Killer Nun…Video nasty released on US region free Blu-ray

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Killer Nun is a 1978 Italian horror by Giulio Berruti. With Anita Ekberg, Paola Morra and Alida Valli. See IMDb. US: The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2012 Blue Underground R0 Blu-ray via UK Amazon and at US Amazon just released on 24th April 2012 Previous Uncut Releases UK: Passed 18 uncut with cuts waived for: UK 2011 Shameless Slasher Nasties Triple Bill R2 DVD at UK Amazon UK 2006 Argent/Shameless R2 DVD at UK Amazon The BBFC commented in their 2006 Annual Report: Killer Nun had required cuts to remove some scenes of sadistic torture on video in 1993, but these now appeared dated and lacked the power to shock or harm and so it was passed without cuts. US: The US release is uncut and MPAA Unrated for: US 2004 Blue Underground R1 DVD at US Amazon Summary Review: Well worth checking out Anyone familiar with nunsploitation will recognise this as a stand out film. There are some very atmospheric set pieces in the film Anita Ekberg’s flashbacks and the giallo inspired murder of the old woman. The dubbing detracts from the power of the film by having cheesy actors do the overdubs. Some of the editing is a bit sloppy but Italian exploitation fans are well used to this. The gorgeous Paola Morra is worth the price of the film alone. Well worth checking out. Previously cut by the BBFC UK: Passed 18 after 13s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1993 Redemption VHS The BBFC required the following cuts: A scene was cut showing the torture of an old woman, including a close up of a needle piercing an eye and a scalpel cutting into her bandaged flesh. Previously a Video Nasty UK: Released uncut for: 1981 Techno Film VHS Released on  pre-cert video by Techno Film in April 1981. It was listed as a video nasty in August 1984 but was dropped by July 1985

Don’t Go in the House…First uncut UK video nasty release set for ArrowDrome DVD

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See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Don’t Go in the House

Don’t Go in the House is a 1979 US horror film by Joseph Ellison. With Dan Grimaldi, Robert Osth and Ruth Dardick. See IMDb Passed 18 uncut with all previous BBFC cuts waived for: UK 2012 Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon released today 26th March 2012 ArrowDrome DVD Features: Reversible sleeve of original artwork trailer, teaser booklet by horror expert Anthony Timpone! Previously cut by the BBFC Passed 18 after 3:07s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1987 Apex VHS The BBFC cuts were again Cuts to nudity and close ups of the scene involving a naked girl in chains being set on fire Previously banned as a video nasty Passed X (18) after extensively reduced shots of nudity and graphic close ups from the scene of the chained woman being burned alive, for: UK 1980 cinema release The cut cinema version was first released on pre-cert video for: UK 1982 Arcade VHS The uncut version then followed on pre-cert video for: UK 1983 Arcade VHS The video was then banned as a nasty in July 1983, but was dropped in March 1984 after promises that only the BBFC approved version would be sold. Summary Review: A Bit Lacklustre A slasher film about a victim of child abuse (Dan Grimaldi) who grows up to become a maniacal construction worker. He stalks women at discos, takes them home, then hangs them upside-down in a special steel-walled room and sets them on fire. Don’t Go in the House gets off to a fairly good start, but after the first murder scene things begin to slowly fall a apart and it goes from a good movie to an average movie that never is able to get off the ground. The screenplay written by Joseph Ellison, Ellen Hammill and Joseph R. Masefield starts off well enough with some good insight into the mind of the villain, but there comes a point to where the story never moves forward and in a sense it feels like the same scene is playing out over and over again. Don’t Go in the House isn’t a terrible film, but it’s just a bit lackluster, while it does have it’s moments it just never reaches its full potential.

