Kill Michael Myers in This Free Halloween Game

Pig Farmer Games has just released a new survival horror game based on John Carpenter's Halloween that you guys should all check out. You can get the game (for Windows or Mac) from the Pig Farmer site for the low cost of "on the house", so you have no excuse not to head on over there and download your copy today. Read on for more details about the game:


Halloween is a freeware fan game made based on the film Halloween but inspired by the general feel of 70s and 80s slasher flicks; the kind that play better on beat up VHS tapes than Blu-Ray. Gameplay wise, it owes more to the PSX era survival horror genre (Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Clock Tower) with some enhancements: 1st person weapon aiming, multiple camera perspectives, and strafing. Halloween (the film) was mostly realistic portrayal of a psychopath hunting random people in small town America. Halloween the game attempts to be a realistic portrayal of a psychopath breaking into an isolated house to murder somebody.

STORY
It's Halloween Night in Haddonfield Illinois and Sarah's got no wheels and no plans except for watching some old horror movies on TV. She gets a last minute call from the Johnsons (who saw her ad at the grocery store) to babysit their son Billy. Hoping to get $30 closer to buying a motorcycle, she gets a ride from her Mom to their house on the outskirts of town. Little does she know a simple night of babysitting will turn into an unspeakable nightmare when she is terrorized by an escaped mental patient.

I played the game for a bit, but I'm not really the ideal person to try and review the game or gameplay because I'm just terrible at video games. I can do side scrolling NES games decently enough, anything more advanced and I have the gaming skills of a three-year old girl. I'm constantly getting stuck in a corner, walking backwards, turning in the wrong direction...I'm a complete mess when it comes to playing video games.

The trailer for the game is very cool and exciting, and I'm sure those of you who can play video games will have a blast with this, but I didn't get far enough into the game to get to the scary parts. I never even found the remote control to turn on the TV at the beginning of the game, so I certainly didn't get far enough into it to encounter Michael Myers. Probably a good thing for my character as it's hard to take down a serial killer when your only weapons are a VHS tape and a box of cereal.

Drafthouse Presents Ms. 45

Drafthouse Films has just acquired Abel Ferrara's Ms. 45 with plans for a theatrical release this December, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release in 2014.

 

"At Drafthouse Films we're huge admirers of Abel Ferrara, so there's no greater pleasure for us than announcing our acquisition of the North American rights to Ferrara’s 1981 revenge thriller classic Ms. 45. The film follows a mute garment-district seamstress – played by the late model/actress/musician/screenwriter Zoë Lund – who, after falling victim to multiple unspeakable assaults, ignites a one-woman homicidal rampage against New York City’s entire male population. Now remastered in HD from the original negative materials, Ms. 45 returns to theaters this December and will debut on DVD and Blu-ray uncut for the first time in North America early next year.

The fiercely independent auteur Abel Ferrara debuted with his infamous 1979 D.I.Y. cult classic The Driller Killer, which established his signature fusion of NYC, despair, calculated stylish flourishes and idiosyncratic humor. Two years later, his follow-up feature Ms. 45 starred the then 18-year-old Zoë Lund, and explored similar themes while executing a uniquely feminist entry in the urban revenge subgenre. In Brad Stevens’ biography “Abel Ferrara: The Moral Vision”, Ferrara recalls of the film, “it shook people up to see an innocent person like themselves suddenly becoming a wanton murderer.” Combining the rampaging angst of 1976’s Death Wish and Roman Polanski’s surreal, post-traumatic Repulsion, Ms. 45 returns from the cult underground over 30 years later to reclaim its title as perhaps the most shocking, complex and empowering vigilante film of the 1980s.

The rest of the article can be found here, and be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the page, there's a link to download a couple of tracks from Death Waltz's upcoming soundtrack release.

New Releases 10.8

All Night Horror Marathon Volume 1 - Shout Factory has been cranking out these great 4-movie sets for several months now, and their Scream Factory line is finally catching up by putting out a set of their own, with another Horror themed set due out later this month. This first volume includes the following films:

THE GODSEND (1981) -- When a strange woman has her baby at the Marlowe's house, then disappears, Kate Marlowe is forced to keep the baby, Bonnie. She loves the child, but when her own children are systematically killed, suspicion turns to Bonnie.
 
THE VAGRANT (1992) -- Bill Paxton (Aliens) and Michael Ironside (Scanners) star in this humorous psychological thriller as an ambitious young executive whose life is turned upside-down when a vagrant (Marshall Bell, Starship Troopers) moves into his neighborhood.
 
THE OUTING (1982) -- An ancient genie is released from a lamp when thieves ransack an old woman's house. They are killed and the lamp is sent to a museum to be studied. The curator's daughter is soon possessed by the genie and invites her friends to spend the night at the museum, along with some uninvited guests.
 
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HELEN (1971) -- Debbie Reynolds and Shelley Winters star in this stylish shocker set in 1930s Hollywood about two women who come to Tinseltown to start an idyllic new life and end up in a terrifying nightmare. Directed by Curtis Harrington (Queen Of Blood, Games), this relentlessly frightening film also stars Dennis Weaver (McCloud).

I'm working on a review for this one, so look for it soon. Pick up your copy directly from Shout! Factory.

From Vinegar Syndrome comes the utterly insane anthology Night Train To Terror. This movie is absolutely bananas, words really can't describe how ridiculously, awesomely stupid this thing is, just take a look:





I've got a review of this one on the way, so look for it soon. Support Vinegar Syndrome by picking this one up directly from their store.

