For those of you caught unawares ...

It was on this day all the way back in the year 1960 that those dreaded Russkies tried to get ahead in the original Space Race with the launch of Sputnik 4 (officially known as Korabl-Sputnick 1).  What makes this blastoff significant is -- from what I understand -- this was the former Soviet Union's first attempt to create a fully pressurized and recoverable capsule, a scientific development that would give that nation the chance to fully place an astronaut where no man had gone before.  The craft had a dummy onboard -- along with what's been reported as fully-functional life support systems -- but failed to make an effective de-orbit and, instead, stayed out there in the galactic heavens for the better part of two years.  Google.com reports that the craft eventually broke up in the atmosphere and re-entered our world in fragments that rained down over rural Wisconsin.

As always, thanks for reading ... thanks for sharing ... thanks for being a fan ... and live long and prosper!

​-- EZ

A high-impact fusion of martial arts mayhem, fantasy spectacle and video game mythology, the Mortal Kombat films brought arcade combat to the big screen with bone-crunching action, iconic characters and pure 90s attitude, helping turn a controversial fighting game into a global pop culture phenomenon.

Kicking off in 1995, Mortal Kombat, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, delivers a fast paced, crowd-pleasing adaptation that pits Earth's greatest fighters against the forces of Outworld in a no-holds-barred tournament for the fate of humanity. Featuring unforgettable characters like Liu Kang, Sonya Blade, Johnny Cage and the thunderous Raiden, the film blends martial arts choreography, fantasy world-building and a now legendary electronic soundtrack to create one of the most influential video game movies of its era. The saga continues with 1997's Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, expanding the scale and mythology as the battle spills beyond the tournament into an-all out war between realms. With higher stakes, new fighters, monstrous adversaries and epic confrontations, the sequel embraces the franchise's operatic excess and supernatural chaos, pushing the Mortal Kombat universe into full fantasy spectacle.
​
Restored and packed with extras, this two-film collection celebrates the brutal fun, stylised combat and mythic world of Mortal Kombat, a landmark franchise whose unparalleled high-octane action embodies the adrenaline-fuelled spirit of the 90s in all its spectacular glory!
​

​Bonus Materials:
​

• 2-DISC 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 4K restorations of the two films by Arrow Films
• 4K (2160p) Ultra HD Blu-ray presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the two films
• Original DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio and lossless stereo audio on both films
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for both films
• Collectors’ perfect-bound booklet featuring new writing on the films by Simon Ward and John Torrani
• Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin
• Two double-sided foldout posters featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Matt Griffin

 

• DISC 1 - MORTAL KOMBAT
• 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director Paul W.S. Anderson
• Brand new audio commentary with director Paul W.S. Anderson
• Brand new audio commentary with comic book expert and podcast host Dave Baxter
• Cage Match, a newly filmed interview with with actor Linden Ashby
• Leveling Up, a newly filmed interview with cinematographer John R. Leonetti
• Quarters to Millions, a newly filmed interview with producer Lawrence Kasanoff
• The Heavyweight, a newly filmed interview with designer and suit performer Tom Woodruff
• Mortal Kombat: A Journey Behind the Scenes featurette
• On-set interview bites with the cast and director and B-roll footage
• Theatrical trailers
• Image gallery

​

• DISC 2 - MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION
• 4K restoration of the film from the original camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director John R. Leonetti
• Brand new audio commentary with director John R. Leonetti moderated by filmmaker Gillian Wallace Horvat
• Brand new audio commentary with comic book expert and podcast host Dave Baxter
• The Queen of the Night, a newly filmed interview with actor Musetta Vander
• Techno, Taiko, Orcho, a newly filmed interview with composer George S. Clinton
• The Man of a Thousand Deaths, a newly filmed interview with stunt performer J.J. Perry, who played Cyrax, Scorpion and Noob Saibot
• On-set interview bites with the cast and director and B-roll footage
• Theatrical trailer
• Image gallery

​

​One of the most notorious J-Horror films ever made, Takashi Miike's Audition exploded onto the festival circuit at the turn of the 21st century to a chorus of awards and praise. The film catapulted Miike to the international scene and paved the way for such other genre delights as Ichii the Killer and 13 Assassins.

