VCI Enters the 4K Fray With a 50th Anniversary Release of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS!

ON DECEMBER 6TH, YOU CAN WATCH ORVILLE'S "COMING OUT PARTY" IN GLORIOUS ULTRA HIGH-DEFINITION!

Bob Clark had a pretty eclectic career and made films ranging from raunchy teen sex comedies (PORKY'S and PORKY'S II: THE NEXT DAY), to Horror classics (DEATHDREAM and BLACK CHRISTMAS), to Christmas essentials (A CHRISTMAS STORY), to kids movies (BABY GENIUSES), and even gender-bending crime movies (SHE-MAN: A STORY OF FIXATION).

But today we're going to focus on his first true feature-length film, 1972's CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS, which is getting a new 50th anniversary Blu-ray and 4K UHD release from VCI in November! While not in my "zombie top ten," I do enjoy this low-budget horror romp and count myself lucky to have seen it in 35mm!

Synopsis: Five young kinky actors and their artistic director come to a desolate and nearly forgotten burial island, complete with a morbid history of MURDER, RAPE, CURSES and DEMONS. Alan (Alan Ormsby), the brilliant but bizarre Director of the company, has brought them to this foreboding place to dabble in witchcraft; specifically to dig up a fresh corpse and use it in a ritual ceremony which is supposed to raise the dead from their graves. 

It seems as though Alan has really gathered his "children" here, only to play a practical joke on them and then to party the rest of the night away. However, the joke's on Alan. His bizarre ritual ceremony really does raise the dead from their graves... only they're in no mood to party!

Disc Specs:
Rated PG | Color | 87 & 76 minutes | Region Free
Video - 2160p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English LPCM 2.0 Mono


Extras:

• NEW! Video Introduction and Q&A with Alan Ormsby!
• NEW! 90-minute Video Documentary DREAMING OF DEATH: Bob Clark's Horror Films, with many new interviews with cast and crew! 
• Two cuts of the film, including the Complete Alternate U.K. Version!
  
• Full Commentary Track with Alan Ormsby, Jane Daly and Anya Cronin!
• Memories of Bob Clark: A video tribute to the late Director.
• The Los Angeles Grindhouse Festival, May 22, 2007 Q&A: A Video filmed in between a double feature showing of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY… and DEATHDREAM at the Beverly Cinema.
• Confessions of a Grave Digger: Video Interview with Ken Goch.
• Extensive Photo & Poster Gallery
• "Dead Girls Don't Say No" Music video by The Deadthings.
• "Cemetery Mary" Music video by The Deadthings.
• Original Theatrical Trailer and Radio Spots.
• New Special Liner-Notes Booklet written by Patrick McCabe.
  

Along with the upgraded picture quality (which I currently cannot confirm is an all new transfer, or a 4K upconversion from the previous 2K transfer they put out in 2016), all of the previous extras are included, but I'm personally excited to check out that new feature-length documentary that's on this disc! Originally slated for release on October 11th, VCI repeatedly pushed back their 50th Anniversary release of CHILDREN SHOULDN'T PLAY WITH DEAD THINGS until December 6th (ditto for their Region A Blu-ray disc). The upcoming 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of CHILDREN should cost between $27 - $30 (though the price may drop before release), and can be pre-ordered now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD! 

Everyone Knows a Machine Can't Kill... Except the Machine! KILLDOZER Makes Its Big Blu-ray Debut on October 20th!

 

JERRY LONDON'S MADE-FOR-TV CULT CLASSIC GETS A NEW 2K TRANSFER AND BONUS FEATURES FROM KINO LORBER!

Well chalk up yet another film that I never thought would never get a proper Blu-ray release! Though I missed out seeing it back in 1974 (mostly because I was born in '83), I eventually saw KILLDOZER maybe a decade ago thanks to a bootleg obtained at a horror con and... it was kinda neat! And now this made-for-TV cult classic will be widely available for all to see thanks to the efforts of Kino Lorber Studio Classics!

The film has received a brand new 2K transfer (meaning it will look a thousand times better than it did when it first appeared on television in '74!) and contains some great new extras featuring director Jerry London! If you're a KILLDOZER fan, then just stop here and order a copy ASAP. But if you need a little more of a push to add this one to your collection, then read onward Vault Dwellers!

