Jamie Marks is Dead is a 2014 American drama/horror film based on Christopher Barzak‘s 2007 novel One for Sorrow and directed by Carter Smith (The Ruins). Liv Tyler, Judy Greer (Cursed), Cameron Monaghan (Click), Morgan Saylor (Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant), Noah Silver, and Madisen Beaty star.

The film premiered at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.

Plot teaser:

Adam McCormick had just turned fifteen when the body was found in the woods. It is the beginning of an autumn that will change his life forever.

Jamie Marks was a boy a lot like Adam, a boy no one paid much attention to—a boy almost no one would truly miss. And for the first time, Adam feels he has a purpose. Now, more than ever, Jamie needs a friend. But the longer Adam holds on to Jamie’s ghost, the longer he keeps his friend tethered to a world where he no longer belongs… and the weaker Adam’s own ties to the living become. Now, to find his way back, Adam must learn for himself what it truly means to be alive…

Reviews:

“The potentially ludicrous story is handled artfully enough here to cast an eerie but not off-putting spell throughout, though the ultimate point is more than a tad murky, and the desired poignancy doesn’t fully come across.” Dennis Harvey, Variety

” … a spooky rendition of teenage passion and shame. It has requisite angst and melodrama, but they’re guided by the film’s immersive atmosphere and sense of place. It’s a gothic romance—a sort of coming out, bullying story that projects onto its world the moods and emotions of its characters.” Kyle Burton, Indiewire

“Smith’s expertise in crafting visceral, frightening scenarios – exemplified in his somewhat under-appreciated studio horror feature The Ruins - is fully on display here. Conjuring a gloomy view, in both the afterlife and the real world, the director seems to be in complete control of his vision, particularly in the sound design and downcast cinematography.” Jordan Raup, The Film Stage

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A Candle for the Devil (original title: Una vela para el diablo) is a 1973 Spanish horror film directed by Eugenio Martín (Death at the Deep End of the Swimming Pool; Horror Express; Supernatural) from a screenplay co-written with Antonio Fos (Cannibal Man; The Vampires’ Night Orgy).

In the US, the film was released in a heavily censored, truncated version as It Happened at Nightmare Inn (on a double-bill with Things from the Grave). The current British Odeon DVD is fully uncut.

The film stars Judy Geeson (10 Rillington Place; Doomwatch; Fear in the Night), Aurora Bautista, Esperanza Roy, Vic Winner (Horror Rises from the Tomb; Count Dracula’s Great Love), Lone Fleming (Tombs of the Blind Dead; Evil Eye; Wax), Blanca Estrada, Loreta Tovar, Julia Montserrat.

Plot teaser:

Two old maid sisters are running a little family hotel in Spain. They are very religious and when the perceived lack of morals displayed by a young female British tourist is too much for them, they start to kill…

Reviews:

“The adorable Judy Geeson is very likeable and is quite good as Laura, but this one really is about the two sisters. Aurora Bautista and Esperanza Roy who plays Marta and Veronica do one hell of a job! Although these are two huge personalities they are played with a fair amount of restraint that doesn’t allow the performances to get campy. Really the entire film is about restraint. The film is subtle and isn’t nearly as exploitative as similar films from the decade.” Goregirl’s Dungeon

“As a mere horror film, this is a perfectly serviceable tale not unlike Tigon’s Beast in the Cellar but the direction and style brought to the sexual repression are of a higher order. It may be that politics were far from the film-maker’s minds but it is hard to believe that the dictatorship around them didn’t inform the themes…” The Digital Fix

“Religious iconography also plays a major role in this picture (from paintings, to architecture and to faith, as distorted as it may be from the perspective of the sisters). This speaks volumes on the subject of Christianity through the ages and its decline with each passing decade.” Cool Ass Cinema

Zombie TV is a 2013 Japanese action/horror/comedy film co-written and co-directed by Maelie Makuno, Yoshihiro Nishimura (Tokyo Gore Police; Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl; Helldriver) and Naoya Tashiro (splatter shorts: Naked Sister; Hell of the College Girls; Cannibal Maid and Killer Nurse).

It stars Maki Mizui, Takashi Nishina, Tomoya Maeno, Miyuki Torii, Jiji Bû, Hidetoshi Ezawa, Luchino Fujisaki, Yasu Genki.

Press release:

A Monty Python-esque collection of shorts, animation, sketch comedy, instructional videos and more, Zombie TV showcases the natural evolution of zombies in the 21st century, no longer a frightening menace, but rather an annoying neighbour you realise you simply have to put up with.

Zombie TV answers such natural questions as: in a world full of the undead, wouldn’t some of the surviving humans want to join the majority and become zombies themselves? Would becoming a zombie solve the emotional and relationship problems we all have as living, breathing human beings?

Do zombies have their own idols? Would zombies worship a zombie god? Who would win in a fight: a cannibal, or a zombie? How did zombies evolve from walkers into runners? And the most burning question of all: how do zombies have sex?

Buy Helldriver on Blu-ray from Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com

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Horny House of Horror (ファッション·ヘル（ス) Fasshon heru(su)) is a 2010 Japanese horror parody film directed and written by Jun Tsugita (Mutant Girls Squad). Director Yoshihiro Nishimura (Helldriver; Tokyo Gore Police; Zombie TV) assisted with the gory set pieces.

Tsugita created the film as a fan of western exploitation films and had a desire to make a parody of the film Motel Hell. In Japan, the film is called Fashion Hell with an extra letter S. By adding the extra H the title becomes “Fashion health” which is a Japanese term for a kind of brothel.

Plot teaser:

In Japan, Nakazu (Yuya Ishikawa) is about to get married to a woman who insists on keeping up with his daily events through a cellphone. His baseball fan friends Toshida (Wani Kansai) and Uno (Toushi Yanagi) feel that Nakazu needs one last thrill before tying the knot as they stumble upon the Shogun Massage Parlour after a night of playing baseball. Toshida and Uno insist on entering the brothel with Nakazu who has never paid for sex before.

The three are presented with the sight of three female buttocks that are displayed through holes in a wall to give them a tease of what is on offer. Each of the three men separate into rooms with their selected ladies of the night, Nagisa (Saori Hara), Nonoko (Asami) and Kaori (Mint Suzuki). The trio of men are unaware of the brothel’s mission to sexually torture customers…

Reviews:

“Featuring far more sexually graphic content than many of its predecessors, Horny House of Horrors is a surprisingly effective comedy. The characters are naturally two-dimensional but warm enough, while the violent set pieces are gross and funny, executed with panache by none other than Yoshihiro Nishimura himself.” Brutal as Hell

“Vagina dentata is the yarn’s main means of attack, but samurai swords and phallic food games provide plenty of ketchup. Male thesps chew the scenery with comic shamelessness, while wild-eyed Asami is sassy and ferocious; Saori Hara gives her thesping more effort than the pic deserves, emerging with dignity (if not nipples) intact. Script provides a loopy excuse to get to Nishimura’s setpieces, so Tsugita’s helming feels rushed.”