"He's back! From the filmmakers that brought you Chucky comes the terrifying return of the pint-sized doll possessed by the spirit of a notorious serial killer. When a mysterious package arrives at the house of Nica (Fiona Dourif, True Blood), she doesn't give it much thought. However, after her mother's mysterious death, Nica begins to suspect that the talking, red-haired doll her visiting niece has been playing with may be the key to the ensuing bloodshed and chaos. The return of America's favorite toy, voiced again by Brad Dourif, is unrated and full of more blood-splattered thrills and chills."

Grab Curse from Amazon today.

This is a pretty huge day for Chucky fans, in addition to a brand new Child's Play film, Universal has gone ahead and unleashed a Limited Edition Complete Collection Blu-ray and DVD set featuring all six films. I believe this is the first time they've actually been able to include the MGM owned first film in a box set with the Universal sequels, so it's great to finally have a complete set of the films. I haven't seen one of these films in a long time, so I'm looking forward to revising the first five films and I'm actually quite excited to see Curse.

Grindhouse's latest Blu-ray/DVD combo pack is Robert Hartford-Davis' sleazy shocker Corruption. Never seen this one before, so I can't comment on the film, but it looks a good deal sleazier than what I'm used to seeing from Cushing. Hopefully I can check this one out soon, anyone interested can grab a copy now.

"Grindhouse Releasing is proud to present the FIRST-EVER U.S. home video release of the wildest, sickest and sleaziest swinging-sixties British horror thriller -CORRUPTION. The legendary Peter Cushing stars as a surgeon driven to murder and madness as he attempts to restore the beauty of his hideously disfigured fashion model wife. Co-starring Sue Lloyd and Hammer Horror beauty Kate O'Mara (THE VAMPIRE LOVERS). This special edition contains shocking scenes of GORE and NUDITY previously deemed too strong for American audiences."
Bonus Features:

• 2 DISC SET - Deluxe dual layer Blu-ray Edition + DVD combo
• Spectacular new hi-definition digital restoration of the original uncensored version - PLUS - the "International Version" of the movie with bloody violence and nudity presented for the very first time in America
• Interviews with stars Wendy Varnals, Billy Murray, Jan Waters and Peter Cushing
• Audio commentary by acclaimed UK horror journalist Jonathan Rigby and Peter Cushing biographer David Miller
• Isolated music and effects track
• Liner notes by Allan Bryce, editor of the celebrated British horror magazine THE DARK SIDE
• Extensive still galleries, trailers, TV spots and radio spots
• The original annotated director's shooting script and production notes
• Shocking reversible cover with original art by notorious illustrator Rick Melton
• Grindhouse Releasing prevues of coming attractions
• AND OTHER SURPRISES!

Looks like Severin is finally getting The House On Straw Hill after a brief delay.

Banned in Britain for thirty years, The House on Straw Hill is a shockingly violent and erotic tale of seduction, brutality and revenge. Cult movie icon Udo Kier (Mark of the Devil, The Theatre Bizarre) stars as a successful novelist suffering from writer's block, who rents a country cottage in the hope of finding inspiration. But the arrival of a sensual secretary, played by Linda Hayden (Blood on Satan's Claw, Taste the Blood of Dracula) sets in motion of chain of events that culminate in an unrestrained explosion of sex and savagery. Also known as Expos‚ and condemned as a Video Nasty in the UK, this sleazy classic from Brian Smedley-Aston (Vampyres) and co-starring the notorious Fiona Richmond - `Britain's No.1 sex symbol' - is now fully restored from the only uncut elements and is available for the first time in the US with brand new extras!

Bonus Features: 

• Audio Commentary with director James Kenelm Clarke and producer Brian Smedley-Aston
• All-new interviews with director James Kenelm Clarke and star Linda Hayden
• Theatrical Trailer

Artsploitation Presents Korean Anthology Horror Stories

Artsploitation is set to release the 2012 Korean Horror anthology Horror Stories (Moo-seo-woon I-ya-gi) this Tuesday. The full press release, including the list of the film's directors can be found below. I'm only familiar with a couple of the directors, but Dae-wung Lim's slasher Bloody Reunion is great fun, and Kyu-Dong Min's Memento Mori is pretty excellent, so their inclusion is enough to get me excited.

SIX DIRECTORS FROM KOREA PRESENT FOUR

HORROR STORIES

DEBUTS ON DVD TUESDAY OCT 8, 2013!

SIX KOREAN HORROR DIRECTORS BRING YOU FOUR CREEPY STORIES IN ARTSPLOITATION'S HORROR STORIES, OUT OCT. 8, 2013!

Horror anthologies are creeping up everywhere and the Korean entry Horror Stories raises the bar with four terrifying stories (and a nail-biting wraparound tale), each one chilling enough to be its own feature. If you thought this was going to be a tame collection of teen-friendly “ghost girl” stories – think again. Horror Stories goes right for the jugular with non-stop splatter, intense shocks and riveting suspense. A high school girl is abducted and forced by a psycho to tell him the scariest tales she knows:

• Don’t Answer the Door finds a little brother and sister home alone at night and
  under siege.
• Endless Flight has a serial killer escaping police custody in the middle of an otherwise
  empty flight.
• Secret Recipe serves up a wildly macabre fairy tale about two jealous stepsisters who
  take plastic surgery to nightmarish extremes.
• Ambulance on the Death Zone is a claustrophobic zombie shocker with a paramedic and
  a mother at a standoff over her possibly infected young daughter.

An international genre festival success from Sitges to Fantasia, this is one of the best Korean horror films in years and has been called “one of the scariest Asian horror anthologies of the 21st century.” 

