO BLU-RAY
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure - Set 1: Phantom Blood and Battle Tendency
The Night Shift
Scorchy
The Stendhal Syndrome (3-Disc Limited Edition)
The Warlock Collection
The Zodiac Killer


NEW TO DVD
Alien Arrival
Arcadia of My Youth: Endless Orbit SSX - The Complete Collection
Dancouga: The Complete TV Series
The Dark Below
Death Fighter
The Demonic Tapes
The Eyes
Fear the 80s: Collector's Edition
Freeway
The Glass Coffin
Goku: Midnight Eye - The Complete OVA Series
Lust of the Vampire Girls
Night of the Shadow People
Nocturne
Peekarama: Afternoon Delights / Slave of Pleasure
Peekarama: My Master My Love / Teenage Masseuse / More
Psybuster: The Complete Series
Sleeping Beauties
Spyfall
The Traveler: Director's Edition


Vestron Collector's Series conjures up the WARLOCK trilogy on Blu-ray!


WHEN THE ARMAGEDDON COMES, YOUR INNOCENCE WILL END! VESTRON COLLECTOR'S SERIES ADDS THE "WARLOCK" TRILOGY TO ITS ROSTER!

I never thought I'd see the day that WARLOCK would come to Blu-ray, let alone its sequels! This new Vestron Collector's Series release looks awesome, and I can't wait to add it to my own personal Blu-ray archives!

WARLOCK Synopsis: A warlock (Julian Sands) flees destruction and time travels from the 17th century to "modern" times. However, a witch hunter has followed him to the future and is hellbent on stopping the man-witch from "uncreating" the world as we know it!

Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 103 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:
  • NEW! Audio Commentary with Director Steve Miner!
  • NEW! Isolated Score Selections/Audio Interview with Author Jeff Bond!
  • NEW! Satan’s Son - An Interview with Actor Julian Sands.
  • NEW! The Devil’s Work - An Interview with Director Steve Miner.
  • NEW! Effects of Evil - Interviews with Make-up Effects Creators Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz!
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Vintage Interview Segments with Cast and Crew
  • Vintage Featurette with Make-Up Effects Creators Carl Fullerton and Neal Martz.
  • Vintage Featurette with Visual Effects Supervisors Patrick Read Johnson and Robert Habros, Animation Supervisor Mauro Maressa, and Matte Artist Robert Scifo.
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Video Trailer
  • TV Spots
  • Still Gallery

WARLOCK II: THE ARMAGEDDON Synopsis: Julian Sands returns as the titular Warlock! Modern day druids train two youths to battle the evil spellcaster and stop him from collecting six runes that will allow him to free Satan and create Hell on Earth!

Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 98 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.78:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:
  • NEW! Audio Commentary with Director Anthony Hickox!
  • Vintage Making-of Featurette 
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Extended Vintage Interview Segments with Actor Julian Sands, Director Anthony Hickox, and Actress Paula Marshall.
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spots
  • Still Gallery

WARLOCK III: THE END OF INNOCENCE Synopsis: A college student inherits a derelict house. With the help of some friends, she arrives to clear out some family heirlooms, only to be attacked by the Warlock!

Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 94 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.78:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:
  • Behind-the-Scenes Footage
  • Vintage Interview Segments with Cast and Crew
  • Trailer
  • Video Sales Promo
  • Still Gallery
The Vestron Collector's Series' WARLOCK COLLECTION is now available wherever Blu-rays are sold! You can grab your copy now (which should be around $25 - $30) at AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD!



Arrow Films delivers the definitive release for Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR on 08/08!


ARROW VIDEO HAS A GOOD HEAD ON THEIR SHOULDERS… AND ANOTHER ONE ON THEIR DESK! GET THEIR LIMITED EDITION RE-ANIMATOR BLU-RAY ON 08/08!

Stuart Gordon's RE-ANIMATOR is one of my all-time favorite Horror films (and H.P. Lovecraft adaptations)! The script is smart and witty, and the cast is fantastic, with Jeffrey Combs stealing the show as Dr. Herbert West. I've already purchased this movie several times in various formats, but it looks like I'll have to double dip once again because this Arrow release looks incredible!

Synopsis: When medical student Dean Cain (Bruce Abbott) advertises for a roommate, he soon finds one in the form of Dr. Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs). Initially a little eccentric, it some becomes clear that West entertains some seriously outlandish theories – specifically, the possibility of re-animating the dead. It’s not long before Dean finds himself under West’s influence, and embroiled in a serious of ghoulish experiments which threaten to go wildly out of control…

Based on H.P. Lovecraft’s classic terror tale ‘Herbert West – Reanimator’ and featuring a standout performance from Jeffrey Combs as the deliciously deranged West, Re-Animator remains the ground-zero of ’80s splatter mayhem and one of the genre’s finest hours.

Disc Specs:
Unrated | Color | 86 minutes & 105 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - Original Stereo 2.0 and 5.1 Audio

Extras:
• NEW! 4K restorations of the Unrated and Integral versions of the film!
• Digipak packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Justin Erickson!
• Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by writer Michael Gingold!
Re-Animator – the original 1991 comic book adaptation, reprinted in its entirety!