“The concept is stupid but, because it’s mostly limited to one set, controllable, meaning technical aspects such as cinematography and makeup are quite good (although action choreography is not) … If it had pushed the sex or the gore quotients a little more it might have worked better. For this sort of thing, the film should have had more “ewwww” moments to balance the silliness.” Digital Retribution

“The movie suffers from a cheap budget and lack of any real script. If a film is to sport the comedic moniker, it might as well be at least somewhat funny, right? It ended up more on the campy, lame end that without the dick cutting moments would be entirely pointless … Its pretty basic Asian horror with props that are too cheap to really feel like you’ve accomplished something by watching this.” HorrorNews.net

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‘Evil comes in all sizes’

Puppet Master (also known as Puppetmaster) is a 1989 American horror film written by Charles Band and Kenneth J. Hall, and directed by David Schmoeller (Tourist Trap; Crawlspace). It is the first film in the Puppet Master franchise and stars Paul Le Mat, Irene Miracle (Inferno), Matt Roe, Kathryn O’Reilly, Barbara Crampton and William Hickey.

Originally intended for theatrical release, Puppet Master was ultimately pushed to direct-to-video on October 12, 1989, as Charles Band felt he was likely to make more money this way. The film was very popular in the VHS market and developed a large cult following that has led to the production of an amazing ten sequels.

Plot teaser:

In 1939 Bodega Bay, California, an old puppeteer named Andre Toulon is putting the finishing touches on a living puppet called Jester. A living oriental puppet, named Shredder Khan, stares out of the window for Blade, another living puppet, as Blade scouts the grounds of the Bodega Bay Inn that Andre is staying. Two Nazi spies get out of a car and head for Toulon’s room but Blade beats them there and Andre puts Blade, Jester and Shredder Khan into a chest with the Indian puppet, named Gengie, before hiding the chest in a wall panel. As the Nazis break down the door, Toulon shoots himself in the mouth with a pistol.

50 years later, in 1989, psychics Alex Whitaker, Dana Hadley, Frank Forrester and Carissa Stamford make contact with an old colleague of theirs, Neil Gallagher, and conclude he found Andre Toulon’s hiding place. Each one of them experiences a different vision…

Reviews:

“Even though the original is a bit slow at times, it’s still a pretty well done little slasher (once the slashing begins). The colourful cast of characters adequately complement the puppets, as they find themselves in some memorable situations (BSDM escapades go a little bit further when Tunneler and Leech Woman are involved!). The Bodega Bay hotel setting is effective as well, and there’s enough twists and turns in the plot to keep things interesting.” Oh, the Horror!

” …the puppet effects are great and their designs creative and memorable enough that their appearances are worth sticking around for. It’s easy to see why they captured the imagination of viewers and inspire such loyal fandom that figures, models and masks continue to be sold year after year. Nevertheless after the 1939 opening, it’s fairly slow going until the last twenty minutes or so. Better things were to come in some of the sequels…” Mysterious Universe

“Although Puppet Master is great fun, it’s not without its problems.  The film relies heavily on psychic vision sequences that aren’t implemented well in a few cases, making a lot of the narrative of the film seem disjointed and confusing.” UK Horror Scene

Cast:

William Hickey as Andre Toulon
Paul Le Mat as Alex Whitaker
Irene Miracle as Dana Hadley
Jimmie F. Skaggs as Neil Gallagher
Robin Frates as Megan Gallagher
Matt Roe as Frank Forrester
Kathryn O’Reilly as Carissa Stamford
Mews Small as Theresa
Barbara Crampton as Woman at Carnival
David Boyd as Man at Carnival
Peter Frankland as Assassin #1 (Max)
Andrew Kimbrough as Assassin #2 (Klaus)

Featured puppets:

Blade
Jester
Pinhead
Tunneler
Leech Woman
Shredder Khan
Gengie

Wikipedia | IMDb

‘Sh!t just got surreal’

Septic Man is a 2013 Canadian horror film directed by Jesse Thomas Cook (Scarce; Monster Brawl) from a screenplay by Tony Burgess (Pontypool). It stars Jason David Brown, Molly Dunsworth (Hobo with a Shotgun), Tim Burd (Saw 2 and 3), Robert Maillet (Pacific Rim), Julian Richings (Survival of the Dead), Stephen McHattie.

Plot teaser:

Jack (Jason David Brown) is an average sewage worker who has been asked to investigate a water contamination in his hometown that has forced everyone else, including his pregnant wife Shelley (Molly Dunsworth), to evacuate. He decides to investigate the local sewage plant but ends up getting trapped in a septic tank by Lord Auch (Tim Burd) and his brother Giant (Robert Maillet). They refuse to let Jack out despite his pleas and the toxic sewage eventually begins to transform Jack into the hideous mutant Septic Man…

Reviews:

“Some might be put off by its seemingly nonsensical narrative and distinct lack of a straightforward plot, but with solid performances from Maillet, Richings, and Burd, a pulsing yet ambient score by Nate Kreiswirth, exceptional special effects, and, of course, Burgess’s tendency to keep you thinking long after the credits roll, Cook’s Septic Man is destined to be a divisive yet damned intriguing film.” Brad McHargue, Dread Central

“Burgess and Cook’s decision to not let their monster roam free leaves SEPTIC MAN spinning wheels. The movie rarely goes anywhere. If there’s an underlying social commentary about the crap the working class must take, it’s not clear, and Stephen McHattie’s televised cameos as a seedy mayor feels superfluous—more a fun acting choice than larger point. When Septic Man begins to accept his fate as something transformed, shouting cult-ready proclamations, it all feels unearned.” Samuel Zimmerman, Fangoria

“Even at a mere 82 minutes it felt padded (complete with unexplained precognitive dream scenes), and (spoiler) the script doesn’t even go through with the full on tragic ending, opting for something that seems to be setting up a sequel (or positioning itself as a stealth prequel to The Toxic Avenger) instead. On the plus side, Jack’s makeup is terrific; he’s completely covered in a mostly practical design aided by some minor CGI flourishes, with a few stages of deterioration like any good monster movie of this sort (The Fly being the benchmark). Brian Collins, Badass Digest

Filming locations:

Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

Wikipedia | IMDb

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Cybernatural is a 2014 American horror film directed by Levan Gabriadze from a screenplay by Nelson Greaves (short: My Bloody Madeleine: The Making of Swann’s Blood). It stars Shelley Hennig (Teen Wolf TV series; Ouija), Renee Olstead, Jacob Wysocki, William Peltz, Heather Sossaman, Courtney Halverson, Matthew Bohrer. It was produced by Timur Bekmambetov of Nightwatch and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. 

Plot teaser:

While video chatting one night, six high school friends receive a Skype message from a classmate who killed herself exactly one year ago. A first they think it’s a prank, but when the girl starts revealing the friends’ darkest secrets, they realize they are dealing with something out of this world, something that wants them dead…

Reviews:

“The film’s technical merits are outstanding as director Levan Gabriadze shapes the entire thing into feeling like a true 80 minutes of online activity — you may even find yourself reaching for your mouse once or twice — and the cast deliver as well moving from casual banter to fear-induced moments of stress to sheer terror. Less successful, and what ultimately holds the film back (and from reaching the terrifying heights of The Den) is the script.” Rob Hunter, Film School Rejects

” …there is a solid subliminal message here in the anti-bullying subject matter, and it prevails mightily amidst the horrors of possession and paranormal capacities. Director Levan Gabriadze, who up to this point had only served double-duty (acting and directing) while in Russia, gives the audience one more reason to peer over their shoulders while online because apparently the NSA aren’t the only ones spying on you while you’re bangin’ away on the keyboard.” Matt Boiselle, Dread Central

“The actors, also including Courtney Halverson as the group’s frenemy and all experienced but unfamiliar faces, have a thoroughly convincing rapport as they first try to figure a way out of the situation … Gabriadze and the movie’s visual design team do an excellent job establishing a palpably vindictive and dangerous presence through nothing more than a series of words and images—though part of the film’s constant tension derives from the threat that the bad guy or girl will eventually appear on one of those Skype feeds to inflict some physical damage.” Michael Gingold, Fangoria

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Posted by WH

Hungry Ghost Ritual (Yu Lan Sun Gung; 盂蘭神功) is an 2014 Hong Kong-Malaysian supernatural horror film directed by Nick Cheung. It stars Nick Cheung, Annie Liu, Carrie Ng, Cathryn Lee, Lam Wai.

