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Looking back on the late 90s and early 2000s, it wasn’t exactly the best time for the horror genre, and you’d be hard pressed to argue that anything released at the time was a classic. Because they weren’t. That’s not to say that we didn’t get any ‘cult’ classic titles that have stood the test of time because of elements other than the quality of the movie. 1999s The Blair Witch Project had a genius marketing campaign that sold the movie as a scary, true life tale, while the press made out that it was so terrifying, people were being sick in cinemas. The truth is, it’s an average horror movie and it was the shaky camerawork that more than likely made people nauseous. It’s still regarded as a cult classic, however, but what about the rest of the content from the time?...

Severin Films has announced the upcoming release of the Russ Meyer Vixen Trilogy on Blu-ray and Uhd, bringing together three of Meyer’s most provocative works – Vixen, Supervixens, and Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens – in meticulously restored 4K editions. The release, scheduled for 27th January 2025, offers a treasure trove of special features spanning nine hours of new and archival content, in partnership with The Russ Meyer Charitable Trust and the Museum of Modern Art.

The trilogy encapsulates Meyer’s unique, irreverent style, from 1968’s Vixen to 1979’s Beneath the Valley of the Ultravixens. Known for his boundary-pushing approach, Meyer’s films tackled provocative themes, blurring the lines between art and exploitation and facing intense censorship battles. The Vixen Trilogy release honours Meyer’s legacy as an independent film pioneer, with Severin’s David Gregory describing it as “a celebration of Meyer’s unyielding creative spirit, his fight for artistic freedom,...

Is it hot in here, or is it just the recently announced re-release of three classic sexploitation films from nudie maverick Russ Meyer?

With a legacy rivaling Roger Corman’s, Meyer burst onto the film scene in the 1960s, establishing himself as a B-movie maestro with a penchant for big action and even bigger…well…you know. He would eventually garner wide acclaim for cheeky comedies like “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” and “Beneath the Valley of the Dolls,” the latter of which was scripted by renowned film critic Roger Ebert. However, as a fierce independent, Meyer maintained ownership of all his films until his death in 2004, making it difficult to produce physical copies for wide distribution.

Severin Films is changing that. Partnering with the Russ Meyer Charitable Trust, they are now set to release new editions of “Vixen!,” “Supervixens,” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens” on DVD, Blu-ray, and Uhd.

Given that the character is known for his wild rages and tendency to yell the phrase "Hulk smash!," it's curious that Kenneth Johnson's 1970s TV series "The Incredible Hulk" should be as melancholy as it is. Series protagonist David Banner (Bill Bixby) is depicted as a lonely, tragic figure, hating the fact that he, when enraged, turns into a green monster (played by superstar bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno). Indeed, in the TV show -- unlike the original Marvel comic books -- Dr. Banner first started experimenting with strength-giving radiation after he witnessed his wife die in a car crash. He had heard the stories of certain people summoning great strength in emergencies, and wanted to give himself that strength permanently, using it to fight off the trauma and sadness he always carried around.

Then, once he managed to accidentally give himself Hulk strength, it immediately divided Dr. Banner from the rest of society.

In the "Futurama" episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before", the hapless Fry (Billy West) learns that "Star Trek" has been banned in the 31st century. He visits the severed head of Leonard Nimoy, kept alive in a jar of fluid, hoping to learn more about the fate of "Star Trek." Nimoy, knowing about the ban, initially pleads ignorance. Fry, trying to remind him, describes "Star Trek" as a 1960s TV that had "76 episodes. About 30 good ones."

Nimoy eventually confesses to remembering "Star Trek," but Fry's description of the show's quality isn't wholly unfair. Gene Roddenberry's original "Star Trek" series had many highs, providing popular sci-fi with some of its most indelible images. Additionally, its vision of a country-less, money-free, diplomacy-forward, anti-colonialist future inspired many to be optimistic about things to come. But it can also be true that the show churned out more than its share of stinkers.

The Bloody Disgusting-powered Screambox is home to a variety of unique horror content, from originals and exclusives to cult classics and documentaries. With such a rapidly-growing library, there are many hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

Here are five recommendations you can stream on Screambox right now.

Norway

At the Abigail premiere, Dan Stevens listed Norway among his four favorite vampire movies. “I just saw a great movie recently that I’d never heard of,” he told Letterboxd. “A Greek film called Norway, about a vampire who basically exists in the underground disco scene in ’80s Athens, and he can’t stop dancing ’cause he’s worried his heart will stop. And it’s lovely. It’s great.”

You won’t find a better endorsement than that, but allow me to elaborate. Imagine Only Lovers Left Alive meets What We Do in the Shadows by way of Yorgos Lanthimos. The...

Screambox has revealed the new films that are joining the horror streaming service in March, including Followers, Exit Humanity, Alien from the Abyss, and the extremely popular UK series “Being Human”!