DISC 1 – UNRATED VERSION
• Audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon.
• Audio commentary with producer Brian Yuzna, actors Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton, Bruce Abbott, and Robert Sampson.
Re-Animator Resurrectus – Documentary on the making of the film, featuring extensive interviews with cast and crew.
• Interview with director Stuart Gordon and producer Brian Yuzna.
• Interview with writer Dennis Paoli.
• Interview with composer Richard Band.
• Music Discussion with composer Richard Band.
• Interview with former Fangoria editor Tony Timpone.
Barbara Crampton In Conversation – The RE-ANIMATOR star sits down with journalist Alan Jones for this career-spanning discussion.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• Trailer & TV Spots

DISC 2 – INTEGRAL VERSION (LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE!)
• Integral version [105 mins]
A Guide to Lovecraftian Cinema – A brand new featurette looking at the many various cinematic incarnations of writer H.P. Lovecraft’s work!

Whoa! Two cuts of the film (both restored in 4K!), tons of interviews, commentaries, and documentaries?! I NEED THIS! Arrow Video's Limited Edition RE-ANIMATOR is now due out on August 8th, and can be purchased immediately from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD!



Severin Films shows you what is BEYOND THE DARKNESS on 07/25!


WATCH "BEYOND THE DARKNESS" AND ROCK OUT TO THE SOUNDTRACK WITH SEVERIN FILMS' NEW BLU-RAY RELEASE!

I've got a love/hate relationship with the films of Joe D'Amato, so it's not too shocking that I'm unfamiliar with BEYOND THE DARKNESS! However, this new 2-Disc set from Severin Films looks almost too good to pass up!

Synopsis: It has been denounced as “revolting” (SplatterDay.com), “stomach-churning” (Classic-Horror.com) and “shower-prompting” (Fandor), while simultaneously acclaimed as “bone-chilling” (Chas Balun), “truly classic” (The Spinning Image) and “a must-see” (Horror.com). Now experience “D Amato’s masterpiece” (BloodyDisgusting.com) like you’ve never seen or heard it before!

Cinzla Monreale (THE BEYOND) and Franca Stoppi (THE OTHER HELL) star in this psycho sickie, where a widowed husband decides to stuff his wife's corpse and turn it into a doll, leading him down a rabbit hole of further insanity and depravity! Severin is proud to present this sleaze-fest (which is also known as BURIED ALIVE and BUIO OMEGA) from director Joe D’Amato (ANTHROPOPHAGUS), restored in HD for the first time ever!

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 94 minutes | Region Free
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - TBA

Extras:
  • Joe D’Amato: The Horror Experience – Interview with director Joe D’Amato!
  • The Omega Woman – Interview with actress Franca Stoppi!
  • Sick Love – An Interview with actress Cinzia Monreale!
  • Goblin Reborn Performs "Buio Omega" Live 2016!
  • Locations Revisited
  • Theatrical Trailer
  •  An exclusive limited edition CD Soundtrack from Goblin! (Note: Only available with the first 2,500 copies of Severin's Blu-ray release!)
Severin's BEYOND THE DARKNESS limited Blu-ray/CD combo is due out on Tuesday, July 25th, and can be purchased from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SEVERIN! (It's also important to note that Severin is releasing out a "Necro Bundle" that comes with even more cool add-ons!)



Wednesday, July 19, 2017

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New DVDs & Blu-rays for 07/18/2017!



Vault Master's Pick of the Week!
Hey Vault Dwellers! It's once again time to STOCK YOUR VAULT with new DVDs and Blu-rays! This week is pretty light on genre releases, so you can save up some dough for all the cool stuff coming out over the next two months!

But I'd be remiss if I didn't make mention of the handful of cool titles you may just want to add to your constantly growing collections! Universal's awesome KONG: SKULL ISLAND makes its debut on Blu-ray,  as does Scream Factory's THE BAT PEOPLE, and Arrow Video's 2-Disc Special Edition of STORMY MONDAY.

Umbrella releases Guillermo del Toro's THE DEVIL'S BACKBONE to Blu-ray (not sure about region coding on this disc though), and Kino Lorber gives us a few classic action films such as FREEWAY and THE LAST OF THE FINEST.

There's a few other titles of note, so be sure to scroll on down to catch the full list of this week's DVDs and Blu-ray discs!



NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY
The 100: Season 4
Another Evil
The Expanse: Season 2
Free Fire
Freeway
Kong: Skull Island
Resident Evil: Vendetta


NEW TO BLU-RAY
The Bat People
Chivalry of a Failed Knight (Deluxe Collector's Box Set)
The Devil's Backbone
The Gumby Movie
The Last of the Finest
No Man's Land
Stormy Monday (2-Disc Special Edition)


NEW TO DVD
Animosity
Lake Alice
My Fair Zombie
Suburban Psycho: 4-Film Collection
Teen Wolf: Season 6, Part 1
Time Jam: Valerian and Laureline
Transhuman
With Great Power... The Stan Lee Story


Monday, July 17, 2017

Neil Blomkamp's OATS STUDIOS wants to experiment on YOU!


OATS STUDIOS WANTS TO TEST THEIR SHORT FILMS OUT ON YOU, AND TURN SOME OF THEM INTO FEATURE-LENGTH FILMS!