Night of the Bloody Apes…The first uncut release of video nasty set for a future release from Nucleus Films

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Thanks to Will See article from bbfc.co.uk See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Night of the Bloody Apes

Night of the Bloody Apes is a 1969 Mexican horror by Rene Cordona Jr. With José Elías Moreno, Carlos López Moctezuma and Armando Silvestre. See IMDb It has just been passed 18 uncut for strong gore, violence, nudity and sexual violence, with previous BBFC cuts waived and distributor cuts restored for: UK 2012 Nucleus DVD Previously Precut A heavily pre-cut version was passed 18 without BBFC cuts for: 2002 Film 2000 DVD 1999 Sovereign/Satanica VHS In 1999 the video was released on the Satanica label, in a version that was obviously taken from Vipco’s planned cut version (Vipco’s logo remains). This time the distributor removed every single violent scene before submitting it to the censors. Strangely the scene where the doctor assistant is killed contains several shots of a completely different character being killed, whose demise doesn’t happen until a few scenes later in the film. See pictorial cuts details from movie-censorship.com: Cuts to Julio’s surgical transplant operation to receive an ape’s heart Extensive cuts to Julio’s attack, rape and murder of a woman in a hospital room Cuts to Julio’s murder of man by slashing at his throat and then fleeing. Cuts to Julio’s assault on a woman in the park who gets stabbed in teh stomach. Cuts to a man getting his eyes gouged out. Cuts to a second heart surgery operation. Cuts to Julio ripping a man’s head off. Cuts to Julio scalping a man. Cut’s to Julio crushing a male nurse’s face Video Nasty It was released nearly uncut in January 1983 by Iver Film Services. By November 1983 it had been listed as a video nasty and suffered a successful prosecution. It remained on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP 39s. Summary Review: Pretty Grim A mad scientist attempts to cure his son’s leukemia by doing the first ape-to-human heart transplant. He decides to put a gorilla’s heart into the lad and orders his flunky to prepare the gorilla!. There is actual footage of a graphic open heart surgery inserted in the ape operation scenes. This of course causes the boy to turn into a big stinky man-ape… The film is a very cheap Mexican ‘horror’ and it is pretty grim.  And really most of the film is so comic book and likeable, dammit, that you can forgive the rather shoddy idea of using said transplant footage as a main point of sale. People say that really bad films are funny to watch because they are so bad. I have only found this to be the case with one film before now, Death Wish 3, but now Night Of The Bloody Apes has become one of my pet films. A desert island treasure.

Don’t Go in the House…First uncut UK video nasty release set for ArrowDrome DVD

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See trailer from youtube.com See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Don’t Go in the House

Don’t Go in the House is a 1979 US horror film by Joseph Ellison. With Dan Grimaldi, Robert Osth and Ruth Dardick. See IMDb Passed 18 uncut with all previous BBFC cuts waived for: UK 2012 Arrow R2 DVD at UK Amazon for release on 26th March 2012 Previously cut by the BBFC Passed 18 after 3:07s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1987 Apex VHS The BBFC cuts were again Cuts to nudity and close ups of the scene involving a naked girl in chains being set on fire Previously banned as a video nasty Passed X (18) after extensively reduced shots of nudity and graphic close ups from the scene of the chained woman being burned alive, for: UK 1980 cinema release The cut cinema version was first released on pre-cert video for: UK 1982 Arcade VHS The uncut version then followed on pre-cert video for: UK 1983 Arcade VHS The video was then banned as a nasty in July 1983, but was dropped in March 1984 after promises that only the BBFC approved version would be sold. ArrowDrome DVD Features: Reversible sleeve of original artwork trailer, teaser booklet by horror expert Anthony Timpone! Summary Review: A Bit Lacklustre A slasher film about a victim of child abuse (Dan Grimaldi) who grows up to become a maniacal construction worker. He stalks women at discos, takes them home, then hangs them upside-down in a special steel-walled room and sets them on fire. Don’t Go in the House gets off to a fairly good start, but after the first murder scene things begin to slowly fall a apart and it goes from a good movie to an average movie that never is able to get off the ground. The screenplay written by Joseph Ellison, Ellen Hammill and Joseph R. Masefield starts off well enough with some good insight into the mind of the villain, but there comes a point to where the story never moves forward and in a sense it feels like the same scene is playing out over and over again. Don’t Go in the House isn’t a terrible film, but it’s just a bit lackluster, while it does have it’s moments it just never reaches its full potential.

House by the Cemetery…Fulci’s video nasty to be released on UK all region Blu-ray

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See trailer from youtube.com See more at Melon Farmers cuts details: House by the Cemetery

House by the Cemtery is a 1981 Italian horror film by Lucio Fulci. With Catriona MacColl & Paolo Malco. See IMDb. UK: Passed 18 uncut after the BBFC waived their cuts for: UK 2012 Arrow Limited Edition R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon for release on 7th May 2012 UK 2011 Arrow/ArrowDrome Gates of Hell Trilogy R0 DVDat UK Amazon UK 2011 Arrow/ArrowDrome R0 DVDat UK Amazon UK 2009 Arrow R2 DVD Censorship History 2001: Previously passed 18 after 33s of cuts with some BBFC cuts waived for: UK 2001 Protected/Vipco DVD The BBFC explained: Cuts required to two sequences of detailed violence against women (stabs to chest and neck with sharp spike, knife cutting throat). 1993:A pre-cut version missing 7:27s was passed 18 without further BBFC cuts for: UK 1993 Vipco VHS It is assumed that the extra cuts were to try and smooth over the edges of the BBFC cuts. 1988: Passed 18 after a further 4:11s of BBFC cuts beyond the 34s of cinema cuts for: UK 1988 Elephant VHS The BBFC’s further 4:11s of cuts were: Removal of all details of a girl being stabbed through the back of her head through to her mouth and of her body being dragged away. The entire poker killing mentioned above has been deleted along with the body being dragged away. The killing of a vampire bat and related blood spattering is missing. Shots of decomposing bodies in the cellar and the disembowelled man on the table have gone Norman having his throat cut by Fraudstein has also been removed 1983: The cut cinema version was released on video in January 1983 but was banned as a video nasty in November 1983. It remained on the list through out the panic so became one of the collectable DPP 39′s 1982: Passed X (18) after 34s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1982 cinema release The BBFC required 6 cuts totalling 34s: 3 cuts totalling 16s removed an estate agent being subjected to two stabs with a poker. This included the slow motion gushing of blood from her wounds. 3 cuts totalling 18s were imposed on the scene of a nanny having her throat cut. Promotional Material: Shock gore master Lucio Fulci’s The House by the Cemetery is one of the finest typically single-minded exercises in zombie terror. Its just a shame no-one told the Boyle family who move into a gothic style house (by a cemetery) with a bloody past and a guts spraying future, what is yet to come! You’d think they’d twig given the basement door is nailed shut that they should get the hell out. Instead they stay long enough to discover their zombified non rent-paying lodger, the cellar-dwelling, flesh-hungry Dr Freudstein and boy is he pissed! Blu-ray Features Reversible sleeve with 3 original poster artworks and newly commissioned artwork cover Double-sided fold-out artwork poster Collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by author Calum Waddell Brand new High Definition restoration from the original negative presented totally uncut Optional English subtitles for both the English and Italian audio tracks Audio commentary with star Catriona MacColl, moderated by Calum Waddell Audio commentary with co-star Silvia Collatina, moderated by Mike Baronas of Paura Productions Introduction to the film by star Giovanni Frezza Back to the Cellar: Interview with star Giovanni Frezza Cemetery Woman: Interview with star Catriona MacColl Freudstein’s Follies: Interview with special effects artist Giannetto De Rossi Wax Mask — Finishing the Final Fulci: Interview with Sergio Stivaletti about his completion of Wax Mask after Fulci’s passing Women of Italian Horror: Featuring Silvia Collatina (The House by the Cemetery), Stefania Casini (Suspiria/ Bloodstained Shadow) and Barbara Magnolfi (Suspiria/ The Sister Of Ursula) House by the Cemetery Onstage Q&A Cast Reunion: Live from the Horrorhound convention, Indianapolis, March 2011: Featuring Catriona MacColl, Giovanni Frezza, Silvia Collatina, Carlo DeMejo and Dagmar Lassander. Italian Trailer Compilation: Twenty cult trailers from the golden age of Italian cult cinema including several rare previews from the resume of the late, great Lucio Fulci each prefigured by a written introduction. Deleted scene Trailers TV Spot Easter eggs Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Summary Review: Dread and Fear This is the third in a loose trilogy of films by Italian master of the macabre Lucio Fulci set in New England that evoke the uncanny and cosmic terrors of H.P. Lovecraft. At times Fulci succeeds very well in creating an atmosphere of dread and fear, and the film is not without some subtle moments of terror, due mainly to an eerie soundtrack and a couple of creepy kids. But fans of Fulci and Italian horror cinema in general are not interested in the type of subtle scares one might find in ghost stories. Although this film is not without its moments (throats ripped out, maggot ridden bodies and decapitation), the violence seems quite muted compared to other Fulci films.

