WANTED ON BLU-RAY: METAMORPHOSIS - THE ALIEN FACTOR (1990)

  WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
METAMORPHOSIS: THE ALIEN FACTOR (1990)

Rated R | Color | 98 minutes

Back in my mid-to-late teens there was a wondrous place called Hollywood Liquidators (R.I.P.) that bought out VHS stock (and later DVDs) from various rental chain stores that were closing, and sold them at relatively low prices! It's because of this shop that my VHS collection grew as quickly as it did, and is also how I discovered so many hidden (and forgotten) gems, including today's addition to the Wanted on Blu-ray column: METAMORPHOSIS - THE ALIEN FACTOR (aka THE ALIEN FACTOR).

Not to be mistaken for that other 1990 film titled METAMORPHOSIS that was directed by George Eastman (or the documentary METAMORHPOSIS: MAN INTO WOMAN, or Branko Ranitovic's short film METAMORPHOSIS) THE ALIEN FACTOR was initially planned by Ted A. Bohus as a sequel to the excellent indie sci-fi/horror film THE DEADLY SPAWN. However, much like a hapless character in the movie, THE ALIEN FACTOR rapidly mutated into something different altogether and would sadly vanish into relative obscurity.

Synopsis: A researcher at the Talos bio-lab is experimenting with alien bacteria, but gets careless and ends up getting bitten by one of the strange mutations he is studying. The resulting infection causes him to rapidly degenerate as his body painfully morphs into a disgusting human-shaped flesh-cocoon. Eventually a large carnivorous monstrosity bursts forth from the icky mass, leading to a gory, effects-laden reign of terror within the facility!

To be quite honest Vault Dwellers, it's been decades since I've seen this movie and I don't recall much about it, other than the special and visual effects which blew me away so many years ago! Along with puppetry and animatronics, there was a good amount of decent stop-motion animation involved to bring the main creature, and various smaller monstrosities, to life. And while this was definitely intended to be a DEADLY SPAWN followup, there were clearly other inspirations at work here including THE FLY & THE FLY II, John Carpenter's THE THING and even 1980's proto-PREDATOR classic WITHOUT WARNING!

John Carpenter's "Uncircimcised Thing."

 
This movie's scripting, acting, and casting aren't the main attraction. (Then again, when we're talking about movies like this, are they ever?!) The main reason, nay, the sole reason to seek this movie out is for the effects. METAMORPHOSIS: THE ALIEN FACTOR showcases the fantastic early efforts of a crew of makeup and special effects artists that are still actively working in the film industry today, and have films like THE RELIC,  THE FACULTY, and even CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER under their belts! For that reason alone this movie deserves to be given a high-def restoration dammit!

Availability: METAMORPHOSIS: THE ALIEN FACTOR hit VHS via Vidmark Entertainment on December 15th, 1993, and then on Laserdisc the following week! It would then surprisingly come to DVD thanks to Lionsgate, on February 19th, 2004! The disc (which is still in print as of my posting this!) showcases the film in a fullscreen (1.33:1) format and contains a trailer as the lone bonus feature! But if you don't want to spend $10 to own a copy, you could always watch a VHS rip of the movie on YouTube.


Current Rights Holder: Luckily this is an easy one! Production on DEADLY SPAWN II: METAMORPHOSIS began in 1987, but due to cash flow issues and several lawsuits, production was halted for a while. Eventually the film was completed, renamed, and released to VHS in Germany in late 1990! In 1991, THE ALIEN FACTOR was shopped around at various film festivals as the producers attempted to get theatrical distribution. 

In the end, Vidmark Entertainment (a subsidiary of Trimark Pictures) released the movie to VHS & Laserdisc in December of 1993. Trimark, who apparently owned the domestic rights to the film in perpetuity, merged with Lionsgate  in the year 2000! This means that METAMORPHOSIS: THE ALIEN FACTOR not only has a forever home, but could very well become part of the Vestron Video Collector's Series in the future!

That Blu-ray announcement is creeping up on us right now like a phallic space mutant! I just know it is!

 
Blu-ray Wishlist:

• A new 2K restoration of the film from the best film elements available! I'm not sure if METAMORPHOSIS was shot in widescreen, but that would be preferable to the currently available fullscreen release!
• Audio commentary with Director Glenn Takakjian!
• Making-of documentary chronicling METAMORPHOSIS' troubled production, and its wonderfully gooey effects!
  
• Cast & crew interviews, particularly with the special effects and makeup effects artists!
• Deleted & extended scenes (if any exist)!
• Galleries featuring production artwork, storyboards, behind-the-scenes photos, and promotional artwork!
• Theatrical trailer.

We are coming up on the 30th anniversary of this forgotten creature feature, and I think it would be awesome if an honest-to-goodness special edition Blu-ray was announced! I know I'm asking a lot with my wishlist (that's par for the course) but even if a mostly bare bones Blu-ray was released, I'd be a pretty happy camper! Until that day arrives, I'll just hope that the powers that be at Lionsgate somehow see this post and think "Hmm... yeah. Maybe we WILL cater to this lunatic and the people who read his blog!" 

Stay tuned for updates on the fate of METAMORPHOSIS: THE ALIEN FACTOR's Blu-ray debut, and further new additions in our continuing WANTED ON BLU-RAY series!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: CAGE (1989)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
CAGE (1989)

Rated R | Color | 100 minutes

I first witnessed CAGE nearly a decade ago when my good friend (and Vault-Cast cohost) "Silent" Steve and I were looking for something to watch one night, that we haven't already seen before. Luckily I had brought along my CD wallet filled with VHS rips for this occasion, and after flipping through dozens of pages of DVD-Rs, we settled on CAGE. What followed was an evening of pure entertainment with both of us frequently pointing at the screen and yelling "Hey, it's that guy!"

Synopsis: During the Vietnam War, a soldier named Billy Thomas (Lou Ferrigno) saves his friend Scott Monroe (Reb Brown), but ends up taking a bullet to the skull as their helicopter dusts off from the warzone. The wound amazingly doesn't kill the musclebound GI but instead causes brain damage, thus rendering him a child in a Hulk's body. Shortly after their stint in the military, the two friends open up a bar together only to run afoul of a local gang that runs an illegal underground fighting ring. Eventually, both men are pulled into the dark world of brutal cage matches, leading to a fairly action-packed finale filled with gun fights and fist fights.

