The Mangler

Synopsis from the Press Release:

Based on King’s short story, this white-knuckle chiller follows a cop (Ted Levine, The Silence Of The Lambs, The Hills Have Eyes) as he investigates a series of grisly accidents … and uncovers a deadly town secret that has been hidden for years – a terrifying entity that threatens to destroy everything in its path. With time running out and a young girl’s life in the balance, he races to destroy the beast before it’s too late!

Adam Says:

The Mangler is just downright goofy and always has been. Let’s be honest, there’s nothing scary about a possessed industrial laundry press because this is not a real threat in most of our daily lives. The scariest thing in this film is Ted Levine (who mentions things being carried in baskets again). If nothing else it’s a fun movie just to watch Robert Englund act through even thicker make-up than Freddy Kruger.

Special Features Include:

• NEW 4K of the original camera negative for the uncut version
• NEW Audio Commentary with co-writer Stephen David Brooks
• NEW Hell’s Bells – an interview with actor Robert Englund
• Rare behind-the-scenes footage
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spot

Silent Night Deadly Night Part 2

Synopsis from the Press Release:

It’s Garbage Day! Ricky is being released from a mental hospital. He takes with him the terrifying memory of his brother Billy’s death and the memory of Mother Superior who brought about his brother’s demise. For Ricky, starting a new life means avenging his brother’s death, which sets him on a blind journey of relentless revenge, leading ultimately to Mother Superior. And when he gets to her, not even her faith will be enough to stop Ricky as he follows in the family tradition of Christmas carnage.

Adam Says:

Silent Night Deadly Night Part 2 is one of the best and worst horror sequels of all time. On the one hand, the movie is infamously terrible; awful production values and a full third of it is recycled footage from the first movie (owing to how little money they were given for a sequel). On the other hand, Eric Freeman as Ricky Caldwell is so absolutely bonkers and over the top that every scene with him is comedy gold.

Given its spotty release history, this is a must-have disc and just in time for Christmas. The Collector’s Edition is just chock-full of great extras (I recommend starting with the commentary). The new transfer gives us the first really sharp image that’s ever been put out for this movie. Pair it with Scream Factory’s release for part 1 for a very merry Christmas Eve double-feature.

Special Features Include:

• NEW 2K Scan of an archival theatrical print
• NEW Audio Commentary with director Lee Harry, actors Eric Freeman and James Newman
• NEW Slay Bells Ring Again: The Story of Silent Night, Deadly Night 2 – featuring interviews with co-writer/director Lee Harry, actors Eric Freeman, James Newman, Elizabeth Kaitan, Darrel Guilbeau, Kenny McCabe and makeup effects artist Christopher Biggs
• NEW Garbage Days Are Here Again – a look at the film’s locations
• NEW Ricky Today – a short film featuring a 2018 interview with Ricky Chapman/Caldwell
• NEW I Don’t Sleep – an extended interview with makeup effects artist Christopher Biggs
• Audio Commentary by co-writer/director Lee Harry, co-writer Joseph H Earle and actor James Newman
• Theatrical Trailer

Starman

Synopsis from the Press Release:

When his spacecraft is shot down over Wisconsin, Starman (Bridges) arrives at the remote cabin of a distraught young widow, Jenny Hayden (Karen Allen), and clones the form of her dead husband. The alien convinces Jenny to drive him to Arizona, explaining that if he isn’t picked up by his mothership in three days, he’ll die. Hot on their trail are government agents, intent on capturing the alien, dead or alive. En route, Starman demonstrates the power of universal love, while Jenny rediscovers her human feelings for passion.

Adam Says:

I think it might be a stretch to label this a Collector’s Edition. It’s a fine disc and the transfer is really great but a single new interview extra does not a collector’s edition make. It’s worth having as it is a great movie and an unusual entry in John Carpenter’s filmography. If you’re still holding onto your DVD, now is the time to upgrade.

