Saturday, December 30, 2023

House of Psychotic Women

DISC 1: IDENTIKIT (1974)
In what remains the most obscure, bizarre and wildly misunderstood film of her entire career – and perhaps even ‘70s Italian cinema – Elizabeth Taylor stars as a disturbed woman who arrives in Rome to find a city fragmented by autocratic law, leftist violence and her own increasingly unhinged mission to find the most dangerous liaison of all. Academy Award® nominee Ian Bannen (THE OFFENCE), Mona Washbourne (THE COLLECTOR) and Andy Warhol co-star in this “unique, hallucinatory neo noir” (Cult Film Freaks) – barely released in America as THE DRIVER’S SEAT – directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi (‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE), adapted from the unnerving novella by Muriel Spark (The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie) and featuring cinematography by three-time Oscar® winner Vittorio Storaro (APOCALYPSE NOW, THE LAST EMPEROR), now restored in 4K by Severin Films.
Special Features:
Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women
Audio Commentary With TCM Underground Curator Millie De Chirico
A Lack Of Absence — Writer And Literary Historian Chandra Mayor On Muriel Spark And The Driver's Seat
Trailer
Runtime: 102 mins

DISC 2: I LIKE BATS (1986)
Directed and co-written by Grzegorz Warchol – the Polish actor best known for his performance in THREE COLORS: WHITE – this 1986 Perspektywa Film Group production combines splashes of absurdist black comedy with jolts of old-school gothic horror for a slyly contemporary take on the female bloodsucker mythos. Katarzyna Walter stars as a happily single young vampire who works in her aunt’s curio shop when not feeding on various suitors and sleazebags. But when she falls for a handsome psychiatrist, she’ll discover that no affliction is more horrific than love. Co-scripted by feminist writer/activist Krystyna Kofta and featuring poet, songwriter and cabaret icon Jonasz Kofta in his sole film role, I LIKE BATS is now scanned in 2K from the only 35mm print known to exist.
Special Features:
Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women
Audio Commentary With Kamila Wielebska, Actor And Co-Editor Of A Story Of Sin: Surrealism In Polish Cinema
TV Spot
Runtime: 81 mins

DISCS 3 & 4: FOOTPRINTS (1975) – U.S. CUT AND ITALIAN CUT
In the most criminally underseen giallo of the ‘70s, Florinda Bolkan (A LIZARD IN A WOMAN’S SKIN, FLAVIA THE HERETIC) stars as a freelance translator who wakes one morning missing all memory of her past three days. But will a trail of odd clues lead her to a place where perception and identity are never what they seem? Nicoletta Elmi (DEEP RED), Evelyn Stewart (THE SWEET BODY OF DEBORAH), Lila Kedrova (THE TENANT) and Klaus Kinski co-star in this “visually stunning gem” (Mondo Digital) – also known as FOOTPRINTS ON THE MOON – directed by Luigi Bazzoni (THE FIFTH CORD) with cinematography by three-time Oscar® winner Vittorio Storaro (THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE), now scanned in 4K from the original camera negatives.
Special Features:
Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women
To The Moon — Interview With Actress Ida Galli
Nicoletta Elmi: Italian Cinema's Imp Ascendent — Video Essay By Film Scholars Alexandra Heller-Nicholas And Craig Martin
Audio Commentary With Film Historian Kat Ellinger (Italian Cut)
Light Of The Moon — Interview With Cinematographer Vittorio Storaro
Trailer
Runtime: 93 mins (U.S. Cut) / 96 mins (Italian Cut)

DISC 5: THE OTHER SIDE OF THE UNDERNEATH (1972)
It’s been called “harrowing” (The Guardian), “seriously disturbing” (Blu-ray.com) and “part documentary, part primal scream” (Screen Slate). More than half a century later, it remains all that and more: In 1972, screenwriter/feminist/radical theater icon Jane Arden adapted her own multimedia stage production "A New Communion for Freaks, Prophets and Witches" into a nightmarish exploration of reason, chaos and her own battles with mental illness unlike anything audiences have seen before or since. Sheila Allen (CHILDREN OF THE DAMNED), Ann Lynn (THE BLACK TORMENT), renowned visual artist Penny Slinger and Arden herself star in the only British feature film of the 1970s solo-directed by a woman, recently restored in 2K by the British Film Institute.
Special Features:
Introduction By Kier-La Janisse, Author Of House Of Psychotic Women
Extended Workprint Version Of The Film
Sheila Allen Interview
Natasha Morgan Interview
Extended Sequences
Penny Slinger Live At The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies
PENNY SLINGER: OUT OF THE SHADOWS Trailer

Runtime: 111 mins

Dracula - Vintage Horror Classics

Films Included:
Nosferatu 1922
d: FW Murnau
Holds up today as one of the greatest horror films of all-time.