CAGE is a tonally offbeat film that tries striking a balance between being a post-Vietnam drama about two men struggling to recover after their tour of duty in one of the most controversial military conflicts in American history, and being a proto-LIONHEART action crime-thriller! The end result is a movie that is sometimes cheesy, but highly entertaining! And you absolutely will not believe how many recognizable faces you'll see in CAGE Vault Dwellers! My God, the cast in this movie is crazy! 

Besides Reb Brown (STRIKE COMMANDO, HOWLING II: YOUR SISTER IS A WEREWOLF, SPACE MUTINY) and Lou Ferrigno (the original INCREDIBLE HULK himself), we get Al Leong (the Asian henchmen in every movie), Danny Trejo (in an early uncredited role), James Shigeta (Mr. Takagi in DIE HARD), Branscombe Richmond (Bobby Sixkiller on TV's RENEGADE), and a plethora of other (vaguely) familiar faces that'll have you bringing up the film's IMDB page on your phone over and over again!

After its theatrical premiere in 1989 and VHS release a year later, CAGE passed into absolute obscurity. And as of my writing this post, it has been several decades since this gem has been readily available to the public! Vault Dwellers, I declare that the time has come for CAGE to finally be given the chance to find itself an audience by getting a triumphant Blu-ray debut! The world needs to experience this film dammit!

The utter lack of a CAGE Blu-ray saddens Reb & Lou.

Availability: CAGE (aka THE CAGE, aka CAGE FIGHTER) is completely out of print! You can find used VHS copies all over eBay (hailing from the U.S., U.K., and South Korea) for around $10 each. If you no longer own a VCR, you could instead attempt to get your paws on the long out of print DVD on eBay (which ranges from $40 - $70)! However, your best bet to see this movie is to watch it on YouTube for free! There are several different channels that have uploaded CAGE in its entirety, but I personally think this is the best version available.

Current Rights Holder: CAGE hit theaters in the U.S. on September 1, 1989 and raked in a little over $618,000. (Note: The film also saw theatrical release in South Korea and Portugal over the following two years.) In 1989, Image Organization in the UK released CAGE in a big box VHS, while here in the States, Orion Home Video would bring the film to VHS in 1990 shortly before they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In the same year, CAGE would get another stateside VHS release from the defunct UAV Corporation, and a cool clamshell VHS from Korean company Hanjin Video. After that, the movie dropped off the face of the planet until Trinity Home Entertainment briefly released CAGE to DVD in 2004. That release is now unavailable and being sold for exorbitant prices on eBay.

So who holds the very fate of CAGE in their hands at this point? Well, initially I was leaning towards Orion Pictures (now revived under parent company MGM), until I realized that they only acted as a distributor for the movie. So I deduced (correctly it would turn out) that the film's Producer/Director Lang Elliot (who is currently the President of Sunn Classic Pictures Inc.) still retains the rights to his film, and its sequel! 

I got this straight from the horse's mouth after recently getting in touch with Mr. Elliott, who was kind enough to share some cool background information about his movie, such as the Gracie family's involvement, and CAGE's impact on the mainstream appeal of cage-fighting & mixed martial arts!


Blu-ray Wishlist:

• A new 2K transfer (4K would be asking a bit much, no?) made from the best surviving film elements available in the film's original 1.85:1 aspect ratio!
  
• Dolby Digital 2.0 and/or 5.1 audio mixes!
• CAGE II as a bonus feature film!
• Audio commentary with Director Lang Elliott!
• A making of featurette/documentary featuring interviews with Lang Elliott, Reb Brown, Lou Ferrigno, Al Leong, and other surviving cast & crew!
• Deleted and/or extended scenes (if any exist)!
• Behind-the-scenes footage! 
• Poster and behind-the-scenes stills gallery!
• Original theatrical trailers. 

CAGE has definite cult appeal and I'd hate to see it remain unreleased and unloved, especially in this current era where studios and boutique Blu-ray labels are scouring archives and vaults for titles to release. Hopefully by shining a spotlight on CAGE ever so briefly, I can generate enough interest for someone to dig up a print, get the film properly restored, and share it with the masses! And now that I've done my due diligence, all that I can do is play the waiting game and hope that CAGE's imprisonment in movie limbo ends soon.

UPDATE: In my recent discourse with Lang Elliott, I learned that there are currently several companies seeking to license the film for both Blu-ray and streaming releases, but nothing is set in stone yet. Here's hoping Vinegar Syndrome is one of the contenders - CAGE is definitely in their wheelhouse and they always do a fantastic job on all of their Blu-ray titles! Stay tuned for more updates on this one gang!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: DRAGONSLAYER (1981)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
DRAGONSLAYER (1981)

Rated PG | Color | 109 minutes

UPDATE:  Paramount is releasing DRAGONSLAYER to Blu-ray and 4K UHD on March 21, 2023! Pre-order the standard Blu-ray HERE, the limited edition steelbook 4K HERE, and/or the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition HERE!

 

When I was growing up in the late 80s/early 90s, it was an age undreamed of. Between the VHS boom and the rise of cable television, there was just so much stuff to watch! And one of the many films I found myself stumbling across repeatedly while channel surfing was DRAGONSLAYER. Even now, with the leaps in special effects technology, I still think that this film contains my favorite onscreen dragon, which still looks fairly impressive all these decades later!

Synopsis: It is a dark time (in the Dark Ages) for the fictional kingdom of Urland. An ancient horror named Vermithrax Pejorative terrorizes the populace, and so a lottery is begun by their King to send virgin sacrifices to the fire-breathing beast twice a year so that it does not burn their villages and crops. Eventually help arrives in the form of Galen (Peter MacNicol), a wizard's apprentice who takes up his master's quest to defeat the dragon, after the old man is killed.

Using a magical amulet, Galen at first attempts to bury the virgin-snacking monster alive (which does not bode well for many Urlanders), but eventually uses it to forge a weapon strong enough to pierce dragon-hide. As the film heads towards its brilliant climax, the unlikely young hero battles Vermithtrax Perjorative on his own until he tags in help from an unexpected (and powerful) ally!

I've always had an affinity for DRAGONSLAYER ever since I first caught it on (I believe) A&E way back in the day (where it was usually paired with JABBERWOCKY). While the movie's first half is a bit on the slow side, the sheer spectacle of the second half more than makes up for it! The cast is wonderful, the Academy Award-nominated soundtrack composed by Alex North is epic, and Phil Tippet's (almost) Oscar-worthy effects work (using a new process at the time called "go-motion") brings it all together!
 