Inspired by the success of Alien and The Abyss, Alien from the Abyss has invaded Screambox! Newly restored in 4K by Severin Films, Charles Napier (The Silent of the Lambs) stars in the 1989 Italian knock-off.

Like You’re Next for the influencer generation, Screambox Exclusive Followers streams on March 12. The home invasion thriller finds a social media influencer in the crosshairs of a relentless dark web cult.

A werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost attempt to coexist in the British supernatural comedy series “Being Human”. The first season hits Screambox on March 22, with the remaining four seasons dropping weekly through April 19.

The Bloody Disgusting Selects zombie period piece Exit Humanity bites into Screambox on March 22. Hailed as “not a movie,...

The effect of The Simpsons on pop culture can’t be overstated. In the early nineties, the show tapped into the cultural zeitgeist in a way few others had before. Indeed, no other cartoon show could reasonably emulate it- but Hollywood couldn’t help but try. Capitol Critters, Family Dog, and Fish Police were just a few of the shows that tried to be “the new Simpsons.” Still, the only one that really came close was ABC’s The Critic, starring the voice of Jon Lovitz as Jay Sherman, perhaps the world’s least-loved film critic and the subject of this Gone But Not Forgotten episode.

Unlike other wannabe animated hits, The Critic could boast a legit connection to The Simpsons, with it also being a production of James L. Brooks’ Gracie Films. At the same time, creators Al Jean and Mike Reiss had been showrunners on The Simpsons during...

On April 25th, Severin Films delivers Worldwide Blu-ray premieres of two of the most infamous titles in ‘80s EuroCult Sci-Fi, Bloody Disgusting has exclusively learned today.

The titles? Alien From The Abyss, directed by Antonio Margheriti, and the Restored Director’s Cut of Extra Terrestrial Visitors from writer/director Juan Piquer Simón!

Both 4K restorations also include the U.S. debuts of long-form documentaries on their respective filmmakers. Here’s everything you need to know about both of these releases…

Alien From The Abyss

For one of the final films of his legendary career, director Antonio Margheriti headed to the Philippines to deliver “the perfect ‘80s Italian popcorn flick” (Mondo Digital): When environmental activists attempt to expose an evil corporation (led by Charles Napier of Supervixens and Rambo: First Blood Part II fame) dumping nuclear waste into the local volcano, they’ll instead discover graphic gore, exploding miniatures and...

At the end of Sam Raimi's 1993 horror farce "Army of Darkness," the blustering a-hole hero Ash (Bruce Campbell), stranded in the early 14th century, has handily vanquished an army of Deadites and retrieved the magical Necronomicon, a book that has the power to return him to his own time. The bearded Wise Man (Ian Abercrombie) explains to Ash that he has to drink a vial of elixir and recite three magical words, being careful to recite them correctly (Ash had previously whiffed the same magic words earlier in the film).

An astute observer might have noticed that Abercrombie's mouth doesn't match his dialogue in that scene. This is the result of a massive recut to the ending of "Army of Darkness." In the original cut, and the cut released overseas, Ash was told to drink one drop of elixir for every century he wanted to travel forward in time.

Many gangland parodies fall flat, but not Jonathan Demme’s marvelous combo of high spirits and murder. Mafia spouse Angela de Marco’s story is goofy comedy with an edge of economic reality: how does one newly-impoverished New Yawk dame make a living for her orphaned son, while avoiding the adulterous attentions of the Big Boss who had her husband iced? Michelle Pfeiffer came into her own, Dean Stockwell has his best adult role and Matthew Modine is uniquely charming as an amorous FBI agent. The tonal balance is abetted by a supporting performances that go every which way: Mercedes Ruehl, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt and a slew of Demme regulars. Plus a music score by David Byrne. The disc features three new video interviews.

Married to the Mob

Blu-ray

Fun City Editions

1988 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 104 min. / Street Date September 27, 2022 / Available from Vinegar Syndrome / 39.98

Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Matthew Modine, Dean Stockwell,...

Hello, everyone! We’re back with a brand new round of horror and sci-fi 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD releases coming out tomorrow, and I gotta say, November 16th is a good day to be a genre fan, because we have a lot of cool stuff coming our way. If you missed it in theaters, you can finally catch up with Nia DaCosta’s Candyman and both Maniac Cop 2 and 3 are getting a 4K upgrade courtesy of Blue Underground. Lionsgate has put together the impressive 4K set The Evil Dead: Groovy Collection that includes the first two Evil Dead films and all three seasons of Ash vs Evil Dead (plus a bevy of bonus content) that would make a killer addition to anyone’s home media collection.

Other releases for November 16th include Mulholland Dr. 4K, Prisoners of the Ghostland, Megan is Missing, Caveat, The Resort, and the Mad Max Anthology 4K.

