Fans of physical media are no doubt well aware of what the Criterion Collection has to offer. However, if you’re a genre fan looking from the outside in, you may not realize that Criterion has plenty to offer you. On the surface Criterion appears to handle art-house cinema only. In a way that’s true, but Criterion’s definition of art-house cinema stretches beyond the limitations most give the term “art-house cinema.” Here’s how Criterion describes themselves:
Since 1984, the Criterion Collection, a continuing series of important classic and contemporary films, has been dedicated to gathering the greatest films from around the world and publishing them in editions that offer the highest technical quality and award-winning, original supplements.
Over the years Criterion has released a ton of great genre films, giving them the care, respect and dignity they deserve. With the exception of perhaps Synapse, Criterion delivers on what I consider to be the best of the best when it comes to home video genre releases. This is high praise because despite what some may lead you believe, the home video market right now is booming for genre geeks. With the likes of Vinegar Syndrome, Scream Factory, Arrow Films, 88 Films and more, horror fans are being treated to some of the best home video releases in years. Criterion is leading the way with top notch picture and audio quality, plus they include the absolute best in special features and packaging (I’m a sucker for great Blu-ray packaging).
Currently Barnes & Nobel is having their annual Criterion sale. Every July all Criterion releases are 50% off. This is the time of the year to add to your collection. You can’t beat 50% off! What I’ve created is a guide of sorts to serve horror fans. This year you don’t have to let your pretentious film student friends have all the fun, you can cash in on the savings too!
There’s too many titles to go through them all, but I’ll give you my top five and then you can go from there!
