May’s home media releases are ending on a high note, as we have a ton of great titles hitting Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD, so I hope genre fans have their wallets ready for all the killer selections coming out this week. If you happened to miss it in theaters, Leigh Whannell’s The Invisible Man is heading to various formats on Tuesday, and if you’re a fan of Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto, you’ll definitely want to pick up Arrow Video’s Solid Metal Nightmares Collector Set.
Arrow is also keeping busy with two other titles this week – Lucky McKee’s The Woman, Blood Tide (1982) – and Blue Underground is bringing to cult classics to the world of 4K finally with their new releases of Maniac and Lucio Fulci’s Zombie. And as if all of that wasn’t enough, Vinegar Syndrome is resurrecting both Dolly Dearest and Pale Blood this week, and Severin is keeping busy with a handful of titles as well: Satan’s Slave (1980), Horrors of Spider Island and The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh.
Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for May 26th include Acid Bath, Alien Butchers, The Forsaken, Girls Just Wanna Have Blood, In Search of Dracula, Ouija Shark and True Fiction.
Blood Tide (1982): Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
Terror strikes in paradise as Academy Award-winning actors James Earl Jones, José Ferrer and Lila Kedrova star in this thrilling tale of sea monsters and sacrificial virgins, from the people that brought you the notoriously gruesome Island of Death!
When treasure hunter Frye (James Earl Jones) accidentally awakens an ancient sea monster that has been lying dormant on a Greek island, the inhabitants are forced to resume the practice of sacrificing virgins in order to placate the demonic creature. Meanwhile a couple, Neil and Sherry, arrive on the island in search of Neil's missing sister, Madeline.
Written and produced by Nico Mastorakis - the man behind such genre favourites as the aforementioned Island of Death, The Zero Boys, The Wind and many others - and directed by Richard Jefferies (Scarecrows, Tron: Legacy), Blood Tide is a suspense-filled creature feature surging with blood, nudity and beachside aerobics!
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Mike Gingold
Dolly Dearest (Vinegar Syndrome, Blu/DVD Combo)
American family Elliot and Marilyn Wade, along with their young children Jessica and Jimmy, have just relocated to Mexico, where Elliot has taken over a doll factory. As they settle into their fresh surroundings, Jessica forms a special bond with her new doll, spending hours with it in her large playhouse. But soon, her mother and older brother sense that something isn't quite right with the sweetly faced toy. It's not long before strange and frightening events start to occur, and members of the household begin turning up dead in a series of apparent 'accidents'.
The sole horror feature directed by veteran exploitation crew-woman and actress, Maria Lease, and produced by Dan Cady (Grave of the Vampire), DOLLY DEAREST, takes a thematic nod from Child's Play while upping the weirdness. Starring Denise Crosby (Pet Sematary), Sam Bottoms (Apocalypse Now), and featuring a memorable supporting performance from Rip Torn (Men in Black), Vinegar Syndrome brings this early 90s cult favorite to Blu-ray for the very first time, in a brand new 2K restoration.
Bonus Features:
1. Region Free Blu-ray/DVD combo
2. Newly scanned & restored in 2k from its 35mm interpositive
3. "Playing With Dolls" - an interview with lead actress Denise Crosby
4. "Dressing the Part" - an interview with actor Ed Gale
5. Reversible cover artwork
6. SDH English subtitles
The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures Home Entertainment, 4K Ultra HD/Blu Combo, Blu/Digital & DVD)
What you can't see can hurt you. Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy scientist, Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding. But when her abusive ex suddenly dies, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia's sanity begins to unravel while she desperately tries to prove she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
Special Features:
Maniac 4K (Blue Underground, 4K Ultra HD/Blu Combo)
Frank Zito (a career performance by writer/executive producer Joe Spinell of ROCKY and THE GODFATHER fame) is a deeply disturbed man, haunted by the traumas of unspeakable childhood abuse. And when these horrific memories begin to scream inside his mind, Frank prowls the seedy streets of New York City to stalk and slaughter innocent young women. Now Frank has begun a relationship with a beautiful photographer (Caroline Munro of THE SPY WHO LOVED ME), yet his vile compulsions remain. These are the atrocities of a human monster. This is the story of a MANIAC.
Directed by William Lustig (MANIAC COP 2, VIGILANTE) and featuring landmark gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, FRIDAY THE 13th), this relentlessly shocking and disturbing film was originally banned or censored all over the world due to its graphic violence. Now Blue Underground's critically acclaimed restoration of MANIAC, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the original 16mm camera negative, is presented with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, overflowing with hours of Extras!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) Widescreen 1.85:1 Feature Presentation and Bonus Extras Blu-ray
* Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: 5.1 DTS-HD; English: 2.0 DTS-HD; Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0; French: Dolby Digital 2.0; Italian: Dolby Digital 2.0; German: Dolby Digital 2.0
* Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai
* Audio Commentary #1 with Producer/Director William Lustig and Producer Andrew Garroni
* Audio Commentary #2 with Producer/Director William Lustig, Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Editor Lorenzo Marinelli, and Joe Spinell's Assistant Luke Walter
* MANIAC Outtakes
* Returning to the Scene of the Crime with William Lustig
* Anna and the Killer Interview with Star Caroline Munro
* The Death Dealer Interview with Special Make-Up Effects Artist Tom Savini
* Dark Notes Interview with Composer Jay Chattaway
* Maniac Men Interview with Songwriters Michael Sembello and Dennis Matkosky
* The Joe Spinell Story
* Mr. Robbie: Maniac 2 Promo Reel
* MANIAC Publicity
* MANIAC Controversy
* Theatrical Trailers
* TV Spots
* Radio Spots
* BONUS! Embossed Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
Satan’s Slave (1980) (Severin Films, Blu-ray)
In 1980, Indonesian exploitation studio Rapi Films and writer/director Sisworo Gautama Putra (PRIMITIVES) unleashed the singular chiller that rocked the Muslim nation, transformed the country's genre film industry, and remains one of the most influential shockers in Asian horror history.