The film was released on July 10, 2014 in Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Plot teaser:

After incurring debts from his failed business venture in China, Zong Hua (Cheung) returns to Malaysia after a decade hiatus. The demoralized Zong Hua faces problem finding a job and tries hard to get use to things at home, including his estranged relationship with his step-father, Xiaotian, who runs a Cantonese opera troupe and half-sister, Jing Jing (Cathryn Lee).

After his father suffers a heart attack, the reluctant assumes control of the troupe. He must contend with their in-fighting in addition to the normal obstacles such a production encounters, as well as a series of strange spooky happenings back stage…

Reviews:

“Cheung is clearly aiming for a slow burn, building atmosphere towards an effects-heavy final act, in a similar vein to Juno Mak’s far more accomplished Rigor Mortis. Sadly, the characters are so shallow and the plot lacking any clear narrative arc that it is difficult for viewers to become invested in the film. The scary set-pieces are also over-reliant on crashing audio cues rather than anything genuinely creepy, the contorting possessed bodies feel derivative of a dozen other better movies, while the CG-heavy effects work never feels tangible enough to evoke a reaction.” James Marsh, Twitch

“This Asia-pudding of a story and a company of actors might have proved to be the undoing in Cheung’s first attempt as a director, and his competence – and perhaps audacity, given he’s never starred in a horror film in his career before – in tackling this genre piece might be better served the next time with a more fully-formed narrative and cast.” Clarence Tsui, The Hollywood Reporter

Wikipedia | IMDb

“Three Desperate Killers. Two Terrified Captives. One Wrong Turn. No Chance In Hell’

Devil’s Mile is a 2014 American/Canadian horror film written and directed by Joseph O’Brien. It stars David Hayter, Maria del Mar, Casey Hudecki, Amanda Joy Lim, Frank Moore, Adrienne Kress, Samantha Wan, Shara Kim, Craig Porritt.

The film premiered at the Fantasia Film Festival on July 26, 2014 and is scheduled for release on DVD and VOD on August 12, 2014.

Plot teaser:

A trio of kidnappers take an ill-advised detour en route to deliver their hostages — two teenage girls — to their mysterious and powerful employer. When they accidentally kill one of the girls during a botched escape attempt, their simmering mistrust explodes into shocking violence. But what they thought was their worst case scenario is only the beginning when their deceased hostage returns from the dead as a terrifying, rage-filled demon, resurrected by the hellish forces that haunt the road — a road they realize they cannot get off of. Now captors and captive have to fight together to escape the monstrous creature pursuing them and somehow survive…

Reviews:

“The acting was convincing and consistent, and the cast meshed together very well in their respective roles; each portrayal, despite seeming somewhat cookie-cutter in the first few minutes, had subtle touches that instilled beliefs and perceptions about the characters without dialogue-heavy exposition.” Andrew Thompson, Legless Corpse

“While some of the film felt a little rushed and a bit rough around the edges, for a first movie done on a budget, I was most impressed by what O’Brien and his team have achieved. Additionally, I found the performances good and I really enjoyed the complicated story with all its twists and turns. All I expect from any film is to be kept entertained for its duration, and Devil’s Mile managed to do just that.” Nav Qateel, Influx Magazine

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Crawl or Die (formerly known as Crawl Bitch Crawl) is a 2014 American science fiction horror film written and directed by Oklahoma Ward. It was produced by and stars Nicole Alonso (Screen). Other cast are: Torey Byrne, Tom Chamberlain, David P. Baker, Wil Crown, Tommy Ball, Clayton Burgess. In Japan, it was released as Alien Crawl.

Plot teaser:

Earth as we know it is gone. A virus has destroyed the planet and rendered all its women infertile, all but one. An elite team of soldiers are tasked with bringing the woman to safety on the newly habitable Earth Two. But when they are forced underground they find themselves fighting for survival from an bloodthirsty creature in a maze of ever shrinking tunnels. As the team’s ranks start to dwindle, the tunnels shrink and the ammunition run out, the crawl for survival becomes more and more desperate…

The film will receive a one night only theatrical release in Tulsa, Oklahoma  on August 9, 2014 and will be available on Vertical Entertainment DVD three days later.

Buy Crawl or Die on DVD from Amazon.com

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‘Sex, drugs and the walking dead’

The Coed and the Zombie Stoner is a 2014 American made-for-TV comedy horror film directed by Glenn R. Miller (The Bell Witch Haunting) from a screenplay by Scotty Mullen for The Asylum (producers of Sharknado; Mega Shark vs. Mecha Shark; Zombie Night and many others). It stars Catherine Annette, Grant O’Connell, Jamie Noel, Aaron Caleb, Dora Pereli, Lena Young, Ben Whalen, Josh Lee Aikin, Andrew Clements, Louis Dezseran, Diane Chambers, Mindy Robinson (The Haunting of Whaley House; V/H/S/2; Bloodsucka Jones), Haley Beedle. The film is obviously inspired by Warm Bodies.

Plot teaser:

When a nerdy sorority girl falls in love with a zombie, it’s only a matter of time before a zombie apocalypse is unleashed on campus. The sorority girl discovers that weed is the cure–now she must smoke out the entire school before it’s too late…

Reviews:

” …it’s meant to be a dopey stoner comedy, but you can still do that with a level of sophistication and intelligence that engenders praise and repeated viewing; none of that is in evidence here. It doesn’t even venture that much into tastelessness; I can dig gross out comedy as well as the next guy, but this was just lame! Even if it was an excuse for nudity and blood, both are pretty much fake here…” Scott Shoyer, Anything Horror

“The Coed and the Zombie Stoner is ostensibly a stoner rom-com, and Mullen has crafted a very believable romance, with a lot of cute touches that make it work. His idea of stoners may rely on cliches a bit, but he does give them some great hero moments though, so I think it balances out. In addition, the zombies are fast and still retain a lot of their personality, which is cause of some hilarious antics. They are still effectively scary when need be, and the detailed make-up is good.” Bobby Lepire, The B-Movie Shelf

“The script was written by first-timer Scotty Mullen, and his lack of experience showed, big time. His basic idea appeared to be sound enough, but it lacked in so many ways I’m surprised it was greenlit without being rewritten several times. Perhaps everyone got excited at the thought of making a poor mans’ version of Warm Bodies?! It felt like a rough draft rather than a finished script. The entire film relied on shitty gags with screaming naked girls running around…” Nav Qateel, Influx Magazine

IMDb

Count Dracula’s Great Love (originally El gran amor del conde Drácula) is a 1973 Spanish film directed by Javier Aguirre. The film is also known as Cemetery Girls (American reissue title), Dracula’s Great Love (American promotional title), Dracula’s Virgin Lovers (UK and Canadian theatrical title) and The Great Love of Count Dracula (International English title). The titular vampire is played by Spain’s most famous horror star, Paul Naschy, the stage name of Jacinto Molina, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Aguirre and Alberto S. Insúa.

