Some days, there just aren't enough words in the English language for those us who so love the home video explosion of the 1980's to articule our fondness for these titles.
Seriously, you could drop into any corner video store -- big ones or small -- for the sole purpose of trying to discover some hidden gem. On a weekly basis, there were new releases just waiting for a bit of attention. Some of them were home grown. Some of them were old films finding new life with the Entertainment Revolution. And some of them were shot and produced overseas in such places with magical names like Italy, Spain, or Korea. Granted, not all of them were home runs, but there were more than a respectable share of quality diversions -- one-time watchers that hit just enough of the right notes to make for a living room symphony.
And it seems to me that may've been the case with Programmed To Kill (aka The Retaliator). While I'm pretty certain I saw it, I've little recollection of it, the sad effect of having absorbed so many flicks. But thanks to the good folks at Kino Lorber, Kill is going to kill again with its projected street date of January 17, 2023. So let the good times -- and the body count -- roll.
As per IMDB.com, the SciFi/Thriller was directed by Allan Holzman (with additional footage provided by Robert Short). His is a name genre fans may recognize from the SciFi/B-Movie goodness known as Forbidden World (thank you, New World Cinema, for so many subversive classics). Short is also credited with the screenplay, and the film starred Robert Ginty, James Booth, and the perfectly fetching Sandahl Bergman. Bergman, in particular, was probably the 'name draw' at the time, as she had emerged as one of the lesser genre queens with work aboard Conan The Barbarian (1982), She (1984), and Red Sonja (1985). No doubt her fixture prominent on the box art drew the attention of young males (or females of a particular persuasion), and the sex appeal propelled this one to solid home rental business.
As is my custom, I'll post the publicity materials below. Fans interested in pre-ordering a copy can do so at either Amazon.com (link) or even the Kino Lorber website (link).
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
Seriously, you could drop into any corner video store -- big ones or small -- for the sole purpose of trying to discover some hidden gem. On a weekly basis, there were new releases just waiting for a bit of attention. Some of them were home grown. Some of them were old films finding new life with the Entertainment Revolution. And some of them were shot and produced overseas in such places with magical names like Italy, Spain, or Korea. Granted, not all of them were home runs, but there were more than a respectable share of quality diversions -- one-time watchers that hit just enough of the right notes to make for a living room symphony.
And it seems to me that may've been the case with Programmed To Kill (aka The Retaliator). While I'm pretty certain I saw it, I've little recollection of it, the sad effect of having absorbed so many flicks. But thanks to the good folks at Kino Lorber, Kill is going to kill again with its projected street date of January 17, 2023. So let the good times -- and the body count -- roll.
As per IMDB.com, the SciFi/Thriller was directed by Allan Holzman (with additional footage provided by Robert Short). His is a name genre fans may recognize from the SciFi/B-Movie goodness known as Forbidden World (thank you, New World Cinema, for so many subversive classics). Short is also credited with the screenplay, and the film starred Robert Ginty, James Booth, and the perfectly fetching Sandahl Bergman. Bergman, in particular, was probably the 'name draw' at the time, as she had emerged as one of the lesser genre queens with work aboard Conan The Barbarian (1982), She (1984), and Red Sonja (1985). No doubt her fixture prominent on the box art drew the attention of young males (or females of a particular persuasion), and the sex appeal propelled this one to solid home rental business.
As is my custom, I'll post the publicity materials below. Fans interested in pre-ordering a copy can do so at either Amazon.com (link) or even the Kino Lorber website (link).
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
Programmed To Kill
(1986, 106m)
Blu-ray & DVD
Prebook Date: 12/20/2022
Street Date: 1/17/2023
Director: Allan Holzman
Cast: Sandahl Bergman, Robert Ginty, James Booth, Paul Walker
(1986, 106m)
Blu-ray & DVD
Prebook Date: 12/20/2022
Street Date: 1/17/2023
Director: Allan Holzman
Cast: Sandahl Bergman, Robert Ginty, James Booth, Paul Walker
Action greats Robert Ginty (The Exterminator, Exterminator 2) and Sandahl Bergman (Conan the Barbarian, She) square off for deadly combat in this high-tech tale of a lethally beautiful killer android on a rampage of inhuman revenge! Captured in a daring raid by ex-CIA agent Eric Mathews (Ginty), the merciless terrorist hit-woman Samira (Bergman) is brought to the U.S., where she undergoes experimental brain surgery. Transformed into an unstoppable bionic warrior, she returns to the Middle East, where she obediently wipes out all of her former comrades. But when a malfunction reactivates Samira’s human memories, she launches into a frenzy of cold-blooded vengeance. As she methodically terminates her CIA adversaries, only Mathews can halt her murderous onslaught! Directed by Allan Holzman (Forbidden World), Programmed to Kill (a.k.a. The Retaliator) is a gripping, futuristic action thriller that also stars James Booth (Avenging Force) and a young Paul Walker (Fast & Furious).
Bonus Features:
ABOUT KINO LORBER:
With a library of over 4,000 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for 35 years, releasing 30 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Repertory and Alive Mind Cinema banners, garnering seven Academy Award® nominations in nine years. In addition, the company brings over 350 titles yearly to the home entertainment and educational markets through physical and digital media releases. With an expanding family of distributed labels, Kino Lorber handles releases in ancillary media for Zeitgeist Films, Milestone Films, Cohen Media Group, Greenwich Entertainment, Artsploitation, Palisades Tartan, Menemsha Films, Raro Video, and others, placing physical titles through all wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, as well as direct digital distribution through over 40 OTT services including all major TVOD and SVOD platforms. In 2019, the company launched its new art house digital channel Kino Now which features over 1300 titles from the acclaimed Kino Lorber library. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kino Marquee initiative was launched pioneering "virtual cinema" releases of art house films with revenue shares that allow audiences to support almost 500 local independent theaters. Kino Lorber was honored with a Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle for this effort. In 2021, the company launched Kino Cult, an AVOD channel specializing in new and rare, acclaimed genre films.
Bonus Features:
- Brand New HD Master – From a 2K Scan of the 35mm Interpositive
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director Allan Holzman, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
- NEW Interview with Screenwriter Robert Short
- Alternate Opening Title Credit
- Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K)
- Optional English Subtitles
ABOUT KINO LORBER:
With a library of over 4,000 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for 35 years, releasing 30 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Repertory and Alive Mind Cinema banners, garnering seven Academy Award® nominations in nine years. In addition, the company brings over 350 titles yearly to the home entertainment and educational markets through physical and digital media releases. With an expanding family of distributed labels, Kino Lorber handles releases in ancillary media for Zeitgeist Films, Milestone Films, Cohen Media Group, Greenwich Entertainment, Artsploitation, Palisades Tartan, Menemsha Films, Raro Video, and others, placing physical titles through all wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, as well as direct digital distribution through over 40 OTT services including all major TVOD and SVOD platforms. In 2019, the company launched its new art house digital channel Kino Now which features over 1300 titles from the acclaimed Kino Lorber library. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kino Marquee initiative was launched pioneering "virtual cinema" releases of art house films with revenue shares that allow audiences to support almost 500 local independent theaters. Kino Lorber was honored with a Special Award from the New York Film Critics Circle for this effort. In 2021, the company launched Kino Cult, an AVOD channel specializing in new and rare, acclaimed genre films.
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