Now this is the way to get ready for Halloween as this week’s Horror In Your House is loaded with must-see releases that will keep you busy up until the big day. Arriving in stores today are celebrated indie films Deadgirl and Grace, along with Blu-ray releases of An American Werewolf in London (rocking a free feature-length doc), Misery, Child’s Play, among others. Read on for the full list and talk about what you plan on picking up below.
Horror In Your House
September 15, 2009

AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON (FULL MOON EDITION): Universal (Blu-ray)

Blending the macabre with a wicked sense of humor, director John Landis delivers a contemporary take on the classic werewolf tale in this story of two American tourists who, while traveling in London, find their lives changed forever when a vicious wolf attacks them during a full moon.

TEX SAYS: Fan of Landis’ frightfully funny flick should be clawing their way to the retail outlets to sink their teeth into this new edition of the film, which features Director Paul Davis’ phenomenal documentary Beware the Moon.

ARMY OF DARKNESS (SCREWHEAD EDITION): Universal (Blu-ray)

All primitive screwheads, listen up! Cult superstar Bruce Campbell reunites with director Sam Raimi to battle the deadly forces of evil in Army of Darkness – the outrageous, effects-fueled action epic that will make you scream with fear and laughter. Forced to lead a makeshift Dark Ages army against the demonic Deadites, who possess all the deadly magic of hell, the shotgun-toting, chainsaw-armed, reluctant 20th century time traveler Ash must save the living from the dead, rescue his medieval girlfriend and get back to his own time.

CALL ME A PSYCHO: Cheney Films Company

A Psycho escapes from a poorly run British mental home. Two of Middlesex’s top detectives are put on the case. The Psycho played by uber-talented Dave Marley, Takes the two detectives on a riot of an adventure in an attempt to capture him. This film is spit the milk out of your nose funny if you love dark comedy. The dreadfully funny murders during the film are to die for.

CHILD’S PLAY: MGM (Blu-ray)

After 6-year-old Andy Barclay’s babysitter is violently pushed out of a window to her death, nobody believes him when he says that “Chucky,” his new birthday doll, did it! Until things start going terribly wrong dead wrong. And when an ensuing rampage of gruesome murders lead a detective back to the same toy, he discovers that the real terror has just begun. The deranged doll has plans to transfer his evil spirit into a living human being young Andy!

DARK SHADOWS: THE CURSE OF COLLINWOOD: MPI

The Gothic television classic DARK SHADOWS attracted a fiercely devoted following during its airing on ABC-TV from 1966-71. The character of Barnabas Collins, a sympathetic vampire, became a cultural icon and turned the series into a must-see event for over 20 million viewers. Cursed by the scorned witch Angelique, Barnabas Collins returns to Collinwood as a creature of the night. In this special release, the story behind Barnabas transformation from mere mortal to living dead is detailed in a selection of storylines from the classic series.

DARK SHADOWS: THE CURSE OF THE VAMPIRE: MPI

In this special release, the story of how Barnabas was cursed as one of the living dead is detailed in a selection of scenes from the most popular episodes.

DEADGIRL: Dark Sky (TEX’S PICK OF THE WEEK)

When high school misfits Rickie and JT decide to ditch school and find themselves lost in the crumbling facility of a nearby abandoned hospital, they come face-to-face with a gruesome discovery: a body of a woman stripped naked, chained to a table and covered in plastic and soon realize she is anything but dead. Quickly the boys find themselves embarking on a twisted yet poignant journey testing the limits of their friendship, and forces both to decide just how far they’re willing to stretch their understanding of right and wrong.

TEX SAYS: Ever wonder what if would be like if KIDS/BULLY director Larry Clark made a real horror film (we’re not gonna count his weird remake of TEENAGE CAVEMAN). We’ll for my money, this is what it would look like. So if you want to se a seriously fucked up horror flick then check out this flick from Director’s Marcel Sarmiento & Gadi Harel.