The Vampire Bat 1933
d: Frank R Stayer
In this suspenseful horror classic, a panic sweeps across the small village of Klineschoss because many people have been found dead, their bodies drained of all their blood. As an investigation ensues, more victims continue to die as the villagers attempt to hone in on a suspect.

Messiah of Evil 1973
d: Gloria Katz, Willard Huyck
A beautiful young woman named Arletty arrives in a strange beach town to visit her estranged father, but soon discovers that it is inhabited by blood-thirsty monsters that come out under the moon craving flesh and waiting for their messiah of evil.

Satanic Rites of Dracula 1973
d: Alan Gibson
Scotland Yard teams up with vampire expert Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) to discover who or what lies behind a recent outbreak of violent crimes. What they uncover is nothing more horrendous than Count Dracula himself (Christopher Lee).

Grave of the Vampire 1972
d: John Hayes
A vampire named Kroft returns from his grave and interrupts a couple making out in the cemetery, killing the man and raping the woman. Kroft's female victim becomes pregnant and gives birth. The child, James Eastman, is half man/half vampire. He can go out in the daylight but must feed on blood. Like Blade he is on a vendetta to kill the vampire who made him. When father and son finally come together in a dramatic showdown, will killing his father be enough to save Eastman's soul?

The Thirsty Dead 1974
d: Terry Becker
Attractive young women in Manila are being kidnapped off the streets. Their destination is a mystery. If blood-thirsty cults and beautiful girls are your thing, then this movie will surely entertain.



Harold and Maude

1971
d: Hal Ashby
c: Ruth Gordon, Bud Cort

Young, rich, and obsessed with death, Harold finds himself changed forever when he meets lively septuagenarian Maude at a funeral.
Love transcends time.

High Spirits

1988
d: Neil Jordan
c: Peter O'Toole, Daryl Hannah, Steve Guttenberg

When a hotelier attempts to fill the chronic vacancies at his failing castle by falsely spreding the word that it's haunted. Except it actually is. The ghosts start having sex with the guests, and then the living and dead trade places. Weird.

Tomb of Ligeia

1964
d: Roger Corman
c: Vincent Price, Elizabeth Shepherd

Dude with light sensitivity wears silly glasses and is being possessed by his dead ex-wife's cat. His new wife is accidently sacrificed, but he comes to his senses and offs himself to save her.

She Beast

1966
d: Michael Reeves
c: Barbara Steele (for like 5 minutes)

This movie used Barbara's name in vain. Its crap.

Curse of the Crimson Altar/Crimson Cult

1968
d: Vernon Sewell
c: Barbara Steele, Christopher Lee, Boris Karloff

Dude relaizes that his brother has gone missing and decides to head out into the English country-side to try and find him, landing in a weird party, death cult that idolizes a blue (and beautiful) Barbara Steele!

Horror Express

1972
d: Eugenio Martin
c: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee

Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee are on the same side as an ancient monster terrorizes a train. Bonuses: Off brand Rasputin and Telly Savalas pops in to keep in interesting. This monster can kill to aquire genetic memory and comes from Outer Space!

Peter was going to pass on this film, as he was mourning the loss of his beloved wife, but took the part in order to act with his close friend, Lee.
Cushing & Lee Forever.

Shanghai Express

1932
d: Josef von Sternberg
c: Marlene Dietrich, Clive Brook, Anna May Wong

British officer gets on a train to find his old love, Magdalen is now a hooker named Shanghai Lily. He is a huge dick to her even through she is GOLD- she saves everyone's lives and is too good for all of them. Her bestie murders the big bad on her own.

The Black Cat

1934
d: Edgar Ulmer
c: Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff After a road accident in Hungary, the American honeymooners Joan and Peter and the enigmatic Dr Werdegast find refuge in the house (built on war bunkers) of the famed architect Hjalmar Poelzig, who stole the doctor's wife and daughter. Revenge movie.

Diaboliques

1955
d: Henri-Georges Clouzot
c: Vera Clouzot, Simore Signoret, Paul Meuisse

Abusive jerk is ruining his wifes boarding school and openly cheating with another teacher. The ladies come together for a roadtrip and lure him to an apartment to drown (?) him in a bathtub. After his body disappears, they become increasingly unhindged...

