As we enter the month of August the hot days of summer stay with us dear friends. Thankfully the weekly shipment of cinema also continues here at the shop so if the heat is getting too much come grab a fabulous new title, crack a cold one, crack the AC, and simply relax to the beauty of genre goodness. Let’s see what’s old, new, and bizarre this week shall we…
Brave explorers are headed for the far reaches of the galaxy in the continuation of the story that began with “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Their destination is Jupiter, where the Russian and American astronauts will conduct their investigation. Drs. Heywood Floyd (Roy Scheider), Walter Curnow (John Lithgow) and R. Chandra (Bob Balaban), along with shipmates Tanya (Helen Mirren) and Dave (Keir Dullea), aim to uncover what led to disaster for the deceased astronauts who preceded them.
A Cannon film classic & MST3k favourite about an attractive but unpleasant young woman who travels to Africa looking for her missing archaeologist father, and stumbles into a strange subterranean civilization. Kathy Ireland, Albert Pyun, 1988.
FINALLY IN STOCK! Re-discover one of the most gripping horror films of all-time! Special steelbook limited edition. John Landis.
In this horror, armed cultists invade a family’s home, and their babysitter fights back. Nic Fitzgerald, Scarlett Hazen, Kristen Marie Jensen, Kohl Glass, 2020.
Highly limited edition 4K release of Argento’s classic first film with its original cover art!
Beloved Sword & Sorcery schlock from the director of Phantasm about a young man’s search for revenge through the use of the sword & his ability to command his animal allies. Believe it or not, based on a book. Marc Singer, Tanya Roberts, Don Coscarelli.
A woman who gets a man to commit murder for her. It is important that the man not be a dummy; he needs to be smart enough to think of the plan himself. One of the brilliant touches of Kasdan’s screenplay is the way he makes Ned Racine think he is the initiator of Matty Walker’s plans.
Two cannibalistic brothers kill various young women to use their flesh as part of a new special dish at their run-down restaurant, while also committing blood sacrifices to awaken a dormant Egyptian goddess.
Visually stylish adventure film about a skilled explorer & his loyal Native sidekick attempting to puzzle out the true nature of the creature locals have dubbed The Beast! Christophe Gans, 2001.
Wes Anderson’s first film is a lovingly detailed & affectionate portrait of 3 young & foolish middle class misfits. Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, James Caan, 1996.
A director gets another chance to revive his career with one movie
Composer John Russell (George C. Scott) is vacationing with his family when a car accident kills his wife and daughter. Distraught with grief, Russell leaves his home in New York City for a giant, secluded house near Seattle. Soon Russell starts to feel the presence of a ghost, a boy who drowned in the bathtub there. Russell seeks the assistance of Claire Norman (Trish Van Devere), who led him to the house initially, in uncovering the secrets of the boy’s death.
Four Jamaican bobsleighers dream of competing in the Winter Olympics, despite never having seen snow. With the help of a disgraced former champion desperate to redeem himself, the Jamaicans set out to become worthy of Olympic selection, and go all out for glory.
An aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Guillermo del Toro (2015)
Iconic Italian horror, after witnessing the murder of a famous psychic, a musician teams up with a feisty reporter to find the killer while evading attempts on their lives by the unseen assailant bent on keeping a dark secret buried. Dario Argento (1975)
Paranormal investigator Zak Bagans documents the most authenticated case of possession in American history in this edge-of-your-seat demonic thrill ride.
Beloved trash master John Waters directs this tale of a neurotic society woman who murders her husband with the help of her maid and, on the lam, escapes to Mortville, a misfit community ruled over by a fascist queen. John Waters (1977)
A psychiatrist (David Gant) brings a murderer (Andrew Howard) to an abandoned asylum to uncover the truth behind a girl’s death.
A film about what could happen if the wrong person pushed the wrong button — and it played the situation for laughs. U.S. Air Force General Jack Ripper goes completely insane, and sends his bomber wing to destroy the U.S.S.R. He thinks that the communists are conspiring to pollute the “precious bodily fluids” of the American people.
A terrible dragon is terrorizing the medieval land of Urland in the 6th century. Representatives from the kingdom seek the assistance of the wizard Ulrich (Ralph Richardson) to defeat the dragon immediately — Urland has been delivering virgins to appease the dragon, and their princess (Chloe Salaman) has rigged the lottery system they use in order to sacrifice herself next. But when Ulrich is killed, the task to confront the dragon falls to the wizard’s apprentice, Galen (Peter MacNicol).
70’s B movie about professional treasure hunters who go hunting for sunken gold in the Caribbean. Stephen Boyd, David Ladd, Chuck Woolery, Rosey Grier, Cheryl Ladd, 1974.
A coroner (Dr. Francis B. Gröss) shows scenes of gruesome deaths from around the world both real and re-enacted.
A deal with the devil turns a man into a marionette in a live-action/animated version of the classic tale.
