I was singularly overjoyed this morning to discover, by happenstance, that Geoff Murphy’s memorable apocalyptic sci-fi yarn The Quiet Earth was out on Blu-ray in Germany, but singularly disappointed when a bit of simple searching later showed the disc to be a big disappointment – a 1080i PAL-speed rendering of a bright but noisy and unattractively sharpened [...]
Music Monday – Quiet Disappointment Edition
Posted May 14th, 2012 in Music Monday | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: End of the World, Geoff Murphy, John Charles, Science Fiction, Soundtrack
Hammer Definition: Dracula Prince of Darkness v. 2.0
Posted May 11th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Dracula, Hammer, Recall, Studio Canal
I know a lot of you (particularly those not in the UK) are getting antsy about whether or not Studio Canal’s replacement copies of Dracula Prince of Darkness are ever going to arrive. Let me start by saying that, having not heard a peep from the company since I put in my replacement request on the 7th [...]
Santos vs. Las Lobas
Posted May 11th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis KlotzTags: El Santo, Hairy Beasts, Horror, Lucha, Mexico, MOSS, Werewolves
a.k.a. Santos vs. the She-Wolves directed by Rubén Galindo and Jaime Jiménez Pons 1976 / Producciones Jiménez Pons Hermanos / 86‘ written by Jaime Jiménez Pons and Ramón Obón cinematography by Raul Dominguez and Victor Gaitán starring El Santo, Rodolfo de Anda, Gloria Mayo, Jorge Russek, Bubia Martí, Carlos Suárez This May the agents of M.O.S.S. throw their collective gaze (warning: may turn living matter to stone) [...]
The Sadist
Posted May 10th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Arch Hall Jr., Crime, Exploitation, Johnny Legend, Thriller, Vilmos Zsigmond
released in 2010 by Johnny Legend video: 1080p / 1.78:1 / B&W / Mpeg-4 AVC audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono subtitles: none discs: 1 x 25GB BD-R / 1 x DVD-R / All Region supplements: Interview with Arch Hall Jr. by Ray Dennis Steckler, Arch Hall Jr. Video Songbook, Epilogue to The Sadist by Johnny Legend The Sadist is available now through Amazon.com [...]
Music Monday – Thrill Killing Edition
Posted May 7th, 2012 in Music Monday | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Arch Hall Jr., Bert Schefter, Paul Sawtell
Seeing as I just bit the bullet and ordered Johnny Legend’s short order Blu-ray edition of John Landis’ expert 1963 shocker The Sadist, this Monday’s music choice was a real no brainer. The film features one of the best themes ever devised by Wtf-Film favorites Paul Sawtell and Bert Schefter (Kronos, Voyage to the Bottom [...]
A Demonic Lamberto Bava Double Feature
Posted May 6th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Cult, Dario Argento, Demons, Dirt Bike, Gore, Hard Rock, Horror, Lamberto Bava
released April 30th, 2012 by Arrow Video video: 1080p / 1.66:1 / Color / Mpeg-4 AVC audio: 16-bit LPCM 2.0 Mono (English, Italian) subtitles: English SDH, English discs: 2 x single layer BD25 / Region B (locked) supplements: Commentaries with director Lamberto Bava, SPFX artist Sergio Stivaleti and journalist Loris Curci on both films, Commentary with Bava, Stivaleti, star Geretta Geretta and composer Claudio [...]
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Posted May 4th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Bernard Herrmann, Dinosaurs, Fantasy, James Mason, Science Fiction, Spelunking, Twilight Time
dir. Henry Levin 1959 / 20th Century Fox / 129′ written by Walter Reisch and Charles Brackett from the novel by Jules Verne director of photography Leo Tover original music by Bernard Herrmann starring Pat Boone, James Mason, Arlene Dahl, Peter Ronson, Thayer David, Diane Baker, Alan Napier, Alan Caillou, and Gertrude the Duck reviewed from a screener provided by Twilight [...]
Darna! Ang Pagbabalik
Posted May 4th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis KlotzTags: Action, Darna, Fantasy, Mars Ravelo, Philippines, Super hero
a.k.a. Darna: The Return directed by Peque Gallaga and Lore Reyes 1994 / Viva Films / 104‘ written by Floy Quintos, from characters by Mars Ravelo cinematography by Marissa Floirendo music by Archie Castillo starring Anjanette Abayari, Edu Manzano, Cherie Gil, Pility Corrales, Rustom Padilla, Bong Alvarez, and Lester Llansang If you want to know more about Mars Ravelo’s Wonder Woman [...]
