MONDO ESOTERICA

I’ve reviewed 4 films from this collection released at the beginning of this week (Hills Run Red, Legend of the Lost, Man of the East and Navajo Joe) and to wrap the reviews up I have completed a summary of all of the American Western titles.

I am going to be reviewing most of these next year as part of a feature into the more obscure American Westerns, so keep your eyes open for that.

The year started with cries that cult DVDs were doomed, talk of “over-saturation” and “the end of an era” were banded about. Yet we are still here, and much to everyone’s surprise, heralding the launch of an all new cult DVD company, in England!

Shameless Screen Entertainment has been established with the sole intention of distributing ex-video nasties, and the more extreme cult cinema. Their first two titles released earlier this month are a good example of this, and reflect the real possibilities… or the possible realities of this new company.

Phantom of Death is a real plus. Previously only available on DVD from Germany, and generally not very well known, despite the presence of the notorious Ruggero Deodato at the helm, it is presented fully uncut and in a good looking widescreen print.

New York Ripper is more of a concern. It has been readily available on DVD in the US (although it is OOP at present), and recently released on a very good, feature packed Swedish DVD, the Shameless release has also suffered from that curse that will doubtless hang over the company for a while to come - BBFC cuts. I won’t get into the idiocy of mature and consenting adults in the UK being barred from watching a film freely and fully available in the US, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Netherlands, Australia and Germany.

Ultimately Shameless have no way of telling, before they submit a film, whether or not it will be cut, and with the high cost of submitting a film, they can’t afford not to release it afterwards. However, they do know when a film has been previously released, and perhaps should be looking to fill the gaps in the market rather than simply doubling up - although from the Joe-six-pack perspective, titles like “New York Ripper” are much better known, and likely to sell a lot better in stores.

Shameless are certainly the most exciting company to emerge this year - their superb cover-art and well written case notes show a real love for the films that many of the other cult DVD companies, and certainly the majors seem to be missing. Some will doubtless criticise the lack of bonus features on the discs, but at their own admission, the company have said that the cost of recording interviews etc. would force them to cut their releases from two a month, to one every two months - and while it is a pity not to get to hear Michael York explain just how he came to be cast in a Giallo film, it is a worthwhile sacrifice to simply get the film out on DVD.
So lets just hope that they survive the BBFC maulings, and make enough sales with the better known titles to allow more unreleased goodies to emerge in 2008.

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Read more about the upcoming Shameless titles at our upcoming page, or their own site at Shamless-films.com

Its that time of year again, the Hallowe’en period, and the months before and after, are a goldmine for classic horror titles, and this year is certainly no different.

The Midnite Movies line is back, to much fanfare, with a great selection of titles - like most people, I am most excited about Witchfinder General (1967) - finally (I hope) with a good looking, uncut print. A duet of Amicus anthology horror films from the new 20th Century Fox branch of the MM collection, along with the recently announced release of Beyond the Grave (1972) from Warner Brothers will also be more than welcome. I’m also likely to be tempted by MGM’s Vincent Price boxset, as I only own one film from it (Dr. Phibes). Expect reviews of all of these as soon as I can get my hands on them as part of that annual institution - Horror September!
For anyone who has not already seen them - the MGM/Fox titles and the WB collection.

Some other news, leaked yesterday, concerns the new Mario Bava releases coming from ABUS in October. As well as a single disc release of the exciting Erik the Conqueror (1961), there will be a boxset of Baron Blood, Bay of Blood, 5 Dolls for an August Moon, Roy Colt and Winchester Jack, Four Times that Night and Lisa and the Devil (with the House of Exorcism recut) - 3 of these films will also include newly recorded audio commentaries from Tim Lucas. This should be a good set to pick up - more details.

And literally just announced, from Severin Films, a brand new release of Lucio Fulci’s classic giallo Murder to the Tune of 7 Black Notes (1977), to be released in late October, along with his little known sex comedy The Eroticist (1972). The details.
If you can’t wait until then, BCI are releasing two more titles in their well received Spanish Horror collection in August, Paul Naschy in Exorcismo and Amando de Ossorio’s Night of the Sorcerers. Probably not for fans of “top quality” horror films, if you like the trashy stuff, this should be a good buy. Details. While the World Cult Cinema experts, Mondo Macabro are releasing the French sex-horror film The Blood Rose this month as well. Details.

