Last Summer They Were Pets. Now They are Predators. THE PACK Comes to Blu-ray Disc on September 12th!

 SCREAM FACTORY BRINGS ROBERT CLOUSE'S 1977 CANINE FRIGHT FLICK TO BLU-RAY WITH A NEW 2K TRANSFER AND EXTRAS!

As big a fan as I am of the natural horror sub-genre, I somehow failed to watch THE PACK! Growing up, I distinctly remember seeing this particular title in the Horror section of every video store I forced my parents to take me to, but I just never took the plunge. Instead I opted for other Horror titles and monster movies, most of which I had already viewed numerous times. 

But with Scream Factory's new Blu-ray of Robert Clouse's tale of mongrel mayhem on the horizon, I do believe the time has  finally arrived for yours truly to take in this underappreciated slice of canine carnage. So let's take a closer look at this release Vault Dwellers, to ultimately decide whether or not this is a worthwhile purchase or if we're all just barking up the wrong tree. (My apologies for the pun gang. Admittedly it was a bit.... ruff.)

Synopsis: Writer/director Robert Clouse, whose ENTER THE DRAGON delivered hard-hitting action and whose DEADLY EYES provided gnawing rodent terror, combines both fright and fight in this survival tale where a walk in the woods becomes a long, dark journey into fear. Set on a remote island, where vacationers have senselessly abandoned their unwanted pet dogs, THE PACK shows man's inhumanity coming back to haunt him with fanged fury. 

The confused, starving pets form a rampaging pack, and man's best friend becomes his worst fiend. Joe Don Baker (WALKING TALL, GOLDENEYE, THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS, FINAL JUSTICE) stars as the heroic marine biologist who comes up with a do-or-die scheme that will either reestablish man as top dog or turn him into a tasty tidbit. The suspense is ferocious!


Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 95 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD MA 2.0


Extras:

• NEW! 2K RESTORATION FROM THE BEST SURVIVING ELEMENT - A COLOR REVERSAL INTERMEDIATE!
• NEW! Audio Commentary With Film Historian/Author Lee Gambin!
• NEW! Snarling And Sweet – Actress Hope Alexander Remembers The Pack!
• NEW! Activism And Acting – An Audio Interview With Actress Sherry Deboeur!
• NEW! The Extra Mile – An Audio Interview With First Assistant Director Thomas Lofaro!
• NEW! Notes On Paper – An Audio Interview With Composer Lee Holdridge!
• The Pack Preview Clip
• Trailer
• Still Gallery

Ok, that settles it gang, I'm adding this one to my collection! The Lee Gambin commentary alone is likely worth the price of admission, plus I'm fairly surprised to see such a treasure trove of interviews as well (even if the majority are audio only). This is a quite a bit more love and attention than I expected, and gives me hope that Scream Factory is still going to provide quality releases for titles like this, rather than cranking out new editions (steelbooks & 4Ks) of movies they've already released! THE PACK arrives on Blu-ray Tuesday, September 12th and should cost between $25 - $27! Snag yourself a copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT STUDIOS!

MVD Will Get You in the End With Their New 4K Collector's Edition of GHOULIES!

MVD ADDS THE INFAMOUS B-MOVIE CLASSIC TO THEIR NEW LASERVISION COLLECTION LABEL ON SEPTEMBER 12TH!

If you told me a year ago that the Charles Band-produced GHOULIES was going to receive a 4K UHD release, I probably would have scoffed at you. And yet, here we are! 

The little rubber monster classic that traumatized an entire generation of potty-training kids with its promotional campaign is now the second release in MVD's new "LaserVision Collection!" (The first one being Wes Craven's SWAMP THING!) Boasting an all new 4K restoration, this title (which was formerly released in a double feature set by Scream Factory) comes with a plethora of bonus features and, if you get it early enough, a new slipcover and mini-poster!

If you already own GHOULIES on another format but currently have your interest piqued, come with me on this journey to see if an upgrade to 4K is warranted! (Spoiler Alert: IT IS!)

