We may only have several home entertainment releases for this Tuesday, but as the saying goes, “quality over quantity,” because this bunch of Blu-rays and DVDs are a stellar lot of films. One of my favorite horror films of 2017, Mark Duplass’ Creep 2, makes its way home on November 28th courtesy of The Orchard, and Scream Factory has given Rob Reiner’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Misery the Collector’s Edition treatment (and deservedly so).
For you cult film fans, both Death Laid an Egg and Deathdream (aka Dead of Night) get the HD treatment this week, and other notable releases this Tuesday include M.F.A., Rememory, Super Dark Times, Woodshock, and Trailer Trauma 4: Television Trauma.
Creep 2 (The Orchard, DVD)
Sara, a video artist primarily focused on creating intimacy with lonely men, thinks she may have found the subject of her dreams after coming across a stranger’s online post. Unable to resist the chance to create a truly shocking piece of art, she agrees to drive to a remote house in the forest to spend the day with the man claiming to be a serial killer. As the day goes on, however, she discovers she may have dug herself into a hole from which she can't escape.
Death Laid An Egg (Cult Epics, Blu/DVD Combo)
Arguably the most insanely idiosyncratic giallo ever directed, DEATH LAID AN EGG (1968) is a true wayward masterpiece of kaleidoscopic Italian counterculture cinema. Directed by largely unsung iconoclastic auteur Giulio Questi (DJANGO KILL!, ARCANA) and starring legendary leading man Jean-Louis Trintignant (THE CONFORMIST) as a married man that may or may not be a serial killer, Gina Lollobrigida (John Huston's BEAT THE DEVIL) as his delectable yet overly domineering careerist wife, and Swedish blonde bombshell Ewa Aulin (CANDY) as his murderous double-crossing mistress, the film is the virtual giallo equivalent to Godard’s WEEKEND in terms of its crass car crash fetishism, savage anti-bourgeois sentiments, and overall anarchic spirit. Set largely in a hi-tech automated poultry factory that breeds mutant boneless chickens.
DEATH LAID AN EGG is a socio-politically sophisticated avant-garde giallo that is more pertinent today than when it was first released in terms of its quite modern depiction of the battle of the sexes and the perils of technology. The original Italian "superbly edited" giallo version is presented by Cult Epics in High-definition and with new bonus features.
Special Features:
Deathdream (aka Dead of Night) (Blue Underground, Blu/DVD Combo)
In this shattering variation on "The Monkey's Paw," grief-stricken suburban parents (Academy Award® nominees John Marley of THE GODFATHER and Lynn Carlin of FACES) refuse to accept the news that their son Andy (Richard Backus) has been killed in Vietnam. But when Andy returns home soon after, something may be horribly wrong: Andy is alive and well... or is he? Produced and directed by Bob Clark (BLACK CHRISTMAS) and written by Alan Ormsby (DERANGED), DEATHDREAM was one of the very first films to confront the domestic ravages of the Vietnam War. More than forty years later, it remains one of the most chilling horror films of all time.
DEATHDREAM was released under several different titles, including DEAD OF NIGHT, THE NIGHT WALK and THE NIGHT ANDY CAME HOME, and marked the grisly debut of gore effects legend Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD). Blue Underground is proud to present this acclaimed zombie shocker in a new 2K restoration from the 35mm negative in its most complete version ever, along with original and brand-new Extras exclusive to this release!
Special Features:
M.F.A. (MPI Home Video, Blu-ray & DVD)
Francesca Eastwood gives a breakout performance as an art student who is sexually assaulted at a party. After struggling to receive any support from her college to find justice and cope with her trauma, she impulsively confronts her attacker - a decision that has deadly repercussions. As she tracks down fellow rape survivors, an unlikely vigilante is born.
Misery: Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
Novelist Paul Sheldon doesn’t remember the blinding blizzard that sent his car spinning off the road. He doesn’t remember being nursed back from unconsciousness. But he will never forget Annie Wilkes.
James Caan and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates star in the bone-shattering thriller Misery, adapted from the novel by Stephen King. As Paul (Caan) recuperates from his injuries in the secluded cabin of his benefactor Annie (Bates), he begins to discover that beneath the seemingly kind and naive exterior of his self-described "number one fan", lurks a mind that is cunning, unhinged, and bent on keeping her favorite writer as her personal prisoner for the rest of his "cock-a-doodie", life ... and Sheldon must engage his savior-turned-captor in a battle of wills that will push them both to the brink.
Adapted by two-time Oscar-winning screenwriter William Goldman and directed by Rob Reiner (Stand By Me, The Princess Bride), Misery is considered by critics and fans (number ones and others) to be among the greatest horror-thrillers of all-time. Revisit this classic tonight with your friends ... after all, Misery loves company.
Rememory (Lionsgate, Blu-ray & DVD)
Rememory explores the unexplained death of Gordon Dunn (Martin Donovan), a visionary scientific pioneer whose body is found shortly after the unveiling of his newest work: a device able to extract, record and play a person's memories. Gordon's wife, Carolyn (Julia Ormond), retreats into her house and cuts off contact with the outside world when a mysterious man (Peter Dinklage) shows up. After stealing the machine, he uses it to try and solve the mystery, beginning an investigation of memories that lead him to unexpected and dangerous places.
Special Features:
- Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Mark Palansky and Actor Peter Dinklage
- The Memories We Keep featurette
Super Dark Times (The Orchard, DVD)
For two teenage boys, the mundane world of bike rides and video games is interrupted when an accident results in the death of a classmate. When a second classmate turns up dead, it becomes clear that their secret won’t stay hidden.
Trailer Trauma 4: Television Trauma (Garagehouse Pictures, Blu-ray)
They've wreaked havoc at the drive-in... they've attacked the all-night horror-thon... now the terror that began with TRAILER TRAUMA will invade homes everywhere! A family settles in for a quiet evening of entertainment when suddenly, flashing across the television screen: scenes of utter cinematic insanity shock, disturb and forever scar! The fourth volume in the TRAILER TRAUMA series is a marathon of madness featuring 268 of the best and rarest TV spots for some of the greatest and most obscure 70s theatrical horror and exploitation films and beyond! Over three hours of demented delirium that will leave you traumatized!
Woodshock (Blu-ray & DVD)
Golden Globe® nominee Kirsten Dunst stars as Theresa, a haunted young woman spiraling in the wake of profound loss, torn between her fractured emotional state and the reality-altering effects of a potent cannabinoid drug. Immersive, spellbinding, and sublime, Woodshock transcends genre to become a singularly thrilling cinematic experience that marks the arrival of Kate and Laura Mulleavy as major new voices in film.
BLU-RAY/DVD SPECIAL FEATURES
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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