It's been nearly a year since the last Stock Your Vault post Vault Dwellers! I don't want to get your hopes and declare my official return but... let's just say you'll be seeing more content here, and over at the main site (and over at my Patreon too), and soon!
For the triumphant return of this popular (and handy) News Vault column, please take a gander at all the new Blu-ray and 4K titles of interest for September 9th!
There's also a small smattering of anime titles, a trio of new Mondo Macabro discs, and some bloody samurai action from Shout! Studios! To see the full list of paltry physical media offerings just keep on scrolling fellow collectors!
Welcome! Welcome one and all to the first Stock Your Vault post since umm.... January?! Egads! Well in a (some would say a vain) attempt to get back into the swing of things, your friendly neighborhood Vault Master is here to share good tidings of new physical media releases on Blu-ray and 4K UHD! And this week is absolutely loaded with fantastic titles from all of your favorite boutique labels, so strap in and brace yourselves for pure awesome!
While there are a lot of Blu-ray and 4K titles to be excited for, I'd have to say the two most highly-anticipated ones are Toho's GODZILLA: MINUS ONE and Universal's 40th Anniversary release of THE TERMINATOR! The Oscar-winning MINUS ONE offers up a gorgeous 4K presentation with various audio tracks (including a 5.1 Dolby TrueHD English dub!), featurettes, and trailers. Even upon release day, I honestly still don't know if the bonus features have English subtitles - I guess I'll find out when I pick up a copy in the near future! Also, as of my posting this, it would seem that the Limited Edition Steelbook is completely OOP, which absolutely sucks, because it's the only way to get a copy of GODZILLA: MINUS ONE/MINUS COLOR.
THE TERMINATOR comes fully restored in 4K with a DolbyVision/HDR presentation of the film, plus a Dolby Atmos audio track option! The disc includes a handful of featurettes ported over from previous releases, as well as seven deleted scenes! I've read a few reviews about this disc and it is getting rave reviews for the quality of the restoration, so I do believe it is time for me to upgrade from my old Blu-ray disc!
Other releases worth noting are: Warner Bros.' 4K of BLAZING SADDLES, Shout! Studios' fantastically expensive 4K collector's sets of THE DARK CRYSTAL and LABYRINTH, Kino Lorber's 1,000 CONVICTS AND A WOMAN (which is #20 in their Kino Cult line), Universal's SPEAK NO EVIL (which is apparently a worthy remake of the bleak original), and Arrow Video's limited editions of TOMIE (which is part of their recent love affair with J-Horror films), and A SIMPLE PLAN.
There's dozens of other new discs out today so be sure to scroll on down to see the full list fellow collectors!
Greetings fellow collectors and welcome to another edition of the News Vault's STOCK YOUR VAULT! This week is a wee bit light on new discs, but there's still a good mix of films both new and old that are getting some wonderful high-def restorations!
For fans of modern horror films, Lionsgate just released COBWEB, Paramount gave us a 4K steelbook of SMILE, and Sony Pictures dropped the latest INSIDIOUS sequel (THE RED DOOR) on Blu-ray disc. For fans of classic horror, Scream Factory gave 1977's THE PACK its Blu-ray debut with a new 2K transfer and extras, and MVD Rewind Collection did all of us GHOULIES fans a huge service by releasing the original film to 4K disc! Along with an all new 4K transfer, all of the extras from previous releases have been corralled onto this 2-disc set! As an added bonus, MVD also just released GHOULIES II in a new Blu-ray release that has a good number of bonus features as well!
There's still other new titles I've failed to mention, so be sure to scroll down to see everything that's new this week Vault Dwellers!
Up until now I had never heard of this movie which, from what I've gathered from its trailer, appears to be a mixture of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and Adam Green's FROZEN. If that sounds like a good time to you, then read on to learn more about this film and its (bare bones) release.
Synopsis: Jill, a tenacious college freshman, abandons her studies for an off-the-grid snowboarding trip with her friends. But after the sun has dipped below the horizon, their SUV mysteriously becomes lost in the freshly logged mountains, eventually running out of gas and leaving them stranded. As the temperature falls, the tension within the group ratchets up ... and a metaphorical — then all-too-literal — witch hunt ensues.
Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (2.39:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Extras:
None.
Scream Factory's Blu-ray (and DVD) release of WITCHES IN THE WOODS arrives at all Blu-ray retailers on Tuesday, June 2nd, and should cost between $16 - $18! Order a copy today from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY.
SHOUT! FACTORY AND ACE FILMS HK ACQUIRED NEW HORIZONS' ENORMOUS CATALOG OF 270 FILMS!
Ack! I got this news just before I had to head off to the day job, so I missed the opportunity of being one of the first to report it! This announcement is HUGE, because it looks like a large number of Corman flicks may finally make their way to Blu-ray Vault Dwellers!
It was announced earlier today that both Shout! Factory and China-based Ace Film HK Company Limited (henceforth known as ACE) purchased the entire New Horizons library of TWO-HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FILMS (plus an action Sci-Fi TV series) from Roger and Julie Corman. The deal gives Shout! distribution rights in North America, Europe, Australia, and Russia, while ACE will handle distribution in Asia, Africa, and South America!
Shout! Factory has already released a number of Roger Corman Cult Classics to DVD & Blu-ray in the past (e.g. BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, PIRANHA, HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP, SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE, DEATH RACE 2000, et al.), so I'm assuming that we can expect Blu-ray and DVD releases of these newly acquired titles! On top of that, both companies are planning to license the New Horizons catalog to video on demand and streaming platforms, and are planning on remaking several Corman classics (via Shout! Studios and/or ACE Films)!
