Now Available on Blu-ray: Scream Factory's THE DEADLY MANTIS and THE WITCHES (1966)!

SCREAM FACTORY ENTICES US WITH GIANT INSECTS AND WICKED WITCHCRAFT IN THEIR TWO LATEST RELEASES!

THE DEADLY MANTIS is one of my favorite atomic-monster films from the 50s and it's great to see it getting the royal treatment on Blu-ray disc! THE WITCHES is a Hammer title that I am not very familiar with, but I'm ready to welcome it home with open arms, because more Hammer Horror is never a bad thing!

THE DEADLY MANTIS (1957)

Synopsis: This menacing insect kills everything in its path while scientists and military men work feverishly to stop it. Craig Stevens (ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE) stars as the commander in charge of putting an end to this beastly insect with William Hopper (20 MILLION MILES TO EARTH) as the paleontologist and Alix Talton (THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH) as his beautiful assistant, a photojournalist, assigned to help in this epic battle between man and mantis!

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Black & White | 79 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• NEW! 2K REMASTER OF THE FILM!
• NEW! Audio Commentary with film historians Tom Weaver and David Schecter!
• Mystery Science Theatre 3000 episode "The Deadly Mantis" (02/22/97)!
• Theatrical Trailer
• Still Gallery

THE DEADLY MANTIS is now available on Blu-ray disc and should cost somewhere between $23 - $25! Order a copy of this classic Universal creature feature from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY. 

THE WITCHES (1966)

Synopsis: Haunted by the terrors of her experience with African witch doctors, school teacher Gwen Mayfield (Joan Fontaine - REBECCA) accepts an appointment as headmistress at the Haddaby School run by Alan Bax (Alec McCowen - FRENZY) and his sister Stephanie (Kay Walsh - STAGE FRIGHT).

Gwen initially revels in the peacefulness she has found in the quiet English countryside but soon begins to sense "undercurrents." Before long, a local boy falls into a coma and Gwen discovers a voodoo doll impaled by pins. The danger that follows brings her face to face with witchcraft as a series of disasters unfold and lead her to the horrible truth.

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - ?

Extras:

• NEW! Audio Commentary With Filmmaker/Historian Ted Newsom!
• Hammer Glamour – A Featurette On The Women Of Hammer!
• U.S. Trailer THE DEVIL’S OWN
• Double Feature Trailer PREHISTORIC WOMEN And THE DEVIL’S OWN
• Still Gallery

Hammer's THE WITCHES comes out of relative obscurity and made its Blu-ray debut today! This Scream Factory title should cost you $23 and is readily available for purchase at AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, and direct from SHOUT! FACTORY.

Kino Cinema Classics Gives JACK THE GIANT KILLER A Much-Needed Upgrade!

NATHAN JURAN'S MONSTER AND SORCERY-FUELED ADVENTURE TALE IS NOW AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY!

Long before it had the honor of appearing on Rifftrax Live, I had been a long-time fan of JACK THE GIANT KILLER! I first watched this film on TV at a young age and was blown away by the stop-motion effects (this is just BEFORE I discovered the films of Ray Harryhausen) and the number of creatures the film's hero has to face. Needless to say, it became an instant favorite of yours truly! And now it seems that the time is right to revisit this blast from my past now that it has made the leap to Blu-ray!

Synopsis: Forget about beanstalks. This "vivid fairy tale" (LA Herald-Examiner) brilliantly re-imagines the beloved fable as a rugged adventure that delights with "vigorous acting and excellent trick effects" (Halliwell's Film and Video Guide)! Reuniting the director and stars Kerwin Mathews and Torin Thatcher (from THE 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD), this visual treat is a journey you'll want to take again and again!

Farm boy Jack heroically rescues Princess Elaine from sorcerer Pendragon by slaying his bloodthirsty giant. But when Pendragon uses his evil powers to bewitch and imprison Elaine in his enchanted fortress, Jack must cross the ocean to brave dragons, two headed ogres, and an army of ghouls to save his lady love!

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 94 & 91 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)
Audio - DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0

Extras:

• NEW! Remastered original 94-minute cut in HD + a "re-envisioned" 91-minute musical cut!
• Audio Commentary by Film Historian Tim Lucas (Original Cut)
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Trailers for other Kino Lorber Cinema Classics titles
• Reversible Blu-ray Art

If you're a fan of classic stop-motion fantasy films, you definitely need to add this one to your collection! JACK THE GIANT KILLER is currently available on Blu-ray disc and can be obtained from AMAZON, BULLMOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD!