Just got my latest Blu-ray haul (after I promised myself I wouldn't splurge for the remainder of the year) from Kino Lorber, who is currently having a ROCKTOBER SALE (ends on October 26th, 2021), with some really great prices on hundreds of classic titles! There's a lot of Code Red reissues (e.g. CONQUEST, JUST BEFORE DAWN, PANIC, SLITHIS, DEVIL'S EXPRESS), a bunch of Film Noir boxed sets, and more for some really hard to beat prices!
I myself just blew in BURIED ALIVE (a staple of my childhood that used to play on USA Network all the time!), CONQUEST (Fulci does sword & sorcery), DEVIL'S EXPRESS, GOG (in 3D!), JUST BEFORE DAWN (which contains two cuts of the film), THE MASK (in 3D!), THE MAZE (in 3D!), THE QUEST (aka FROG DREAMING), and SEPTEMBER STORM (in 3D!)! As an added bonus, I pre-ordered the complete KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER TV series (it's currently cheapest if you order direct from Kino) and it showed up early!
View a few pics of my newest acquisitions below and be sure to follow me over on Instagram for more similar posts! Also be sure to follow me over on Facebook and Twitter for a constant stream of random thoughts, Blu-ray announcements, and other cool stuff!
KINO LORBER STUDIO CLASSICS' NEWEST BLU-RAYS FEATURE POST-APOCALYPTIC PARASITES, KILLERS ON THE LOOSE, A HORROR ANTHOLOGY SEQUEL, AND DRACULA'S DOG!
Yowza! Having just taken advantage of Kino's current Halloween Blu-ray Sale, I feel like I should've waited for their quartet of new titles! PARASITE has both the 2D and 3D versions of the film and stars a young Demi Moore, trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world filled with bitey little creatures! PHOBIA is a classic "whodunnit" where a psychologist's phobia-ridden patients are being killed off one by one, and TRILOGY OF TERROR II offers up multiple short horror tales, and features the triumphant return of the deadly Zuni fetish doll!
As for ZOLTAN: HOUND OF DRACULA, this vampire oddity is about Dracula's undead pooch, who makes its way to Los Angeles to find a new master and create an army of vampire-dogs! All four films are now available wherever discs are sold - get 'em all now and add them to the queue of your Halloween horror film marathon!
PARASITE (SPECIAL EDITION - 1982)
Synopsis: In the future, cities are ravaged by atomic fallout and controlled by evil corporations that have developed a mutant pair of flesh-eating parasites. One is feeding inside the man who created it. The other has escaped. Now with the help of a young woman left orphaned in the wasteland (Demi Moore - STRIPTEASE, THE SCARLET LETTER), a scientist (Robert Glaudini - WAVELENGTH) on the run must destroy these horrific creatures before they can reproduce. But the more a parasite feeds, the bigger it becomes. And the more it grows, the hungrier and angrier it gets.
Released to theaters as "The First Futuristic Monster Movie in 3-D," this sick shocker co-stars rocker Cherie Currie (FOXES), drive-in goddess Cheryl 'Rainbeaux' Smith (CAGED HEAT) and Broadway legend Vivian Blaine (GUYS AND DOLLS). Directed by cult great Charles Band (TRANCERS, BLOOD DOLLS, DOCTOR MORDRID), and featuring juicy creature effects by Academy Award-winner Stan Winston (THE TERMINATOR, ALIENS), PARASITE is now available for the first time in HD and 3-D!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - English Dolby Digital 5.1 & Dolby Digital 2.0 (?)
Extras:
NEW! RESTORATION FROM A 4K SCAN OF THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
NEW! 3-D and 2-D Versions of the film!
NEW! From the Inside Out: Writing Parasite - Interviews with writers Alan J. Adler and Michael Shoob!
NEW! Three Dimensions of Terror: Filming Parasite - Interviews with director Charles Band, co-writer Alan J. Adler,
production manager Charles Newirth, art director Pamela B. Warner, and
make-up department head Karen Kubeck!
