News

Nico Mastorakis has an uncanny ability of pulling ideas from various sources and running them through the Cuisinart of his peculiar sensibility, producing something altogether idiosyncratic. The six films assembled in Arrow Video’s new box set—one evocative religious allegory and five bawdy action comedies—testify to Mastorakis’s skills as a pop-cultural bricoleur. As a result, they serve as a series of variably amusing time capsules, deploying plenty of medium-specific references that might just delight viewers who came of age in the 1980s and early ’90s. Others will have to spend some time doing due diligence on Wikipedia.

The Time Traveler, from 1984, stars Keir Dullea as a man who fell to Earth, found naked along the Mykonos shore by expat American widow Andrea (Adrienne Barbeau). The new arrival soon names himself Glenn (as in astronaut John Glenn) and proceeds to learn the ways of the world. Unsurprisingly, a...

  Get out the Summer heat in July and cool down with next month's lineup of titles from the fine folks at Arrow. The Arrow Player features the always excellent assortment of classics and oddities from around the World.    Next month's Selects programs come from horror icon and director Mick Garris, and Kiwi actor and director Thomas Sainsbury. Sainsbury's 2023 thriller Loop Track is also part of the programming next month.    There are two more gems from the filmography of Nico Mastorakis, The Naked Truth and Ninja Academy, and to celebrate the Summer Games get ready for The Arrow Olympics.    Everything you need to know about next month's lineup follows.    Arrow Player Announces July 2024 Lineup   Streamer Highlights Classic Comedies, New...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

The folks at Arrow have unveiled their lineup of genre variety and goodness for the month of June. We will get four films from Nico Mastorakis: The Time Traveller, Sky High, Glitch! and Terminal Exposure. Currated programs included films about witches, slashers and homicidal maniacs. Everything you need to know about June's programming follows. Arrow Player Announces June 2024 Lineup B Movie Brilliance from Nico Mastorakis Arrives on Service June 2024 Seasons: Quarxx Selects, Witch!, Chatanooga Film Festival Selects, Home Invaders, Slashers, Crazed Killers Arrow Video is excited to announce the June 2024 lineup of their subscription-based Arrow platform, available to subscribers in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. Enjoy a...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Arrow Video is hitting the genre game in a big way this summer, releasing 4K editions of sci-fi favorite The Last Starfighter and Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. in July.

While Arrow Video has released The Last Starfighter on 4K in North America just last year, this U.K. release will definitely be worth seeking out for our friends across the pond. On the transfer, the label wrote: “Now newly restored from a 4K scan of the original negative and featuring a 4.1 mix originally created for the film’s 70mm release – never included on previous home video formats – The Last Starfighter arrives loaded with brand new and archival bonus features. Strap yourself in: the Blu-ray adventure of a lifetime is about to begin!”

Special features for Arrow Video’s The Last Starfighter included two commentaries, as well as in-depth looks at the score,...

This month, Goredrome Pictures have announced the release of The Wind, the 1986 American slasher film directed by Nico Mastorakis (Island of Death), the extreme film Trypophobic Possession about trypophobia and Visions of Filth, the sixth film of the Abomination Collection series.

All of them are already available for pre-order on Goredrome Pictures and TetroVideo official websites together with the new edition with 2 discs of the 1987 Italian cult film Cross of the Seven Jewels (aka La croce dalle sette pietre) by Eddy Endolf.

The Wind (aka The Edge of Terror)

The Wind (aka The Edge of Terror) is a film with a number of genre influences and is co-written, produced and directed by Nico Mastorakis. It stars Meg Foster, Wings Hauser, Robert Morley and David McCallum and the story follows Sian Anderson, a famous mystery author who is under attack by an assailant during a windy night in Monemvasia in Greece.

Horror Exploitation usually has a limited budget, so the filmmakers must make do with outrageous dialogue and over-the-top situations. These pictures hit hard and fast in the realm of the Russ Meyer seminal classic Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965), the early work of Herschell Gordon Lewis and many others. Subtlety is not a mark in this style be it set in a Women’s Prison, a jungle, a small town, an island or simply a last house on the left. Toss in this modern entry into that cesspool of guilty pleasure and you have the Australian film My Cherry Pie (2021). This film is not a reference to the 1990 song Cherry Pie by American glam metal band Warrant although both were odd genre homages to eras that were changing.