Synopsis: Take a creepy old Hollywood mansion, a naïve young man and a pretty girl. Add an over-the-top orgy and some slimy, winged goblins who crawl out of toilets, and you have GHOULIES, a horrifying and hilarious ride into the darkest regions of hell! Conjured during a party thrown by the mansion's new owner, the hairy, fanged demons waste no time wreaking havoc on the scene - and declaring the unsuspecting owner their new lord and master!

Disc Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 81 minutes | Region Free (4K UHD)/Region A (Blu-ray)
Video - 2160p & 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono

Extras:
DISC ONE (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY DISC)

• NEW! 4K RESTORATION (16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of the film!
• Archival 2015 Audio commentary with director Luca Bercovici!
• Archival 2016 Audio commentary by director Luca Bercovici moderated by Jason Andreasen of Terror Transmission!

DISC TWO (BLU-RAY DISC)

• NEW! 4K RESTORATION (16-Bit Scan of the Original Camera Negative) of the film!
• Archival 2015 Audio commentary with director Luca Bercovici!
• Archival 2016 Audio commentary by director Luca Bercovici moderated by Jason Andreasen of Terror Transmission!
• Video Introduction by Luca Bercovici!
• Editing an Empire: Interview with Ted Nicolau
• The Mind Is A Terrible Thing to Waste: Interview with Scott Thomson
• Just For The Chick Man: An interview with Luca Bercovici
• From Toilets to Terror: The Making of Ghoulies
• Photo Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer
• 4 TV Spots 

Though there's nothing new as far as extras go, it is nice to get all of the previous bonus features that were created by Scream Factory and Umbrella Entertainment present on this release! MVD's 4K Collector's Edition of GHOULIES will debut on Tuesday, September 12th and should cost between $33 - $50! Snag a copy ASAP (especially if you want a slipcover and mini poster!) from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from MVD ENTERTAINMENT'S ONLINE STORE! 

Notes: For those of you who refuse to make the change over to 4K UHD, or just can't justify the current cost of this disc fear not - MVD is putting out a Collector's Edition Blu-ray the same day that's a little bit cheaper and has all of the same extras! I should also note that they're also releasing a Blu-ray of GHOULIES II (easily the best entry in the four-film series) the same day, with a 4K release planned sometime in 2024!

STOCK YOUR VAULT: New Blu-rays & 4K Discs for 09/05/23!

 

Vault Master's Pick of the Week!

I! Live! A-GAIN! Mwahahahaha!

Greetings fellow collectors! I am so sorry I've been away for so long! Between 50+ hours a week at the new(ish) job, Summer vacation, and getting my three-year old monster ready for pre-K, I've been far too busy to do much more than hide in the dark recesses of the web and obsess over the constant stream of new titles pouring forth from Kino Lorber, Arrow Video, Vinegar Syndrome, Scream Factory, and all of the other boutique labels!

There hasn't been a new Stock Your Vault post since Valentine's Day, so I guess it's only appropriate that I attempt to bring back this popular weekly column just in time for Scott Valentine's Day! (Ha!) Here's some of the physical media highlights you can expect on Tuesday, September 5th!

Kino Lorber Studio Classics brings the long sought after Barbarian Brothers comedy DOUBLE TROUBLE to Blu-ray for the first time (now we just need THINK BIG), while Sony Pictures debuts the bizarre family favorite MATILDA on 4K, as well as their fantastic sequel SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE, which is being released on both formats!

Criterion Collection adds the beloved 80s Fantasy classic THE PRINCESS BRIDE to their 4K catalog, Paramount polishes off their STAR TREK: PICARD series on Blu-ray disc and brings Tim Burton's great SLEEPY HOLLOW to 4K (in both standard and steelbook releases), and Second Sight Films drops a gorgeous limited edition 4K boxed set for David Robert Mitchell's haunting IT FOLLOWS! (Note: The 4K disc is region free - the Blu-ray is Region B locked.)

