News

Italian Grindhouse fans rejoice! Blu-ray.com has reported that the Bruno Mattei creature feature Rats: Night of Terror is getting a brand new 4K Blu-ray release. The 1984 horror film stars Ottaviano Dell’Acqua, Geretta Geretta, Massimo Vanni, Gianni Franco, and Fausto Lombardi. The Blu-ray and 4K physical releases come from Severin and are scheduled to hit retailers on May 27.

The official synopsis reads,

“Having depicted the zombie apocalypse in Hell Of The Living Dead, director Bruno Mattei and screenwriters Claudio Fragasso & Rossella Drudi took on a new kind of cataclysm to create “a grotesque, funny and thrilling magnum opus” (Daily Dead) that still must be seen to be believed, now in Uhd: In the year 225 A.B. (After The Bomb), a gang of scavengers discovers a seemingly abandoned city – including sets originally built for Once Upon A Time In America – only to become prey for millions of flesh-hungry rats. Ottaviano Dell...

Severin Films will release Hell of the Living Dead and Rats: Night of Terror on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray on May 27.

Directed by cult Italian filmmaker Bruno Mattei, both movies have been newly restored in 4K from their original camera negatives.

Also known as Virus and Zombie Creeping Flesh, Hell of the Living Dead is a 1980 zombie film from writers Claudio Fragasso (Troll 2) and José María Cunillés. Margit Evelyn Newton, Franco Garofalo, Selan Karay, and José Gras star.

An accident at a chemical plant unleashes a horrific virus, and an elite Swat team is sent to New Guinea to investigate. But when they arrive on the hellish island, they discover a plague of flesh-eating zombies.

Special Features:

Go To Hell – Interview With Director Bruno Mattei The Beauty And The Zombies – Interview With Actress Margie Newton My Big Chance – Interview With Actor Franco Garofalo Lt. Mike London Is Back! – Interview...

Severin Films, who have released a long lineup of her films, brings us the sad news this week that prolific Italian genre screenwriter Rossella Drudi has passed away at the age of 61.

Horror fans may best know Rossella Drudi as the co-writer of Troll 2, which was one of Drudi’s many collaborations with her husband, Claudio Fragasso. Both Drudi and Fragasso were heavily featured in the documentary Best Worst Movie, which dove deep into the making of Troll 2 as well as explored the film’s legacy as one of the, well, best worst movies ever made.

But Rossella Drudi worked on countless other Italian genre movies throughout her decades-spanning career, writing and co-writing horror films including Hell of the Living Dead, Women’s Prison Massacre, Rats: Night of Terror, Monster Dog, Zombi 3, Robowar, After Death, Beyond Darkness, and The Crawlers, and that list quite frankly goes on and on.

Stars: Lewis Santer, Natasha Tosini, Chris Lines, Stephen Staley, Thomas K. Murphy, Tessa Wood | Written by Marc Gottlieb, Harry Boxley | Directed by Brendan Petrizzo

The filmmakers behind Mouse of Horrors, originally titled The Mouse Experiment, are an assortment of folk connected to some of the most prolific sources of low-budget horror out there. The director, Brendan Petrizzo has a history with The Asylum, having produced and/or directed films that include The Devil’s Triangle and Attack of the Meth Gator. One of the writers, Marc Gottlieb, also has a long history there, having written among others Top Gunner: Danger Zone and 2025 Armageddon.

The other of this tale’s scribes, Harry Boxley has delivered scripts like Jurassic Triangle and Piglet to Jagged Edge, Proportion Productions and ITN Distribution, companies much of the cast have worked for as well. And just for good measure, the cinematographer is Charlie Steeds, owner...

“We must explore this shitty place!”

- A character about to explore a shitty place

Yes you must, and you’ll take us with you, thanks. Rats: Night of Terror (1984) offers everything and more one could want in an indie release: sincerity, thievery, and sincere thievery. The Italian genre machine set its sights all post-apocalypto following the successes of Escape from New York and The Road Warrior (both ‘81), and wouldn’t you know, the films they made are by turns weird, grotesque, funny, thrilling, and titillating. Also wouldn’t you know, Rats is a whole lot of all of it.

Produced by Beatrice Film (fine purveyors of Mattei’s gut muncher Hell of the Living Dead), Rats didn’t show up in Italy until May of ‘85, after Germany premiered it in the fall of ‘84. Stateside? Not until ‘86. All of this is to say that the film’s history is checkered at best,...

It’s no huge revelation to say the moon is Moonbase 8's MacGuffin, but it’s worth noting while recapping “Rats,” an episode that continues to frame the natural satellite as more idea than object. Last week, John C. Reilly’s Cap told the late Travis Kelce that the moon was his get-out-of-jail-free card—set foot on the…...

