The Playgirls and the Vampire

Made in 1960, Piero Regnoli's THE PLAYGIRLS AND THE VAMPIRE is one of the earliest Italian horror films. After skipping out on an unpaid hotel bill, a busload of curvaceous showgirls is forced off the road by a thunderstorm. They prevail on the hospitality of a nearby castle, where the reclusive Count Kernassy nearly orders them away-until he sees Vera, a leggy dancer who's a dead ringer for his beautiful ancestor Margherita! Unfortunately, Vera is also attractive to the Count's 200 year old, bloodthirsty ancestor-who's a dead ringer for his descendant!
Hilariously awful movie about a busload of showgirls and their disreputable manager who break down outside a spooky castle after running out on their hotel bill. Little do they know the hospitable count who owns the castle is a vampire. The girls wander around in various states of undress and practice their tacky "dance routines" while the count eyeballs them and his spinsterish housekeeper mutters snide remarks. One girl falls prey to the vampire and comes back in the nude! Wearing nothing but fangs, she attempts to vampirize the manager. The heroine becomes the object of the vampire's lust because she resembles his long lost lover. Of course it all wraps up neat and tidy. There's no gore but lots of cheap lingerie and atmosphere. This is a wonderful example of sixties EuroTrash at it's most silliest. I love this movie on terms that are hard to explain to the uninitiated. It's released by Image and the print is good and the soundtrack adequately clear so you can relish the cheesy dialogue and psuedo-atmospheric sets. No budget, bad acting, bad dubbing and the script sounds like it was made up as they went along. Servicable b&w photography works well, the ENERGY is there and the earnestness to put over a Gothic horror movie in a spooky castle despite the frequent lapses into tasteless cheesecake is what endears this one to me. The people who can appreciate this flick on it's own terms, like me, know who they are and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do. It's a lot of fun and a true Euro-shlock classic.

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Fox Style (1973)

When a black man and his foster brother find a fortune in oil on their Texas land, he must struggle to come to terms with his poor country past and his new existence as an oil tycoon.

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Prisoner of Paradise (1980)

Shipwrecked American soldier Joe Murrey (a solid and charming performance by the legendary John Holmes) finds himself stuck on a remote Pacific island with a Nazi prison camp on it that's run by the sadistic Hans (robustly overplayed with scenery-gnawing gusto by Elmo Lavino) and his two equally wicked female assistants. Joe comes to the rescue of a pair of American nurses being held captive by the Nazi swine.
Director Bob Chinn keeps the engrossing story moving along at a brisk enough pace and, with the exception of a moving flashback sequence involving Joe's Asian girlfriend Sue Lee (the fetching Mai Lin), treats the material in a winningly lighthearted manner, with the campy depiction of the cartoonishly evil Nazis and the over-the-top silly torture set pieces complete with exaggerated sound effects both ensuring that this picture registers as amusing and inoffensive throughout. Seka and Sue Carol have a field day as the ruthless Nazi she wolves while Nikki Anderson and Brenda Vargo are sympathetic as the Yankee prisoners. The sex scenes are pretty hot and energetic; foxy brunette Jade Wong in particular has a especially arousing make-out session with Holmes. The use of stock footage gives this picture a nice sense of scope. The groovy-chilling score hits the right-on funky spot. A fun little romp.

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LIMITED EDITION: SEX WORLD [BD/DVD/CD COMBO]

This SEX WORLD blu-ray/dvd combo is limited to just 1,500 units (available here and from DiabolikDVD.com). Fyi, a slightly cheaper mass-market DVD-only version will be available mid-2015 on Amazon and all other online outlets.
Sex World is a luxury resort, advertised as the ultimate sex-themed getaway, where people travel to try and overcome their sexual problems. As the resort’s guests slowly become aware of their inhibitions, fears, and repressed urges, with the help of robotic surrogate lovers, director Anthony Spinelli’s camera paints a haunting picture of human insecurities set against a science fiction backdrop.
One of the biggest hardcore hits of the late 1970’s SEX WORLD is a thoughtful analysis of eroticism, punctuated with striking and at times abstract visuals. Featuring an all-star cast, including Annette Haven, Leslie Bovee, Kay Parker, John Leslie, Joey Silvera, and with Hollywood level production values, SEX WORLD remains one of the most significant and thought provoking hardcore feature films ever produced.
Vinegar Syndrome presents this genre classic newly restored in 4k from the original 35mm camera negative, featuring brand new interviews with its talented stars.
Director: Anthony Spinelli
91 minutes / 1977 / Color / 1.85:1