Bell, Book, and Candle

1958
d: Richard Quine
c: Kim Novak, James Stewart

Hot single witch with an amazing apartment casts a spell for revenge and falls inlove. She has to give up her bitchin, single, witchy life (and cat) in order to have a mediocre man.

The Miraculous Virgin/Wonder Woman/Wonder Maid

1966
d: Stefan Uher
c: Jolanta Umecka

Annabella! Death Masks, Ravens, Phone booths in fields- ART!

Paper House

1988
d: Bernard Rose
c: Charlotte Burke, Elliott Spiers, Ben Cross



This dark psychological drama follows young Anna Madden (Charlotte Burke), a lonely British child who begins to inhabit the world that she draws in her sketchbook. When she creates a boy on paper, she later meets the same child, Marc (Elliott Spiers), in her dream realm. Things take a creepy turn when Anna draws her absentee father (Ben Cross), and he appears in her world as a menacing figure out to get her. Can Anna control this strange realm, or will she become a victim of it?

The Screaming Skull

1958
d: Alex Nicol
c: Peggy Webber, John Hudson

A man tries to drive his second wife mad at his dead first wife's Southern mansion.

She is doing ALL the work.

Mill Creek Collection (50 Horror Films)

Dark Places

1974
d: Don Sharp
c: Christopher Lee, Joan Collins

The true value of an estate brings out the worst in the deceased's doctor (Christopher Lee), lawyer, sister (Joan Collins) and rightful heir (Robert Hardy).

Gosford Park

2001
d: Robert Altman
c: Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Bob Balaban

Set in the 1930's, "Gosford Park" brings a group of pretentious rich and famous together for a weekend of relaxation at a hunting resort. But when a murder occurs, each one of these interesting characters becomes a suspect.

Truly, Madly, Deeply

1990
d: Anthony Minghella
c: Alan Rickman, Juliet Stevenson

A woman struggles to cope with the death of her lover, only to find that his ghost magically appears and moves back into her flat. When she falls in love with another man, she faces a choice between holding onto the past and facing the future.

Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?

1969
d: Anthony Newly
c:Anthony Newley, Joan Collins

Film star Merkin relives the movie of his life, to forget Mercy Humppe and find true happiness with his wife.

Boom!

1968
d: Joseph Losey
c: Liz Taylor

Secluding herself in an island mansion in the Mediterranean with her servants and nurses, the wealthy Flora "Sissy" Goforth (Elizabeth Taylor) prepares for her impending death -- and she isn't the only one who's waiting.

Modesty Blaze

1966
d: Joseph Losey
c: Monica Vitti, Terence Stamp Modesty Blaise is a 1966 British spy-fi comedy film loosely based on the popular comic strip Modesty Blaise by Peter O'Donnell, who co-wrote the original story upon which Evan Jones and Harold Pinter based their screenplay.

Friday, December 29, 2023

Flash Gordon - Saviour of the Universe Edition

1980
d: Mike Hodges
c: Sam J Jones, Melody Anderson
m: Queen

Conan The Complete Quest

Conan the Barbarian
1982

Conan the Destoyer
1984

Seven Samurai

1954
d: Akira Kurosawa
c: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura

Alfred Hitchcock Montage of Mysteries

The 39 Steps
1935

Young and Innocent
1937

Rich and Strange
1931

Rear Window

1954
Special Edition
d: Alfred Hitchcock
c: James Stewart, Grace Kelly

Dude in wheel chair thinks he has to dump his girlfriend bc she is too good for him without every actualy asking her what she likes or is into. Turns out, she is a bad ass who climbs buildings, solves murders, and faces down bad dudes without a second thought.

Trilogy of Terror

1975
d: Dan Curtis
c: Karen Black

Julie - Murderous professor stalks her students

Milicent and Therese - Two sisters? set on destroying each other.

Amelia - Is it the weird demon doll or your mother ruining your life?

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen

1962
d: Karel Zeman
c: Milos Kopecky, Jana Brejchova

Visually stunning.

The Producers

1967
d: Mel Brooks
c: Gene Wilder, Dick Shawn

I dont get get the appeal.

The Best of Abbott and Costello - Volume 3

Includes the following movies:
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Mexican Hayride
Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff
Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man
Comin' Round the Mountain
Lost in Alaska
Abbott and Costello Go to Mars

City of the Dead

1960 d John Llewellyn Moxey c Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee A young college student arrives in a sleepy Massachusetts to...