But this week I'm giving my tip of the hat to Scream Factory, not for their 4K Collector's Edition release of NIGHT OF THE COMET (which contains a new 4K restoration and the original theatrical poster artwork!), but for their new Blu-ray of MY DEMON LOVER! Along with a new 2K restoration plus interviews with the film's composer and editor, the disc also contains a new making-of documentary!

There aren't too many more new releases out this week that are worth mentioning, but if you're curious enough, just scroll down to see this week's full roster of new 4Ks and Blu-rays!

NEW TO 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY
It Follows (4K UHD & Region B Blu-ray - Deluxe Limited Boxed Set - Second Sight Films)
Matilda (4K UHD Steelbook - Sony Pictures)
Night of the Comet (4K UHD - Collector's Edition - Scream Factory)
The Princess Bride (4K UHD - Criterion Collection)
Sleepy Hollow (4K UHD - Paramount)
Sleepy Hollow (4K UHD Steelbook - Paramount)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (4K UHD - Sony Pictures)
Spider-Man: Into & Across the Spider-Verse (4K UHD - 2-Film Collection - Sony Pictures)

 
NEW TO BLU-RAY
The Black Circle (2-Disc Special Edition - Synapse Films)
Borsalino (Limited Edition - Arrow Video)
Double Trouble (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)
The Girl from the Other Side (Crunchyroll)
God is a Bullet (Decal Partners/XYZ Films)
Harley Quinn: The Complete Third Season (Warner Bros.)
My Demon Lover (Scream Factory)
Shinobi no Ittoki: The Complete Season (Crunchyroll)
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Sony Pictures)
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Steelbook - Limited Edition Reprint - Sony Pictures)
Spider-Man: Into & Across the Spider-Verse (2-Film Collection - Sony Pictures)
Star Trek: Picard - The Complete Series (Paramount)
Star Trek: Picard - The Final Season (Paramount)

MY DEMON LOVER Will Bring Out the Beast in You on September 5th!

FANS OF CHARLIE LOVENTHAL'S SUPERNATURAL ROMANTIC COMEDY REJOICE - MY DEMON LOVER IS FINALLY COMING TO BLU-RAY!

Back in 2018, I showcased MY DEMON LOVER in the News Vault's WANTED ON BLU-RAY column where I pined for a high-def release of this oft-forgotten gem. So imagine my surprise earlier this year when Scream Factory announced that they were giving the film a new lease on life! With MY DEMON LOVER's Blu-ray debut just around the corner, let's take a closer look at this new disc and see if Scream Factory managed to fulfill some of the items on my wishlist!

Synopsis: True love has many faces — and sometimes claws and a tail — in the frightfully funny romance MY DEMON LOVER! The happy-go-lucky but lonely Kaz (Scott Valentine, Family Ties) is looking for love when he meets Denny (Michele Little, APOLLO 13), a kindhearted young woman with an uncanny ability to attract stray pets and down-and-out boyfriends. Denny is sure she's met the man of her dreams when she sweeps Kaz off the streets and into her heart. But it's anything but a match made in heaven when she discovers that Kaz is afflicted by a curse that turns him into a horny monster — literally — whenever he's turned on! Will Denny be able to bring out the best, and not the beast, in her newfound paranormal paramour?!


Disc Specs:
Rated PG-13 | Color | 90 minutes | Region A
Video - 1080p Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono


Extras:

• NEW! 2K Scan From The Interpositive!
• NEW! Dating Is Hell: Making My Demon Lover” – Featuring Interviews With Director Charlie Loventhal, And Actors Scott Valentine, Michele Little, And Robert Trebor!
• NEW! Monster Next Door – Inside The FX - Interview With Make-Up Effects Artist Doug Drexler!
• NEW! Rune Tunes: Scoring My Demon Lover – Interview With Composer David Newman!
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot

 

While there isn't a feature-length director's commentary or the music video for Intimate Strangers' "Let's Go," Scream Factory's release for MY DEMON LOVER is still a solid one that knocks a lot of items from my WANTED ON BLU-RAY wishlist! This disc will be available on Tuesday, September 5th wherever Blu-rays are sold and should cost between $23 - $27! You can order your copy now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or directly from SHOUT! FACTORY's online shop!

