Cherry Falls is coming to BD...

Super news from the awesome people at the US's premier horror label Scream Factory. Post modern slasher classic Cherry Falls is coming to Blu-ray next year! Whilst it's not an entirely successful I've always had a soft spot for this bad boy. It's not up there with the best of that era but its a interesting slice of the genre that had a well known troubled production. Hopefully Scream Factory go into all the gory details of its production in some loaded special features. I'm very psyched for it despite the  bad news that accompanies the announcement...

Scream Factory Announcement..

'***NEW TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR 2016 RELEASE***

You asked for it, we listened! The underrated 2000 slasher flick CHERRY FALLS will be coming to Blu-ray for the first time sometime next Spring. Stars include Brittany Murphy (Clueless, 8 Mile), Jay Mohr (Pay it Forward, Street Kings) , Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens), Jesse Bradford (Bring it On, Swimfan) and Gabriel Mann (Revenge).

As excited as we are to be able to bring this to you (finally) we do need to address upfront the question we know some of you will have: Will it be uncut?

We were fully aware that the film suffered trims from the MPAA prior to its release so when we acquired the film we hoped that we could find the additional footage and include it—either as deleted scenes or reinstated into the film. Unfortunately, our licensor (Universal) only has the theatrical R-rated version in their vault (the same cut that was released on the long out-of-print DVD) and they do not have cut footage in question.

Plan B: We contacted the film’s Director Geoffrey Wright to see if maybe he might have the excised material but were told that he was never given a chance to assemble a longer cut originally. He did not have the footage either.

That being said, we still hope that fans will support the release in High-def. Extras are planned and will be announced at a later date. New key art is also in the works too.'

Soooo it looks like we won't be getting the much talked about/rumored original cut of the film. Which is a shame but if it can't be done it can't be done. I for one will be getting this day one either way. Hopefully they go into details in the extras.

Drive-In Massacre and Sleepaway Camp 2 & 3 coming from 88 Films...

Those wonderful people behind the Slasher Classics Collection have announced another classic slasher gem yet to make it to Blu-Ray. Drive-In Massacre! Great news for me as like so many of these more obscure slashers I've never seen it.

But wait it gets even better. They have also announced two other corkers. Sleepaway Camp 2 & 3! Two true classics in my view. I really hope part 3 includes the uncut work print like the region locked Scream Factory blu-ray. Fantastic news for UK slasher fans. I Love these movies. For my money part one is not nearly as good and is only fondly remembered for the admittedly awesome ending.

But hang on there's one more thing. 88 Films are doing a new HD master of Nightmare in a Damaged Brain!  That's pretty freaking awesome!

from 88 Films Facebook...

'A year before the slasher boom really hit its stride with John Carpenter's legendary trendsetter HALLOWEEN, there was DRIVE-IN MASSACRE - an early slice and dice prototype that is finally achieving its rightful reappraisal courtesy of a brand new 2k scan from the splatter movie addicts at 88 Films! This worldwide HD debut indicates that DRIVE-IN MASSACRE was, in many ways, ahead of its time - spinning a sleazy story about a clueless police investigation into a madman who is carving up spectators at outdoor cinemas across California! Introducing the sort of giallo framework that the post-FRIDAY THE 13th teenkill genre would later take as its own, DRIVE-IN MASSACRE was directed with the expert grindhouse touch of Stu Segall, the man who oversaw Marilyn Chambers in INSATIABLE (1980) before producing such hit TV series as RENEGADE. A lively and lacerating bout of lunatic slasher energy, 88 Films is proud to give DRIVE-IN MASSACRE its worldwide BluRay bow in a new transfer approved by Segall himself!

Extras and details TBC
(Coming Early 2016)'

'Back in the heyday of horror franchises, one little slasher classic changed the gore-game entirely - 1988's body count bonanza SLEEPAWAY CAMP II: UNHAPPY CAMPERS.

