Looking to spend your heard earned cash? It's not a great week for DVD releases, except if you're a big Saw fan -- and what horror fan isn't these days? Other than that, just a small British import and a pair of television series -- one of which I hear is quite excellent.
By Scott Weinberg
The Dungeon of Dr. Dreck -- A horror cable host I've never heard of gets a movie of his own. I hear he's actually kinda funny...
The Kingdom (S1 & S2) -- I've been waiting quite some time to check out Lars Von Trier's award-winning Danish horror-in-a-hospital television series. And now I think I will.
Saw IV -- The annual painfest continues unabated in this third sequel to the powerfully popular Saw. I'd offer a brief plot synopsis, but A) all the movies get jumbled up in my head, B) you've ALL seen this movie already, and C) I actually forgot the meat of the story. I do remember liking -- not loving -- the flick, so I do look forward to another spin when this unrated director's cut rears its severed head. (Starring Lyriq Bent & Tobin Bell; directed by Darren Lynn Bousman) Extras: Two audio commentaries, video diaries, prop and trap featurettes, an X Japan music video, and one deleted scene. Plus this version runs 95 minutes, whereas the theatrical cut ran ... oh, 95.
Swamp Thing: The Complete Series -- You know there was a Swamp Thing movie, and you probably also know there was a sequel -- but did you know there was a TV series, too? Yep. Back in 1990. Ran 22 episodes. And now comes the DVD set from Shout! Factory. Could be worthy of a rental. Extras include interviews with series co-creator Len Wein and leading "thing" Dick Durock.
When Evil Calls -- The DVD cover makes it look like another piece of J-horror, but it's actually B-horror. As in British. Originally produced as a series of "mobile shorts" for UK's Zone Horror ... but this is the full movie version. I think. Into the Netflix queue it goes! (Starring Jennifer Lim & Sean Pertwee; directed by Johannes Roberts)