Synopsis: A small construction crew battles the ultimate assassin in the cult classic KILLDOZER. Stationed on a small island off the coast of Africa, six men find themselves terrorized when a ruthless life-form takes over a bulldozer and then sets off on a killing rampage. Despite limited fuel, the renegade machine methodically hunts down the men one by one in a full-throttle drive to death. Buckle up and hold on tight in this turbo-charged thriller! Directed by Jerry London (Shogun) and starring screen and TV legend Clint Walker (THE DIRTY DOZEN, Cheyenne) with Robert Urich (Vega$, THE ICE PIRATES) and Neville Brand (STALAG 17, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL). KILLDOZER is based on a novel by acclaimed television writer Theodore Sturgeon (Star Trek, The Twilight Zone) and features a rousing score by Gil Mellé (THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN, Night Gallery).

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 74 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono

Extras:

• NEW! 2K RESTORATION OF THE FILM!
• NEW! Audio Commentary by Director Jerry London with Film Historian Lee Gambin!
• NEW! Audio Commentary by Film Historian Lee Gambin and Film Critic Jarret Gahan!
• NEW! Audio Interview with Director Jerry London!
• Limited Edition O-Card Slipcase
• Image Gallery
• Trailers

Kino's Blu-ray of KILLDOZER arrives on Tuesday, October 20th and should cost between $15 - $20! Relive your childhood, or experience KILLDOZER for first time  by adding it to your collection today! Order it now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from KINO LORBER!

Get Scream Factory's New Collector's Edition Blu-ray of KISS OF THE VAMPIRE Today!

SCREAM FACTORY GIVES HAMMER HORROR FANS A DEFINITIVE BLU-RAY RELEASE OF DON SHARP'S CLASSIC VAMPIRE FILM!

While I already own Universal's 8-film HAMMER HORROR COLLECTION on Blu-ray (which contains KISS OF THE VAMPIRE), I have to admit that Scream Factory's Collector's Edition re-releases of the Hammer films contained in that set have become extremely tempting. With multiple bonus features, new HD transfers, and Mark Maddox's fantastic artwork on their covers, I find myself glancing at those new Hammer Blu-rays more and more frequently - it's only a matter of time before I finally cave and start adding them to my collection.

Speaking of which, Scream's new KISS OF THE VAMPIRE Blu-ray is out of this world! Featuring a new 2K scan of the film (which is featured in two different aspect ratios), new and archival extras, and an alternate TV edit of the movie, this is definitely a must-have release. I mean damn.... look at that cover art! It's just plain gorgeous!

Synopsis: Lost on the way to their honeymoon, a young couple stumbles upon a mysterious family of vampires and their unspeakably evil leader. When a wrong turn leaves newlyweds Marianne and Gerald Harcourt stranded in a remote Bavarian forest, they have no choice but to accept the hospitality of the hypnotic Dr. Ravna, distinguished lord of a nearby castle. Ravna uses his "children" to lure the newlyweds to his lair, and soon they are plunged into a nightmare of horror and deception from which there may be no escape. Their only hope is Professor Zimmer, who calls upon an ancient ritual in a desperate attempt to destroy the vampires and free Marianne from Ravna's power

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 88 & 93 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1 & 1.66:1) and 480p Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono

Extras:

• NEW! 2K Scan Of The Interpositive In Two Aspect Ratios (1.85:1 And 1.66:1)!
• NEW! Audio Commentary With Author/Film Historian Steve Haberman And Filmmaker/Film Historian Constantine Nasr On The 1.66:1 Version!
• NEW! The Men Who Made Hammer: Composer James Bernard!
• NEW! The Men Who Made Hammer: Production Designer Bernard Robinson!
• Audio Commentary With Actors Edward De Souza And Jennifer Daniels, Moderated By Peter Irving On The 1.85:1 Version!
• Original Theatrical Trailer & TV Spot
• TV Version Kiss Of Evil With Optional Audio Commentary By Film Historians Troy Howarth And Nathaniel Thompson (In Standard Definition – 1.33.1)!
• Additional Scenes Added To The TV Version Kiss Of Evil
• Kiss Of Evil TV Trailer

While not one of my favorite Hammer titles, I still very much enjoy KISS OF THE VAMPIRE and am impressed by the amount of effort put into this release! With two cuts of the film, multiple commentaries, the TV edit, and new featurettes, I'd be more than willing to snap this up and place it proudly on the shelves with my other Scream Factory discs! KISS OF THE VAMPIRE is now available wherever Blu-ray discs are sold and should cost between $23 - $29! Get a copy right now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY (which will also net you an exclusive 18 x 24 rolled poster featuring the new cover art done by Mark Maddox)!