The Wizard of Gore / The Gore Gore Girls
Posted May 2nd, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Chicken Unlimited, Gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis, Image Entertainment, Something Weird, Strippers, Violence
released May 1st, 2012 by Something Weird / Image Entertainment video: 1080p / 1.78:1 audio: DTS-HD MA 2.0 English subtitles: none disc: dual layer BD50 / Region A The Wizard of Gore / The Gore Gore Girls Blood-Drenched Double Feature Blu-ray is readily available through Amazon.com. Something Weird and Image Entertainment simultaneously thrilled and disappointed long-time fans of exploitation [...]
Music Monday – Inaugural (Jet) Edition
Posted April 30th, 2012 in Music Monday | article by Kevin PyrtleTags: Garage Rock, Guitar Wolf, Jet Generation, Punk
I’m taking a cue from The Horror!? on this one, because there just aren’t enough ways I subject our audience to my personal taste as it is. Anyway, I needed something awesome for Wtf-Film’s first ever Music Monday post, and nothing is more awesome than Guitar Wolf. Nothing. Here’s Refrigerator Zero, off their 1999 album Jet [...]
Older Posts
The Pirates of Blood River
published April 27th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published April 27th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. John Gilling 1962 / Hammer Film Productions / 87′ written by John Hunter, John Gilling, and Jimmy Sangster cinematography by Arthur Grant music by Gary Hughes starring Kerwin Matthews, Christopher Lee, Andrew Keir, Marle Landi, Oliver Reed, Michael Ripper, and Peter Arne At the end of the 17th century, a group of Huguenots fled France and settled on the tropical, piranha-infested Isle of Devon somewhere [...]
Murder Obsession
published April 26th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published April 26th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
dir. Riccardo Freda 1981 / Dionysio Cinematografica / 97′ written by Riccardo Freda, Antonio Cesare Corti, Simon Mizrahi, and Fabio Piccioni director of photography Christiano Pogany original music by Franco Mannino starring Stefano Patrizi, Martine Brochard, Henri Garcin, Laura Gemser, John Richardson, Anita Strindberg, Silvia Dionisio, and Frabrizio Maroni Murder Obsession is out on Blu-ray (reviewed here) and DVD [...]
The Hellstrom Chronicle
published April 25th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published April 25th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
dir. Walon Green 1971 / Wolper Pictures / 90′ written by David Seltzer original music by Lalo Schifrin starring Lawrence Pressman The Hellstrom Chronicle is out on Blu-ray (reviewed here) and DVD through Olive Films. “The Earth was created – not with the gentle caress of love, but with the brutal violence of rape…” So begins The Hellstrom [...]
Der Würger von Schloß Blackmoor
published April 20th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published April 20th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Harald Reinl 1963 / Mosaik Film / 84′ a.k.a. The Strangler of Blackmoor Castle written by Ladislas Fodor and Gustav Kampendonk cinematography by Ernst W. Kalinke music by Oskar Sala starring Karin Dor, Harry Riebauer, Dieter Eppler, Rudolf Fernau, Ingmar Zeisberg, Hans Nielsen, and Hans Reiser Former colonialist bureaucrat Lucius Clark (Rudolf Fernau) has found a pretty sweet set-up for himself. He’s soon to [...]
Demon’s Souls
published April 18th, 2012 in Video Games | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published April 18th, 2012 in Video Games | article by Kevin Pyrtle
dir. Hidetaka Miyazaki released October 6, 2009 by Atlus Games developed by From Software and SCE Japan Studio written by Aditi Tana, Christopher Fairbank, and Clare Corbet original music by Shunsuke Kida Demon’s Souls is available exclusively for PlayStation 3, and can be purchased in a variety of editions from Amazon.com, Amazon UK, and Amazon JP. Note: Cover [...]
With Death on Your Back
published April 13th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published April 13th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Alfonso Balcázar 1967 / Bengala Film / 86′ a.k.a. Con la Muerte a la Espalda written by Alfonso Balcázar, José Antonio de la Loma and Giovanni Simonelli cinematography by Victor Monreal music by Claude Bolling starring George Martin, Vivi Bach, Rosalba Neri, Daniele Vargas, Klausjürgen Wussow, and Michel Montfort A gang of international evil-doers has invented a drug that can be used [...]
Bite the Bullet
published April 12th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published April 12th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
dir. Richard Brooks 1975 / Columbia Pictures / 132′ written by Richard Brooks director of photography Harry Stradling Jr. original music by Alex North starring Gene Hackman, James Coburn, Candice Bergen, Ben Johnson, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Mario Arteaga, and Dabney Coleman reviewed from a screener provided by Twilight Time Bite the Bullet is out on limited edition Blu-ray [...]