Special Features:
• Cast Interviews
• Trailers
• 12-page Collectible Booklet
• Reversible Cover
Directed by:  Bum-shik JUNG, Dae-woong LIM,  Ji-young HONG, Gok KIM, Sun KIM, Kyu-Dong Min
Starring:  Bo-Ra NAM, Hyeon-Soo KIM, Ji-Young KIM, Tai-Hyun ZIN, Soo-Bin BAE
Run Time:  109 minutes
Release Date: October 8, 2013
Language:  Korean
Aspect Ratio: 2.35 :1
Audio: Korean with English subtitles, 2.0 Stereo
Format: DVD
Region: All-Region

Harvey Dent is Frankenstein - I, Frankenstein Trailer Debut

A trailer for the upcoming Frankenstein film I, Frankenstein has hit the internet and I've gotta say, eh. From the producers of Underworld comes another Underworld movie, only this time instead of werewolves fighting an incredibly hot vampire, there's a Kung Fu Frankenstein (Crap, that's a hell of a band name).

It doesn't look unwatchable, but it definitely doesn't look like one to run out to the theater for. I will say that I am happy to see the highly boneriffic Yvonne Strahovski in a higher profile film like this. I really enjoyed her work on NBC's Chuck, and not just because of her physical appearance, I do actually think she's a solid actress so I'm happy to see her appearing in some bigger films like this.

Enough rambling though, check out the trailer below:

Black Devil Doll From Hell/Tales From The Quadead Zone 11/12

Bleeding Skull favorites Black Devil Doll From Hell and Tales From The Quadead Zone are finally hitting DVD in a 2-Disc box set from Massacre Video. I've never gotten around to seeing either film, but BS has hyped these two up huge so I'm definitely looking forward to checking these things out. Although after hearing everything I've heard about these two films I honestly don't think my brain is quite prepared to experience the insanity of Chester Turner's work.

Release date is set for November 12th, and you can even preorder now at Amazon.

BLACK DEVIL DOLL FROM HELL: Wholesome Christian woman, Helen Black, is browsing through a local antique shop when she spots a ventriloquist doll. She is oddly drawn to the doll and decides to purchase it after being forewarned about the dolls mysterious past. Unbeknownst to her, the doll is Black Devil Doll from Hell. The devil doll comes alive and gives Helen her heartfelt wish, a wish she may soon regret!

TALES FROM THE QUADEAD ZONE
Food For?: A tale about hunger and it's effect on one poor family and one family member's soultion to this devastating problem! A tale you will never forget.

The Brothers: A tale of hatred and revenge of supernatural proportions. Two brothers, Fred and Ted Johnson, brothers whom have hated eachother from birth. Fred dies of an apparent heart attack. Ted Steals his body from a funeral home to carry out a strange and bizarre deed that results in a chain of evens that Ted could not have foresee in this life or the next.

Unseen Vision: A tale about Bobby, a dead little boy whom keeps brining his mother strange books to read to him...books that can't be found in this world!

Special Features:

• Reversible Covers
• Audio Commentary With Chester N. Turner And Shirley L. Jones
• Return To The Quadead Zone' Documentary
• Alternative Hollywood Home Theater VHS Cut Of Black Devil Doll From Hell
• Stills Gallery
• Trailers

Arrow Video Presents Brian De Palma's The Fury

I like The Fury (and love the red cover art) so news of this release is great, but the most exciting part of this news for me is that Arrow has Sisters and Phantom of the Paradise lined up for 2014. You can find the full press release for The Fury below.

Arrow Video is pleased to announce the UK Blu-ray debut of Brian De Palma’s supernatural thriller THE FURY on Monday 28th October.

One of De Palma’s best loved films, this new version of THE FURY has been painstakingly restored from the original camera negative, a process overseen by master technician James White (who also restored the massively acclaimed Arrow Video release of Zombie Flesh Eaters in 2012).

Marking the film’s UK Blu-ray premiere in style, Arrow’s team of restorers have breathed new life into this telekinetic masterpiece – it’s crystal clear, incredibly vibrant and has been newly graded, all the while keeping true to Richard H. Kline’s brilliant original cinematography. 2013 year marks THE FURY’s 35th birthday... it’s never looked better.

Restoration Supervisor James White says of the project – "It's been a great honour to restore THE FURY, a truly fantastic film by one of my favourite directors. Its combination of sci-fi, horror and post-Watergate paranoia thriller make it one of the key titles in Brian De Palma's filmography, although some fans may be less familiar with the film due to its poor treatment on home video until now. Thankfully, this new restoration, struck directly from the original camera negative and carefully restored to preserve the full colour palette and subtleties of Richard Kline's masterly cinematography, should reaffirm the film's reputation as one of De Palma's greatest works, as well as a key film in American 1970s cinema. Finally audiences can see THE FURY as it was meant to be seen."

 Click for full size. Warning, it's huge.

Arrow’s deluxe edition of THE FURY will come loaded with a never-before-seen selection of special features, bonus material and an in-depth collector’s booklet, many of which have been independently sourced and appear here for the very first time. A full breakdown of the special features is detailed below.

Starring living Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas alongside John Cassavetes (Rosemary’s Baby, The Dirty Dozen) and Carrie Snodgress (Diary of a Mad Housewife), THE FURY is an experience of both terror and suspense.

Following Obsession, Blow Out and Dressed to Kill, THE FURY is the fourth film in Arrow Video’s De Palma Collection; restored Blu-ray editions of Sisters and Phantom of the Paradise will follow in 2014. 
One of the greatest film directors of his generation, Brian De Palma’s inspirational career spans 40 years and includes commercial and critical successes in each decade since the 1970s. Alongside the likes of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and William Friedkin, De Palma was part of the so-called "New Hollywood" movement which ruled Tinseltown throughout the '70s and ‘80s.