Through the thick forest fog we witness a coach losing a wheel on Borgo Pass (one of the few nods to Bram Stoker‘s novel) and the five extravagantly-costumed travellers setting off on foot to find shelter for the evening. A local sanitarium is deemed suitable and they are granted a hearty welcome by the owner, Dr. Wendell Marlow (Naschy). The doctor is actually none other than Count Dracula, though it’s of no particular consequence that he goes by this name as this is pretty much the only connection to either the novel or any film with the character. The Count is desperate to resurrect his deceased daughter but can only do so with the blood of a willing virgin bride. One by one, his female guests meet grisly (not to mention breast-baring) ends until the one virgin, Karen (Haydée Politoff, of Queens of Blood) remains but an unlikely pang of moral conscience leads to a surprise conclusion.

Rural Madrid is not a particularly convincing Transylvania but the gothic stylings of Paul Naschy’s attempt to nail the role of the Count are incredibly heady, from the foggy exteriors to the lushly-decorated crumbling castle. Javier Aguirre was something of a stranger to horror films and it shows – the unnecessarily twisty plot reads more like the rules to a complicated card game, leaving cinema’s most notorious vampire with his wings clipped and, well, rather toothless. To make up for this, we are treated to a greatest hits of nudity and romping, with dashes of claret in a self-aware attempt to fulfil its horror film remit.

The quartet of bodiced lovelies is completed by Rosanna Yanni (Naschy’s Hunchback of the Morgue), Mirta Miller (Umberto Lenzi’s Eyeball) and Ingrid Garbo (Murder Mansion), though their ability to act is slightly surplus to requirements, indeed even Naschy is something of a by-stander, with no enemy as such, the characters plod around somewhat aimlessly until they fall into bed with the next man/woman. The sappy Count, when not moping around is beaten up by two far more vicious-looking vampires, their glowing, cat-like eyes a nice touch but not enough to stir huge interest.

Buy on DVD with Vampire Hookers from Amazon.com

Many of the crew on the film had worked on 1972′s violent Western, Cut-Throats 9, including the composer of the score, Carmelo Bernaola, a workman-like but reliable and long-time collaborator of Naschy. The nudity in the film is strong for the time, pushing the bare skin barrier far harder than Hammer did, aided by the film’s numerous different cuts, different territories being treated to differing strengths of bosom screen time – this also accounts for the myriad of different titles.

Although Naschy was most well-known for his werewolf character Waldemar Daninsky, he was also famous for playing most of the movie world’s most famous monsters, from hunchbacks to The Mummy, to warlocks to Fu Manchu – yet here, as Dracula, he seems a little lost, playing the required suave role perhaps for the sake of it and completely lacking the more monster-like passion he was known for. Without the trusty director of his classic films, Leon Klimovsky, Count Dracula’s Great Love is fun as 70′s Euro-sleaze but a disappointment as a cohesive narrative. Ironically, the film was sometimes shown theatrically on a double-bill with Klimovsky’s The Vampires’ Night Orgy.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

 Buy Paul Naschy: Memoirs of a Wolfman from Amazon.com

Although the continuity is a little wayward, the events of many of the Golden Age of Universal horror films actually take place in one of two fictional locales – the village of Frankenstein and that of Vasaria (sometimes spelled Visaria). In turn, these were generally filmed in the same place too, the sprawling Universal back-lot, nicknamed ‘Little Europe’.

Frankenstein Village is home, naturally enough, to the famed Frankenstein family who resided in the area for 700 years. Taking elements of the setting of Mary Shelley’s novel, Ingolstadt in Bavaria, it is referred to in House of Frankenstein as being located near the fictional town of Reigelberg in Switzerland (the country is also referred to in a 1930 shooting script for Frankenstein).

Notable places of interest in the village include a castle on the edge of the village, the ancestral dwelling of the Frankenstein family, latter inhabitants being the Baron and his son, Henry. Located behind the castle was an old watchtower where Henry Frankenstein drew notoriety for his attempts to grant life to cadavers. The building also had a crypt and a windmill is to be found nearby. Overseen by a burgomaster, the locals partake in many traditional trades and much of their economy appears to be based on the large forested area at the edge of their community.

Generally assumed to be in Switzerland, Vasaria is nestled in the mountains of Eastern Europe, rather isolated from the outside world and approximately a three-day journey from the nearest hamlet – Frankenstein. Vasaria was also home to men of medicine – Dr. Gustav Neimann (played by Boris Karloff in the film House of Frankenstein), and the youngest son of Henry Frankenstein, Ludwig (Cedric Hardwicke in Ghost of Frankenstein). Vasaria also became the residence of Larry Talbot (Lon Chaney Jr), better known in furry mode as The Wolfman.

For the narrative to make any sense at all, the events of the films should take place in roughly this order:

Frankenstein (Frankenstein Village)

Bride of Frankenstein (Frankenstein Village)

Dracula

Dracula’s Daughter

Son of Frankenstein (Frankenstein Village)

Ghost of Frankenstein (Vasaria)

The Wolf Man

Son of Dracula

Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man

House of Frankenstein (Frankenstein Village)

House of Dracula (Visaria)

Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein (ironically the one film which attempts to put all the monsters in a ‘believable’ real world where they could cross paths). Both towns have a surprisingly high quota of hunchbacks and hanged criminals.

Stage 12 at Universal Studios was built in 1928, covers 29,500 square feet and was originally created for the 1929 film, Broadway. The sprawling nature of the set meant that in leant itself to epic productions where entire communities had to be housed – these included Dracula, Frankenstein ( both 1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Alas, a devastating fire in 1967 means that the current replica of a town available to visit is not the original.

Daz Lawrence, Horrorpedia

With thanks to Universal Monster Army website and Monster Kid Classic Horror Forum.

Conjure Wife (1943) is a supernatural horror novel by Fritz Leiber. Its premise is that witchcraft flourishes as an open secret among women. The story is told from the point of view of a small-town college professor who discovers that his wife is a witch.

This novel was the first by Fritz Leiber. It has been the inspiration for at least three films: Weird Woman (1944), Night of the Eagle (aka Burn, Witch, Burn!) (1962), and Witches’ Brew (aka Which Witch is Which?) (1980).

Plot:

Tansy Saylor is the wife of an up-and-coming young sociology professor at a small, conservative American college. She is also a witch. Her husband, Norman, discovers this one day while rummaging through her dressing table: he finds vials of graveyard dirt, packets of hair and fingernail clippings from their acquaintances, and other evidence of her witchcraft. He confronts Tansy, and manages to convince her that her faith in magic is a result of superstition and neurosis. Tansy burns her charms; and Norman’s luck immediately goes sour. He realises that he had been protected, up till now, by Tansy’s charms, and that as a result of his meddling, they are both now powerless to counteract the spells and charms of the other witches all around them.

Critical reaction:

The novel is widely acknowledged to be a classic of modern horror fiction. It was included in David Pringle’s Modern Fantasy: The 100 Best Novels and in Fantasy: The 100 Best Books by James Cawthorn and Michael Moorcock. In The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, David Langford described it as “an effective exercise in the paranoid.”

Damon Knight wrote: Conjure Wife, by Fritz Leiber, is easily the most frightening and (necessarily) the most thoroughly convincing of all modern horror stories…Leiber develops [the witchcraft] theme with the utmost dexterity, piling up alternate layers of the mundane and outré, until at the story’s real climax, the shocker at the end of Chapter 14, I am not ashamed to say that I jumped an inch out of my seat…Leiber has never written anything better.