The best horror film of the 1990s and perhaps the only serial killer picture post- Psycho that can stand on equal terms with Hitchcock’s classic, Jonathan Demme and Ted Tally’s adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel is a standout experience in every way. Not all 4K Ultra HD encodings are worth crowing about but this one is — the added visual detail and especially the contrast range really make a difference. Kino offers a good selection of extras as well, including a teaser trailer I haven’t seen for years and a fine Tim Lucas commentary.

The Silence of the Lambs

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1991 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 118 min. / available through Kino Lorber / Street Date October 19, 2021 / 39.95

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Tracey Walter, Kenneth Utt, Paul Lazar, Adelle Lutz, Obba Babatundé, Diane Baker, Roger Corman, Ron Vawter, Charles Napier,...

Every once in a while a movie makes me think, ‘this one’s too good to review, just tell them to see it and they’ll understand.’ John Cusack is a penny-ante small stakes cheat, his girlfriend Annette Bening hooks on the side while seeking a partner for ‘long cons,’ and his mother is an operative for the Mob, placing large bets at the race track to manipulate the odds on select horses. Each worships the ‘left-handed form of human endeavor’ and depends on it to the degree that human trust just can’t be maintained. Paramount’s plain wrap re-issue touts the film’s four Oscar nominations; the Stephen Frears film is the best adaptation yet of a Jim Thompson crime novel.

The Grifters

Blu-ray + Digital

Paramount

1990 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 110 min. / Street Date July 27, 2021 / 13.99

Starring: John Cusack, Anjelica Huston, Annette Bening, Pat Hingle, J.T. Walsh, Noelle Harling, Charles Napier,...

Program Description

For the first time in its 37-year history, the Rambo series is coming home as a complete SteelBook® set – with original art by some of today’s most celebrated illustrators! Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection arrives on 4K Ultra Hdtm October 27 from Lionsgate. This definitive collector’s edition of the legendary series features five uniquely designed SteelBooks by celebrated artists Justin Erickson, Ken Taylor, Grzegorz Domaradzki, Vance Kelly, and John Guydo, housed in a custom SteelBook case. It’s a must-have for Rambo fans! Starring Academy Award® nominee Sylvester Stallone, the collection features all five action-packed Rambo films including First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rambo III, Rambo, and Rambo: Last Blood. Rambo: The Complete SteelBook Collection will be available on 4K Ultra HD for the suggested retail price of $119.99.

Official Synopsis

Since its debut nearly four decades ago, the Rambo series starring Sylvester Stallone has become...

Russ Meyer, legendary for his lascivious approach to cheerfully lurid fare like Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! and Vixen, plays it relatively straight in this adaptation of trash-meister Irving Wallace’s free-speech manifesto on pornography. The result is neither fish nor fowl and something that had never existed till The Seven Minutes – a dull Russ Meyer movie. Even so, Meyer’s editing rhythms are so out of the mainstream that it’s still almost experimental for a Fox studio movie. The 1971 release starred Wayne Maunder and Meyer mainstays Edy Williams and Charles Napier along with a few ringers including Yvonne DeCarlo, John Carradine and Wolfman Jack.

The post The Seven Minutes appeared first on Trailers From Hell.

Nothing beats truth in advertising, and one could always leave it to the Italians to hop aboard a boat without any wind left in its tattered sails. This is the mid-‘80s so of course we’re talking about slashers, and in particular Body Count (1986), famed director Ruggero Deodato (Cannibal Holocaust)’s fun and loopy take on backwoods horror.

Given a very limited release in the U.S. in October, Body Count was rolled out to the rest of the world the following year, mainly on videocassette. Immediately dismissed as a Friday the 13th knockoff (which it certainly is) five years too late (ditto), time has nevertheless been kind to a film with no agenda other than kill, baby, kill. The title is more than apropos; Body Count is the generic yellow labeled can at the horror store that tastes better than it has any right to.

That’s definitely...

What does the American dream mean to you? Hardworking folk just want the job and the house and the family as promised in the ‘old’ Contract With America that began to slip out of reach in the 1970s. To examine the social absurdities at the tacky end of the consumer divide, Bo Goldman and Jonathan Demme’s marvelous film follows Melvin Dummar, a luckless a guy who became an involuntary media sensation. You just want to hug plucky Paul Le Mat and adorable Mary Steenburgen, even though there’s not a thing to be done for them: going to ‘Easy Street’ isn’t so easy, not even after being named in a billionaire’s Last Will and Testament.

Melvin and Howard

Blu-ray

Twilight Time

1980 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 95 min. / Street Date April 16, 2019 / Available from the Twilight Time Movies Store / 29.95

Starring: Paul Le Mat, Mary Steenburgen, Jason Robards, Elizabeth Cheshire, Pamela Reed,...

The action-packed Rambo: First Blood Part 2 comes to 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) on November 13 from Lionsgate. Rambo returns to lead a top secret mission in the Vietnam jungles. Talk about unlucky.

