Sleepwalkers

Synopsis from the Press Release:

Brian Krause and Alice Krige star in this terrifying tale of modern-day vampires who move from small town to small town to prey on virtuous young women. Imperceptibly inhuman to everyone except for felines, these vicious shape-shifters have their eyes on a new victim: Mädchen Amick is Tanya, the sexually curious virgin who falls for Charles, the new boy in school (Krause). Mutating at will from golden boy to savage monster, Charles stalks Tanya to feed his seductive mother. As the tension mounts (and the casualties pile up), the town’s tabbies gather for a final, chilling showdown with the monsters in their midst: and we all know it’s not nice to hurt people’s felines.

Adam Says:

Sleepwalkers is still available in a bare bones version Blu-ray that’s less than half the cost of this Collector’s Edition. Scream Factory completionists are already going to buy it and casual viewers will go for the cheap disc so the question becomes does this Collector’s edition offer value for money? Well, the picture is noticeably improved, with richer colors and no DNR so there is lots of big, natural grain (some other reviews said it’s the exact same transfer but for what it’s worth the new disc had a crisper image on my screen). There is a great audio commentary and some great rare supplemental behind the scenes material. Of particular interest, I think, to horror fans is the interview hearing Alice Krige speak about her work.

I’m a huge Sleepwalkers fan but even if you just find the film ‘ok’ this edition is I think worth picking up.  However, the price tag is high so, depending on your enthusiasm, you might want to wait for a Scream Factory sale.

Special Features Include:

• NEW Audio Commentary With Director Mick Garris And Actors Mädchen Amick And Brian Krause
• NEW Feline Trouble – An Interview With Director Mick Garris
• NEW When Charles Met Tanya – A Conversation With Actors Mädchen Amick And Brian Krause
• NEW Family Values – An Interview With Actress Alice Krige
• NEW Feline Trouble: The FX Of Stephen King’s Sleepwalkers – Interviews With Special Make-up Effects Creator Tony Gardner And Prosthetics
• Designer Mike Smithson
• Behind-The-Scenes Footage
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

 

The Critters Collection

Synopsis from the Press Release:

In Critters, the terrified Brown family is trapped in a deadly nightmare and must fight for their lives against a litter of extraterrestrial, bloodthirsty monsters. But it’s a losing battle until two intergalactic bounty hunters arrive, determined to blow the creatures off the planet! In Critters 2: The Main Course, some eggs have survived and are popping open, bringing another horde of the little creatures! Brad Brown (Scott Grimes) returns to fight them along with three bounty hunters. Critters 3 stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Josh, a beleaguered Angelino who must lead the fight against the little monsters as they invade an L.A. apartment building. In the final film, Critters 4, a super strain of genetically engineered monsters are designed to take over the universe. This time, Brad Dourif and Angela Bassett must battle the little bloodthirsty hairballs.

Adam Says:

Are you kidding me? What are you sitting around for? This is the big one we’ve been waiting for. You should already have this set ordered or ask Santa for it or whatever you have to do. First off, all four films look incredible. The first two are beautifully remastered and the final two look way better than they have any right to. Each film comes with an audio commentary and is loaded with special features. The cover art/reverse cover art for all the films covers just about every image used for posters and video boxes. The collection itself is housed in an awesome, heavy-duty sleeve with an original Critters mural on it. First time on Blu-ray for all of the films; the decade long wait is over, run out and buy it.

Special Features Include:

CRITTERS

• NEW 2K scan from the original film elements
• NEW Audio Commentary with producer Barry Opper and star Don Opper
• NEW Audio Commentary with Critter designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo
• NEW They Bite!: The Making of CRITTERS featuring interviews with actors Dee Wallace, Don Opper, Terrence Mann and Lin Shaye, producer Barry Opper, writer Brian Muir, Critters designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo, make-up artist R. Christopher Biggs, special prop supervisor Anthony Doublin, composer David Newman and second unit director Mark Helfrich, Critter Voice actor Corey Burton and Miniature Effects Supervisor Gene Warren Jr.
• NEW For Brian: A Tribute to Screenwriter Brian Domonic Muir
• Behind-the-Scenes Footage
• Alternate Ending
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

