Classic Slasher Film Gets Deluxe Treatment
340848
This 2-disc (1 BD & 1 DVD) package honors the slasher that took the US by storm. The DVD included is a copy of the film. The Burning ranks in the Top 10 Best 1980's Slashers. It caused quite a stir with the censors at the time but seems fairly tame now. The Burning features three young actors who ended up making it big later in their careers (Jason Alexander, Holly Hunter, Fisher Stevens). The picture and audio quality are surprisingly good in this Blu-ray. There is about an hour of total bonus content. Horror freaks will appreciate the deluxe treatment this classic slasher receives in this release.

Video Resolution/Codec: 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 | Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio Formats: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono
Subtitles/Captions: English SDH

Special Features: Audio Commentaries, Blood 'n' Fire Memories (HD, 18 min), Slash & Cut (HD, 12 min), Cropsy Speaks! (HD, 11 min), Summer Camp Nightmare (HD, 7 min), Behind-the-Scenes (1080i/60, 8 min), Still Gallery (HD), Trailer (HD)

Buy this film.
1880938
The British Horror Film has seen a resurgence in the past decade with some really nice gems in the mix of all the blood and guts.  Here we have Director Ryan Andrews's 'ELFIE HOPKINS: CANNIBAL HUNTER'-2012, a film which builds into a pressure cooker frenzy by the last 30 minutes. It's really hard to give a synopsis of what goes on before entering spoiler territory, suffice it to say that the DVD cover does not do the film justice as its advertised as a splatter fest in 'BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER' mode.  The film is very subtle in its build up, the characters are eccentric (you may want to press the subtitle button because the British dialects are hard to fathom sometimes), and the story is wonderfully original.  Jamie Winstone is excellent as the title character and her father Ray Winstone who is also Executive Producer on the film plays a nice cameo which abets the mania.  Beautiful location photography by Tovia Sempi and a melancholic music score by Jordan Andrews round out the mix.  Unfortunately, the film's title gives away some of the plot but if you like your mystery clues to unfold gradually, then this film is for you.  I was thoroughly surprised and I hope they make the character of Elfie into a series.  Screen Media Films releases it in a nice 2.35 widescreen transfer with perfect digital sound. Click the add to cart button and be prepared for one of the most brutally original horror films to grace your cranium in quite some time.
2421818
Not a scary movie per se, but a fun and original take on the slasher genre.
3822636
Basket case is a fun low budget horror from the 80s. It is without question the directors master peice. The use of stop motion annimation was very well done for the time. This movie had a little bit of everything: Gore,comedy and romance and was paced out pretty good. Its a unique movie with an even more unique story that will leave anyone who watches wanting to see the greatly overlooked sequals. You will never look at someone carrying a basket the same way again. Sit back and enjoy a must own for horror fans.
407913
Rituals is a forest survival movie, that is seems to predate the Friday the 13th films, but with a more mature audience in mind, instead of the teens that came by the truckloads to the theaters to watch the slashers of the 80's. Five men go to a camping trip, but then become followed by a stranger that isn't revealed till the end, yet this person is deadly. A great film worth watching for someone who is in mood for a film that is in the style of Deliverance.

Code Red released this film and when it dropped, a lot of people complained of the damage to the print that were VERY noticeable. I kept that in my head when I purchased it, and to my surprise, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Sure it's clearly damaged, but the damage doesn't seem to bother me. The audio is decent enough to understand everyone (not crystal clear), and the only part that becomes difficult to see is near the end (yet that seems to be a problem that occurred way before Code Red was even involved).

