Tag Archives: Retro horror

Home Video Releases

“Demons” and “Demons 2” Getting a Limited 4k UHD and Blu Ray Release!

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They will make cemeteries their cathedrals and the cities will be your tombs… in 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray!

Regarded by horror fans the world over as two of the greatest Italian horror films ever made, Lamberto Bava’s Demons films are not only major cinematic nightmare fuel, but also hugely entertaining splatterfests of the highest order. Synapse’s 2013 Blu-rays remain two of their most popular releases, and now they’re bringing these favorites to 4K UHD and remastered Blu-ray in brand-new spectacular 4K restorations! These horrific splatter classics produced by Dario Argento (Suspiria) have never looked or sounded better and are packed with hours of special features, making this the ultimate home video release of these horror favorites.

In Demons, a masked man offers tickets to a horror movie sneak preview at the mysterious Metropol cinema. When a patron is scratched by a prop displayed in the theatre lobby, she transforms into a flesh-ripping demon! One by one, the audience members mutate into horrible creatures hell-bent on destroying the world! Can anyone escape this gory orgy of terror? In 1986’s ambitious sequel Demons 2, the apocalyptic terror continues! A televised horror film spells doom for the residents of a luxury high-rise apartment, as demons are unleashed through the TV screen at a young girl’s birthday party. As more and more residents are infected and transformed into blood-thirsty demons, a young couple fights to survive as they try to escape Hell on Earth.

DEMONS 1 & 2 – LIMITED EDITION 4K (2160p) TWO-DISC UHD BLU-RAY
THIS 6000 PIECE LIMITED EDITION CONTAINS:

  • New 4K restorations of both Demons and Demons 2 from the original 35mm camera negatives!
  • 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations of both films in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
  • Limited edition o-card/slipcover packaging featuring new artwork by Juan José Saldarriaga and Chris MacGibbon
  • Reproduction of the original movie ticket from Demons
  • A special Demons 2 birthday party invitation
  • Included fold-out poster of Demons artwork from Wes Benscoter
  • Reversible cover art
  • 4K UHD All-region playback

DISC 1 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) DEMONS

●       Two versions of the film: the full-length original cut in English and Italian, and the shorter U.S. version featuring alternate dubbing and sound effects

●       Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English & Italian 5.1/2.0 audio mixes on the original cut derived from the archival audio masters

●       Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 2.0 U.S. theatrical mono audio newly remastered in 2021 by Synapse Films

●       New audio commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain, co-hosts of the Hell’s Belles podcast

●       Audio commentary with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaletti, composer Claudio Simonetti and actress Geretta Geretta

●       Produced by Dario Argento: a new visual essay by author and critic Michael Mackenzie exploring the legendary filmmaker’s career as a producer

●       Dario’s Demon Days: interview with writer/producer Dario Argento

●       Defining an Era in Music: interview with Claudio Simonetti

●       Splatter Spaghetti Style: interview with long-time Argento collaborator Luigi Cozzi

●       Carnage at the Cinema: Lamberto Bava and His Splatter Masterpiece

●       Dario and Demons: Producing Monster Mayhem●       Monstrous Memories: Luigi Cozzi on Demons

●       Profondo Jones: The Critical Perspective

●       Splatter Stunt Rock: interview with Ottaviano Dell’Acqua

●       Stivaletti Q & A at the 2019 UK ‘Festival of Fantastic Films’

●       Original Italian and English international theatrical trailers●       U.S. theatrical trailer

●       Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version

●       Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian version

 DISC 2 (4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY) DEMONS 2

●       Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 5.1 & Italian 5.1/2.0 audio mixes derived from the original archival audio masters

●       Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 2.0 true stereo theatrical mix remastered in 2021 by Synapse Films●       New audio commentary by film critic Travis Crawford

●       Bava to Bava: interview with Luigi Cozzi on the history of Italian horror

●       Creating Creature Carnage: interview with Sergio Stivaletti

●       Demonic Influences: Federico Zampaglione Speaks

●       The ‘Demons’ Generation: Roy Bava discusses a legacy in lacerations

●       The New Blood of Italian Horror featuring Sergio Stivaletti

●       Screaming for a Sequel: The Delirious Legacy of DEMONS 2 with Lamberto Bava

●       A Soundtrack for Splatter: interview with composer Simon Boswell

●       Together and Apart: a new visual essay on the space and technology in DEMONS and DEMONS 2 by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas

●       Original Italian and English theatrical trailers

●       Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version

Bonus Material included:

