Blu Fury: Mad As Hell Horror Edition

BLU RAY: CLASSIC HORROR EDITION

Hey you BluRay fiends! Halloween is here and to celebrate we’ve got an all new compilation of terrifying films that will continue to trick and treat you each and every year. There’s a nice selection of subgenres here, from movies featuring chest bursting aliens to ones brimming with flesh eating zombies chomping up a storm. These are the mad macabre movies that average fans as well as the hardcore horror freaks will want to see/appreciate in all their hi-def glory. So clear off the top shelf of your DVD library and stock up on some truly great fright flix handpicked by your friends at the most furious film site around!

Alien

Alien (1979, Dir: Ridley Scott)

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“In space no-one can hear your scream.”

Set in the distant future, a group of space cargo workers are thrust into a claustrophobic fight for survival when one of their crew members becomes a living host for a species of alien that has acid blood and a very bad attitude! It’s pure Hitchcockian suspense in outer space as unlikely hero, Warrant Officer Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) leads the crew in battling the nightmarish creature. Co-starring Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Harry Dean, Stanton, Yaphet Kotto.

SPECIAL FEATURES: 1979 Theatrical Version – 2003 Director’s Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction – Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O’Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt – Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott – Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith – Composer’s Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith – Deleted and Extended Scenes.

Audition

Audition (1999, Dir: Takashi Miike)

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“She always gets a part”

For fans of modern horror, Japanese auteur Takashi Miike delivers a whopper of a shocker with this slow boiling thriller about a widower who holds fake movie auditions so he can find the new wife of his dreams. He finally finds what he’s looking for but the girl actually isn’t the cutie pie she appears to be. What begins as an innocent trick to help make his life better spirals into a sadistic torture game shown in the way only Miike could do.

SPECIAL FEATURES New audio commentary with director Takashi Miike and screenwriter Daisuke Tengan – New interviews with cast members Ryo Ishibashi, Eihi Shiina, Renji Ishibashi and Ren Osugi – International trailers – New essay by Tom Mes (Agitator: The Cinema Of Takashi Miike).

 

Carrie

Carrie (1976, Dir: Brian DePalma)

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“They’re all gonna laugh at you!”

Based on the best selling novel by Stephen King, Director Brian DePalma spins a thrilling (and humorous) coming of age tale about a girl who possesses supernatural powers. Carrie White (Sissy Spacek) is the consummate outsider who is picked on by her fellow classmates for being a quiet wallflower. She’s also got to contend with her religion obsessed mother who just adds more stress to her personal troubles. When Carrie finally explodes with a deadly wrath, it’s a furiously hellish surprise. Co-starring Piper Laurie, John Travolta, Nancy Allen, Amy Irving and William Katt.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailers.

 

Dawn of the Dead

Dawn of the Dead (1978, Dir: George A. Romero)

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“When there’s no more room in hell the dead will walk the earth”

In this follow up to the low budget cult smash Night of the Living Dead, the plague of the zombie-ism has spread across the globe. The continuing story focuses on a small group of survivors who are able to take shelter from the walking flesh-eaters in a Pittsburgh area shopping mall. Romero not only delivers plenty of action, gore and humor but also provides a witty commentary on mass consumerism all at the same time.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary – Documentary – Featurettes – Trailers – TV Spots – Radio Promos

Evil Dead 2

Evil Dead 2: 25th Anniversary Edition (1983, Dir: Sam Raimi)

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“Groovy.”

Director Sam Raimi heads back to familiar ground we saw in his low budget debut and does a kind of remix with even more production value. While vacationing at a cabin in the woods, All American everyman-goof Ash (Bruce Campbell) accidentally plays an audio recording that recites an ancient curse and summons an evil spirit that begins to possess everything around him, even his hand! The unlikely hero must battle the deadly force and try to make it out alive. The splatter, gore and slapstick comedy is cranked up to even greater levels and it’s a rip roarin’ blast!

SPECIAL FEATURES : Audio commentary with cast/crew – Swallowed Souls: The Making of Evil Dead II documentary – Road to Wadesboro: The Location of Evil Dead II featurette – Cabin Fever: Behind the Scenes of Evil Dead II” featurette – Evil Dead II interactive archive, featuring production stills, marketing materials, production stills, and early effects tests.

