Definitive DVD release of Video Nasties

[SicCoyote]

I was thinking of adding to my collection of Video Nasties on DVD and was wonder which of the 39 have had definitive dvd releases?

I have got:

Anthropophagous The Beast(R2 Hollywood DVD)
Cannibal Holocaust (R2 EC)
House on the Edge of the Park(R1 MB)
Island of Death(R0 Image)
Last House on the Left(R2 DFW)
Tenebre(old ABUS version has a better one been released?)

[claire]

Definitive releases?

CANNIBAL APOCALYPSE (R1 Image). Brilliant anamorphic picture, great extras - including a 50 minute documentary featuring video interviews with Radice, Margheriti and Saxon. Couldn't hope for more.

LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (R1 MGM). Uncut, anamorphic widescreen. Commentary track, documentary with new cast/crew interviews, outtake footage, trailer etc. The extras on ABEUK's disc are even better, but it can't be called definitive as it's CUT.

AXE (R1 Something Weird). As definitive as a small title like this will receive. Uncut, OAR, best it's ever looked. Also includes a feature length film (THE ELECTRIC CHAIR) directed by one of AXE's cast, numerous trailers, and the usual smorgasboard of irrelevant extras!

NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES (R1 Something Weird). Uncut, OAR, lovely picture quality for it's age. Trailers, outtake footage, short films, and the feature film FEAST OF FLESH - which played as part of a double bill with NOTBA at the Shock Around The Clock fests.

I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (R1 Elite Millenium Edition). Looks great, and has two very entertaining commentary tracks. Even has a DTS mix!

HOUSE BY THE CEMETRY (EC re-release). Uncut, anamorphic w/s, remastered. 40 minute video interview with Fulci.

Some will argue that the above may deserve more - but I realistically think these releases are as good as we can hope for in the conceivable future for these particular films! Practically everything else on the 'official' nasty list that has been released on DVD already, will no doubt receive better treatment in time ... or at least deserve to be.

As for TENEBRAE - I would upgrade to the ABEUK version. It's the same transfer as the ABUS disc, but anamorphic. Better extras too.

[CJ34]

There are quite a few out on DVD.

Axe is out on R1 from Something Weird/Image and looks just about as good as it ever will. Not a great film, but a definite oddity. Hard to see why it was banned though, it's more laughable than nasty. The R1 DVD is simply packed with extras and you even get another whole film as one of the extras! Actually, the disc is R0, so it's accessible for R2 people.

House on the Edge of the Park has had the best treatment from Shriek Show on R1. Looks and sounds better than the old EC disc I had, plus it's got a nice interview with David Hess. Avoid the Vipco release which is cut by nearly 12 minutes.

Eaten Alive has also been released on R1 by Shriek Show and loks marginally better than the EC release, but it does have a cool interview with star Robert Kerman. (Okay, okay - I know it's not a bona fide 'nasty', but I thought 'what the hell')

Zombie Creeping Flesh had a superb release from Anchor Bay US, and it's doubtful it will ever be bettered. AB US released it under the title Hell of the Living Dead.

Cannibal Ferox released by Grindhouse. The definitive release and completely uncut (R0 too!)

Cannibal Holocaust original release by EC. This is the uncut version, subsequent releases lose several seconds form the 'Last Road to Hell' sequence.

Cannibal Apocalypse was released by Image as part of their Euroshock collection and is absolutely fabulous - probably my favourite DVD.

Bay of Blood/Bloodbath was released by Image as part of their Mario Bava Collection under the title Twitch of the Death Nerve. I've not got this myself, but I've been told the audio is a little sub-par. Aside from that, it's uncut and the best release to date.

Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue was released in a definitive edition by AB UK. But I'm sure you all know this

Death Trap was released by Elite under the title Eaten Alive and is digitally remastered and is the best release to date. Love seeing Mel Ferrer staggering around with a scythe in his neck

Night of the Bloody Apes was recently released uncut by Something Weird/Image and is a good disc by all accounts. I must get round to picking this up!

Don't Look in the Basement was released by VCI some years back and is quite a nice disc. Although it's supposedly uncut, rumours persist of a longer, gorier cut that has seemingly vanished without trace. So...who knows?

Don't Go in the House had a fairly poor R1 relaese some years back. I've not seen it myself, but reports are that it's one lousy disc.

Cannibal Terror was recently released on R2 DVD by 'Hardgore' and is supposed to be a lovely anamorphic transfer, and completely uncut. Is it a good film? I've been told it's not...

Anthropophagous the Beast had an uncut release in Germany on the now defunct Astro label. It was an appalling disc by all accounts, but it was at least uncut - unlike the UK and R1 releases which are cut by several minutes.