Two young boys accidentally release a horde of nasty, pint-sized demons from a hole in a suburban backyard. Now they must overcome a nightmarish hell that literally begins to take over the Earth. Tibor Takács (1987)
Ronnie (Michael St. Michaels) runs a disco walking tour along with his browbeaten son, Brayden (Sky Elobar). When a sexy, alluring woman named Janet (Elizabeth De Razzo) comes to take the tour, it begins a competition between father and son for her attentions. It also brings about the appearance of an oily, slimy, inhuman maniac who stalks the streets at night and strangles the innocent-soon dubbed the Greasy Strangler.
Two space-station astronauts (Robert Horton, Richard Jaeckel) destroy an asteroid, then face monsters formed from viscous cells.
Uniquely gorgeous giant monster movie which uses an all puppet human cast and a monster suit blending in an ghost story into the kaiju action. This film is 35 minutes and includes 35 minute making of. Daisuke Sato, 2019.
An FBI agent (Kyle MacLachlan) and a homicide detective (Michael Nouri) hunt the current human host of an orally exchanged alien life-form.
Rivalries, dark secrets, and sexual tension emerge when three best friends find themselves stranded on a yacht in the middle of the ocean desperate for survival. Rob Grant (2019)
Post Apocalyptic zombie movie from Argentina. Pablo Parés, 2018.
The unpleasant Gasper Noe film returns once again to the videostore..
In the crime-plagued future, the only thing standing between order and chaos is Judge Joseph Dredd (Sylvester Stallone). His duty: police the violent metropolitan sprawls that crowd the decaying earth, and kill criminals on the spot if necessary. The tables are turned, however, when maniacal ex-Judge Rico (Armand Assante) frames Dredd for murder. But, as his opponents soon discover, not even a prison sentence can stop Dredd from doling out his signature brand of justice.
One of the better of the Italian cannibal films raises the bar in terms of extreme gore & nastiness, instead of just wallowing in exploitation! A civilized man must survive the jungle his encounter with the primitive. Ruggero Deodato, 1977.
Atmospheric horror mockumentary from Australia about the ghost of a woman who mysteriously died. Joel Anderson, 2008.
The directorial debut of Wes Craven is a harrowing ordeal of sexual humiliation, torture and murder! Sandra Peabody, Lucy Grantham, David Hess, 1972
Renowned oceanographer Steve Zissou (Bill Murray) has sworn vengeance upon the rare shark that devoured a member of his crew. In addition to his regular team, he is joined on his boat by Ned (Owen Wilson), a man who believes Zissou to be his father, and Jane (Cate Blanchett), a journalist pregnant by a married man. They travel the sea, all too often running into pirates and, perhaps more traumatically, various figures from Zissou’s past, including his estranged wife, Eleanor (Anjelica Huston).
Based on the best-selling manga series, the six intensely kinetic Lone Wolf and Cub films elevated chambara to bloody, new heights. Tomisaburo Wakayama.
Gory and gruesome Norwegian about a survivor of a brutal attack believes she is being stalked by her attacker. Magdalena From Delis, Sondre Krogtoft Larsen, Damian Gallagher, Severin Eskeland, 2017.
Corky (Anthony Hopkins), a failed magician, adopts a new ventriloquist act with an abrasive dummy named Fats, and suddenly finds himself lined up for a television show. When the unbalanced Corky fears he won’t pass the required mental exam, he runs away with Fats to his hometown, where he meets an old love from high school, Peggy (Ann-Margret). Corky persuades Peggy to leave her loveless marriage — but Fats, who seems to be taking on a mind of his own, doesn’t approve of the relationship.
A supernatural, maniac killer cop teams up with a Times Square serial killer to get the revenge on those who killed him in prison. Written by Larry Cohen. Robert Davi, Claudia Christian, Michael Lerner, Willian Lustig, 1990.
Starring Emilio Estevez, a group of people try to survive when machines start to come alive and become homicidal. Stephen King (1986)
The quintessential silent vampire film, remastered in high definition for the first time.
Nutbag is the terrifying, true-life story of a man who murders without provocation. A lonely depraved killer stalks beautiful women in Las Vegas, where he kills at random. Nick Palumbo (2000)
Seymour “Sy” Parrish (Robin Williams) is a photo technician at a one-hour photo in big-box store SavMart. He lives alone, has no friends or love life, and lives only for his work, which he considers a “vital service”. His favorite customers are the Yorkin family, whose photos he has developed for many years. Over the years, he has grown obsessed with the family, enshrining them in his home with their photos that he secretly copies. However, as he is shy and socially inept, his attempts to become closer to the family are gently rebuffed.
Italian Erotica. A series of letters, photos and video cassettes in which women express their fantasies. Tinto Brass (1995) / Doc on Tinto Brass, the most censored director of all time. Massimiliano Zanin (2013)
Critically acclaimed & an audience favourite, director Bong Joon Ho’s searing critique of Korean society fused to a rip-roaring con-family comedy. 2019.