While his films have been hit and miss (i.e. DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM, and CHAPPiE), I'm personally a fan of director Neil Blomkamp. And I'm equal parts curious and excited about his latest film making project: OATS STUDIOS!

Essentially, Neil set up his own movie studio with the intent of creating "experimental short films." And if those films generate enough interest, there is a very real chance that they could be turned into feature-length movies! The intent is to create "proof of concept" content to see what sticks, and so far, there's a lot of promise here!

Submitted for your approval, here are several of the shorts from Oats Studios including FIREBASE, RAKKA, and ZYGOTE! Behold the future(?) of genre cinema Vault Dwellers!






I was pretty impressed with these shorts and look forward to seeing what else Neil and his team churn out! To keep up to date on their future releases, follow Oats Studios on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to their YouTube channel as well! Also feel free to comment below about this trio of shorts and sound off on whether you liked them or not!

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Scream Factory's THE BAT PEOPLE flaps its way to Blu-ray on July 18th!


HALF MAN, HALF BAT, ALL TERROR! THE BAT PEOPLE DEBUTS ON BLU-RAY ON JULY 18TH FROM SCREAM FACTORY!

Once part of MGM's enormous film catalog, THE BAT PEOPLE (aka IT LIVES BY NIGHT) now makes its way to Blu-ray! Once featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000, this slowburn Horror classic has finally made the transition to HD!

Synopsis: From director Jerry Jameson (AIRPORT '77, RAISE THE TITANIC) comes a high-flying horror from the darkest corner of the drive-in: THE BAT PEOPLE!

When Dr. John Beck and his wife Cathy fall into an underground cave, a huge bat attacks them, biting the good doctor. Thinking it's only a scratch, Beck avoids treatment, and soon wakes to find himself transformed into a horrifying man-bat creature!

Now one with the night, Beck embarks on a killing spree to conceal what he's become, and he won't stop until he once again has the one thing his new existence is missing... his beautiful wife! This monster chiller stars real-life couple, Stewart Moss and Marianne McAndrew!

Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 92 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - N/A

Extras:
N/A

Ack! As much as I love Scream Factory, and as much as I realize that they can't give every film in their mighty catalog major TLC, I am saddened to see that this is a bare bones release. At a retail price of about $18.00, it doesn't quite seem worth it, seeing as how there's no new cover art, or a new transfer, or new audio, or any special features! (Not even a trailer?!) Still, if you are on the foolish quest of owning every Scream Factory title, you need this, so feel free to order THE BAT PEOPLE now from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or SHOUT! FACTORY.





Wednesday, July 12, 2017

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New DVDs & Blu-rays for 07/11/2017!


Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

It's a late Tuesday night Vault Dwellers and you know what that means: Its time for yet another entry into the STOCK YOUR VAULT archives! This week has a pretty good mix of Hollywood blockbusters, Sci-Fi classics, and indie horrors, with some great titles from all of your fave Blu-ray labels!

Arrow Video finally releases their 2-Disc Special Edition of PULSE, which has been delayed time and time again, and Scream Factory hits us with a double dose of Sci-Fi awesomeness with their Collector's Edition of SPECIES and the Blu-ray debut of THE MAN FROM PLANET X!

But it's Kino Lorber who wins out this week with four cool titles including SHALAKO (a Western starring Sean Connery!), THE HUNTING PARTY (Oliver Reed is the most dangerous game!), STAR CRYSTAL (a film I never thought would see  a legit Blu-ray release), and STAR SLAMMER (ditto)!

There's plenty of other cool DVDs and Blu-ray discs out this week, so be sure to scroll on down to see what's new!



NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY
Devil's Domain
Dr. Who: Class
Fast & Furious: 8-Movie Collection
The Fate of the Furious
Gate
The Hunting Party
The Magicians: Season Two
Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Igloo
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky
Shalako
Star Crystal
Star Slammer


NEW TO BLU-RAY
The Black Room
Don't Look in the Basement / Don't Look in the Basement 2 (Double Feature)
The Fifth Element (4K UHD)
King Kong (Ultimate Edition - 4K UHD)
King Solomon's Mines (Mini-Series)
The Man from Planet X
Pulse (2-Disc Special Edition)
Smokey and the Bandit (40th Anniversary Edition)
Species (Collector's Edition)
Terror in a Texas Town (Arrow Academy)


NEW TO DVD
5150
Bad Attitude
Be Afraid
The Blessed Ones
Curse of the Crimson Altar
Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo
Genesis: Fall of the Crime Empire
Jack Hunter's Paranoia Tapes
Monster X
Ogroff: Mad Mutilator
Psychopaths, Maniacs, and Lunatics: Sinful Female Hostages
Real Vampires and Demons from Beyond
Science Crazed
Vampire Cop


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Umbrella Entertainment's August 2, 2017 genre releases!


UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT BRINGS CANNON CLASSICS AND FORGOTTEN HORRORS TO DVD & BLU-RAY ON AUGUST 2ND!