Though DRAGONSLAYER experienced huge critical success upon its theatrical release, it was surprisingly a box office failure pulling in $14 million on an $18 million budget. But as is the case for many films that are considered flops, DRAGONSLAYER has since garnered a large cult following over the past four decades, and fans are overdue a nice (collector's edition) Blu-ray of this classic fantasy movie!

 

Waiting for this movie to come to Blu-ray has been a pain in the neck I tell ya!

 

Availability: You can easily procure a copy of DRAGONSLAYER on DVD (which oddly seems to get re-released every six years or so) for a relatively low price. It is also available to rent or own digitally in HD!

Current Rights Holder: Paramount.

Blu-ray Wishlist: 

• New 2K (but preferably 4K) restoration made from an original 35mm print of the film! 
• Multiple Cuts of the film - It would be super cool if the theatrical version, the TV edit, and the rare Uncut version (only available ages ago on Laserdisc) were included! At the very least, I'd love to see the fully uncut version of DRAGONSLAYER!
  
• A new audio commentary with director Matthew Robbins (who is still alive as my posting this), or even one with star Peter MacNicol and/or Phil Tippett!
• Cast & Crew Interviews - Getting some behind-the-scenes input on the film from Robbins and MacNicol would be super cool, as would interviews with Phil Tippett and his f/x team (who are still working in the film biz today)!
• Archival or new making of featurettes!
• Trailer
• Poster & Still Gallery
• Really pushing it here, but a soundtrack CD would be wonderful as well!

I'm clearly asking for a lot, but honestly I'd be happy to get even a fraction of what's on my wishlist at this point! I've been fairly impressed with how Paramount has been handling their catalog titles lately, so I wouldn't be shocked if they gave this particular film a little love. And even if they have no interest in it, there's always the chance that DRAGONSLAYER could become a future Shout! Factory release (under either their Shout Select or Scream Factory labels)! All we can really do is sit and wait, and hope for the best.... though it probably couldn't hurt to bug Paramount on Facebook or Twitter in the meantime!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: DEADLY FRIEND (1986)

 

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
DEADLY FRIEND (1986)

Rated R | Color | 91 minutes

 

UPDATE [08/10/2021]: Scream Factory released this title to Blu-ray disc on October 12th, 2021! Get it now from AMAZON or directly through SHOUT! FACTORY.

My memories are a bit fuzzy when it comes to Wes Craven's DEADLY FRIEND, but I remember catching it on cable when I was fairly young. I recall sneaking downstairs to the living room late at night to watch something on the "big TV," but I'm not sure if this film was the reason for that. Regardless, I was excited to be watching DEADLY FRIEND because at that time I was a fledgling Horror fan that had discovered various other Craven films including SWAMP THING, THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS, and SHOCKER. (Thank you TNT's MonsterVision!)

Looking back, I didn't find DEADLY FRIEND particularly scary, but I do recollect being absolutely floored when Anne Ramsey's head exploded during the film's notorious "death by basketball" scene, and becoming smitten with Kristy Swanson. Oddly enough, my most vivid memory of watching this movie for the first (and now that I think of it, last) time was my reaction at the end: I wept. In retrospect I'm not really sure why, but I guess it was because I thought it was really sad that the lead character lost everyone close to him despite his best intentions? Maybe? I don't exactly know.

What I do know is that we are nearing the 35th anniversary of DEADLY FRIEND's theatrical release (October 10th) and Wes Craven's troubled production still has yet to make the leap to Blu-ray disc! But I have a strong feeling that will change sooner rather than later, seeing as how this title has garnered a decent cult following over the past three decades. And with all of the boutique labels raiding studio vaults these days, it's only a matter of time before DEADLY FRIEND finally gets an upgrade!

Synopsis: Based upon Diana Henstell's novel Friend, DEADLY FRIEND focuses on teenage science whiz Paul Conway (Little House on the Prairie's Matthew Labyorteaux). He and his mother (and his overprotective robotic creation B.B.) move to a new neighborhood, where he befriends the pretty girl next door, Samantha Pringle (Kristy Swanson). The two teens rapidly become close, until a series of unfortunate events occur: B.B. is gunned down by Elvira, the cranky/crazy basketball-stealing old woman that lives across the street (portrayed by Mama Fratelli herself, Anne Ramsey) and Samantha is thrown down a flight of stairs by her abusive father.

A young Michael Bay brainstorms on future film projects with his pal Bumblebee.

Unable to deal with losing the girl he loves, Paul swipes Samantha's comatose body from the hospital (before she's taken off of life support) and installs B.B.'s microchip into her brain. This somehow resuscitates Samantha, who acts oddly robotic (because B.B. is apparently in the driver's seat) and is eager to dole out some punishment to those that have wronged her. After murdering Poppa Pringle (Harry Marcus) exploding Elvira's skull with a basketball, and tossing a bully to his death, Paul's cyborg construct begins showing signs of regaining her humanity. But it's too little too late, and this dark love story builds to tragic end for both of its main characters.

 

Availability: After bombing at the box office, DEADLY FRIEND came to VHS in January of 1994 where it started to build a following. After VHS died off, the film would then be released to DVD in September of 2007, then in a 4-Film set with SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME!, EYES OF A STRANGER, and THE HAND in 2012. There was also a reissued standalone DVD release in 2020. The movie is also available to stream instantly on Amazon Prime Video. There's also a region free Spanish Blu-ray that may or may not be a bootleg.

Current Rights Holder: Warner Bros., so there is a slight chance that DEADLY FRIEND could become part of the Warner Archive Collection at some point! However, if I was a betting man I'd put my money on Scream Factory, seeing as how they've released SOMEONE'S WATCHING ME!, EYES OF A STRANGER, and THE HAND on Blu-ray already. Fingers crossed!

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• Two cuts of the film: The theatrical version and a "director's cut" that removes the gory moments and restores the deleted scenes and the original ending.
  
• A new 2K or 4K transfer of the film!
  
• Original mono audio plus (maybe) a newly created 5.1 surround mix.
  
• New audio commentary featuring cast and crew, OR a "film historian" like Troy Howarth or Lee Gambin!
• A new Making-of Featurette or Documentary chronicling DEADLY FRIEND's bumpy path from page to screen, OR some new cast & crew interviews with screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, stars Kirsty Swanson and Matthew Labyorteaux, and/or special f/x artists Peter Albiez and Lance Anderson.
  
• Archival interviews with director Wes Craven. 
• Deleted & Extended scenes
  
• BD-ROM content: The original novel of Friend that the film is based on. 
• Poster & Stills gallery
  
• Theatrical trailer 

Makeup around eyes = killer cyborg.