The Phantom of the Opera is a 1925 American silent horror film adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel Le Fantôme de l’Opéra, directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney in the title role of the deformed Phantom who haunts the Paris Opera House, causing murder and mayhem in an attempt to make the woman he loves ..
In this gory and disturbing thriller assassins use a mind-control device which shunts the consciousness of the victim in a dark recess when taken over. Brandon Cronenberg, 2020.
Intergalactic assassins converge on a small town after two siblings unwittingly resurrect an ancient alien overlord.
Incarcerated for assault and manslaughter, a man (Siu-wong Fan) survives in a futuristic prison by resorting to more extreme violence.
All three Firefly family flicks in one set.
A killer show with all the elements: diehard fans, screaming guitars, blood red lights and murder. A crazed rock singer returns from the dead to murder members of his former band. Beverly Sebastian (1984)
Alex Cox reimagines the crash-and-burn affair between punk’s most notorious self-destructive poster children: Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen-brought to visceral life by brilliant performances from Gary Oldman and Chloe W
In this dialogue-free slapstick comedy, film director Mel Funn (Mel Brooks) travels to the ailing Big Picture Studios to pitch his comeback film: the first feature-length silent movie in many years. Desperate for a hit, the studio chief (Sid Caesar) gives Funn and his cronies, Eggs (Marty Feldman) and Bell (Dom DeLuise), the go-ahead — but only if they can get big celebrities to act in it. Excited, Funn begins an adventure across the country in his effort to secure superstars for his film.
New 4K director approved restoration! Legendary Hungarian animator Marcell Jankovics mesmerising psychedelic adaptation of Hungarian fairy tales. 1981.
Salesman Roy Knable (John Ritter) spends all his free time watching television, to the exasperation of his wife, Helen (Pam Dawber). One day, TV salesman Spike (Jeffrey Jones) convinces Roy to buy a satellite dish offering 666 channels. The new addition to Roy’s home entertainment system sucks him and Helen into Hellvision, a realm run by Spike, who is an emissary of Satan. For 24 hours, the couple must survive devilish parodies of TV programs if they want to return to reality alive.
A maverick cop goes undercover into a dangerous criminal underworld and, under the spell of the bad guys charismatic leader, maybe gets in a little too deep. Brian Bosworth, Lance Henriksen, William Forsythe, 1991.
A retired farmer and widower in his 70s, Alvin Straight (Richard Farnsworth) learns one day that his distant brother Lyle (Harry Dean Stanton) has suffered a stroke and may not recover. Alvin is determined to make things right with Lyle while he still can, but his brother lives in Wisconsin, while Alvin is stuck in Iowa with no car and no driver’s license. Then he hits on the idea of making the trip on his old lawnmower, thus beginning a picturesque and at times deeply spiritual odyssey
Story of trailblazing American rock singer-songwriter Suzi Quatro, who helped redefine the role of women in rock ‘n’ roll when she broke out in 1973. Alice Cooper, Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, 2019.
Witness all the DRAMA in 4K! The cult classic animated film taking place 20 years after the events of the TV series’ second season. Eric Idle, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, Casey Kasem, Robert Stack, Lionel Stander, Orson Welles, 1986.
In 1999, Claire’s life is forever changed after she survives a car crash. She rescues Sam and starts traveling around the world with him. Writer Eugene follows them and writes their story, as a way of recording dreams is being invented. Wim Wenders (1991)
The mythic cult film from Ryûhei Kitamura in both its original 2000 and expanded 2004 Ultimate Versus iterations, in a brand new, director-approved restoration.
Russian horror. A young priest is ordered to preside over the wake of witch in a small old wooden church of a remote village. This means spending three nights alone with the corpse with only his faith to protect him. Konstantin Ershov (1967)
Audrey Hepburn stars in this sharp thriller as a recently blinded woman who is terrorized by a trio of thugs while they search for a heroin-stuffed doll they believe is in her apartment. Terence Young (1967)
The wild weird world of Wisconsin’s own Bill Rebane gets a much deserved collection! Includes: Monster A Go-Go (1965) / Invasion from Inner Earth (1974) / The Alpha Incident (1978) / The Demons Of Ludlow (1983) / The Game (1984) / Twister’s Revenge (1988)
After the death of his mother, the evil mutant wizard Blackwolf (Steve Gravers) discovers some long-lost military technologies. Full of ego and ambition, Blackwolf claims his mother’s throne, assembles an army and sets out to brainwash and conquer Earth. Meanwhile, Blackwolf’s gentle twin brother, the bearded and sage Avatar (Bob Holt), calls upon his own magical abilities to foil Blackwolf’s plans for world domination — even if it means destroying his own flesh and blood.
Cult teen 80s horror / sci-fi film about a mysterious fast-driving spirit who descends from the sky to take revenge against a road-racing gang of motor-heads. Charlie Sheen, Nick Cassavetes, Sherilyn Fenn, Randy Quaid, Mike Marvin, 1986.
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 Farr
And there we go guys…some fun stuff to start the month off with. As always the videostore loves you all. Cheers!