Remembering the Good Old Days When Banned Films Stayed Banned…Radio Times asks the BBFC what’s changed in 25 years to enable banned films to be unbanned

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See article from radiotimes.com

Following Salo, Ai No Corrida and Cannibal Holocaust, the BBFC has recently granted another notorious banned film, Visions of Ecstasy, an 18 certificate. The film was outlawed for 23 years in this country for fear of its release breaking UK blasphemy laws, but following the repeal of those laws and the film’s subsequent resubmission to the Board, it will finally be issued legally and fully uncut in the UK later this year. One of the most puzzling things about censorship from the public’s point of view is the apparently arbitrary way in which films are cut, banned and un-banned in Britain. For instance, the video nasties of the early 1980s were once the subject of media hysteria and bans, but today almost all of them can be bought entirely legally in your local DVD emporium. What’s changed? Why are they no longer a threat to society? [...er because 25 years is an awfully long time...] …Read the full article

The Funhouse…Tobe Hooper’s video nasty re-released on ArrowDrome DVD

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From our exclusive feed with cult-labs.com See trailer from youtube.com See more at Melon Farmers cuts details: The Funhouse

Funhouse is a 1981 US horror by Tobe Hooper. With Elizabeth Berridge, Shawn Carson and Jeanne Austin. See IMDb Passed 15 uncut for moderate horror, sex, violence and threat for: UK 2001 ArrowDrome R2 DVD  at UK Amazon released today on 30th January 2012 UK 2011 Arrow R0 Blu-ray at UK Amazon UK 2007 Freemantlemedia/Arrow R2 DVD Video Nasty Previously it was surprisingly labelled as a video nasty. It was added to the DPP list of video nasties in September 1984 but was dropped in June 1985. It is not a particularly violent film and it has been suggested that the video appears on the list due to a confusion with another film Last House on Dead End Street that is also known as The Fun House. DVD Extras From promotional material: Something is Alive in the Funhouse The carnival is a place for fun and laughter, but not for Amy and her friends. When their childish dare to stay all night in the spooky funhouse backfires, it leaves a trail of dismembered teenagers a mile long in Tobe Hooper’s classic video nasty era slasher. Will anyone escape the clutches of the stumbling madman that stalks to sideshow? Is there no end to the carnival barkers chilling sadism? The only way to find out is ascend into the funhouse, where the games have no rules and the only prize on offer is a grisly demise. Join us in The Funhouse. So much fun that you’ll never leave…Alive! Arrowdrome is a fleapit selected library of cult films; violent, horrific, sleazy, exploitative. DVD Extras: a reversible sleeve of original artwork a collector’s booklet by author Kim Newman! an interview with director Tobe Hooper trailer

Demon Censors…Recent US DVD release of video nasty Night of the Demon

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See further details at Melon Farmers Video Hits: Night of the Demon See trailer from youtube.com

Night of the Demon is a 1980 US horror by James C Wasson. With Michael Cutt, Joy Allen and Bob Collins. See IMDb US: Uncut and MPAA R Rated for: US 2011 Code Red Maria’s B-Movie Mayhem R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon released in October 2011. US Miracle R1 DVD Note that the US Amazon import is very much cheaper that the sellers on UK Amazon. Video Nasty Released by Vipco in June 1982. Banned as a video nasty in October 1983. It stayed on the list throughout the panic and so became one of the collectable DPP39′sIt was last seen in the UK when it was re-released after 1:41s of BBFC cuts on video in 1994 by Vipco Summary Review: Cheap Another film that is something like an urban legend: being banned in countries like Germany or Norway and also very hard to find. The reputation of Night of the Demon is much more interesting than the movie itself! The story is simple: a professor and some students travel to the dark forests to investigate some cruel murders which were caused by a Bigfoot-like monster that looks like Chewbacca from Star Wars. A feeble minded woman who lives in a lonely hut plays an important role in the solution of the mystery. Well, the acting is bad, the F/X are pretty cheesy and only the many murders featured in this flick will keep you away from falling asleep! These deaths however are pretty are gory and violent, so fans of splatter movies won’t be disappointed!