A full of the special features included on the deluxe edition of THE FURY is as follows:
- "Blood on the Lens": An interview with Cinematographer Richard H. Kline.
- "Spinning Tales": Fiona Lewis on starring in The Fury.
- "The Fury - A Location Journal": An interview with Sam Irvin, intern on The Fury, author of the film’s shooting diary and then correspondent for Cinefantastique magazine.
- Original archive interviews from the 1978 promotional tour, featuring Brian De Palma, producer Frank Yablans and stars Carrie Snodgress and Amy Irving.
- "Double Negative": A short film tribute to Brian De Palma by Sam Irvin, starring William Finley.
- Gallery of behind-the-scenes production images.
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jay Shaw.
- Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Chris Dumas, author of Un-American Psycho: Brian De Palma and the Political Invisible, as well as a re-print of a contemporary interview with Brian De Palma, and a brand new interview with screenwriter John Farris on the writing of the film, his and De Palma’s unrealised adaptation of Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man and more, illustrated with original stills and posters.

Artsploitation Films Presents Toad Road

Some new posters and a teaser for the upcoming film Toad Road have just found their way into my inbox, and I thought you guys might enjoy taking a peek.

As SpectreVision and Artsploitation lead up to the theatrical premiere of Jason Banker's TOAD ROAD, a new clip from the film and two character posters are now released for your viewing pleasure. Expect more in the weeks to come!

From the Press Release
This October, Artsploitation Films, the cutting-edge film distribution company founded by TLA Entertainment president Raymond Murray, in association with Elijah Wood's genre-themed production company SpectreVision and Random Bench, will unleash the haunting and mesmerizing Toad Road via limited theatrical release.

The film has been described as a hallucinatory and hypnotic odyssey through mutating realities, drug use, urban legends, and nightmares. The story follows a young college student who befriends a group of hard partying friends and finds herself drawn into the local legend of Toad Road—a pathway in the forest rumored to contain the seven gates that lead directly to Hell.

Toad Road displays a disturbing portrait of contemporary youth culture where the lines between perception and reality are blurred with often frightening results. Winning the Best Director and Best Actor awards at the 2012 Fantasia International Film Festival and Best Picture at the Lausanne Underground Film and Music Festival, director Jason Banker's film blends documentary footage with horror elements to create a cinematic experience like no other.

The film opens Friday, October 18th, at the Arena Cinema in Los Angeles and in New York at Cinema Village on Friday, October 25th.

Chastity Bites This November

Weirdsmobile Productions is thrilled to unleash the Official Trailer for CHASTITY BITES in anticipation of its Digital and Cable release from GRAVITAS VENTURES on November 1, 2013.
CHASTITY BITES has been traveling the world with having its European premiere this past weekend at the 19th edition of the Lund International Fantastic Film Festival in Sweden and even winning the Best Directing Award at 2013 Montreal HorrorFest this past Summer. The film continues to jet-set across the country at multiple festivals with upcoming screenings at the Spooky Movie International Horror Festival in Washington D.C. and Orlando Film Festival. The film will also be available on home video in February 2014 from Grand Entertainment.

The film stars Allison Scagliotti (Syfy's "Warehouse 13"), Francia Raisa (ABC Family's "Secret Life of the American Teenager"), Louise Griffiths (The Revenant), Eddy Rioseco (ABC's "Parenthood"), Amy Okuda ("The Guild"), Sarah Stouffer (Bloomington), Lindsey Morgan (ABC's "General Hospital"), Jennifer Gimenez (Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"), Greer Grammar (MTV's "Awkward"), and Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator).

Synopsis
Elizabeth Bathory believed that bathing in virgin blood would keep her young and beautiful forever. Still alive today, she's found a perfect hunting ground for her "botox" as an abstinence educator in conservative America... but will a brave young blogger and reporter for the high school paper finally put an end to the Blood Countess' reign of terror and save her best friend from becoming the next victim? 

I personally don't love the poster art - it's like a cheap indie comedy-giallo comic or something. I do think this trailer looks promising though,and even if it sucks, hey, Stuart Gordon is in the movie. That's gotta be worth something. I look forward to checking it out when it hits VOD November 1st. Also be on the lookout for the DVD release in February.

Franz Waxman's Bride of Frankenstein Score Limited Edition Vinyl Release

 

Ever since the classic Horror movie genre was at its peak during the pre-WWII era, Mary Shelley's The Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) starring Boris Karloff still remains the true cream of the crop. The black and white movie, directed by James Whale, is a prime example of how suspense meets great storytelling, the film's thriller elements making it a benchmark for many film directors. Its score was written by Franz Waxman, the legendary German-American classic composer with an impressive number of Academy Award Nominations movies to his name. Waxman wrote engaging soundtracks for classic films such as Rebecca (1940), Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1941), Sunset Boulevard (1950), The Nun's Story (1959) and many more. 

 

Especially for Halloween, we've managed to release Franz Waxman's The Bride Of Frankenstein OST on vinyl for the first time ever! First pressing available as 1000 hand numbered copies on slime green vinyl.

• 180 gram audiophile vinyl
• First vinyl issue of Franz Waxman's film score to the classic Bride Of Frankenstein movie
• Includes movie poster
• First 1000 numbered copies on slime green vinyl!

Release date is October 22nd, preorder now from Amazon.