New to Blu: Désirée + Bell, Book and Candle
published April 9th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published April 9th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
This week’s for playing catch-up here at Wtf-Film, where I’ve been effectively useless for the past many days thanks to a particularly nasty season of allergies. Much to my disgrace I’ve as yet been unable to even cover Twilight Time’s fine Blu-ray issue of the equally fine Bite the Bullet, released alongside Demetrius and the Gladiators last [...]
The Colossus of New York & The Space Children, headed to Blu-ray from Olive Films
published March 30th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 30th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
Previously released to DVD by Olive Films, Eugene Lourie’s stylish creature features the great Ross Martin (Experiment in Terror) as the eponymous The Colossus of New York - a massive robotic hulk powered by the brain of a brilliant young inventor. Also featuring John Baragrey (The Creeper), Mala Powers (City Beneath the Sea), and Wtf-Film favorite Robert [...]
Death Falls Lightly
published March 30th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published March 30th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Leopoldo Savona 1972 / Agata Films / 85′ a.k.a. La Morte Scende Leggera written by Luigi Rosso and Leopoldo Savona cinematography by Luciano Trasatti music by Coriolano Gori starring Stelio Candelli, Patrizia Viotti, Veronika Korosec, Rossella Bergamonti, and Tom Felleghy Warning: It’s impossible not to talk about the film’s ending when talking about its strengths and weaknesses, so the following will enter spoiler territory. [...]
A Trip to the Moon – in color
published March 29th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 29th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
The color restoration of A Trip to the Moon (Le Voyage dans la Lune) is available as a limited edition 2-disc (Blu-ray/DVD) Steelbook from Flicker Alley, and can also be purchased through Amazon.com. Note (4/2/2012): In addition to the missing narration It has been noted by one person (both at the Blu-ray.com forums and in a [...]
Demetrius and the Gladiators
published March 27th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 27th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
dir. Delmer Daves 1954 / 20th Century Fox / 102′ written by Philip Dunne director of photography Milton R. Krasner origianl music by Franz Waxman starring Victor Mature, Susan Hayward, Michael Rennie, Debra Paget, Anne Bancroft, Jay Robinson, Barry Jones, and William Marshall reviewed from a screener provided by Twilight Time Demetrius and the Gladiators is available on Blu-ray from Twilight [...]
The Devil-Ship Pirates
published March 23rd, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published March 23rd, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Don Sharp 1964 / Hammer Film / 86′ written by Jimmy Sangster cinematography by Michael Reed music by Gary Hughes starring Christopher Lee, Andrew Keir, John Cairney, Barry Warren, Suzan Farmer, Duncan Lamont, Natasha Pyne, Michael Ripper The Devil-Ship Pirates is available as part of the Icons of Adventure DVD Collection. It’s 1588, and the Spanish Armada has just taken its [...]
Blu vs. Blu: Night of the Living Dead
published March 21st, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 21st, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
A couple of notes before starting. Firstly, this is strictly to be a comparison of the two most readily available Blu-ray editions for George A. Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead - a film that’s been scaring the hell out of me since I was in grade school. For those interested in my thoughts [...]
Mission Thunderbolt
published March 20th, 2012 in Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 20th, 2012 in Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
directed by Godfrey Ho 1983 / IFD Films and Arts Ltd. / ~90′ written by Godfrey Ho director of photography Tony Fan starring Jonathan Stierwald, Chan Wai Man, Steve Daw, Chan Kun Tai, Summer Dora, Tina Matchett, Philip Ko, John Ladalski, Melisa Tayor, Phoenix Chu, Shih Chung Tin, Johnny Shen, Rosie Lee, Tommy Lewis, Jack Yeung, and Martin Cook Unavailable for purchase – [...]
Die Farbe
published March 16th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published March 16th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Huan Vu 2010 / Spharentor Filmproduktionen / 85′ written by Huan Vu from the story The Colour out of Space by H.P. Lovecraft cinematography by Martin Kolbert music by Tilman Seege starring Ingo Heise, Michael Kausch, Marco Leibnitz, Erik Rastetter, Marah Schneider The 70s. The father (Patrick Pierce) of Arkham academic Jonathan Davis (Ingo Heise) disappears while retracing his own [...]
Bava’s Demons to haunt limited edition steelbook this April
published March 12th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 12th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
Gorehounds and ’80s hair metal apologists take note – Arrow Video’s long-in-the-works editions of producer Dario Argento and director Lamberto Bava’s inimitable schlock-rock horror classics Demons and Demons 2 are finally on the horizon! Though delayed (…again) until April 30th and recently negotiated for Region B only (these were originally announced as All Region, but the licensor has [...]
