http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=14493 Independent British distributors 88 Films announced today the launch of a new Slasher Classics line - kicking off with a digitally re-mastered DVD release of Don Gronquist's notorious censor-baiting backwoods sickie Unhinged (1982). Further fearful fun will be delivered with Don't Go in the Woods (1981) – the effortlessly enjoyable "hunt 'em and kill 'em" epic that once had British authorities outlawing its very exhibition! Directed by James Bryan, Don't Go in the Woods is a catalogue of splatter-slapstick craziness which lines up a group of campers and crushes them in increasingly comical ways. Take it from us: this maddening mash-up of absurdity and arteries really does have to be seen to be believed! Following on from this bout of bad-actor bludgeoning will be a new BluRay bow for Herb Freed's student-filleting frightener Graduation Day (1981), in which high school pupils meet a sticky end from a mysterious stalker in a fencing mask. Adding to the onscreen allure of Graduation Day is a cast of cult veterans that includes Christopher George (City of the Living Dead, Pieces), beloved Scream Queen Linnea Quigley (Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers, Return of the Living Dead) and future small screen celebrity, and Playboy cover girl, Vanna White. Finally (at least for now) 88 Films is proud to present Charles Kaufman's Mother's Day (1980) – a macabre movie so effective that Hollywood A-lister Brett Ratner (director of the Rush Hour series and this summer's Hercules) produced a 2010 remake headlined by Rebecca De Mornay. As usual, though, it is the original which packs the biggest punch. Boasting a tone that is both sinister and satirical – Mother's Day has three female friends accidentally stumble upon the land of the most dysfunctional family this side of Leatherface and his clan. What follows is not for the faint-hearted – indeed, in his original review the late, great Roger Ebert accused this controversial creeper of wallowing in "images of vile and depraved sadism"!!! You can make up your own minds when Mother's Day arrives on UK Blu-ray in early 2015. Each release in this very special collection will boast a numbered spine, additional features, a reversible sleeve and an informative new booklet, with writing on each respective film, from author Calum Waddell – the erstwhile producer of such documentaries as 88 Films' own SLICE AND DICE: THE SLASHER FILM FOREVER. Most importantly, of course, we can promise uncut and uncensored prints – with each hack em' up epic looking bloodier and better than ever before! About 88 Films: 88 Films, named in homage to the Back to the Future franchise, was launched in 2012 and has become one of Britain's leading boutique labels – dedicated to the loving presentation and restoration of both classic and marginal genre movies. Choice cuts from the 88 Films' vaults include HD releases of several features from Charles Band's Full Moon Entertainment including the Puppet Master and Subspecies series, Stuart Gordon's crimson-caked creature feature Castle Freak (1995), Demonic Toys (1992) and the pint-sized superhero thriller Dollman (1991). In 2014, 88 Films debuted an uncut print of Alfred Sole's masterpiece Alice Sweet Alice (1976), unleashed the controversial killer-kids chiller Bloody Birthday (1981) and gave a long-awaited UK Blu-ray bow to Maniac star Joe Spinell's frequently misunderstood postmodern coup d'état The Last Horror Film (1982). Along with offerings from Ted V. Mikels (The Corpse Grinders/ The Doll Squad), the Sherilyn Fenn-starring softcore romance Two Moon Junction (1988) and the 42nd Street staple Bloodsucking Freaks (1976), 88 Films continues to brings an eclectic mix of movies to the UK home video market. The very first 88 Films' Blu-ray steelbook also made an appearance this year thanks to a wonderfully presented pressing of the Troma terror-trademark The Toxic Avenger (1984), which has become the company's best selling release to date. Forthcoming fright-flicks from 88 Films include the Sam Raimi-produced zombie nightmare The Dead Next Door (1989), directed by J.R. Bookwalter, all three sequels to The Toxic Avenger and some more stuff we would love to tell you about but, if we did, we just might have to kill you…
Amazon Preorders Unhinged (DVD): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unhinged-DVD-Laurel-Munson/dp/B00M97DI38 Graduation Day (Blu-Ray): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Graduation-Day-Blu-ray-Christopher-George/dp/B00KSAJHKQ Mother's Day (Blu-Ray): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothers-Day-Blu-ray-Tiana-Pierce/dp/B00KSAJI6E Don't Go in the Woods...Alone (Blu-Ray): http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dont-Go-in-the-Woods-Blu-ray/dp/B00MOH80M2
Wave two has been announced, four hi-def debuts! Never bought an 88 Films release, do these guys typically region lock their stuff? Would LOVE to get Slaughterhouse!
Pretty sure they do lock their offerings. I honestly never thought I'd see Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers on blu, or Splatter University either! Not sure if I'll have to have em as they are second tier flicks I have to be in a mood for, but damn fun they will exist on blu! Edit: Too slow typing, but great to be wrong about region locking. That makes em that much more desirable as my RF player is a POS audio-wise.
Most of their releases have been Region Free, but it's dependent on the licensor's wishes. Two Moon Junction and Bloody Birthday are the only 88 Films releases to date that have been region B-locked, to my knowledge. The rest of their Blu-Rays to date had been licensed either from Troma or from Full Moon and have been Region Free.
^^ That's correct, I completely forgot about Bloody Birthday being locked. Everything else I have from them has been region free however. The Full Moon and Troma licensed titles have all been region free.
So glad to hear it! I'll wait for confirmation on these being region free though, just to be safe. But if they are, I'll pick up all four, unless a U.S. release is announced in the meantime. Should also grab Don't Go In The Woods, but I'm all set with the U.S. releases of Graduation Day and Mother's Day.
Damn, Slaughterhouse and chainsaw hookers, I'm there, only seen scalps on the UK butchered 18 VHS release, will have if uncut now, don't know much about splatter university.
Holy Hell those are some sweet titles!!! I've always loved slaughterhouse, so bring on the bacon! :banana:
Wait wait wait wait wait... Does this mean the uncut footage of Scalps was found in pristine condition? Can I throw away my Retromedia disc?
Just browsing though the thread and caught the title, Hollywood Chainsaw Hookers. I have to check this out for the title alone. It sounds crazy!
Unless Scalps is taken from the original vault elements which have been lost I doubt it will look that great.
I received Graduation Day in the mail today... If this releases is indicative of the line, it comes in a thinner "red" HD Slim case as shown in the photos... and not the usual thicker HD Keep Cases they normally use. Just checking out the disc specs briefly, which is a dual-layer; the main feature takes up about 23 gigs of space...which is on par with the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-ray, which isn't surprising since they both use the same 4K transfer source. The "Scream Queens" full-length documentary runs at 78 minutes, is in full 1080p, and takes up about 13 gigs of space. It also comes with a slim booklet, and reversible original coverart.
Got an e-mail from Amazon, Don't Go In The Woods and Dead Next Door have been delayed until April. Wouldn't be surprised if the rest get delayed as well.
Doesn't surprise me since they are likely using the Don't Go in the Woods transfer the folks at Vinegar Syndrome/Process Blue are doing, which doesn't come out from VS until March.