This film is going for quite a bit of cash, so I suggest searching around for the right price. I got mine for 30 dollars brand new. The movie is great, and I'm happy to have it.
2502425
I have been watching a ghetto dollar store public domain/bootleg copy of this movie for years.  It feels like a very long awesome Twilight Zone episode and is one of my favorite old horror/thrillers.  Just watching the original cut is a phenomenal upgrade from the garbage version I was watching.  The soundtrack is a great creepy organ OST, on the cheap copy I had the soundtrack (even though enjoyable) overpowered all sounds and dialogue and made you feel like you were on drugs.  This version is over the top quality.  I have watched the D1 bonus features and there's a quaint mini-doc about the making of the movie and where the cast is now.  I still have yet to watch the slightly extended director's cut because I need to get dirty with the amazing looking original cut a few more times.  Regardless of having not yet viewed D2, if you like this movie, this version is top notch.
3268232
"Plasterhead" is unique in it's ability to pay homage to the great slasher fims of the 1980's. A lot of the (who done it) murderer flicks of the last decade or so, seem to insist on placing an ordinary coed or long lost relative as the serial killer by the end of the story. This is okay from time to time, but what I really miss from the genre, are the truly frightening villains of days gone by (A.K.A. Jason, Freddy, Michael and Leatherface)...
"Plasterhead" provides us with a new revisioning of this, through the birth of "Ray Williams" (A.K.A. Plasterhead). A man tortured and disfigured, before being left for dead by the townsfolk of Rolling Glen some years ago. Enter the horror movie standard "Dumb Teenagers" on a roadtrip to Florida, who must stop in the small West Virginia town to unravel the mystery of a discarded purse, and you have the makings of a slasher flick for next generation.
 Cinematically "Plasterhead" looks outstanding, and director Kevin Higgins certainly has an eye for what "Horror" should look like.
The story has it's merits, and puts an original spin on the "Brooding" villain seeking his revenge concept.
Where the film falters, is in it's young (no name) actors, whom appear quite stiff in front of the camera, and deliver their lines like they're reading a book. Some performances are better then others, with the stand-outs being Ernest Dancy as "David" and Brandon Slagle as "Henry".
Southern accents seem to be an issue for those actors who are playing folks from West Virginia, as their East Coast vocabulary always bleeds through. Another constant problem appears to be the locations, as Plasterhead's house is immaculate and doesn't really fit in with the mystique of his character.
Aside from these issues, "Plasterhead" manages to entertain, especially fans of the 80's slasher genre. The gore in admirable, and the musical score fills the viewer with suspense and dread. Keeping in mind that this is a low budget independent film, "Plasterhead" should be a welcomed addition to any Horror fan's collection.
2834923
Okay, The DVD here is the Unrated edition, but as a bonus, you get a special preview disc for Underworld Evolution, containing, the new trailer, a 'making of' documentary, a preview of the Evolution comic and a DVDrom link for the website.

I loved the original film; and the Unrated version is even better with more footage, different commentary tracks and completely different extra features from the original release on both discs!

The only downside to buying this set is if you already have the unrated edition, (Guilty) then the DVD is the exact same one, you just get the attached 'Bonus disc' as 'one more extra'.
1184416
In fact, this low-budget horror flick is beyond perfect. ITS THE GREATEST SLASHER EVER MADE!!! I don't usually review movies, but I couldn't refuse to not voice my opinion on Adam Green's theatrical debut. Indeed the film was built on a lot of hype, and some people say that it did not live up t that hype, but I think that with iconic horror characters (Kane "Jason" Hooder, Robert "Freddy" Enguland, Tony "Candyman" Todd), the return of the old school slasher genre, and an ample amount of blood and deaths proove that you don't need millions to make a great movie and that "Hatchet" met its hype and beyond. With a great commentary track and many funny and educating behind-the-scenes features, this dvd is a must-own for any horror fan or "blood-hound".
1835805
When Universal released 75th Annivesary editions of Dracula and Frankenstein in 2006, I assumed they would release a similiar set the following year for the Mummy, to mark its anniversary.  But 2007 came and went, with no new Mummy DVD.  Now, a year later, we finally get this deluxe edition.

Before I get into the specifics of the discs, I want to share a few thoughts about the film itself.  I've always felt that The Mummy was treated with a bit less respect than Universal's premiere big-screen sound horror movies, Dracula and Frankenstein.  And there's a reason for that: The film offers a more subtle approach to its thrills than those other landmarks of the genre.  As the film's title creature's moves and slow and deliberate, so is the pace of the film.  You probably already know that the iconic bandage-wrapped mummy is only onscreen for a few seconds.  For the bulk of the film, Boris Karloff appears as Ardeth Bey, the 3700 year old (unwrapped) priest who was buried alive for committing blasphemy.  While the film in some ways confounds expectations--especially if you've seen a "proper" mummy film, with the living dead skulking around killing folks who've disturbed his/her rest--Karloff's commanding yet understated performance elevates the film to classic status.

Now, if you've bought either of the two previously-released DVD versions of The Mummy, you might wonder whether you should bother with this edition.  And I think it comes down to how much you like the film itself, and whether you have a strong desire to learn a little more about its creation.  As for the film itself, I've compared it to both the original single-disc release and the 2004 Legacy Collection version. . .and haven't found enough differences in the audio or video quality to recommend an upgrade solely based on expected improvments in the transfer.  There's still some graininess to be found in the outdoor scenes, but the overall result probably represents the best the film will ever look.  Audio?  It's a mono film; it doesn't matter if you have the latest Dolby Pro-Geek 13.1 Surround Sound or whatever, it won't sound any better.

There are several bonus features which were held over from the Legacy Collection.  These include audio commentaries, the well-done "Mummy Dearest" documentary (actually produced for the single-disc release), a trailer gallery, and the excellent feature-length documentary covering all the classic Universal monsters.