Hitting Shelves 10.01

From Leprechaun: Origins writer Matt Venne and Stash House director Eduardo Rodriguez comes Fright Night 2: New Blood. I guess the Fright Night remake made enough cash to warrant a sequel, but not enough for a theatrical sequel. Pick it up today, the Blu-ray is on sale at Amazon for $14.99. I haven't seen this one yet, but apparently this is a thing that happens in it:

If you're looking for some classic MGM horror at a discount price, Shout! Factory has just released this set they're calling Timeless Horror, which is the latest release in their "Movies 4 You" line. The set is currently only $5 at Amazon and features the following films:

The Face of Marble (1946)
Engrossed in his mission to bring the dead back to life, Dr. Randolph fails to notice his wife Elaine's interest in his young lab associate, Dr. Cochran. However, their old housekeeper Maria does take note and will do anything, including using her voodoo powers, to see to it that Elaine is happy. B&W 72 Min. I Bury the Living (1958)
Through a series of chilling coincidences, the newly-elected director of a cemetery (Richard Boone) begins to believe that he can cause the deaths of living owners of burial plots by merely changing the push-pin color from white (living) to black (dead) on a large wall map of the cemetery. B&W, 67 Minutes
The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959)
While attending his brother's funeral Jonathan Drake is shocked to find the head of his sibling is missing. When his brother's skull shows up later in a locked cabinet, Drake realizes an ancient curse placed upon his grandfather by a tribe of South American Indians is still in effect and that he is probably the next victim. B&W, 70 Minutes
The Snake Woman (1961)
A doctor in 1890 England, in order to cure his wife's "sick mind", injects her with snake venom. She later gives birth to a daughter whom the villagers call "The Devil's Baby" and in a fit of fear they end up burning the family's house down. Years later a Scotland Yard detective is sent to the village to investigate a rash of deaths that are caused by snakebite. B&W, 68 Minutes

Scream Factory is kicking off Halloween Month with this box set of the first three Amityville films, including the third film in 3-D. The first film has already been put out on Blu-ray, but this is the debut for Amityville II and Amityville 3-D.

The Amityville Horror is one of the few books I've actually read, and I hate to be the "book is better than the movie" guy, but, yeah, the book is better than the movie. In my opinion, the book was quite frightening at times. The film is a pretty well made and entertaining haunted house flick, but it really never at any point becomes a legitimately scary movie.

There aren't a lot of features included on the disc, but there's a commentary by a parapsychologist (whatever the hell that is) and a couple of nice bonuses, totaling about 38 minutes:

• "For God's Sake, Get Out!" - A Look at The Amityville Horror
• Haunted Melodies with Lalo Schifrin
• Theatrical Shower and TV Spot
• Radio Spots
• Still Gallery
• Commentary by Dr. Hans Holzer Ph.D. in Parapsychology

Thanks to a pretty remarkable amount of unbelievable sleaze (child beating, sister fucking and a slimy C.H.U.D. creature) Amityville II ends up being the most entertaining of the original trilogy (though it does lose me a bit after the massacre), and it's got substanially more bonus features than the first and third film.

• The Possession of Damiani: Interview with The Film's Director
• Adapting Amityville: Interview with Screenwriter Tommy Lee Wallace
• A Mother's Burden: Interview with Rutanya Alda
• Family Matters: Interview with Diane Franklin
• Father Tom's Memories: Interview with Andrew Prine (this guy loves to interview for Scream releases)
• Continuing the Hunt: Interview with Alexandra Holzer (the parapsychologist's daughter)
• Trailers
• Still Gallery
• Commentary with Alexandra Holzer

The third film is low on extra features, though it is a 3D Blu-ray, so that's a pretty great huge bonus in itself. I wasn't able to view the whole thing in 3-D, though I did borrow a friend's living room for about 10 minutes just to check it out. Honestly the transfer is pretty rough, but 3-D does look pretty good.

• A Chilly Reception: Interview with Candy Clark
• Photo Gallery
• Trailer

If you're are a fan of the Amityville films and don't own the first film on Blu-ray already then this set is a must have. Grab yourself a copy directly from Scream, or get it at Amazon, though Scream is actually the cheaper option as of this post.

Amityville Trilogy screenshots anyone?

The Amityville Horror

Amityville II: The Possession

Amityville 3-D

Scream Factory's 31 Days of Screams Begins Today

 Scream Factory is celebrating Halloween in style this year with their "31 Days of Screams" promotion, which includes a countdown, contests and best of all  there will be one Scream Factory title put on sale each day, with free shipping for US orders. Today's sale title is Halloween II, which is the lowest I've seen it at $15.99. If there are any SF titles you haven't picked up yet, be sure to check this link daily to keep up which titles go on sale: http://www.shoutfactory.com/ThePriceIsFrightSale

Keep reading below for all of the details.

SCREAM FACTORY™

TO OWN THIS HALLOWEEN SEASON!

Popular Horror Brand Launches Fan-Focused

“31 DAYS OF SCREAMS” Promotion From Oct 1-31^st

Further underscoring its position as a premiere horror genre-centric DVD, Blu-ray and digital entertainment provider, SCREAM FACTORY™ is thrilled to announce “31 DAYS OF SCREAMS”--a month-long Halloween celebration aimed to engage horror fans even further by placing an appropriately-themed holiday emphasis behind its unique library of film classics and its fast-growing social and digital video channels featuring original content created for the launch.  

http://www.shoutfactory.com/31daysofscreams

The promotion, beginning on October 1, 2013 and continuing daily till October 31^st, will be broken down into three multi-faceted categories:

DAILY “BLOODY COUNTDOWN”: Through Scream Factory’s social media outreach, fans will be treated to a different genre topic each day (Slashers, Scream Queens, Zombies, etc.) where they will be asked to discuss their favorite films and topics in the category. The topic will be further highlighted on Scream Factory’s official YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/ScreamFactoryTV )

where viewers can subscribe to view exclusive clips and original content, such as Scream’s “Tastemaker Interviews” covering themes by well-regarded horror film aficionados such as Ryan Turek (Managing Editor, ShockTillYouDrop), Robert Galluzzo (FEARnet, Co-Creator of Icons of Fright, Director of The Psycho Legacy), Sean Clark (Host, Horror’s Hallowed Grounds), Rebekah McKendry (Marketing Director, Fangoria) and Brian Collins (Writer, Badass Digest and Horror Movie a Day).

