While he's best known for his game-changing zombie films, George A. Romero has made plenty of movies without the living dead in them, and this October, Arrow Video will celebrate three of the films he made in between Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead with their new Blu-ray collection featuring The Crazies, Season of the Witch (aka Hungry Wives), and There's Always Vanilla.
Arrow Video's October releases also include a UK-only limited edition release of John Carpenter's The Thing and a new US / UK Blu-ray release of Herschell Gordon Lewis' Blood Feast. Read on for the official details on their October announcements:
From Arrow Video: "NEW UK/US TITLE: George Romero Between Night and Dawn (Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD)
Three rare early works by George Romero made between Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead
Pre-order your UK copy via Arrow here: http://bit.ly/2ur4Qy2
Pre-order your UK copy via Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2sYa5Rw
Pre order your US copy here: http://bit.ly/2tau6seRelease Dates: 23/24 October 2017
George Romero’s name may be synonymous with the living dead subgenre, but his filmography is far richer and more varied than his reputation as “the zombie guy” would suggest. Following the breakout success of his debut feature Night of the Living Dead, the director would embark upon a series of projects which, whilst firmly rooted in the horror genre for the most part, demonstrate a master filmmaker with more than mere gut-munching on his mind.
In There’s Always Vanilla, Romero’s sophomore 1971 directorial effort, young drifter Chris and beautiful model Lynn embark upon a tumultuous relationship which seems doomed from the outset. 1972’s Season of the Witch (originally filmed as Jack’s Wife but released to theaters under the title of Hungry Wives) follows the exploits of Joan Mitchell – a housewife whose dissatisfaction with her humdrum life leads to an unhealthy interest in the occult. Lastly, 1973’s The Crazies, which sees Romero returning to more “straight” horror territory, has a small rural town finding itself in the grip of an infection which send its hosts into a violent, homicidal frenzy.
Taken together, these three early works, made in the period between Romero’s celebrated living dead outings Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, serve to display the broader thematic concerns and auteurist leanings of a skilled craftsman too often pigeonholed within the genre.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard DVD presentations
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeves for each film featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx
• Limited Edition 60-page booklet featuring new writing on the filmsTHERE’S ALWAYS VANILLA
• Brand new 2K restoration from the original negative
• Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
• Brand new interviews with actors Judith Ridley and Richard Ricci, producer Russ Streiner and sound recordist Gary Streiner
• Digging Up the Dead – The Lost Films of George A. Romero – archive interview with Romero looking at his early films There’s Always Vanilla and Season of the Witch TrailerSEASON OF THE WITCH
• Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
• Alternate extended cut
• Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
• When Romero met Del Toro – celebrated filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro sits down with George Romero for this candid career-spanning conversation
• The Secret Life of Jack's Wife – archive interview with actress Jan White
• Alternate Opening Titles
• TrailersTHE CRAZIES
• Brand new 4K restoration from original film elements
• Brand new audio commentary by Travis Crawford
• Romero Was Here – featurette revisiting the Crazies filming locations in Evans City, PA
• Never Before Seen BTS footage
• 2016 Q&A with Lynn Lowry from Abertoir Film Festival
• Alternate Opening Titles
• Trailers"From Arrow Video: "Time for our October announcements! First up our UK/US titles…
NEW UK/US TITLE: Blood Feast (Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD)
HG Lewis’ original gore-fest, essential viewing for any self-respecting splatter fan
Pre-order your UK copy via Arrow here: http://bit.ly/2vkyiC7
Pre-order your UK copy via Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2uqxeAj
Pre order your US copy here: http://bit.ly/2tQRjhK
Release Dates: 9/10 October 2017The filmography of late movie maverick Herschell Gordon Lewis brims with the mad, macabre, and just downright bizarre. But perhaps the most unhinged of all his directorial efforts, and certainly the most influential, must surely be his original gore-fest Blood Feast – the first ever splatter movie.
Dorothy Fremont is looking to throw a party unlike any other, and she gets just that when she hires the decidedly sinister Fuad Ramses to cater the event. Promising to provide her guests with an authentic Egyptian feast, Ramses promptly sets about acquiring the necessary ingredients – the body parts of nubile young women!
