S: Viral, The Phantom of the Opera

2015/02/17 02:22:04 +00:00 | Heather Wixson

For the third week of February, Scream Factory is delivering a double dose of terror in their releases of the recent indie horror flick Animal as well as the 1989 cult classic adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera starring Robert Englund and Jill Schoelen.

Magnolia is also bringing us V/H/S: Viral, the latest edition of their popular horror anthology series, home on Blu-ray, DVD and VHS (which is awesome!), and indie genre fans have tons of new titles to look forward to. And for you Game of Thrones fans out there, season four is making its way on Blu and DVD this Tuesday too.

Animal (Scream Factory, Blu-ray/DVD)

When plans for a weekend getaway hit a dead end, a group of close-knit friends finds themselves stranded in unfamiliar territory, pursued by a menacing, bloodthirsty predator. Holed up in an isolated cabin, they turn on one another as tensions mount and long-buried secrets are revealed. But when the body count rises, the group must put their differences aside and fight for survival.

Directed by Brett Simmons (The Monkey’s Paw) and starring Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy, The Break-Up), Elizabeth Gillies (Victorious), Jeremy Sumpter (Friday Night Lights, Soul Surfer), Keke Palmer (Masters Of Sex, Joyful Noise), Paul Iacono (Return To Sleepaway Camp), Amaury Nolasco (Prison Break, A Good Day To Die Hard) and rapper Eve (Whip It) and featuring music by tomandandy (Resident Evil: Afterlife), Animal is "a very entertaining and creepy… tightly paced and breezy horror film", that delivers "absolutely fantastic monster effects [and] a surefire gory good time", (cinema-crazed.com)!

The Phantom of the Opera (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)

Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Galaxy of Terror, Freddy vs. Jason) assumes the classic role of The Phantom in this shocking, nerve-jangling retelling of Gaston Leroux’s timeless tale of music, madness and murder! An aspiring opera singer finds herself transported back to Victorian-era London: and into the arms of a reclusive, disfigured maestro determined to make her a star. The silver-throated Christine (Jill Schoelen, The Stepfather) enjoys success through the arrangements of her new lover (Englund)... until she realizes that he has been committing unspeakably grisly murders in her honor and won't stop until he’s completed his masterpiece... in blood!

Also starring Bill Nighy (I Frankenstein, Shaun of the Dead, Underworld), Alex Hyde-White (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Terence Harvey (From Hell) and Molly Shannon (SNL, Superstar), directed by Dwight H. Little (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Marked for Death, Rapid Fire) and featuring make-up effects by Kevin Yagher (A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy s Revenge, Face/Off), this "darker spin on...The Phantom of the Opera is the one to watch", (HorrorCultFilms.co.uk)!

Special features include Audio Commentary with Director Dwight H. Little and actor Robert Englund, Behind The Mask: The Making of “The Phantom Of The Opera”, featuring new interviews with Director Dwight H. Little, actors Robert Englund, Jill Schoelen, and Alex Hyde-White, Screenwriter Duke Sandefur, Special Make-Up Designer Kevin Yagher, Special Make-Up Effects Artists John Carl Buechler, Everett Burrell and John Vulich, and Composer Misha Segal, Theatrical Trailer, TV Spot, Radio Spots and Still Gallery.

V/H/S: Viral (Magnolia Home Entertainment, Blu/DVD/VHS)

A stream of police cars chasing after a deranged ice cream truck driver has captivated the attention of the greater Los Angeles area. Dozens of teens flock to the streets with their video cameras and cell phones, hell-bent on capturing the next viral video. But there is something far more sinister occurring in the streets of L.A. As they'll soon find out, these fame-obsessed amateur videographers, capturing salacious footage for the amusement of the public, are themselves the stars of the next big viral video - one where they face their own horrifying deaths.

ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:

90210 Shark Attack (Rapid Heart Pictures, DVD)

All Saints Eve (Wild Eye Releasing, DVD)

Altar (Cinedigm, DVD)

Beyond (Screen Media, DVD)

The Casebook of Eddie Brewer (Entertainment One, DVD)

Game of Thrones: Season Four (HBO Studios, Blu-ray/Digital HD & DVD/Digital HD)

Hillbilly Horror Show Volume 2 (Leomark Studios, DVD)

Last House on Cemetery Lane (4 Digital Media, DVD)

Malignant (Avenet Images, DVD)

Motivational Growth (Parade Deck Films, Blu-ray/DVD)

Scalped! (Tomcat, DVD)