 
DEADLY FRIEND was Wes Craven's first studio film, and he shot it during a particularly rough patch in his life: His marriage was ending, he was booted from directing both BEETLEJUICE and SUPERMAN IV (in retrospect, the latter wasn't such a bad thing), and became embroiled in a baseless lawsuit. Even with all that going on in his life, Wes so badly wanted to direct a non-Horror film which is why he leaped at the chance to bring FRIEND (formerly ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, A.I., and eventually DEADLY FRIEND) to the big screen.

But his original vision never had a chance. Wes added a gory nightmare-sequence to the film at the behest of producers, which got great reactions during a test screening. After that, Wes was told to add more blood and guts to the film, and to replace his ending with one that was conceived by Mark Canton, the then President of Warner Bros. Then, after committing to upping the film's body count, Craven had to battle his old nemesis the MPAA, which saddled DEADLY FRIEND with an X-rating until numerous cuts were made. (Yeesh.... what an absolute nightmare the entire ordeal must have been for Wes.)

Back in April 2014, fans of the film started a petition at Change.org (which has sadly only garnered 100 signatures) in an attempt to convince Warner Bros. to release a director's cut. Needless to say, it didn't do the trick. So here's my plea to the powers that be at the WB (and Scream Factory... perhaps?): Please breathe new life into this film! Delivering a director's cut is likely a tall order, so even if you just do a high-def restoration of the theatrical cut with some decent bonus features, I think fans will be somewhat sated. And if you won't do it for the people who adore it, then at least do it to honor the memory of Wes Craven and let his spirit rest a bit more easily. The ball's in your court Warner Bros.



For a more in-depth look what went on behind the scenes during the making of DEADLY FRIEND, I highly recommend the following video from JoBlo.com:

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: BRAIN SMASHER... A LOVE STORY (1993)

 

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:
BRAINS SMASHER... A LOVE STORY (1993)

Rated PG-13 | Color | 88 minutes

While many of you reading this were introduced to Andrew Dice Clay through his stand up (gotta love those dirty nursery rhymes), or perhaps his lead role in THE ADVENTURES OF FORD FAIRLANE (which earned him a Razzy Award for Worst Actor!), my first brush with "the Diceman" was in the mid-90s when I caught BRAIN SMASHER... A LOVE STORY late one night on Cinemax.

Suffice it to say, I was looking for ahm.... other entertainment on that particular cable channel that fateful night, but what I found turned out to be so much better! In BRAIN SMASHER, Andrew Dice Clay is a nightclub bouncer who ends up battling ("We are NOT") ninjas to rescue a beautiful model  and stop a martial arts madman from becoming (possibly) immortal! Directed by Albert Pyun (ARCADE, CAPTAIN AMERICA), this fun little romantic Action-Comedy quickly became a personal favorite in my early teenage years, but just as quickly vanished once the VHS-era came to a close.

We're now heading towards the 30th anniversary of this low-budget gem, and it still hasn't had a DVD release here in the United States (though it did briefly pop up on NetFlix around 2012), and doesn't seem to be high on anyone's list for a Blu-ray debut. So once again I find myself fighting the good fight and taking up the cause for a movie that deserves more love!

Synopsis: An adventurous botanist discovers a rare (and legendary) red lotus flower and mails it off to her supermodel sister Samantha Crain (Teri Hatcher), in Portland, Oregon. Hot on the trail of said lotus (whose petals can allegedly imbue anyone who eats them with special powers.... or immortality... or... something...) is a clan of murderous Shaolin monks (in Kato masks) who can catch bullets with their bare hands and hate being called ninjas! 

"For the one millionth time: We are NOT Ninjas!"

 

With the monks hot on her heels, Samantha runs for her life and into Ed Malloy (Andrew Dice Clay), a nightclub bouncer dubbed The Brain Smasher. Not one to ignore a pretty face, the trash-talking, wise-cracking Ed is dragged into the chase and uses his innate ability to brutally knock people out to protect the beautiful Samantha. As Ed and Sam flee from the tenacious villains, they start to develop feelings for one another. Will their blossoming love survive the kung fu onslaught of the power hungry murder monks?! The only way to find out is to watch BRAIN SMASHER.... A LOVE STORY... if you can find a copy that is.

Availability: This movie has been out of print in the U.S. since it's (straight to) VHS release in the late-1990s. While is has received DVD releases in Australia and the UK, BRAIN SMASHER has never enjoyed a wide release. If you want to check out this film, you can order a DVD-R from VHSPS.COM for $15 or watch a VHS-rip on YouTube HERE.

Current Rights Holder: This may be an easy one to figure out Vault Dwellers - follow me down this little rabbit hole, won't you? BRAIN SMASHER was released by Vidmark Entertainment, a company that was created in 1984 to distribute films internationally. In 1988, they started producing their own movies, starting with the unexpectedly profitable DEMONWARP, and would eventually (by 1991) change over to Trimark Entertainment, which later merged with Lionsgate less than a decade later. Therefore.... unless Albert Pyun somehow got the rights to the film, BRAIN SMASHER is still with Lionsgate. So if you really want this movie on Blu-ray, you know who to bother first!

And for those of you still wondering... "they're real and they're spectacular!"

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• A new 2K (or 4K) transfer made from the original camera negatives.
• Multiple audio options (i.e. Dolby Digital 2.0 and 5.1)
• Director's commentary with Albert Pyun! Would be cool to have Andrew Dice Clay sit in on this as well!
• Interviews with cast & crew: Primarily Andrew Dice Clay, Teri Hatcher, Albert Pyun, Tim Thomerson, Yuji Okumoto, and maybe one or two of the film's many stunt coordinators.
• Making-of-Featurette
• Theatrical trailer & VHS Promos

BRAIN SMASHER... A LOVE STORY is a time capsule from the portion of my life when I was making that awkward transition from child to teenager, and was one of the numerous cult gems I discovered as my love of cinema grew with me. While it certainly isn't some long-forgotten classic that the world has unjustly ignored, Albert Pyun's little direct-to-video production is a lot of fun and deserves to be seen by more people - it's on the cusp of being a cult classic I tell ya! So if I've ignited your curiosity, or dredged up fond memories of this film, then please spread the word around and maybe, just maybe, we can convince the powers that be at (I'm assuming) Lionsgate to give BRAIN SMASHER a new shot at finding its audience!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: DEATH MACHINE (1994)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:

DEATH MACHINE (1994)

Rated R | Color | 99 - 122 minutes

UPDATE [08/20/25]: Kino Lorber Studio Classics gave DEATH MACHINE its big Blu-ray debut on May 28, 2024! The two-disc set contains THREE cuts of the film, two new audio commentaries, plus other new and archival extras about the making of the film! You can order a copy now from Amazon.com HERE!