CRITTERS 2: THE MAIN COURSE

• NEW 2K scan from the original film elements
• NEW Audio Commentary with director Mick Garris
• NEW Audio Commentary with Critters designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo
• NEW The Main Course: The Making of CRITTERS 2 featuring interviews with director Mick Garris, actors Liane Curtis, Don Opper, Terrence Mann and Lin Shaye, producer Barry Opper, Critter designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo and make-up artist R. Christopher Biggs
• Behind the Scenes Footage
• Additional TV Scenes
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery

CRITTERS 3

• NEW Audio Commentary with producer Barry Opper and star Don Opper
• NEW You Are What They Eat: The Making of CRITTERS 3 featuring interviews with producer Barry Opper, screenwriter David J. Schow, stars Don Opper and Terrence Mann, director of photography Thomas J. Callaway and Critters designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo
• Trailer
• Still Gallery

CRITTERS 4

• NEW Audio Commentary with producer/director Rupert Harvey
• NEW Space Madness: The Making of CRITTERS 3 featuring interviews with producer Barry Opper, screenwriter David J. Schow, stars Don Opper and Terrence Mann, director of photography Thomas J. Callaway, Critters designers Charles Chiodo, Edward Chiodo and Stephen Chiodo
• Trailer
• Still Gallery

 

Candyman

Synopsis from the Press Release:

This gut-wrenching thriller follows a graduate student whose research summons the spirit of the dead! When Helen Lyle hears about Candyman, a slave spirit with a hook hand who is said to haunt a notorious housing project, she thinks she has a new twist for her thesis. Braving the gang-ridden territory to visit the site, Helen arrogantly assumes Candyman can’t really exist … until he appears, igniting a string of terrifying, grisly slayings. But the police don’t believe in monsters, and charge Helen with the crimes. And the only one who can set her free is Candyman.

Adam Says:

First time on Blu in the US and unrated to boot, Scream Factory has really hit it out of the park with this Collector’s Edition. At first glance you’re hit with this incredible cover art, way better than the poster and all the European releases. The picture quality is a massive step up from the Blu-ray import. Inside Scream has spread the Edition over two discs offering both the theatrical and unrated cuts. There are hours of extras to absorb across both discs. This is the version to have on your shelf and watch every piece of the bonus material. With this coming so close to the release of the Critters Collection I would call it a tie for the Horror Blu title of the season.

Special Features Include:

DISC ONE (THEATRICAL CUT):

• NEW 2K Restoration From A New 4K Scan Of The Original Negative, Supervised And Approved By Writer/Director Bernard Rose And Director Of Photography Anthony B. Richmond
• NEW Audio Commentary With Writer/Director Bernard Rose And Actor Tony Todd
• NEW Audio Commentary With Authors Stephen Jones And Kim Newman
• Audio Commentary With Director Bernard Rose, Author Clive Barker, Producer Alan Poul And Actors Tony Todd, Virginia Madsen And Kasi Lemmons
• Audio Commentary With Bernard Rose, Moderated By The Movie Crypt’s Adam Green And Joe Lynch
• “Sweets To The Sweet: The Candyman Mythos” Featuring Interviews With Writer/Director Bernard Rose, Executive Producer Clive Barker, Actors Virginia Madsen, Tony Todd, And Kasi Lemmons
• “Clive Barker: Raising Hell” – An Interview With Author/Artist/Filmmaker Clive Barker
• Interview With Actor Tony Todd (2014)
• Bernard Rose’s Storyboards
• Theatrical Trailer
• TV Spots
• Still Gallery
• Screenplay (BD-ROM)

DISC TWO (UNRATED CUT):