Academy Awards® nominee Sylvester Stallone returns to the role that made him a household name when Rambo: First Blood Part II arrives on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray and Digital) November 13 from Lionsgate. Also starring Richard Crenna, Charles Napier, and Steve Berkoff, this smash hit sequel follows John Rambo on a top-secret operation to bring back Pow’s still held in Vietnam. The Rambo: First Blood Part II 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack is loaded with special features including a new, never-before-seen featurette, “Rambo Takes the 80’s Part 2,” and will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99.

He’s back! Superstar Sylvester Stallone is John Rambo, the ultimate action hero, in...

One of the great action film franchises of all time is coming to 4K this November, when the films of the 1980s Rambo Trilogy debut on Ultra HD Blu-ray!

Two-time Academy Award® nominee Sylvester Stallone stars in the role that made him an action movie legend when First Blood, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and Rambo III arrive on 4K Ultra HD™ Combo Pack (plus Blu-ray™ and Digital) November 13 from Lionsgate.

Here is the breakdown for each film's 4K release, including technical specs and special features.

First Blood

Sylvester Stallone stars as the iconic John Rambo, alongside Golden Globe® winner Brian Dennehy, Richard Crenna, and David Carusso in this explosive action-thriller, available on 4K for the first time ever. Also features a new, never-before-seen featurette, “Rambo Takes the 80’s Part 1”, which looks back at the incredible impact of this evergreen film. The First Blood 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack is...

Talk about staying power — Jonathan Demme’s riveting, ultimately humanistic horror thriller raked in a full house of Oscars and is still scaring new viewers. Even those that chose to avoid it know what it’s all about. My review bows to the film’s superiority and remarks on some of its finer points of cinematic splendor.

The Silence of the Lambs

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 13

1991 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 118 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date February 13, 2018 / 39.95

Starring: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Tracey Walter, Kenneth Utt, Paul Lazar, Adelle Lutz, Obba Babatundé Diane Baker, Roger Corman, Ron Vawter, Charles Napier, Chris Isaak, George Romero, Kasi Lemmons, Lauren Roselli.

Cinematography: Tak Fujimoto

Film Editor: Craig McKay

Original Music: Howard Shore

Written by Ted Tally from the novel by Thomas Harris

Produced by Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt

Directed by Jonathan Demme

“I’ve...

“I feel like a virgin at a eunuch convention.”

Married To The Mob screens Friday, June 24th at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). This is the sixth film in their ‘Tribute to Jonathan Demme’ The movie starts at 8:00pm.

In director Jonathan Demme’s 1988 comedy Married To The Mob, Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Angela Demarco, the widow of a recently “iced” Mob hit-man who moves from her garishly tacky Long Island home to start a new life for herself and her son, while being pursued by Mob boss Dean Stockwell and FBI man Matthew Modine. Married To The Mob has lots going for it including a very amusing script; offbeat characters; sudden sharp turns to unexpected violence, and a hilarious yet menacing, Oscar-nominated performance by Stockwell and and also by Mercedes Ruehl, as his jealous wife from hell, But Ms Pfeiffer steals the show easily. She perfectly nails Angela’s under-educated,...

“No one seems to love or understand me. Oh what hard luck stories they all hand me”

Melvin And Howard screens Friday, June 16th at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood). This is the third film in their ‘Tribute to Jonathan Demme’ The movie starts at 8:00pm.

Paul Le Mat is an average Joe named Melvin E. Dummar in Melvin And Howard (1980) an effective combination of drama and comedy from director Jonathan Demme. Melvin often finds it difficult to make ends meet, no matter what line of work he’s in. Then, one day, it seems as if his luck might change. A stranger leaves on his desk a will proclaiming Melvin to be one of 16 heirs to the fortune of reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. Once upon a time, Melvin had given a lift to an aged, decrepit looking individual (Jason Robards) who claimed to be Hughes. The...

This is my film review and it Freaks Me Out!  Girlie-art legend Russ Meyer and then- tyro critic Roger Ebert fashion the most garish, vulgar and absurd satire of wild Hollywood that they can think of, a camp vision of joy straight from the dizzy imagination of a breast-obsessed glamour photographer. All your favorites are here -- Erica Gavin, Dolly Read, Marcia McBroom, Cynthia Meyers, Edy Williams. Beyond the Valley of the Dolls + The Seven Minutes Region B Blu-ray + Pal DVD Arrow Video (UK) 1970 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 109 min. / Street Date January 18, 2016 / Available from Amazon UK £17.99 Starring Dolly Read, Cynthia Meyers, Marcia McBroom, Erica Gavin, John Lazar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian, Edy Williams, Phyllis Davis, Harrison Page, Duncan McLeod, Charles Napier, Haji, Pam Grier, Coleman Francis, The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Cinematography Fred J. Koenecamp Editors Dann Cahn, Dick Wormell Original Music Stu Phillips Written by Roger Ebert, Russ Meyer Produced and...