I've recently become acquainted with the folks at Umbrella Entertainment and I'm super happy to begin sharing all of the great titles this Australian label is cranking out! Coming in the first week of August, Umbrella has one heck of a lineup that you Region Free collectors will not want to miss out on! Scroll on down to see what they are releasing to DVD & Blu-ray!


CHILDREN OF DUNE 
Synopsis: The future of humanity is left in doubt as the twins of Paul Atreides become embroiled in the turbulent political landscape of Arrakis. Born with special abilities and superhuman prescience that not only empowers them but places them in considerable jeopardy amongst their kind, Leto (James McAvoy, ATONEMENT) and Ghanima (Jessica Brooks, SUPERNOVA) continue the fight against the malevolent forces of Baron Harkonnen.

With the looming threat of civil war amongst the Fremen and Princess Wensicia’s (Oscar winner Susan Sarandon, DEAD MAN WALKING) own devious plot to assassinate the Atreides heirs, their survival is paramount to ensure the future of the universe for generations to come.

Disc Specs:
Blu-ray | Rated M | Color | 251 minutes | Region 0
Video - 1080p Widescreen (16:9)
Audio - 5.1 DTS-HD

Extras:
  • Making-of featurette.
  • Storyboard with Audio Commentary.
  • Visual f/x featurette.


 
DEATH WISH II & DEATH WISH 3 (A CANNON CLASSICS DOUBLE FEATURE)

DEATH WISH II Synopsis: In an attempt to put his grisly past behind him, Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) has moved to Los Angeles to begin life anew. After a violent altercation with a bunch of street thugs, Kersey is once again a marked man. A legacy of violence is unleashed as Kersey sets out to track down the five thugs who have turned his life upside down and provided him with an insatiable drive for vengeance.

DEATH WISH 3 Synopsis: Paul Kersey (Charles Bronson) arrives in New York to visit an old friend, but is horrified to find him the victim of a brutal attack. Kersey snaps back into his old ways - gearing up as the silent avenger once more - ready to strike back against injustice and wage bloody war against the city's growing population of thugs and reprobates.

Directed by Michael Winner (DEATH WISH), also starring Jill Ireland, Vincent Gardenia , Laurence Fishburne, Martin Balsam and Ed Lauter and featuring a dynamic soundtrack by Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, DEATH WISH II and 3 continue the legacy of no-holds-barred one-man justice, where vengeance is the name of the game!

Disc Specs:
Blu-ray & DVD | Rated R | 271 minutes | Region 0
Video - 1080p Widescreen (16:9)
Audio - Mono DTS-HD

DISC 1 Extras:
  • DEATH WISH II: UNRATED DIRECTOR'S CUT & DEATH WISH 3!
  • DEATH WISH II Trailer
  • DEATH WISH II TV Spot version 1
  • DEATH WISH II TV Spot Version 2
  • DEATH WISH 3 Trailer
  • DEATH WISH 3 TV spot
  • Interviews with cast members Alex Winter, Robin Sherwood, screenwriter David Engelbach,  and Todd Roberts, the son of producer Bobby Roberts. (Extended interviews from Mark Hartley's ELECTRIC BOOGALOO!)
  • ACTION II: 52 minute making-of featurette with Behind the Scenes footage of DEATH WISH 3, RUNAWAY TRAIN, and HOUSE!

DISC 2 Extras:
  • DEATH WISH II: THE ORIGINAL THEATRICAL CUT!
  • DEATH WISH II: THE TV CUT!
  • DEATH WISH II: GREEK VHS CUT!






KADAICHA & INNOCENT PREY (DOUBLE FEATURE)

KADAICHA Synopsis: An Aboriginal elder with the power of life or death over those who disobey the laws of the Aboriginal people. When the unsuspecting residents of a suburban housing development encounter strange occurrences in their neighborhood it is only a matter of time before someone upsets "The Kadaicha Man."

Discovering that their homes were built atop a sacred Aboriginal burial site, a group of teenagers are subject to nightmarish dreams about an eerie cave with sinister rock paintings and the brooding evil that dwells within. When they awake, a souvenir of their nightmare rests on their pillow – a stone destined to haunt them to their very core and place them in mortal jeopardy.

INNOCENT PREY Synopsis: Cathy (P.J. Soles) is suspicious of Joe's (Kit Taylor) need to work late every night. Discovering Joe's car parked outside of a motel, Cathy watches in horror as Joe slashes a prostitute to death with a razor. Joe is sent to the state hospital for the criminally insane and Cathy attempts to rebuild her life in Australia. Soon after her arrival, Cathy becomes the object of obsession for her landlord who observes her every movement, ready to cause all manner of mayhem to her newfound freedom.

Disc Specs:
DVD | Rated M | Color | 91 & 101 minutes | Region 0
Video - 480p Fullscreen (4:3)
Audio - 2.0 Dolby Digital

Extras:
  • KADAICHA Trailer.
  • INNOCENT PREY Trailer.
  • Looking Back on Innocent Prey: A Conversation with P.J. Soles.




PROJECT EDEN: VOL. 1

Synopsis: PROJECT EDEN is the first volume in a planned two-part duology. It is the brainchild of Australian Writers/Directors Ashlee Jensen & Terrance M. Young.

