KINO LORBER STUDIO CLASSICS GIVES THIS FORGOTTEN SANDAHL BERGMAN CYBORG ACTIONER ITS BLU-RAY DEBUT!
Honestly Vault Dwellers, I never knew this movie existed until about a month ago, and I'm hoping to get my paws on it sooner rather than later now that Kino Lorber gave it the physical media release it deserves! The trailer definitely makes this one look like its a good time (low IMDB score be damned) and I could totally see myself double-featuring it with EVE OF DESTRUCTION (another killer female-cyborg on-the-loose film that doesn't get nearly enough love)! If you saw this movie once on VHS as a kid and kinda liked it, or never heard of it before (like me) then continue reading to get all the details of this new Blu-ray release!
Synopsis: Captured in a daring raid by ex-CIA agent Eric Mathews (Robert Ginty - THE EXTERMINATOR, EXTERMINATOR 2), the merciless terrorist hit-woman Samira (Sandahl Bergman - CONAN THE BARBARIAN) is brought to the U.S., where she undergoes experimental brain surgery. Transformed into an unstoppable bionic warrior, she returns to the Middle East, where she obediently wipes out all of her former comrades. But when a malfunction reactivates Samira's human memories, she launches into a frenzy of cold-blooded vengeance.
As she methodically terminates her CIA adversaries, only Mathews can halt her murderous onslaught! Directed by Allan Holzman (FORBIDDEN WORLD), PROGRAMMED TO KILL (a.k.a. THE RETALIATOR) is a gripping, futuristic action thriller that also stars James Booth (AVENGING FORCE) and a young Paul Walker (THE FAST & THE FURIOUS franchise).
Disc Specs: Rated R | Color | 91 minutes | Region A Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1) Audio - English 2.0 Mono (?)
Extras:
NEW! 2K RESTORATION FROM AN INTERPOSITIVE!
NEW! Audio Commentary by Director Allan Holzman, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale!
NEW! Interview with Screenwriter Robert Short!
Alternate Opening Title Credit
Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K!)
Reversible "Retaliator" Art and Spine!
Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase!
We are truly living in a golden age where almost anything is likely to get a Blu-ray or 4K UHD release, including obscure stuff that vanished after VHS went bust. So even if it isn't all that great (it at least has to be better than R.O.T.O.R., right?) I'm happy to see PROGRAMMED TO KILL getting a second chance at finding an audience over three decades after its theatrical release! Also known as THE RETALIATOR, this sci-fi actioner is currently available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics and should cost between $15 - $18! Snap up a copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or get it directly from KINO LORBER!
ANCIENT SEA MONSTERS, JEWEL THIEVES, AND (NOT QUITE) DOMESTICATED CANNIBALS LURK WITHIN ARROW VIDEO'S LATEST BATCH OF BLU-RAYS!
Before you say anything, yes I know that Arrow also just dropped their SOLID METAL NIGHTMARES boxed set today featuring ten films by Shinya Tsukamoto that is loaded with extras! But after posting about Severin's gi-normous Al Adamson set last Sunday, I didn't have the strength to break down another large collector's set! Instead, I'll focus my efforts on Arrow's three other new titles this week, which include BLOOD TIDE (starring James Earl Jones, and produced by infamous ISLAND OF DEATH director Nico Mastorakis!), WHITE FIRE (a heist flick starring Robert Ginty and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson), and Lucky MeKee's THE WOMAN! To learn more about these new Arrow titles, just continue onward Vault Dwellers!
BLOOD TIDE (1982)
Synopsis: When treasure hunter Frye (James Earl Jones) accidentally awakens an ancient sea monster that has been lying dormant on a Greek island, the inhabitants are forced to resume the practice of sacrificing virgins in order to placate the demonic creature. Meanwhile a couple, Neil and Sherry, arrive on the island in search of Neil's missing sister, Madeline.
Written and produced by Nico Mastorakis - the man behind such genre favourites as ISLAND OF DEATH, THE ZERO BOYS, THE WIND, and many others - and directed by Richard Jefferies (screenwriter of SCARECROWS and TRON: LEGACY), BLOOD TIDE is a suspense-filled creature feature surging with blood, nudity, and beachside aerobics!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 97 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English Mono 1.0
Extras:
NEW! Restoration from a 4K scan of the original camera negative!