Writer / Director Addison Health and co-director Jasmine Jakupi have put together this rather unoriginal story of a trio of sleazy, drug-taking low-life criminals...

It is a brand new month and for the moment all you have to beware of in March are the Ides. When it comes to the lineup of programming that Arrow have in store for you there is nothing to fear. From documentaries about Dennis Hopper, Nicolas Roeg and the makings of Barbarella and The Mutilator.    There are collections of films celebrating horror icons Jeffrey Combs and Greek filmmaker Nico Mastorakis. Other collections include music and audio-based Arrow features in Death by Stereo and a currated list of titles put together by the Horror Movie Survival Guide podcast.   To cap off the month martial arts fans can watch Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao's Knockabout.   Arrow Offers Classic and Cutting Edge Cult Cinema March 2023 Lineup...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Exclusive: CAA has landed Oscar-winning blockbuster composer Hans Zimmer as a client in the areas of touring, producing, scoring, speaking engagements, podcasts and content creation.

Zimmer was previously with WME.

This year, Zimmer’s scores will be heard on MGM’s No Time to Die, Warner Bros/Legendary’s Dune and Paramount/Skydance’s Top Gun: Maverick.

Early on in his music career, the Frankfurt native was a wonder with keyboards and synthesizers, working with the pop band The Buggles known for the 1979 hit single “Video Killed The Radio Star.” In the 1980s, he cut his teeth under The Deer Hunter composer Stanley Myers in the UK, where the two ultimately co-founded the London-based Lillie Yard recording studio. As a duo they composed on such movies as 1985’s Insignificance and the 1982 Jeremy Irons movie Moonlighting. Zimmer’s first solo score was Terminal Exposure for director Nico Mastorakis in 1987, for which he also wrote the songs.

Nico Mastorakis’ Death Has Blue Eyes (1976) will be available on Blu-ray April 6th from Arrow Video

Death Has Blue Eyes is a gripping paranormal action thriller with shades of giallo from the director of the cult classic video nasty Island of Death (1976).

When local gigolo Chess (Chris Nomikos) greets his vacationing friend Bob Kovalski (Peter Winter) at Athens airport, the pair embark on a string of scams and erotic dalliances that eventually lead them into contact with an elegant wealthy woman, Geraldine Steinwetz (Jessica Dublin), and her glamorous daughter Christine (Maria Aliferi). Geraldine blackmails the two cheeky bachelor boys into acting as bodyguards for Christine, whom it transpires has telepathic abilities and has had her eye on them for some time. After fleeing from a series of assassination attempts, it soon becomes clear that Geraldine herself might not be quite whom she seems, as the two young men find themselves...

New from Arrow Video US Death Has Blue Eyes [Blu-ray] (4/6) Switchblade Sisters [Blu-ray] (4/20) Donnie Darko [4K Uhd] (4/27) via Mvd Entertainment Group Cult Classics and a Hidden Greece Gem Headline Arrow’s April Lineup On April 6, Arrow Video will release the 1976 action thriller, Death Has Blue Eyes. From Nico Mastorakis, the cult Greek director …

The post Arrow Video US – April 2021 Release Schedule appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Arrow Video continues to champion and resurrect the filmography of B-movie director Nico Mastorakis with his 1986 title The Wind, which was released theatrically in European territories but on video in the US. For those familiar with previous Arrow restorations of Mastorakis, this Greece set cat-and-mouse thriller is something of an anomaly in his filmography.

Featuring both a solid cast and a likeable lead performance from Meg Foster, the overly simplistic narrative concretizes into rigid formula by the third act, but it’s a comparably coherent exercise to some of the director’s other titles helmed before and after this venture.

Los Angeles based mystery writer Sian Anderson (Foster) flies to the remote Greek town of Monemvasia to complete her latest novel.…...

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, Blood Tide is a suspense-filled creature feature surging with blood, nudity and beachside aerobics!

Special Edition Contents:

Brand new restoration from a...

Stars: Martin Kove, James Earl Jones, Jose Ferrer, Mary Louise Weller, Deborah Shelton, Lila Kedrova, Lydia Cornell, Sofia Seirli, Spyros Papafrantzis | Written by Richard Jeffries, Nico Mastorakis | Directed by Richard Jeffries

Arrow Video’s line of Niko Mastorakis releases continues with early 80s exploitationer Blood Tide, a film that has more behind the scenes pedigree than you’d imagine or expect!