​Shot across three countries, including the U.S, New Zealand and Australia, the film stars Stargate SG-1 and SyFy Channel alumnus Mike Dopud, Cliff Simon and Erick Avari as well as Aussie Talents Anna Mcgahan (UNDERBELLY, HOUSE HUSBANDS), Paul O'Brien (HOME AND AWAY) and Mansoor Noor (CLEVERMAN).

​Aided by an ex-military officer, a young woman becomes an unwitting fugitive after discovering that her son's catatonic state may be at the heart of a global conspiracy.

Disc Specs:
Blu-ray | Rated M | Color | 95 minutes | Region 0
Video - 1080p Widescreen (16:9)
Audio - 5.1 & 2.0 DTS-HD

Extras:
  • Multiple making of featurettes: The Concept, Journey to Eden, Building a Set, Sounds of Eden.
  • Waipu - A Day on Set.
  • Official Trailer #2.
  • Final Release Trailer.


All of these titles will be available on Tuesday, August 2nd, and you can order them directly from UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT'S website now!


Saturday, July 8, 2017

VAULT VID-O-RAMA: CASTLEVANIA EDITION!


VAULT VID-O-RAMA RETURNS TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF "CASTLEVANIA" ON NETFLIX!

Imagine my surprise tonight when someone notified me that NetFlix's animated CASTLEVANIA show was now streaming! I immediately signed on and binged all four episodes, and was left wanting more. The animation, story, and characters are awesome!

Set during the timeline from CASTLEVANIA III: DRACULA'S CURSE, Trevor Belmont, last of his line, comes out of a drunken stupor to help defend the people of Wallachia from an army of monsters that was unleashed by a vengeful Dracula! Along the way he gathers new allies, and sticks it to organized religion as he puts his whip ("The Vampire Killer") to good use!

To celebrate the release of this awesome show, let's get all nostalgic for all things Castlevania with an all new VAULT VID-O-RAMA!

CASTLEVANIA MUSIC
The best part of any Castlevania game has always been the music! So it comes as no surprise that decades later, the music from the classic NES and SNES games is still beloved, and has been remixed into various musical styles. So go ahead and rock out to the following selection of kick-ass Castlevania music, featuring classic video games tunes, covers, parodies, and remixes!
















CASTLEVANIA GAME REVIEWS AND COMMENTARY!
Arin "egoraptor" Hanson has made some great videos chronicling the history of the classic Castlevania games. While his (sadly short-lived) "Sequelitis" series delves into the pros and cons of the earlier games, he's also done a bunch of other fun vids highlighting this video game franchise. Also, you shouldn't miss out on the Angry Video Game Nerd's reviews of the series! Peep 'em out below and gain knowledge Vault Dwellers!









VIDEO GAME COMMERCIALS
You knew this was coming Vault Dwellers! Here's a selection of classic commercials for the various entries into the Castlevania video game series from both America and Japan!





CAPTAIN 'N' - THE GAME MASTER
Avid gamer Kevin Keene gets sucked into the "Ultimate Warp Zone" through his TV and ends up in "Videoland." Along with other Nintendo characters like Kid Icarus, Megaman, and Simon Belmont, "Captain N" battles the evil Mother Brain and her minions to protect the gaming universe. Lasting three short seasons, Captain N generated comic books and (if memory serves) a breakfast cereal. Head into the ultimate nostalgia zone below and watch the RETURN TO CASTLEVANIA episode, or marathon the first two seasons!





VAMPIRE HUNTER D
Finally, after you finish the four episodes of CASTLEVANIA and still thirst for more animated vampire hunter awesomeness, I highly suggest the double-threat of VAMPIRE HUNTER D and VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST! Never heard of 'em? Then watch them below and enjoy!





Thursday, July 6, 2017

THE MAN FROM PLANET X lands on Blu-ray July 11th!


"FROM THE FARTHEST REACHES OF SPACE IT CAME... IS IT FRIEND OR FOE?!" FIND OUT ON JULY 11TH WHEN YOU PURCHASE, "THE MAN FROM PLANET X," ON BLU-RAY!

Originally released on DVD by MGM (before they went bankrupt and had to sell off chunks of their enormous film catalog), THE MAN FROM PLANET X comes to Blu-ray on Tuesday, July 11th with an all new transfer and some cool extras!

Synopsis: After a ship from a distant world lands on the moors of Scotland, intrepid reporter John Lawrence (Robert Clarke, THE HIDEOUS SUN DEMON) and the brilliant Professor Elliot (Raymond Bond) set out to investigate. Their journey brings them face to face with the ship's pilot – an alien from a dying planet that pleads for their aid. But Elliot's unscrupulous colleague Dr. Mears (William Schallert, The Patty Duke Show) has other plans entirely for the interplanetary visitor – plans that could decide the fate of two worlds.

Also starring David Ormont and Margaret Field, THE MAN FROM PLANET X is pure 50's drive-in goodness, straight from B-movie master Edgar G. Ulmer (THE BLACK CAT, DETOUR).

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Black & White | 71 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.37:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:
  • NEW! High-Definition Transfer Taken From A Fine Grain Print!
  • NEW! Commentary By Author Tom Weaver And Film Historian Dr. Robert J. Kiss!
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Image Gallery
Once again, THE MAN FROM PLANET X arrives on Blu-ray on July 11th, with an all new transfer, and a brand new audio commentary! Be sure to pick up a copy from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or SHOUT! FACTORY (if you want to receive it early!).