Featuring a host of stomach-churning gore gags including the infamous tongue sequence and much more nastiness besides, Herschell Gordon Lewis’ Blood Feast more than lives up to its name and remains essential viewing for any self-respecting splatter fan.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard DVD presentations
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Scum of the Earth - Herschelll Gordon Lewis' 1963 feature
• Blood Perspectives - Filmmakers Nicholas McCarthy and Rodney Ascher on Blood Feast
• Herschell's History - Archival interview in which director Herschell Gordon Lewis discusses his entry into the film industry
• How Herschell Found his Niche - A new interview with Lewis discussing his early work
• Archival interview with Lewis and David F. Friedman
• Carving Magic - Vintage short film from 1959 featuring Blood Feast Actor Bill Kerwin
• Outtakes
• Alternate "clean" scenes from Scum of the Earth
• Promo gallery featuring trailers and more
• Feature length commentary featuring Lewis and David F. Friedman moderated by Mike Grady
• Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by Twins of Evil"From Arrow Video: "NEW UK TITLE: The Thing Limited Edition (Blu-ray)
One of the most celebrated sci-fi horrors ever made, now newly restored by Arrow Video.
Limited to 4,000 units.
Pre-order your copy via Arrow here: http://bit.ly/2vkWa8S
Pre-order your copy via Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2uhnAzE
Release Date: 23rd October 2017THE ULTIMATE IN ALIEN TERROR
Over the years, star Kurt Russell and master of horror John Carpenter have teamed up on a multitude of films (Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from New York to name a few) – but of all their collaborations, 1982’s horror/sci-fi amalgam The Thing surely tops the list.
A research team based out in the snowy wilds of Antarctica find themselves besieged by a terrifying, shape-shifting creature which has found its way into their base. When it becomes clear that the creature can take the form of any organism it so chooses, the tension within the team reaches breaking point – any one of them could be… The Thing.
Critically panned at the time of its release, John Carpenter’s The Thing has rightly gone on to become one of the most celebrated sci-fi horror efforts ever made – now newly restored by Arrow Video in a stunning 4K transfer supervised by Carpenter and director of photography Dean Cundey.LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative, supervised and approved by director John Carpenter and director of photography Dean Cundey
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original Mono and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell
• Who Goes There? In Search of The Thing – an all-new feature length documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the history of The Thing, from the original novella to John Carpenter's terrifying science fiction classic. Featuring new interviews with the cast and crew, as well as authors, historians, and critics
• 1982: One Amazing Summer – an all-new retrospective documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures about the unforgettable films released in the summer of 1982
• John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape – archive documentary on the background and production of the film
• Vintage Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Behind-the-Scenes
• Trailers, Teasers, TV and Radio Spots
• Still Galleries
• Poster
• Lobby Cards
• Book containing new writing on the film
• Newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin"From Arrow Video: "NEW UK TITLE: The Thing Ltd Ed Steelbook (Blu-ray)
Newly restored by Arrow Video, now available in a stunning steelbook release.
Limited to 4,000 units.
Pre-order your copy via Arrow here: http://bit.ly/2tTuCHU
Pre-order your copy via Amazon here: http://amzn.to/2tawLSy
Release Date: 23rd October 2017THE ULTIMATE IN ALIEN TERROR
Over the years, star Kurt Russell and master of horror John Carpenter have teamed up on a multitude of films (Big Trouble in Little China and Escape from New York to name a few) – but of all their collaborations, 1982’s horror/sci-fi amalgam The Thing surely tops the list.
A research team based out in the snowy wilds of Antarctica find themselves besieged by a terrifying, shape-shifting creature which has found its way into their base. When it becomes clear that the creature can take the form of any organism it so chooses, the tension within the team reaches breaking point – any one of them could be… The Thing.
Critically panned at the time of its release, John Carpenter’s The Thing has rightly gone on to become one of the most celebrated sci-fi horror efforts ever made – now newly restored by Arrow Video in a stunning 4K transfer supervised by Carpenter and director of photography Dean Cundey.LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new restoration from a 4K scan of the original negative, supervised and approved by director John Carpenter and director of photography Dean Cundey
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation
• Original Mono and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Audio commentary by John Carpenter and actor Kurt Russell
• Who Goes There? In Search of The Thing – an all-new feature length documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures exploring the history of The Thing, from the original novella to John Carpenter's terrifying science fiction classic. Featuring new interviews with the cast and crew, as well as authors, historians, and critics
• 1982: One Amazing Summer – an all-new retrospective documentary produced by Ballyhoo Motion Pictures about the unforgettable films released in the summer of 1982
• John Carpenter's The Thing: Terror Takes Shape – archive documentary on the background and production of the film
• Vintage Featurettes
• Outtakes
• Behind-the-Scenes
• Trailers, Teasers, TV and Radio Spots
• Still Galleries"
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