Special Features Include:

• NEW They Came from Hollywood: Re-visiting STARMAN – featuring director John Carpenter, actors Jeff Bridges, Charles Martin Smith and script supervisor Sandy King-Carpenter
• Audio Commentary with director John Carpenter and Jeff Bridges
• Vintage Featurette
• Teaser Trailer
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE NEXT GENERATION

Synopsis from the Press Release:

When a helpful family invites two lost couples in for a good ol’ down-home massacre, the prom night teens find themselves all dressed up … with no place to escape. To their dismay, the old farmhouse is home to Leatherface and his insane family of cannibalistic psychopaths. Featuring fast-paced fun, standout stars and a horrific helping of the franchise’s own brand of gore, the “fourth Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie takes a comedic turn even more pronounced than the previous two combined!” (The Terror Trap)

Adam Says:

For a long time this film had the reputation of being the point at which Texas Chainsaw really jumped the shark. However, that was before two reboots, a terrible 3D movie, and the unwatchable Leatherface came about. Still, this movie is lodged firmly in the ‘so bad it’s fun’ territory; not even the inclusion of two future A-list actors can save it. This is strictly for horror fans that have been waiting forever for it to be put on Blu-ray and complete their collection of the first four films.

The image quality is not great, even the HD footage has a lot of digital noise in the blacks. Included is the theatrical version and the director’s cut which integrates SD footage with the HD cut (resulting in even more noise). It looks good enough and given the content the picture is as good as it needs to be. My personal favorite part is the new slip cover image featuring Leatherface. It’s really a striking picture even if it did have to be altered to remove the faces of actors who still refuse to be associated with this film (even though we know they’re in it, have known for 25 years, and frankly, they’ve done more embarrassing movies since).

Special Features Include:

• Two Cuts of the Film – the theatrical cut (87 minutes – HD) and the director’s cut (93 minutes – HD with standard definition inserts)
• NEW Audio Commentary with writer/director Kim Henkel (on Director’s Cut)
• NEW The Buzz is Back – an interview with Director of Photography Levie Isaacks
• NEW Marked for Death – an interview with actor Tyler Shea Cone
• NEW If Looks Could Kill: The Return of a “Chainsaw Massacre” – an interview with special makeup effects artist J.M. Logan and production designer Deborah Pastor
• Still Gallery
• Theatrical Trailer

Dracula: Prince of Darkness

Synopsis from the Press Release:

Four English tourists find themselves stranded in the mysterious village of Karlsbad, a sinister and remote place with a deadly, dark legend. Their journey leads them to an abandoned castle where a nightmarish destiny awaits them: an evil in need of resurrection, a blood-craving beast known only as Count Dracula, Prince of Darkness (Christopher Lee, The Lord Of The Rings films, Wicker Man).

Adam Says:

Who doesn’t love a Christopher Lee Hammer Horror Dracula film? Okay, full confession time, this is the first one that I’ve seen, but it was quite good and very, very English. I couldn’t really tell the difference between the advertised US and UK versions except that the US one had a Fox logo, was more contrast-y, and was a lot grainer. Overall, both looked good and you get them both so you’re in luck if you have a firm preference. Also, on the disc is a great number of audio commentaries so you can learn all about it from the filmmakers, stars, and film historians.

Special Features Include:

• Two Versions! The UK version and the U.S. version
• NEW 4K scan of US version of the interpositive from the 20th Century Fox vaults
• NEW audio commentary with author Troy Howarth
• NEW audio commentary with filmmaker Constantine Nasr and writer/producer Steve Haberman
• Audio commentary with cast members Christopher Lee, Suzan Farmer, Francis Matthews, Barbara Shelley
• World of Hammer episode “Dracula and the Undead”
• Back to Black – The Making of Dracula -Prince of Darkness
• Super 8mm Behind-the-Scenes footage
• Theatrical Trailers
• Still Gallery