Vault Master's Collector's Corner: I Finally Completed My Vestron Video Collector's Series Blu-ray Collection!

 

Hey gang! It's been a busy year for yours truly, and I apologize that I sort of vanished back in February. I've been picking up a ton of overtime at work, and am otherwise occupied with trying to raise a now (almost) three-year old son, which doesn't leave much time for writing about movies, let alone watching them! While I'm hoping that this post is the start of my latest comeback, don't be too surprised if new content remains sporadic for the next, oh I don't know.... fifteen years or so?

As an avid collector of physical media I currently have two issues plaguing me: I don't have a lot of shelf space in my current residence (which I've found a temporary solution for) and I don't have the same amount of expendable income that I once did (let's face it, kids are expensive and rent isn't cheap these days). This has forced me to cut back and be a little more conservative with my purchases. And while I have long given up on on my fool's errand of trying to own the entire catalogs of boutique Blu-ray labels like Arrow Video, Scream/Shout! Factory, and Vinegar Syndrome, I recently decided to go for a far more obtainable goal as a Blu-ray hoarder: To complete my collection of Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collector's Series' releases!

To date there have been twenty-nine titles released under this label (with number thirty making its way here as of my posting this!), and up until recently I was missing half of them. While many of the later Vestron discs are very reasonably priced (everything released after MAXIMUM OVERDRIVE has been around $12), the first seventeen Blu-rays still remain in the $25 - $30 range. For that reason, I've continued to shy away from filling in those noticeable holes on my Vestron shelf.... until I received a text message from Diabolik DVD!

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This alerted me to their current Vestron sale where most titles are marked down to $15.99! Seeing the opportunity to fill the remaining gaps in my collection I ended up grabbing nine Blu-rays from Diabolik! (Whoops!) Then I immediately opened up the Amazon app on my phone and searched for the remaining titles, most of which were incredibly cheap (except for GOTHIC, which is still fairly expensive), and I was done! I DID IT! I COMPLETED MY VESTRON COLLECTION SUCKAS! Oh wait.... no. No I didn't! DOH!

Shortly after my brief moment of triumph I realized that I was still missing ONE disc - #10, THE UNHOLY! Unfortunately for me, that particular title quietly went out of print! While this isn't typically a huge deal, I quickly discovered that I couldn't find a single Region A copy of the movie anywhere! (And apparently I'm not alone.)  In the end, I managed to procure a Region B copy of the UK Vestron release on eBay. Though it doesn't really fit the aesthetic of the other Vestron discs, I can now confidently say that I own the entirety of Lionsgate's Vestron Video Collector's series Blu-rays! WOOHOO!

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I am very much looking forward to seeing what other titles Lionsgate digs up, and I really hope they keep that awesomely low price point as well! I'm not sure what else they have on the docket, but some possible future Vestron releases could include: 976-EVIL 2, BIG MAN ON CAMPUS, ALIEN WARRIOR, C.O.D., AMERICAN DRIVE-IN, DOORMAN, FEAR (1990), FUNLAND, FUTURE-KILL, DEVIL DOG: HOUND OF HELL, HIDER IN THE HOUSE, THE HUNTERS OF THE GOLDEN COBRA, JENNIFER (1978), NEON MANIACS, PAINT IT BLACK, STRANGE INVADERS, THE MANIPULATOR, THE NIGHT STALKER (1986), and/or THE POWER (1984)! And that's barely the tip of the iceberg of the hundreds of teen sex comedies, Horror flicks, and exploitation films that were released decades ago by the long defunct Vestron Video! 

That's all for now gang - hopefully you'll be seeing more of me around these parts in coming months! Although I'm not creating much new content these days, I'm still fairly active on social media! To see what other new titles I've added to my collection be sure to follow me on Instagram! For updates on upcoming Blu-rays, new trailers, and fun memes, be sure to follow the Vault on Facebook! To keep tabs on what I've been watching, follow me on Letterboxd!