NEW! Audio commentary with director/co-writer Richard Jefferies!
NEW! Interview with producer/co-writer Nico Mastorakis!
NEW! Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys!
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Gingold!
Long relegated to a stream of fullscreen bargain-basement DVD releases, BLOOD TIDE finally gets the love it deserves in this new Arrow release! This obscure creature feature should cost between $24 - $28, and is now available to purchase from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD!
WHITE FIRE (1984)
Synopsis: Robert Ginty (THE EXTERMINATOR) and Belinda Mayne (KRULL) play Bo and Inga, brother and sister jewel thieves who target the legendary "White Fire" diamond a priceless rock so hot it actually burns those who try to lay their hands on it!
When tragedy strikes, Bo undertakes an outrageous plan involving plastic surgery and explosives to infiltrate the mine where the diamond awaits. Bo s plan hits an unexpected snag with the arrival of smooth-talking badass Noah Barclay, played by Fred Williamson (FROM DUSK TIL DAWN). Noah s hunting for a missing prostitute and he thinks Bo and Inga hold the key to her disappearance!
Erotic filmmaker Jean-Marie Pallardy (EROTIC DIARY OF A LUMBERJACK) brings his kinky touch to high octane action in this infamous exploitation epic, complete with chainsaw mayhem, awkward brotherly love, and a very 80s theme song by the band Limelight!
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 101 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English Mono 1.0
Extras:
NEW! Feature length audio commentary by critic Kat Ellinger!
NEW!Surviving The Fire: An interview with writer-director Jean-Marie Pallardy!
NEW!Enter The Hammer: An interview with actor Fred Williamson!
NEW!Diamond Cutter: An interview with editor Bruno Zincone!
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors'
booklet featuring new writing on the film by film historian and author
Julian Grainger!
Arrow's WHITE FIRE looks like a must-see in my book, what with mustachioed Robert Ginty straight up slaying henchmen with a chainsaw! This Blu-ray should cost you between $24 - $28, and is now available through most online retailers, including AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD!
THE WOMAN (2011)
Synopsis: Almost a decade after Lucky McKee burst upon the indie horror scene and became a 'Master of Horror' in the making thanks to his directorial debut May, he teamed up with legendary cult author Jack Ketchum for his most shocking and brutal film to date: THE WOMAN, an instant cause célèbre on its Sundance premiere.
THE WOMAN (Pollyanna McIntosh - The Walking Dead) is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers - ROOM) stumbles upon her whilst hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and "civilize" her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle (Angela Bettis - MAY) and daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter - DARLING). The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like THE WOMAN scorned…
Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 103 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Extras:
NEW! 4K restoration supervised and approved by Lucky McKee!
NEW! Audio commentary with director Lucky McKee, editor Zach Passero, sound designer Andrew Smetek, and composer Sean Spillane!
NEW! Audio commentary by star Pollyanna McIntosh!
NEW! Audio commentary by critic Scott Weinberg!
Archival commentary with director Lucky McKee!
NEW!Dad on the Wall - A 75-minute fly-on-the-wall
behind-the-scenes documentary filmed by the director's father Mike McKee!
NEW! Being Peggy Cleek - An nterview with star Lauren Ashley Carter!
Malam Domesticam - An archival making-of featurette.
Meet The Makers - A short featurette on the making of the film.
Deleted Scenes
Mi Burro - A short film by editor Zach Passero
"Distracted" music video by Sean Spillane.
Frightfest Total Film Panel Discussion - A 2011 onstage chat
about the future of American indie horror at the popular horror film
festival, featuring Lucky McKee, Andrew van den Houten, Larry Fessenden,
Adam Green, Joe Lynch and Ti West.
Theatrical trailers
Image galleries
Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Vanessa McKee!
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collectors' booklet featuring new
writing on the film by Michael Blyth, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and
Kevin Kovelant!
This standard release of THE WOMAN (which lacks the second feature found on the Limited Edition release, namely OFFSPRING) is a definite must-own for fans of the film! This single-disc release will cost you between $24 - $28 and can be obtained from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, and DIABOLIK DVD!