“YEAR OF FEAR” CONTEST: Fans can enter to win this contest (which was so popular last year that we decided to bring it back). The Grand Prize is one-year worth of Scream Factory releases!  The winner will receive one copy of each new brand film released between November 1, 2013 and October 31, 2014.  (Blu-ray or DVD format chosen by the winner.) The recipient is also guaranteed to receive all value-ads (such as limited-edition posters) that might be offered. The winner will be announced on Scream Factory’s official Facebook and Twitter pages on Halloween. For rules and how/where to enter, please visit http://www.shoutfactory.com/YearOfFear

“PRICE IS FRIGHT” SALE: Throughout the month, daily deals on most of Scream Factory releases will be offered in an “act-now-within-24-hours-to buy” rollout, with some films seeing their lowest price points yet. The sale items will be communicated to fans on Facebook and Twitter and they will be directed to the following website page within the Shout Factory e-commerce site to place their order. http://www.shoutfactory.com/ThePriceIsFrightSale

Since its successful launch in 2012, Scream Factory continues to raise the bar in curating and revitalizing some of the most underrated horror and sci-fi cult classics through highly-engaged online social media & digital focus, thoughtful release packaging and compelling bonus extras.  Old and new generations of genre enthusiasts will have plenty of treats to sink their teeth into this Fall, specifically during this year’s Halloween season with highly-anticipated releases of Day of the Dead, Psycho II & III, Prince of Darkness, The Amityville Horror Trilogy, The Vincent Price Collection, Assault on Precinct 13, Body Bags, Night of the Comet, Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear and All-Night Horror Marathons (Volumes 1 &2.)  

Arrow's December

Arrow Video has some fantastic releases lined up for December. A couple of my favorites actually, Tenebre (or Tenebrae, if you prefer) is my favorite Argento film, and Big Trouble in Little China is my favorite Carpenter film that isn't called The Thing. You can find the list with extra features below, and if you're wondering, yes they've done a new transfer for Tenebrae for this release.

A notorious horror classic returns in all its depraved glory. This infamous video nasty updated the classic Giallo blueprint for the gorified 80s, courting controversy and drenching the viewer in crimson arterial spray.

A razor-wielding psycho is stalking the horror writer Peter Neal, in Rome to promote his latest work, Tenebre. But the author isn't the obsessive killer's only target, the beautiful women who surround him are doomed as one by one, they fall victim to the murderer's slashing blade…

Will fiction and reality blur as fear and madness take hold? Watch in terror as by turns the cast fall victim to the sadistic imagination of Dario Argento, Italy's master of horror.

Special Features:

• Limited Edition SteelBook packaging featuring original artwork
• Newly remastered High Definition digital transfer of the film
• Presented in High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD
• Optional original English & Italian Mono Audio tracks (uncompressed PCM Mono 2.0 Audio on the Blu-ray)
• Optional English subtitles for Italian audio and English SDH subtitles for English audio for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio Commentary with authors and critics Kim Newman and Alan Jones
• Audio Commentary with Argento expert Thomas Rostock
• Introduction by star Daria Nicolodi
• The Unsane World of Tenebrae: An interview with director Dario Argento
• Screaming Queen! Daria Nicolodi remembers Tenebrae
• A Composition for Carnage: Composer Claudio Simonetti on Tenebrae
• Goblin: 'Tenebrae' and 'Phenomena' Live from the Glasgow Arches
• Original Trailer
• Exclusive collector's booklet featuring brand new writing by Alan Jones, author of Profondo Argento
• More to be announced!
• Street Date: December 16th

Following Escape from New York and The Thing, John Carpenter and Kurt Russell re-unite for this mystical, action, adventure, comedy, kung-fu, monster, ghost story!

Russell plays Jack Burton, a reasonable guy who is about to experience some unreasonable things in San Francisco's Chinatown. As his friend's fiancée is kidnapped Jack becomes embroiled in a centuries-old battle between good and evil. At the root of it all is Lo Pan, a 2000-year-old magician who rules an empire of evil spirits. Jack goes to the rescue dodging demons, goblins and the unstoppable Three Storms as he battles through Lo Pan's dark domain.

One of Carpenters most enjoyable and best loved films, Big Trouble in Little China brilliantly juggles delirious set-pieces, comedy and kung-fu action with a razor sharp script of corking one-liners, as Jack would say "It's all in the reflexes".

Special Features:

• Limited Edition SteelBook packaging
• High Definition presentation of the film from a digital transfer prepared by Twentieth Century Fox
• Optional 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and uncompressed Stereo 2.0 Audio
• Isolated 5.1 DTS-HD Isolated Score Soundtrack
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio Commentary with director John Carpenter and star Kurt Russell
• Return to Little China – A brand new interview with John Carpenter
• Being Jack Burton – A brand new interview with Kurt Russell
• Carpenter and I – A brand new interview with cinematographer Dean Cundey
• A new interview with producer Larry Franco
• Interview with visual effects producer Richard Edlund
• Vintage Making-of featurette featuring cast and crew
• Extended Ending
• Deleted Scenes
• Music Video
• Gallery of behind-the-scenes images
• 3 original trailers
• TV Spots
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by John Kenneth Muir, author of The Films of John Carpenter, a re-print of an article on the effects of the film from American Cinematographer, illustrated with archive stills and posters
• Street Date: December 2

When private eye Philip Marlowe (Elliott Gould) is visited by an old friend, this sets in train a series of events in which he's hired to search for a missing novelist (Sterling Hayden) and finds himself on the wrong side of vicious gangsters.