• NEW 2K Restoration From A New 4K Scan Of The Original Negative With High Definition Inserts For The Uncut Footage From An Archival Film Print
• NEW “Be My Victim” – An Interview With Tony Todd
• NEW “It Was Always You, Helen” – An Interview With Virginia Madsen
• NEW “Reflection In The Mirror” – An Interview With Actor Kasi Lemmons
• NEW “A Kid In Candyman” – An Interview With Actor DeJuan Guy
• NEW “The Writing On The Wall: The Production Design Of Candyman” – An Interview With Production Designer Jane Ann Stewart
• NEW “Forbidden Flesh: The Makeup FX Of Candyman” – Including Interviews With Special Makeup Effects Artists Bob Keen, Gary J. Tunnicliffe And Mark Coulier
• NEW “A Story To Tell: Clive Barker’s The Forbidden” – Writer Douglas E. Winter On Clive Barker’s Seminal Books Of Blood And Candyman’s Source Story, The Forbidden
• NEW “Urban Legend: Unwrapping Candyman” – A Critical Analysis Of The Film With Writers Tananarive Due And Steven Barnes

 

Urban Legend and Urban Legends: Final Cut

Synopsis from the Press Release:

Urban Legend

When New England college student Natalie (Alicia Witt, TV’s The Exorcist) finds herself at the center of a series of sadistic murders seemingly inspired by urban legends, she resolves to find the truth about her school’s own legend: a twenty-five-year-old story of a student massacre at the hands of an abnormal Psych professor. As the fraternities prepare to celebrate the macabre anniversary, Natalie discovers that she is the focus of the crazed killer’s intentions in the ultimate urban legend: the unfolding story of her own horrific murder.

Urban Legends: Final Cut

At Alpine University, someone is determined to win the best film award at any cost – even if it means eliminating the competition. No one is safe and everyone is a suspect. Urban Legends: Final Cut is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the shocking climax.

Adam Says:

I grouped these two together because while I do genuinely enjoy them both this really should have been a set with both films included. The first film is a two disc Collector’s Edition with the second disc being occupied by a massive (well over two hour) feature-length making-of documentary. That’s kind of cool, but why? It’s 40 minutes longer than the film it’s talking about. Meanwhile, Final Cut is retailing for between 24 and 30 dollars. That is way too much for the sequel by itself even if it does have a fair number of features in its own right. Both movies look good but really I feel like the decision to add these to your collection is whether or not you like them enough (like me, I actually watch Final Cut fairly regularly) to shell out for what is a borderline double dip.

Special Features Include:

URBAN LEGEND Collector’s Edition

DISC ONE

• NEW audio commentary with director Jamie Blanks, producer Michael McDonnell, assistant Edgar Pablos, moderated by author Peter M. Bracke
• Audio Commentary with director Jamie Blanks, writer Silvio Horta and actor Michael Rosenbaum
• Theatrical Trailer

DISC TWO

• NEW Urban Legacy – an eight-part documentary on the making of URBAN LEGEND (147 minutes) including interviews with director Jamie Blanks, writer Silvio Horta, executive producers Brad Luff, Nick Osborne, producers Neal Moritz, Gina Matthews, Michael McDonnell, chairman and CEO of Phoenix Pictures Mike Medavoy, production designer Charles Breen, director of photography James Chressanthis, editor Jay Cassidy, composer Christopher Young, actors Alicia Witt, Michael Rosenbaum, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Robert Englund, Loretta Devine, Rebecca Gayheart, Tara Reid, Danielle Harris, assistant Edgar Pablos author Peter M. Bracke and more…
• NEW Behind-the-Scenes footage
• NEW Extended interviews from the eight-part documentary
• Archival Making of Featurette
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scene
• TV Spots

 

URBAN LEGENDS: FINAL CUT

• NEW The Legend Continues: Urban Legends: Final Cut including interviews with producers Gina Matthews, Michael McDonnell, executive producers Nick Osborne, Brad Luff, chairman and CEO of Phoenix Pictures Mike Medavoy, writer Silvio Horta, actors Loretta Devine and Rebecca Gayheart
• NEW interview with actress Jessica Cauffiel
• Audio Commentary with director John Ottman
• Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by director John Ottman
• Vintage Making of Featurette
• Gag Reel
• Theatrical Trailer