Scream Factory Announces new horror DVDs…

Scream Factory, one of the better cult DVD imprints out there, has made a deal with MGM to release new special edition discs of MGM ’80s-era horror movies. Most of these have been out on DVD before, but the new DVDs and Blu Rays should be quite spiffy nonetheless. More titles will presumably follow, but here’s the announced batch for 2013:

  • THE FOG (1980): John Carpenter’s seaside ghostly revenge flick with Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis. New extras are in the works! First time on Blu-ray.
  • THE BURNING (1981): Summer Camp. Garden shears. Tom Savini effects. Need we say more? First time on Blu-ray 
  • THE HOWLING (1981): Joe Dante’s ultimate werewolf pic with superb Rob Bottin effects. First time on Blu-ray. 
  • LIFEFORCE (1985): Tobe Hooper’s space vampires and light-show extravaganza finally gets its first ever anamorphic widescreen presentation! First time on Blu-ray.
  • NIGHT OF THE COMET (1984): Shopping and zombies highlight this post-Doomsday cult classic. First time on Blu-ray. 
  • DAY OF THE DEAD (1985): George Romero’s splattery undead classic gets a new collector’s edition with new extras.

  • Gamera977

    ARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!! I just bought ‘The Fog’, ‘The Howling’, and ‘Lifeforce’ on regular DVD! Just a week after I picked up ‘Flash Gordon’ on DVD they came out with the Blu-Ray so I’m not surprised to see it happen again!

    In all honestly I can’t see that much difference between regular DVD and Blu-Ray on a twenty -thirty year old film but I’d rather have the Blu-Ray version, still I won’t be picking up another copy since I’ve already got it.

  • Cullen Waters

    I’m not sure where my copy of Lifeforce is. However, if the Blu Rays is the extended version I’d get it in a heart beat. Man I love that movie. And not for the obvious reasons. Though they help.

  • Ken_Begg

    Were they on sale? They might have put the old ones up for sale to clear them out before the new editions arrived.

  • Gamera977

    Yeah Ken, you’re right – Amazon must have been clearing stock to make way for the new. Ah well, as I said I can’t tell that big a difference and the sale price was excellent.

  • Beckoning Chasm

    Personally, I hope the blue-ray has the “American” version, the one with 15 LESS minutes. That version moves at 300 MPH and never slows down; the extended one just adds stupidity. (“It’ll be much less terrifying if you just come to me” e.g.)

    If the blue-ray has both versions, I’m there.

  • fish eye no miko

    Ooh, “The Fog”! That’s one you don’t hear a lot about, but it’s a pretty nifty movie.

  • Ken_Begg

    I am very much a fan. I’ve shown it twice at Halloween gatherings, most recently just a few weeks ago. The open with John Houseman is probably one of the top five horror movie openings I can think of. Just great stuff.

  • fish eye no miko

    Yeah, I remember reading posts where you mention your love for the film. (-:

    Oddly, I always seem to miss the beginning. I should go rent it tomorrow (my local video store has two-for-Tuesdays).

  • Drat! No IT CAME WITHOUT WARNING! Curious to see LIFEFORCE, though.

  • SteveWD

    Love ‘The Fog’. Just low-key, atmospheric, John Carpenter awesomeness. Agree on the opening. I think I remember from the dvd extras that the prologue was part of the pretty extensive re-shoots.

  • Cullen Waters

    That line gets me every time. It’s not just the line itself; it’s the way the actor says it. Sort of like walking into a brick wall.

    One thing the extended version does, though is explain why in some scenes Railsback and his crew are seen walking around their shuttle as if in full gravity and others they float around. Always bothered me.

    There was something else added to the extended version that I liked, but I’ll be damned if I can remember what it is. Both versions would be great if for no other reason than I could compare the two.

    Which clearly shows I like the movie far more than I really should…

  • Honestly, most of these films are already available. In more important news, OCTOMAN is finally making the scene in a widescreen 40th anniversary (40? Sheesh!) edition that includes the ultra-obscure THE CREMATORS as an extra feature!