  • DEMONS: Two versions of the film: the full-length original cut in English and Italian, and the shorter U.S. version featuring alternate dubbing and sound effects
  • DEMONS: Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English & Italian 5.1/2.0 audio mixes on the original cut derived from the archival audio masters
  • DEMONS: Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 2.0 U.S. theatrical mono audio newly remastered in 2021 by Synapse Films
  • DEMONS: New audio commentary by critics Kat Ellinger and Heather Drain, co-hosts of the Hell’s Belles podcast
  • DEMONS: Audio commentary with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaletti, composer Claudio Simonetti and actress Geretta Geretta
  • DEMONS: Produced by Dario Argento: a new visual essay by author and critic Michael Mackenzie exploring the legendary filmmaker’s career as a producer
  • DEMONS: Dario’s Demon Days
  • DEMONS: Defining an Era in Music
  • DEMONS: Dario and Demons: Producing Monster Mayhem
  • DEMONS: Splatter Stunt Rock
  • DEMONS: Original Italian & English International Trailers and U.S. Trailer
  • DEMONS: Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version
  • DEMONS: Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian version
  • DEMONS 2: Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 5.1 & Italian 5.1/2.0 audio mixes derived from the original archival audio masters
  • DEMONS 2: Uncompressed DTS-HD MA English 2.0 true stereo theatrical mix remastered in 2021 by Synapse Films
  • DEMONS 2: New audio commentary by film critic Travis Crawford
  • DEMONS 2: Creating Creature Carnage: interview with Sergio Stivaletti
  • DEMONS 2: The ‘Demons’ Generation: Roy Bava discusses a legacy in lacerations
  • DEMONS 2: Screaming for a Sequel: The Delirious Legacy of DEMONS 2 with Lamberto Bava
  • DEMONS 2: A Soundtrack for Splatter: interview with composer Simon Boswell
  • DEMONS 2: Together and Apart: a new visual essay on the space and technology in DEMONS and DEMONS 2 by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
  • DEMONS 2: Original Italian and English theatrical trailers
  • DEMONS 2: Newly translated optional English SDH subtitles for the English version
  • DEMONS 2: Newly translated English subtitles for the Italian version
  • Limited Edition O-Card/Slipcover packaging featuring new artwork by Juan José Saldarriaga and Chris MacGibbon
  • Reproduction of the original movie ticket from Demons
  • A special Demons 2 birthday party invitation
  • Included fold-out poster of Demons artwork from Wes Benscoter
  • Reversible Cover Art

Lamberto Bava’s Italian Horror Classics make their North American UHD Debuts on October 19th from Synapse Films. Get your pre-order in by clicking this link!

Creature Features

[Video] RARE Home Videos From The Set Of A “Nightmare On Elm Street 4: The Dream Master”

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The great thing about the A Nightmare On Elm Street franchise is that everyone has a favorite installment; and I think it’s fair to say that while Dream Master is considered an off-beaten track sequel to the three that came before it, it doesn’t exclude the immense popularity this film has with fans. Especially since this chapter in particular blasted Freddy in pop-culture superstardom- and now thanks to Bill Forsche, celebrated special effects guru who worked on the film, we get a rare look at some never-before-seen, behind the scenes home video movies on the set of A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master!

 Released on August 19, 1988, Nightmare 4 grossed $49.4 million at the domestic box office on a budget of $6.5 million, which made it the highest-grossing film in the franchise in the United States. At least that is until Freddy VS Jason surpassed that mark in 2003. While it would be another year until I myself, first got to see Freddy on the big-screen in the form of The Dream Child, I was already a Freddy Fanatic thanks to the mass marketing campaign Dream Master deployed onto the masses via horror hotlines, toys, lunchboxes, and even a huge MTV special hour presentation dedicated to the Springwood Slasher himself! Not to mention several more music videos made for promotion with the movie played in rotation from the once music-only station. Shortly to follow Dream Master‘s release, the basic cable show of Freddy’s Nightmares took off on the the small screen in a weekly syndicated show giving kids a dose of Krueger without having to go to the theater for it.

What a time to be alive where child serial killers were celebrated with such admiration!

Behind the massive success of Nightmare 4, lies within some of THEE coolest special effects of the franchise alone- including Freddy’s demise at the end thanks to Dream Master Alice. Beyond notable names like Bill Forsche, Kevin Yagher , Screaming Mad George, and John Carl Buechler were a massive team of make-up and effects artists to pull of this innovative spectacle that truly was Dream Master and a big reason why it did so well in theaters. One of my favorites, and I think many others’ as well, being the soul ripping chest from Freddy’s final fight scene where a giant version of Freddy’s chest was made for the shot. Of course, this thing was a pain in the ass for the crew as it was so unsteady and massive, that it was difficult to mount properly and actually fell over during one of their takes. A woman named Michiko supporting the prop from the rafters of the set, came tumbling down when the mighty chest fell over.

