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!

What An Excellent Day for An Exorcism! Warner Bros. Brings William Friedkin's THE EXORCIST to 4K UHD for its 50th Anniversary!

WARNER BROS. BRINGS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL HORROR FILMS OF ALL TIME TO THE 4K UHD FORMAT ON SEPTEMBER 19TH!

While it may be a bit on the tamer side today, when THE EXORCIST came out just after Christmas in 1973 it shocked the world, terrified generations of moviegoers, and helped bring the Horror genre into the mainstream! Now here we are 50 years later, and after numerous knock-offs (e.g. ABBY and BEYOND THE DOOR), two prequels, and two sequels (with another on the way!) Friedkin's original has proven to have quite the legacy!

To celebrate fifty years of a pea-soup vomiting, head-spinning, trash-talking Linda Blair, Warner Bros. has brought THE EXORCIST to 4K disc! (With another Deluxe Collector's Edition on the way in October that has MORE bonus features and different packaging... and a heftier pricetag! More on that later!) If you don't already own this movie, well I guess now's the time to add it to your collection. But if you already do, is it worth it to make the upgrade? Let's find out!

Synopsis: Controversial, haunting and popular from the moment it opened, William Friedkin's masterpiece THE EXORCIST turns 50 years old, featuring stunning 4K UHD restorations of the original 1973 Theatrical Version and the 2000 Extended Director's Cut! The terrifying and realistic tale of an innocent girl inhabited by a terrifying entity, her mother's frantic resolve to save her and two priests - one doubt-ridden, the other a rock of faith - joined to battle the ultimate evil, always leaves viewers breathless. Winner of two Academy Awards® and nominated for an additional eight including Best Picture, this greatest supernatural thriller of all time still astonishes and unsettles like no other movie.

Disc Specs:
Rated R | Color | 132 minutes (theatrical) & 143 minutes (extended) | Region Free
Video - 2160p (HDR10) Widescreen (1.85:1)
Audio - English Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD 7.1, DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono

           French & Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1

Extras:

• NEW! 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM!
• Theatrical Version
• Introduction by William Friedkin.
• Commentary by William Friedkin.
• Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects.
  
  
• Extended Director's Cut
• Commentary by William Friedkin!

So here's my take on this release Vault Dwellers - if you do not own the film OR aren't too worried about bonus features, this standard 50th anniversary release (which goes for approximately $25) is perfect for you. You can pre-order this version from AMAZON or BULL MOOSE! (Or if you're a steelbook enthusiast, you can get the Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook which definitely has a way better cover!)

Now if you want LOTS of bonus features and don't mind paying almost five times more, there's always the 4-disc(?) DELUXE ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S EDITION which drops on October 20th! This is a UK import, with the 4K disc being REGION FREE and the accompanying Blu-rays being Region-B locked.

Here's what you get with this $90 release:

DIRECTOR'S CUT BLU-RAY EXTRAS:

• Raising Hell: Filming The Exorcist
• The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown
• Then and Now and Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist
• Commentary by Director William Friedkin.
  
  

 THEATRICAL CUT BLU-RAY EXTRAS:

• Commentaries by Director William Friedkin and Producer/Screenwriter William Peter Blatty.
• Introduction by William Friedkin.
• Feature-Length 1998 Documentary The Fear of God: The Making of The Exorcist.
• Interview Gallery Covering the Topics: The Original Cut, The Final Reckoning, and Stairway to Heaven.
• Original Ending.
  
  

SPECIAL FEATURES BLU-RAY CONTENTS:

• Beyond Comprehension: William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist Documentary.
• Talk of the Devil Documentary.

 
ADDITIONAL EXTRAS:

• Rigid Slipcase with new Key Art!
• Steelbook with Matte Finish!
• Double-Sided Theatrical Poster Reproduction!
• Double-Sided Lobby Card!
•  40-Page Booklet! 
• 3 Behind the Scenes Art Cards!
• 3 Iconic Scene Art Cards!

If you want this edition, you better act fast because a lot of online retailers (including DIABOLIK DVD!) seem to have already sold out, so definitely check AMAZON and DEEP DISCOUNT for availability! And just to reiterate: Before you purchase this edition, remember that the Blu-rays in the Ultimate Collector's Edition are Region-B locked! If you don't  already own a region free player, I highly recommend you visit 220 Electronics and pick one up!

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!