Over the last week, Shout! Factory and their genre specialty line Scream Factory announced several upcoming Blu-rays for some major cult favorites in such rapid succession, I did not have a chance to write about each announcement. So consider this your one stop look at all the cool upcoming titles.
Note: As of this writing, extras for each release are still in progress and will be announced later.
THE AMBULANCE
Larry Cohen’s under-seen gem of dark comedy and action barely got a theatrical release back in 1990 and its home video availability has been spotty at best. Of course, as the resident DAILY GRINDHOUSE Larry Cohen superfan, this is the title I am most excited about. It is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 13, 2018.
THE ‘BURBS
Joe Dante’s satire of bored, paranoid suburban neighbors was considered a commercial dud when it was released. But the great thing about home video, cable, and streaming is that as a film may take decades to find its audience, its fans become that much more loyal, leading to a collector’s edition Blu-ray. THE ‘BURBS is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 20, 2018.
BEHIND THE MASK: THE RISE OF LESLIE VERNON
Possibly the best example of the mockumentary genre to date, the neglected masterpiece BEHIND THE MASK is getting the collector’s edition Blu-ray treatment it deserves. I, for one, could not be happier about this news. The disc is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 27, 2018.
THE STRANGERS
One of the scariest films in the home invasion genre, THE STRANGERS is getting a tenth anniversary collector’s edition—just in time for the release of the sequel THE STRANGERS: PREY AT NIGHT. The disc is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 6, 2018.
NIGHTMARE AT NOON
This is B-movie heaven, right here. Cult action/horror/sleaze favorite Nico Mastorakis directs a cast that includes Wings Hauser, Brion James, George Kennedy, and Bo Hopkins in a high concept, low budget horror/sci-fi flick. This is the kind of trashy fun I like to see get the Blu-ray treatment from boutique labels. The disc is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 20, 2018.
FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD
Outside of gialli, Euro-horror tends to be a pretty big blind spot for me, so I am always happy when one gets an easily accessible Blu-ray release. FANGS OF THE LIVING DEAD has the advantage of starring Anita Ekberg and being directed by Amando de Ossorio, giving it a slightly classier pedigree than many of the other horror films produced in Spain at the time. The disc is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 6, 2018.
ROCKULA
You know what they say: if you can’t say anything nice…I suppose there is a market for it, and I’m happy for those who enjoy the film that they get a Blu-ray release of it. The disc is scheduled to be released in the United States and Canada on March 20, 2018.
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 and PRINCE OF DARKNESS Steelbooks
For the hardcore collectors out there, you can get steelbook editions of these two John Carpenter classics with an exclusive lithograph of the new artwork for each one. Both discs are being released in the United States and Canada on March 27, 2018.
–Matt Wedge (@MovieNerdMatt)
Tags: Amando de Ossorio, Anita Ekberg, assault on precinct 13, Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon, Bo Hopkins, Brion James, Fangs of the Living Dead, George Kennedy, joe dante, john carpenter, Larry Cohen, Nico Mastorakis, Nightmare at Noon, Prince of Darkness, Rockula, scream factory, shout factory, The Ambulance, The Burbs, The Strangers, The Strangers: Prey at Night, Wings Hauser
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