The Exorcist

The Exorcist: Extended Director’s Cut/Theatrical 2 Disc Edition (1973, Dir: William Friedkin)

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“The Devil inside.”

When a young girl named Regan (Linda Blair) becomes possessed by The Devil, her mother (Ellen Burstyn) calls in two priests (Max Von Sydow and Jason Miller) to perform an exorcism, only they don’t realize what they’re up against. The shockingly graphic performance by Linda Blair and the satanically saturated atmosphere will stay with you long after you’ve turned this film off. One of the most disturbing psychological horror films ever made.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Theatrical Cut Commentary by William Friedkin – The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist – Additional Interviews with William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty – Original Ending – Sketches & Storyboards – Trailers & TV Spots from the 1973 Version – Trailers, TV Spots & Radio Spots from the 2000 Release – Introduction by William Friedkin – Director’s Cut Commentary by William Friedkin – Theatrical Cut Commentary by William Peter Blatty with Special Sound Effects Tests – Exclusive HD Content: Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist – The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now – Faces of Evil: The Different Versions of The Exorcist.

 

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th: UNCUT (1980, Dir: Sean S. Cunningham)

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“Kill her mommy. Kiiiiiiill her.”

While it wasn’t the first film of its kind, Friday the 13th was definitely one of the godfathers of the slasher subgenre and spawned a whole series along with creating a new horror icon in the form of masked maniac Jason Voorhees. This is an example of horror at its most pure and enjoyable. The plot is simple, a group of free spirited kids at a summer camp are targeted by a mysterious psychopath who methodically kills them one by one. The films innocent charm and memorable characters have kept it a beloved cult film favorite that can be watched again and again.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary – Featurettes – Theatrical Trailers.

Halloween

Halloween (1978, Dir: John Carpenter)

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“It really was the boogeyman”

In 1963, a young boy named Michael Myers kills his sister and is committed to a mental hospital. 25 years later he breaks out and heads back to his hometown of Haddonfield to wreak terror on the unsuspecting townspeople. Meanwhile, the local teens including Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) are getting ready for Halloween night, but this will be one they’ll never forget. Their only chance is Michael’s longtime psychologist Dr. Loomis (Donald Plesance) who has followed Michael and aims to stop his reign of bloody havoc. Like a film such as Spielberg’s Jaws, John Carpenter really didn’t know how the film would be received and got ready for the worst. Halloween could have been just another low budget exploitation movie but instead it became a masterpiece of horror cinema, one of the most successful independent film releases of all time and influenced all the films in the genre that came after.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary – Documentary – Theatrical Trailer.

 

My Bloody Valentine

My Bloody Valentine (1981, Dir: George Mihalka)

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“Cross your heart…and hope to die.”

This Canadian slasher film is another early example of the genre at its best. While it does stay true to the basic plot tropes, it manages to also create a unique atmosphere with its small town, humorous Canadian characters and eerie back story revolving around a mine where the legend of the Valentine Bluffs killer Harry Warden originates. For years the film was not seen in its uncut version but the new BluRay release now includes this footage. For slasher fans its a slice of fried gold.

SPECIAL FEATURES: “Bloodlust: My Bloody Valentine and the Rise of the Slasher Film” – “Bloodlines: An interactive Horror Film History” – Deleted footage.

Near Dark

Near Dark (1987, Dir: Kathryn Bigelow)

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“Blood is our life, Darkness, our feeding ground and sunlight, our eternal damnation.”

Early in her career, before mainstream Hollywood hits like Point Break and The Hurt Locker, Academy Award winner Kathryn Bigelow directed this alternate take on the vampire genre that mixed in the road movie with aspects of a modern Western. When a wild nomad style band of bloodsuckers induct a newbie into the gang, the action and destruction sets off a thrilling trip into terror. A unique 80s genre blender thats become a cult favorite. Starring Adrian Pasdar, Jenny Wright, Bill Paxton and Lance Henrikssen.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio commentary with director Kathryn Bigelow – “Living in Darkness – a making-of documentary – Deleted scene with commentary by Kathryn Bigelow.

 

The Ninth Gate

The Ninth Gate (1999, Dir: Roman Polanski)

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“The only thing more terrifying than searching for the Devil…is finding him.”

