House On Haunted Hill – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)
Way back when, which “when” is October the ninth of 2018, Scream Factory unleashed the 1999 remake of William Castle’s House On Haunted Hill. The original was a Vincent Price classic, and in a time when remakes weren’t really a thing yet, this got a 1990s Scream-era makeover. And oddly, its been one of them that’s been absent from the Blu-ray library this whole time. There has been a German release from 2010 and a Spanish region one from 2014. For those who can’t import or go region free, it does them no good. But when someone like Scream Factory gets the helm, it makes it somewhat worth the wait. The straight to video sequel of all things, has been available this whole time though. Heck, that came out during one the inaugural years of the format, even! This Collector’s Edition ports over all the bonus materials on the previous release as well as a couple of new interviews. None of the cast came back though, sorry. Order yourself a copy of this classic now by clicking the Amazon link following the review. Continue reading ‘House On Haunted Hill – Collector’s Edition (Blu-ray Review)’
You’re in for a fun scare when Sony Pictures Home Entertainment unleashes GOOSEBUMPS 2 debuting on Digital and available via the Movies Anywhere App on December 25 and coming to Blu-ray™ and DVD January 15. Slappy the devious ventriloquist dummy returns to run amuck, in this second installment of the family-friendly franchise based on R.L. Stine’s beloved book series. Standing in Slappy’s way is a terrifyingly talented cast including Wendi McLendon-Covey (The Goldbergs), Madison Iseman (Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle), Jeremy Ray Taylor (It), Caleel Harris (Castle Rock), and Chris Parnell (Rick and Morty), with Ken Jeong (Crazy Rich Asians). 
In celebration of the film’s 30th anniversary, Shout Select will release the seminal romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… in a collector’s edition Blu-ray set on January 8th, 2019. This release features a new transfer restored from a 4K scan of the original camera negative, and comes packed with bonus features, including new interviews with Rob Reiner and Billy Crystal. Fans can preorder this Collector’s Edition set now at shoutfactory.com.
Not surprisingly, the last film of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre brand to release onto Blu-ray is the rightfully maligned Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation. I’ve long wanted this film to land on Blu-ray, not because its deserving or I secretly like it, but because I felt with the right distributor, maybe we could get an entertaining story through retrospective interviews about this utter mess. Unfortunately, we are likely to never get the thoughts of the two people we want to hear from most (Who apparently took immediate issue with likeness being shown on the original cover art for this film). Scream Factory is an ideal home and they have brought it with two cuts of the film and some interviews which seems way more than we could have expected from the film. As bad as this movie is, its a pretty attractive title as its Leatherface, people want a complete collection and its a cinematic oddity/dumpster fire that despite its failings is still appealing. You’ll be able to scratch that weird itch on December 11th. 
Just two years ago, Shout! Factory made a splash when they announced Bill and Ted’s Most Excellent Collection on Blu-ray. Not only were they releasing a super duper version of the original movie, but they debuted its sequel, Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey onto Blu-ray with equal love and care. The only way to own Bogus Journey was to own the collection…until now. Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey will be available stand alone in this terrific new limited edition steelbook. Unlike the disc in the set, it won’t just carry commentaries, the retrospective documentary “Bill and Ted Go To Hell” has been added to it, making for a nice definitive release for the movie as Shout! Factory often tends to do. You can pick up this release now, as they brought it out back on November 20th. I’m not sure how limited this release is (Or the Streets of Fire one I just reviewed, for that matter), but the steelbook for the first film is still readily available ($14.99 at Best Buy currently). However, Bogus Journey has never been available by itself and seems to be a rarer item in the world of Blu-ray. 
Next to the Marvel Universe, the most successful current ongoing cinematic shared universe is the horror genre’s The Conjuring. It used to be a little secret, but now everyone is pretty aware of what they once quietly built off of James Wan’s original film based around Ed and Lorraine Warren. Making her big impression and debut in the sequel to The Conjuring, it is now the character of The Nun’s time to take lead in a film. Opening to huge box office and poor reviews, the film is now launching onto Blu-ray to slide up next to your Annabelle’s and your Warrens movies. Warner Brothers will be releasing it on standard Blu-ray on December 4th. It comes with some featurettes and a digital version of the film. There looks to also be a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release of the film, but that was not sent over for this review. The Conjuring 2 had a planned 4K Ultra-HD release around the time it hit home video, but you’ll remember was pulled. If you’re keeping stock on this universe in your collection, please use the Amazon link to pre-order yourself a copy today! 
Academy Award®-winner Nicolas Cage (1995, Best Actor, Leaving Las Vegas) stars in 8MM, an electrifying thriller about one man’s obsessive search for the truth about a six-year-old crime and his ultimate discovery of the truth about himself. On January 8, 2019, SCREAM FACTORY™ is proud to present 8MM on Blu-ray™. Directed by Joel Schumacher (Trespass, Batman Forever, A Time to Kill) and written by Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en, Sleepy Hollow, The Follow), the film stars Nicolas Cage (Looking Glass, Face/Off), Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line, Her), James Gandolfini (The Sopranos, The Drop), Peter Stormare (Longmire, The Blacklist) , Anthony Heald (The Silence of the Lambs, Red Dragon), and Chris Bauer (The Deuce, True Blood). A must-have for movie collectors and thriller enthusiasts, this definitive Blu-ray release contains special bonus content. Pre-order is available now at ShoutFactory.com. 
