Weekly DVD Dissection
By Scott Weinberg
Man last week was rough, wasn't it? I haven't seen that many catalog titles since Vestron had a yard sale. (Crickets.) OK, so this week isn't as massive, but there's still some good stuff to be found. Well, good and good-bad: We have a new Uwe Boll movie!!
Alligator -- Yes! I totally grew up on this movie and I've been waiting for a Region 1 release for way too long! Giant man-eating gator! In the city! Kid jumps in swimming pool! Written by John Sayles! In Widescreen! Thanks, Lionsgate!
Backwoods -- Anyone out there remember this 1987 slasher? I think I can recall the VHS case ... maybe. (Trinity)
BloodRayne 2: Deliverance -- The slinky vamp-slayer travels to the old west and tangles with Billy the Kid. Yes I'm serious. Expect a full review soon ... and I can't wait! (Visual Entertainment) (Duh)
Closure -- This revenge thriller (which stars Gillian Anderson and Danny Dyer) was called "Straightheads" on the festival circuit. I haven't seen the flick yet, but good move on the title change. (Sony)
Death Proof -- Yep, the Grindhouse twins have been separated. Fortunately we're getting the full-bore international cut with all sorts of cool goodies on the side. Plus ... Kurt Russell is so freakin' hilarious in this thing. The second Grindhouse feature (Planet Terror) hits the shelves next month. (Dimension)
Dorm of the Dead -- I don't care what it's about. Tiffany Shepis is in it. Gimme. (Stratosphere)
Italian Giallo Collection -- They called it that so we wouldn't mistake it for the Japanese Giallo Collection. But it's a solid enough trilogy, I guess: Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace, Antonio Bido's Watch Me When I Kill, and Dario Argento's The Bird with the Crystal Plumage. Plus extras. (VCI)
The Killing of Satan -- You have to go to Amazon.com right now and look at this DVD cover. Right now. (Televista)
Masters of Horror: Sounds Like (Brad Anderson) & The Washingtonians (Peter Medak) -- Sold separately. As always, expect full reviews soon.
Severance -- It's funny. It's scary. It's gory. And it's British. Trust me, there's some real fun to be had here. (Magnolia)
A new pair of Dimension double features: Pulse / Black Christmas and Wolf Creek / Feast. I count one good movie out of all four.
Also this week: Laguna's odd-looking In the Site; Trinity's hood-wearing Ritual: Blood Bonds; a Tartan import called The Victim; Velocity's sexy-lookin' Insatiable; a melted-clown flick with James Van Der Beek called Final Draft (Peacearch); and (get this) Wilmer Valderama in Echo Bridge's The Dead One.
Next week: Another MASSIVE onslaught of new titles, catalog picks, double features, and other assorted mayhem. Keep saving those pennies!