Boucher and McComas similarly lauded the novel as “one of the best of all novels on witchcraft survivals in the enlightened modern world.” P. Schuyler Miller described it as “one of those classics we talk about so glibly,” despite finding the denouement less effective than the setup.

Publication:

Conjure Wife was originally published in the April 1943 volume of Unknown Worlds. An “expanded and revised” version was published by Twayne Publishers in its Witches Three anthology in 1952, then issued as a stand-alone novel in 1953. The latter version has been reprinted many times, in both hardcover and paperback editions, by a variety of publishers, including Ace Books, Tom Doherty Associates, Penguin Books, and Award Publications.

‘Born of horror to live in terror!’

Captive Wild Woman (1943) is a sci-fi horror film, starring John Carradine, Milburn Stone, Evelyn Ankers, and “introducing” Acquanetta. It was released by Universal Pictures and was directed by Edward Dmytryk (The Devil Commands; Bluebeard) who was tasked with re-editing footage from a 1933 circus movie The Big Cage. Jack P. Pierce handled the beastly makeup effects.

Two sequels followed: Jungle Woman and The Jungle Captive.

Plot teaser:

Animal trainer Fred Mason (Milburn Stone) returns from his latest safari with a horde of animals for his employer John Whipple (Lloyd Corrigan), owner of the Whipple Circus. Among them is Cheela (Ray Corrigan), a gorilla with remarkably human characteristics. Mason relates that she is the most affectionate jungle animal he has ever encountered.

Mason’s fiancée Beth Colman (Evelyn Ankers) is present at the dock for his return. She tells him of the recent health problems encountered by her sister Dorothy (Martha MacVicar). In a flashback sequence, Beth tells of taking her sibling to see Dr. Sigmund Walters (John Carradine), an endocrinologist of some standing. Dorothy is staying at Walters’ Crestview Sanatorium for treatment.

Fred and Beth arrive at the winter quarters, and Dr. Walters pays a visit. He is extremely interested in Cheela, and in inquires about purchasing her. Whipple tells him that she is not for sale. Upon returning to his lab, Walters finds that his latest experiment has resulted in the lab animal’s death. He becomes convinced he needs larger animals that possess the “will to live.”

Walters enlists the aid of a disgruntled former circus employee to steal Cheela. After the ape is loaded onto his truck, the scientist callously pushes the man into the gorilla’s grasp and stolidly watches as the beast wrings his neck…

Reviews:

“If you like being shocked, this far-fetched piece is your cup of tea.” Picturegoer, 1943

“Rather more enjoyable than the story line might suggest and short enough not to outstay its welcome.” Alan Frank, The Horror Film Handbook (Batsford)

“It’s amazing how well this movie works. Sure, it’s as dumb as the proverbial bag of hammers, and one cost-cutting measure or another can be observed in almost every scene, but Captive Wild Woman is so totally shameless that it’s next to impossible not to be charmed. John Carradine makes a great mad scientist, Acquanetta makes a great ape-woman (it doesn’t matter that her acting is unequal to the task of conveying a single human emotion when she’s supposed to be playing a gorilla)…” 1000 Misspent Hours and Counting

Wikipedia | IMDb | AFI

In 1967, the BBC created its own record label, designed to exploit the demand for commercially released TV tunes, comedy shows and, finding an unlikely niche in the market, sound effects. These LP’s appealed to amateur film-makers, those attracted by the lurid and engaging sleeve designs and people with a ‘healthy’ interest in the subject matter. They ultimately released dozens of themed records across a whole host of sometimes baffling subjects (worldly travels, transport…farms!) but perhaps the best remembered are their three horror-related collections.

Volume 1, the endearingly-titled Essential Death & Horror (actually volume 13 in the BBC’s run of releases) appeared in 1977 and offers a dizzying collection of 91 different (though sometimes very similar) effects, handily batched together under the following headings; Execution and Torture, Monsters and Animals, Creaking Doors and Grave Digging, Musical Effects and Footsteps, Vocal Effects and Heartbeats and Weather, Atmospheres and Bells. It is quite likely that many vegetables were harmed during the creation of the albums – ‘arm chopped off’ sounds like a cabbage being cut, ‘head chopped off’ rather like a carrot being attended to.

No matter, for the wide-eyed imaginative youth, these were heady and evocative sounds, quite sensational to imagine that such barbaric acts had captured by Auntie Beeb for posterity. Particular favourites of my own include the actually rather disturbing electronic workout ‘Phantom of the Opera Organ Sounds’, ‘Monsters Roaring’ (pigs being interfered with, possibly) and ‘neck twisted and broken’ (broccoli attacked).

Such was the success of Volume 13 (or 1 if you prefer), a follow-up album arrived in 1978 – Volume 21′s More Death and Horror. Rather more ragged than the first release, we are treated to even more inclement weather, bells tolling and some overly comedic death rattles – of particular note is ‘death by garrotting’, a performance that would frankly stop a pantomime for being too silly.

Regardless, there was one final outing, the paltry twenty-five minutes of Volume 27′s Even More Death and Horror. Easily the most startling record of the three, the methods of torture are truly imaginative; ‘self immolation’, ‘female falling from great height’ and ‘tongue pulled out’ are all very pleasing, though how many home videos these were used in is of concern. Appearing three years after the second volume, this was the last hurrah for audio maiming and is the rarest of the LP’s to find.

It should come as no surprise that all three albums are the work of the BBC’s Radiophonic Workshop, set up in 1958 to create music and sound effects for initially radio and then television – their most famous work being the theme tune and effects for the long-running TV show, Doctor Who.

Specifically, the effects were the creation of one of the workshop’s producers, Mike Harding (not to be confused with the British folk musician). Cheap and quick to create, they were a fantastic money-maker and were by far the biggest sellers of the BBC’s sound effects releases. The garish, collage covers (not dissimilar to that of the world’s most frightening album, Horrific Child’s ‘L’Etrange Monsieur Whinster‘) were the work of Andrew Prewitt who explains the phenomenon from the other side of the fence:

“Prior to my arrival as the Head of Creative Services for BBC Record and Tapes back in, many records were sent out to the public on demand on cassettes. There was a high request amongst Film Companies (amateur and professional), theatres groups, radio broadcasting companies world wide for sound effects.

The BBC Radiophonic Workshop had some of the best sound engineers and technicians in the world creating and recording sounds for every conceivable noise and bizarre request.

They had come up with a selection to meet the need for horror films and plays, and spent some time chopping up cabbages and spooning out melons etc to capture that evil noise.

I decided that a graphic illustration was need to enhance the product that had up to then been sent out on tapes and some in plain record sleeves.

So I set about illustrating some of the content in a gory way, (tame by modern standards but this was 1978)

It was an amazing success and took us all by surprise, some press featured it and the then self- appointed guardian of British morals sent a very strongly worded letter to me suggesting that I was corrupting the minds of young people with evil images.

Sad to say it only fuelled the sales and further records followed, some with more of my illustrations and designs”

Scream Factory is an American digital production company dedicated to releasing horror and science-fiction films with a cult following; it is an imprint of Shout! Factory. Scream Factory has released a slate of fan-favourites from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, many of which have never been available on Blu-ray before.

Each title is presented in anamorphic widescreen, and most are released in a “Collector’s Editions” with new bonus content, archival materials, a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork, a reversible wrap with original theatrical key art and more.

The series was launched on September 18, 2012 with special edition DVD and Blu-ray releases of Halloween II (1981) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch.

