HORROR DVD AND BLU-RAY RELEASES: MARCH 25, 2014

It’s a bustling Tuesday for horror fans! Check out this massive load of kick ass releases (both new and re-releases) hitting shelves this Tuesday, March 25^th!

American Gore Stories: Shot On Video (SRS Cinema): Unique and original tales of terror SHOT ON VIDEO in the 1990’s! “”the vicious Sweet”” – from Ron Bonk, a popular scream queen is abducted by her “”biggest”” fan. “”Shatter Dead”” – from Scooter McCrae, zombies have overrun the land of the living as one woman tries to make it home. “”The Pact”” – from Brad Sykes, a haunted house beckons a young woman. “”Twisted Illusions”” – from Tim Ritter, an anthology of sick and twisted terror tales.

The Appearing (Lionsgate): After suffering a tragic loss, a city detective named Michael and his wife move to a small town, where Michael joins the town police force. His first case, involving a missing person, leads him to discover that the town is plagued by a dark supernatural force. Michael will have to summon every ounce of courage in order to fight this darkness before it takes everything from him.

Beneath (Shout! Factory) – DVD and blu-ray: When a group of young friends commemorating their high school graduation take a trip to the remote Black Lake, their celebration turns into a nightmare. Trapped in a leaking boat with no oars, the teens face the ultimate test of friendship and sacrifice during a terror-stricken fight for survival when they find something is living beneath the surface.

Blackface Killer (Whacked Movies): The Minstrel Killer, set in 1978, is a controversial slasher-thriller that features a killer in black face who descends on a community rife with racism and dark secrets. This indie horror film has the feel of a vintage grindhouse exploitation film. When a series of haunting murders plagues a small Texas town, law officers Tex Holland and Pike McGraw lead the investigation. The murders turn out to be the most shocking and vile acts of sadism to ever hit the once peaceful community. With a dangerous killer on the loose re-enacting slave punishment on his victims, the cops must face their own personal demons as the murder spree throws them into a dangerous world of mercenary hillbillies and inbred cannibals.

The Conspiracy (Xlrator) – DVD and blu-ray: When two young filmmakers select a crazed conspiracy theorist as the subject of their new movie, they have no idea the terrifying peril they will put themselves in. When the man disappears without a trace, the filmmakers begin an obsessive quest to uncover the truth that will lead them to an ancient and dangerous secret society. A meticulously researched thriller based on real conspiracy theories, THE CONSPIRACY blurs the line between fact and fiction, news and propaganda.

Countdown (Action Slate): In the tradition of Ladda Land & Shallow Grave and comes a thought provoking suspense thriller, set in New York City on New Years Eve. At a time when most people start with a clean slate, three roommates are at the mercy of a mysterious psychotic, house-crashing drug dealer, who forces them to face horrors from their past and to make amends, or die trying!

Disco Exorcist (Wild Eye) – DVD and DVD/VHS: Richard Griffin’s classic homage to sex and blood filled 70s horror cinema is now available in this limited edition VHS/DVD combo pack – featuring the limited edition VHS version of the film and the special edition DVD.

Driller (Wild Eye) – DVD and DVD/VHS combo: This notorious XXX spoof of Michael Jackson’s THRILLER from 1984 is now available in a limited edition Collector’s VHS/ DVD Combo Pack, which includes a VHS copy of the film featuring all new art and a Special Edition DVD.

Ed & His Dead Mother (ADA Corp): For shy, awkward mama’s boy Ed Chilton (Steve Buscemi), the loss of his beloved mother was more than he could bear. So when a smooth-talking salesman (John Glover) claims he can re-animate Ed’s departed mom for a nominal fee, Ed jumps at the offer. The very next day, mom is back, good as new. But as Ed and Uncle Benny (Ned Beatty) are about to discover, death has a way of changing a person. And in mother’s case, it’s a change for the worse. Especially when Ed’s undead mother, who has developed a few unpleasant habits, finds out the seductive new girl next door has romantic ideas about her little Eddie. It’s family values run amok, in this cult classic comedy that proves a mother’s love…never dies!

