Arrow Video releases, this August.

New releases coming from Arrow video this August.

Shock Treatment - on Blu-ray on 7 August.

Available on Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world, it is with absolute pleasure that Arrow Video presents Shock Treatment – the criminally underrated sequel to The Rocky Horror Picture Show!

Featuring a host of familiar Rocky faces including Richard O’Brien and Patricia Quinn, alongside the likes of Jessica Harper, Barry Humphries and Rik Mayall – not to mention a rocking, shocking score from Richard O’Brien and Richard Hartley – Shock Treatment is the follow-up that’s more than the equal of its predecessor.

LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Digital transfer from original film elements
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• 5.1 and Mono audio options
• Isolated Music and Effects Track
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by Shock Treatment Fan Club presidents "Mad Man" Mike and Bill Brennan
• 35 Years of Shock Treatment – live panel filmed at British Film Insitute
• DTV Presents: A Shockumentary featurette
• Let's Rock 'n Roll: Shock Treatment's Super Score featurette
• Theatrical and International Trailers
• Exclusive Digipak Packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Graham Humphreys
• Collector’s Booklet featuring new writing on the film by festival programmer Michael Blyth
• Set of Exclusive Shock Treatment Mix ‘n’ Match Cards!
• Exclusive double-sided DENTON poster

Pre-order the UK BD box-set from Amazon.co.uk

 

Don’t Torture a Duckling - on Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD on 14 August.

Arguably horror film legend Lucio Fulci’s greatest achievement, this giallo masterpiece ticks all the boxes for aficionados of Italian red herring murder mysteries, with bodies piling up, festering small town corruption and shocking kills, as well as lead roles for giallo favourites Tomas Milian and Barbara Bouchet. 

The Dual Format release boasts a new commentary and interviews, a superbly illustrated reversible sleeve, and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film with the first pressing.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original mono Italian and English soundtracks (lossless on the Blu-ray Disc)
• English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack
• New audio commentary by Troy Howarth, author of So Deadly, So Perverse: 50 Years of Italian Giallo Films
• The Blood of Innocents, a new video discussion with Mikel J. Koven, author of La Dolce Morte: Vernacular Cinema and the Italian Giallo Film
• Hell is Already in Us, a new video essay by critic Kat Ellinger • Interviews with co-writer/director Lucio Fulci, actor Florinda Bolkan, cinematographer Sergio D’Offizi, assistant editor Bruno Micheli and assistant makeup artist Maurizio Trani
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Timothy Pittides

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet with new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and Howard Hughes

Pre-order the BD/DVD combo pack from Amazon.co.uk

 

The Slayer - on Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD on 21 August.

This infamous, influential shocker, about a brutal killer running amok on a remote island, finally gets the pristine Dual Format treatment, with a stunning new 4K restoration. 

The film, whose nightmares-seeping-into-reality theme predates a certain Wes Craven classic by several years, comes with a reversible sleeve featuring brand new artwork, and a collector’s booklet with the first pressing. 

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
• Original Uncompressed Mono Audio
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new interviews with cast and crew
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Osbourn

FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new liner notes by writer Lee Gambin 

Pre-order the BD/DVD combo pack from Amazon.co.uk

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - on Blu-ray on 21 August

There is nothing to fear but fear itself!” So says Dennis Hopper as ex-cop Lefty Enright in Tobe Hooper’s insanely enjoyable sequel to his 70s horror classic. 

This time round kick-ass heroine Caroline Williams is a radio show host being terrorised by the cannibal clan, including Leatherface, Chop-top and Grandpa, deep in the heart of Texas. 

The fantastic Blu-ray package includes a commentary from Hooper, documentaries, deleted scenes and a whole lot more.

SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
• High Definiton Blu-ray (1080p) presentation from a digital transfer supervised by Director of Photography Richard Kooris
• Original uncompressed Stereo 2.0 audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary with director and co-writer Tobe Hooper, moderated by David Gregory
• Audio commentary with stars Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams and special-effects legend Tom Savini, moderated by Michael Felsher
• It Runs in the Family: a six-part documentary looking at the genesis, making-of and enduring appeal of Hooper’s lm, with interviews including star Bill Johnson, co-writer L.M. Kit Carson, Richard Kooris, Bill Moseley, Caroline Williams, Tom Savini, production designer Cary White and more!
• Alternate opening sequence with different musical score
• Deleted scenes • Still Feelin’ the Buzz: interview with horror expert Stephen Thrower, author of Nightmare USA
• Cutting Moments with Bob Elmore: interview with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2’s stuntman
• Gallery featuring behind-the-scenes images
• Original trailer
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Justin Erickson

Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

The Mummy Trailer - Moments Worth Paying For

Sofia Boutella, star of upcoming action adventure The Mummy, is the latest actress to appear in an exclusive trailer for the Industry Trust’s Moments Worth Paying For campaign.

The Mummy opens in UK Cinemas on Friday 9th June. Book your tickets at FindAnyFilm.com.

THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM - UK trailer debut - in UK cinemas 1st Sept

Lionsgate UK have released the trailer for forthcoming "THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM", which hits UK cinemas September 1st. Check it out below...

