June 18: Lots of classic chiller DVD news
DVD Drive-In reports that among the many vintage fright films coming on disc from MGM Home Video through Fox Home Video September 11 is a new special edition of WITCHFINDER GENERAL (pictured, a.k.a. THE CONQUEROR WORM). This release will contain the late Michael Reeves’ director’s cut with the original Paul Ferris score that was removed on previous U.S. video editions, plus audio commentary by star Ian Ogilvy and a collection of rare behind-the-scenes stills taken by producer Philip Waddilove.
And that’s just the beginning of the long lineup of titles coming from MGM and Fox on that date. In addition to FROM BEYOND, THE BURNING, SCARECROWS and a new special edition of RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD (which we broke the details of here), DVD Drive-In and other sources have revealed that 1976’s THE FOOD OF THE GODS will get its first disc release, and there’ll be a FLY CLASSIC COLLECTION (the three ’50s/’60s movies, including the DVDebut of CURSE OF THE FLY), a VINCENT PRICE COLLECTION and a ROGER CORMAN COLLECTION (boxed-set reissues of previously issued discs), plus a host of double features:
THE BEAST WITHIN/THE BAT PEOPLE
BLUEPRINT FOR MURDER/MAN IN THE ATTIC
CHOSEN SURVIVORS/THE EARTH DIES SCREAMING
DEVILS OF DARKNESS/WITCHCRAFT
GORILLA AT LARGE/MYSTERY AT MONSTER ISLAND
THE HOUSE ON SKULL MOUNTAIN/THE MEPHISTO WALTZ
TALES FROM THE CRYPT/VAULT OF HORROR
YONGARY, MONSTER FROM THE DEEP/KONGA
Fox will also reissue a number of genre titles as part of its Halloween promotion, including FROM HELL, JOY RIDE, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, LAKE PLACID and the first two OMEN sequels. Keep your eyes here for further updates!
In addition, Dark Sky Films gave Fango the word that it will put out new special editions of Tobe Hooper’s EATEN ALIVE and Jack Hill’s SPIDER BABY September 25. The former film was previously set for release last year but withdrawn at the 11th hour when new elements became available; it’ll now come out in a two-disc set with a remastered transfer and all the originally announced extras (cast and crew commentary, Robert Englund interview, etc.) and more. Full details on this one and SPIDER BABY are coming soon! —Michael Gingold