+ 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD/CD Package | Region Free | 1.85:1 OAR | DTS-HD Master Audio+ Restored in 4k from 35mm camera negative
+ Video Interview with Actress Kay Parker
+ Video Interview with Actor Joey Silvera
+ Video Interview with Still Photographer Joel Sussman
+ Two Theatrical Trailers
+ Alternate Soft Cut (dvd only)
+ Soundtrack CD
+ Reversible Cover w/ Italian Artwork

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Peekarama: Red Heat/Hot Vampire/Peeping Tom

RED HEAT: While shooting an X-rated movie, a mysterious killer begins offing members of the cast and crew. HOT VAMPIRE: Dracula sends his female vampires out to collect blood via the most unusual methods. PEEPING TOM: A lonely voyeur spies on the sexual lives of Las Vegas's white trash.

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Big Gundown (Grindhouse Release 4 Disc SE) (DVD / Blu-Ray / CD Combo All Region)

Big Gundown (Grindhouse Release 4 Disc SE) (DVD / Blu-Ray / CD Combo All Region)

Grindhouse Releasing is proud to present the first-ever U.S. home video release of the greatest Spaghetti Western you've never seen - Sergio Sollima's widescreen epic THE BIG GUNDOWN. The legendary Lee Van Cleef stars as a relentless bounty hunter on the trail of Cuchillo (Euro-film superstar Tomas Milian), a savage Mexican outlaw accused of the rape and murder of a twelve-year-old girl. Written by ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST screenwriter Sergio Donati, THE BIG GUNDOWN features an incredible soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. This Special Edition contains 15 additional minutes of gunslinging action never before seen in America.




ALL REGION

Special Features:
Four Disc Deluxe Limited Edition Combo Pack - Two Blu-rays, One DVD And One Bonus CD
Spectacular New 2K Digital Restoration Of The Original Uncensored English Language Version, Newly Expanded With Three Additional Scenes
LA RESA DEI CONTI - The Complete, 110 Minute Director's Cut Presented In Italian With Optional English Bubtitles And Special Musical Subtitles
Bonus CD - THE BIG GUNDOWN - Original Soundtrack By Ennio Morricone
Compelling In-Depth Interviews With Director Sergio Sollima, Star Tomas Milian And Screenwriter Sergio Donati (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST)
Audio Commentary By Western Film Experts C. Courtney Joyner And Henry C. Parke
Liner Notes By C. Courtney Joyner And Euro-Music Expert Gergely Hubai
Extensive Still Galleries, Trailers And TV Spots
AND OTHER SURPRISES!

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Mars Attacks! (1996)

Martians surround Earth with an armada of flying saucers. President James Dale addresses America concerning the historic event, watched by news anchors in New York, employees and guests at the Luxor Las Vegas hotel, and a trailer trash family in Perkinsville, Kansas. The President's science aides set a first contact meeting with the Martians in Pahrump, Nevada.
Using a defective universal translator the Martians announce they have "come in peace"; but when a hippie releases a dove as a symbol of peace, the Martians shoot it down and begin to kill everyone gathered there. Believing the reason of this to be a "cultural misunderstanding", President Dale has Professor Donald Kessler continue negotiations with the Martians, whose ambassador is invited to address the United States Congress. At this meeting, the Martians destroy the Congress.
General Decker tries to convince President Dale to retaliate with nuclear warfare; but the president refuses. After a Martian assassin disguised as a beautiful woman gains entry to the White House and unsuccessfully attempts to kill the President, the other Martians begin a full-scale invasion, in which they destroy Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal, Tokyo, the Washington Monument, one of the Great Pyramids, Hawaii, and other locations, and rebuild Mount Rushmore to resemble themselves. The president is killed by a robotic hand during another attempted negotiation. Richie Norris, a Kansas teenager, discovers that the Martians are vulnerable to Slim Whitman's song "Indian Love Call", whereupon he and his grandmother use it to destroy the Martians. Richie and his grandmother are thereafter awarded the Medal of Honor by the president's teenaged daughter, Taffie Dale.