Scream Factory adds controversial thriller WINDOWS to their ever-expanding catalog!


ENTER A WORLD OF LUST AND DEPRAVITY WITH SCREAM FACTORY'S BLU-RAY RELEASE OF "WINDOWS!"

Scream Factory is having  stellar year, and continues to add more and more interesting titles to their archives. Case in point, WINDOWS, a psychological thriller that I never even knew existed until recently! It sounds pretty enticing (would probably make a great double feature with their Blu-ray of THE CRUSH), and is yet another stepping stone in the neverending quest to collect all of their releases!

Synopsis: The withdrawn and recently divorced Emily (Talia Shire, ROCKY) lives a lonely existence. But after enduring a bizarre assault at the hands of a stranger, Emily finds both comfort and friendship in her neighbor Andrea (Elizabeth Ashley, THE CARPETBAGGERS). As Emily contends with the fact that her attacker still stalks the streets, she slowly discovers that there is more to her new acquaintance, Andrea, beyond her helpful fa̤ade Рsomething that becomes a window to the dark soul of depraved obsession.

Directed by acclaimed cinematographer Gordon Willis (THE GODFATHER, ANNIE HALL) and featuring a score by the legendary Ennio Morricone (THE GOOD, THE BAD, & THE UGLY, THE HATEFUL EIGHT, et al.) WINDOWS is a dark and controversial thriller of lust and psychological pain.

Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 94 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:
  • NEW! High-Definition Transfer Of The Film Taken From The Interpositive!
  • NEW! In Conversation Interview With Actress Talia Shire And Producer Mike Lobell.
  • NEW! Interview With actress Elizabeth Ashley!
  • Original TV Spots & Trailer
  • Still Gallery
WINDOWS is currently available wherever Blu-rays are sold. Pick up a copy today from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY's website!



Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Lord Buckethead: The Origin of the Outlandish Political Candidate Revealed!


 WHO IS LORD BUCKETHEAD?!

Truth be told, I haven't a clue. I do not know the identity of the man in the black cape, leather suit, and absurdly tall helmet that earned 249 votes during his campaign for a seat in Britain's Parliament. But I do know the origin of the character that this man is playing!

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are researching something online, and then find yourself wandering across the vast expanse of the internet? You start out reading up on one subject, then twenty minutes later, you're pouring over miles of text about something else entirely?

Well that happened to me last night. As I was preparing a post about the upcoming 3-DEMENTIA film fest taking place next weekend, I started doing some digging on a pair of films in the lineup, namely ROTTWEILER and HIT THE ROAD RUNNING. Both films were directed by Worth Keeter, and feature Earl Owensby in a lead role.

I thought to myself "Just who is this Earl Owensby?" so I clicked on his name and brought up his IMDB page. (As you may just done.) As I poured over his filmography as a Producer, I noticed a listing for a film called HYPERSPACE. Curious, I clicked over to that page, and as I perused the list of actors and characters, I stopped dead.

One name on the list of characters stood out immediately, and I began to laugh. That name of course, was LORD BUCKETHEAD! Thinking it was pure coincidence, I decided to look up more info about Britain's hilarious political candidate. Sure enough, I immediately found that Lord Buckethead represents a political party called GREMLOIDS (one of several alternate titles for HYPERSPACE), and was "based on" a "Hyperspace character."

This blew my mind Vault Dwellers, so I did some additional digging about HYPERSPACE. Released in 1984, this film was a parody of STAR WARS, featuring an opening text scrawl, and Lord Buckethead, who is clearly a spoof of Darth Vader. With a platoon of Jawa knock-offs at his command, Lord Buckethead arrives on Earth (after a miscalculation), and scours the immediate area for "the Princess" and "the transmissions."

So naturally you may want to see this film for yourself, if only to confirm that I'm not making this all up. Unfortunately, it is currently out of print and physical copies are a bit hard to find. But, in the words of Ian Malcolm, "Life.... finds a way."

So enjoy HYPERSPACE below, thanks to the efforts of my podcasting cohost "Silent" Steve, and YouTube uploader Christopher Kim.


As for the enigmatic Lord Buckethead, he's currently lurking somewhere in England, awaiting the day that he can add Prime Minister to his résumé, right beneath "space lord." To stay up to date on Lord Buckethead's further political ambitions, follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.


Exhumed Films' 3-DEMENTIA Film Fest invades Philadelphia on July 16th!


3-Dementia event poster. Artwork by Justin Miller.

ON JULY 16TH, EXHUMED FILMS TAKES YOU TO THE THIRD-DIMENSION WITH AN AMAZING LINEUP OF 35MM PRINTS!

The folks at Exhumed Films continue to do us cinephiles a huge service with their latest event: 3-DEMENTIA! On Sunday, July 16th get to The International House in Philadelphia, PA, and strap yourselves in for five movies in 100% legit 3-D! (To clarify, the films will not be screened in red/blue anaglyph 3D! This is the real deal Vault Dwellers!)