DRIVE-IN MADNESS: VOL: 1 – CAMPY CLASSICS: Passport

Time to hop in the car, put your buddies in the trunk, pick up your girlfriend, and head off to the drive-in! Relive those nostalgic warm summer nights with the smell of popcorn in the air. This two-disc set features, BRIDE OF THE GORILLA, TEENAGE ZOMBIES, PHANTOM FROM 10,000 LEAGUES and ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES, four of the campiest classics to ever invade the drive-in screen. Each feature is preceded by a vintage cartoon and newsreel. Intermission ads also included.

FEAR ITSELF: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON: Lionsgate

Today’s most talented horror directors and writers including John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason), Mary Harron (American Psycho), Victor Salva (Jeepers Creepers), Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw IV), Sean Hood (Halloween: Resurrection) and Rupert Wainwright (The Fog) have teamed up to create a unique television experience that leaves viewers with nothing to fear but Fear Itself. Fear Itself on DVD features 13 episodes, including four director’s cut and five unaired episodes, from the chilling series that aired on NBC during the summer of 2008. The episodes – “Eater,” “The Sacrifice,” “Community,” “In Sickness & In Health,” “Spooked,” “The Family Man,” “New Year’s Day,” “Skin and Bones,” “Something With Bite,” “The Spirit Box,” “Chance,” “Echoes,” and “The Circle” – feature great casts including Elisabeth Moss (TV’s “Mad Men”), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), Clifton Collins Jr. (Star Trek) and James Roday (TV’s “Psych”). In addition, each episode on the DVD includes a “Recipe for Fear” making of featurette that contains cast and director interviews along with behind the scenes footage that addresses what they each think is scary to them, and how they brought that to their short film.

FRIDAY THE 13TH, PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD: Paramount

Years after Tommy Jarvis chained him underwater at camp crystal lake the hulking killer Jason Vorhees returns to the camp grounds when he’s released accidentally by a teenager with psychic powers.

TEX SAYS: More new Special Editions of the classic Jason films. No Blu-rays this weeks….sadly.

FRIDAY THE 13TH, PART VIII: JASON TAKES MANHATTAN: Paramount

A passing boat bound for New York pulls Jason along for the ride. Look out Big Apple here comes hell in a hockey mask.

GRACE: Anchor Bay (Blu-Ray)

Eight months pregnant, Madeline Matheson deflects her demanding mother-in-law’s insistent pressure for standard hospital treatment, instead opting for the peaceful companionship of a trusted midwife. Though reluctantly compliant, her husband remains supportive of her choices until a sudden tragic accident leaves her unborn baby lifeless inside of her. Madeline remains determined to carry the stillborn baby to term, where she miraculously wills the delivered corpse into life. But it is not too long before the increasingly isolated mother realizes that something is not right with baby Grace, and she must make horrible sacrifices to keep her living.

TEX SAYS: After weeks alone as a Best Buy Exclusive, the rest of the retail work can savor the terror of GRACE!

THE HANNIBAL LECTER ANTHOLOGY: MGM (Blu-Ray)

Witness the birth of evil in spine tingling clarity, as the eerie and intense HANNIBAL LECTER ANTHOLOGY captures MANHUNTER, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and HANNIBAL together on stunning Blu-ray Disc for the first time. MANHUNTER, the intense thriller from writer-director Michael Mann (Heat, Public Enemies), first introduced the world to the cunning, unforgettable serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The psychological horror continues in THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS with Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins (The Elephant Man, Nixon) as the sophisticated murderer, alongside Oscarwinner Jodie Foster (Maverick, Contact) as FBI agent Clarice Starling, who liaisons with the killer in order to solve a murder case. Lastly, Hopkins reprises of the role of Dr. Lecter in HANNIBAL, as he comes out of hiding to draw FBI agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore; Boogie Nights) into a high-stakes battle that will test her strength, cunning and loyalty.

IT’S ALIVE: COLLECTION: Warner

All three IT’S ALIVE films together for one low price!