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Dark Shadows (2012)

In 18th-century Maine, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp) presides over the town of Collinsport. A rich and powerful playboy, Barnabas seals his own doom when he breaks the heart of a witch named Angelique (Eva Green). Angelique turns Barnabas into a vampire and buries him alive. Two centuries later, Barnabas escapes from his tomb and finds 1972 Collinsport a very different place. His once-grand estate has fallen into ruin, and the dysfunctional remnants of his family have fared little better.

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Beetlejuice (1988)

All the people in the waiting room and in the office are in the same condition as when they died and the way they died is shown clearly. However, the Maitlands, who were drowned, are not wet. This was done deliberately since the director felt that keeping the actors wet all the time would be too uncomfortable.

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Night of The Living Dead (1968)

Barbra and her brother Johnny travel by car from Pittsburgh to the countryside to visit the gravestone of their father in the cemetery. Out of the blue, they are attacked by a strange man and Johnny is murdered. Barbra runs and releases the brake of Johnny's car since the keys are in his pocket, and flees to an isolated farmhouse, where she locks herself inside. Barbra is in shock and soon she finds a man, Ben, who is also escaping from the inhuman creatures and he reinforces the doors, windows and openings in the house. He also finds a shotgun and a radio and they learn that the radiation from a satellite that was returning from Venus has somehow reactivated the brain of the dead. Then they find five humans hidden in the basement: Harry Cooper, his wife Helen and their daughter Karen that is sick; and Tom and his girlfriend Judy. Harry has an argument with Ben, since he believes that the basement is the safest place for them and Harry does not agree. Along the night, the tension ... Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

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Starcrash (1978, Luigi Cozzi)

Outlaw smugglers Stella Star and Akton manage to pick up a castaway while running from the authorities, who turns out to be the only survivor from a secret mission to destroy a mysterious superweapon designed by the evil Count Zarth Arn. The smugglers are soon recruited by the Emperor of the Galaxy to complete the mission, as well as to rescue the Emperor's son, who has gone missing.
When "Star Crash" appeared in the U.S., my local newspaper's film critic noted: "...You have to be suspicious of a movie that literally sneaks into town...". That remark left me curious, but not curious enough; after just one week "Star Crash" had left town as quietly as it had come in. Why would any movie get so little push from its' distributor, I wondered? Could it really be that bad? It took me years to find out. Some dozen or so years later, a friend of mine told me he had a copy...well, I couldn't pass this up. After seeing it, I decided that the critics were right--and wrong. Such a hoot! Caroline Munro definitely set the mood in her almost-not-there "space-kini" and high-heeled boots, with Marjoe Gortner pulling backup as 2nd banana. Cheesy special FX, a painfully earnest performance by Christopher Plummer (you can practically see him wondering if his paycheck will clear the bank when he's finished), and a surprisingly good score ( hey, it's John Barry, what did you expect?)make this a pleasant surprise, as long as you're not expecting anything on par with E.E. "Doc" Smith, etc. A small note: I got to meet Ms. Munro at an SF convention back in '82, and I totally agree with Harlan Ellison...she was so gorgeous in person that "they had to ugly her down, so that the cameras wouldn't melt during filming!"....Though I forgot to ask her if it was true that only copy of the shooting script had been stolen by members of Italy's Red Brigade terrorists and held for ransom! Ah, rumors...anyway, try and catch it for free and you won't feel cheated.

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