While mourning the death of his mother, a troubled teen discovers a nightmare world of restless spirits, supernatural vengeance and occult terror with "an intense creepiness that stands the test of time" (The Jakarta Post). Ruth Pelupessy (THE SNAKE QUEEN) and W.D. Mochtar (MYSTICS IN BALI) star in this "classic from the Golden Age of Indonesian horror" (Monster!) - whose 2017 Joko Anwar remake became an international festival favorite and one of Indonesia's biggest hits ever - now scanned from the original negative and packed with all-new Special Features.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Satan's Box Office: Interview with Producer Gope T. Samtani
- Indonesian Atmosphere: Interview with Screenwriter Imam Tantowi
- Satan's Slave Obsession: Audio Interview with Remake Director Joko Anwar
Solid Metal Nightmares: The Films of Shinya Tsukamoto – 4-Disc Special Edition Collector’s Set (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
One of the most distinctive and celebrated names in modern Japanese cinema, there's no other filmmaker quite like Shinya Tsukamoto. Frequently exploring themes of urban alienation, physical transformation and psychosexual obsession, his films cross genre boundaries, defying classification. This collection gathers together eight feature-length films and two shorts from Tsukamoto's filmography.
Includes: Tetsuo: The Iron Man, Tetsuo II: Body Hammer, Tokyo Fist, Bullet Ballet, A Snake of June, Vital, Kotoko, Killing, The Adventure of Denchu-Kozo, Haze
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
The Woman: Special Edition (Arrow Video, Blu-ray)
Almost a decade after Lucky McKee burst upon the indie horror scene and became a Master of Horror in the making thanks to his directorial debut May, he teamed up with legendary cult author Jack Ketchum for his most shocking and brutal film to date: The Woman, an instant cause célèbre on its Sundance premiere.
The Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh, The Walking Dead) is the last surviving member of a deadly clan of feral cannibals that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek (Sean Bridgers, Room) stumbles upon her whilst hunting in the woods, he decides to capture and civilize her with the help of his seemingly perfect all-American family, including his wife Belle (Angela Bettis, May) and daughter Peggy (Lauren Ashley Carter, Darling). The Cleeks will soon learn, however, that hell hath no fury like The Woman scorned.
Experience McKee and Ketchum s uncompromisingly twisted vision of the dark side of the American family in a definitive new edition, including a 4K remaster and brand new bonus features.
SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS:
FIRST PRESSING ONLY: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Michael Blyth, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Kevin Kovelant
Zombie: 4K (Blue Underground, 4K Ultra HD/Blu Combo)
In Italy, it was considered the 'unofficial sequel' to DAWN OF THE DEAD. In England, it was known as ZOMBIE FLESH EATERS and banned as obscene. In America, it was called ZOMBIE and advertised with the depraved tag line ''WE ARE GOING TO EAT YOU!'' Tisa Farrow (THE GRIM REAPER), Ian McCulloch (CONTAMINATION), Al Cliver (CANNIBALS), and Richard Johnson (THE HAUNTING) star in this worldwide splatter sensation directed by 'Maestro Of Gore' Lucio Fulci (CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY) that remains one of the most eye-skewering, skin-ripping, gore-gushingly graphic horror hits of all time!
Blue Underground's critically acclaimed restoration of ZOMBIE, scanned in 4K 16-bit from the original 35mm 2-perf camera negative, is now presented with Dolby Vision HDR and a new Dolby Atmos audio mix, bursting at the seams with hours of Extras!
SPECIAL FEATURES:
* Ultra HD Blu-ray (2160p) Widescreen 2.40:1 Feature Presentation and Bonus Extras Blu-ray
* Audio: English: Dolby Atmos; English: 5.1 DTS-HD; English: 1.0 DTS-HD; Italian: 7.1 DTS-HD; Italian: 1.0 DTS-HD; French: Dolby Digital 1.0
* Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, Danish, Finnish, Dutch, Swedish, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Thai, English for Italian Audio
* Audio Commentary #1 with Troy Howarth, Author of Splintered Visions: Lucio Fulci and His Films
* Audio Commentary #2 with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater
* When The Earth Spits Out The Dead - Interview with Stephen Thrower, Author of Beyond Terror: The Films of Lucio Fulci
* Zombie Wasteland Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell'Acqua
* Flesh Eaters on Film Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis
* Deadtime Stories Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti
* World of the Dead Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca
* Zombi Italiano Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi
* Notes on a Headstone Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi
* All in the Family Interview with Antonella Fulci
* Zombie Lover Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films
* Theatrical Trailers
* TV Spots
* Radio Spots
* Poster & Still Gallery
* Guillermo del Toro Intro
* BONUS! Embossed Slipcover (First Pressing Only)
ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:
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.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