The doors open at 11:00 AM (get there earlier to secure a good seat), and the projector will fire up at noon, starting with....

FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3D (1982)
Jason picks himself up by the bootstraps after his defeat in the previous installment, and heads to Higgins Haven to hack up horny "teens" and stoners. Filled with eye-popping effects (literally!), FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 3D is a solid sequel that is probably most notable for having Jason don his trademark hockey mask for the first time.

Once Jason's reign of terror ends, I'll be entering unknown territory, because I've never seen any of the other films on the roster. (Not surprising since most of these are super rare!)

TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS (1983)
J.T. Striker is a soldier of fortune that has been hired to recover a set of magical gemstones from four ancient crowns. Aided by a group of thieves, Striker battles a deadly cult to retrieve his prize, leading to a climax you apparently have to see to believe! Heavily inspired by RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS looks to be a fun adventure movie that I won't soon forget. (And holy hell, the soundtrack was composed by ENNIO MORRICONE!)

ROTTWEILER (1983)
Directed by Worth Keeter (who will be in attendance!), this film takes place in the small town of Lake Lure. When a pack of experimental Rottweilers escapes from a nearby military installation, it's up to the local sheriff  to protect the townsfolk from the murderous canines! I'm always down for some killer animal cinema, so this movie sounds like it is right up my alley!

HIT THE ROAD RUNNING (1983)
Feature #4 is another Worth Keeter vehicle! When Beau Jim Donner returns to his hometown, he ends up butting heads with a corrupt tycoon that has been buying up land and intimidating the locals. This of course leads to an abundance of car chases and crashes that should look pretty damned awesome in 3D! Heavily influenced by SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT (and to a lesser extent, THE DUKES OF HAZZARD), HIT THE ROAD RUNNING promises to be a smashing good time!

REVENGE OF THE SHOGUN WOMEN (1977)
After wowing the audience at the last Ex-Fest with DYNASTY, the Exhumed gang is delivering another classic martial arts film in startling 3D! After being assaulted and degraded by a gang of bandits, a group of women master the martial arts to seek revenge on their attackers!

Tickets are still on sale for 3-DEMENTIA, but are going fast. So if this sounds like something you'd love to attend, GET YOUR TICKETS NOW, and maybe I'll see you there!

Also, if you do make it to this event, you will have the ability to purchase early-bird tickets for Exhumed Film's 24-Hour Horrorthon, which takes place in late October! Keep that in mind because the Horrothon always sells out!



Tuesday, July 4, 2017

ONE, TWO, FREDDY-FEST IS COMING FOR YOU.... IN MID-OCTOBER!


Click to enlarge.
THIS OCTOBER, WATCH THE NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. FRANCHISE IN 35MM AND MEET CAST MEMBERS FROM "FREDDY'S REVENGE" AT THE PALACE THEATER!

Yes, you read that right Vault Dwellers: On Saturday, October 14th, YOU will have the chance to revel in a day of Krueger, with The Palace Theater's FREDDY FEST!

Doors open at 11:00 AM, and you'll have the chance to buy cool Freddy-themed merchandise from vendors before the movies fire-up on the big screen! Speaking of which....

Nearly every NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. film is being shown in glorious 35mm! The fest kicks off with a screening of Wes Craven's classic A NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST., and ends with the slasher movie throwdown, FREDDY VS. JASON! (Sadly Wes Craven's NEW NIGHTMARE is absent from the lineup.)

And as if this event couldn't be cooler, there will be a NIGHTMARE ON ELM ST. 2: FREDDY'S REVENGE reunion Q&A panel, featuring stars Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Clu Gulager & director Jack Sholder! Fans will also get a chance to meet the stars and get their autographs, plus other special guests are promised to be announced in the coming months.

Ticket pre-orders are live now at TicketFly, and range from $25 to $65, depending on your preferences. $25 gets you in all day for the event, $50 buys your all day ticket and a limited 18x24 event poster, and $65 nets you the Elite Elm Street VIP Package! As a VIP, you get in thirty minutes before everyone else to pick your seat and get first dibs on the vendors area, a pair of vintage FREDDY'S DEAD 3-D glasses, the previously mentioned poster, a catered meal, and a chance to win a replica of Freddy Krueger's glove!

Tickets are selling fast, so be sure to get yours now, save the date, and maybe I'll see you there! (And be sure to take the following day off Elm St. fans, because this show is going to run late!)



STOCK YOUR VAULT: New DVDs & Blu-rays for 07/04/2017!


Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY VAULT DWELLERS! Before you go and celebrate America's birthday, be sure to take a peek at the small roster of new DVDs & Blu-ray discs that are out today!

This week's highlights include Arrow Video's 2-Disc Special Edition release of DOBERMAN COP (featuring Sonny Chiba!), Shout Select's Blu-ray debut of A SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM (featuring Michael Caine), and Scream Factory's all new Blu-ray of WINDOWS.

If you'd rather get your indie fix in, there are some cool new titles in that arena, such as BLOODRUNNERS (read my review), BLOOD HUNTERS, ALIENATE, PEELERS, and BETHANY!

There are also a slew of region free classic sci-fi and horror double features out this week, as well as a super cool Region 0 import of Ray Harryhausen's SINBAD TRILOGY (officially due out on July 7th)!