Absurd had a German language only release. I think Claire was asking about an English language release - so there may be one out there.

Prisoner/Mountain of the Cannibal God had a fantastic release by AB US (R0) which also included never-before-seen footage from Martino's personal archive. The transfer is stunning, not to mention wholly uncut.

Cannibal Man was also released uncut on R1 by AB US, it's quite a disturbing film and well worth checking out. Nice print too.

Possession was released by AB US also. Not seen this myself, but I'm told it's very nice.

The Evil Dead has had numerous releases and is now available fully uncut in the UK courtesy of AB UK! Yay!

The Beyond is out from AB US in a stunning Special Edition. An incredible-looking transfer and loaded with extras. This is the one to have.

The House by the Cemetery was also released by AB US and the digital transfer is so good it looks brand new! An amazing DVD, another firm favourite.

Tenebrae was released by both AB US and AB UK. Take your pick - though I think the UK disc would be the way to go as it has an anamorphic transfer.

Inferno had a stellar release from AB US (R0) and looks and sounds phenomenal - this is an Argento essential IMO.

Last House on the Left is out from both MGM USA and AB UK. The MGM disc is completely uncut, but lacks many of the extras present on the UK release. It's worth owning both IMO.

Zombie Flesh Eaters was released by AB US as Zombie, and while uncut, it's an appallingly bad disc and sports a rather lacklustre commentary with a somewhat disinterested Ian McCulloch. There's also an uncut Euro DVD from Stonevision (I think?) which is anamorphic, and also Shriek Show have a definitive release on the way.

Deep River Savages had a less than perfect fullscreen Euro release. It's also now had a slightly cut release here in the UK, courtesy of Hardgore.

Love Camp 7 had a Euro release from the same company that brought out Deep River Savages.

Unhinged has had a R1 release, but reports are that it's somewhat disappointing in terms of quality.

The Toolbox Murders was given a superb release by the good folk at Blue Underground. Well worth nabbing a copy of this now that it's been re-released at a lower price!

Snuff is also out from Blue Underground. Can't comment as I've not seen it yet.

The Slayer has had a far from perfect uncut release from Vipco, but Program Power/Lucky 13 have this scheduled for a release soon.

Nightmares in a Damaged Brain was released slightly cut here in the UK, but again, Program Power/Lucky 13 are supposedly preparing an uncut R1 release.

I Spit on your Grave has had a definitive release Stateside from Elite Entertainment as part of their Millenium Edition series. Well worth getting just to hear the commentary by Meir Zarchi.

Flesh for Frankenstein is available from Criterion on R1 with a none-too-impressive non-anamorphic presentation. It's also available on a Euro DVD coupled with Blood for Dracula.

Contamination has had an excellent release on R1 from Blue Underground and is due for a UK release from AB UK in the near future. I'm holding out for the UK release - c'mon AB UK!

Dead and Buried is another Blue Underground release as a Limited Edition 2-discer. Well worth grabbing a copy while you can!

Bloody Moon is out on a Euro DVD. No idea what it's like though.

The Burning is available from both Vipco and the German company Dragon. The film is owned by MGM in the US, so maybe it'll surface as part of their Midnite Movies range soon. One can but hope...

Faces of Death is available in the UK with cuts or on R1 without cuts. If Mondo is your thing, go for the R1 which also has a documentary.

The Bogeyman is out uncut from Vipco, and also had an AB US release some years back on a double-bill with The Devonsville Terror. The US title is The Boogeyman.

Blood Feast was released in the UK with slight trims - the whipping sequence was toned down, but all the gore is intact. It was also released fully uncut in the US by Something Weird/Image.

Island of Death has had a heavily cut UK release, but is available uncut from Omega/Image in the US on R1 (actually R0). Great film - I love it!

The Funhouse was out on R1 DVD, but I think it's OOP now.

[SicCoyote]

I have the Don't go in the house R1 dvd, I always thoguht it was a crap disc but I just went back to it and played it on the PC and it's not bad, certainly sharper than a video copy could be although no extras, no menu and two chapters, and the print looks used but it's a good enough replacement for my pre-cert video version.

[Mark Y]

The UK Film 2000 release is the same as the old Redemption one, with about 43s of cuts. I don't know wny they chose to issue that version as it surely would get through uncut now, unless there are previous prosecution issues?

[willpak]

"Zombie Flesh Eaters was released by AB US as Zombie, and while uncut, it's an appallingly bad disc and sports a rather lacklustre commentary with a somewhat disinterested Ian McCulloch. There's also an uncut Euro DVD from Stonevision (I think?) which is anamorphic, and also Shriek Show have a definitive release on the way."