Take the ultimate journey into the unknown with the heart-pounding sci-fi thriller THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX, arriving on Blu-ray and DVD February 5, 2019 from Paramount Home Media Distribution. Featuring over 25 minutes of never-before-seen bonus content including behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew, THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX Blu-ray and DVD are must-own discs for your collection. The film will also be available as part of the new Cloverfield 3-Movie Collection on Blu-ray and DVD. THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX Blu-ray and DVD each include a making of documentary that delves into the inspiration for the story and how the film went from concept and design to completion. The discs also include interviews with the cast as they reflect on the experience of bringing the sci-fi thriller to life. 
We are finally living in the riches of the Hammer Dracula films on Blu-ray (As well as hopefully other classics next year). In the final 3 months of the year we’ll have seen The Horror of Dracula, Dracula: Prince of Darkness, Dracula AD 1972 and the film for this review The Satanic Rites of Dracula. Globally, The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires will complete the canon, domestically (In the US) its that and a Scars of Dracula shy. The Satanic Rites of Dracula was originally slated for an October release but was delayed until November. But, its now here and maybe for the first time in its existence, people are very excited for it. While no bonus features (Aside from the trailer) are present, just the fact that this film has been rescued from public domain hell and will have a nice transfer, audio and be presented in a correct anamorphic view is bonus enough. Order yourself a copy to help complete your Hammer Dracula collection by clicking the Amazon link below. 
When we talk about character longevity, are there any greater than Tarzan? The Blu-ray I’m about to review is for a 1959 film that is the 26th (I believe) either film or serial based on the character. That’s a lot. Surprisingly its one of the best received of the bunch too. What makes this one stand out? After Lex Barker carried the mantle clear of Weissmuller’s long shadow, Gordon Scott was free to claim the crown of King of the Jungle. His Tarzan was keen, intelligent, and literate – much as Tarzan’s creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs, had envisioned – and in the aptly named Tarzan’s Greatest Adventure, Scott’s run as the jungle lord reached a peak in what is widely regarded as one of the best entries in the prodigious series of action adventure classics. Warner Archive Collection has released it on Blu-ray (November 13th), which you can order from the Amazon link following the review.
One of the most anticipated released of the year is undoubtedly Scream Factory’s Complete Collection of the four Critters films. On Blu-ray for the first time ever, you’ll remember this as a Wishlist (2019’s is coming folks, be patient) title from me many moons ago. I have to say I would have settle for bare bones releases, but I’m tickled that these are getting some full on love now! And, I’m really encouraged by the excitement this release has brought. My social media alone was blowing up when I posted a picture of my review copy when it arrived. People from left field were very enthusiastic about it. Needless to say, I hope it translates into some good dollars for the good people at Shout! Factory. I’m LOVING this Warner Bros deal this year. Many many many dreams have come true. Make yours come true by pre-ordering a copy of this impressive set in time for Tuesday’s (November 20th) release date. Act fast as its currently set at a little over $10 a film. 
One of Shout Factory’s biggest and most popular releases of its Shout Select line has been Walter Hill’s Streets Of Fire. It was a pretty impressive release that was loaded to the brim with bonus materials. A film that fittingly serves as a musical cult classic of sorts turns 35 years old next year, but they are making way on putting the anniversary edition for it out now. The film is not only getting some fresh new steelbook packaging, but a new audio track from the original mix is going to be presented here as well. The rest of the release and video transfer remain intact. If you’re an audio nut, Streets of Fire completionist or simply haven’t picked up the film yet, now you have a new version to drop your dollars on. Streets of Fire – 35th Anniversary Edition Steelbook was released on November 20t, so you can order a copy now. 
We are just weeks away from the sneak peak and then ultimate release of James Wan’s Aquaman starring Jason Momoa and Amber Heard. Because of Wan’s involvement, my worry about the DC project is less so than many of the others. To celebrate the new film and to help people brush up or learn Aquaman, the DC Animated Universe is rereleasing and upgrading their film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis on a new 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray release. This is the story that introduced the character to the current roster after a tease at the end of Justice League: War. This particular version is widely available now and you can nab yourself a copy by clicking the Amazon link below the review.
The infamous killer Michael Myers strikes again inHalloween, arriving on Digital and via the digital movie app MOVIES ANYWHERE on December 28, 2018, as well as on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM, DVD and On Demand on January 15, 2019. Hailed by critics as “a near perfect blend of craft, character growth and nostalgia” (Perri Nemiroff, Collider), Halloween takes place four decades after Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, Halloween Franchise, “Scream Queens”) narrowly escaped the masked Michael Myers’ brutal killing spree. Packed with bonus features including chilling deleted and extended scenes as well as special featurettes showing behind the scenes looks at creating the film, Halloween delivers spine-chilling, hair-raising intensity and thrills to both new and repeat viewers. 
Christopher Lee’s second outing as the eponymous Dracula pushes the cinematic boundaries of graphic gore and terror in this 1966 Hammer Films classic. Available as a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray December 18th from Scream Factory, this ghoulish tale from Hammer’s golden era includes both the UK and US version of the film and a new 4K scan of the US version of the interpositive from the 20th Century Fox vaults, as well as brand-new bonus features including a new audio commentary with author Troy Howarth, a new audio commentary with filmmaker Constantine Nasr and writer/producer Steve Haberman, and much more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com. 
Scream Factory has really found it rejuvenated in 2018 with a load of great new Collector’s Editions of classic horror films both new and old, any era really. I’m really looking forward to them tackling a Hammer Dracula film next month. Right now, we have Mike Dougherty’s modern cult classic and absolutely beloved Trick ‘r Treat film. The iconic Halloween anthology film is has been given a definitive and iconic release. Shipping delays and production issues have lead me to being one of the last people to have a copy of it, as many fans already have one in hand. Late or on time, it doesn’t matter, Why So Blu is going to have some coverage as someone will be searching for it at some time. Available since October, you can order this bad boy by clicking on the Amazon link below. 