Stars: Dolly Read, Cynthia Myers, Marcia McBroom, John Lazar, Michael Blodgett, David Gurian, Edy Williams, Erica Gavin, Phyllis Elizabeth Davis, Harrison Page, Duncan McLeod, James Iglehart, Charles Napier, Henry Rowland | Written by Roger Ebert | Directed by Russ Meyer

Russ Meyer movies may be best known for their nudity and their exploitative nature but they also had something special that raised them above most “skin flicks”. Meyer had a style and he knew how to make a fun movie. Many of his titles became cult hits, especially Beyond the Valley of the Dolls – which has just been given the Arrow Video Blu-ray treatment…

Beyond the Valley of the Dolls has a true b-movie feel to it, almost Grindhouse in style. Following an all-girl rock band as they move to Hollywood we see them sink into the cesspool of decadence which so many fell victim to. As things turn dark though, just...

'Yesterday' movie: Leleti Khumalo and Lihle Mvelase. 'Yesterday' movie review: Fantastic central performance in South African AIDS drama To date, nowhere has the AIDS pandemic been felt more strongly than in Sub-Saharan Africa, home to approximately 10 percent of the world's population and two-thirds of the planet's 30-35 million AIDS cases. In the past thirty years, it is estimated that more than 20 million Sub-Saharan Africans have died from complications of the disease.* Even today, drug cocktails that are relatively accessible in other parts of the globe are still beyond the means of the vast majority of Africans. Writer-director Darrell Roodt's South African drama Yesterday is set in this catastrophic scenario. The film depicts the effects of AIDS in the life of a young Zulu woman who contracts HIV from her husband. Although Roodt's narrative maintains its focus on the plight of one particular individual, the (for non-Zulus) quirkily named Yesterday represents millions of other women,...

Tim George Mar 8, 2019

Hannibal Lecter and Hans Gruber? They're the movie villains who get the recognition they deserve. But what about this lot?

When you think of your great villains, your Darth Vaders, your Jokers, your Hannibal Lecters, who stands out? It boils down to one thing: showmanship. Whether it is in terms of appearance, personality, or action, characters like these hog the spotlight. When they are onscreen, you cannot take your eyes off them.

In forming this list, I found that I was gravitating toward characters who lacked this kind of showmanship. Maybe the title of this article should have been ‘understated.’ While there are a few on this list who you could count as flamboyant (and one played by Gary Busey), on the whole, the characters on these list prefer to hide in the shadows where they can hide their deeds and plot their next scheme. They’re...

Top 100 horror movies of all time: Chicago Film Critics' choices (photo: Sigourney Weaver and Alien creature show us that life is less horrific if you don't hold grudges) See previous post: A look at the Chicago Film Critics Association's Scariest Movies Ever Made. Below is the list of the Chicago Film Critics's Top 100 Horror Movies of All Time, including their directors and key cast members. Note: this list was first published in October 2006. (See also: Fay Wray, Lee Patrick, and Mary Philbin among the "Top Ten Scream Queens.") 1. Psycho (1960) Alfred Hitchcock; with Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam. 2. The Exorcist (1973) William Friedkin; with Ellen Burstyn, Linda Blair, Jason Miller, Max von Sydow (and the voice of Mercedes McCambridge). 3. Halloween (1978) John Carpenter; with Jamie Lee Curtis, Donald Pleasence, Tony Moran. 4. Alien (1979) Ridley Scott; with Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt. 5. Night of the Living Dead (1968) George A. Romero; with Marilyn Eastman,...

Paramount Pictures

For many actors, playing even just a small role in an illustrious franchise such as Star Trek is a highlight of their career. Idolised celebrities including Tom Morello and Seth MacFarlane, and even King Abdullah bin al-Hussein of Jordan consider their briefest of appearances to be among their happiest of moments.

Whilst it is fair to say that anyone who has graced Star Trek with their presence would describe it as a proud achievement, there are also those from whom it was just one part in a distinguished career. Whether they had yet to make it when they made their appearance, or were chosen because of their renowned career, there are those with resumes so impressive that even Star Trek can be overshadowed.

These include David Warner, for whom even multiple appearances sit nicely alongside other cult roles in films such as The Omen, and Tron. Charles Napier...

Even though most of my childhood was filled with an array of films from John Carpenter and Tobe Hooper, Body Bags isn’t a film that I was really all that familiar with. I had borrowed a VHS copy of it from a friend in early 1994 and the tape broke about 15-20 minutes in, so when it came time to finally get myself fully-acquainted with it, I was game for anything, especially considering the level of talent involved all-around.

While the new release of Body Bags on Blu-ray is definitely a fun watch- a cavalcade of who’s who in horror cameos and Carpenter’s performance as the wrap-around segments’ host “The Coroner” being the real highlights of this anthology- the movie itself is an oddball mix that didn’t wholly connect with me.