A new documentary on makeup artist Jack Pierce is a welcome addition, though at 23 minutes, feels a bit rushed.  Less impressive is the even shorter featurette on the evolution of the Mummy character, which jumps from the 1940's sequels to the 1999 remake with Brendan Fraser, ignoring many other good and bad interpretations along the way.  The set also includes a free ticket to see the latest modern-day installment, Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.  I haven't seen it, but I'm assuming it's just as full of empty-headed thrills as its predecessors.  Anybody want a free ticket?

I'd recommend this set to all die-hard Universal Monsters fans.  But if you already have the film on DVD, you might want to consider whether the handful of new material is worth your money.
171680
This is a low-budget Aussie gem. Released in 1983, at the peak of the slasher cycle, it remains true to formula.

Cathy, a little girl, is traumatized upon seeing her mother fornicating with an illicit lover. Later, Cathy's unsuspecting daddy bids goodbye as Cathy and mommy drive off on a road trip. Cathy awakens in the back seat of the car to espy the lover fondling mommy's thighs while she's driving. Cathy panics and intervenes. Mommy is thrown through the windshield in the resulting accident. When Cathy tries to drag mommy back into the car, she inadvertently slits mommy's throat against windshield shards.

Recovering in a hospital, Cathy overhears a nurse mention that Cathy killed her mom. Daddy accuses Cathy likewise, apparently ignorant or indifferent that his daughter was defending him from cuckoldom. With all that guilt and ingratitude, what's a girl to do?

Cathy attacks a hospital employee with a glass shard.

Do you begin to detect a familiar pattern?

Flash forward. Cathy grows into adulthood, changes her name to Helen (played by Jenny Neumann from HELL NIGHT), and becomes an actress who is cast in a theatrical "comedy about death."

Helen also dreams. Dreams about death. Which is curious, because a string of murders is plaguing the theater.

NIGHTMARE's stereotypical characters drawn from the world of theater jell well with what remains in many ways a traditional slasher film. Their superstitions and neuroses form the subtext for the slasher's psychosis. An actress traumatizes her peers by whistling backstage. After one murder, she is reminded, "You're to blame! You whistled! This production's jinxed!" The director is shocked upon seeing an actor in green. "Never wear green!" When not insulting his actors, he spouts artsy-fartsy gobbledygook. "The meaning of the lines doesn't matter. It's the juxtaposition and rhythm of the words." A foppish critic delights in writing negative reviews and hitting on both actors and actresses alike.

NIGHTMARES utilizes standard slasher film aesthetics. POV shots conceal the killer's identity. Jarring melodramatic music heralds ominous events. Characters turn stupid at the most inopportune times. The drunken critic, staggering through the theater's basement just as the killer bursts through a glass door, simply remarks, "Jesus, why'd you do that for? You scared the daylights out of me." But instead of fretting over this unusual entrance, the critic ignores his own query and adds, "Well don't just stand there. Help me find my lighter."

Whereupon the killer picks up a glass shard...

NIGHTMARES is a splendid slasher film, but not so clever as to defy expectations. If you can't guess the killer's identity early on, you haven't been watching the subgenre. Even so, NIGHTMARES does end on a surprise twist, similar to that in INTRUDER (1989).

NIGHTMARES is marred by crass sadism (victims require prolonged and repeated stabbings to die) and gratuitous nudity, but is an overall enjoyable excursion into the world of theater, delineating all its backbiting jealousies, backstage gossip, and petty power politics within a slasher film context. Jenny Neumann makes for a plucky Helen.