The sheer names connected with the film – which is produced and co-written by Mastorakis, with Brian Trenchard-Smith, credited a creative consultant And Richard Jeffries (who’d later go on to direct the fantastic Scarecrows and The Vagrant) behind the camera – is remarkable. It’s a veritable who’s who of genre filmmaking in the 70s and 80s, all coming together to make a film that feels fantastically Lovercraftian.

Set on another Greek island, in much the same manner as Mastorakis’ Island of Death, Blood Tide sees a couple, Neil...

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,...

Arrow Video has cooked up one hell of a treat for cult movie fans this July with a quartet of impressive looking releases for some highly sought after films, and in this case, collectors from all of Arrow's territories can join in the fun. All four of these releases are being released in the Us, Canada, and the UK, which is very exciting as that isn't always the case. July's collection spans the globe and a number of genres, meaning that there is sure to be something for everyone. First up is a notorious ero-guro shocker from exploitation legend, Ishii Teruo, Inferno of Torture (Hell's Tattooers); next we have Superstar Rajinikanth in his only English language film production, the Nico Mastorakis produced adventure, Bloodstone; then,...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

It's been a long time coming, but Bloodstone, Tamil Superstar Rajinikanth's only English language film, is finally arriving on special edition Blu-ray from Arrow Video. Co-written and produced by cult and exploitation icon Nico Mastorakis and directed by Dwight Little, Bloodstone is the story of a honeymooning couple in India played by Brett Stimely and Anna Nicholas, who stumble into the adventure of a lifetime when they cross paths with an international jewel thief. Stepping in as their unlikely partner and guide is Shyam Babu, played by Rajinikanth, a taxi driver with more than a few surprises up his sleeve. Arrow Video have given us the first look at their...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

What would you do if going outside meant being killed by a raging hurricane, but staying indoors meant being hacked to pieces by a sickle wielding maniac? Arrow Video presents The Wind, from prolific genre filmmaker Nico Mastorakis, the director behind such cult classics as Hired to Kill and Island of Death.

When mystery novelist Sian Anderson arrives in the remote Greek town of Monemvasia, Elias Appleby, the pompous British landlord of the house she s renting warns her of two dangers: the wind, which gets dangerously strong at night, and Phil (Wings Hauser, Vi...

Arrow Video delivers another bumper crop of cult home video releases this coming May.  Among the incredible lineup is a UK-only limited edition set of Lucky McKee's incredible The Woman and its predecessor, The Offspring, the Us will get The Woman only, without the second feature. Arrow also continues ot plumb the Nico Mastorakis catalogue with a new disc of Blood Tide (Us/UK/CA), also Harley Cokeliss's Dream Demon (Us/UK/CA), Jean-Marie Pallardy's cult classic White Fire (Us/UK/CA), and recent festival hits, I See You (UK), which only got a DVD release in the Us, and Empathy, Inc. (Us/UK/CA). Check out the details in the gallery below!...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Arrow Video has delivered their April 2020 lineup and it's a corker!  After digging in to the Nico Mastorakis catalog with Island of Death, Zero Boys, and Hired To Kill in the past few years, they continue to unearth long thought forgotten gems with their newly announced Blu-ray release of 1986's The Wind, starring Meg Foster (They Live) and Wings Hauser (Vice Squad) for Us/Can/UK collectors. We also get a pair of '80s comedies that have already had UK releases from Arrow getting their Us debuts. John Hughes' classic Sixteen Candles finally joins Arrow's Weird Science release in the Us/Can collection. We also get the long overdue Us/Can release of Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, which has had an unusually rocky road to home video...

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Before we bid the month of April farewell, we still have one final batch of Blu-ray and DVD releases coming our way this Tuesday to look forward to. Scream Factory is set to release a double dose of classic horror with The Brain and Tarantula, and Vinegar Syndrome is keeping busy with their terror-inducing trio of titles: The Corruption of Chris Miller, Grandmother’s House, and Darkroom.

Kino Lorber is also giving Hannibal (2001) the 4K treatment this week, and if you happened to miss them during their limited releases, both The Hole in the Ground and Level 16 are very much worth your time.