So far so faithful to Raymond Chandler, but Robert Altman's inspired adaptation of the writer's most personal novel takes his legendary detective and relocates him to the selfish, hedonistic culture of 1970s Hollywood, where he finds that his old-fashioned notions of honour and loyalty carry little weight, and even his smoking (universal in film noir) is now frowned upon.

Widely misunderstood at the time, The Long Goodbye is now regarded as one of Altman's best films and one of the outstanding American films of its era, with Gould's shambling, cat-obsessed Marlowe ranking alongside more outwardly faithful interpretations by Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum.

Special Features:

• High Definition presentation of the film from a digital transfer by MGM Studios
• Original uncompressed mono 2.0 PCM audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hearing impaired
• Rip Van Marlowe – An interview with director Robert Altman and star Elliott Gould
• Vilmos Zsigmond Flashes The Long Goodbye – An interview with the legendary cinematographer
• Giggle and Give In – Paul Joyce's acclaimed documentary profile of Robert Altman, with contributions from Altman, Elliott Gould, Shelley Duvall, assistant director Alan Rudolph and screenwriter Joan Tewkesbury
• David Thompson on Robert Altman - David Thompson, editor of 'Altman on Altman' and producer of the BBC's 'Robert Altman in England', talks about The Long Goodbye 's place in Altman's filmography
• On Raymond Chandler - Raymond Chandler's biographer, Tom Williams, outlines the author's life and work and discusses Altman's adaptation of The Long Goodbye
• On Hard Boiled Fiction - Crime writer and critic Maxim Jakubowski discusses the emergence of hard boiled detective characters from the pages of the pulp magazines from the 1920s through to the 1950s.
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• Radio Spots
• Booklet featuring new writing on the film by Brad Stevens, a new interview with assistant director Alan Rudolph and an extract from American Cinematographer discussing Zsigmond's unique treatment of the film, illustrated with original archive stills and posters
• Street Date: December 2

Neil Jordan's Byzantium - October 29th

Just in time for Halloween, director Neil Jordan's latest vampire film Byzantium is due out October 29th from IFC. No features have been announced yet, but you can preorder today from Amazon. Those of you not interested in the Blu-ray should note that you can preorder the DVD today for just $10.

In director Neil Jordan's vampire thriller a mother and daughter struggle to hide their bloody secret from their adopted community. Having survived for over 200 years, itinerant single mother Clara (Gemma Arterton) and her daughter Eleanor (Saoirse Ronan) are offered shelter at the down-at-heel Byzantium guest house when they arrive at a rundown seaside resort. Whilst her cold-hearted mother plies her trade as a prostitute to keep their heads above water and indulges her bloodletting at any opportunity, Eleanor wrestles with keeping her secret from her latest love, Frank (Caleb Landry Jones). But when the truth finally spreads its way through the local population, the arrival of two strangers belonging to an all-male vampire sect known as 'The Brotherhood' heralds a reckoning neither woman is prepared for.

 

Drive-In Collection: Blood Thirst + The Thirsty Dead Review

Vinegar Syndrome's Drive-In Collection continues with this pair of 70's films shot in Manila.

 
Blood Thirst
Director: Newt Arnold
Writer: N.I.P. Dennis

Stars: Robert Winston, Katherine Henryk, Yvonne Nielson, Vic Diaz

Year: 1971

Running Time: 74 Minutes

Studio: Vinegar Syndrome

Region: ALL

A series of murders has begun plaguing Manila. The latest has taken place just outside of the Barrio Club - a happening club with a distractingly odd entrance that can't be more than 4 feet high, which means that everyone entering or exiting the club has to bend over on the way in or out. Really, what is the deal with this door? Filipinos aren't exactly what you'd call "heighty" people - well documented short dude Michael J. Fox is as tall as the average citizen of the Phillippines, but even still, this door is ridiculously small, like the Barrio Club is run and frequented by Filipino midgets or something. Anyway, shortly after this latest murder a cocky American journalist shows up looking to crack the case and discovers something far more sinister than your everyday run of the mill Filipino serial killer.

Scream Factory: The Shirt - Buy One Now!

Due to a high demand for Scream Factory T-Shirts from their Facebook fans Scream has just added the very cool SF logo shirt to their store. You can pick one up now for just $15.

I think this is a great idea, and I'd love to see other companies like Vinegar Syndrome, Synapse or Severin put some shirts up for sale on their sites as well.

The World's End - Own It November 19th

I finally got around to seeing Edgar Wright's The World's End yesterday, and I wake up today to find the press sheet for the upcoming Blu-ray and DVD release. Spooky.

From the Press Release
Five middle-aged friends set out to relive a beer-fueled odyssey from their youth, and end up in an epic battle to save humankind in the outrageous comedy The World’s End, available on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, including Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet™, DVD and On Demand on November 19, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Now fans can truly watch The World’s End anywhere, on any device!

Directed by Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz), The World’s End’s irresistible humor has made it the toast of film reviewers across the nation. Labeled “sheer comic perfection!” by Peter Travers of Rolling Stone and called “Hilarious!” by Entertainment Weekly’s Chris Nashawaty, The World’s End stars Simon Pegg (Star Trek Into Darkness, Paul) and Nick Frost (Snow White and the Huntsman, Paul). This is the third and final film in Wright’s The Ultimate Three Flavors Cornetto® Trilogy, which also features hits Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz starring Pegg and Frost, available exclusively on Blu-ray™ November 19th. 
 