Between 1985 - 1992, a young effects artist named Stephen Norrington was making a name for himself while working on creature & makeup effects on numerous films, including YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES, LIFEFORCE, THE WITCHES, ALIENS, HARDWARE, SPLIT SECOND, WAXWORK 2: LOST IN TIME, and ALIEN 3! That's one hell of a résumé, right?

After cutting his teeth as a director on 1994's DEATH MACHINE (more on that later!), Stephen went on to direct BLADE for New Line Cinema in 1998. The success of that film was followed by another project he wrote and directed (THE LAST MINUTE, which seems oddly prophetic in retrospect), and it seemed like he was destined for bigger and better things! Then in 2003 it happened: Stephen Norrington's directing career ground to a halt thanks to a little movie called THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN.

This production was nothing short of a perfect storm of awfulness: Stephen was saddled with a disgruntled Sean Connery (who was by all accounts, openly disdainful of Norrington on the set), experienced frequent studio interference (the Fox execs decided the movie needed hit theaters in the Summer, rather than its intended Fall release), and, in mid-production, he had to search for a new special effects shop to work on the film! So it came as no surprise that Norrington quit directing soon after. As for the film itself, it was a moderate commercial success but was savaged by critics, disowned by Alan Moore (no shock there), and the focus of a plagiarism lawsuit between 20th Century Fox and.... LARRY COHEN?! (Yup! True story!)

Since the entire LEAGUE incident Norrington's done some effects work (most recently in HARBINGER DOWN), but has yet to return to the director's chair even though he's been attached to several projects including THE CROW reboot and THE LOST PATROL (which are both apparently mired in development hell). Personally I think Stephen Norrington got a raw deal, and I continue to patiently await his return to filmmaking. But until that day arrives, lets take a look back to 1995 when DEATH MACHINE was released, and Stephen's future as a director was so bright he had to wear shades!

Jack Dante takes part in "Bring Your Warbeast To Work Day."

Synopsis: In the not too distant future, a mega-corporation called Chaank Armaments is working on "The Hardman Project," a weapons system that is supposed to turn average troops into cybernetic super soldiers! But when a test subject goes on a killing spree and murders a bunch of civilians, there is (unsurprisingly) a large public outcry. In steps Hayden Cale (Ely Pouget), the new CEO of Chaank, who wants to provide transparency to the public and shut down the project. She's met with stiff resistance from the board of directors and the Hardman Project's unhinged weapons designer Jack Dante (Brad Dourif). Shortly after Cale terminates Dante's employment with the company and locks down Vault 10 (where his latest secret invention is housed), things quickly spiral out of control.

A trio of "eco-warriors" (named Sam Raimi, Weyland, and Yutani) break into the building with the intention of hacking/bankrupting Chaank, but end up getting tricked into cutting open the mysterious Vault 10, thus unleashing Dante's mechanical monster called The Frontline Morale Destroyer (aka The Warbeast). The technological terror immediately begins hunting for targets (by "sensing" their fear) and mauls anyone unlucky enough to be caught in its path. With Dante holding all the cards, the would-be eco-terrorists and Cale must find a way out of the locked-down building, or discover a way to defeat the dreaded Warbeast that is running amok!

DEATH MACHINE was written and directed by Stephen Norrington and is, essentially, a well-funded and ambitious fan film. The Warbeast has a passing resemblance to the Xenomorphs Norrington helped create in ALIENS and ALIEN 3, plus many of the characters are named after directors (e.g. Carpenter, Raimi, Dante) or inspired by the ALIEN films (e.g. "Scott Ridley," Weyland, and Yutani). Not surprisingly, the effects are fairly well done (the Warbeast is a brilliantly nasty piece of work!) and Dourif steals the show as Jack Dante (a role that got him nominated for best actor at the 1995 Sitges Film Festival)!

I missed out on this movie back in the 90s (when it was released to VHS) but saw it years later (either on cable or DVD) and it immediately won me over! Sadly, DEATH MACHINE has been out of print (in the U.S.) since 2004, and much like its writer/director, is overdue for a comeback! Here's hoping to see a Region A Blu-ray release in 2020!

"SHORYUKEN!" (Actual dialogue from this scene.)

Availability: As is the case with the vast majority of titles I choose for this column, DEATH MACHINE is currently out of print. That being said, you can order new or used DVDs of the film from third party sellers on AMAZON and rent or buy DEATH MACHINE via Prime Video.

But for those of you who don't mind spending a little extra coin, you can obtain the Region Free German Blu-ray of DEATH MACHINE. This release comes in standard and limited editions: Both have the uncut version of the film, trailers, and an easter egg (i.e. a hidden featurette). The limited (to 3,000) edition is a three-disc set housed in a beautiful Digi-pack case with new artwork, and comes with both a Blu-ray and DVD copy of the film, plus a soundtrack CD!

You can pick up the standard release from AMAZON.DE or from DIABOLIK DVD! (Update: This disc is currently listed as out of stock!) The Limited Edition is a bit harder to track down, but it appears that DIABOLIK DVD still has some in stock!

Current Rights Holder: In Germany, Turbine Media has the distribution rights for DEATH MACHINE. Here in the States? Well.... DEATH MACHINE was released theatrically in 1995 by Trimark Pictures, and later on VHS by their now defunct Vidmark label. The DVD released in February of 2004 beared the Trimark logo as well, even though the company had already merged into Lionsgate in 2001. Therefore, one has to assume that Lionsgate currently has the North American rights to this film which means it could end up as part of the Vestron Collector's Series down the road!

Turbine Media's gorgeous 3-Disc Limited Edition that is shockingly light on extras.