Other Blu-ray and DVD releases for April 30th include City of the Vampires, Deadly Crush, Emanuelle and Francoise, Death Warmed Up, and Motel Mist.

The Brain

Imagine a pulsating mass of gray matter, expanding in size and strength as it takes control of human minds and devours human bodies.

Hello, readers, and welcome to a new year of releases! We may already be well into the month of January, but this is our first official weekly Blu-ray and DVD recap of 2019, since last week was a quiet one on the home media front, and we already have a ton of titles to get excited for this Tuesday. If you happened to miss Hell Fest when it was in theaters last year, you can now catch up with Gregory Plotkin’s slasher on various formats, and as far as recent genre series are concerned, the first seasons of both The Purge and Castle Rock are making their way home tomorrow as well.

Scream Factory is kicking off another great year of releases with the Nic Cage thriller 8Mm, and Scorpion Releasing has put together a special edition Blu for Blind Date that cult fans are going to want to pick up.

As Scream Factory continues to diversify their slate of releases — most recently striking a licensing deal with Warner Bros. at long last, resulting in more John Carpenter titles joining the lineup — one of the exciting parts of the company continues to be their commitment to giving smaller, lesser-known catalogue titles the HD treatment. They’re not always great, but they’re always worth checking out.

First up is Nightmare at Noon from Greek madman Nico Mastorakis, the director responsible for Island of Death, The Zero Boys, and Hired to Kill. Part crazy action movie, part zombie outbreak movie, Nightmare at Noon finds a small town’s water supply being tainted by a mad scientist, which turns all those who drink it into crazed, mutated monsters. If that premise doesn’t grab you — and as a genre fan, it probably should — the cast is pure B-movie heaven: Wings Hauser, Bo Hopkins,...

If you enjoy George A. Romero's The Crazies, you might want to watch it as a double bill with another "infected town" film: Nico Mastorakis' Nightmare at Noon. Also known as Death Street USA, Nightmare at Noon is out now on a new Blu-ray from Scream Factory, and we've been provided with three Blu-ray copies to give away to Daily Dead readers brave enough to visit Canyonland.

---------

Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Nightmare at Noon.

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Nightmare at Noon Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

March 20th’s horror and sci-fi home media releases are an eclectic bunch, Shout Select’s Collector’s Edition of The ’Burbs and the new Blu-ray of Michele Soavi's The Church leading the pack. Arrow Video has put together a stunning release of Robert Altman’s Images that fans will definitely want to pick up, and for those of you who enjoy the work of Takashi Miike, Well Go USA has put together a remastered edition of Ichi the Killer that you’ll want to nab as well.

Kino Lorber has resurrected Offerings on Blu-ray, and Scream Factory has a pair of cult classics—Rockula and Nightmare at Noon—that are also enjoying a brand new HD overhaul as well. Other notable releases for March 20th include Delirium, Caged, Still/Born and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (which I’d call something of a family fantasy/adventure hybrid, so...

As horror fans, we are constantly seeking out the new and the different. Because the genre is marked by so much sameness—sequels, franchises, remakes, copies of copies—it can sometimes be a challenge to find those horror films that truly carve out their own space. They don’t even have to be great movies, necessarily; many times, “different” is enough to make us happy.

With that in mind, here are 10 horror movies currently available on the terrific streaming service Shudder that are, if nothing else, different from almost anything else you’ll watch this October. They vary in quality from title to title, but what even the roughest among them lacks in technical polish, it more than makes up for in sheer maniac insanity. After you’ve cycled through all your favorites this October, why not add a little Wtf to your lineup?

1. Beyond the Darkness (1979, dir. Joe D...

Exclusive: Steve Richards’ Endurance Media, the finance and production outfit whose current pic Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down The White House just had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, is setting up its next project. It has come on to package and finance The Billion Dollar Heist, an action thriller penned by Chris Frazier and Charlie Frazier based on a concept by Nico Mastorakis. Endurance is out to directors now, and the plan is to get the pic into…...

Ryan Lambie Jul 24, 2017

It was a legendarily expensive action vehicle for Kevin Costner in 1995, but Waterworld originally began life as a subtly different story...