Flesh Of The Living (World Wide Multimedia): An apocalyptic solar storm bombards the Earth with high levels of radiation. Shortly after the fallout, dead corpses begin re-animating as carnivorous, oozing, blood-thirsty, flesh-eating Zombies. A rag-tag group of survivors battle their way through hordes of Zombies in a desperate attempt to reach safety guided, in part by news “”special reports”” and government agents fighting to save humanity at any cost. The masses of undead grow into an unstoppable army of rotting killers. The end of the world is finally here as the streets fill with the undead cannibalistic monsters that will gnaw the flesh from your bones without mercy. The Zombie hordes quickly outnumber the survivors and attack with one desire, to eat the FLESH OF THE LIVING. A film that drags you kicking and screaming into a gore drenched, blood covered ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.

Hercules Against the Moonmen (Bayview/Widowmaker): It’s time once again for Hercules to save the world…only it isn’t really Hercules; it’s his fellow muscleman, Maciste (Alan Steel). In Hercules Against the Moon Men, a race of vicious aliens from our silvery satellite land on Earth and begins sacrificing the innocent children of Samar. They revive the mummified Queen Agar (Jany Clair), who makes a pact with the evil E.T’s to take over the whole world. (How you gonna keep them down on Samar after they’ve seen Paree?) To the aid of the good citizens of Samar comes the mighty Maciste! The character Maciste (who made his film debut back in 1914, in ”Cabria”) wasn’t as widely known as Hercules, but with the Hercules craze in full swing, any peplum character (”peplum” being the name for these sword and sandal films), whether Samson, Ursus, Goliath, or Maciste, became Hercules when it came time to release the film in English. Well, what’s in a name? (Maciste, by the way, means ”macho man” or ”male chauvinist” in French.) Hercules Against The Moon Men has musclemen, aliens, a giant, a sandstorm, and a wicked queen, all wrapped up in a typically action-packed adventure. The DVD features a digital widescreen film transfer and the original theatrical trailer.

IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (World Wide Multimedia): IBS is the story of Larry; the lovable loser who can’t get over his intense irritable bowel syndrome. Larry has tried every possible solution to his problem but nothing works until one day a workplace mishap helps him discover that murder cures what ails him. See a man desperate for a normal life shoot, stab, chainsaw, maim and mutilate his way to happiness.

Killing American Style: Special Edition (Cinema Epoch): A gang of hot headed brutes lead by Tony Stone (Robert Z’Dar, ‘Maniac Cop’) and sexual sadist John Lynch (Himself) execute a robbery with some inside help. A bloody shoot-out with the LAPD ensues and the criminals are apprehended. After a brief stint in the slammer, the gang escapes a prison-bus with the help of Tony s brother Jesse (Alexander Verdin) who is critically wounded in the process. He needs a doctor, fast. A hospital visit too risky, they seek out other options. Now on the run, they commandeer a palatial residence, taking hostages. All – American good guy John Morgan (Harold Diamond, ‘Rambo 3’) returns home becoming a pawn; sent out to retrieve the doctor. All too aware they will face systematic execution when his usefulness expires, Morgan’s killer instinct takes over. He now must outwit and out-gun the would-be thieves, American Style or his family may not live to see another day. Viewers of cult classics Hollywood Cop and Samurai Cop will enter a world of déjà vu. With many familiar faces, scenarios, one-liners and locations; a feeling of nostalgia overwhelms. As always, packed with absurdity and unintentional humour. Amir Shervan fans rejoice as this long overdue, beautifully remastered, formerly lost film is finally released!

Machine Head (Anchor Bay): The desert of Los Ranchos, CA isn’t your standard spring break hot spot, but it’s party time when a young girl’s wealthy father gives her the keys to his amazing desert ranch oasis. She and her hot girlfriends plan a wild spring break vacation getaway to take advantage of this lavish vacation pad. During the drive to the house, the girls find themselves terrorized by a mysterious black muscle car on the highway. They soon realize they have been lured into a sick game of high-octane terror. Machine Head unleashes a hell unlike anything they’ve ever seen. The girls will do whatever it takes to cross the finish line alive and get the checkered flag!

MOLD! (Wild Eye Releasing) – DVD and DVD/VHS combo pack: Neil Meschino’s gooey and gory tribute to 1980s sci-fi and horror is now available in a limited edition collector’s VHS/ DVD Combo Pack, includes VHS and Special Edition DVD versions of the film.

Ms. 45 (New Video Group) – DVD and blu-ray: In Manhattan, the mute seamstress Thana is a timid woman who works in the fashion industry and spends most of her time at home. One night, she is raped in an alley while going home after dark, and before she arrives at her house, she is raped a second time by another criminal. This time, she reacts and kills the assaulter with a flatiron. The disturbed Thana then loses her sanity and uses the rapist s pistol to begin killing men on the streets of New York.

Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIX (Shout! Factory): Ahead of its time in many ways, the beloved comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000 used social media before there was social media. Consider: a creative team of actors and writers put on a puppet show and shared with us not just cheesy old movies, but how they felt about them. They sent their show into the ether, hoping to find kindred spirits to join in the fun and pain. The comments were delivered verbally in snarky one-liners called riffs, the spiritual father of funny tweets. The initial popularity of the show mushroomed as fans made tapes and traded them…viral videos before they turned digital. Is it any wonder, then, that the first MST fans were drawn to the burgeoning internet, using it to find each other and share the love? All of the above notwithstanding, this new DVD collection is the only way to own these four never-before-released episodes with fun extras. Relationship status? It’s not complicated: fans forever. #MovieSign!

Odd Thomas (Image) – DVD and blu-ray: Small-town fry cook Odd Thomas (Anton Yelchin) is an ordinary guy with a paranormal secret: he sees dead people, everywhere. When a creepy stranger shows-up with an entourage of ghostly bodachs – predators who feed on pain and portend mass destruction – Odd knows that his town is in serious trouble. Teaming up with his sweetheart Stormy (Addison Timlin) and the local sheriff (Willem Dafoe), Odd plunges into an epic battle of good vs evil to try to stop a disaster of apocalyptic proportions. Based on the best-selling thriller by Dean Koontz, ODD THOMAS is a supernatural action thrill-ride from the acclaimed director of The Mummy and G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra.

Psychopathic Tendencies: Sick Twisted, Perverse And Sadistic Tales! (World Wide Multimedia): Psychopaths and Maniacs Galore! If you’ve seen “”Psychopaths: Sex with Hostages”” or “”Snuff Film,”” you’ve seen the radical work of Jason Impey – the notorious UK filmmaker whose twisted and bizarre films follow demented, perverse sickos on the run from the police for various crimes of rape, torture and murder. In this collection, one victim after another suffers at the hands of deranged individuals.

Satan, Hold My Hand (Ass Studios): Produced by writer Jonathan Ames (HBO’s “”Bored to Death), “”Satan, Hold My Hand”” is the story of Lizzie and Scooter; Two Catholic school girls who, after running away from school to see the Big Apple, are abducted by a group of demented wanna-be Satanists who plan on using the girls for sacrificial purposes. However, after raising holy hell and contacting the dark lord himself via a vintage Ouija board, the gang soon finds out that Satan isn’t as evil as they hoped. Perhaps the girls stand a chance against evil after all. Or perhaps they will follow their friends to the dark side… Directed by Courtney Fathom Sell and written by Reverend Jen, “”Satan, Hold My Hand”” was produced on a budget of only $27.00 and features a cast including Janeane Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer, Reality Bites), Robert Prichard (The Toxic Avenger, Class of Nuke em’ High), Reverend Jen (Terror Firmer), Faceboy (Lord of the Cockrings), Angry Bob (Bored to Death) and many others.

Stalled (Phase 4 Films): Mild mannered janitor W.C. must learn to adapt when a zombie outbreak is unleashed while he is cleaning the women s washroom. Aided by the voice of the mysterious Evie, he will have to face his fears and use any means necessary to take down the zombified versions of his former co-workers in this outrageous and sexy zombie comedy.

Zombie Dawn (Eagle One Media): In 2006 a mysterious mining accident in a remote territory unleashes an unspeakable horror that creates a zombie horde with an appetite for human flesh. It decimates larges portions of the country. The only course of action is to rapidly enclose the infected areas and seal them off from the rest of the remaining, living population before the horror can spread. Now, 15 years later, the tattered remains of the government and the mining corporation responsible where the initial event took place commit themselves to finding out what may have happened at the mining complex. The solution is to send in a group of mercenaries lead by a cynical but no nonsense Colonel and scientists into the quarantined zone to find answers. But what they begin to find is more then they bargained for as much has transpired in the 15 years since the zone enclosure. And it soon becomes a fight for their very survival as they must not only battle the unknown but themselves as each of them has their own agenda and reasons for taking part in what may very well be a one way mission. Shot on location in Chile. (Spanish with English subtitles)

 

Props: Rue-Morgue