Body Bag’s first installment, “The Gas Station,” is easily the best of the bunch- the...

Chicago – What to Watch is back! Miss us? Every week, we roll out 5-10 of the latest films and TV shows to be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and various streaming services. This week’s highlights include a few classics, a cult hit, a couple of recent comedies, and a family flick. In the order we’d advise buying or renting them…

The Vivien Leigh Anniversary Collection

Photo credit: Cohen Media Group

“The Vivien Leigh Anniversary Collection”

Another Wtw, another Cohen Media Group release. Seriously, the good folks at Cohen have been doing an amazing job of finding relatively obscure classics and recent foreign films and polishing them like they’re beloved worldwide. They’re rivaling Criterion and Scream Factory as studios for which every release truly matters. Their latest is a collection of four early films from the legendary Vivien Leigh, an actress best-known for “Gone with the Wind” and a true Hollywood icon.

“Shooting Cordell is only good for getting his attention!”

Director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 (1990) picked up right where Maniac Cop (1988) left off and did a great job of continuing the chaos. Both films even had the same tag line: “You have the right to remain silent . . . Forever!” The sequel has badge-wearing wacko Matt Cordell (Robert Z’dar), the crazed, murderous “Maniac Cop” of the first film (now even more monstrously disfigured after a brutal stay in prison) teaming up with Turkel (Leo Rossi), a crazed degenerate serial killer on ‘a crusade against the whores of the world’, who likes to murder strippers. They’re up against frenzied, chain smoking NYPD detective Sean McKinney (movie veteran Robert Davi), who is just one step ahead of a nervous breakdown and feisty police psychologist Susan Riley (the gorgeous Claudia Christian). Sean McKinney’s nerves don’t get much relief when officers...

The wonderful loonies over at Blue Underground have updated their list of theatrical engagements for the re-release of Maniac Cop 2 so check it out to see if you'll be one of the lucky ones who'll witness the massacre on the big screen!

From the Press Release

Blue Underground is bringing a 2013 Dcp Restoration of director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 to theaters this fall in advance of its upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

Featuring a brand-new 4K High Definition transfer from the original camera negative and new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this Maniac Cop 2 Dcp is the definitive presentation of the action-packed cult-horror favorite. Bill will attend Maniac Cop 2 screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco to introduce what critics have hailed as “Truly The Greatest ‘80s Horror-Action Movie Ever Made!” (Alamo Drafthouse).

The limited theatrical release kicks off...

Work has been done on a new 4K HD transfer of Maniac Cop 2 for an upcoming Blu-ray release, courtesy of Blue Underground. If you’d rather see the movie on the big screen, it’s been revealed that Maniac Cop 2 will screen in more than a dozen cities across the Us, with director William Lustig in attendance at a number of locations:

“October 17, 2013 (Los Angeles) — Blue Underground is bringing a 2013 Dcp Restoration of director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 to theaters this fall in advance of its upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

Featuring a brand-new 4K High Definition transfer from the original camera negative and new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this Maniac Cop 2 Dcp is the definitive presentation of the action-packed cult-horror favorite. Bill will attend Maniac Cop 2 screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco to introduce what...

Yes, you read that glorious headline correctly! In anticipation of the Blu-ray releases of Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence Blue-Underground is putting the second film in the franchise to theatres!

From the Press Release

Blue Underground is bringing a 2013 Dcp Restoration of director William Lustig’s Maniac Cop 2 to theaters this fall in advance of its upcoming Collector’s Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack release.

Featuring a brand-new 4K High Definition transfer from the original camera negative and new Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, this Maniac Cop 2 Dcp is the definitive presentation of the action-packed cult-horror favorite. Bill will attend Maniac Cop 2 screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, and San Francisco to introduce what critics have hailed as “Truly The Greatest ‘80s Horror-Action Movie Ever Made!” (Alamo Drafthouse).

The limited theatrical release kicks off with a sneak preview this Saturday, October 19th,...

David O Russell's biopic of Russ Meyer has yet to burst out of development, but there's now another project involving the smut auteur in the works. Sobini Films, Permut Presentations and Chautauqua Entertainment have come together for Russ & Roger Go Beyond, charting Meyer's unlikely collaboration with the late, great Roger Ebert on Beyond The Valley Of the Dolls.Meyer shot newsreel footage during WWII, and in peacetime began to find success as a glamour photographer during Playboy's early years. In the early 60s he started filming soft porn "nudie cuties", before hitting on his own niche of weirdly violent live-action cartoons, full of massive-breasted, aggressively dominant women, and spineless quivering men. And Charles Napier. Once publicly accused of being "nothing but a tit man", he retorted, "That's only the half of it."Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! was the flick that put him on the map, followed by such equally scurrilous classics as Vixen!

