A true classic of the slasher genre and arguably some of FX legend Tom Savini's finest work ever THE PROWLER has never seemed to be able to gain the kudos that its due.

Always just kind of overlooked as another slice and dice flick it's actually a well written, well directed gorefest that manages to not only gross you out but also keep you on the edge of your seat.

It all seems rather cliche now but back in '81 when this little slice of horror heaven came out it was considered brutal.

Savini's ingenuous practical effects steal the show.  They don't make em like this anymore, not even close.  Even the lowest of budget film finds the need to film digital and use CGI.  The art of the gore effect has been lost and watching a gem like THE PROWLER just drives that point home.

The storyline is well worn and hardly worth a mention as it has been copied and redone so many times that again, it all comes across as cliche but THE PROWLER is a tightly written, smart horror flick that never falls prey to some of the well known pit falls of the slasher genre.

You've got to remember though, back then there had been very few films as vicious as this one and the ones that came before it were pretty much all done by Savini.  This was pretty much smack in the middle of his blood soaked hey day and in my opinion is probably the single best example of splatter as art.

There is a disturbing beauty to the carnage.

This release from BLUE UNDERGROUND is the same disc they put out a while back in standard DVD format but it's great to watch it in glorious Hi-Def, it really does look amazing..  Here's all the info on the release:

Avalon Bay, 1945: On the night of her graduation dance, young Rosemary and her date are brutally murdered by a prowler thought to be a jilted soldier home from the war. The killer was never found. Thirty years later, the dance is held again for the first time since that horrific evening - but something else may have also returned... Tonight, the teens of this sleepy town will meet their grisly ends at the hands - and pitchfork, blade and more - of THE PROWLER!

Also known as ROSEMARY'S KILLER, this gruesome shocker is one of the cruelest "body-count" movies of the 1980s, thanks to razor-sharp direction by Joseph Zito (FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE FINAL CHAPTER) and graphic gore effects by Tom Savini (DAWN OF THE DEAD, MANIAC). Hollywood legends Farley Granger (STRANGERS ON A TRAIN) and Lawrence Tierney (RESERVOIR DOGS) star in this rarely-seen sleeper from the golden age of slasher films - now presented completely uncut and uncensored in grisly High Definition!

The special features are the same as the DVD release.  A commentary track with Director Zito and Savini.  Some behind the scenes footage from Savini's private stock and the original theatrical trailer.  Great stuff

THE PROWLER is available right now and you really need to CLICK HERE and pick it up.

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To this day I still remember watching PIRANHA in theaters.  Some films have that affect on you.  You can remember who you were with, what you were wearing, etc.  PIRANHA is one of those films for me.  In 1978 I was a sophomore in high school and checking out the offerings at the cinema every weekend was always the first order of business.  JAWS had just come out and was HUGE, just HUGE.  Folks were literally waiting in line overnight to get in to see it and that made killer fish flicks huge business.  Enter PIRANHA. 

PIRANHA was and still is a wonderfully shot, fast paced, bloody romp that I enjoyed just as much watching now, at almost 50 years old as I did back in 78 as a teenager.  Talk about holding up through the years.

Directed by now legendary director Joe Dante on a minuscule budget for iconic producer Roger Corman the film features the talent of some of today's Hollywood heavy hitters.   Such is the case with a lot of Corman's productions. 

This film features some of the first work from Rob Bottin who of course went on to do THE HOWLING and THE THING, just to name a few.

Anyway, the basic premise of PIRANHA is simple.  A school of mutated ravenous PIRANHA are unknowingly released from a secret government facility and reek havoc along a winding river ultimately ending up at a river side camp resort where a bunch of folks are spending their summer vacation.  Needless to say, some fish feasting results. 

Fast paced, quirky, a little campy and way over the top PIRANHA is arguably one of Corman's finest moments.  It was certainly one of his most popular films and to this day holds a special place for a lot of horror fans.

As SHOUT! FACTORY has done with a lot of Corman's catalog they have taken this classic and just overloaded it with special features and spit shined the print and turned it loose on all of us again.  I for one am glad.

This just might be my favorite DVD release of the year so far.  the movie looks just great.  Actually, better then I remember it looking in theaters and the special features that they have assembled are a B movie fans wet dream.