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• While I typically kick off my wishlist with mention a new 2K or 4K transfer, I have to say that the picture quality on the German disc is really good, so I'm perfectly fine with it being reused for a Region A release!
• Every cut of the film: DEATH MACHINE has at least three different edits - the shortened theatrical version (approx. 99 minutes), the director's cut (111 minutes - which Stephen Norrington is apparently not a fan of?), and the unrated cut (122 minutes). Also, I'm not a hundred percent sure, but I think there's an even longer cut that runs at 128 minutes!
• A Making-of Documentary - It would be very cool to have a feature-length doc that walked us through the inception and production of DEATH MACHINE. Naturally it should include interviews with Stephen Norrington, Brad Dourif, Ely Pouget, and various other cast & crew members!
• An effects featurette on the creation of "The Warbeast!"
• Audio commentary with Writer/Director Stephen Norrington and/or star Brad Dourif!
• Poster & Stills Gallery
• Trailers
• Soundtrack CD

Next year marks the 25th anniversary of DEATH MACHINE's theatrical release so a North American Blu-ray could hopefully be on the horizon! And while we can own Stephen Norrington's directorial debut on Blu-ray thanks to the efforts of Turbine Media, I would still very much prefer a release specific to our region of the globe, especially if it is loaded with extras! And when that day finally arrives, you can be sure that I will shout it out from the top of the highest (digital) mountain!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: ALONE IN THE DARK (1982)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:

ALONE IN THE DARK (1982)

Rated R | Color | 92 minutes

UPDATE [08/20/2025]: ALONE IN THE DARK is once again out of print. Used and new copies of the Scream Factory Blu-ray (released on September 14th, 2021) are still available from third party sellers.

I know I've said this before but it bears repeating: Back in the ole video store days, VHS cover art was on point. It was eye-catching and the best designs told you everything you needed to know about the movie before you even read the description on the back.

And some of those covers seared themselves into your brain, never to be forgotten. For me, that is definitely the case with Jack Sholder's 1982 slasher classic, ALONE IN THE DARK. (Not to be confused with Uwe Boll's awful video game adaptation featuring Christian Slater. Poor Christian Slater....)

The cover is a bit misleading as there's MORE than one killer in the film, and if memory serves, an axe doesn't really feature prominently in the multiple slayings that take place. Still, the image of a madman, bloody axe in hand in the foreground, silently contemplating the secluded house in the distance on a moonlit night, is somewhat chilling. The movie itself, is far from being your typical slasher movie, and is equal parts hilarious (Donald Pleasance's super laid-back demeanor in this movie cracks me up), and horrifying (you just may find yourself peeking under your bed to make sure a knife-wielding Martin Landau isn't under there).

While Jack Sholder's ALONE IN THE DARK seems to have finally found its audience all these years later, the movie has remained out of print for quite some time. And as we near the film's 37th Anniversary (it was released in theaters on November 19, 1982), wouldn't it be great if someone announced a Blu-ray release of this criminally underrated (and underseen) Horror classic?!

Synopsis: Dr. Dan Potter (Dwight Schultz) gets a new job at a psychiatric clinic run by Dr. Leo Bain (Donald Pleasance), replacing Dr. Harry Merton. Among the patients Dr. Potter must tend to, are four particularly dangerous men that are incarcerated on the clinic's third floor: Paranoid war vet Frank Hawkes (Jack Palance), murderous arsonist Byron "Preacher" Sutcliff (Martin Landau), child molester Ronald "Fatty" Elster (Erland van Lidth), and the homicidal John "The Bleeder" Skaggs (Phillip Clark).

ALONE IN THE DARK is a lot like 1989's THE DREAM TEAM... but with way more murder!

Convinced that Dan Potter has murdered their former psychiatrist, the "Third Floor Four" plot to avenge (the very much alive) Harry Merton. Though breaking out seems impossible, after a power outage the four men execute an escape plan and eventually lay siege to Dr. Potter's home. What follows is a nail-biting sequence of events where the Potter clan is cut off from any aid, and must fend for themselves against a brutal surprise attack orchestrated by Frank Hawkes and his fellow psychos.

Availability: ALONE IN THE DARK is completely out of print. If you can find a reasonably-priced VHS tape or DVD then go play the lottery afterward because you are one lucky son of a gun! Otherwise, the only way to currently watch this Horror classic is a low-quality video on YouTube.

Current Rights Holder: New Line Cinema produced and distributed ALONE IN THE DARK theatrically in November of  '82 followed by an eventual VHS release from RCA / Columbia Pictures Home Video. In 1993 Image Entertainment brought the film to Laserdisc, then released it to DVD on September 13, 2005 in a great Special Edition that contained cast interviews and a director's commentary. The last time ALONE IN THE DARK was available on any format was in 2007 when Image added it to a four-movie collection that also featured AFRAID OF THE DARK, and RELENTLESS 3 & 4.

So who owns the rights at the moment? Well... I'm not entirely sure. The easy choice would be New Line (now a subsidiary of Warner Bros.) so there's a slight chance that ALONE IN THE DARK could eventually become part of the Warner Archive Collection, or even join Scream Factory's catalog as they have recently been raiding (mostly Hammer Horror) titles from Warner's vaults.

However, if we look back at Image Entertainment another possibility opens up. Image was merged with Acorn Media in April 2012, and became RLJ Entertainment. (Which was acquired by AMC Networks last July.) So there's a definite possibility that if (or hopefully when) ALONE IN THE DARK gets a Blu-ray release, there may be a "RLJE Films" logo on its spine!

PICTURED: Fan reaction towards the company that brings ALONE IN THE DARK to Blu-ray!

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• A 4K (or 2K) restoration from an original 35mm negative!
• A new making of documentary complete with cast & crew interviews with Writer/Director Jack Sholder, Producer Robert Shaye, composer Renato Serio (who also did the music for THE PUMAMAN?!), Tom Savini (who provided additional makeup f/x), plus surviving cast members Lin Shaye, Phillip Clark, Dwight Schultz, Brent Jennings, Deborah Hedwall, and Lee Taylor-Allan!
• Newly-created "In Memoriam Tribute" to Donald Pleasance, Martin Landau, Jack Palance, and Erland van Lidth.
• Deleted scenes. (Though I'm not sure any exist.)
• Original theatrical trailer
• Poster & Stills gallery
• Director's commentary & archival interviews ported over from the old Special Edition DVD.

Honestly Vault Dwellers, I'd just be happy to own this movie on a bare bones Blu-ray, but it doesn't hurt to dream big, right? I'm not entirely sure who to prod for an HD release of this film, but as ALONE IN THE DARK nears its 40th Anniversary, hopefully my pleas to the movie gods are heard. I guess all we can really do is wait and hope for the unexpected announcement of ALONE IN THE DARK (LIMITED DELUXE COLLECTOR'S EDITION) sometime in the not-to-distant future!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: GRAVEYARD SHIFT (1990)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: GRAVEYARD SHIFT (1990)

Rated R | Color | 89 minutes

UPDATE (08/20/2025): The Scream Factory release of GRAVEYARD SHIFT is now OOP. Luckily, Kino Lorber Studio Classics picked up the rights and has released this film on both Blu-ray and 4K UHD!