There's are many other direct-to-DVD (and Blu-ray) titles out today, so be sure to scroll down to view them all!


NEW TO DVD & BLU-RAY
Accidental Exorcist
Alienate
Bethany
Bad Frank
Blood Hunters
Bloodrunners
Peelers


NEW TO BLU-RAY
Doberman Cop (2-Disc Special Edition)
A Shock to the System
The Sinbad Trilogy (Limited Edition)
Windows


NEW TO DVD
American Cowboys vs. Aliens
Awakening the Zodiac
Gatchaman Fighter
Here Alone
The Horror Zone: Complete First Season
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
King Arthur: Excalibur Rising
Memories
The Night of the Scorpion
Night of the Vamp & Don't Go Into the House by the Woods (Double Feature)
Taking Earth
Underdog: The Ultimate Collection
Vincent-N-Roxxy


NEW MULTFI-FILM COLLECTIONS ON DVD
10-Movie Horror Collection
Contains: Dark Spirits, Legacy of Evil, Asylum, Living in Peril, The Dark, The Shadows, Blood Predator, Feeding Grounds, Backwoods, and Netherworld.

Adventures of a Teenage Dragonslayer + 5 MoviesContains: Adventures of a Teenage Dragonslayer, Gulliver's Travels, After the Wizard, The Secret Kingdom, Alice of Wonderland in Paris, and The Curious Adventures of Mr. Wonderbird.

The Snow Creature + 8 Movies
Contains: The Snow Creature, The She-Beast, Chupacabra vs. The Alamo, Blood Predator, Curse of the Wolf, House of Mystery, Juggernaut, Mesa of Lost Women, and The Horrors of Spider Island.


CLASSIC SCI-FI & HORROR DOUBLE FEATURES
Assignment Outer Space & In the Year 2889
Battle of the Worlds & Buck Rogers: Planet Outlaws
Cat Women of the Moon & War of the Planets
City of the Dead & The Curse of Bigfoot
Destroy All Planets & End of the World
The Devil's Hand & Voodoo Man
Doomsday Machine & Voyage to the Planet of Prehistoric Women
Phantom from Space & Killers from Space
The She Beast & The Monster Walks
Yongary: Monster of the Deep & Zontar: The Thing from Venus


Sunday, July 2, 2017

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New DVDs & Blu-rays for 06/27/2017!


Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

Ack! Sorry I'm late again Vault Dwellers! Been pretty busy here around Vault HQ lately (and not just because of Friday the 13th: The Game), so here I am playing catch-up yet again!

Last Tuesday was a veritable goldmine of genre titles, and in a rare moment, Blu-ray releases outnumbered their DVD counterparts!

Blue Underground released a fantastic new Limited Edition of DEATH LINE (aka RAW MEAT). This uncut version of the film was remastered in 2K and features a ton of special features, including audio commentaries, cast & crew interviews, trailers, and more!

Also worth noting is Shout Select's new Blu-ray of the long out of print TRESPASS, as well as their impressive PINK PANTHER COLLECTION, which contains all of the good films in that series. Not to be left out, Kino Lorber released the rest of the Pink Panther films they hold the license to, including CURSE OF THE PINK PANTHER, SON OF THE PINK PANTHER, and INSPECTOR CLOUSEAU.

But (once again) it is Scream Factory that won the week with no less than four new titles on Blu-ray, including THE ANGRY RED PLANET, THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, THE EVICTORS, and THE FOUR SKULLS OF JONATHAN DRAKE!

There were a lot of other notable releases last Tuesday, so to see them all, scroll on down!


NEW TO DVD &  BLU-RAY
The Autopsy of Jane Doe
Beacon Point
Being Different
The Belko Experiment
The Bornless Ones
Feed the Light
Goshogun: The Time Etranger
Paradox
Saban's Power Rangers
Scaler: Dark Spirit
The Similars
The Snar
T2: Trainspotting


NEW TO BLU-RAY
The Angry Red Planet
The Apple
Curse of the Pink Panther
Death Line (Limited Edition)
The Evictors
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake
Inspector Clouseau
The Lodger: A Story of the Londo Fog (Criterion Collection)
Sea Prince & Fire Child
Son of the Pink Panther
Straw Dogs (Criterion Collection)
Trespass (Collector's Edition)
The Unholy (Vestron Collector's Series)
Victims!


NEW TO DVD
6 Models in Hell
Ajin: Demi-Human - Deluxe Limited Edition Collection
Ares 11
Berlin Syndrome
Blood (2014)
Bunnicula: Season 1, Part 1
Don't You Recognize Me?
The Girl With No Name
Harvest Moon
House of the Damned
In Search of with Leonard Nimoy: Seasons 4 - 6
Land Shark
Power Rangers: Super Dino-Charge - The Complete Season
Samurai Warriors: The Complete Series
Taught in Cold Blood
Truth or Dare?


NEW MULTFI-FILM COLLECTIONS ON BLU-RAY
The Pink Panther Film Collection
Contains: The Pink Panther, A Shot in the Dark, Return of the Pink Panther, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Revenge of the Pink Panther, and Trail of the Pink Panther.