Here's what all parties involved had to say about this massive acquisition:
SHOUT FACTORY
“We’ve been huge fans of the Cormans. Their great ingenuity and independent spirit have inspired us throughout our careers. We’ve loved working with them over the last eight years and are thrilled to now be the custodians of these beloved films, making sure that film buffs and fans everywhere discover them like we did."
HENRY LUK, CEO OF ACE
“We have been fortunate to be professionally and personally associated with Roger and Julie for the past decade and the purchase of their film library means our relationships will not only continue, but accelerate."
ROGER & JULIE CORMAN
"During the past decade our personal and professional relationships with Shout! Factory's Bob Emmer, Richard and Garson Foos, and Ace Film's Henry Luk and Adam Yuchen Ren have shown us that their independent, entrepreneurial spirit, respect for our work and creative methods of distribution and production make them especially well-suited to carry on with the New Horizons film library."
Roger and Julie signing over the New Horizons library.
(Image borrowed from Variety.)
I guess this means that Roger Corman is finally retiring from the film business, after a lengthy career of making and producing hundreds of movies and never losing a dime. While I realize the sad truth that Roger Corman is turning 92 years old in a few weeks, it is still sad to see this living legend call it quits. But on the bright side, we may finally get legit releases of various titles that have been long out of print! I'm not sure if any of the old New World Pictures-era films are part of the deal, but if they are, here's a brief list of Corman movies I'd love to see on Blu-ray:
THE CARNOSAUR TRILOGY
GNAW: FOOD OF THE GODS PART II
GODZILLA 1985 (Long out of print American cut!)
THE KILLER TOMATOES EAT FRANCE
MEET THE APPLEGATES
MUNCHIE & MUNCHIE STRIKES BACK (Guilty pleasures from my childhood!)
PIN
SATURDAY THE 14TH & SATURDAY THE 14TH STRIKES BACK
SUMMER CAMP NIGHTMARE
THINK BIG (Trucker comedy featuring The Barbarian Brothers!)
THE WATCHERS SERIES
MORE INFO ABOUT ROGER AND JULIE CORMAN:
The saga of legendary producer-director Roger Corman, recipient of a 2009 Honorary Academy Award, ranks as one of the most amazing motion picture success stories. Having produced more than 350 films and directed 60 others, his influence on American film goes far beyond his own energetic, creative low-budget movies. He is arguably one of Hollywood’s most gifted and masterful filmmakers, having launched the career of many others.
Noted for his keen ability to spot young talent, Corman’s most lasting legacy will undoubtedly be the legion of producers, directors, writers and actors he has fostered, among them: Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert De Niro, Martin Scorsese, James Cameron, Ron Howard, Peter Fonda, Jonathan Demme, Gale Anne Hurd, Diane Ladd, Tommy Lee Jones, Harry Dean Stanton, Sandra Bullock, Bruce Dern, Talia Shire, Charles Bronson, Joe Dante, Peter Bogdanovich, and Sally Kirkland.
Julie Corman's career spans 45 years with New Horizons. As the producer of over 35 films she has worked with: Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, Catherine Hardwicke, Robert King, Bill Pullman, Martin Sheen, Peter Billingsley, Jon Lovitz, and Mario Van Peebles, among others. She was Chair of the Graduate Film Department at NYU.
For a more complete history of Roger Corman and his colorful career as an independent Producer and Director, I highly suggest the documentary, CORMAN'S WORLD!
Original promo poster for David Cronenberg's RABID. [Click on image to enlarge.]
Hey Vault Dwellers! We recently got word that Jen and Sylvia Soska, the duo behind AMERICAN MARY, SEE NO EVIL 2, and VENDETTA, are prepping to remake David Cronenberg's 1977 film, RABID! The original film stars Marilyn Chambers as Rose, a young woman that receives an experimental surgery after a terrible motorcycle accident. Though it seems like a success at first, the series of skin grafts that Rose underwent result in a mutation, essentially cursing her with a blood-sucking vagina under her armpit, that infects people and turns them.... rabid!
The Soska Sisters are currently in the pre-production stage, and are planning to start principal photography in April. Working alongside screenwriter John Serge (who has worked exclusively on made-for-TV movies until now) the Soskas have adapted their screenplay from the original film. Shout! Studios has secured the U.S. rights to distribute the RABID redo across all digital platforms, while Back 40 Pictures will be handling theatrical distribution.
Jen and Sylvia had this to say about their latest production:
"It's a tremendous honor to be re-imaging David's 1977 body horror classic, RABID, with such incredible support behind us. We are not fans of soulless remakes as seems to be the trend these days as they disrespect the fans and the original body of work. Our RABID is a continuation of the thoughts and conversation David started with his original piece and modernized through a female perspective.
This film will truly honor not only the original, but Cronenberg's entire body of work which would not have been possible without a team behind us that cares about the artist and well as the fans. Shout! Studios has always put the fans first and this film will blow audiences away with its authenticity and elevated horror."
Currently, this is all the information that is available on the upcoming RABID remake, so stay tuned for more details as they are released Vault Dwellers! For additional details and future updates, be sure to like the RABID Facebook Page! And while you wait for the remake, why not give the original film a look if you haven't already? Watch the trailer below, and considering buying it on Blu-ray HERE! Hate remakes? Well maybe this article from the Vault archives will help put your mind at ease!