Tales of Waterworld's making have long since passed into legend. You've probably read about the long and difficult shoot on the open seas around Hawaii, about the soaring costs, the sinking sets and the increasingly fractious relationship between the two Kevins - director Kevin Reynolds and star Kevin Costner. You've probably heard about a pre-Buffy Joss Whedon being flown in to revise the script, and how, getting wind of all this, the Hollywood press started calling Waterworld names like "Fishtar and "Kevin's Gate".

See related Vikings renewed for season 5

What's less commonly discussed is just where Waterworld came from. It's often reported that the screenplay was written by Peter Rader and later reworked by David Twohy; what's less widely known is that Waterworld could...

“Who doesn’t want to be inventive and weird?”

Hans Zimmer is one of the greatest, most prolific film composers alive with a plethora of scores so recognizable he’s taking them to Coachella. Anyone whose themes are so powerful they can be appreciated under a music festival’s haze has to be remarkable. He’s also willing to piss off his publicist by digging into goofy questions long after his schedule has told him to move on. And by God, I respect that. Zimmer sat down with me to discuss his new online MasterClass, trading coffee for car chases, and musical memes.

Hans Zimmer: I’m excited that you are Film School Rejects because I am definitely a music school reject.

Q: You’re doing the Diy thing and putting on your own school.

Hz: Something like that. I know so many people that wanted to make a movie — that needed to make a movie...

Nico Mastorakis’ The Zero Boys checks a lot of boxes in terms of what I’m looking for in an awesomely fun movies. This 1986 flick is part action, part horror and all B-movie glory. I love it, it’s great and you should watch it. Here’s why. The Zero Boys opens in what appears to be the middle of […]...

Last year Arrow Video graced the world with a Blu-ray release of the rightly notorious piece of '70's cult madness, Island of Death. The director of that film, Greek impresario Nico Mastorakis, was little known by films fans outside of cult circles, but Arrow has partnered with Mastorakis to now release a pair of his later works, hillbilly survival slasher The Zero Boys and classic '80's low budget anctioner Hired to Kill. Though neither of these films is anywhere near as infamous as Island of Death, both have something to offer cult film fans, so we decided to take a look....

[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...

Last year Arrow Video graced the world with a Blu-ray release of the rightly notorious piece of '70's cult madness, Island of Death. The director of that film, Greek impresario Nico Mastorakis, was little known by films fans outside of cult circles, but Arrow has partnered with Mastorakis to now release a pair of his later works, hillbilly survival slasher The Zero Boys and classic '80's low budget anctioner Hired to Kill. Though neither of these films is anywhere near as infamous as Island of Death, both have something to offer cult film fans, so we decided to take a look....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Stars: Brian Thompson, Oliver Reed, George Kennedy, José Ferrer, Michelle Moffett, Barbara Niven, Jordana Capra, Kendall Conrad, Kim Lonsdale, Jude Mussetter, Penelope Reed, David Sawyer, Angela Gerekou | Written by Fred Perry, Kirk Ellis | Directed by Nico Mastorakis

What would you think if I pitched a version of The Magnificent Seven to you, but the seven were women? In the days when we are looking at a female Ghostbusters (not a bad thing) you’d probably nod and think it was a good idea (or complain). Fact is, it has already been made decades ago and directed by Nico Mastorakis. Hired to Kill is an interesting cult gem, so it’s no wonder Arrow Video have released it on Blu-ray.

Mercenary Frank Ryan (Brian Thompson) is tasked with taking out a South American dictator, and freeing a revolutionary leader by the CIA. Knowing that the countries ruler, Michal Bartos’ (Oliver Reed...

Belladonna Of Sadness

Release Date: Coming Soon from Cinelicious Pics Written By: Yoshiyuki Fukuda, Jules Michelet (novel), Eiichi Yamamoto Directed By: Eiichi Yamamoto Starring: Tatsuya Nakadai, Katsuyuki Itô, Aiko Nagayama

When I heard about Cinelicious Pics’ plans to restore and release the long lost 1973 anime Belladonna Of Sadness, I was well and truly excited. I’m a huge aficionado of 70s-era anime, and this baby has been a “holy grail” of sorts for folks like me for a good many years — much desired but damn near impossible to obtain. So that being said, and with those expectations set freakin’ sky high, let’s see if ol’ Belladonna was worth the wait or will it just fill me with sadness of my own!

Belladonna Of Sadness, based loosely (and by that I mean hardly at all) on the French novel La Sorcière by Jules Michelet, tells the brutal tale of Jeanne,...