KING KONG VS. GODZILLA: Universal

The two mightiest monsters of all time battle in the thrilling adventure classic, King Kong vs. Godzilla. When an underhanded pharmaceutical company goes to a remote tropical island to steal King Kong for advertising purposes, they get more than they bargained for when the gigantic ape attacks an unsuspecting village and an enormous octopus. Meanwhile, far below the sea, a submarine crew unleashes reptilian terror when they melt a block of ice and release the ferocious Godzilla from his icy lair. When both destructive monsters descend on Tokyo, it’s a fight that holds the future of mankind in the balance in this knock-out film that was the first theatrical release to bring its larger-than-life contenders to the big screen in glorious color.

MISERY: MGM (Blu-Ray/DVD Combo)

Novelist Paul Sheldon doesn’t remember the blinding blizzard that sent his car spinning off the road. Nor does he remember being nursed back from unconsciousness. All he remembers is waking up in the home of Annie Wilkes a maniacal fan who is bent on keeping her favorite writer as her personal prisoner for the rest of his “cock-a-doodie” life!

THROUGH NO ROAD: Cinema Epoch

The serenity of a yet another quiet evening alone is shattered for amateur photographer, Richard. Desperate, frightened and uninvited, Samantha has taken refuge in Richard’s sprawling, suburban home. As she seeks salvation from savage retribution, Richard is forced to fight Samantha’s battle for survival in order to save his home, his life and his sense of humanity.

PHANTASM II: Universal

The Tall Man is back with a vengeance in Phantasm II, the second chapter in the cult classic Phantasm series! Released after seven years in a mental hospital, Mike convinces his old pal Reggie to join forces with him to hunt down and destroy The Tall Man once and for all. Mike’s visions lead the two to a quiet little town where a horde of flying killer balls aim to slice and dice their gruesome way through each of them. Exploding with special effects, unparalleled thrills, horror and suspense, Phantasm II climaxes with a blood-curdling conclusion that you have to see to believe.

TEX SAYS: Put your Region 2 sphere sets up on the collectors shelf for now. Universal has FINALLY released Don Coscarelli’s second entry in the Tall Man saga. Tragically, it looks like they forgot the special features.

PVC-1: MPI

In 2000, a group of masked men invaded the home of a poor family in rural Columbia. They then attached a bomb encased in PVC-1 tubing around the mother s neck and demanded 15 million pesos. The family would be told by phone where to bring the money. If the ransom were not delivered according to exact instructions, the collar bomb would be detonated. Greek/Columbian writer/director Spiro Stathoulopoulos films the story of this harrowing ordeal in one unbroken take for an unprecedented achievement in real-time suspense that stunned audiences at the Cannes Film Festival.

SANCTUARY: THE COMPLETE FIRST SEASON: E1 Entertainment

Dr. Helen Magnus is a brilliant and enigmatic scientist who seeks out all manner of monstrous creatures. Aided by her protégé, forensic psychiatrist Will Zimmerman and her fearless daughter Ashley, the Sanctuary team tracks down, studies and protects the strange and often terrifying creatures that secretly populate our world.

THE WOLF MAN (UNIVERSAL LEGACY SERIES): Universal

he original horror classic that introduced one of the screen’s most infamous monsters! Lon Chaney, Jr. portrays Larry Talbot, who returns to his father’s castle in Wales and meets a beautiful woman. One fateful night, Talbot escorts her to a local carnival where Jenny’s fate is revealed by a mysterious gypsy fortune teller. The dreamlike atmospheres and elaborate settings combined with a chilling musical score make The World Man a masterpiece not only of the genre, but for all time!

WRONG TURN: Fox (Blu-Ray)

An indescribable nightmare begins when a group of young friends is stranded on an isolated road deep in the Appalachian hills of West Virginia, with no hope of rescue. Desperate and fearing for their lives, the horror surges as they find themselves relentlessly pursued by a force of evil beyond their imagination! Featuring a hip ensemble of up-and-coming young stars, this blood-curdling epic is a shock-a-minute horror rush that will leave you screaming for more!

WRONG TURN 2: DEAD END: Fox (Blu-Ray)

Six reality TV show contestants are thrown together for six days in a simulated post−apocalyptic wasteland called “The Ultimate Survivalist.” Located in a remote part of West Virginia, the contestants discover that they really are fighting for their survival… against a family of hideously deformed inbred cannibals who plan to ruthlessly butcher them all!