When I was growing up in my hometown of Scranton, PA between the late 80s / early 90s, there was an awesome mom & pop video store minutes away from the house called Electric City Video. With a cool sign (featuring neon pink lettering), its pleasant "video store smell" (a unique scent that can never be replicated), and impressive collection of Horror and Sci-Fi films on VHS. Sigh... it truly was heaven.

I always made sure to peruse the covers for the films that I wasn't allowed to watch, and how could I not? VHS covers were a definite art form, and beautifully designed to entice you to rent a movie. There were so many memorable VHS covers, but one that frequently caught my eye was Stephen King's GRAVEYARD SHIFT. The cyclopean skull with the bloody hardhat always drew me in.

I wouldn't actually get to see GRAVEYARD SHIFT until I was a teenager, when my uncle (a huge King fan that has since passed away) allowed me to borrow his VHS copy. While it didn't quite catch on with me then, I have since become a fan of this Stephen King adaptation, which is loosely based upon his short story of the same name. (It's one of the many tales contained in Night Shift!) With the upcoming theatrical release of DOCTOR SLEEP in November, plus the impending Blu-ray releases of THE SHINING (on 4K UHD), THE STAND (restored!), and SILVER BULLET (Collector's Edition!), I figure it's only a matter of time before GRAVEYARD SHIFT gets a physical media upgrade!

Synopsis: A drifter named John Hall (David Andrews - CHERRY 2000, FIGHT CLUB) gets hired at a rat-infested textile mill in Maine, that is run by an unhinged foreman named Warwick (Stephen Macht - THE MONSTER SQUAD, NIGHTWING). When asked to clean out the basement to make room for more office space, Hall and various other employees venture into the depths of the mill with Warwick, only to discover that rats aren't the only thing nesting beneath the ancient structure!

I'm starting to think Stephen Macht has an axe to grind against bats.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT also stars Andrew Divoff (WISHMASTER), Kelly Wolf (Tales From the Darkside), Brad Dourif (the voice of Chucky in the CHILD'S PLAY series), and Vic Polizos (C.H.U.D., NIGHT OF THE CREEPS, HARLEM NIGHTS), and features a team of special effects artists that are still actively working in Hollywood to this day! As far as book-to-film adaptions go, GRAVEYARD SHIFT is fairly accurate but makes some major changes in its third act, most likely due to budget constraints.

GRAVEYARD SHIFT is sole directorial effort of Ralph Singleton, who has spent most of his career producing films, including both PET SEMATARY movies and a pair of Eddie Murphy classics. His movie is a cool creature feature with a great cast, that totally embraces its own weirdness and absurdity. (In particular, that end credits "theme song" is SO bizarre!) By now, it surely has a large enough cult following to warrant an HD overhaul!

Availability: GRAVEYARD SHIFT is readily available on DVD and digital and super cheap to boot!

Current Rights Holder: This is an easy one for a change Vault Dwellers - Paramount owns the rights to GRAVEYARD SHIFT! And seeing as how Scream Factory has been dipping into the Paramount vaults as of late, I would not be shocked if they gave this movie its big Blu-ray debut!

"He's probably right you know."

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• New 4K restoration from an original 35mm film print! (But I'd settle for 2K!)
• Multiple cuts of the film: Theatrical, Director's Cut, & Network TV Edit.
• Audio commentary with Director Ralph S. Singleton!
• Deleted & Extended scenes (If no other cuts of the film are included.)
• Interview with voice actor Frank Welker (who provided sounds for the film's mon-star).
• Interviews with the cast and special effects crew!
• Trailers
• Poster & Stills Gallery

GRAVEYARD SHIFT's 30th Anniversary is next October, and I can't think of a better birthday gift for the film, than a nice Collector's Edition release! The movie pretty much broke even during its initial theatrical run, but I'm certain it quietly found an audience on VHS and late night cable TV since then. And hopefully somebody out there (cough, Scream Factory, cough) can find it in their heart to finally bring this oft-overlooked Stephen King fright flick to Blu-ray disc!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: THE LAST SHARK (1981)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY:

THE LAST SHARK (1981)

Rated PG | Color | 88 minutes

UPDATE (09/06/2019): Rumors of a possible Blu-ray release of this title from Severin Films were the result of a miscommunication in a recent Shock Waves podcast.

Also just learned today that Universal Pictures owns the rights to THE LAST SHARK lock, stock, & barrel. And so, the wait for a legit release continues....

THE LAST SHARK (aka GREAT WHITE, aka L'ULTIMO SQUALO) never got a chance to be fully embraced here in the U.S. Released briefly in the Summer of 1982, THE LAST SHARK was quickly pulled from theatrical distribution after turning a profit being deemed too derivative of JAWS.

And as we get closer to its 40th anniversary, I strongly feel that the time is right to lift Universal's ban on THE LAST SHARK so that it can finally find an audience! And what better way to reintroduce this lost film to a new generation than to give it a Blu-ray release that features a new HD restoration and oodles of extras about the making of the film, its infamous legal battle with Universal Pictures, and the growing cult following THE LAST SHARK has generated since then!

Synopsis: A Great White Shark stakes a claim off the coast of Port Harbor, and threatens the annual regatta and the reelection of Mayor William Wells. After maiming and devouring several victims, author Peter Benchley err... Benton (James Franciscus - THE VALLEY OF GWANGI) and shark hunter Ron Hamer (Vic Morrow - HUMANOIDS FROM THE DEEP) go after the finned fiend, leading to an explosive climax!

Plus a guest appearance by The Marlboro Man.

Availability: For a film that's been banned, it is remarkably easy to see THE LAST SHARK these days. You can watch it on YouTube or Amazon Instant Video (with Rifftrax Commentary even!), and there are several cheap DVDs floating around the web (like THIS ONE and THIS ONE) though their legitimacy is questionable. The only (allegedly) legit DVD release was back in 2015 from now defunct label called RetroVision Entertainment who put out a limited run of 500 copies. They announced that they were going to bring THE LAST SHARK to Blu-ray about a year later, but it never materialized.

Current Rights Holder: THE LAST SHARK was distributed by Edward L. Montoro's Film Ventures International (henceforth FVI), a company that produced and released multiple cult and exploitation favorites like GRIZZLY, THE DARK, PIECES, VIGILANTE, HOUSE ON SORORITY ROW, MUTANT, and others. The lawsuit with Universal unfortunately helped sink FVI and during the bankruptcy proceedings that followed, Montoro took a million bucks and vanished. But who has the rights now? The short answer: Damned if I know!

