By Ian Jane
Once again, it?s time to take a look at some of those oddball releases that have hit overseas and outside of our beloved Region One that might appeal to some of the horror movie fans out there in FEARnet land. Most cult film fans worth their salt have already picked up a region free player but for those who have yet to take the plunge, here are seven more reasons why you might want to give it some serious consideration.

Many of us growing up in the eighties fell in love with Molly Ringwald. The star of Pretty In Pink shows up in a 2003 thriller called Malicious in which she plays a medical student who soon develops an unhealthy fixation for one of the guys in the basketball team. Things look good for her until after they?ve spent a night together he returns to his ex-girlfriend, at which point she snaps and begins to plan her revenge. Available on DVD through Russia?s Twister label, this PAL Region 0 disc doesn?t boast much in the way of supplements (menus are all we get) but the movie looks like it could be worth checking out, particularly if you still harbor a crush for the lead.

Italian horror and exploitation fans the world over still feel the sting from the recent death of the late, great Bruno Mattei. Before Bruno passed, he made some truly odd films on HD video, the strangest of which has got to be Snuff Trap. While it would be a bold faced lie to say that this is a good film, it doesn?t pull any punches when it comes to laying the sleaze on thick and heavy. The film follows a woman who enters the shady world of underground adult movies in Paris when her daughter mysteriously disappears. The more she learns about this world, the more she fears her daughter may wind up in a snuff film! Poorly made on a shoestring budget, the film will never the less have some interest to die hard fans of Mattei?s work (and you know they?re out there). So far the only way to see it is by way of this Region 0 PAL DVD from Russia?s CP Digital Label. Thankfully audio options are available in English and Russian.

Mario Bava?s gotten a lot of publicity lately what with the Anchor Bay boxed set and the canned Dark Sky release of Kill, Baby? Kill! Mario?s son, Lamberto, has been toiling away in the trenches of the Italian film industry for years now and while he may never get the clout that his father earned, he?s made some interesting films in his own right. 2005?s The Torturer, on DVD from Dutch Film Works in a decent Region 0 PAL release, tells the story of a mad script writer who expects more from his potential actresses than many of them are willing to give. Is he the man responsible for the torture of a wannabe actress or is it one of the other bizarre characters that populate this film. Giallo-esque in spots (fitting, considering his father?s influence on the genre), it?s nice to see a more recent Italian film return to one of the horror movies most beloved sub-genres. DFW?s disc is a bare bones affair but the transfer is anamorphic and the audio is in English making this an easy way for fans to check the film out.

Speaking of Italian genre films, Devil's Nightmare, an Italian-Belgian co-production directed by Jean Brismee in 1971, has been released by Italy?s Raro Video. The film has still to see a proper release in North America, though poor quality gray market releases from the likes of Diamond are easy enough to find and Image/Redemption did at least give it a shot during the early years of DVD (that release left a lot to be desired) but Raro?s disc could be a winner. Extras are light, only a trailer is provided but the film is presented in its original 1.66.1 widescreen aspect ratio with both English and Italian language options. As for the film itself, it?s an interesting gothic mish mash where a family curse rears its ugly head after a group of travelers take refuge at an old castle for the night. Erika Blanc shows up as a sultry succubus, and things start to get sexy and weird right quickly. The DVD is PAL format, Region 2.

Italy?s Shock brings to digital disc Renato Polselli?s Reincarnation of Isabel, a 1972 shocker that tells the story of the titular Isabel, a woman who was burned at the stake for witchcraft. Cut to the present day and many of the people involved in her death are reincarnated and soon her husband tries to bring her back. He succeeds but not in the way he had hoped. Stylish, colorful and trashy as trashy can be, this one doesn?t always make sense but fans of seventies Satanic sinema should certainly find much to love with the plethora of devilish décor and plenty of sleazy ritualistic set pieces to ogle. Shock?s disc contains a trailer and a slideshow, presents the film in Italian with English and French subtitles and contains an uncut widescreen version of the film.

One of French auteur Jean Rollin?s best and most popular films is 1979?s Fascination. While Image has released this one stateside, in Germany, distribution has been handled by X-Rated/Kult who have given the film a limited edition release (only 3,333 pieces were made) with some interesting specifications. The film is set in the French countryside of 1916 where a thief hides out in a castle owned by two lovely girls (one of whom is former XXX starlet and Rollin regular Brigitte Lahaie). They tease him for a bit but he soon finds out the hard way that they?re part of a vampire cult looking to use him in an evil ceremony. X-Rated?s disc is anamorphic with French and German audio options. Subtitles are provided in English and German and extras include a pair of trailers for the feature, trailers for other Rollin films, and an interview with Jean Rollin himself which sadly is in French with German subtitles only, making it impenetrable for those of us who don?t speak either language.

Last but not least is the new two-disc special edition release of Hot Fuzz from Universal Studio?s in the UK. Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright, the two geniuses behind Shaun Of The Dead, skewer action films this time around and while it?s not a horror movie per se, there?s enough wanton carnage and bloodshed on display to appease any gore hound with a good sense of humor. The film follows a super cop named Nicholas Angel who is so good at what he does that he?s promoted to a sleepy little town so that he?ll stop making the rest of the force look so bad. Soon enough, Angel and his partner Danny Butterman find out that sinister things are afoot in this little borough and it?s time for Angel to get back into the swing of things. Universal has loaded the disc with extras like four commentary tracks, outtakes, trailers, multiple documentaries, a ton of deleted scenes and much, much more. If you can?t wait for the inevitable Region One release, this PAL Region Two disc will definitely take care of all your Hot Fuzz needs.