We’ve known that Blue Underground has been working on bringing the Maniac Cop sequels to Blu-ray, but now we have an official release date, cover art, and details on extras.Both movies will be available on November 19th in separate Blu-ray/DVD combo packs. Each movie has been digitally remastered, optimized for D-Box systems, and comes with a number of bonus features:

Maniac Cop 2: The “Maniac Cop” is back from the dead and stalking the streets of New York once more. Officer Matt Cordell was once a hero, but after being framed by corrupt superiors and brutally assaulted in prison, he sets out on a macabre mission of vengeance, teaming up with a vicious serial killer to track down those that wronged him and make them pay… with their lives!

Robert Davi (License To Kill), Claudia Christian (The Hidden), Michael Lerner (Barton Fink), Laurene Landon (Hundra), Leo Rossi...

Stars: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, Laurence Fishburne | Created by Bryan Fuller

‘Coquilles’ is an outstanding hour of television. It’s equal parts horrifying and heart-wrenching while mixing in a dark standalone story. It’s a cocktail that Hannibal seems to have down pat and this episode is absolutely no exception. It skirts the plot of Abigail Hobbes this week but still allows for some deep, deep digging into the psychological plumbing of the people in this world all functioning around Hannibal Lecter. The best thing about all of it is this, it gives us a newer insight into a character that we’ve only seen from a distance thus far and the show is all the more better for it because it gives the episode a different tack than what’s to be expected about a show that features all sorts of salacious murderousness.

We continue to dig...

Bastards Of Hitch at 92YTribeca

Alfred Hitchcock. First, his name became synonymous with suspense. Then, his carefully cultivated and marketed brand of storytelling grew into its own veritable sub-genre of psycho-sexual thrillers. Today, his uniquely recognizable personal style and tone continues to influence generations of filmmakers’ tendencies as well as filmgoers’ expectations.

For this coming August, I programmed six movies influenced by the Master of Suspense to be screened at 92YTribeca (all on 35mm film): Jonathan Demme’s early exercise in paranoia amidst a world of double-crossing special agents; Richard Attenborough’s distorted reimagining of Psycho with a terrifying ventriloquist’s dummy sitting in for Norman Bates’ mother; Saul Bass’ sole directorial outing about a killer swarm (ants, not birds); an eminently elegant and dryly sardonic neo-noir mindgame from David Fincher; Nicolas Roeg’s own take on a story by frequent Hitchcock inspiration Daphne du Maurier; and a mid-career...

The Russ Meyer Show Featuring Kitten Natividad takes place in St. Louis this Friday, June 15th at The Way Out Club. Details at the end of this article.

Article by Jim Batts, Dana Jung, and Tom Stockman

Russell Albion “Russ” Meyer was born in California in 1922 and spent WWII as a combat photographer. In 1953 Playboy magazine debuted and Meyer was one of its first centerfold photographers. Meyer had a knack, and a passion, for photographing gorgeous, busty women and felt that the gals in the nudist camp movies that were popular in the ’50s were far too plain-looking for his tastes. In 1959, Meyer scraped together $24,000 and made The Immoral Mr. Teas, a quaint, colorful, and cartoonish movie about a nerdy fellow whose life is constantly interrupted by beautiful large-breasted women in various stages of undress. There was no sex in Meyer’s film and he made no pretense of presenting nudity as a lifestyle choice,...

A frantic 911 call was placed after Monkees singer Davy Jones suffered a massive heart on Wednesday in Florida.

The distressed woman who dialed the emergency number pleaded for an ambulance to "hurry," before suggesting it might be faster to put Jones in a car and drive to the nearest hospital -- which was 27 miles away.

Jones had complained of breathing trouble early in the morning, and was later taken to a hospital in the town of Stuart,...

Jeff Conaway, character actor Charles Napier and 'Batman' star Michael Gough among those left out of segment on Sunday's show.

By Gil Kaufman

Jeff Conaway in "Grease"

Photo: Paramount Pictures

Some people watch the Oscars to see the pretty dresses, look for potential nip slips, revel in the weepy acceptance speeches, root against the leading contenders and yes, a few even tuned in for host Billy Crystal's paint-by-numbers movie spoofs.

But then there are those of us who wait for the annual "In Memoriam" segment that pays tribute to those the movie world has last over the past year, eager to see who has been omitted. In the past two years, that list has included "Airplane!" star Peter Graves and "Lost Boys" actor Corey Haim. In 2010, some fans were outraged that former pin-up and "Charlie's Angels" star Farrah Fawcett (who appeared in films including "Logan's Run" and...

Jeff Conaway, character actor Charles Napier and 'Batman' star Michael Gough among those left out of segment on Sunday's show.

By Gil Kaufman

Jeff Conaway in "Grease"

Photo: Paramount Pictures

Some people watch the Oscars to see the pretty dresses, look for potential nip slips, revel in the weepy acceptance speeches, root against the leading contenders and yes, a few even tuned in for host Billy Crystal's paint-by-numbers movie spoofs.

