The disc of the week is another Retromedia double bill of Larry Buchanan schlock classics, Zontar Thing from Venus and The Eye Creatures. The disc runs about $15.
TV Sets (Key: S = “Season”, i.e., S1= Season 1. A slant between numbers—1/2—indicates a set that packages two seasons together.)
It’s a big day for baby boomer nostalgia buffs.
First, they will be glad to hear that the earnest, old-school cop show Adam-12 S1 is out today. One-Adam-12, One-Adam-12, please respond to your local video emporium. “Boasting high-caliber guest stars such as Karen Black, Barry Williams and Harry Dean Stanton.”
The previously released discs featuring episodes of ABC Afterschool Specials have all been collected into one 13 (!) disc set, featuring 26 separate tales and available for under $40.
Other releases: Alf S2, Boy Meets World S3, Emergency S1, Good Times S5 (!), Kung Fu S3, Life As We Know it Compete Series, The O.C. S2, Once & Again S1, Once and Again S2, Six Feet Under S4, That’s My Mama S1, That’s My Mama S2, What’s Happening S3.
On the high end is Criterion’s release of the venerable French social comedy Bondu Saved from Drowning, which was remade as Down and Out in Beverly Hills some years ago.
Andrew McCarthy’s career is officially dead with the release of Crusader, a DTV ‘telecommunications thriller’ costarring Bo Derek (!), Richard Tyson and Michael York.
Audition is another Japanese horror flick.
Oldboy is a critically acclaimed Korean revenge thriller.
Anchor Bay releases two Argentos today, The Card Player and Trauma.
Party Nerds Toga Bash Double Feature: Assault of the Party Nerds/Heavy Petting Detective collects two nudie comedies starring the quintessential ’80s scream queens, Linnea Quigley and Michele Bauer. Astoundingly, the second movie appears to be a sequel to the first.
It’s hot telephone action as Ring 2, Ringu 2, and the Ringu Anthology of Horror (four films in the Japanese series) pay a call.
Brentwood releases another slew of horror movie sets, with transfers that no doubt range from OK to terrible, but at least the collections are cheap.
Back From the Grave features SLAVE OF THE CANNIBAL GOD (1979), THE SEVERED ARM (1973), I EAT YOUR SKIN (1964), THE UNDERTAKER AND HIS PALS (1966) MURDER MANSION (1970), NIGHT OF BLOODY HORROR (1969), IT HAPPENED AT NIGHTMARE INN (1973), LEGACY OF BLOOD (1978) NIGHTMARE CASTLE (1965), I BURY THE LIVING (1958) INDESTRUCTIBLE MAN (1956), HORROR HOTEL (1960).
Blood Soaked Tales collects BACK FROM HELL (1997), PROJECT VAMPIRE (1993), THE PASSING (1988), BEYOND EVIL (1980), DEMON UNDER GLASS (2002), HOW TO SLAY A VAMPIRE (1995), BLOOD SLAVES OF THE VAMPIRE WOLF (1996), SORORITY HOUSE VAMPIRES FROM HELL (1998), BROKEN SKULL (1999), MANSION OF MADNESS (1972), MALIBU BEACH VAMPIRES (1991) and CREEPTALES (2004)
Kiss of Death features LITTLE COREY GOREY (1993) BIRDS OF PREY (1985), SLASHDANCE (1989), KISS DADDY GOODNIGHT (1987), DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE (1971), PIECES (1983), KILL BABY KILL (1966), KISS ME, KILL ME (1973), SILENT NIGHT, BLOODY NIGHT (1973), DON’T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT (1973), SATAN’S SCHOOL FOR GIRLS (1973) and HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL (1958).
Taste of Evil collects THE BLACK ROOM (1984 THE GIANT SPIDER INVASION (1975), INVASION FROM INNER EARTH (1974), HOW AWFUL ABOUT ALLEN (1970), BRIDE OF THE GORILLA (1951), THE GIANT GILA MONSTER (1959), EEGAH (1962), ATTACK OF THE GIANT LEECHES (1959), SHE BEAST (1966), KING OF THE ZOMBIES (1941), THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN’T DIE (1962), BLOODY PIT OF HORROR (1965).
Tormented Souls brings together UNHINGED (1982) THE HARVESTERS (2001), DIE HARD DRACULA (1998), GIRLS NITE OUT (1983), CATHY’S CURSE (1976), GOOD AGAINST EVIL (1977), GOD TOLD ME TO (1977), THE GHOST (1963), DOMINIQUE IS DEAD (1979), DEATH AT LOVE HOUSE (1975), THE INVISIBLE GHOST (1941), CARNIVAL OF SOULS (1962).