School’s Out…New US DVD-R release of the video nasty Terror Eyes (aka Night School)

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US 2011 Warner R1 DVD-R via UK Amazon and at US Amazon recently released on 1st November 2011 See trailer from youtube.com

Terror Eyes (aka Night School) is a 1981 US slasher by Ken Hughes. With Leonard Mann, Rachel Ward and Drew Snyder. See IMDbA new US release is Uncut and MPAA R Rated for: US 2011 Warner R1 DVD-R via UK Amazon and at US Amazon recently released on 1st November 2011 Back in the UK The film hasn’t been seem in the UK for a long time now. It was last released with an 18 rating after 1:16s of BBFC cuts for: UK 1993 Vipco VHS UK 1987 Guild VHS The BBFC cuts were: stabbings and girls being threatened with knives during the changing room and cafe murders Summary Review: Action over Suspense A Boston police detective investigates a series of gruesome decapitations of various college coeds committed by a helmeted, black-leather clad serial killer which leads him to suspect a well known anthropology professor as well as his female live-in assistant. A slasher flick with more action than horror. But the acting is above par as are the overall production values, and there isn’t a lot of padding. There’s also something of a story complete with characterization. One could certainly do (much) worse in picking a slasher film from this era.

Killer Double Feature…New US DVD double bill featuring Bad Dreams and the video nasty Visiting Hours

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US 2011 Shout! Factory Killer Double Feature R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon recently released on 13th September 2011

Bad Dreams is a 1988 US horror by Andrew Fleming with Jennifer Rubin and Bruce Abbott. See IMDb The US release is uncut and MPAA R Rated for: US 2011 Shout! Factory Killer Double Feature R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon US 2006 Starz/Anchor Bay R1 DVD The UK is still suffering a cut version. The BBFC cut the 18 rated 1989 video from Film and Video by 22s. Cuts details from IMDb: to remove closeup shots of self-mutilation with a knife and a scalpel to reduce a scene where a man is repeatedly hit by a car. Summary Review: Underrated Entertainment Bad Dreams is very much a product of the t 80s and horror filmmaking style at that time. The film tell the story of the sole survivor of mass suicide at an interesting hippielike commune/cult led by a David Koresh type leader. Yet Bad Dreams is a cut above most other for many reasons. The film is filled with surrealistic arresting images-in particular, the house where the mass suicide took place is an intriguing looking building, tragically beautiful. The acting is better than in most horror films. Jennifer Rubin is especially good. In short, Bad Dreams is a must see. Visiting Hours is a 1982 Canadian horror film by Jean-Claude Lord with Michael Ironside and Lee Grant. See IMDb The US release is uncut and MPAA R Rated for: US 2011 Shout! Factory Killer Double Feature R1 DVD via UK Amazon and at US Amazon US 2006 Starz/Anchor Bay R1 DVD Again the UK is still suffering a cut version. The cinema version and the 1986 CBS/Fox VHS were cut by about 1 minute. BBFC cuts details from IMDb: Cut to edit a scene where Colt traces his knife across Lisa before slashing her clothing Also cuts to shots of Colt kicking Sheila as he photographs her. Summary Review: Not your everyday slasher A crazed, women-hating killer (Ironside) attacks journalist Deborah Ballin (Grant). When he discovers that his attack didn’t kill Deborah, he comes to the hospital to finish what he started. The movie is really quite tense at times. The attack at Deborah’s home is frightening, especially the dumb waiter scene. And the climactic chase is amazingly pulled off. The acting is alright and the music is also to note, and adds a lot of atmosphere. This is much different from what you’d probably expect, and is worth a look. Definitely not your everyday slasher.