A serial killer stalks the Limehouse streets of Victorian London in 1880, the terrified population of this squalid district of the East End believe that the “Golem”, a monster from Judaic mythology, is responsible. Inspector Kildare of Scotland Yard is handed the impossible task of solving these heinous crimes and his investigations lead him on a race across the capital from The Old Bailey, to Newgate Prison, to the music halls of London and the British Museum. His chief suspects are music hall superstar Dan Leno, political agitator Karl Marx, writer and philosopher George Gissing and journalist John Cree. Kildare believes that famed performer Little Lizzie Cree, who is almost certainly destined to hang for the poisoning of her husband, holds the key to the identity of the real Golem. Kildare must solve the case and in doing so, he believes he will save the life of Elizabeth Cree.
 
"THE LIMEHOUSE GOLEM" comes to UK cinemas September 1st.

THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE - on UK Disc and Digital 26TH JUNE

Coming to UK DVD, BD and Digital outlets this June from Lionsgate...

 

Experienced coroner Tommy Tilden and his son Austin run a family-owned morgue and crematorium in Virginia. When the local Sheriff brings in an emergency case – an unknown female corpse nicknamed ‘Jane Doe’, found in the basement of a home where a multiple homicide took place – it seems like just another open-and-shut case.

But as the autopsy proceeds, these seasoned professionals are left reeling as each layer of their inspection brings frightening new revelations. Perfectly preserved on the outside, Jane Doe’s insides have been scarred, charred and dismembered – seemingly the victim of a horrific yet mysterious ritualistic torture. 

 

As Tommy and Austin begin to piece together these gruesome discoveries, an unnatural force takes hold of the crematorium. While a violent storm rages above ground, it seems the real horrors lie on the inside...

Bonus Features (DVD and Blu-ray formats)

 
-Q&A with Director André Øvredal

 

Pre-order the UK BD from Amazon.co.uk

 

Pre-order the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

'SHOW PIECES' comes to SHUDDER - June 29th

From the mind of legendary writer Alan Moore (creator of Watchmen, V For Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) and acclaimed photographer and director Mitch Jenkins comes the multi-layered film anthology SHOW PIECES. The film launches on June 29th on AMC Networks-backed Shudder, the premium streaming service for all things thrilling and suspenseful.

 

Set in the town of Northampton, UK, SHOW PIECES is the first work by Alan Moore written specifically for the screen and the first work to explore the bizarre world and characters that frequent an otherworldly gentlemen's club. The five chapters of SHOW PIECES create a tapestry of madness, malevolence and murderous misdeeds, intersecting to form an original, occult noir thriller with Alan Moore himself appearing in character on screen.

In Chapter One: Act Of Faith, Faith Harrington, a young newspaper reporter with an exotic private life, prepares for a stimulating evening at home that doesn’t go according to plan. In Chapter Two: Jimmy’s End, louche and hard-drinking womaniser James Mitchum finds himself wandering into one strange bar too many. 

In Chapter Three: Upon Reflection, Faith’s first bewildered arrival at the club is captured in a fixed security mirror above the club’s oddly anachronistic lounge bar. Whilst in Chapter Four: A Professional Relationship, the unusual relationship between the club’s two managers is explored and in Chapter Five: His Heavy Heart, a dreadful realisation hits James Mitchum as he is shepherded into his unenviable afterlife.

The soundtrack to SHOW PIECES features original lyrics by Alan Moore set to music by Adam Drucker and Andrew Broder working as Crook & Flail with help from a cast of vocalists including Tunde Adebimpe (TV On The Radio), Alan Sparhawk (Low) and Nona Invie (Dark Dark Dark). 

Shudder is a premium streaming video service, super-serving fans of thrillers, suspense, and horror.  Backed by AMC Networks, Shudder has a growing and dynamic selection of thrilling premieres, originals, and exclusives, which complement its impressive library of international and independent films, gripping TV series, and Hollywood blockbuster favorites. Shudder streams ad-free in the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland on the web, iOS, Android, Chromecast, Apple TV, and Roku for £4.99/month or £49.99 with an annual membership.  To try Shudder commitment-free for 7 days, visit www.shudder.com.

Arrow films release three brand new cult movie books.

Following the success of their lavish debut book last year, Cult Cinema: An Arrow Video Companion, at the end of July Arrow Books are releasing three brand new film books: Asian cinema expert Tom Mes explores the extraordinary world of the queen of Japanese action cinema in Unchained Melody: The Films Of Meiko Kaji; Anime authority Andrew Osmond examines the the story behind the visionary 1995 classic Ghost In The Shell; and filmmaker and writer Russell Gomm delves into the background of one of the most influential and groundbreaking horror films of modern times in The Blair Witch Project.

With specially commissioned cover artwork, and jam-packed with new interviews and illustrated with colour stills and promotional materials, the books are a genuinely exciting and highly collectable addition to any self-respecting film fan’s bookshelves.

All three books will be available on July 31 2017.