When recent widower Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi, American Yakuza) is advised by his son to find a new wife, he seeks the advice of a colleague having been out of the dating scene for many years. The two men decide to take advantage of their position working at a film company to stage an audition to find the perfect partner. Interviewing a series of women, Shigeharu soon becomes enchanted by Asami (Eihi Shiina), a quiet, 24-year-old woman, who is immediately responsive to his charms. However, events quickly take a very dark and twisted turn as we find that Asami isn't what she seems to be...
​
Pulling the audience into a story that will lead to one of the most harrowing climaxes in cinema history, Miike twists and turns us through delirious editing and shocking visuals for one of the most depraved nightmares of all time, now presented in stunning 4K UHD
​
​Bonus Materials:
​

• 4K ULTRA HD LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
• Brand new 4K restoration from the original Super 16mm camera negative by Arrow Films approved by director of photography Hideo Yamamoto
• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly restored original lossless stereo and 4.0 audio, plus optional DTS-HD MA 5.1 surround audio
• Optional English subtitles
• Introduction by director Takashi Miike
• Audio commentary by director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan
• Audio commentary by Miike biographer Tom Mes
• Callback, a brand new interview with actor Ryo Ishibashi
• Ties that Bind, an interview with director Takashi Miike
• Damaged Romance, an appreciation by Japanese cinema historian Tony Rayns
• Archive interviews with stars Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi
• Deeper Deeper Into Audition, an audio essay by author and critic Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Trailers
• Image gallery
• Collectors’ booklet featuring new writing on the film by Anton Bitel, Jennie Kermode and Jamie Graham
• Reversible sleeve featuring newly commissioned artwork by Dark Inker - Sampson and original UK artwork by Graham Humphreys

​

From Google.com:

​Released on May 12, 1989, The Return of Swamp Thing is a campy, lighthearted sequel to Wes Craven's 1982 original. Directed by B-movie veteran Jim Wynorski, the film pivots away from the first movie's serious horror roots, embracing a colorful "comic book" aesthetic filled with over-the-top creatures and tongue-in-cheek humor. [1, 2, 3]

The Return of Swamp Thing | Rotten Tomatoes
​
Film Review: The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) | HNN
​
The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) - IMDb

​Plot and CharactersThe story follows Abigail Arcane (Heather Locklear), a vegetarian horticulturist who travels to the Louisiana swamps to confront her stepfather, the villainous Dr. Anton Arcane (Louis Jourdan), about her mother’s death. [4, 5]

• The Conflict: Dr. Arcane, who has somehow survived his previous death, is conducting experiments to achieve immortality by creating a serum from his stepdaughter's genes.
• The Romance: Alec Holland, the Swamp Thing (Dick Durock), rescues Abby, and the two develop an unlikely romantic bond, leading to a famous and bizarre dream-sequence love scene.
• The Monsters: Arcane’s lab is filled with "Un-Men"—grotesque, human-animal hybrids like "Leech-man"—which provide much of the film's campy action. [2, 5, 6, 7, 8]\

Key Trivia & Production
​

• Cast Highlights: Dick Durock became the first actor after Christopher Reeve to reprise a DC protagonist role. Sarah Douglas, known as Ursa in Superman II, joined the cast as Arcane's assistant, Dr. Lana Zurrell.
• Rating Milestone: It was the first PG-13-rated comic book movie, beating Tim Burton's Batman to theaters by one month.
• Soundtrack: The film's iconic opening montage of comic book covers is set to Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Born on the Bayou".
• Filming Locations: The exterior of the Arcane mansion was filmed in Savannah, Georgia, at Oatland Island, where the crew built a temporary facade for the building. [2, 5, 9, 10, 11]

Where to Buy

The film has a significant cult following and is available through various retailers:

• 4K / Blu-ray Special Editions: You can find high-definition transfers from the MVD Rewind Collection or at specialty retailers like Frightmare Collectibles for approximately $27.99.
• Standard DVD: Available at Target for around $11.69.
• Collector's Items: Sealed original VHS tapes are often listed on eBay for high prices, sometimes reaching $150. [12, 13]

