Making it's uncut US debut from Scream is Body Bags, a middling anthology film from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper developed for Showtime in 1993, which was intended as a pilot to a Tales From The Crypt knockoff show that ultimately never came to be. I generally like anthologies, but if I'm being honest I've never been particularly big on this one.
It's certainly not the lamest anthology I've seen (that would be Screams of a Winter Night - such a waste of a great title) but apart from Carpenter's delightfully dorky turn as a Cryptkeeper style wisecracking cadaver, some rather gruesome decomposing hooker gore, and another wonderful Sam Raimi death scene (between this, The Intruder and Miller's Crossing I believe Sam Raimi might just be the most murdered director of all time) I find it hard to get into this one. Especially during the "should've been omitted" Hair segment which totally wastes a perfectly good Stacy Keach. The film does have its fans and they should be very pleased with the package, which presents the film uncut for the first time in the US with very A/V quality and some excellent bonus features. Grab a copy directly from Scream.
Also from Shout! Factory is another action packed 4 film set, the fittingly titled 4 Action-Packed Movie Marathon, Volume 2. This is a follow up to their excellent first volume (which I reviewed here). The titles here are a bit more obscure, in fact I actually don't think I've heard of any of them. I'm not knocking any of the films, just saying I'm way less knowledgeable with obscure action than with horror. Bulletproof stars Gary Busey and Danny Trejo, so that pretty much guarantees there's at least one solid film in the bunch. It's a well known fact that 80's Busey is the best kind of Busey. The set includes the following films:
BULLETPROOF – 1988/Color/R/94 minutes/Anamorphic Widescreen/Dolby Digital Stereo
A Los Angeles cop/ex-CIA agent Frank "Bulletproof" McBain (Gary Busey) travels across the border to retrieve a top-secret attack vehicle which was hijacked by Russian-backed Libyan terrorists. Darlanne Fluegel (Battle Beyond The Stars) and Henry Silva (Sharky’s Machine) also star.
BAMBOO GODS AND IRON MEN – 1974/Color/R/87 minutes/Anamorphic Widescreen/Dolby Digital Mono
An attempt is made by an underworld organization to recover a carved Buddha, in which is hidden a substance powerful enough to control the world. James Iglehart (Savage!) stars in this fast-paced actioner.
TRACKDOWN – 1976/Color/R/98 minutes/Full Frame/Dolby Digital Mono
A Montana rancher (Jim Mitchum, Thunder Road) comes to Los Angeles, searching for his runaway sister (Karen Lamm, The Unseen), who has become entangled in a world of crime, drugs, and prostitution. Erik Estrada (CHiPs), Anne Archer (Fatal Attraction) and Cathy Lee Crosby (Coach) also star.
Scorchy (Connie Stevens) is a female undercover agent who will stop at nothing to bust a drug-smuggling ring. She is beautiful, determined, mean and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Cesare Danova (Animal House), William Smith (Conan The Barbarian) and Greg Evigan (Tek War) also star.
It seems like Vinegar Syndrome has begun putting all of their monthly releases out all on the same date, so we've got 4 new Vinegar Syndrome releases hitting shelves today. Each release features at least two films, so there are actually 9 (!) films coming from VS today.
THE CANDIDATE stars Mamie Van Doren and June Wilkinson in a salacious political satire involving the sexcapades of an up and coming politician (Ted Knight). Set over the course of one night in New York, JOHNNY GUNMAN is a lost late period noir following a tense battle between two mob boss hopefuls.
Both films have been restored in 2k from 35mm elements and are coming to home video for the first time!
THE CANDIDATE, Directed by Robert Angus
1964 | 84 minutes | B&W | 1.85:1
JOHNNY GUNMAN, Directed by Art Ford
1957 | 67 minutes | B&W | 1.33:1
Features Include:
+ Dual Layer DVD-9 | Region Free | 1.33:1 & 1.85:1 | MONO
+ Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm elements
+ Reversible cover for JOHNNY GUNMAN!
Get a look at the trailer a pick up a copy from Vinegar Syndrome, or Amazon, or DiabolikDVD
Drive-In Collection featuring
The First Time (1978)
A young sex film starlet remembers the brutal trail of debauchery which led her into a life of perversion.
Director: Anthony Spinelli
70 minutes / Color / AR: 1.85:1
Oriental Babysitter (1976)
A beautiful Asian babysitter relives her multitude of bizarre and exciting sexual adventures.