Unchained Melody: The Films Of Meiko Kaji by Tom Mes

The first ever book devoted to the iconic Japanese actress, star of Lady Snowblood and Female Prisoner Scorpion, who defined a decade of cult cinema, creating an archetype of female strength that was equal parts ferocious and mysterious.

Written by Japanese cinema expert, Tom Mes, one of the founders of Midnighteye.com, and author of books on cult filmmakers Takashi Miike and Shinya Tsukamoto, the book traces Kaji’s extraordinary career from teen model to critically-lauded and versatile actress for master directors including Kinji Fukasaku and Kon Ichikawa; as well as looking at a singing career that would introduce her to an international audience as the musical cornerstone to Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill.

Pre-order "Unchained Melody" from Amazon.co.uk

Ghost In The Shell by Andrew Osmond

A visionary science fiction classic that was largely overlooked on release, Ghost In The Shell has grown in stature with the support of such Hollywood fans as James Cameron and the Wachowskis, and in 2017 was controversially remade as a live-action blockbuster, starring Scarlett Johansson.

Anime authority Andrew Osmond traces the paths of the Japanese talents who came together to make the original 1995 film, including maverick director Mamoru Oshii, as well as the original manga creator, Masamune Shirow; explores the figure of Kusanagi, the film’s iconic cyborg heroine who's both a James Bond-style killer and a contemplative philosopher; and examines Ghost In The Shell’s debts to Blade Runner and Japan’s intriguing tradition of robot fantasies.

Pre-order "Ghost in the Shell" from Amazon.co.uk 

The Blair Witch Project by Russell Gomm

In the final months of 1999, the horror film landscape was changed forever by The Blair Witch Project, a film that rewrote the rule book in terms of film production, film marketing and film distribution. Film-maker Russ Gomm takes a look at the phenomena through the eyes of a fan who was captivated by the unusual promotional strategy that led up to the original release, and looks at the fascinating production history of the film from its low budget origins through to its sensational global box office success.

Including interviews with fellow fans, filmmakers and other industry professionals, the book also examines the lasting effect that this seminal film had on the film industry and the horror genre itself.

 Pre-order "Blair Witch Project" from Amazon.co.uk

"XX" - UK DVD review

Much hyped horror anthology "XX" comes to UK DVD this month, proudly proclaiming to be the first of its kind in featuring 4 terrifying tales from 4 female directors. But is it any good? Read on…

The first story, "The Box" by Jovanka Vuckovic, revolves around an ordinary family who are on the Tube train heading home, when the young son asks the old man sitting next to him, what’s inside the box he’s holding.

After letting him look inside, the young lad subsequently stops eating, claiming he no longer has any appetite. The Doctors can find nothing wrong, but what is more mysterious, is when he tells other people what he saw they stop eating too…

An interesting premise, but was felt let down by the unsatisfying conclusion, which was not helped by the fact this segment appeared to have 2 different endings (one of which was apparently a false ending/dream sequence) which made things a bit confusing.

The second tale, “The Birthday Party” by Annie Clark is a change of pace from the previous segment, being a comedy about a mother who’s attempts to provide an awesome birthday party for her 8 year old daughter are scuppered when the father commits suicide and the extraordinary lengths she goes to, to conceal his death until after the party.

Again, a promising idea, but the humour just seemed a little ‘off’ and I just didn’t find it all that funny, though the captions at the end did prove rather amusing.

The third segment, Roxanne Benjamin’s “Don’t Fall”, is your straight up “Teens in peril” slasher/monster movie. In which a group of youths exploring the great outdoors in their campervan, find themselves being stalked by something rather nasty from Indian folklore.

This was arguably my favourite of the segments, though to be fair was very formulaic and derivative of other films of its ilk.

The Final sequence, “Her Only Living Son” by Karyn Kusuma (The Invitation) revolves around a single mother, who’s rebellious teen son is really getting out of hand and turns out to be, quite literally, the spawn of satan.

But what starts as a dark and disturbing tale, is let down by its (in my view) unsatisfactory ending.

The 4 tales are linked together by a series of stop motion animated sequences about a dolls house with 4 legs and a face, wandering round some creepy old house. The point of which is never made.

The DVD contains the following extras …

Behind the scenes (3:30) – A short segment in which the directors discuss the idea behind making this anthology

Interview with Directors Karyn Kusama and Jovanka Vuckovic (7:18) – The 2 directors discuss the making of their films

Interview with Directors Roxanne Benjamin and Jovank Annie Clark (4:50) – The other half of the directing quartet discuss their segments.

Interview with Sofia Carrilo (6:30) – The animator behind the stop-motion sequences discusses the idea behind them.

Theatrical trailer – lastly the films trailer is included.

To summarise, despite all the hype and what looked like a promising trailer, I was left feeling somewhat underwhelmed by this.  It passed 90mins relatively well, but was otherwise fairly unremarkable. Several of my friends however have viewed it more favourably, so maybe I was just in the wrong mood when I viewed it or something.

Anyway, the film, is released to UK DVD 8th May from Soda Pictures.

View the trailer on YouTube

Buy the UK DVD from Amazon.co.uk