In 1984 FVI was purchased by the INI Entertainment Group which is no longer an active corporate entity. However, former INI President Irv Holender started a new company called Multicom Entertainment Group Inc. in 2010, which has a large library of films including the vast majority of FVI's titles. Though THE LAST SHARK isn't listed on their website, there's a slight possibility that Mr. Holender could retain some sort of say in distribution if the film's banned status were to change?

And if I was a betting man, I'd say Code Red DVD, Scorpion Releasing, Kino Lorber, or possibly even  Grindhouse Releasing would have dibs on the film if it got a legit North American Blu-ray release!

Which would truly be "JAW-SOME!"

UPDATE: Universal owns THE LAST SHARK. This was told to me by Hudson Horror Show's Chris Alo a while, but officially confirmed today by David Gregory from Severin Films. If you want this to get a Region A Blu-ray release here in North America, then you best start hammering Universal on social media with polite requests, pleas, and/or demands!

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• New 4K or 2K restoration from best source available!
• Two audio tracks: Original Italian with English subs & English dubbed!
• Audio Commentary and/or interview with Director Enzo G. Castellari!
• Interviews with surviving cast members: Micaela Pignatelli, Joshua Sinclair, Stefania Goodwin, etc.
• Interview with composers Guido and Maurizio De Angelis!
• Interview with special effects artist Antonio Corridori!
• Deleted scenes (If they exist.)
• Poster & still gallery.
• Trailers

Though I own RetroVision's out of print DVD, and have even seen a 35mm print of THE LAST SHARK (thanks to Exhumed Films!), it would be supremely awesome to own this lost piece of cinematic history on Blu-ray disc! While I don't have high hopes, Scream Factory's recent Blu-ray releases of SCREAM FOR HELP and PROPHECY have proven that we should never say never!

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: PROPHECY (1979)

WANTED ON BLU-RAY: PROPHECY (1979)

Rated PG | Color | 102 minutes

UPDATE (08/20/2025): John Frankenheimer's PROPHECY came to Blu-ray on November 26th, 2019! Get yourself a copy HERE! The film is also available on 4K UHD via Kino Lorber Studio Classics, and can be purchased HERE!

Back in the late 80s - early 90s, I caught a ton of cool eco-Horror flicks on cable television. I watched in awe and excitement as humanity battled killer sharks, bears, alligators & crocodiles, piranha, crabs, and even SLUGS, but few captured my imagination more than John Frankenheimer's PROPHECY.

With its eco-friendly message of "don't pollute the environment, lest you bring about the wrath of ManBearPig," PROPHECY saw a VHS release in 1982, and got regular play on TBS, TNT, and even USA Network years after that before finally arriving on DVD in January of 2002.

With studios raiding their vaults in recent years, you'd think that this gem would have made the leap to Blu-ray by now, especially after building up a definite cult following. But sadly that isn't the case, and PROPHECY continues to languish in DVD hell, even as this cautionary tale of exploding sleeping bags celebrates its 40th anniversary!

Synopsis: Dr. Robert Verne (Robert Foxworth - the voice of "Ratchet" in Michael Bay's TRANSFORMERS films) and his wife Maggie (Talia Shire - the ROCKY series) head to the forests of Northern Maine to investigate the impact a paper mill is having on the surrounding environment and the indigenous Native American tribe. Though the plant's director Bethel Isely (Richard Dysart - THE THING) assures Dr. Verne that things are on the up and up, the investigator quickly surmises that the entire area has been polluted with Methylmercury.

The result of this prolonged exposure to the hazardous chemical has caused a variety of health issues with the local natives, turned raccoons into crazed killers, and resulted in oversized fauna, most notably a monstrous mutant bear (portrayed by both Tom McLoughlin AND Kevin Peter Hall, aka the original PREDATOR)! Eventually Dr. Verne, his wife, Isley, and a small group of other hapless humans (including Armand Assante and Victoria Racimo) find themselves hunted by "Katahdin," and must either exit the woods or find a way to kill the deformed beast!

HONEY STOPS THE PAIN!

PROPHECY is a shockingly well-made film with an impressive cast (though Armand Assante proves to be a bit melodramatic at times), but it definitely takes its subject matter way too seriously. The plight of indigenous people, the rape of the natural world, the evils of capitalism, and the dangers of pollution all take a backseat to what is essentially a silly rubber monster movie. And yet, that's part of this its charm. PROPHECY is an unheralded classic that could use a little more respect, and deserves a Blu-ray release dammit!

Availability: You can stream PROPHECY instantly or buy a digital copy in HD. For lovers of physical media you can still obtain the old 2002 Paramount DVD (which used to be like $5 - $10 and now goes for $13 - $75+!), OR you can get the Warner Bros. reissue (released May 21, 2013) which is currently going for around $25. The only major difference between both of these (as far as I can tell) is the cover art. You can also watch a low-resolution upload of PROPHECY for free on YouTube.

Current Rights Holder: Paramount, though I find it quite curious that Warner Bros. was the last company to distribute PROPHECY on DVD. If Warner still somehow retained the rights, there's a slight chance that maybe Scream Factory could put this title out on Blu-ray, as they have been announcing a lot of Warner titles as of late. (Mainly Hammer Horror films.) That likely isn't the case, therefore Paramount is the sole reason PROPHECY hasn't been released to Blu-ray yet.

And I'm going to focus my burning glare upon them until that day comes!

Blu-ray Wishlist:

• A new 4K restoration of the film from an archival print. (Though I will settle for a 2K scan all things considered.
• Two cuts of the film. (Theatrical and Extended Cuts.) 
• Original Mono and newly created 5.1 Audio mix.
• Interviews with surviving cast and crew - Talia Shire, Robert Foxworth, Armand Assante, Victoria Racimo, Tom McLoughlin, and anyone that helped bring "Katahdin" and the other creatures in the film to life.
• Audio commentary by film historian and eco-horror buff Lee Gambin.
• Deleted scenes and extended scenes.
• Gallery of production photos and promotional art.
• Trailers

PROPHECY's been a long-time favorite of yours truly, and I would love it if Paramount gave it the royal treatment! Even if we never get to see all of the excised gore or the steamy Foxworth/Shire love scene, it'd be great just to have a copy of the film in HD with improved audio quality! If you are as passionate as I am about Paramount's mutant melty-bear eco-horror classic, then let them know on Twitter and Facebook! Maybe if we make a little noise on the web (and if Hell freezes over), they'll take notice and take pity upon those of us that still collect physical media.