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Italian Classics ‘Opera’ and ‘The Case of the Bloody Iris’ Get UK Blu-ray Release

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On November 19th Shameless Film is going to provide two brand-new Blu-rays of Italian horror goodness for those in the UK (or with region free players). First up is The Case of the Bloody Iris from director Giuliano Carnimeo. This film brings together Edwige Fenech and George Hilton for the third time in this ’70s sleaze gem featuring lush cinematography from Stelvio Massi. This Shameless features a 2K restoration and marks the worldwide Blu-ray debut.

When two young women are viciously slain in a luxury high-rise, a beautiful young model (Edwige Fenech of 5 Dolls for an August Moon) moves into one of their vacated apartments – and soon finds that she is now being stalked by the mysterious killer! The suspects include her ex-husband (a member of a group sex cult), a predatory lesbian neighbor, the deformed son of a sinister widow, and even the building’s handsome architect (George Hilton) who suffers from a paralyzing fear of blood. Can she expose the masked maniac with a taste for luscious women and depraved murder before she becomes his next victim? Directed by Giuliano Carnimeo (under the pseudonym Anthony Ascott) and written by Ernesto Gastaldi (Torso, The Whip and the Body), this shocking giallo is also known as Erotic Blue and What Are Those Strange Drops of Blood Doing on Jennifer’s Body?

Special Features:

  • A new candid chat with George Hilton
  • A new scintillating chat with star Paola Quattrini

Tech Specs:

  • 1080p HD
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Running time: 94 minutes and 38 seconds
  • Audio: English and Italian
  • Optional English subtitles

The second release hitting shelves on November 19th is Dario Argento’s masterpiece, Opera. Being released under the Shameless offshoot label Cult Films, Opera was restored in 2K referencing Argento’s personal print. The film will be release on Blu-ray and VOD. Opera is my personal favorite from Argento’s filmography and I’ve been waiting for Cult Films to release it. The company previously released the best version of Argento’s Suspiria.

A young opera singer gets her big chance when the previous star of a production of Verdi’s Macbeth is run over by a car. Convinced the opera is bad luck she accepts, and becomes the target of a psychopath – a man she has been dreaming of since childhood…

Special Features:

  • ‘Aria of Fear’ – brand new candid interview with Dario Argento, revisiting his work from a fresh viewpoint
  • ‘Opera Backstage’ – a unique behind the scenes documentary about Dario Argento directing Opera
  • Restoration featurette: from raw scan to the regarded, restored and reframed final vision

Tech Specs:

  • 1080p HD
  • Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
  • Running Time: 107 minutes and 13 seconds
  • Audio: English and Italian
  • Optional English subtitles

Chris Coffel is originally from Phoenix, AZ and now resides in Portland, OR. He once scored 26 goals in a game of FIFA. He likes the Phoenix Suns, Paul Simon and 'The 'Burbs.' Oh and cats. He also likes cats.

Home Video

Gateway Horror Classic ‘The Gate’ Returns to Life With Blu-ray SteelBook in May

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One of my personal favorite horror movies of all time, 1987’s gateway horror classic The Gate is opening back up on May 14 with a brand new Blu-ray SteelBook release from Lionsgate!

The new release will feature fresh SteelBook artwork from Vance Kelly, seen below.

Special Features, all of which were previously released, include…

  • Audio Commentaries
    • Director Tibor Takacs, Writer Michael Nankin, and Special Effects Designer & Supervisor Randall William Cook
    • Special Effects Designer & Supervisor Randall William Cook, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Craig Reardon, Special Effects Artist Frank Carere, and Matte Photographer Bill Taylor
  • Isolated Score Selections and Audio Interview
  • Featurettes:
    • The Gate: Unlocked
    • Minion Maker
    • From Hell It Came
    • The Workman Speaks!
    • Made in Canada
    • From Hell: The Creatures & Demons of The Gate
    • The Gatekeepers
    • Vintage Featurette: Making of The Gate
  • Teaser Trailer
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spot
  • Storyboard Gallery
  • Behind-the-Scenes Still Gallery

When best friends Glen (Stephen Dorff) and Terry (Louis Tripp) stumble across a mysterious crystalline rock in Glen’s backyard, they quickly dig up the newly sodden lawn searching for more precious stones. Instead, they unearth The Gate — an underground chamber of terrifying demonic evil. The teenagers soon understand what evil they’ve released as they are overcome with an assortment of horrific experiences. With fiendish followers invading suburbia, it’s now up to the kids to discover the secret that can lock The Gate forever . . . if it’s not too late.

If you’ve never seen The Gate, it’s now streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.

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