[1] https://www.imdb.com
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org
[3] https://www.youtube.com
[4] https://www.rottentomatoes.com
[5] https://swampthing.fandom.com
[6] https://www.amazon.com
[7] https://reviewallmonsters.wordpress.com
[8] https://mikesmoviecave.blogspot.com
[9] https://www.imdb.com
[10] https://www.facebook.com
[11] https://www.facebook.com
[12] https://www.vcientertainment.com
[13] https://www.target.com

On this day in 1986 (in France), Nightmare Weekend played for audiences in attendance of the Cannes Film Festival.  Directed by Henri Sala from a story by George Faget-Benard and Robert Seidman, the SciFi/Horror feature starred Debbie Laster, Deb Hunter, Dale Midkiff, and others. 

​Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"A female scientist performs experiments on three college girls that turn them into drooling, murderous mutants."

-- EZ

From Google.com:

​Nightmare Weekend (1986) is a cult-classic sci-fi horror film known for its bizarre, often incomprehensible plot and status as a hallmark of "so-bad-it's-good" 80s cinema. Distributed by Troma Entertainment, it features a chaotic blend of experimental computer science, murderous mutants, and a psychic hand puppet. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]Plot OverviewThe story follows a brilliant computer scientist who has developed "Apache," a high-tech program designed to improve human behavior. His unscrupulous assistant, Julie, sabotages the experiment to serve her own nefarious goals. [6, 7, 8, 9]

• The Experiment: Three college girls are lured to a Florida mansion under the guise of behavior modification.
• The Mutation: Instead of bettering their behavior, the machine launches small silver balls that enter the subjects' bodies, turning them into "drooling, murderous mutants".
• The Chaos: The film descends into a series of disjointed scenes involving a local bar, roller skating, and various "accidental" deaths caused by the technology. [1, 2, 7, 10, 11, 12, 13]

Key Features and Strange Elements
​

• George the Puppet: One of the film's most infamous characters is a robotic, psychic hand puppet named George that interfaces with the computer and offers unsolicited advice on things like hitchhiking.
• Noteworthy Cast: The film marks early career appearances for Dale Midkiff (later of Pet Sematary) and Andrea Thompson (later of NYPD Blue).
• Troma Style: As a Troma production, it is heavily stylized with gratuitous nudity, extreme 80s aesthetics, and a synth-heavy theme song titled "Nightmare Fantasy".
• Production Background: A French crew filmed the movie in Ocala, Florida. The script was reportedly written in both French and English, contributing to the disjointed and surreal dialogue. [2, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18]

Critical ReceptionCritics often describe the film as "stunningly disconnected" and nearly impossible to track logically. While initially panned, it has gained a dedicated following among fans of B-movies and has been restored for high-definition release by Vinegar Syndrome. [11, 17, 18]
You can currently find the film streaming for free on Tubi or IMDb. [9, 10]
Would you like to know more about its restored Blu-ray release or see a list of other cult horror classics from the mid-80s?

[1] https://www.reddit.com
[2] https://www.rottentomatoes.com
[3] https://morbidlybeautiful.com
[4] https://www.imdb.com
[5] https://www.triskaidekafiles.com
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org
[7] https://cinemorgue.fandom.com
[8] https://www.netflix.com
[9] https://tubitv.com
[10] https://www.imdb.com
[11] https://www.themoviedb.org
[12] https://www.senselesscinema.com
[13] https://www.imdb.com
[14] https://www.reddit.com
[15] https://www.facebook.com
[16] https://mubi.com
[17] https://cinemaretro.com
[18] https://dailygrindhouse.com

​“Conquest is a bizzare, moody, and wonderfully oversaturated fantasy hallucination captured on film by Lucio Fulci, one of my all-time favorite directors.” 
- S. Craig Zahler - writer/director, Bone Tomahawk
​

In a Place Beyond Time, Comes a Terrifying Challenge Beyond Imagination!