Fans of cult cinema are more than familiar with the name, Nico Mastorakis. The director behind such fare as “Island Of Death,” “Zero Boys,” and “Terminal Exposure,” kicked off the ’90s co-helming “Hired To Kill.” It’s an entry into his oeuvre fans will want to track down, and thanks to Arrow Video, its arriving on home […]

The post “Brave Is For Fairytales”: Watch This Exclusive Clip From Arrow Video’s Restored ‘Hired To Kill’ appeared first on The Playlist.

★★☆☆☆Hired to Kill, the cult film from notorious Greek director, disgraced journalist and purveyor of bottom- of-the-barrel trash TV, Nico Mastorakis, cannot, for most viewers, be recommended in good conscience. A bargain bin clone of 1985's Commando, Hired to Kill boasts performances bad enough to make even Arnie wince, forgettable action, and a ludicrous Zoolander-esque premise. An ex-commando type and seven colleagues unconvincingly pose as an effete fashion designer replete with seven beautiful (and deadly!) models - a daft concept that is sadly squandered by its own cringingly sexist and frequently homophobic execution.

Stars: Daniel Hirsch, Kelli Maroney, Nicole Rio, Tom Shell, Jared Moses, Crystal Carson, Joe Estevez, John Michaels | Written by Robert Gilliam, Nico Mastorakis, Fred Perry | Directed by Nico Mastorakis

You could say that the 80s are the decade that just keeps on giving, especially when it comes to cult movies. There are some that may pass by your radar though, and you miss out on their glory. This is the case of The Zero Boys for me, and lucky Arrow Video’s new Blu-ray has allowed me to fix this.

A group of survival game players, The Zero Boys decide to take a trip to the woods to let off some steam. With new friend Jamie (Kelli Maroney) tagging along everything seems to be going okay. When they discover a cabin in the woods though and decide to shack up there it doesn’t take long before they realise they...

Arrow Video and Shock give you a sneak peek at a special feature from The Zero Boys. Legendary Greek filmmaker Nico Mastorakis is a man who has led more than one life but it is with his string of darker, horrific movies that our readers know and love – or at least like – him…

The post Exclusive Video: Director Nico Mastorakis Interviews Himself (!) About The Zero Boys appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.

While Hans Zimmer is better known these days for his relationship with directors like Christopher Nolan, it was Nico Mastorakis who helped first get his foot in the door of the industry. One of Zimmer’s earliest credits was on Mastorakis’ slice of ‘80s horror nastiness “The Zero Boys” (he would also score the director's next effort, "Terminal Exposure") and the film has now been given a fresh 2K restoration by Arrow Video for its upcoming Blu-ray release. Kelli Maroney leads the movie that follows a group of friends who head to the woods for a weekend of survival games, only to wind up fighting for their actual lives against a group of inbred, bloodthirsty maniacs. Featuring some gruesome scenes that would lay the path for pictures like “Hostel” and “Saw,” this one is a must for horror buffs. Check out our exclusive clip from the movie below which teases...

Mvd Entertainment Group is furthering the Us distribution of cult film specialists "Arrow Video" with new movie titles available May 2016, including "Hired To Kill" in a Director Approved Special Edition Blu-ray + DVD, "Killer Dames: Two Gothic Chillers" By Emilio P. Miraglia  in Blu-ray + DVD and "Blood Bath" as a 2 Disc - Limited Edition:

"Hired To Kill" , starring Oliver Reed and George Kennedy, is a new 4K restoration of the action thriller, approved by writer-director Nico Mastorakis in High Def Blu-ray and Standard Definition DVD presentations. Extras include "Hired to Direct", an interview with Mastorakis, "Undercover Mercenary", an interview with actor Brian Thompson, the film's original theatrical trailer, a stills gallery, the original screenplay "Freedom or Death" (Bd/DVD-rom Content), a reversible sleeve with original artwork by Graham Humphreys, plus a fully-illustrated collector's booklet with writing on the film from critic James Oliver.

"Killer Dames: Two Gothic Chillers by Emilio P. Miraglia...