On Blu this week: Two from Twilight Time
published March 12th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 12th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
On March 13th limited edition home video label Twilight Time will be releasing the latest in their Blu-ray line, one deep catalog release each from the libraries of 20th Century Fox and Sony Pictures: First up is 20th Century Fox’s lavish extra-wide 2.55:1 CinemaScope follow-up to 1953′s The Robe, the 1954 sword and sandal smash Demetrius [...]
Hammer Definition: Dracula Prince of Darkness
published March 10th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 10th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
It’s safe to say that the Hammer faithful (myself included) were all around thrilled when Quatermass and the Pit arrived on Blu-ray from Optimum as one of the best catalog releases of recent memory, and those same faithful were no doubt hoping for more of the same from the re-branded Studio Canal’s double-play issue of Terrance [...]
The Deadly Spawn: Blu-ray Update
published March 9th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 9th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
In case you’ve yet to read it, I unloaded some pretty hefty (if totally justifiable) criticism at Elite Entertainment’s Millennium Edition Blu-ray of The Deadly Spawn when it arrived early last month. That disc was, for lack of better words, an utter disaster. That said, there seems to be a light at the end of the [...]
The Last Run
published March 9th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published March 9th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
dir. Richard Fleischer 1971 / MGM / 91′ written by Alan Sharp cinematography by Sven Nykvist music by Jerry Goldsmith starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Tony Musante, Colleen Dewhurst, Aldo Sambrell and Antonio Tarruella The Last Run is available as part of the Warner Archive Collection and through Amazon.com Former professional driver of getaway cars Harry Garmes (George C. Scott being [...]
I thought we were an autonomous collective…
published March 8th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 8th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
No film review to be seen here, kids, just my thoughts on the long-awaited Sony Pictures blu-ray of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, released Tuesday and presently available everywhere worth shopping (if you’re feeling especially charitable Amazon does swing a decent commission Wtf-Film’s way). For the moment I’ll not bother with the usual is-it [...]
Hammer Cares: Dracula Prince of Darkness BD/DVD replacement program up and running
published March 7th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 7th, 2012 in News | article by Kevin Pyrtle
Reports have been surfacing for a few days now with regards to audio sync issues on the (very) recently released Hammer / Studio Canal double play Blu-ray / DVD edition of Dracula Prince of Darkness. Those experiencing the problem will be happy to hear this, copied directly from Hammerfilms.com: “We recently discovered a small audio [...]
Don’t Look in the Basement
published March 2nd, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published March 2nd, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
Even in this debut Brownrigg proves himself a capable director, using the small number of locations available – the film basically takes place in and around one not very interesting mansion – and a love for close-ups and surprisingly sprightly camera-work and editing to produce a mood of increasing claustrophobia and tension.
Twilight Time: Swamp Water
published March 1st, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published March 1st, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
As the philosophical Keefer ruminates, “Living alone in this swamp is just like living on another star.” Indeed, Swamp Water presents its star location in a manner that’s appropriately other-worldly, rendering small and insignificant the human characters who dare wander among its ancient mangroves and treacherous peat bogs.
Twilight Time: Pal Joey
published February 28th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published February 28th, 2012 in Blu-ray, Film | article by Kevin Pyrtle
Columbia’s alterations, which shoehorn the conniving Joey Evans into a standard big-screen romantic fable, may ring as false as the film’s final Technicolor sunset, but that never really matters. Pal Joey is all about names and tunes, and all the in-between is ultimately just filler.
Twilight Time: The Egyptian
published February 23rd, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published February 23rd, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
Another top-flight effort from the legendary Darryl F. Zanuck, marked by stunning color CinemaScope production design and bolstered by one of the best scores of its kind – contributed by not one but two of the medium’s greatest composers, Alfred Newman and Bernard Herrmann.
No Orchids for Miss Blandish
published February 17th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published February 17th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
It looks like a certain thing for a trio of would-be gangsters: grab the incredibly valuable jewellery of millionaire’s daughter Miss Blandish while she and her fiancée are driving through dark country roads on the way to a roadhouse. As it goes with things that are certain, the robbery plan ends with a dead fiancée, two dead would-be gangsters and Miss Blandish kidnapped by the last surviving gangster. Oops.
The Deadly Spawn: Millennium Edition
published February 13th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
published February 13th, 2012 in Blu-ray | article by Kevin Pyrtle
This disc just plain sucks, and, like a bad dream, deserves to be forgotten. Stick with your DVDs folks as there’s nothing to see here.
The Imperial Swordsman
published February 10th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
published February 10th, 2012 in The Horror!? | article by Denis Klotz
The longer it goes, though, the less interested the film seems in being needlessly confusing (not to be confused with the needed confusion of a Chor Yuen film), and the more interested it becomes in being awesome.