The Warner Archive Collection Wants You to Solve THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM!

THE ORIGINAL "HOUSE OF WAX" MAKES ITS BLU-RAY DEBUT ON MAY 12TH THANKS TO THE WARNER ARCHIVE COLLECTION!

It may shock many of you to know that 1953's HOUSE OF WAX, featuring the legendary Vincent Price, was in fact a remake of Michael Curtiz' 1933 classic THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM. For the longest time, the only way to see it was to purchase the (now out of print) 3D Blu-ray release of HOUSE OF WAX! That all changes on Tuesday (May 12th!) when Warner Archive gives this (once lost) film an official Blu-ray release that boasts a gorgeous new HD restoration and exclusive bonus features!

Synopsis: Bodies are mysteriously disappearing all over town, and a new wax museum has just opened. Is there a connection? But of course! In this horror classic, Fay Wray (KING KONG) stars as the intended next victim of a mad wax sculptor obsessed with her resemblance to one of his prior creations. Glenda Farrell plays a quintessential wisecracking newspaper reporter, and noted actor Lionel Atwill is the deranged artist who loses his studio to a fire set by his partner.

Filmed in the early Two-Color Technicolor® process, THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM was considered a lost film for decades, until a well-worn print was discovered nearly 50 years ago. Thanks to the meticulous new restoration presented on this disc, the film can now be experienced as intended!

Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 77 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Fullscreen (1.37:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono

Extras:

• NEW! HD REMASTER OF THE FILM - Restored by UCLA Film & Television Archive and The Film Foundation in association with Warner Bros. Entertainment. Funding provided by the George Lucas Family Foundation!
• Remembering Fay Wray documentary.
• Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Alan K. Rode.
• Audio Commentary by Scott MacQueen, head of preservation at UCLA Film & Television Archive.
• Restoration Featurette

THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM will be available tomorrow, wherever Blu-ray discs are sold, and should cost you between $18 - $22! Add this classic to your collection now (to keep your Blu-rays of both the 1953 and 2005) and order it from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from WARNER ARCHIVE's website.

Now Available on Blu-ray: Hitch a Ride on Arrow Video's HORROR EXPRESS!

EUGENIO MARTIN'S FILM ADAPTATION OF "WHO GOES THERE?" GETS A NEW 2K TRANSFER AND EXTRAS!

I first saw HORROR EXPRESS in its native format (35mm!) at Hudson Horror Show 8, and my mind was blown! I immediately ordered the Severin Blu-ray after seeing the film and have been actively sharing Eugenio Martin's Horror classic with everyone I can! And now Arrow Video has given the film a noticeable upgrade, which means I may have to double-dip! If you're on the fence about "upgrading" to this new release, continue to reading to see if Arrow's HORROR EXPRESS Blu-ray is right for you!

Synopsis: Horror royalty and Hammer alumni Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee reunite for this tale of mad monks, primitive humanoids and bloodthirsty zombies set aboard a train bound for Moscow – all aboard the HORROR EXPRESS!

Renowned anthropologist Saxton (Lee) boards the Trans-Siberian Express with a crate containing the frozen remains of a primitive humanoid which, he believes, may prove to be the missing link in human evolution. But all hell breaks loose when the creature thaws out, turning out to be not quite as dead as once thought!

Directed by Spanish filmmaker Eugenio Martín, HORROR EXPRESS remains one for the most thrilling (and, quite literally!) chilling horror efforts of the early 1970s.

Disc Specs:

Rated PG | Color | 91 minutes | Region A

Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.66:1)

Audio - Uncompressed LPCM Mono

Extras:

• NEW! 2K restoration from original film elements!
• NEW! Audio commentary with Stephen Jones and Kim Newman!
• Introduction to the film by film journalist and Horror Express super-fan Chris Alexander.
• Murder on the Trans-Siberian Express – An interview with director Eugenio Martín.
• Notes from the Blacklist – Horror Express producer Bernard Gordon on working in Hollywood during the McCarthy Era.
• Telly and Me – An interview with composer John Cacavas.
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys!
• First pressing only: Fully-illustrated collector's booklet with new writing by Adam Scovell!

Arrow's HORROR EXPRESS Blu-ray is now available and should cost between $24 - $28! Experience it for the first time, or upgrade from your previous release and order this title from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, or DIABOLIK DVD!