Friday, October 28, 2022

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New Blu-ray & 4K Discs - October 2022 Roundup!

 

The B-Movie News Vault's STOCK YOUR VAULT Logo!

Due to various circumstances (e.g. work, parenthood, Exhumed Films' 24-Hour Horrorthon), I've been unable to keep up with the weekly Stock Your Vault posts. So to catch up on everything, here is a three week recap of all the new genre films that arrived on Blu-ray and/or 4K disc this month! Some of the big highlights this month include: Universal Classic Monsters on 4K, Full Moon's TRANCERS 4K release, more new ULTRAMAN series on DVD from Mill Creek, Scream Factory's THE POSSESSED and new 4K release of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD, Arrow Video's TWO WITCHES and Limited Edition COUNT YORGA COLLECTION, Vinegar Syndrome's 4K UHD of THE AMITYVILLE HORROR, Severin Films' 3-Disc Limited Edition of THE CHANGELING, Synapse Films' THE KINDRED and SATAN'S LITTLE HELPER, and so many more!

To see the full roster of new titles released between October 11th and the 25th, just continue scrolling!


10/11: 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (4K UHD Collector's Edition - Shout Select)
Dracula (1931 - 4K UHD - Universal)

Frankenstein (4K UHD - Universal)
The Godfather (4K UHD - Paramount)
The Godfather (Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook - Paramount)
The Godfather Part II (4K UHD - Paramount)
The Godfather Part II (Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook - Paramount)
The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (4K UHD - Paramount)
The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook - Paramount)
The Invisible Man (4K UHD - Universal)
Lost Highway (4K UHD - The Criterion Collection)
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (4K UHD - Warner Bros.)
Trancers (4K UHD - 2-Disc Collector's Edition - Full Moon Pictures)
Universal Classic Monsters: Icons of Horror Collection II (4K UHD - Universal)
The Wolf Man (4K UHD - Universal)


10/11: BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES

10/31 Part II (Scream Team Releasing)

Arsenic and Old Lace (The Criterion Collection)
Beast (2022 - Universal)
Blind Fury (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

Disturbing Behavior (MVD Rewind Collection)
Frost (w/soundtrack CD - Cleopatra Entertainment)
Mark of the Vampire (1935 - Warner Archive Collection)
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: Collection 1 (Right Stuf)
Moonchild (2-Disc Collector's Edition - Visual Vengeance)
Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind (Warner Bros.)
Night Visitor (Ronin Flix)
No Escape (Unearthed Classics)
Ocean Waves (Studio Ghibli / Shout! Factory)
Paranormal Activity: The Ultimate Chills Collection (Limited Edition 9-Disc Set - Paramount)
RoboCop: The Series - The Pilot Episode (Liberation Hall)
Shredder (Ronin Flix)
Smoke and Mirrors: The Story of Tom Savini (Collector's Edition - Wild Eye Releasing)
Spirit Halloween: The Movie (Strikeback Studios - DVD)
Sweet Tooth: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros.)
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Season 2, Part 2 (Crunchyroll)
Ultraman Neos: The Complete Series (DVD - Mill Creek Entertainment)
Ultraman Zearth (Double Feature DVD - Mill Creek Entertainment)
The Vampire Dies in No Time: Season One (Crunchyroll)
When Marnie Was There (Studio Ghibli / Shout! Factory)
When Marnie Was There (Limited Edition Steelbook - Studio Ghibli / Shout! Factory)
The Witching Season (Scream Team Releasing)

 

 


10/18: 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (4K UHD - Warner Bros.)
Bullet Train (4K UHD - Sony Pictures)
Bullet Train (Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook - Sony Pictures)
E.T. - The Extraterrestrial (4K UHD - 40th Anniversary Edition - Universal)
The Return of the Living Dead (4K UHD - Collector's Edition - Scream Factory)
The Ring (2002 - 4K UHD - Limited Edition Steelbook - Paramount)