NEW! Symphony for Slimy Slugs: Composing Parasite - An interview with composer Richard Band!
Interview with Creature Designer and Creator Lance Anderson!
Audio Commentary with Writer Alan J. Adler and Filmmaker/Historian Daniel Griffith!
Still and Promotional Gallery
Reversible Blu-ray Art
Theatrical Trailer
Hot damn! Along with a 4K restoration and both the 2D & (legit) 3D versions of the film, the inclusion of archival material, plus the new cast & crew interviews, makes this release a must-own in my book! Kino Lorber's PARASITE Blu-ray should cost between $18 - $20, and can be purchased from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
PHOBIA (SPECIAL EDITION - 1980)
Synopsis: Murder Put an End to Their Fears! The phobia-ridden patients undergoing a unique therapy treatment with Dr. Peter Ross (Paul Michael Glaser, Detective Dave Stansky of TV’s Starsky & Hutch) now face a new terror—murder! One by one they’re being killed off, and the finger points to everyone! Set ’em up. And whittle ’em down. It’s a favorite technique in whodunit suspense-thrillers. And one of the masters is PHOBIA director John Huston (THE MALTESE FALCON, PRIZZI'S HONOR).
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 94 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English (?)
Extras:
NEW! 4K REMASTER OF THE FILM!
Audio Commentary by Paul Corupe of Canuxploitation.com and Film Historian Jason Pichonsky!
Interview with Lead Actress Susan Hogan
Interview with Actress Lisa Langlois
Theatrical Trailer
Kino Lorber's Special Edition of PHOBIA is now available and should cost you between $18 - $20! Order a copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
TRILOGY OF TERROR II (SPECIAL EDITION - 1996)
Synopsis: Unleashed in the original classic hit Trilogy of Terror, the demonic Zuni fetish doll carved its way into horror movie history. Now the black-magic headhunter returns to life, headlining this diabolical anthology of fear.
The Graveyard Rats: After bumping off her wealthy husband, a money-hungry wife faces an unexpected complication: a cemetery crawling with flesh-eating rodents. Written by Richard Matheson (THE NIGHT STALKER) and Henry Kuttner (THE TWONKY) and directed by Dan Curtis (THE NIGHT STRANGLER).
Bobby: Monstrous consequences result when a mother strikes a devilish bargain to bring her drowned son back from the dead. Written by Matheson and directed by Curtis.
He Who Kills: When an African Zuni fetish doll is tied to multiple grisly murders, a young scientist investigates… and awakens an unspeakable ancient evil.
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - English (?)
Extras:
Audio Commentary by Film Historian Troy Howarth!
Interview with Second Unit Director Eric Allard and Special Makeup Effects Artist Rick Stratton!
Trailers
Kino's Special Edition of TRILOGY OF TERROR II is now available wherever discs are sold, and should cost you between $18 - $20! Order a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER! And don't forget to pick up the classic 1975 original if you don't already own it!
ZOLTAN: HOUND OF DRACULA (SPECIAL EDITION - 1978)
Synopsis: There’s More to the Legend Than Meets the Throat! When the Russian army unearths the vault of Dracula, they accidentally unleash his undead human slave (Reggie Nadler - MARK OF THE DEVIL) and the Count’s vampire hellhound Zoltan. But these friends need a new master and head for Los Angeles to find Dracula’s last living descendant, family man Michael Drake (Michael Pataki - GRAVE OF THE VAMPIRE).
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Extras:
NEW! 4K REMASTER OF THE FILM!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison!
DRACULA'S DOG - Radio Spot
Reversible Dracula's Dog cover art!
Theatrical Trailer
Kino Lorber's Special Edition of ZOLTAN: HOUND OF DRACULA is now available wherever discs are sold and should cost between $18 - $20! Get yourself a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
MAD SCIENCE, DUELING LEGENDS, AND PREHISTORIC MONSTERS ARE ON THE MENU IN KINO LORBER'S LATEST TRIO OF BLU-RAY RELEASES!