The Stonevision DVD is cut. Olga Karlatos' eyeball scene has been slightly trimmed, as has some gut munching.

[SicCoyote]

I think becasue film 2000 don't do their own transfers they just release old transfers, like castle and prism.

[Graham]

Originally posted by Mark Y
The UK Film 2000 release is the same as the old Redemption one, with about 43s of cuts. I don't know wny they chose to issue that version as it surely would get through uncut now, unless there are previous prosecution issues?

I assume you're referring to Mario Bava's 1971 film?

If so, this is available on a number of discs around the world. I have the US Image R0 DVD, which is under the alternative title TWITCH OF THE DEATH NERVE. Fairly decent print spoiled by dreadful sound. Still worth picking up though.

EDIT - and it's uncut.

[SicCoyote]

I read about the dreadful sound, in every review of it, put me off.
how are the extras?

[Shaky]

"Tenebre(old ABUS version has a better one been released?)"

If you don't care about the extras (it does not have lot to offer) the new Italian Medusa release has the best print of the movie (sorry ABUK).

[Mark Y]

Originally posted by CJ34
Blood Feast was released in the UK with slight trims - the whipping sequence was toned down, but all the gore is intact. It was also released fully uncut in the US by Something Weird/Image

The Something Weird disc of Blood Feast is a beauty, very colourful with nearly an hour of silent outtakes, including extra nudity and gore and a commentary from H.G. Lewis and David Friedman.

[claire]

I thought the picture quality of the R1 Don't Go In The House disc was good too. Sure, it's a bare-bones affair but if it's just the film you're after, it does it's job sufficiently.

Good luck tracking it down nowadays though.

Moderator's Note:
I'm sure somebody told me that this was awful quality and a cut version. Will check and let you know.

[CJ34]

Originally posted by willpak
The Stonevision DVD is cut. Olga Karlatos' eyeball scene has been slightly trimmed, as has some gut munching.

You're talking about the UK release, I'm talking about an older Dutch release that was fully uncut - quite hard to get hold of though as it's been superceded by the Italian Shock release.

[willpak]

Are the British and Dutch Stonevisions the same company?

I thought the UK Stonevision were a Redemtion subsidiary.

[Graham]

Originally posted by SicCoyote
I read about the dreadful sound, in every review of it, put me off.
how are the extras?

Good. The age and type of the film mean it's no special edition though. The trailer for the film - with alternative title Carnage - is a psychedelic feast!

[MarcMorris]

I thought the UK Stonevision were a Redemtion subsidiary.

No, they're not.

[drterror666]

Marc, is there a longer version of Don't Go In The House then?

[Someone Weird]

Regarding Tenebrae - I have the US version and my brother has got the UK version. According to him, he says the US version I have is better. If I remember correctly, the ABUK version got a bit of a slating at some places when it was first released. I've not seen the UK version myself but am more than happy with the US one.

The Bogeyman is released in widescreen by ABUS, with The Devonsville Terror on the same disc, plus a couple of trailers. No doubt a much sounder option than the UK (Vipco) one.

Faces of Death - as pointed out the US version is uncut (there is some print damage), unlike the recent UK release, and has a trailer and hilarious doc. Go for that one! Classick.

Flesh for Frankenstein - I'm surprised the criterion disc got a slight criticism. I thought it was really great. Nice quality. One of my most watched discs. Great film.

Also, re: programme power. They have been promising to release some of these nasties for years. Almost as long as Grindhouse promising a DVD release of Cannibal Holocaust. I wish they'd hurry up and release 'em! Nightmare is a real pip!

The comments in the past about Twitch of the Death Nerve being unbearable etc in the sound department was, in my opinion, more over reaction from anal fans. Its not the best sound you'll hear, but it was ok. Didn't detract from my entertainment of the film, so I say get the disc.

Last comment, looking forward to Shriek Show's Zombi, but I always had a soft spot for the ABUS version. I thought it was fairly good pic quality wise, but no doudt the shriek show release will render my ABUS copy redundant.

[SicCoyote]

Originally posted by drterror666
Marc, is there a longer version of Don't Go In The House then?

I don't see what that there would be, they had the establishing scene for the burning, any more would be unecessary extra money.

I'd prefer to see a longer version of Evilspeak with the extra(non-gory) shots that are described on the latest addition on the imdb.

[claire]

DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE (DVD LTD, DVD147) is uncut.

It's full-frame and only has 4 chapters (no extras), but the picture quality if perfectly acceptable - quite good actually.

Check it out though.