But hey, at least we got to see a cameo of Linnea Quigley ripping through the prop, in all her big busted glory. We salute you guys.

Via Bill Forsche’s personal YouTube channel, the special effects master has uploaded some home video shots of behind the scenes action of not only the fore mentioned Freddy’s chest scene, but also some segments of Freddy AND his stunt-double in the make-up chair conversing back and forth before shoots. Also included is Freddy’s scene on the Dream Beach where it is suggested he take on a “Coppertone commercial” for his next project (HEH).

“Very rare and raw footage from the set of “A Nightmare on Elm Street IV: The Dream Master” (1988). The short has some very interesting behind the scenes material, including the makeup trailer where Bill Foertsch aka Forsche work on the makeup for Freddy’s stunt double, while other effects artists goofing around on the set and other events. This short documentary is from Bill Forsche aka Foertsch personal home collection and was made during his employment as special effects technician at Steve Johnson’s XFX, Inc., the company responsible for the most spectacular demise of Freddy that was ever done in the series.”

Pick up the Nightmare collection here!

Retro Reviews

WTF Review: “Look What’s Happened To Rosemary’s Baby”

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WTF REVIEW: "LOOK WHAT'S HAPPENED TO ROSEMARY'S BABY"

In 1968, Roman Polanski shocked the cinema world with Rosemary’s Baby, starring Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, and  Sidney Blackmer. Seeming rather tame to today’s standards, the age-old story of trading eternal damnation of your soul for a bit of luxury was fresh entertainment over 50 years ago and remains a tried and true horror classic to the genre that the movie helped progress into more risky territory. So why not give it a worthy sequel, eh ? What became of little Adrian Woodhouse and his Antichrist fate?

Umm. Hmm.

Now, I hear a lot of shit about The Exorcist II: The Heretic being the worst sequel of all time- but I’d challenge anyone that makes that statement has surely never seen Look What’s Happened To Rosemary’s Baby. I had only found out about this sequel a few years ago, and then compeletly forgot about it’s existence until a conversation with my step-mother who was looking for the film- which understandably, had fallen into obscurity. BUT, when there’s a will, there’s a way and thank goddess for YouTube where I found a full version of the movie to indulge my curiosity.

Man. I wished I hadn’t.

The film made as a special Halloween presentation airing on ABC, premiered on October 29, 1976 continues the story of Rosemary, Guy, and their bastard Antichrist child, Adrian- whom Rosemary refers to as Andrew which is what his name had intended to be before he was reveled to be the spawn of Satan. Rosemary (this time played by Patty Duke) and “Andrew” have been lying low with Minnie and Roman (Ruth Gordon and Ray Milland) as with the rest of the cult for the past eight years. The pair flee to LA in the hopes of finding ex-husband Guy Woodhouse (George Maharis) and demanding help. However, “Andrew” is kidnapped by a curious woman who had promised help to Rosemary and the little satanic spawn while running on the road and we never see Rosemary again during the rest of the film.

Fast-forward a few years where Adrian (Stephen McHattie), as he is now being called, is a party rock star with hair that even 1978 John Travolta would envy and has all the looks of what you would envision a cocaine- fueled disco dickhead would look like. At the very least, they left out the cliché medallion off his half-exposed chest. He is still living with his abductor, Ellen, who he obviously has no clue of who she truly is. Minnie and Roman re-appear on the eve of Adrian’s non-specified-age birthday; where they intend to consecrate Adrian’s birthright and move forward only if he hasn’t been too tainted as they put it and his vessel can fully embody his demonic destiny. Following a few rituals and bizarre dream sequences, this turns into one real drugged-out comatose of a film. Now normally I can appreciate that fuzzy 70s’ B-Grade artistic experimental film, but this is a fucked up mess. It’s almost trying to be like De Palma’s Phantom of the Paradise, but far less interesting and done very badly . Adrian with white face paint and a black vest strutting across dance floors to a funky disco, and through a crowd of mindless disco-dancing nimrods as the Castevets, Guy, and the cult stare on as though they are mesmerized by his booty shakes and dream-like Pazuzu transformations is really… something.

I suppose the only redeeming quality to the movie is that Guy Woodhouse gets what he finally fucking deserves, but that’s about the best it gets. It truly doesn’t surprise me that a good majority of fans have never even heard of this film, as it seems to be just an embarrassment to the legacy of what is considered, one of the greatest horror films of all time. If you want a real sequel, I suggest picking up Son of Rosemary by Ira Levin.

Or.. If you dare, here’s the movie generously uploaded by Youtuber Ethan Terra. Either way, don’t say I didn’t warn you.