I've gotta admit that Kino Lorber has really been doing a stellar job of bringing overlooked, unknown, and forgotten classics to Blu-ray over the past several years! And their latest batch of new Blu-ray titles is no exception! I've never seen 4D MAN, but it sounds like a great supervillain origin story, while BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA was something I watched (and typically snoozed through) on late night TV when I was a kid! And DINOSAURUS! has long been a favorite "dinosaur on the loose" flick of mine so naturally I'm super stoked to upgrade from my old Image DVD of the film! Let's take a closer look at these three new Kino titles, shall we?
4D MAN (SPECIAL EDITION - 1959)
Synopsis: Two brothers, scientists Scott and Tony Nelson, develop an amplifier which enables a person to enter a 4th dimensional state, allowing him to pass through any object. Scott experiments on himself and discovers that each time he passes through something he ages rapidly. He begins killing people, sucking out their life energies and regaining his youth as a result. It falls to Tony and Scott's girlfriend, Linda, to try to put a stop to his murderous rampage.
Disc Specs:
Unrated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?
Extras:
NEW! 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Richard Harland Smith!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Kris Yeaworth (son of director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.)!
Reflections from The 4D Man - On-camera Interview with Producer Jack H. Harris!
On-camera Interview with Co-star Lee Meriwether!
Theatrical Trailer
Kino's Special Edition of 4D MAN is now available wherever Blu-rays are sold, and should cost you between $18 - $20! Add this newly restored sci-fi thriller now by picking up a copy from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER's online store!
BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA (1966)
Synopsis: BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA is an outrageous low-budget horror-western directed by cult filmmaker William Beaudine (THE APE MAN, VOODOO MAN).
Filmmaker Carl K. Hittleman (36 HOURS) wrote the screenplay for this wild cult classic, beautifully shot by Lothrop B. Worth (GOG) and featuring Marjorie Bennett (WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?) and Harry Carey Jr. (CHERRY 2000).
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 73 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison!
Trailers
BILLY THE KID VS. DRACULA is now available and should cost between $15 - $20! See it for the first time, or relive your childhood memories by snapping up a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
DINOSAURUS! (SPECIAL EDITION - 1960)
Synopsis: Alive with thrills that started a million years ago! From legendary producer Jack H. Harris and director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr., the team behind sci-fi classics THE BLOB and 4D MAN, comes this cult fantasy-adventure starring Ward Ramsey, Paul Lukather and Kristina Hanson.
Building a new harbor off the coast of a Caribbean island, an American engineer (Ramsey) sets off a blast on the ocean floor that uncovers the frozen bodies of a Brontosaurus, a Tyrannosaurus Rex and a Neanderthal Man. The dinosaurs are hauled ashore by the construction crew, who are unaware that the giants are still alive. Struck by lightning during a fierce tropical storm, the monsters awaken and prowl the island jungles!
Also restored to life is the caveman (Gregg Martell), an amiable brute who joins the island boy Julio (Alan Roberts) in a series of wacky misadventures. A merry grab-bag of sci-fi, action and comedy, Dinosaurus! features stop-motion dinosaur animation by the legendary Projects Unlimited effects team (THE TIME MACHINE, The Outer Limits). Beautifully shot in Scope by the great Stanley Cortez (SINCE YOU WENT AWAY, THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER).
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - ?
Extras:
NEW! 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Kris Yeaworth (son of director Irvin S. Yeaworth Jr.)!
Dinosaurus!: A Monstrous Story - Interviews with Producer Jack H.
Harris, Co-star Paul Lukather and Film Historians Donald F. Glut and
Bill Warren!
Reversible Blu-ray Art!
Theatrical Trailer
DINOSAURUS! is definitely a must-have for yours truly (especially now that it's gotten a 4K makeover!) - it is super cool to see it getting some love after being out of print for so many years! This film is now available on Blu-ray (and DVD!) and should cost between $18 - $20! Get yourself a copy of this fun dinosaur romp now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or KINO LORBER!
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!
ON FEBRUARY 28TH, SEE TEN TONS OF ANIMAL FURY LEAP ACROSS THE SCREEN (IN STARTLING 3D!), WITH KINO LORBER'S A*P*E BLU-RAY!