Long before Wes Craven's masterful SCREAM (1996) turned the slice and dice trend on its head with its sense of pastiche and postmodern references, SLEEPAWAY CAMP II was nodding its noggin towards everything from A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET to THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE with genre in-jokes galore. In this suitably satirical sequel to 1983's gender-bending original flick, the great Pamela Springsteen (sister of Bruce!) headlines as the puritanical Angela Johnson, returning to murderous form as a summer camp counselor who can't wait to drill, drown and destroy an entire backwoods full of frisky teenagers and stuffy colleagues. With some winning eighties mullets, a likeable final girl in the beautiful Renée Estevez (INTRUDER) and guts-to-the-ground gruesome special effects, SLEEPAWAY CAMP II is one of the finest fear follow-ups of all time! Finally released in all of its HD horror, 88 Films is proud to present one of the defining VHS hits of its era.

Extras and details to be confirmed.
(Coming Early 2016)'

'The death and destruction continues in 1989's darkly comedic, and thoroughly demented, sequel SLEEPAWAY CAMP III: TEENAGE WASTELAND

Once again returning as the riotous Angela Johnson, star Pamela Springsteen just cannot seem to keep away from summer camp carnage - this time going undercover as a teen-refugee seeking some solace and understanding from a pleasant old backwoods retreat. Alas, when she only finds sexed up teens and party-happy adults, her sense of virginal duty is called into action and she beings tidying up the trash. Using everything from a lawnmower to a firecracker to a gun, our wise-cracking anti-heroine soon loses count of the corpses - although a final homage to THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME gives her last survivors a sporting shot at making it out of the woods alive. Released at the tail-end of the slice and dice terror-trope movement, and co-starring the great Michael J Pollard (BONNIE AND CLYDE), SLEEPAWAY CAMP III is pure eighties mayhem - and one of the most malevolent macabre movies ever unleashed!

Finally carving its way back to UK shelves, this is the HD horror sequel you have all been waiting for!

Extras and details TBC
(Coming Early 2016)'

'Our first announcement is actually an apology. We have had to put Nightmare in a Damaged Brain back a few weeks as we have been trying to obtain a sample of a newly created answer print scan.

This finally came through today and it looks fantastic so we've decided to go ahead and make a NEW HD Master. This will be done very soon and we will be able to give a firm final release date in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for your patience and we really hope you like the new transfer.'

TWO MASSIVE THUMBS UP!

Sweet Sixteen and Trick or Treats hit Blu-ray...

US Indie label Code Red have out done themselves buy releasing two new 80's classic slashers to Blu-Ray. Sweet Sixteen and Trick or Treats. They are sold exclusively through Screen Archives Entertainment's online store who ship worldwide. Get them whilst you can because they are limited edition just like many of Code Red's releases.

But wait there is more. Code Red have also repressed a bunch of their previous out of print LE Blu-ray's including classic slashers Nail Gun Massacre and The Redeemer. I assure you any self respecting slasher fan should have both in their collections.

Buy them all quick at..

Screen Archives Entertainment

Hide and Go Shriek coming from Code Red...

I've been a bit quiet lately for a few reasons but this has GOT to be mentioned. Cult US  label CODE RED have announced on Facebook the Blu-ray release of slasher classic of Hide and Go Shriek.

Very exciting news. Really want to get my hands on this one.

CODE RED titles are currently sold exclusively at

http://codereddvd.bigcartel.com

And

http://www.screenarchives.com/display_results.cfm?category=638

The Big Cartel store only ships within the US and I believe only stocks older Code Red titles. Screen Archives ship world wide and stock all new Code Red titles exclusively. If you haven't got Just Before Dawn on blu yet get it whilst you can. Code Red only do limited pressings so get them whilst you can.

The Mutilator officially coming from Arrow UK & US

So the rumors are true. Arrow have announced the much sort after classic slasher The Mutilator. I've read about this one for a very long time. It's on a awful lot of slasher fans most wanted lists.

Apparently this release was thought to be impossible due to there being no viable elements being in existance. Thankfully the awesome people at Arrow are here to save the day. It's well known that Arrow do world class work these days. They rival Criterion in restoration and happen to specialise in cult movies that are right up my street. Even better news is that its a dual territory release. Coming out in the US & UK. Everyone wins!