Almost all of Scream Factory’s releases are on Blu-ray. Some are a Combo Pack of both Blu-ray and DVD discs and are released separately as both. Additionally, some titles are released as Collector’s Editions, indicating a release with all new special features and reversible artwork.

Scroll down to the end of this entry for all the latest and upcoming Scream Factory releases…

#	Title	Home Video Release	Theatrical Release	Format(s)	Artwork	Notes
01	The Stepfather	June 15, 2010	January 23, 1987	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Originally a Shout! Factory release, but now considered a retroactive Scream Factory release.
02	Halloween II - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	September 18, 2012	October 30, 1981	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Collector’s Edition - includes rare Network TV Cut – Buy from Amazon.com
03	Halloween III: Season of the Witch - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	September 18, 2012	October 22, 1982	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
04	The Funhouse	October 16, 2012	March 13, 1981	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Collector’s Edition
05	Terror Train - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	October 16, 2012	October 3, 1980	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
06	They Live	November 6, 2012	November 4, 1988	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
07	Death Valley - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	December 11, 2012	May 7, 1982	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
08	The Island - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	December 11, 2012	June 13, 1980	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
09	Deadly Blessing - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	January 22, 2013	August 14, 1981	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
10	The Nest - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	February 19, 2013	May 13, 1988	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
11	Prison - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	February 19, 2013	March 4, 1988	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
12	TerrorVision - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	February 19, 2013	February 14, 1986	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy Double Feature from Amazon.com
13	The Video Dead - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		November 1987
14	From Beyond - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	March 26, 2013	October 24, 1986	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition Unrated Director’s Cut from Amazon.com
15	Phantasm II - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	March 26, 2013	July 8, 1988	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
16	The Vampire Lovers - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	April 30, 2013	October 4, 1970	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
17	The Burning - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	May 21, 2013	May 8, 1981	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
18	The Town That Dreaded Sundown - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	May 21, 2013	December 24, 1976	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Also includes The Evictors as a bonus feature. Buy from Amazon.com
19	The Evictors		April 19, 1979
20	Ninja III: The Domination	June 11, 2013	September 14, 1984	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original
21	The Howling - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	June 18, 2013	April 10, 1981	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
22	Lifeforce - Click to read Horrorpedia entry (NB. contains full-frontal nudity)	June 18, 2013	June 21, 1985	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition - includes rare U.S. Theatrical Cut – from Amazon.com
23	Dead Souls	June 25, 2013	October 12, 2012	Blu-ray and DVD	Original
24	The Fog - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	July 30, 2013	February 1, 1980	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
25	The Incredible Melting Man - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	July 30, 2013	December 9, 1977	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
26	Swamp Thing	August 6, 2013	February 19, 1982	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original
27	X-Ray (aka Hospital Massacre) - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	August 20, 2013	April 1982	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy Double Feature from Amazon.com
28	Schizoid - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		September 1980
29	Dark Angel	August 27, 2013	September 28, 1990	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
30	Q: The Winged Serpent - Read Horrorpedia entry	August 27, 2013	October 29, 1982	Blu-ray	Original	A Scream Factory release, despite having Shout! Factory on the cover art. Buy from Amazon.com
31	Cockneys vs Zombies	September 3, 2013	August 2, 2013	Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Copy	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
32	Scanners II: The New Order - Read Horrorpedia article	September 10, 2013	June 28, 1991	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy Scanners Double Feature from Amazon.com
33	Scanners III: The Takeover - Read Horrorpedia article		May 14, 1992
34	Day of the Dead	September 17, 2013	July 19, 1985	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
35	Prince of Darkness - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	September 24, 2013	October 23, 1987	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
36	Psycho II - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	September 24, 2013	June 3, 1983	Blu-ray and DVD	Original	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
37	Psycho III - Click link to read Horrorpedia entry	September 24, 2013	July 2, 1986	Blu-ray and DVD	Original	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
38	The Amityville Horror	October 1, 2013	July 27, 1979	Blu-ray	Original	Buy The Amityville Horror Trilogy from Amazon.com
39	Amityville II: The Possession - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		September 24, 1982
40	Amityville 3-D		November 18, 1983
41	What’s the Matter With Helen?	October 8, 2013	June 30, 1971	DVD	Original	Buy All Night Horror Film Marathon from Amazon.com
42	The Vagrant - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		May 15, 1992
43	The Godsend - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		January 25, 1980
44	The Outing - Click to read Horrorpedia entry		September 11, 1987
45	Chilling Visions: 5 Senses of Fear - Click to read Horrorpedia entry	October 22, 2013	May 16, 2013	Blu-ray and DVD	Original	Buy on Blu-ray from Amazon.com
46	House of Usher - Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 22, 2013	June 22, 1960	Blu-ray	New	Buy The Vincent Price Collection from Amazon.com
47	The Pit and the Pendulum - Click for Horrorpedia entry		August 12, 1961
48	The Haunted Palace - Click for Horrorpedia entry		1963
49	The Masque of the Red Death		June 24, 1964
50	Witchfinder General - Click for Horrorpedia entry		August 14, 1968
51	The Abominable Dr. Phibes - Click for Horrorpedia entry		May 18, 1971
52	The Dungeonmaster - Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 29, 2013	February 1985	DVD	Original	Buy All Night Horror Film Marathon Volume Two from Amazon.com
53	Catacombs		March 24, 1993
54	Cellar Dweller - Click for Horrorpedia entry		September 20, 1988
55	Contamination 7		December 29, 1993
56	Body Bags - Click for Horrorpedia entry	November 12, 2013	August 8, 1993	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk
57	Assault on Precinct 13	November 19, 2013	November 10, 1976	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
58	Eve of Destruction	November 19, 2013	January 18, 1991	Blu-ray	Original
59	Night of the Comet - Click for Horrorpedia entry	November 19, 2013	November 16, 1984	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
60	The Horror Show - Click for Horrorpedia entry	November 26, 2013	April 28, 1989	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
61	Saturn 3	December 3, 2013	February 15, 1980	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original
62	The Initiation of Sarah	December 10, 2013	February 6, 1978	DVD	Original	TV Terrors
63	Are You in the House Alone?		September 20, 1978
64	The Beast Within - Click for Horrorpedia entry	December 17, 2013	February 12, 1982	Blu-ray and DVD	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
65	Crawlspace - Click for Horrorpedia entry	December 17, 2013	May 21, 1986	Blu-ray	Original	New Audio Commentary by director David Schmoeller “Please Kill Mr. Kinski” –- a short film by David Schmoeller Interview with Make-up effects artist John Vulich Theatrical Trailer Buy Blu-ray from Amazon.com
66	Cat People - Click for Horrorpedia entry	January 21, 2014	April 2, 1982	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
67	Die, Monster, Die!	January 21, 2014	October 27, 1965	Blu-ray	Original
68	The Beast of Hollow Mountain	January 28, 2014	1956	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Double Feature
69	The Neanderthal Man		1953
70	Night of the Demons - Click for Horrorpedia entry	February 4, 2014	September 9, 1987	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
71	Witchboard - Click for Horrorpedia entry	February 4, 2014	December 31, 1986	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
72	Bad Dreams	February 18, 2014	April 8, 1988	Blu-ray	Original	Buy Double Feature from Amazon.com
73	Visiting Hours - Click for Horrorpedia entry		May 28, 1982
74	Darkman	February 18, 2014	August 24, 1990	Blu-ray	New	Collector’s Edition
75	The Slumber Party Massacre - Click for Horrorpedia entry	March 18, 2014	November 12, 1982	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
76	Beneath - Click for Horrorpedia entry	March 25, 2014	May 3, 2013	Blu-ray	New	Buy from Amazon.com
77	Dead Shadows	April 22, 2014	April 27, 2013	Blu-ray and DVD	Original
78	Evilspeak - Click for Horrorpedia entry	May 13, 2014	February 26, 1982	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
79	Final Exam - Click for Horrorpedia entry	May 13, 2014	June 5, 1981	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
80	Nosferatu the Vampyre - Click for Horrorpedia entry	May 20, 2014	October 5, 1979	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
81	House in the Alley	May 27, 2014	October 25, 2013	DVD	Original
82	Sleepaway Camp - Click for Horrorpedia entry	May 27, 2014	November 18, 1983	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition Uncut Version from Amazon.com
83	Ravenous - Click for Horrorpedia entry	June 3, 2014	March 19, 1999	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
84	The Monkey’s Paw	June 17, 2014	October 8, 2013	Blu-ray and DVD	Original
85	The Final Terror	July 1, 2014	May 1, 1983	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original
86	Lake Placid	July 8, 2014	July 16, 1999	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
87	Deadly Eyes - Click for Horrorpedia entry	July 15, 2014	May 16, 1983	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
88	Ginger Snaps - Click for Horrorpedia entry	July 22, 2014	September 10, 2000	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
89	Phantom of the Paradise - Click for Horrorpedia entry	August 5, 2014	October 31, 1974	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
90	Without Warning - Click for Horrorpedia entry	August 5, 2014	September 26, 1980	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
91	Motel Hell - Click for Horrorpedia entry	August 12, 2014	October 18, 1980	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
92	Leviathan	August 19, 2014	March 17, 1989	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
93	The Legend of Hell House - Click for Horrorpedia entry	August 26, 2014	June 15, 1973	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
94	Pumpkinhead - Click for Horrorpedia entry	September 9, 2014	October 14, 1988	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
95	The Battery - Click for Horrorpedia entry	September 16, 2014	October 13, 2012	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy from Amazon.com
96	Halloween	September 23, 2014	October 25, 1978	Blu-ray	New	Halloween: The Complete Collection Limited Edition Boxed Set Includes the ultra-rare Network TV Cut of the originalHalloween, the original mono audio track and both versions of the original Blu-ray release and the remastered 35th Anniversary Version with the original mono track added back in. the Network TV Cut of Halloween II, the never-before-released Producer’s Cut of Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, and the Unrated Versions of Rob Zombie’s Halloween andHalloween II. Set will come with hours of new bonus features including new interviews with cast and crew from the entire franchise. Also included will be a limited edition 40-page book written by Michael Gingold of Fangoria Magazine. Collectible packaging will include a newly commissioned illustration on the outer case and each film will be in its own black Blu-ray case with original theatrical one sheet as the key art.Buy Blu-ray Collection from Amazon.com
97	Halloween II		October 30, 1981
98	Halloween III: Season of the Witch		October 22, 1982
99	Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers		October 21, 1988
100	Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers		October 13, 1989
101	Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers		September 29, 1995
102	Halloween H20: 20 Years Later		August 5, 1998
103	Halloween: Resurrection		July 12, 2002
104	Halloween		August 31, 2007
105	Halloween II		August 28, 2009
106	Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut - Click for Horrorpedia entry	September 30, 2014	February 16, 1990	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy ‘The Director’s Cut’ from Amazon.com
107	Hemlock Grove: The Complete First Season- Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 7, 2014	April 29, 2013	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy from Amazon.com
108	Tales from the Crypt - Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 14, 2014	March 8, 1972	Blu-ray	Original	Buy Double Feature from Amazon.com
109	Vault of Horror		March 1973
110	Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings	October 21, 2014	October 19, 1994	Blu-ray	Original	Buy from Amazon.com
111	The Squad	October 21, 2014	October 7, 2011	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Buy from Amazon.com
112	The Last Man on Earth - Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 21, 2014	March 8, 1964	Blu-ray	New	Buy The Vincent Price Collection II from Amazon.com
113	The Comedy of Terrors		January 22, 1964
114	Dr. Phibes Rises Again		July 1972
115	Tomb of Ligeia		January 20, 1965
116	The Raven		January 25, 1963
117	Return of the Fly		July 1959
118	House on Haunted Hill		February 17, 1959
119	Nightbreed: The Director’s Cut	October 28, 2014	February 16, 1990	Blu-ray and DVD	New	Limited Edition Will also include the original R-rated theatrical version.
120	Squirm - Click for Horrorpedia entry	October 28, 2014	July 30, 1976	Blu-ray	New	Buy Collector’s Edition from Amazon.com
121	The Dark Half	November 2014	April 23, 1993	Blu-ray	Original
122	Dolls	November 2014	March 6, 1987	Blu-ray + DVD Combo	New	Collector’s Edition
123	Monkey Shines	November 2014	July 29, 1988	Blu-ray	Original
124	The Doctor and the Devils	Fall 2014	October 4, 1985	Blu-ray	Original
125	Lord of Illusions	Fall 2014	August 25, 1995	Blu-ray	New	Collector’s Edition
126	Hellhole	2014	March 1985	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	Original
127	Dog Soldiers	Early 2015	July 20, 2002	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Collector’s Edition
128	Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh	2015	March 17, 1995	Blu-ray	Original
129	Escape from New York	2015	July 10, 1981	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Collector’s Edition
130	Invaders from Mars	2015	June 6, 1986	Blu-ray	Original
131	Mad Max	2015	April 12, 1979	Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack	New	Collector’s Edition
132	New Year’s Evil	2015	December 19, 1980	Blu-ray	Original
133	Phantom of the Opera	2015	November 4, 1989	Blu-ray	Original
134	Scarecrows	2015	September 28, 1988	Blu-ray	Original