PIRANHA SPECIAL EDITION BLU-RAY AND DVD SPECIAL FEATURES:

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With the release of THE DEAD MATTER on DVD a life long quest has been fulfilled.  Director Ed Douglas has known great success as a musician.  His band MIDNIGHT SYNDICATE is the cream of the crop when it comes to Halloween themed music.  You would think for most that alone would be enough but not for Ed.

He had a dream to take a short film that he directed several years back and transform it into a full length feature and with the help of Robert Kurtzman and his team at Precinct 13 he has done just that.

You can tell from the very first frame that this project is a labor of love.  Shot on a very small budget and at locations in and around Northeast Ohio THE DEAD MATTER is a shining example of what someone with a passion for something can accomplish.

Is the film perfect, no it's not but it has got something that so many  crap filled big budget, mind numbing projects lack, it has personality, it has heart.

All that aside, it's also a damn fine film.

So, what's it about you ask.

Some spoilers ahead but I will be as vague as possible.

In a nutshell THE DEAD MATTER tells the tale of an amulet that has the power to allow whom ever holds it to control the dead.  Two vampires are hunting for the amulet.  Andrew Divoff and Tom Savini star as the blood suckers and play the roles to the hilt.  Divoff as Vellich looks just down right creepy with the long gray hair and that unmistakable accent making him perfectly evil casting.  Savini plays it cool and calm as Sebed opting for a less over the top performance but still pulling off the gothic horror look that the film shoots for.

Also in the mix is Jason Carter as McCallister the films Van Helsing who is trying to stop either evil vamp from getting their hands on the amulet.  Throw in a group of yuppies who accidentally end up with the amulet and you've got yourself a movie.

With zombie and physical effects being handled by the wizards at Robert Kurtzman's P13  this project ends up looking like a major Hollywood production and seeing that the whole thing was shot, edited and scored right here in good old North East Ohio well that just makes me proud as hell.

The DVD package itself is one of the most impressive I've seen in a while.  It comes at us as a 3 disc set.  Disc one is the feature along with all the special features which I will discuss here in a few seconds.

Disc 2 is THE DEAD MATTER soundtrack CD and disc 3 is a Midnight Syndicate greatest hits copulation titled HALLOWEEN MUSIC which is very simply the one and only Halloween mood music CD you will ever need.

As far as special features go we are treated to something they are calling Maximum Dead Matter which I absolutely loved.  The concept is simple.  The feature plays in the top left hand of the screen while picture in picture style we are treated to behind the scenes looks at the scenes playing in the feature.  Interviews with cast and crew are interjected throughout and I found myself completely wrapped up in the production of this film.

It was better then a running commentary track and much better then a simple "making of " feature.  A very simplistic notion that works well and is completely entertaining.  Easily one of the best "special feature" packages that I have seen in a while.

While the film in a few moments does show its low budget roots it for the most part is an effective, blood filled addition to zombie lore while offering an interesting story twist that keeps you watching till the very end.

THE DEAD MATTER is one that you should definitely seek out and enjoy and you won't have to look real hard.  If you've got a Mall nearby you should be able to pick it up.  The DVD will be available nation wide at HOT TOPIC stores on July 30th

You can CLICK HERE and head on over to the films official site where you can find out even more about the film.

THE DEAD MATTER is home grown down and dirty horror made by folks that simply love it, appreciate it and respect it.  You can't ask for more then that.

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I know this set has been out for a month or so but it took me a while to get through the whole season.  I don't mean that in a bad way.  I actually got so hooked that I had to watch each and every disc from beginning to end.

I haven't really been a fan during it's weekly runs.  I really don't know why.  I guess I just figured it was soft core, teeny bop, BS that network TV likes to keep shoving at us.  I knew that wasn't the case with this show as soon as I saw that lady nailed to the ceiling burst into flames.

At this late stage of the game I would think that most all of you know what SUPERNATURAL is all about so I won't bore you with the background story and the like.  If you have not yet given this show a try, this is the perfect time.

This presentation in Blu-ray is breathtaking.  The show looks absolutely stunning.

I'm really quite impressed with the caliber of story that they manage to present each week.  Really some of the creepiest network work since the X-FILES.

It doesn't take one long to get completely wrapped up in the goings on and it is very easy to waste away the better part of an afternoon once you stick one of these four disc in.

An then as if the compellingly creepy episodes aren't enough they load this set up with a very well rounded offering of special features that once you're hooked into the story line you can't help but check out.