10/18: BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES
American Movie (Sony Pictures Classics)
Batman and Superman: Battle of the Super Sons (Warner Bros.)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (Lionsgate)
Boris Karloff: The Man Behind the Monster (Voltage Films)
Bullet Train (Sony Pictures)
Burn the Witch: Limited Series (Warner Bros.)
Cool as Hell 1 & 2 (Acid Bath Production)
DC's Legends of Tomorrow: The Complete Series (Warner Bros.)
The Deer King (Shout! Factory)
Evil: Season One (CBS)
Evil: Season Two (CBS)
Eyes of Laura Mars (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
Fall (Lionsgate)
Film Noir: The Dark Side of Cinema X (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
Gothic Fantastico: Four Italian Tales of Terror (4-Disc Limited Edition - Arrow Video)
Happy Birthday To Me (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
Island of the Blue Dolphins (Scorpion Releasing)
La Llorona (The Criterion Collection)
Orphan: First Kill (Paramount)
The Possessed (2021 - Scream Factory)
Raising the Stakes (Acid Bath Productions)
Rumble (Paramount)
Two Witches (Arrow Video)
You're Melting (Acid Bath Productions)



10/25: 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES
The Amityville Horror (4K UHD - Vinegar Syndrome)
The Changeling (3-Disc Special Edition 4K UHD - Severin Films)
Dressed to Kill (4K UHD - Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
Nope (2022 - 4K UHD - Universal)
Quiet Days in Clichy (2-Disc Special Edition 4K UHD - Blue Underground)
Satan's Little Helper (4K UHD Special Edition - Synapse Films)
The Usual Suspects (4K UHD - Kino Lorber Studio Classics)



10/25: BLU-RAY NEW RELEASES

Arm Wrestling Roulette (Green Apple Entertainment)

At Close Range (1986 - MVD Rewind Collection)
Charmed: The Complete Series (2018 - CBS)
The Count Yorga Collection (2-Disc Limited Edition - Arrow Video)
Death to Metal (Collector's Edition - Wild Eye Releasing)
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1931 - Warner Archive Collection)
Ghostwatch (Collector's Edition - 101 Films)
Higurashi: When They Cry - Sotsu: Season 2 (Crunchyroll)
House of Psychotic Women: Rarities Collection (5-Disc Limited Edition Set - Severin Films)
The Invitation (Theatrical & Unrated Versions - Sony Pictures)
The Kindred (Special Edition - Synapse Films)
The Last Romantic Lover (Cult Epics)
Nick the Sting (RaroVideo)
Nope (2022 - Universal)
Scarlet Nexus: Season 1, Part 1 (Crunchyroll)
Terror at Tenkiller (Special Edition - VCI)
This is Gwar (Shudder)
Titans: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros.)

 

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

VCI Enters the 4K Fray With a 50th Anniversary Release of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS!

Cover art for VCI's new 4K release of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS!

ON DECEMBER 6TH, YOU CAN WATCH ORVILLE'S "COMING OUT PARTY" IN GLORIOUS ULTRA HIGH-DEFINITION!

Bob Clark had a pretty eclectic career and made films ranging from raunchy teen sex comedies (PORKY'S and PORKY'S II: THE NEXT DAY), to Horror classics (DEATHDREAM and BLACK CHRISTMAS), to Christmas essentials (A CHRISTMAS STORY), to kids movies (BABY GENIUSES), and even gender-bending crime movies (SHE-MAN: A STORY OF FIXATION).

But today we're going to focus on his first true feature-length film, 1972's CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS, which is getting a new 50th anniversary Blu-ray and 4K UHD release from VCI in November! While not in my "zombie top ten," I do enjoy this low-budget horror romp and count myself lucky to have seen it in 35mm!

Synopsis: Five young kinky actors and their artistic director come to a desolate and nearly forgotten burial island, complete with a morbid history of MURDER, RAPE, CURSES and DEMONS. Alan (Alan Ormsby), the brilliant but bizarre Director of the company, has brought them to this foreboding place to dabble in witchcraft; specifically to dig up a fresh corpse and use it in a ritual ceremony which is supposed to raise the dead from their graves. 

It seems as though Alan has really gathered his "children" here, only to play a practical joke on them and then to party the rest of the night away. However, the joke's on Alan. His bizarre ritual ceremony really does raise the dead from their graves... only they're in no mood to party!

Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 87 & 76 minutes | Region Free
Video - 2160p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English LPCM 2.0 Mono


Extras:

  • NEW! Video Introduction and Q&A with Alan Ormsby!
  • NEW! 90-minute Video Documentary DREAMING OF DEATH: Bob Clark's Horror Films, with many new interviews with cast and crew! 
  • Two cuts of the film, including the Complete Alternate U.K. Version!
  • Full Commentary Track with Alan Ormsby, Jane Daly and Anya Cronin!
  • Memories of Bob Clark: A video tribute to the late Director.
  • The Los Angeles Grindhouse Festival, May 22, 2007 Q&A: A Video filmed in between a double feature showing of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY… and DEATHDREAM at the Beverly Cinema.
  • Confessions of a Grave Digger: Video Interview with Ken Goch.
  • Extensive Photo & Poster Gallery
  • "Dead Girls Don't Say No" Music video by The Deadthings.
  • "Cemetery Mary" Music video by The Deadthings.
  • Original Theatrical Trailer and Radio Spots.
  • New Special Liner-Notes Booklet written by Patrick McCabe.

Along with the upgraded picture quality (which I currently cannot confirm is an all new transfer, or a 4K upconversion from the previous 2K transfer they put out in 2016), all of the previous extras are included, but I'm personally excited to check out that new feature-length documentary that's on this disc! Originally slated for release on October 11th, VCI repeatedly pushed back their 50th Anniversary release of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS until December 6th (ditto for their Region A Blu-ray disc). The upcoming 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of CHILDREN should cost between $27 - $30 (though the price may drop before release), and can be pre-ordered now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD


Thursday, October 6, 2022

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New Blu-rays & 4K Discs for 10/04/2022!

 

The B-Movie News Vault's Stock Your Vault Logo!

Vault Master's Pick of the Week is the new 4K Steelbook of FRIGHT NIGHT!
Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

After another long (and unintended) break, the Vault Master is back on the scene with the first STOCK YOUR VAULT post in quite some time! While I've been away, a lot of incredible discs have come out, and let me tell you, there's no end in sight! Physical media is NOT dead Vault Dwellers, and more amazing Blu-ray and 4K titles are incoming! And this week is no exception!

Scream Factory released ARMY OF DARKNESS (yes, again) in a new 4K UHD Collector's Edition that comes in standard and steelbook editions, plus they boxed up the remaining HALLOWEEN films (which includes the trio of films after part five, and before Rob Zombie's redo and sequel), while Paramount brought SCREAM 2 to 4K for the first time ever! And the Criterion Collection? Well they just gave Romero's NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD a 4K upgrade, so this will definitely be the best this film has ever  looked!

Despite these solid new releases, I'm giving this week's victory to Sony Pictures, who not only dropped a new 4K steelbook of BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, but also a gorgeous 4K steelbook of Tom Holland's classic vampire tale, FRIGHT NIGHT! Along with its top-notch audio & video presentation, the disc contains over thirteen hours (!!!) of new and archival supplemental material that covers every aspect of its creation and legacy!

But as always, there are other new titles out that you may want to add to your growing collections! For the full list of new Blu-rays and 4K discs, just continue onward fellow collectors!


Airplane! (Paramount)
American Bigfoot (MRG)
Army of Darkness (4K UHD - Collector's Edition - Scream Factory)
Army of Darkness (4K UHD - Limited Edition Collector's Edition Steelbook - Scream Factory)

Bram Stoker's Dracula (30th Anniversary Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook - Sony Pictures)
DC League of Super Pets (Warner Bros.)
DC League of Super Pets (4K UHD - Warner Bros.)
Dexter: The Complete Series & Dexter: New Blood (Paramount)
Fright Night (4K UHD Steelbook - Sony Pictures)
The Halloween 4K Collection (1995 - 2002, 4K UHD - Scream Factory)
Into the Deep (Lionsgate)
Kingdom: Season 3, Part 2 (Crunchyroll)
The Last Exorcism Part II (Paramount)
Night of the Living Dead (4K UHD - Criterion Collection)
Plaga Zombie: American Invasion (InFuse Releasing LLC)
The Replacement Killers (Retro VHS Packaging - Mill Creek Entertainment)
Scream 2 (4K UHD - Paramount)
Scream 2 (4K UHD - Limited Edition Steelbook - Paramount)
Star Trek Picard: Season Two (Paramount)
Star Trek Picard: Season Two (Limited Steelbook Edition - Paramount)
Watcher (Image Entertainment)
You Can't Kill Meme (Utopia)

To keep tabs on all the new Blu-ray and 4K titles that are coming out, be sure to visit (and bookmark) the Vault's "world famous" UPCOMING BLU-RAYS PAGE! It's updated almost daily and typically covers up to three months worth of newly announced Blu-ray and 4K discs!


