Holiday Horror On DVD

By: Peter Schmitz

Wednesday November 28, 2007

Give the gift that keeps on giving.
Nothing says Holidays quite like horror. Yes, tough love is in this year. There are zombies, monsters, and the ever so seasonal favorite - maniacs. Can't decide? Well, let's take a look at some of the not so obvious choices. It seems that horror is bigger and better than ever. And while some of the mainstream DVDs are a good choice, don't let some of the lesser known titles go unrecognized. Remember, accessories make the outfit. A lot of horror fans probably already have 28 Weeks Later and Hostel II. Zombies Halloween will be the most obvious new title to grab.

Don't risk being lame with the obvious. Be the good gift giver. Throw a few interesting twists into the mix to add some color. Put some thought into the fright. All it takes is a little digging to bring out the holiday spirit.


Eaten Alive: Special Edition

The grand master of all things horror, Tobe Hooper, creates the much anticipated follow up to his classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre with Eaten Alive. It's hard to beat a classic, but Hooper does a good job at keeping some things familiar and others completely off the hook. The result is a surreal landscape of madness that puts Texas back on the map. This time, all bets are off and the killing is done old school splatter style. Throw in an alligator and Robert Englund and this is one party you don't want to miss.

The 2 Disc Special Edition includes a widescreen presentation of the original feature, film commentary, Englund interview, and a documentary called "The Butcher of Elmendorf: The Legend of Joe Ball." The extras are littered with interesting goodies including a battery of behind-the-scenes photos, theatrical trailers and radio spots, and two alternate credit and title sequences.

Elvira's Movie Macabre

Any boy growing up in the 80's probably had a thing for Elvira. I mean, she was the queen of sexy goth. A lil bit funny, a lil bit mean, and a whole lotta monster movie madness. Elvira's Movie Macabre has been released as Double Feature sets and includes some fantastic B Horror and Sci Fi. My favorite, Gamera Super Monster, is a wonderful Japanese sci fi thriller starring a giant flying turtle that battles all sorts of giant adversaries. That's coupled with They Came From Beyond Space, about a mysterious meteor shower that infects a small town.

Other DVD sets include Maneater Of Hydra along with The House That Screamed and Blue Sunshine and Monstroid. Whether you were a fan of the show or not, these sets provide some wonderful entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Well... maybe not, but you get the idea.



MGM Presents Midnight Movies

MGM has been putting on some interesting titles in a series called Midnight Movies. The title pretty much tells it all. A few interesting gems were just released. The first, Witchfinder General, is a Vincent Price showcase. Never one to be ghoulishly outdone, Price puts on a very convincingly scary hunter that tours the English countryside murdering and torturing those who cross their paths. He is certainly in the holiday spirit of "giving."

The second is a rare little gem that shows up every once in a while on television creature features. It is called The Food Of The Gods. The liner notes go on to make this sound all dramatic, "based" on H.G. Wells' novel, but basically it's just about some magic sauce makes nasty things get really big. Big giant rats, chickens, and wasps terrorize the screen in full attack mode! The wasps are awesome, but don't underestimate the chickens man. They're packin beak and claws. Check it out "before the animals take over for good!"

Spider Baby - Director's Cut

Rob Zombie fans will rejoice to see a young Sid Haig play a murderous freak who enjoys eating spiders and human flesh. The "baby" of the Merrye Family, Haig and others all suffer from some sort of genetic mutation that make them cannibalistic. Lon Chaney plays the family's chauffeur. He looks out for their best interests and is sort of like the freak guardian angel. He also sings (kinda) the title song - which is fabulous. I have always been a fan and was happy to see that he is one of the brighter spots in the film.

Only a mind like Jack Hill could have written such a tale. Well known in cult cinema for Switchblade Sisters and Foxy Brown, Hill puts his magic touch on this twisted tale of really low-budget horror and comedy. I mean, most of this film is ridiculous. So much so, you don't care that most of the film makes no sense at all. You will undoubtedly laugh out loud and replay some scenes on first watch to make sure the ridiculousness is completely understood.

Dark Sky Films put together a good remaster of this film and offers an alternate opening and extended scene. The special features are entertaining and fairly deep. Stand-out is a feature length commentary with Jack Hill and Sid Haig.



Black Sheep: Unrated Version

It is difficult to follow the comedy and horror genius of Jack Hill, but Black Sheep is a good arguement for putting this genre back on the radar. The tagline reads, "There are 40 million sheep in New Zealand... and they're pissed off!" Genetically altered sheep turn into flesh eating monsters and begin terrorizing the countyside. It's hard to believe, but these cute little sheep show no mercy and make a bloody mess of the town. Don't underestimate me when I say "bloody mess." The Oscar winning special effects house Weta Workshops did a real number on this one. Set the gore factor on high and be ready for an entertaining ride. Heads are blown off, people are eaten, and sheep dismantled.

What makes everything work is that it never takes itself seriously. It is what it is and makes no excuses. Director Jonathan King brings the familiar with a personal flavor. You see, all the humans that get bit by the sheep transform into "Weresheep." A nice lil twist on the zombie thing eh? Yeah, I thought so too. Sit back, watch, and enjoy the carnage.