SHOUT! FACTORY GIVES THIS CULT CLASSIC ITS NORTH AMERICAN BLU-RAY DEBUT WITH A NEW AUDIO COMMENTARY & OTHER BONUS FEATURES!
Truth be told Vault Dwellers, I am fairly familiar with this movie, but I've never seen DANGER: DIABOLIK without a certain trio of silhouettes in the lower left side of my TV screen, lobbing insults at the film. Of course I'm talking about DANGER: DIABOLIK's appearance on the final (Mike era) episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000! Oddly enough though, I didn't really think this movie was truly bad enough to end up on the show, so I'm super glad to see it get a standalone Blu-ray release here in the States! If you enjoy Euro-crime thrillers and/or heist flicks, you may just want to check this one out Vault Dwellers!
Synopsis: The suave, psychedelic-era thief called Diabolik (John Phillip Law - THE GOLDEN VOYAGE OF SINBAD, SPACE MUTINY, BARBARELLA: QUEEN OF THE GALAXY) can't get enough of life's good – or glittery – things. Not when there are currency shipments to steal from under the noses of snooty government officials and priceless jewels to lift from the boudoirs of the super-rich.
The elusive scoundrel finds plenty of ways to live up to his name in this tongue-in-cheek, live-action caper inspired by Europe's popular Diabolik comics. He clambers up walls, zaps a press conference with Exhilaration Gas, smacks a confession out of a crime lord while freefalling with him from an airplane, and pulls off the heist of a twenty-ton gold ingot. Impossible? No, diabolical – DANGER: DIABOLIK, to be exact!
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 105 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (?)
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary With Film Historians Troy Howarth And Nathaniel Thompson!
Audio Commentary With Actor John Phillip Law And Tim Lucas, Biographer Of Director Mario Bava!
Danger: Diabolik – From Fumetti To Film!
The Beastie Boys Music Video Body Movin’ With Optional Commentary By Adam Yauch!
Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
Shout! Factory's DANGER: DIABOLIK Blu-ray thankfully ports over all the extras from the previous Paramount DVD release, and tosses in that new audio commentary for good measure! DANGER: DIABOLIK will be available wherever Blu-ray discs are sold on Tuesday, May 19th and should cost between $24 - $30! If you want to get "Deep, Deep, Down" with John Phillip Law, order yourself a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.
WOMB-RAIDING PARASITES, A DEMI-GOD'S TRIP TO HADES, AND ZOMBIE PROMS ARE JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF KINO LORBER'S LATEST BLU-RAY TITLES!
GORE! PEPLUM! ROMANTIC ZOMBIE COMEDY! Kino Lorber is truly gifting us with an eclectic mix of films next week Vault Dwellers! BABY BLOOD (which also goes by THE EVIL WITHIN) involves a beautiful woman who has an unwelcome (and hungry) guest nestled within her womb! I had this (apparent) masterpiece on VHS back in the day, but never got around to watching it (a symptom of having too many movies)!
HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD was directed by Mario Bava and has bodybuilder Reg Park invading Hades to find a cure for his ailing Princess, and MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK features an undead Chris Lowery crawling from his grave to take Traci Lind on a date! (Can you blame him?!) If any of these have caught your interest, then continue onward to learn more about Kino Lorber's trio of new releases!
BABY BLOOD (1990)
Synopsis: It's Time to Feed the Baby! It is a voracious parasite from the dawn of creation, surviving centuries in search of the one thing it needs: to be born of a human. But when this cunning creature slithers inside a sexy circus performer (voluptuous French starlet Emmanuelle Escourrou - LADY BLOOD), it demands gallons of fresh blood to grow stronger. Now this reluctantly expectant mommy and her chatty mutant fetus are off on a cross-country killing spree, where pre-natal care means violent carnage and the ultimate mother's milk is BABY BLOOD!
Also known as THE EVIL WITHIN, and co-written and directed by Alain Robak (ADRENALINE), this French shocker is now presented totally uncut and uncensored with all its infamous womb-raiding, gore-spewing and flesh-baring beautifully restored in HD!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 87 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English & French DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW! 2K REMASTER OF THE FILM!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin and Film Critic Jarret Gahan!
Theatrical Trailer
BABY BLOOD arrives on Blu-ray (and DVD) on October 8th, and should cost you between $18 - $20! Order yourself a copy of this French creature feature now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD (1961)
Synopsis: When his beloved Princess Deianira (Leonora Ruffo) goes mad, strong man Hercules (Reg Park) turns to the oracle Medea for advice. Medea tells him to travel to the underworld and find the Stone of Forgetfulness, a mysterious crystal that will cure Deianira's ills. Along with his friend Theseus, Hercules ventures into the dark and foggy depths of Hades to find the stone. Meanwhile, Deianira's power-hungry uncle, Lico (Christopher Lee), plots to steal the throne that is her birthright.