Mvd Entertainment Group looks to please Emilio P. Miraglia fans with Arrow Video’s May Us Blu-ray releases, including the Killer Dames box set collecting The Night Evelyn Came Out of the Grave and The Red Queen Kills Seven Times. Horror fans can also look forward to Arrow’s high-definition release of 1966’s Blood Bath that features all four versions of the Roger Corman-produced film.

Press Release: Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of Arrow Video in the Us with several new titles in May…

Hired To Kill (Director Approved Special Edition Blu-ray + DVD)

No man on earth could get him out of prison alive. Seven women will try.

Release Date: May 17th

List Price: $29.95

Starring legendary actors Oliver Reed (Gladiator, The Brood) and George Kennedy (The Delta Force and the Naked Gun series), Hired to Kill is a hugely entertaining action flick featuring guns, girls and a plethora...

Exclusive: Warner Bros and writer-producer Nico Mastorakis have closed a deal on Mastorakis’ feature film pitch, tentatively called Heist. Details remain undisclosed for now, though the idea is the portrayal of a “daring” and “unbelievable” heist. Chris Frazier and Charlie Frazier have been mutually hired by Mastorakis and Warner Bros to write the script. WB production exec Cate Adams will oversee the project. The Fraziers have In the Company Of Lies in development at…...

Our good friends and Mvd and Arrow Video USA have graciously provided TwitchFilm with yet another amazing prize pack for our readers. If you've been reading our reviews, you know how amazing these releases are, and here's your chance to own them!Up for grabs are Nico Mastorakis' Island of Death, Borowczyk's The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Miss Osbourne, and the limited edition releases of Brian Yuzna's Society and Hasebe Yasaharu's Retaliation! If you weren't convinced before, check out the specs below (provided by Arrow Video USA) and the associated reviews. These are amazing releases, and they can be yours with just a simple e-mail.No fancy schmancy contests or trivia. Just let me know that you want in! Send an email to josh [at]...

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...

Arrow Video cleans up the obscure video nasty Island of Death this month, a rare representative of Greek exploitation cinema. A shameless cash-in on the success of Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, director Nico Mastorakis was inspired to outdo the gruesome violence of that title in order to secure his own fame and fortune. Of course, time has feted out a different trajectory for the title, though it started Mastorakis on his own wayward path as a director of various schlock. Though its infamous reputation precedes his debut, by today’s standards, the shock value of his troubled venture is mostly laughable in its desperately handled perversities. However, Mastorakis captures a sort of beautiful dread with his striking locale, and lovers of vintage genre will appreciate the odd juxtaposition of grindhouse quality antics filmed on an exotic island.

Christopher (Robert Behling) and Celia (Jane Lyle), a blond,...

Normally I’d give all you ghouls a lil’ greetin’ here, but our first film features bestiality, incest, and water sports… so let’s just dive right the F in!

Island Of Death

Release Date: Available Now On Blu-ray Written By: Nico Mastorakis Directed By: Nico Mastorakis Starring: Robert Behling, Jane Lyle, Jessica Dublin

This F’n movie. Where do I even begin?

So two young lovers, Chris (Robert Behling) and Celia (Jane Lyle) go on a nice Grecian vacay, but like so many Carnival cruises often end up, these hot ‘n’ horny lovers are revealed to be brother and sister. Well, that certainly gets things rollin’ with a bang—like they get it on in a phone booth toot f’n sweet, and ol’ Chris calls his mom to inform her of the deed, mid-action! He shortly thereafter has sex with a goat. Yup. This f’n movie…

But of course Chris and Celia,...

Stars: Robert Behling, Jane Lyle, Jessica Dublin, Gerard Gonalons, Jannice McConnell, Ray Richardson, Marios Tartas, Efi Bani, Clay Half, Jeremy Rousseau, Elizabeth Spader, Nikos Tsachiridis, Mike Murtagh | Written and Directed by Niko Mastorakis

My tastes in movies tends to be quite broad, but I will always have a love of hunting out the controversial and extreme. This means I tend to see a lot of the so-called “Video Nasty” movies, as well as the more up to date movies that butt heads with the censors. Island of Death is a movie that has been given the Arrow Video treatment making its way to Blu-ray, and being a rather controversial Video Nasty of course I’m going to review it especially in an uncut form.

A British couple Christopher (Robert Behling), and Celia (Jane Lyle) are holidaying on a small Greek Island and outwardly seem to be the perfect couple. In...