Here's what you get:

The Devil's Road Map: Interactive Map Guide to Season One's Urban Legends and Unusual Facts

Paley Festival Panel Discussion Featuring the Cast and Creators
Unaired/extended scenes

Commentary on the Pilot by Series Creator Eric Kripke, Director David Nutter and Producer Peter Johnson

Commentary on Phantom Traveler by Co-Stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles

Two additional featurettes: Day in the Life of Jared and Jensen and Supernatural: Tales from the Edge of Darkness
Gag reel

I have to say that overall this blu-ray set is one of my favorites.  I find myself drawn to it like a moth to flame having repeated watched a couple of the episodes just because they are that damn good.

I have to say that I find the experience of watching these in Hi-Def to be a huge selling point as well.  The sound and everything just leads to an overall much better viewing experience that TV or standard DVD can muster.

Great stuff here horror fans.  Don't be stupid like I was and think that this is a show for your kids.  Lots of fun horror here. Give it shot.  This set came out on June 15th, like I said I got kind of hooked and it took me that long to watch everything.  Just a ton of really good horror TV.

You can CLICK HERE and go pick up the box set right now.

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The ROGER CORMAN'S CULT CLASSICS Collection that SHOUT! Factory is in the midst of releasing is some of the best DVD work this year.  The titles are all classic B Camp fun and the packaging and work on the disc is top notch.

Tonight we are looking at the 2 Disc release of FORBIDDEN WORLD an Alien ripoff that is every bit as much fun as that film with lots of  boobs and nudity too.

I really enjoy this film. 

Shot with hardly any money and even less time FORBIDDEN WORLD tells the tale of a group of scientists who while attempting to cure a galactic food crisis unwittingly create a horrible man eating creature that will surely end mankind as we know it.

With that silly yet interesting premise FORBIDDEN WORLD ramps into a blood and boob filled kill fest that is 2nd to none.  Originally released in 1982 to make money off the crazy success of ALIEN this film had kind of been forgotten and it's great to see SHOUT! finally give it its due.

Fantastically over acted and brilliantly shot FORBIDDEN WORLD features some early FX work of JOHN CARL BUECHLER who would go on to of course bring us several of the Friday the 13th films and other genre classics.  The FX are ooey gooey fun and actually quite gross.

More then a few squirm in your seat moments.

Of course the major lure for us horny young teenage boys back in '82 was the out and out full frontal nudity.  The shower scene was infamous back in the day and all the talk of the school hallway between classes.  Fun to watch it again and glad to see it is preserved for posterity.  In this day and age of basically nude chicks contorting on MTV and the like it is sure to not hold the same magic punch it did some 28 years ago but us old farts can watch it now and smile.

Trust me, it was cinema magic a couple of decades ago.

SHOUT! is releasing this as a two disc edition.  The first disc is the newly remaster theatrical cut and the second disc is the never before seen, unrated directors cut.  I highly recommend both.

As far as special features go, this is one of the best and most complete packages I have ever seen:

* New Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) Transfer From The Interpositive Film Elements Of The Theatrical Cut

* The Unrated Directors Cut (4:3 - Full Frame)

* Audio Commentary With Director Allan Holzman On The Directors Cut

* Interview With Producer Roger Corman

* Interviews With Cast And Crew Including Director Allan Holzman, Composer Susan Justin And Actor Jesse Vint

* A Look At The Special Effects Of Forbidden World With John Carl Buechler, Robert Skotak, Tony Randel And R. Christopher Biggs

* Poster And Stills Gallery

* Theatrical Trailer

It really is the ultimate version of this film.

It is absolutly a must own collection. 

FORBIDDEN WORLD is available now as a part of the ROGER CORMAN'S CULT CLASSICS series of releases.  You can CLICK HERE and buy the disc directly from SHOUT!  This title is also available on Blu-ray.

I can't stress enough what a great time this flick is.  Find it, watch it, love it!

Here's the official word from Shout!:

In the distant future, a federation marshal arrives at a research lab on a remote planet where a monstrous genetic experiment is loose and feeding on the scientists who created it. Enter into the Forbidden World - an outrageous, sexy and violent exercise in Alien-like terror!

This 2-disc set features new extras, re-mastered widescreen picture and two versions of the film (original theatrical and extended Director’s cuts). Set designs by the legendary James Cameron (which were also used in Galaxy of Terror a year prior). Received three nominations for the 1983 Saturn Award (Best Low Budget Film, Best Make-up and Best Special Effects).

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