But then there are those of us who wait for the annual "In Memoriam" segment that pays tribute to those the movie world has last over the past year, eager to see who has been omitted. In the past two years, that list has included "Airplane!" star Peter Graves and "Lost Boys" actor Corey Haim. In 2010, some fans were outraged that former pin-up and "Charlie's Angels" star Farrah Fawcett (who appeared in films including "Logan's Run" and...

Def-con 4

1985 Canada 88min

Director: Paul Donovan, et al

Starring: Lenore Zann, Maury Chaykin, Tim Choate, Kate Lynch, Kevin King, and Jeff Pustil

Hell Comes To Frogtown

1988 USA 86min

Director: Donald G. Jackson and R.J. Kizer

Starring: “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Sandahl Bergman, William Smith, Rory Calhoun, Cliff Bemis, Nicholas Worth, and Kristi Somers

Image Entertainment

Review by J Astro

Two cinematic blasts from Hollywood’s not-too-distant Cold War-inspired past are re-packaged together as a post-apocalyptic tag team on this two-for-one offering, which was made available by the folks at Image Entertainment just a few weeks ago (release date December 13, 2011). Each feature on this single-sided disc comes with its own title screen, scene selections, and a theatrical trailer. The DVD itself plays a few other vintage trailers (C.H.U.D., anyone?) before the main film selection menu. Otherwise, it’s all a pretty bare bones affair. But with mega-blockbusters like these,...

R&B great Etta James, best known for her classic song "At Last," has died from chronic leukemia. She was 73.

James had been struggling with the disease for several years. She died at a hospital in Riverside, Calif. with her husband of 41 years, Artis Mills, and her sons by her side.

Etta's longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon, said, "This is a tremendous loss for the family, her friends and fans around the world.

"Extra" takes a look back at Hollywood's beloved stars who passed away this year.

In Memoriam 2011Harry Morgan

"M*A*S*H" star Harry Morgan died [http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/12/mash_star_harry_morgan_dead_at_96.php] at the age of 96 on December 7, after suffering from pneumonia.

Patrice O'Neal

Comedian Patrice O'Neal died at the age of 41 [http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/11/charlie_sheen_others_pay_tribute_to_comedian_patrice_oneal.php] on November 29, from complications of a previous stroke.

Ken Russell

British director Ken Russell died [http://extratv.warnerbros.com/2011/11/director_ken_russell_dead_at_84.php] at the age of 84 on November 27, from a stroke.

Theodore Forstmann

"Top Chef" host...

Imposing character actor often cast in the films of Russ Meyer and Jonathan Demme

Charles Napier, who has died aged 75, was one of Hollywood's most distinctive and imposing character actors. With his blockish head, heavy jaw and formidable stare, he was called upon most often to play no-nonsense heavies. In a career lasting more than 40 years, he appeared in some of Hollywood's most successful films and television series, and was cherished in particular by the directors Russ Meyer and Jonathan Demme, who cast him repeatedly.

Napier resigned himself long ago to the character actor's lot – familiarity without celebrity. "Wherever I go, people will look at me as though they recognise me," he wrote in his autobiography, Square Jaw and Big Heart: The Life and Times of a Hollywood Actor (2011). "They see that square jaw with the big smile. They may not know my name, but they know that face."

He was born in Allen County,...

Charles Napier, known for his tough-guy roles in "The Blues Brothers," "Rambo," and "Silence of the Lambs," has died at age 75.

Longtime friend Dennis Wilson told The Daily Mail that Napier died Thursday after being rushed to a Bakersfield hospital when he collapsed in his home.

The cause of death is still unknown, but Napier reportedly suffered from blood clots in his legs.

The character actor is probably best known as the scheming intelligence officer...

Bakersfield, Calif. (AP) — His granite jaw, toothy grin and steely stare were the tools that made Charles Napier one of the most recognizable actors movie and TV audiences never heard of. From the dim-witted country music star John Belushi flimflammed in "The Blues Brothers" movie to the scheming military intelligence officer who matched wits with Sylvester Stallone in "Rambo: First Blood II," Napier appeared in scores of films and TV shows in a career spanning more than 40 years. He died Wednesday at age 75 at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, his longtime friend Dennis Wilson told the Bakersfield Californian. The cause...

Square-jawed acting legend Charles Napier has died. The tough-guy 75-year-old star, who has acted in films including The Silence of the Lambs and Philadelphia, collapsed in his Bakersfield, Calif. home Monday night and was found on Tuesday. So what exactly happened? Napier had been suffering from health problems and had been admitted to the hospital in May 2010 to deal with blood clots in his legs, per the local ABC News affiliate.  He was placed on life support in the intensive care unit just before 1 p.m. on Wednesday. The actor, who was perhaps best known for his role as Tucker McElroy in The Blues Brothers, was surrounded by his family when life support was turned...