A*P*E is a hilariously awful, but I adore it! Featuring bargain basement special effects (which might actually look "better" in 3D), this low-budget Kong rip-off features a cheap gorilla costume, terrible miniatures, and the gut-bustingly funny desecration of a dead shark! It must be seen to be believed! (Man I wish I had a 3D TV so I could enjoy this in its intended format!)
Synopsis: A freighter peacefully glides the still waters of a soft Pacific night; their cargo: a recently captured 36-foot ape. A giant fist comes up through the deck sending the sailors sprawling and in a matter of seconds, the A*P*E (Attacking Primate monster) is loose!
The mighty A*P*E defies the JAWS of the Great White Shark, and then wades ashore and explores the Korean mainland. Meanwhile, American actress (Joanna Kerns, TV’s Growing Pains) arrives in South Korea to appear in a film, at the same time, A*P*E has also arrived and lays waste the city of Inchon and continues his march forward, destroying everything in his path. Paul Leder (I DISMEMBER MAMA) co-wrote and directed this cult classic which also co-stars Hollywood veteran Alex Nicol (THE MAN FROM LARAMIE, THE SCREAMING SKULL)!
Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 87 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.39:1)
Audio - TBA
Extras:
2D and 3D versions of the movie!
Audio Commentary by Horror Cinema Historian Chris Alexander.
Trailers
A*P*E will be available wherever Blu-ray discs are sold on Tuesday, February 28th and will cost around twenty bucks. Order it today from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD! Also, if you plan on watching this in 3D, make sure that you already have a 3D Blu-ray player and TV!
ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, IT'S HIGH NOON AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE, WHEN SCREAM FACTORY UNLEASHES "METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN" IN 3D!
Looks like I can finally part with my METALSTORM DVD folks, because Scream Factory is about to release the only copy I'll ever need! Now I just need to get a 3D TV....
Film Synopsis: Experience the future in 3-D! METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN, is the science fiction battle of the ages with giant Cyclopians and an intergalactic magician in this futuristic adventure set on the desert planet of Lemuria. A miner and his daughter Dhyana (Kelly Preston - DEATH SENTENCE, CHRISTINE) fall prey to the evil dictator Jared-Syn's reign of terror.
Dogen (Jeffrey Byron - THE DUNGEONMASTER) the brave peacekeeping ranger, must save Dhyana and the rest of her planet from the brutality of Jared-Syn (Mike Preston - THE ROAD WARRIOR), his son, Baal (R. David Smith - T-FORCE), and the hideous Cyclopian warlord, Hurok (Richard Moll - HOUSE, RAZOR, THE DUNGEONMASTER).
If Dogen does not find Dhyana in time, she will be sacrificed to Jared-Syn's strange life-giving crystal. Take a space-age journey into the farthest reaches of the imagination with dazzling special effects and a story that will excite fantasy fans of all ages! This sci-fi action film was directed by Empire Pictures founder Charles Band (PUPPETMASTER & TRANCERS series) and also features Tim Thomerson (NEAR DARK, FADE TO BLACK, DOLLMAN).
Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 84 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - TBA
Extras:
NEW! High Definition Transfer Presented In Both 2-D And 3-D!
NEW!High Noon At The End Of The Universe – Featuring Interviews With Director/Producer Charles Band, Actors Jeffrey Byron, Richard Moll And Tim Thomerson, Screenwriter/Producer Alan J. Adler, Special Effects Artist Allan Apone, Make-up Artist Kenny Myers, and Composer Richard Band!
Promotional And Behind-The-Scenes Still Gallery
Radio Spot
Original Theatrical Trailer
METALSTORM: THE DESTRUCTION OF JARED-SYN will be available wherever Blu-rays are sold, on Tuesday, September 13th! You can order it now from AMAZON.COM, or get it directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.COM! Either way, you Scream Factory fans definitely need to add this to your already insanely huge Blu-ray collections! Check out the trailer below and get excited!