It should be a good couple of months - not to mention the great series of reviews and features that I have got lined up for the site (hopefully including most of these new releases!).

Another new release from Severin films, an another top quality DVD - this bit of 1970s erotica is best known for being written by the author of the original Emmanuelle novels, but stands alone as an artistic and erotic film. Read the review.

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In other news, the biggest DVD announcement of the year so far has been the news that DDHE have secured the DVD rights to a wide selection of previously unreleased films, including 13 long awaited Hammer titles. Details on these titles, and more at our upcoming pages.

Sorry its been a while between updates but I’ve not been napping. There are 6 new reviews sitting on my hard drive waiting to be uploaded along with a brand new Guide, and I just unexpectedly received some exciting preview discs which I’ll be reviewing over the next few days.

I have been trying to keep on top of the DVD announcements from the various cult companies. There are some more trashy exploitation films coming from Dark Sky, and a couple of new titles announced by Severin. The latest news on the BCI Naschy discs is that the first two titles will street in May with the rest of the collection to follow in the future. Read more at my Upcoming Pages.
There have also been some surprising announcements from the majors, most notably the Cult Camp Classics collection from WB, including a peplum and some classic airborn disaster movies, the potential for future releases in this series seem boundless and there are already rumours of a Hallowe’en horror boxset coming later in the year. Read more at DVD Times.

On April 23rd, Optimum UK are releasing the classic Emmanuelle - the “original” soft-core porn film, onto DVD. Not currently available on English language DVD, and previously censored in the UK, the film is being released fully uncut and includes a new 30 minute interview with director Just Jaeckin and the film’s producer, as well as the original French trailer.

The film is presented in anamorphic 1.66:1 ratio and retains the soft-focus feel of the original print with a good transfer. Sadly, only the English language dub track is provided, instead of the more subtle French language track that was included on the earlier Anchor Bay US release of the film.

A full review of this film, and many of its contemporaries will follow closer to the release date.

5 of Mario Bava’s classic movies are coming back to DVD thanks to Anchor Bay USA, including the DVD debuts of the AIP American theatrical edits for Black Sunday, Girl Who Knew too Much and Black Sabbath, which extended to completely new footage and soundtracks. All the films include trailers, and with the notable exception of Black Sunday, include subtitled Italian tracks - there are audio commentaries and interviews as well!
ABUS are also releasing Bava’s grim kidnapping movie Rabid Dogs (1974), along with the new re-edit known as Kidnapped. The boxset and this release are both due on the 3rd April.
Loads more details on the Upcoming Page.

Nope we’re not asleep here, honest and here’s three bits of news for my loyal blog readers!

1) My latest project is almost complete, 11,000 words of Guide and Review (and this is just part 1 of the guide!), due by the end of the week, plus I’ve got a load of reviews ready to follow in February.

2) New updates to the upcoming page, with good news - a collection of British horror titles from Optimum UK, including two new-to-DVD films, and some bad news, another delay to the Paul Naschy titles from BCI. I will also be updating with news on the impending (and exciting) Anchor Bay US Mario Bava and Hammer collections, as soon as details are confirmed.

3) And finally…. I’ve just spent over €300 on DVDs from Italy and Germany, including a trio of Mario Bava titles, a dash of Hammer, some 1960s Oriental adventures and a dozen new Spaghetti Western DVDs, including the brand new W Django (1971) release, a duet of Sartana and even a musical. Keep your eyes open for reviews of these over the next few months…!

We’ve got news on new upcoming titles from Dark Sky Films and Mondo Macabro and a new look upcoming titles page that I’ll be keeping updated with all the latest news (and rumours) from the cult DVD world.

Now here’s some more good news - Severin Films have just confirmed their April release will be this very exciting duo of Jess Franco’s 1980s works. After their very nice looking previous DVDs, these two will hopefully be highly recommended purchases for all Franco and euro-cult fans.

Details on these discs, plus the rest of Severin’s catalogue on our Upcoming Pages.