Mvd Entertainment Group  furthers the distribution of Arrow Video in North America with a strong schedule of May 2015 cult releases receiving the deluxe treatment in video, audio, supplements and artwork:

"Retaliation" - Limited Edition Dual Format Blu-ray & DVD, available May 12, 2015 is "...a tale of gang warfare with Akira Kobayashi  as a yakuza lieutenant who emerges from jail to find his gang dispersed and his aging boss in his sickbed, with a rival waiting to kill him and a young girl caught in the crossfire..."

This restored High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) (and Standard Definition DVD) presentation, is on Blu-ray for the first time, with original uncompressed mono Pcm audio, newly translated English subtitles, a new interview with star Jô Shishido, an interview with critic, historian Tony Rayns, the film's original theatrical trailer, a gallery featuring rare promotional images, a reversible sleeve with original and newly commissioned artwork by Ian MacEwan, a...

Welcome to another horror round-up! This time around we’re focusing on Blue Underground’s theatrical re-release of Larry Cohen’s God Told Me To, a Scream Queens casting update, and Arrow Video’s upcoming Blu-ray/DVD releases of Society and Island of Death.

God Told Me To: Press Release – “One of the most disturbing and thought-provoking horror films of our time, God Told Me To was written, produced and directed by Larry Cohen (It’S Alive, Q- The Winged Serpent) and stars Tony Lo Bianco (The French Connection, The Honeymoon Killers)

Co-starring Deborah Raffin (Death Wish 3), Academy Award® winner Sandy Dennis (Who’S Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?), Academy Award® nominee Sylvia Sidney (Beetlejuice), Sam Levene (Brute Force), Robert Drivas (Cool Hand Luke), Mike Kellin (Sleepaway Camp), Richard Lynch (Bad Dreams), and Andy Kaufman (Taxi)

Confirmed theaters and dates, with additional cities coming soon.

Special Q&A’s with Larry Cohen Tba!

Prepare to relive the early 80s again and be “depraved and corrupted” once more as Horror Channel broadcasts a season of films that define the Video Nasties phenomenon – one of the most extraordinary and scandalous eras in the history of British film – the Season of the Banned.

Headlining this new season is the world TV premiere of Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape, which will be broadcast on November 4th @ 10.55pm

Directed by renowned filmmaker Jake West (Doghouse, Evil Aliens) and produced by Marc Morris, (co-author of ‘Art of the Nasty’ and ‘Shock Horror: Astounding Artwork from the Video Nasty Era’) – both of whom are pictured above – this era-defining documentary features reflective interviews with filmmakers Neil Marshall and Christopher Smith as well as charting the heroic stand taken by journalist/author Martin Barker, who single-handedly came out in protest against what he saw as the erosion of civil liberties.

Bubba Smith, the 6-foot-7 former National Football League player and one of the performers in the Police Academy movies, was found dead earlier today at his Baldwin Hills home in Los Angeles. Smith was 66. No foul play is suspected. As a professional football player, Charles Aaron 'Bubba' Smith (born February 28, 1945, in Beaumont, Texas) played with the Baltimore Colts, Oakland Raiders, and Houston Oilers from the late '60s to the mid-'70s. From the late '70s on, Smith began to sporadically appear in films. His one notable big-screen role was that of soft-spoken florist-turned-police cadet Moses Hightower, later promoted to sergeant and finally lieutenant in the Police Academy movies of the mid-to-late '80s. Those were inane slapstick fare that was generally derided by critics; the first movie in the series, however, became a major box-office hit, collecting more $81 million in 1984 (or about $192 million today). Hugh Wilson directed, and...

One of the original ‘video nasties’, Nico Mastorakis’ Island of Death is now available on UK DVD thanks to the Arrow Video. Long censored the film even has the dubious honour of receiving the following note when it was submitted for re-classification in 2002 (it failed to make it through uncut at that time),

The distributor was required to make several compulsory cuts to scenes of sexual violence, sexualised violence and a dehumanising sexual activity (urolagnia) in accordance with BBFC guidelines and policy.

Apparently the BBFC have softened on their approach to urolagnia (if you don’t know what that is your probably better off) and the film is now fully uncut. The film is described by its director as having been made for “people that have a natural curiosity for the unusual” and as the above note from the BBFC illustrates it certainly contains scenes of an unusual nature.

The...