NIGHTMARES features very rough productions values. It's the sort of unpolished slasher effort that many critics deride as scrapings from under the bottom of the barrel. And yet the film's very roughness lends it an authentic sensibility. Aficionados of ultra-low-budget horror Z-films (e.g. DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT) will find much merit in NIGHTMARES.
139903
THIS IS A GREAT ONE FROM THE 80,S, WITH DONALD .HALLOWEEN. PLEASENCE SAT IN A PACKED OUT MOVIE THEATER TAKING US THROUGH SOME OF THE SCARIST HORROR MOVIE,S OF ALL TIME, THE MOVIE IS ALL NICELY PUT TOGETHER WITH LOT,S OF CLASSIC MOMENT,S FROM SUCH FILM,S AS JAWS, PSYCHO, THE SHINING, THE EXORCIST,  THE OMEN, AND LOT,S MORE TOP MOVIE CLIP,S, THE DVD-R IT,S SELF IS OF VERY GOOD QUALITY PICTURE, WHICH IS ALSO THE 1.85.1 WIDESCREEN PRINT, AND THE SOUND IS VERY GOOD TO, THIS MOVIE IS ALSO ON THE UNIVERSAL BLURAY OF HALLOWEEN 2 AS A BONUS ON THAT DISC, BUT FOR ME IT,S NICE TO ALSO HAVE THIS MOVIE IN IT,S OWN ORIGINAL DVD BOX FOR MY MOVIE COLLECTION.
992540
THE DRACULA LEGACY collection is a nice package including the original DRACULA starring Bela Lugosi in an iconic movie that endures on.  Also included are the Spainish version of DRACULA (shot on the same sets at night as Bela's version!), the sequels -- DRACULA'S DAUGHTER, SON OF DRACULA, and HOUSE OF DRACULA (all three monsters show up for the finale).  You get five movies, and some great extras.  Like many reviewers I found one disc rolling around the inside of the package.  Fortunately it was not scratched!  That's the only downside to these collections I have found.
You get the 1931 original appearance of a cinematic DRACULA!  With two soundtrack options - listen to it in its original almost silent version, or chose the revamped Phillip Glass soundtrack version.  Todd Browning who directed this classic was foremost a silent film maker, and DRACULA was designed to be shown in theatres with and without sound.  So its almost creepier and more effective to see it with its long spooky silences intact.  But Glass is a great musician, and I appreciate his soundtrack as well.  It really depends on mood. And for fun check out the SPAINISH version which used the same sets.  Beautifully shot, and considered by some technically superior to Browning's film!  It uses more camera moves and visual effects.
The other films are a string of B sequels that are still a lot of fun.  Gloria Holden as DRACULA'S DAUGHTER is surprisingly creepy and troublingly lesbian in tone.  She only attacks women!  SON OF DRACULA is campy fun with Lon Chaney Jr. sailing through smokey swamps.  HOUSE OF DRACULA is the ultimate monster mash with Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and Dracula making appearances in this last sequel to the Universal monster franchise before they all appeared in an Abbot and Costello movie that killed them for a while.
But they live on!  My only beef with the extras is one where Stephen Sommers talks about how DRACULA influenced VAN HELSING.  I don't want to tie my 1931 version of a classic to this year's Summer Hit.  But in a way it proves ...
legends never die.
1248605
Ah, the proto-slasher- although released one month after Friday the 13th, it was obviously developed before the release of the "original," 80's slasher, and therefore falls into the proto-slasher category. A lower body count, a greater emphasis on the back story and mystery behind the murders, and much more character development (comparatively). It's a fantastic film and is always a joy to watch, especially on Blu-Ray. As a tip, look for the soundtrack online- all the songs feature in the film were written specifically for the movie, and they're actually halfway decent, with some nice tongue-in-cheek offerings like "Time to turn around," and "Love me till I die." Pay extra attention to the song that plays over the end credits- it's basically the movie summed up.
2842650
Unless you have been living in a cave for the past three decades, there's a pretty good chance you've heard of the HALLOWEEN franchise.  If you have not, then see below for the plot synopsis.  This series of films is regarded as one of the most iconic of the horror genre.  And for good reason:  the first film, featured in this review, is what launched the entire slasher-flick genre.  The fine folks over at Anchor Bay recognize the importance of this film and have therefore issued a special 35th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray in its honor.

I have to preface this review by stating that John Carpenter is my favorite director of all-time.  That's a bold statement to make, but his films helped define who I am as an adult, and many of them are on my Favorite Movies of All-Time list.  These include HALLOWEEN, THE FOG, ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK, BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, and GHOSTS OF MARS.  I left out THE THING because it is actually in my Top 5 Favorite Movies of All-Time.

HALLOWEEN is not only ground-breaking, it's scary as hell.  I am ashamed to admit that I just saw it for the first time about three years ago, but even then it scared me.  This is the `patient zero' of slasher flicks, and you can see how every one after it has copied it in some form or fashion.

The 35th ANNIVERSARY EDITION Blu-ray presents an all-new HD transfer that was personally supervised by the film's original cinematographer, Dean Cundey, and a new 7.1 audio mix.  The difference between this version and the one I saw three years ago on DVD is enormous; the HD Blu-ray experience is so much more vivid and engrossing, which allows for a deeper immersion into the film itself.

This edition also includes new, never-before-seen Special Features that include a commentary track by John Carpenter and Jamie Lee Curtis, a featurette called "The Night She Came Home" with Jamie Lee Curtis, original trailers for the film, and more.

If you've seen HALLOWEEN before, then you must see it again with this new HD transfer; if you're watching it for the first time, you will absolutely lose yourself in this amazing Blu-ray.  Regardless, this 35th ANNIVERSARY EDITION is a must own for any movie collector.  It is available now, so pick your copy up today.
4888838
great price double feature slasher horror movies ! !! i bought this blu ray because i want to watch Happy Birthday to me .. !!
3148
This movie rocks!! its a great gruesome teen horror flick, the only thing that we need is for amazon and mgm to release it UNCUT on DVD!!  Please consider this, because we would all love to preserve this movie, because its a great 80's classic horror film!!