After the massive DVD blow out last week things have settled back to the norm (for now at least). There’s not a lot in the way of new horror, but a couple cult films, Basket Case and Torso, are now out on Blu. Outside of those, I wasn’t interested in anything else. There is, however, a Criterion release of The Phantom Carriage – a film from way, way back (1921). Check out the rest of the releases below and have a great week.
Horror In Your House
September 27th, 2011

BASKET CASE (Blu-Ray) – Image Entertainment

Carrying a mysterious wicker basket wherever he goes, Duane Bradley checks into a flea-bag hotel in New York’s Times Square. What’s in the basket, you ask? Why, it’s Duane’s hideously misshapen Siamese twin brother, Belial. Together, they’re in town to hunt down and wreak havoc on the sleazy surgeons who separated them…

MICAH SAYS: Info – New full-frame HD transfer preserving the original 16mm camera ratio and new video introduction by Frank Henenlotter. “The tenant in room 7 is…..” Ah, I love this sleaze fest. Pick of the week.

THE BLOOD TRILOGY (Blu-Ray) – Image Entertainment

Herschell Gordon Lewis’ pioneering “gore” films in deluxe special editions. First, Mrs. Fremont hires crackpot Egyptian cultist Fuad Ramses to cater a party–and he prepares a Blood Feast made from the grisly body parts of nubile young women. The world’s first gore film. Then the Two Thousand Maniacs of a small Southern town celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Civil War by forcing a handful of Northerners to serve as “guests” in their macabre, blood-crazed fun and games. And when his girlfriend, Gigi, cuts her finger on a frame, maniacal artist Adam Sorg discovers a new shade of crimson that will make his artwork so special–human blood–in the shocktacular Color Me Blood Red.

DEAD CERT (DVD/Blu-Ray) – Shout! Factory

Freddie Frankham (Craig Fairbrass, The Bank Job) is working his way into the East End London big league with the opening of his nightclub, but soon realizes he’s made a grave mistake by building it on the sacred land of Dante Livienko (Billy Murray, Rise Of The Footsoldier): otherwise known as the legendary vampire The Wolf. Dante wants the club, but Freddie isn’t going to give up his turf without a fight, little realizing that he’s taking on a 500-year-old legend of mortal combat in a battle to the death . . .

THE ECHO GAME – MTI HOME VIDEO

April Reilly must protect her daughter, Sarah, from a rogue scientist on a murderous rampage to steal the girl’s psychic powers for herself.

THE GODFATHER OF GORE – Image Entertainment

Gory, Gory, Hallelujah! Take an outrageous ride through the wild world of exploitation films with this often-hilarious documentary, Herschell Gordon Lewis, The Godfather of Gore. Featuring interviews with cast, crew, and critics such as director John Waters, drive-in movie critic Joe Bob Briggs, and Herschell Gordon Lewis himself, The Godfather of Gore traces Lewis’ start in the innocent bare-naked world of “Nudie Cuties” before he shocked the world with Blood Feast, the first-ever gore film. Lewis then continued to assault audiences with such audacious shockers as She-Devils on Wheels, Blast-Off Girls, Just for the Hell of It, Two Thousand Maniacs!, The Gruesome Twosome, The Gore Gore Girls, and the incredible Wizard of Gore. Experience a decade of motion-picture madness – with tons of clips, rare outtakes, and testimony from the people who were there – as Herschell Gordon Lewis, The Godfather of Gore leaves you laughing and screaming at some of the most amazing movies to ever play American movie theaters!

MARDI GRAS MASSACRE – Code Red

In this terror filled feature, a killer is on the loose in New Orleans. He picks up prostitutes and sacrifices them to the Wind Gods, cutting out their hearts as a part of his ritual. Two rogue cops are on hot on his trail on the seedy side of Bourbon Street. Shocking and brutal, this film was banned in the U.K. because of the incredibly violent content.

MIMIC: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT (Blu-Ray) – Lionsgate Home Entertainment

This electrifying thriller features sexy Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino (Romy And Michele’s High School Reunion) and screen favorite Charles S. Dutton ( A Time To Kill, Alien 3)! A team of scientists discover a miracle cure that stops the spread of a deadly disease… only to find three years later that something has gone terribly wrong! Their creation has taken on a horrifying life of its own… able to mimic and destroy its every predator – even man! And now, it threatens to wipe out an entire city… unless they stop it in time! A stylish, acclaimed hit featuring riveting performances from a superb cast, Mimic delivers heart-pounding thrills that never let up!

THE PHANTOM CARRIAGE (DVD/Blu-Ray) – The Criterion Collection

The last person to die on New Year’s Eve before the clock strikes twelve is doomed to take the reins of Death’s chariot and work tirelessly collecting fresh souls for the next year. So says the legend that drives The Phantom Carriage (Körkarlen), directed by the father of Swedish cinema, Victor Sjöström. The story, based on a novel by Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf, concerns an alcoholic, abusive ne’er-do-well (Sjöström himself) who is shown the error of his ways, and the pure-of-heart Salvation Army sister who believes in his redemption. This extraordinarily rich and innovative silent classic (which inspired Ingmar Bergman to make movies) is a Dickensian ghost story and a deeply moving morality tale, as well as a showcase for groundbreaking special effects.

PHOTOGRAPHER: INSIDE THE MIND OF A PSYCHO – World Wide Mult Med

An ambitious young model, in a dead-end town, accepts an invitation for a glamour shoot from an unknown and eccentric photographer. As soon as she arrives at the location, she realizes that something’s very wrong and her life, as well as her two friends’ lives, will never be the same. A terrifying story based on real life events. Enter a world of grime and sleaze as you squirm at every action of The Photographer, a sick adventure into the very real world of porn, perversion and depravity.

SNUFF FILM – World Wide Mult Med

Snuff Film”” is an insane adventure into the perverted, sick and twisted mind of a true psychopath who has decided to share his wild escapades into depravity with his only friend…. his video cam. Through the eyes of the camera we get to see a glimpse of how far a tormented and disturbed individual will go to get himself off. Includes a special alternate version of “”Snuff Film”” where director Jason Impey (AKA: Joe Newton) has revisited his earlier cult classic “Home Made.”

TERROR TRAP – Phase 4 Films

Don and Nancy find themselves stranded after their car breaks down while driving to a weekend getaway. Finding the couple on the roadside, the towns Sheriff tells them there will be no one to repair their car before morning and directs them to a nearby motel for the night run by Carter. At first glance Carter seems like a typical motel clerk, until they notice that everyone, including the Sheriff, seem to answer to him. By the time Don and Nancy realize what is happening, it is too late to flee. Now they must fight to survive the night, or be the next victims of the Terror Trap.

TORSO (DVD Re-Release/Blu-Ray) – Blue Underground

A series of sex murders shock a college campus, and four beautiful young girlfriends head for the safety of an isolated country villa. But as they succumb to their own erotic desires, their weekend of pleasure becomes a vacation to dismember at the hands – and blade – of the lecherous maniac.

MICAH SAYS: Info – The DVD will include the uncensored English Version of the film while the Blu-ray will feature that version as well the Italian Director’s Cut of the film.