The Original INVADERS FROM MARS Lands on 4K Disc on July 11th!

THE 1953 SCI-FI CLASSIC GETS AN INCREDIBLE 4K RESTORATION, AND SOME GREAT BONUS FEATURES, FROM IGNITE FILMS!

Note: Ignite Films released the Limited Edition of this title last December, which came with a slipcover and a 20-page essay on the film's "nightmarish" restoration process. The release I'm covering today is the standard edition, which has all of the same extras, but is missing the essay and slipcover (unless you order a copy directly from Ignite Films' online shop)!

I've got to be 100% honest here Vault Dwellers: I have never seen the original INVADERS FROM MARS! Unbelievable, right?! The Tobe Hooper remake from 1986 is a personal favorite of mine that I revisit every so often, but I just never got around to watching its predecessor! With Ignite Films (a company that's been around since the early 90s, but is only just now dipping a toe into the realm of physical media) releasing INVADERS on 4K disc next week, I think it's about damned time I remedy this injustice! So come with me to "Copper Hill" my fellow disc maniacs, for a closer look at one of the most highly anticipated boutique releases of this year!

Synopsis: In the early 1950s, Cold War tensions and the burgeoning space race created a heady mix of paranoia and unbridled creativity as filmmakers speculated as to the marvels – and horrors – that lay beyond the stars. Among those leading the charge, William Cameron Menzies’ (THINGS TO COME) INVADERS FROM MARS terrified audiences upon its release in 1953 with its chilling vision of an insidious alien attack on small-town Americana.

On a dark and stormy night, a young boy, David McLean (Jimmy Hunt, PITFALL), observes what appears to be a flying saucer crash-landing in his town. Shortly thereafter, the grown-ups – including his own parents – begin acting decidedly strangely. Convinced there’s a link between this epidemic of bizarre behavior and what he witnessed that night, David turns to local health official Dr. Blake (Helena Carter, KISS TOMORROW GOODBYE) for help. But can these two unlikely heroes, together with famed astronomer Dr. Kelston (Arthur Franz, THE CAINE MUTINY), withstand the might of a full-blown invasion from outer space?

A landmark in sci-fi cinema, INVADERS FROM MARS inspired filmmakers as wide-ranging as Don Coscarelli (the PHANTASM series), Brad Bird (THE IRON GIANT) and John Carpenter (THE THING). Now fully restored for its 70th anniversary, this trend-setting Atom Age classic unleashes its spine-tingling terror on a whole new generation of filmgoers in this brand new remastered presentation!


Disc Specs:
Not Rated | Color | 78 minutes | Region Free (4K disc), Region A (Blu-ray)
Video - 2160p Academy Ratio (1.37:1)
Audio - English & Spanish DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono


Extras:

• Interviews with star Jimmy Hunt, William Cameron Menzies' biographer James Curtis, and recollections of Menzies' eldest granddaughter Pamela Lauesen!
• Featurette with acclaimed film directors John Landis, Joe Dante, editor Mark Goldblatt, special visual effects artist and two-time Oscar Winner Robert Skotak (foremost expert on Invaders from Mars), and enthusiast and film preservationist Scott MacQueen!
• John Sayles' introduction at Turner Classic Movie Festival in Hollywood, April 2022!
• Before/after clips of restoration – original negative and archival film elements - with film restoration supervisor Scott MacQueen!
• Restored segments in 2K of the Alternate International Version -- alternative ending and extended Planetarium scene!
• Gallery with original Press Book pages, behind the scenes photos from the restoration process!
• Restored 4K original 1953 trailer AND a newly commissioned trailer 2022!

Ignite Films' 4K UHD (and Blu-ray) of INVADERS FROM MARS will be available to purchase at most online retailers on Tuesday, July 11th, and should cost between $33 - $44! You can order a copy right now from AMAZON, BULL MOOSE, DIABOLIK DVD, or get INVADERS directly from IGNITE FILMS, which should net you an exclusive slipcover!