Here's the Official Arrow announcement

'NEW UK/US TITLE ANNOUNCEMENT: THE MUTILATOR DUAL FORMAT BD & DVD

Grisly slasher The Mutilator is unleashed in a new restoration of the Unrated and R-Rated versions!

Pre-order your UK copy here:http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/ind...product_id=578 

North American pre-orders links should be live soon!

UK Release Date: 28th September 2015
US Release Date: 29th September 2015
Region: Free

BY SWORD. BY PICK. BY AXE. BYE BYE.

Although the slasher film was in decline by the mid-1980s, there were still some grisly delights to be had… and they don’t come much grislier than writer-director Buddy Cooper’s sickening stalk-and-slash classic The Mutilator!

When Ed receives a message from his father asking him to go and lock up the family’s beach condo for the winter, it seems like the perfect excuse for an alcohol-fuelled few days away with his friends. After all, his dad has forgiven him for accidentally blowing mom away with a shotgun several years ago… hasn’t he? But no sooner are the teens on the island than they find themselves stalked by a figure with an axe (and a hook, and an onboard motor) to grind…

Originally entitled Fall Break (watch out for the incongruous theme song of the same name!), The Mutilator has earned a reputation amongst horror fans as one of the ‘holy grails’ of 80s splatter mayhem due to its highly inventive (and not to say, decidedly gruesome) kill sequences, courtesy of FX wizard Mark Shostrom (Videodrome, Evil Dead II). Finally making its long-awaited bow in High-Definition, The Mutilator has returned to terrorise a whole new generation of horror fans!

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS
•Brand new 2K restoration from original vault materials of the R-rated and Unrated versions of the film
•High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
•Original mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
•Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
•Brand new interviews with cast and crew
•The Mutilator locations visit
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork to be revealed
•Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film alongside archive articles from Fang'

Madman & Blood Rage announced by Arrow...

Arrow have announced blu-ray's of the classic slashers Madman and Blood Rage. Madman is a film I've wanted to see for over a decade.  Now the wait will finally be over.

Here's the announcements and details  from Arrow,

'Next up, Madman!

Pre-order your copy here:http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/ind...product_id=562

Release Date: 3rd August 2015
Region: Free
Format: Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD
Starring: Gaylen Ross, Tony Fish, Harriet Bass
Directed by: Joe Giannone

THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE ALONE.

Gather around the campfire, and hear the tale of Madman Marz: an ill-tempered old farmer who, one dark night, chopped up his wife and two children into pieces. When the locals caught wind of his heinous crime, they meted out revenge - sinking an axe into his head and hanging him from a nearby tree. But the next day, Marz’s body was gone…

Thus the camp counsellor finishes his tale, closing with the warning never to say Marz’s name above a whisper, lest the hideously-deformed farmer comes looking for them… Naturally, of course, the first thing that one of the young campers does is to call out Marz’s name – precipitating a terrifying night of murder, mayhem and sexy Jacuzzi vignettes!

Inspired by the same Cropsey urban legend which informed its slasher peer The Burning, Madman stands as one of the very best of the camp-based terror flicks and was a clear influence on Hatchet, Adam Green’s love letter to the slasher genre.

•Brand new 4K transfer from the original camera negative
•High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
•Original Mono audio (uncompressed PCM on the Blu-ray)
•Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
•Audio commentary with director Joe Giannone, Madman stars Paul Ehlers and Tony Fish and producer Gary Sales
•New Audio Commentary by The Hysteria Continues
•The Legend Lives: Thirty Years of Madman - 90 minute documentary featuring interviews with cast and crew
•New Interview with producer Gary Sales
•New Interview with actor Jimmy Steele
•New Interview with Madman star, Paul Ehlers
•New Rare Acoustic Recording of the song inspired by his first viewing of Madman, ‘Escape From Hellview’, written, produced and performed by former CKY frontman, Deron Miller
•Theatrical Trailers
•TV Spots
•Stills Gallery
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
•Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film, illustrated with original archive stills and posters
•PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!'

