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Horror In Your House: March 6th, 2012
This week’s release list is a short one, but have no fear Deadheads is here…to make you laugh and fall in love. Also available to crash into your home is Ed Wood’s infamous classic Plan 9 From Outer Space on Blu-ray. Yes, someone somewhere said to themselves, “Man, you know what movie should be on Blu? Plan 9?” Even crazier, someone agreed and made it a reality. All I can say to those brave thinkers is, “Thank you, you crazy bastards.”
DEADHEADS (pictured above) – Freestyle Digital Media
Two zombie slackers, Mike and Brent, find themselves surprisingly reborn from the dead amid a disastrous zombie outbreak. After discovering an engagement ring in his coat pocket, Mike enlists his new found zombie pal, Brent, to embark on a quest in search of his lost love. What ensues is a hilarious cross country road trip as these two reformed flesh-eating pals hitch-hike across the country as they are pursued by a team of zombie killin’ bounty hunters!
MICAH SAYS: Initially touted as the American Shaun of the Dead, which is isn’t. It is, however, a fun zomedy that centers more on romance than horror. Sure, some of the jokes fall flat, but there is plenty to like in the affectionate homage. PICK OF THE WEEK
PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (Blu-ray) – Legend Films, Inc
Hailed as the worst film of all time, Ed Woods cult classic Plan 9 From Outer Space is one of the most hilariously entertaining movies you will ever see. Aliens fear the human race will develop a deadly ‘solaranite bomb.’ After eight failed attempts, Plan 9 is their scheme to reanimate earth s dead to build a zombie army and stop the earthlings from destroying the universe. With string powered flying saucers, twisted alien logic and ‘priceless’ special effects, it is a movie mission destined for success, or not!
MICAH SAYS: Yes, because this film NEEDS to be on Blu-ray. I’ve seen this film a couple times and it’s bad charm is undeniable. I am curious to how the transfer looks, not that it matters one bit. This movie is a jumbled mess of interplanetary proportions. Much love.
REQUIEM FOR THE DAMNED – Hannover House
Edgar Allan Poe. For nearly two hundred years his stories of the macabre have shocked and terrified audiences. And now, inspired by five of Poe’s most terrifying tales, five filmmakers have banded together to create the ultimate tribute to the master: Edgar Allan Poe’s Requiem For The Damned – featuring adaptations of : The Fall of the House of Usher, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Black Cat, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Murders in the Rue Morgue.
MICAH SAYS: POE. What was that movie that had Vincent Price playing a part in three separate Poe stories? I want to watch that again. As for this effort, my thought is you can never have enough Poe in your life. Certainly worth a rent / Netflix.
Editorials
Arrow Video’s ‘Stranger Things: The Complete Series’ is the Ultimate Collector’s Box Set for Fans
Available as of today from Arrow Video is a new box set that might arguably be the definitive way to watch Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things.
At the very least, Stranger Things: The Complete Series puts emphasis on “complete.” That’s evident in its special features alone.
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series are available for purchase now, featuring an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, interviews with the cast and crew, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
The Deluxe Edition is presented in custom packaging featuring newly-commissioned artwork, alongside a wealth of extra material: a 148-page booklet, exclusive art cards, a Hellfire Club patch, double-sided posters for each season, and much more.
This limited-edition release features all 42 episodes of the show’s five season run on more than 25 discs, all housed in a set featuring gorgeous artwork by Juan Ramos. “We always dreamed that Stranger Things could be owned in its entirety,” said Matt and Ross Duffer, “not just as a collector’s set, but as a way to preserve the show for decades to come.”
Their imprint looms large over the release, including writing in the 148-page book that also includes original design sketches, concept art, and storyboards. All of which would warrant the steep price tag alone for the diehard Stranger Things fan, but Arrow Video upped the ante with collectible surprises as well. Arcade patches, stickers, Hellfire Club dice, and an extremely detailed map of Hawkins, Indiana- double-sided to account for the Upside Down, of course – are among the highlights for this all-ages set.
Adorn your walls with posters representative of your favorite season! That’s also an option with this set’s offerings.
All of which to say that it’s rare for Netflix to make the jump into physical media, and they’ve enlisted Arrow Video to give it the best possible treatment. They certainly brought utmost care and attention to this release. As such, both the standard and deluxe sets come with steep price tags that start at $160 depending on format. While that’s likely a deterrent to the casual viewer, it’s more than worth it for fans.
It may be less convenient than hitting play on Netflix, sure, but there’s a lot to be said about the potential for quality upgrades to your viewing. No spotty internet or compression issues to be found here when it comes to the 4K Ultra HD or Blu-ray discs.
That’s really the biggest takeaway from this release: the untapped potential still of Netflix’s streaming library of originals that are ripe for similar treatment. Series and films that could receive Arrow Video levels of treatment on physical media.
Fans of Stranger Things can venture into the Upside Down one last time this spooky season at Halloween Horror Nights, but there may be no better way to ring in the series’ tenth anniversary than a rewatch with this expansive, well-curated box set.
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