Johnny Depp plays Dean Corso, an expert on rare books. When he is hired to track down an ancient title that has the potential to unlock the Ninth Gate of Hell, adventure and intrigue unfolds. Corso travels to Europe on his quest to obtain the satanic text and slowly discovers more and more secrets behind his latest job. There’s something about this film that is sort of darkly enthralling. Polanski’s direction along with the visceral cinematography is so captivating to watch. I consider it one of his best horror/thrillers along with Rosemarys Baby and Repulsion.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio commentary by Roman Polanski – “Making of” featurette – Storyboard selections – Gallery of Satanic Drawings.

 

The Omen

The Omen (1976, Dir: Richard Donner)

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“Those who foretold it are dead. Those who can stop it are in grave danger.”

After his wife (Lee Remick) has a miscarriage, a U.S. Ambassador to Britain Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) adopts another child without informing her. As their new son Damien (Harvey Stephens) gets older, several disturbing deaths and accidents begin to occur around him. When Thorn discovers that his child is in fact, the Anti-Christ, he must make a decision to let him live or destroy him by his own hand. Like The Exorcist, The Omen is another devil themed chiller that remains one of the most disturbing films decades after it was made.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentaries – Documentaries – Featurettes – Deleted Scene – Still Gallery – Theatrical Trailer Exclusive HD Content – Audio Commentary – Featurette – BonusView PiP Trivia Track – Isolated Score.

Poltergeist

Poltergeist (1982, Dir: Tobe Hooper)

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“They’re herrrre”.

In a happy California suburban neighborhood the Freeling family discovers strange disturbances happening in their home. What begins as playful movements of objects and minimal intrusions, soon grows to be a horrific attack on the family unit by supernatural forces. Meanwhile, their youngest daughter Carol Anne (Heather O’Rourke) seems to be conversing with unseen spirits through the TV. This is one of Steven Spielberg’s best early productions which was released the same year his own friendly alien smash hit E.T came out. Co-starring Craig T. Nelson, JoBeth Williams, Dominique Dunne.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Featurette.

 

Psycho

Psycho: 50th Anniversary Edition (1960, Dir: Alfred Hitchcock)

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“A boy’s best friend is his mother”

This “godfather of the slasher film” was never meant to be what it became upon its release. At the time, Alfred Hitchcock was merely shooting a low budget thriller with a TV crew. What he created was a benchmark of horror cinema based on a real life serial killer Ed Gein (which also inspired the Texas Chainsaw Massacre). Tony Perkins plays the quiet reclusive hotel owner Norman Bates who hides a secret behind his house on the hill’s doors. When a young woman named Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) stops for the night, she is murdered and Norman suspects his cruel mother. He does his best to keep the secret covered up but soon, Crane’s sister (Vera Miles) and a private eye (Martin Balsam) arrive trying to find out where she went. The score by Bernard Herrmann is a highlight, listen to a sample HERE.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Documentary – Featurettes – Storyboards – Posters and Lobby Cards – Theatrical Trailers – Hitchcock/Truffaut Interviews – Photo Gallery.

The Shining

The Shining (1980, Dir: Stanley Kubrick)

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“Herrrrrre’s Johnny!”

It’s now widely known that Stanley Kubrick’s take on The Shining was not approved by Author Stephen King who felt his original story was a more warm, humane tale while Kubrick’s cinematic vision made it very cold and clinical. I would agree, because this film is one of Kubrick’s darkest and most bleak. Jack Nicholson’s legendary performance as the mentally tortured writer Jack Torrance is one for the film history books, he simply plays crazy better than anyone. The way Kubrick shot the film using the expansive mountain top hotel’s hallways and massively vacant space, really was incredibly chilling and effective. The imagery within is as haunting as it gets.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary – Documentary – Featurettes

The Stepfather

The Stepfather (1987, Dir: Joseph Ruben)

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“Who am I again?”

Jerry Blake (Terry O’Quinn) has the appearance of an All American loving father, but behind his smiling face he hides a deadly secret. After his previous marriage goes…bad, Jerry finds a brand new family to start his life over with. While his new wife sees him as perfect, his stepdaughter Stephanie (Jill Scholen) doesn’t like him for some reason, but even she’s not sure why. Even though this film is not quite as popular as other 80s horror/slasher classics, it is one of the best, not because of constant gore or violence but because of its pitch black humor and the way it builds tension with the characters. Terry O’Quinn is just excellent as the Ted Bundy-esque socio/psychopath who longs to be the happy go lucky dad he always dreamed of being.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary – Featurette – Theatrical Trailers – Stills Gallery.