Wikipedia

‘You can’t outrun fate’

Blackwood is a 2013 British supernatural horror film directed by Adam Wimpenny from a screenplay by J.S. Hill. It stars Ed Stoppard, Sophia Myles, Russell Tovey, Isaac Andrews, Paul Kaye, Greg Wise, Joanna Vanderham, Kenneth Collard.

The film was shown at the London Film Festival on October 17, 2013. It is released in the UK on August 1, 2014.

Official synopsis:

Having recovered from a shattering emotional breakdown, college professor Ben Marshall (Ed Stoppard) relocates to the countryside with his wife (Sophia Myles) and young son (Isaac Andrews), hoping for a fresh start. With a new job and a new home, Blackwood, things seem to be going his way.

But Blackwood is far from a peaceful, rural escape, as Ben is haunted by visions that seem to connect to the house’s previous owner, Mrs Warner, an artist whose disturbed paintings litter the house. As Ben begins to dig into the disappearance of a local woman and her missing son, he is led into investigating a troubled gamekeeper (Russell Tovey) and the local vicar (Paul Kaye). The arrival of Ben’s old friend and fellow academic, Dominic (Greg Wise), serves only to awaken buried feelings and past rivalries.

Is Ben fated to solve the mystery of Blackwood and save his family before time runs out?

