The Further
These Terrifying Robot Wolves Now Prowl Farms in Japan to Keep Boars Away
They’ve been dubbed “Super Monster Wolves.“ And yes, this is 100% real.
Scarecrows may do a good job keeping birds away, but how do you control pest problems of a bigger kind? Well, over in Japan, wild boars are a huge problem on farms; there are nearly one million of them in Japan, and their epic feasts on chestnuts, rice, and other crops are collectively contributing to massive amounts of agricultural waste.
In an effort to get the boar problem under control, some mad genius created the “Super Monster Wolf,” a robotic, roaming hell-beast that’s equipped with a terrifying howl as well as a set of glowing red eyes. It may look like a decoration you’d spend way too much on at Spirit Halloween, but it’s actually proven to be a game-changer.
The robotic wolves, which measure right around two-feet tall and rely on motion sensors to detect the pests they’ve been tasked with spooking, are soon entering mass production, allowing farmers around Japan to hire their own for about $5,000. Early trials have proven incredibly successful; the monster wolves do their jobs quite efficiently.
As for real wolves, they’ve been extinct in Japan since the 19th century. Here’s hoping their new robot doppelgangers don’t end up going into business for themselves…
The Further
5 of This Week’s Coolest Horror Collectibles Including a ‘Scooby-Doo: Zombie Island’ Blu-ray Double Feature
Killer Collectibles highlights five of the most exciting new horror products announced each and every week, from toys and apparel to artwork, records, and much more.
Here are the coolest horror collectibles unveiled this week!
Matinee 4K UHD from Shout Select
Shout Select proudly presents Matinee on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on June 25. The 1993 comedy has been newly restored in 4K from the original negative, supervised by director Joe Dante, with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos sound.
John Goodman stars as a filmmaker loosely based on B-movie legend William Castle. Cathy Moriarty, Simon Fenton, Omri Katz, Kellie Martin, and Lisa Jakub round out the cast. Charles S. Haas (Gremlins 2: The New Batch) penned the script.
Special features include: a new commentary by film critics Drew McWeeny and Eric Vespe; new interviews with Martin and David Clennon; interviews with Dante, Moriarty, Jakub, production designer Steven Legler, editor Marshall Harvey, and director of photography John Hora; MANTastic! The Making of a Mant; vintage making-of featurette; and more.
Suspiria Button-Up from Middle of Beyond
I’d drape myself in Suspiria‘s lavish aesthetic every day if I could. Middle of Beyond’s new button-up shirt — with an all-over print featuring many of the film’s iconic visuals — is the next best thing.
It costs $60, and you can complete the outfit with matching shorts for the same price.
Stopmotion will bring your nightmares to life on Blu-ray on June 11 via IFC Films. The British psychological horror film marks the feature directorial debut of Robert Morgan (ABCs of Death 2).
In her review, Meagan Navarro said, “Morgan’s knockout debut opens up the veins of a turbulent artist, delivering one creepy melding of mediums to an unsettling, powerful degree.”
Aisling Franciosi stars with Tom York, Caoilinn Springall, Therica Wilson-Read, and Stella Gonet. Morgan co-wrote the script with Robin King.
Special features include: Behind the Scenes of Stopmotion and interviews with Morgan and Franciosi.
John Carpenter Shirt + Flexi Disc from Fright Rags
Fright-Rags has released John Carpenter’s latest single, “He Walks By Night,” on flexi disc with a matching shirt featuring artwork by Aaron Lea. Limited to 500, the set costs $45 and is scheduled to ship the week of May 24.
The track appears on Carpenter’s new album, Lost Themes IV: Noir, due out May 3 from Sacred Bones Records.
Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island / Return to Zombie Island Blu-ray from Warner Archive
1998’s Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island and 2019’s Scooby-Doo Return to Zombie Island will be released on Blu-ray together as a Hanna-Barbera double feature on May 7 via Warner Archive.
Zombie Island is directed by Jim Stenstrum (Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost) and written by Glenn Leopold (The Prowler). Frank Welker, Billy West, Mary Kay Bergman, B.J. Ward, Scott Innes, Adrienne Barbeau, Jim Cummings, and Mark Hamill star.
Return to Zombie Island is directed by Cecilia Aranovich (Harley Quinn) and Ethan Spaulding (Avatar: The Last Airbender) and written by Jeremy Adams (Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion’s Revenge). Frank Welker, Grey Griffin, Matthew Lillard, and Kate Micucci star, with an appearance by Cassandra Peterson as Elvira.
No special features are included, but pre-orders are only $14.99.
For more merch madness, peruse the Killer Collectibles archives. You can also visit Broke Horror Fan.
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