I think you'll agree that sounds freaking awesome.  But then how cracking Blood Rage looks...

'And to complete the August slate... Blood Rage!

Pre-order your UK copy here:http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/shop/ind...product_id=563

North American pre-orders links should be live soon!

UK Release Date: 25th August 2015
US Release Date: 26th August 2015
Region: Free (NTSC DVD)
Format: Dual Format Blu-ray + DVD
Starring: Louise Lasser, Mark Soper, Marianne Kanter
Directed by: John Grissmer

IT’S NOT CRANBERRY SAUCE!!!

What do you get if you combine Thanksgiving, American TV star Louise Lasser (Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman), killer 80s synths and some of the most gruesome special effects in all of slasher history courtesy of Ed (Terminator 2) French. Why, it’s Blood Rage of course!

Todd and Terry seem like sweet kids – that is, until one of them takes an axe to face of a fellow patron at the local drive-in. Todd is blamed for the bloody crime and institutionalised, whilst twin brother Terry goes free. Ten years later and, as the family gathers around the table for a Thanksgiving meal, the news comes in that Todd has escaped – and he’s heading their way. But has the killer twin in fact been in their midst all along? One thing’s for sure, there WILL be blood…

Filmed in 1983 at the tail-end of the slasher golden era but not released until 1987, Blood Rage (also re-cut and released to theatres as Nightmare at Shadow Woods) has been lovingly restored from the original vault materials for its first ever appearance on Blu-ray and DVD. Happy Thankskilling!

Special Edition Contents:
•Brand new 2K restoration from original vault materials of three versions of the film: Blood Rage, the original “hard” version, completely uncut and uncensored in a Blu-ray/DVD world premiere; the R-rated Nightmare at Shadow Woods 1987 re-cut, and a third “composite” cut combining all the footage from both Blood Rage and Nightmare at Shadow Woods
•High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard Definition DVD presentations
•Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
•Brand new extensive making-of documentary featuring interviews with various cast and crew
•Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork to be revealed
•Fully-illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film
•PLUS MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED!

LIMITED EDITION O-CARD ON THE FIRST 1000 ORDERS!'

So you would think after all these years of wsiting for Madman that would really get my motor running but whilst I'm excited for that Blood Rage has come out of nowhere for me and got me really hyped.

Great to see Arrow back on the Slasher train. They have been doing world class work for years and I'm sure these will be no exceptions. Arrow are the premier cult label in my view. There slate is always very diverse.  Believe it or not I also like other genres than slashers as I'm sure many people do. Look at there catalogue if you haven't already.
     

Blood Sucking Pharoahs in Pittsburgh coming from 88 Films...

My favourite UK label have announced this corker. The latest edition to the Blu-ray Slasher Classics Collection. This why 88 Films are so special.  I haven't even heard of this obscure sardonic slasher before. Really looking forward to it.

Here's what 88 Films said in the announcement on Facebook...

'In the same satirical spirit as HOLLYWOOD CHAINSAW HOOKERS or STUDENT BODIES, comes 1991's unfairly obscure splatter send-up BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH.

Originally entitled PICKING UP THE PIECES, and featuring special effects from the great Tom Savini (MANIAC/ DAY OF THE DEAD), this first class mix of gore and guffaws makes its worldwide BluRay debut from 88 Films. Starring Veronica Hart, the erstwhile adult movie legend, as a weapon-wielding femme-fatale who is dedicated to lopping off limbs and chalking up a high body count in the name of an ancient religious cult, BLOODSUCKING PHARAOHS IN PITTSBURGH is one of the most deranged darkly humoured hack 'em ups that you have (probably) never seen.
Proving that the female of the species is far deadlier than the male, this latest addition to 88 Films' influential Slasher Classics Collection is a true gem of slice and dice delirium waiting to be rediscovered...'

88 Films are really doing some special slasher & cult movie fans. Please show your support when ever you can. Apparently they have another Slasher to announce in the not so distant future. Very exciting. For a while most of the slasher BD's were coming from the US but recently 88 Films have really turned the tide.