The World’s End also stars Paddy Considine (The Bourne Ultimatum), Martin Freeman (The Hobbit), Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes), and Rosamund Pike (Jack Reacher). The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack serves up more than two hours of bonus content, including a gag reel, feature commentary with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and an insider’s look at the making of the funniest reunion picture ever made.

The Blu-ray™ Combo Pack of The World’s End includes a Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD with UltraViolet™

Blu-ray™ unleashes the power of your HDTV and is the best way to watch movies at home, featuring 6X the picture resolution of DVD, exclusive extras and theater-quality surround sound.

DVD offers the flexibility and convenience of playing movies in more places, both at home and away.

DIGITAL HD with UltraViolet™ lets fans watch movies anywhere, on their favorite devices. Users can instantly stream or download movies to watch on iPad®, iPhone®, Android™, smart TVs, connected Blu-ray™ players, game consoles, and more.  

Special Features

Cast Commentary with stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Paddy Considine (Blu-ray only)

Technical Commentary with director Edgar Wright and director of photography Bill Pope (Blu-ray only)

Filling in the Blanks: The Stunts and FX of The World's End – Cast and crew discuss the prowess of
The World’s End stunt and VFX teams. Watch rehearsals of intricate fight scenes choreographed by some of the movies’ best stuntmen. Learn how the VFX team enhances the existing footage to perfect the film’s look and style. (Blu-ray only)

Hair and Make-Up Tests (Blu-ray only)

Rehearsal Footage (Blu-ray only)

Stunt Tapes – Behind-the-scenes of the bathroom fight, the twinbot fight and the beehive fight (Blu-ray only)

VFX Breakdown – VFX Supervisor Frazer Churchill compares production footage with final shots to take viewers behind the veil of the outrageous visual effects sequences. (Blu-ray only)

There's Only One Gary King - osymyso's Inibri-8 Megamix – A mash-up of Gary King’s (Pegg) best moments. (Blu-ray only)

The Man Who Would Be (Gary) King (Blu-ray only)

Signs & Omens – A film clip montage highlighting all the hidden clues and hints throughout the film. (Blu-ray only)

Edgar & Simon's Flip Chart –Writers Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg bring back the trusty flip chart to reveal their step-by-step process of creating the story. (Blu-ray only)

Deleted Scene, Outtakes, Alternate Edits and more! (Blu-ray only)

Completing the Golden Mile - The Making of The World's End – While on the surface The World’s End looks like a movie about a bunch of old friends getting drunk on a pub crawl, it’s actually about much more. Look through the eyes of these frequent collaborators at the depth of the themes and the relationships between characters.

Feature Commentary with Screenwriters Edgar Wright & Simon Pegg Bonus Features Exclusive to The Ultimate Three Flavors Cornetto® Trilogy Blu-ray™:

Interactive Screenplays for The World’s End, Hot Fuzz, and Shaun of the Dead

I'm not going to go into a whole review or anything here, it's a pretty complex film that I think will demand a second viewing to take it all in. I will say that it doesn't have the mass appeal of Shaun of the Dead or even Hot Fuzz, but I found it to be rather excellent despite a few minor flaws. It's very funny, but it's also the darkest thing Edgar Wright has done so far, perhaps a bit too dark to where it might turn off some viewers. I also have to say Wright seems to be getting better and better at action scenes, the fight scenes are pretty exhilarating. And here's something I discovered; Nick Frost can kick some absolute ass if he needs to.

Do yourself a favor, check it out yourself November 19th.

Jug Face - Own it October 15th

I've been really looking forward to this, I've seen a lot of very positive reviews. I'm actually very surprised to see it's coming out in just a couple of weeks.

MVD Entertainment Group and Modern Distributors announced today that the Slamdance Film Festival favorite JUG FACE, written and directed by Chad Crawford Kinkle, will be available on Blu-ray and DVD on October 15th, 2013. The film was produced by Andrew van den Houten (“Funeral Kings,” ‘’The Woman”) and Robert Tonino (‘’Home Movie,” “The Girl Next Door”) for Modernciné, and stars Lauren Ashley Carter (“The Woman”), Sean Bridgers (“Deadwood”), Sean Young (“Blade Runner”), Larry Fessenden (“You’re Next”) and Daniel Manche (“The Girl Next Door”). The film was executive produced by Lucky McKee, Arrien Schiltkamp and Loren Semmens. JUG FACE won the Slamdance Grand Prize Screenwriting Award in 2011 and debuted as a Special Screening selection at this year’s festival. The critically acclaimed film was released nationally in theaters on August 9th. This marks the first title under the newly minted home video output deal between Modern Distributors and MVD Entertainment Group.

Put in your preorder now at Amazon.

Check Out Skeletonwitch's Slasher Themed Video

If you love horror and metal as much as I do you'll surely get a kick out of Skeletonwitch's slasheriffic video for their song I Am Of Death from their forthcoming Serpents Unleashed album, due out towards the end of October. The video is a great mix of backwoods slashing, beards, and fire and it even has it's own end credits. How awesome is that? Very. Why are you still reading  this? Watch it now!



Drinking Game Inspired By The Video: Take a drink every time vocalist Chance Garnette nearly catches his beard on fire.

Big Ass Spider Trailer Promises A Big Ass Spider. Delivers.

Mike Mendez's Big Ass Spider is coming to theaters and VOD October 18th, and you can take a peek at the full trailer below. Looks like it could be okay, though it is rated PG-13. I don't need tits and gore to enjoy a movie, but the last giant spider movie I saw was Eight Legged Freaks, which was also PG-13 and we all know how that turned out.