 

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Ultimate Edition (1974, Dir: Tobe Hooper)

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“I think we just picked up Dracula”

When a group of Texas hippie kids travel to an old house where some of them grew up, they don’t realize that the new neighbors are deranged grave robbing cannibals who need fresh meat for their delicious BBQ. When the teens make their presence known to The Sawyer family, things get out of control, especially when favorite son “Leatherface”, the human skin wearing, chainsaw wielding maniac gets ahold of em! What’s so great about TCM is how the title implies a gorefest like no other when in fact it’s the exact opposite. What is considered to be one of the most gruesome horror films ever made is actually a hysterical dark comedy with almost no blood shown in its running time! It’s a masterpiece of low budget cinema as well.

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentaries- Documentaries – Featurettes – Still Galleries – Theatrical Trailers.

 

The Thing

The Thing (1982, Dir: John Carpenter)

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“Man is the warmest place to hide.”

This re-imagining of the 1951 B-film The Thing From Another World was not a big hit upon its initial release but over the past 25 plus years it has grown in popularity. It is now considered one of the best sci-fi/horror films of all time. Carpenter’s stylized visuals, paranoia soaked setting and most notably the film’s live special effects are brilliantly designed and very gory/shocking. A frosty treasure of terrifying film-making!

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary.

 

An American Werewolf in London

An American Werewolf in London (1981, Dir: John Landis)

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“I’m sorry I called you meatloaf Jack”

Best friends David (David Naughton) and Jack (Griffin Dunne) are hiking across the British countryside together. One foggy night after getting lost on the moors, they find themselves the target of a werewolf. Jack is horrifically killed but luckily David survives, only suffering a bite from the hellish beast. He finds out later that this is actually the worst thing that could’ve happened. He begins hallucinating and dreaming about gruesome acts of violence and soon after when a full moon rises, he transforms into a werewolf himself and begins a bloody killing spree in the city of London. John Landis mixes dark humor and horror in such an entertaining style and the in camera special effects by Rick Baker are just brilliant. This is one of, if not the very best film in the werewolf subgenre.

SPECIAL FEATURES: I Walked With A Werewolf – Outtakes – Storyboards – Photograph Montage – Feature Commentary with Cast Members David Naughton & Griffin Dunne – Beware The Moon – Casting of the Hand – An Interview With John Landis – Make-up Artist Rick Baker On An American Werewolf in London.

Zombie

Zombie (1979, Dir: Lucio Fulci)

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“We are going to eat you.”

For zombie fans, George A. Romero is always regarded as the undisputed king of the genre, but there is another master. Lucio Fulci’s 1979 undead adventure movie is right up with Dawn of the Dead as a masterpiece of the zombie movies. What Fulci did with his zombies was make them even more terrifying and realistic. These weren’t blue painted extras from Pittsburgh, they were crusty, nasty, dirt covered, decrepit, rotten corpses! Fulci’s sharp, stylized direction and unique Italian eye for truly weird shock gags such as the underwater zombie vs. shark and eye splinter sequences make this tropical trip into hell a horror masterpiece from the late 70s!

SPECIAL FEATURES: Audio Commentary with Star Ian McCulloch and Diabolik Magazine Editor Jason J. Slater – Guillermo del Toro Intro – Zombie Wasteland – Interviews with Stars Ian McCulloch, Richard Johnson & Al Cliver, and Actor/Stuntman Ottaviano Dell’Acqua – Flesh Eaters on Film: Interview with Co-Producer Fabrizio De Angelis – Deadtime Stories – Interviews with Co-Writers Elisa Briganti and (Uncredited) Dardano Sacchetti – World of the Dead – Interviews with Cinematographer Sergio Salvati and Production & Costume Designer Walter Patriarca – Zombi Italiano – Interviews with Special Make-Up Effects Artists Gianetto De Rossi & Maurizio Trani and Special Effects Artist Gino De Rossi – Notes on a Headstone – Interview with Composer Fabio Frizzi – All in the Family – Interview with Antonella Fulci – Zombie Lover – Award-Winning Filmmaker Guillermo del Toro talks about one of his favorite films – Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots, and Radio Spots – Poster & Still Gallery

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