Monday, October 3, 2022

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: DRAGONSLAYER (1981)




WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
DRAGONSLAYER (1981)


Rated PG | Color | 109 minutes

UPDATE:  Paramount is releasing DRAGONSLAYER to Blu-ray and 4K UHD on March 21, 2023! Pre-order the standard Blu-ray HERE, the limited edition steelbook 4K HERE, and/or the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition HERE!
 
When I was growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, it was an age undreamed of. Between the VHS boom and the rise of cable television, there was just so much stuff to watch! And one of the many films I found myself stumbling across repeatedly while channel surfing was DRAGONSLAYER. Even now, with the leaps in special effects technology, I still think that this film contains my favorite onscreen dragon, which still looks fairly impressive all these decades later!

Synopsis: It is a dark time (in the Dark Ages) for the fictional kingdom of Urland. An ancient horror named Vermithrax Pejorative terrorizes the populace, and so a lottery is begun by their King to send virgin sacrifices to the fire-breathing beast twice a year so that it does not burn their villages and crops. Eventually help arrives in the form of Galen (Peter MacNicol), a wizard's apprentice who takes up his master's quest to defeat the dragon, after the old man is killed.

Using a magical amulet, Galen at first attempts to bury the virgin-snacking monster alive (which does not bode well for many Urlanders), but eventually uses it to forge a weapon strong enough to pierce dragon-hide. As the film heads towards its brilliant climax, the unlikely young hero battles Vermithtrax Perjorative on his own until he tags in help from an unexpected (and powerful) ally!

I've always had an affinity for DRAGONSLAYER ever since I first caught it on (I believe) A&E way back in the day (where it was usually paired with JABBERWOCKY). While the movie's first half is a bit on the slow side, the sheer spectacle of the second half more than makes up for it! The cast is wonderful, the Academy Award-nominated soundtrack composed by Alex North is epic, and Phil Tippet's (almost) Oscar-worthy effects work (using a new process at the time called "go-motion") brings it all together!
 
Though DRAGONSLAYER experienced huge critical success upon its theatrical release, it was surprisingly a box office failure pulling in $14 million on an $18 million budget. But as is the case for many films that are considered flops, DRAGONSLAYER has since garnered a large cult following over the past four decades, and fans are overdue a nice (collector's edition) Blu-ray of this classic fantasy movie!
 
Waiting for this movie to come to Blu-ray has been a pain in the neck I tell ya!

 
Availability: You can easily procure a copy of DRAGONSLAYER on DVD (which oddly seems to get re-released every six years or so) for a relatively low price. It is also available to rent or own digitally in HD!

Current Rights Holder: Paramount.

Blu-ray Wishlist: 
  • New 2K (but preferably 4K) restoration made from an original 35mm print of the film! 
  • Multiple Cuts of the film - It would be super cool if the theatrical version, the TV edit, and the rare Uncut version (only available ages ago on Laserdisc) were included! At the very least, I'd love to see the fully uncut version of DRAGONSLAYER!
  • A new audio commentary with director Matthew Robbins (who is still alive as my posting this), or even one with star Peter MacNicol and/or Phil Tippett!
  • Cast & Crew Interviews - Getting some behind-the-scenes input on the film from Robbins and MacNicol would be super cool, as would interviews with Phil Tippett and his f/x team (who are still working in the film biz today)!
  • Archival or new making of featurettes!
  • Trailer
  • Poster & Still Gallery
  • Really pushing it here, but a soundtrack CD would be wonderful as well!

I'm clearly asking for a lot, but honestly I'd be happy to get even a fraction of what's on my wishlist at this point! I've been fairly impressed with how Paramount has been handling their catalog titles lately, so I wouldn't be shocked if they gave this particular film a little love. And even if they have no interest in it, there's always the chance that DRAGONSLAYER could become a future Shout! Factory release (under either their Shout Select or Scream Factory labels)! All we can really do is sit and wait, and hope for the best.... though it probably couldn't hurt to bug Paramount on Facebook or Twitter in the meantime!