Reviews:

“Whilst it doesn’t make anywhere near enough use of its landscape as it could (especially aurally), it is stunning to watch and is wonderfully eerie; especially in its explicit winter-time shots that look atmospheric and crisp. The scene is also set with marvellous location work, again filled with ghost story norms such as stone circles, empty forests, village churches, and even the local woodcutting workshop. This strangely surmises the real enjoyment of the film as well as its downfall. For while the narrative is pleasingly innovative in its twist and conclusion, Blackwood seems more like a ghost story greatest hits compilation than a real attempt to find something new within the genre.” Adam Scovell, Celluloid Wicker Man

“Despite the film’s clearly successful atmospheric flair, such artful direction and meticulous scene setting is let down by a script overwhelmed with abominable clichés and generic formulas. Traces of recent horror offerings, such as You’re Next, Sinister and Insidious can be derived from the screenplay of Blackwood, plaguing it with the unshakeable stench of unoriginality. A promising film alas falls into the evil clutches of repetition; aside from the truly gripping final ten minutes, Blackwood hardly confronts what hasn’t been addressed countless times before in horror films.” Zoe De Pasquale, Next Projection

“While efficiently filmed, Blackwood prefers using horror tropes as metaphors than for pure scares, lending events the feel of an ambitious but airless thesis. It doesn’t help that Ben is so unlikeable – and Ed Stoppard so inert.” Simon Kinnear, Total Film

“Definitely reminiscent of any other ghost story or haunted house film you’ve seen before – it certainly has a swirl of Kubrick’s The Shining too – but this acquaintance doesn’t detract from the film’s curt and intense pace.” Emily Stockham, Movie Ramblings

Filming locations:

Wales and Surrey, England

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Ferat Vampire aka Upír z Feratu (the name is a pun on Upír Nosferatu, or Nosferatu the Vampire) is a 1981 Czechoslovak horror film directed by Juraj Herz.

The Ferat rally car used in the film was a prototype for an unrealised sports model Škoda 110 Super Sport produced by Škoda Auto, now generally referred to as the Škoda Super Sport ‘Ferat Vampir RSR’ in homage to the film. This car white coloured also play a small role in Tomorrow I’ll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea.

Plot teaser:

Doctor Marek (Jiří Menzel) is shocked when his beloved nurse, Mima (Dagmar Veškrnová), signs a contract with foreign car manufacturer Ferat to work as a rally-driver. Rumours abound that the Ferat sports car runs not on petrol, but on human blood.

Reviews: 

“Akin to the paranoid thrillers that littered the cinematic landscape of the 1970s, with, of course, a touch of David Cronenberg thrown in there for good measure, Ferat Vampire is many things: A horror film with science fiction overtones. A satire of mindless consumerism. But it’s also an attack on driving. Think about it. Driving is one the most unnatural activities the human body partakes in during the modern era.”  House of Self Indulgence

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Splatter University is a 1984 slasher film directed, edited, co-produced and co-written by Richard W. Haines. It stars Forbes Riley [as Francine Forbes], Ric Randig, Dick Biel, Kathy Lacommare, Laura Gold. It was initially distributed by Troma Entertainment.

Plot teaser:

A patient escapes from a mental hospital, killing one of his keepers and then stealing his uniform. Three years later, a teacher is working late and gets stabbed and killed by the same patient, after he makes his way to the local college. Next semester, the late prof’s replacement and a new group of students have to deal with a new batch of killings…

Reviews:

“This college-themed slasher never takes itself too seriously with a subtle sense of humor, but plays it straight with the slashing! Splatter U is filled with POV shots, red herrings, inventive deaths (watch for the bloodless knife-down-the-throat kill), sex-crazed college students, religious undertones, and some of the most outrageous 80’s fashions, all rounded out with an enjoyably cheesy keyboard synth score.” Jeffrey Lee, Slasher Studios

” …the movie doesn’t FEEL sleazy or misogynistic like Maniac or some others with a heavy female casualty rate; if not for the rather cheap production value and occasional Happy Birthday To Me-esque hijinks committed by our core cast, I’d actually consider them to be really good shock twists. But the loose and sloppy approach to this sort of material leads me to believe that it wasn’t intentional, and that they probably just didn’t even notice that they forgot to kill any of the male characters, because they were too busy just having fun cashing in on a trend that was on its last leg.” Horror Movie a Day

“Francine Forbes is the only real actor in the cast. She brings a charming innocence to this film. The rest of the cast must be friends or relatives of the filmmakers. They obviously weren’t hired on talent or good looks. The killer’s identity is a bit of a surprise, but the actor looks too silly to be menacing.” Thomas Ellison, Retro Slashers

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Richard W. Haines recalls working on Splatter University:

I graduated NYU’s film school in 1979 and immediately went to work in New York City’s indie film industry. My first job was sound editing Charles Kaufman’s Mother’s Day. He then sent me over to his brother, Lloyd, who operated a low budget production/distribution company, Troma Inc. They had been producing hardcore porn movies but expanded their output to ‘R’ rated sexploitation with Squeeze Play in 1980. I did sound editing for Waitress! then edited Stuck on You, The First Turn On and The Toxic Avenger while simultaneously developing my own properties.

My first feature film was Splatter University which was shot in 1981 at age 24. I co-produced it with my ex-college roommate, John Michaels. We were able to scrape up enough to get the picture on film for $25,000. Then we ran out of money and continued to work on other movies while funding post-production.

Although I story boarded the script and did extensive pre-production work, I discovered that principal photography consisted primarily of trouble shooting since nothing went as planned. We secured Mercy College in Yorktown, New York for the school location and were promised two weeks to film there during a break. At the last minute they reduced it to one week. That meant we had to shoot around the clock to get it done. I averaged about five hours of sleep per day. One of the actors didn’t show up so I had to fill in and played the role of a Priest in one scene. Our production manager was so overwhelmed, our leading lady, Francine Forbes, ended up coordinating much of the shoot.

Our special effects artists, Amodio Giordano and Ralph Cordero, were the youngest crew members on set. Ralph was still in high school. They ended up crashing out on the floor of the classroom between F/X shots during the Mercy College shoot rather than going home to rest. We barely made our deadline and they were mopping up stage blood while students arrived back in school after the break. They did a good job despite our budget limitations.

Other locations included the Hollowbrook Drive Drive-In located in Peekskill, New York. My family used to go there when I was a child and the film was booked there in 1984. Audiences could see the actual Drive Drive-In they were attending as they watched that scene in the movie.

Like many low budget horror films of the era, we shot in 16mm because that was the cheapest way to go. The blow up to 35mm was only $6,000 at the time. Other features that went that route included The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Martin. We used some NYU equipment by having one of the students who worked on our movie borrow it from our alma mater.

It took another year to edit the film and we discovered it was too short with a 65 minute running time. We showed our rough cut to potential distributors and they told us we needed a minimum of 80 minutes for theatrical release. They suggested adding a framing device making the killer priest an escaped mental patient to avoid offending religious viewers. In addition, they told us to add some Porky’s type humour to enhance it’s appeal to the targeted youth demographic.

I had no choice but to add this footage if I wanted the movie released although it changed the tone of the film. The original cut had fairly good acting by the leads and was a semi-legitimate horror film. By adding the prologue and sophomoric humor it made the film very campy. While I wasn’t crazy about this alteration it’s what gave the picture it’s cult following.

We rounded up non-professionals to shoot these extra scenes and let them to overact and camp it up as requested. We ended up with a 79 minute running time which was acceptable for feature presentation. Since I was still working as an editor at Troma, I licensed the movie to them for distribution so I could track it’s release. In 1986 the rights returned to me and I marketed it afterwards. While far from my best movie, it was a financial success which enabled me to get funding for additional projects.

[Richard W. Haine's recollections first appeared in Filmrage magazine].

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