Director: Anthony Spinelli
73 minutes / Color / AR: 1.85:1
Pick yourself up a copy directly from Vinegar Syndrome, or if you prefer get it at Amazon or DiabolikDVD .
Gameshow Models
Stuart Guber has decided to drop back into society, by leaving his performance artist girlfriend and accepting a job working for a top record label. Trouble soon arises when his boss concocts the idea of doing a sex themed game show (hosted by character actor legend Dick Miller). Meanwhile, Stuart begins having an affair with the sister of the label’s new superstar (Thelma Houston).
Although conceived as an art film, GAME SHOW MODELS was transformed into a nudity driven exploitation gem by distributor Sam Sherman. Vinegar Syndrome presents the first authorized home video release of both versions of this mind-bending blend of art house drama and drive-in sleaze.
GAME SHOW MODELS, Directed by David Gottlieb
1976 | 89 minutes | Color | 1.85:1
THE SEVENTH DWARF, Directed by David Gottlieb (Original Edit)
1976 | 87 minutes | Color | 1.85:1
Features Include:
+ Dual Layer DVD-9 | Region Free | 1.85:1 | 16:9 Anamorphic | MONO
+ Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm negative
+ Includes original edit THE SEVENTH DWARF
+ Audio commentary with Director David Gottlieb
+ Video interview with distributor Sam Sherman
+ Production and publicity still gallery
You know the drill, get it from VS or Amazon, or DiabolikDVD
The Blue Hour + One Naked Night & Three in a Towel
In the world of sexploitation, few distributors were as diverse in their offerings as Grads Corp. Presented here are three of their most unique productions: THE BLUE HOUR tells the story of Tanya, a young woman with a mysterious past who finds herself trapped in a sexual hell in Los Angeles. Punctuated by striking visuals and avant garde editing, THE BLUE HOUR is a lost masterpiece of late period sexploitation. ONE NAKED NIGHT follows the life of a young woman who is trying to avoid falling into the same trap that led to her mother’s suicide; prostitution. THREE IN A TOWEL is a San Francisco lensed underground oddidty chock full of voluptuous hippie chicks.
All three films have been restored in 2K from 35mm negatives. THE BLUE HOUR and THREE IN A TOWEL are being presented on home video for the first time.
Disc #1:
THE BLUE HOUR: 1971 | 82 minutes | Color | 1.85:1
Disc #2:
ONE NAKE NIGHT: 1965 | 72 minutes | B&W | 1.33:1
THREE IN A TOWEL: 1969 | 66 minutes | Color | 1.33:1
Features Include:
+ 2 Disc DVD Set | Region Free | 1.85:1 & 1.33:1 | MONO
+ Scanned and restored in 2k from 35mm negatives
+ Original theatrical trailer for THREE IN A TOWEL
Grab the set from VS, Amazon or DiabolikDVD
From Massacre Video comes The Films of Chester Novell Turner - Director Approved Special Edition - featuring a pair of the rarest of the rare of SOV films; Black Devil Doll from Hell (1984) and Tales from the Quadead Zone (1987). Complete with bonus features with the long thought to be dead Chester Turner. Pick up this pair of turkeys today at Amazon.
And finally, for those of you out there capable of playing Region B discs, Arrow Video's "Holy Shit" Edition of Tobe Hooper's underrated Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is out this week. I haven't gotten my copy in yet, but if you're a fan of the film like myself this release looks like a total must have.
- High Definition digital transfers of three Tobe Hooper films
- Original uncompressed audio tracks for all films
- Limited Edition Packaging, newly illustrated by Justin Erickson
- Individually Numbered #/10,000 Certificate
- Exclusive Limited Edition Extras
DISC 1 THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation from a digital transfer supervised by Director of Photography Richard Kooris
- 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 6 part documentary looking at the genesis, making-of and enduring appeal of Hooper s film. 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
- Original Trailer
DISC 2 [BLU-RAY] & DISC 3 [DVD] TOBE HOOPER S EARLY WORKS LIMITED EDITION EXCLUSIVE
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition (DVD) presentation of two of Tobe Hooper s early works, available on home video for the first time in the world
- The Heisters (1964) Tobe Hooper s early short film restored in HD from original elements [10 mins]
- Eggshells (1969) Tobe Hooper s debut feature restored in HD from original elements [90 mins]
- Audio Commentary on Eggshells by Tobe Hooper
- In Conversation with Tobe Hooper - the legendary horror director speaks about his career from Eggshells to Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.
- Trailer Reel of all the maj
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