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 91 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
Audio - English & Italian DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Extras:
NEW! 2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE!
U.S. release version: Hercules in the Haunted World (with optional English SDH captions)
European release version: Vampire gegen Hercules; aka Ercole al
centro della Terra (Italian dialogue with optional English subtitles)
U.K. release version: Hercules at the Center of the Earth
NEW! Audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark!
Interview with actor George Ardisson
U.S. theatrical trailer
U.K. theatrical trailer
While I'm not entirely sure how long each cut of HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD is, the fact they they are all included is super awesome! Along with the 2K transfer and audio commentary, this release is definitely worth the $20 - $23 pricetag! This Hercules adventure arrives on Tuesday, October 8th - If you're a fan of sword & sandal flicks, or just a Mario Bava fan in general, order this Blu-ray from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or KINO LORBER!
MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK (1993)
Synopsis: Teenager Johnny Dingle (Andrew Lowery - COLOR OF NIGHT) will do anything to keep his date with the hottest girl in school—even come back from the grave! You see, Johnny had the perfect scheme to win the heart of Missy McCloud (Traci Lind - CLASS OF 1999), the town beauty. Unfortunately, Johnny's scam goes sour and he winds up dead. Even so, Johnny's determined to keep his date - unaware of the hilarity waiting for him upon his return.
Disc Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 85 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1?)
Audio - ?
Extras:
NEW! Audio Commentary by Director Bob Balaban with Actors Mary Beth Hurt and Austin Pendleton!
NEW! Interview with Star Andrew Lowery!
NEW! Interview with Director Bob Balaban!
NEW! Interview with Composer Harry Manfredini!
NEW! Interview with Actor Austin Pendleton!
Reversible Art
Theatrical Trailer
Unfortunately I couldn't find much info about the audio & video on this release Vault Dwellers! This title was previously released by Mill Creek Entertainment so Kino's disc will either be on par, or likely better than what Mill Creek offered up! And along with the heap o' new extras on this release, fans of this film won't mind paying $18 - $20 for it! MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK (SPECIAL EDITION) will be available on Tuesday, October 8th - order a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!
WHAT IS CALTIKI? FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF ON APRIL 25TH, WITH ARROW VIDEO'S SPECIAL EDITION RELEASE OF THIS SCI-FI CLASSIC!
It's been decades since I caught a late-night airing of CALTIKI on television. While I don't recall much about the film overall, I do have fond recollections about the movie's antagonist. A big thanks to Arrow Video for giving this film so much TLC. I can't wait to eventually add it to my collection!
Synopsis: A team of archaeologists led by Dr John Fielding (John Merivale, CIRCUS OF HORRORS) descends on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city to investigate the mysterious disappearance of its inhabitants. However, the luckless explorers get more than they bargained for when their investigation of a sacrificial pool awakens the monster that dwells beneath its waters – the fearsome and malevolent god Caltiki!
Though Riccardo Freda received sole directing credit, a significant portion of the film was in fact the work of Mario Bava, who also served as its cinematographer and was responsible its striking special effects. Drawing on a diverse array of influences, from THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT to the works of HP Lovecraft, CALTIKI: THE IMMORTAL MONSTER is a unique and unforgettable sci-fi chiller which showcases these two legendary filmmakers at their most inventive. Presented here for the first time in a newly restored high definition transfer, Caltiki shines – and terrifies! – like never before.
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Black & White | 76 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - English and Italian LPCM Mono
Extras:
Brand new 2K restoration of the film from the original camera negative!
Original mono Italian and English soundtracks (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc), plus newly translated English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack!
NEW! Audio commentary by Tim Lucas, author of Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark.
NEW! Audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of The Haunted World of Mario Bava and So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films.
From Quatermass to Caltiki, a new discussion with author and critic Kim Newman on the influence of classic monster movies on Caltiki.
Riccardo Freda, Forgotten Master - An archival interview with critic Stefano Della Casa.
The Genesis of Caltiki - An archival interview with filmmaker Luigi Cozzi!
Archival introduction to the film by Stefano Della Casa.
Alternate opening titles for the US version.
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys!
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing by Kat Ellinger and Roberto Curti!
Arrow Video once again delivers the goods, and hopefully finds an all new audience for this classic Italian Sci-Fi effort! This Special Edition release of CALTIKI will be available wherever discs are sold on Tuesday, April 25th! You can order it right now from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD!