When a mysterious stranger (Andrea Occhipinti — New York Ripper) travels from far away lands to explore, he is quickly attacked by the evil Ocron’s (Sabrina Siani — Aenigma) wolf-like henchmen (led by José Gras — Mad Foxes) to steal his magic bow. Fortunately he is saved by the brave barbarian Mace (Jorge Rivero — Goma-2), and the two embark on an epic quest to defeat Ocron and all of the land’s most evil and vile creatures! 
​
Attempting to ride the success of Conan the Barbarian, the Italian film market turned its attention to the fantasy realm for a series of films with Fulci’s Conquest remaining the best to emerge from this period. Featuring oddball creatures, naked sorceresses, mythical weapons, dolphins, gruesome practical gore FX and Claudio Simonetti’s (Goblin) driving synth soundtrack, Conquest is a Fulci film like no other, while still being exactly what you would expect from him. Scanned and restored in 4K from the original camera negative, Conquest retains all of the grain, haze, dreamlike focus, and color palette as Lucio Fulci intended! This worldwide UHD debut deluxe 4 disc edition (UHD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray, CD) features new artwork by Justin Coffee, soundtrack CD by Claudio Simonetti, and an entire Blu-ray disc loaded with extras!

Details:

Disc 1 (UHD):

• Feature film
• 4K restoration from the negative / 2160p 4K UHD presentation with Dolby Vision HDR (HDR 10 compatible)
• English 2.0 mono, 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Italian 2.0 mono w/ English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani & Nanni Cobretti

Disc 2 (Blu-ray):

• Feature film
• 4K restoration from the negative / 1080p presentation
• English 2.0 mono, 2.0 stereo
• Optional English SDH subtitles
• Italian 2.0 mono w/ English subtitles
• Audio Commentary by Eugenio Ercolani & Nanni Cobretti

Disc 3 (Blu-ray - Extras):

• Jorge the Outlaw: Interview with Jorge Rivero
• A Catalan Wolfman in Sardinia: Interview with José Gras 
• Post-Goblin Conquests: Interview with Claudio Simonetti
• Operating the Conquest: Interview with Federico Del Zoppo
• Cavemen Talk: Interview with Gino Capone
• Jose Antonio De La Loma More than just a Name: Interview with Paco Marin
• The Arsenal of Fantasy: Video essay by Heather Wixon
• Conquering Occhipinti: Video essay by Pier Maria Bocchi
• Conquest/Beyond Conquest: 2 Video essays by Mike Foster
• Serurta: Conquest inspired short film
• Trailer

Disc 4 (CD soundtrack by Claudio Simonetti) - limited edition only

• Reversible Blu-ray wrap with vintage artwork
• Rigid slipcase with artwork by Justin Coffee - limited edition only
• Full color book with liner notes by Michael A. Martinez & Andrea Meroni - limited edition only
• 1983 / Italy / 89 mins / Fantasy, Horror / Director - Lucio Fulci / All region UHD, Blu-ray

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DUE TO CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WE CAN ONLY SHIP THIS ITEM TO THE US AND CANADA. ALL ITEMS ORDERED TOGETHER WILL BE CHARGED AT THE TIME OF THE ORDER AND SHIP TOGETHER WHEN EVERYTHING IS IN STOCK. PLEASE PLACE MULTIPLE ORDERS IF YOU WISH TO HAVE ITEMS SHIPPED AS THEY ARRIVE. ALL DETAILS, INCLUDING RELEASE DATE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. LIMIT 2 PER CUSTOMER.
​

Synopsis:

Set during a scorching Australian summer in 1986, the film follows three teenage best friends whose celebratory night at a beach house spirals into a blood-soaked battle for survival after a prank takes a deadly turn.

Directed By: Mia’Kate Russell
​
​Starring:

• Sophia Wright-Mendelsohn
• Tahlee Fereday
• Alexandra Jensen
• Ben O'Toole
• Bailey Spalding
• Steve Le Marquand
• Fletcher Humphrys

​Produced By:

• ​Ari Harrison
• Julie Ryan
• Andre Lima

​

On this day in 1991 (in the U.S.), Curse III: Blood Sacrifice (aka Panga) enjoyed its general release on home video.  Written (in part) and directed by Sean Barton, the film starred Christopher Lee, Jenilee Harrison, Henry Cele, and others. 

​According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"In 1950s Africa, a tribal magician calls up a demon to kill Europeans."

-- EZ