The Kinks will mark the 50th anniversary of their music industry-satirizing 1970 album Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround Part One with a massive reissue that pairs the remastered album with studio outtakes, demo recordings, BBC performances, and previously unreleased material. The Lola Versus Powerman reissue arrives on December 18th.

In addition to tracks that featured singer Ray Davies’ scathing view at the music industry at the time, the album also boasted the iconic quasi-title track “Lola,” the Kinks’ hit about an encounter with a transgender person. “The album is a...

In his new crime series, “Rats,” Slovakian writer Miro Šifra not only tells a gripping tale set in the Czech Republic’s complex drug industry but also a poignant human story.

The fact-based drama examines the dynamic world of the Czech-Vietnamese meth syndicates, funded by cryptocurrency and monitored by police drug enforcement task forces. The story focuses on David, a hapless young drug dealer, played by Cyril Dobrý, who is forced by a narcotics investigator (Václav Neužil) into becoming a police informer. Despite his willingness to cooperate, things don’t go as planned.

Crime drama is a genre Šifra knows well. His two previous works, the 2016 Slovakian box office hit “Red Captain” and the 2018 Czech series “Red Lines,” examined political and state-organized crime committed by the secret police in the waning days of Czechoslovakia.

“The crime drama is a genre with clear rules, which is ideal for learning the screenwriting craft,...

Cursing is a sign of weakness. You know who taught me that? Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Charlie Brown and the whole “Peanuts” gang, who never used an epithet in the comic strip harsher than “Rats.” More often it was just “Good grief.” “You don’t need anything stronger than that,” Sparky (as everyone called him) told me in one of our early interviews. He was a wise and gentle artist, who hailed from Minneapolis and made his home in Santa Rosa, California. So when I read that a Republican congressman from Florida named Ted Yoho called his colleague Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-ny) a “f—-ing bitch,” I was shocked. The words were uttered in full earshot of a reporter from The Hill, who reported it. I’m still in shock, actually. And now I’m in awe. Because Ocasio-Cortez made history on the floor of Congress on Thursday when...

Kevin Smith is one filmmaker who has always positioned himself as a man of the common people, rather than belonging to an exclusive clique of Hollywood plutocrats. Smith's latest film, the much-awaited sequel to his 1995 cult classic movie Mallrats, is gearing up to begin shooting. And the filmmaker wants fans to decide what the official title of the project should be.

"The big question right now, and we can throw this out to the audience too, two titles. I love Twilight of the Mallrats, but the other day I put up an Instagram post where it was me and Ethan together and I wrote Mallrats Too, T-o-o, and somebody was like, 'There's your title.' I was like, 'Oh sh*t, was it that obvious? Did I miss it?' So you got two options. Would you rather see ... In a world where you are looking to see a Mallrats sequel,...

The "Master of Unlocking" is heading to the big screen, as Hannah John-Kamen has reportedly been offered the part of Jill Valentine in Screen Gems' upcoming Resident Evil Reboot movie. Known for playing Ava Star in the McU movie Ant-Man and the Wasp and F'Nale Zandor in Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One, John-Kamen has also had memorable roles in the television shows Game of Thrones, Killjoys, and the Netflix Original The Strangers.

Now, The Illuminerdi reports that Hannah John-Kamen is up for the part of Jill in the next Resident Evil movie, though she has yet to officially accept the role.

Rebooting the story from scratch with no relation to Paul W. S. Anderson's Resident Evil movies, the new iteration is said to be more faithful to the original video games. This includes using fan favorite characters much more prominently, such as making Jill Valentine a central character. This...

"Say your prayers" and witness the stylized carnage of Bruno Mattei's The Other Hell (1981), which will be available on Blu-ray courtesy of Severin Films on April 11th.

From Severin Films: “Note: This Listing Includes The Dark Waters Blu-ray Along With Our Limited Edition The Other Hell Inspired T-shirt Which Was Made In Collaboration With The Fine Folks Of Pallbearer Press.

Available on 04/11/2017

At the peak of his ‘80s excess, Italian sleaze maestro Bruno Mattei – using the alias ‘Stefan Oblowsky’ – stunned audiences with The Other Hell, a raging Nunsploitation shocker about a series of brutal murders in a depraved convent. And while his cinematic legacy may remain controversial, Mattei here delivers a surprisingly stylized yet undeniably blasphemous orgy of stabbings, stigmata, Satanism, sexual violence and graphic savagery that ranks among his very best. Franca Stoppi (The True Story Of The Nun Of Monza), Carlo De Mejo (Women’S Prison...

December 8th is a light week in terms of horror and sci-fi home entertainment releases, but for all you X-Philes out there, this Tuesday is pretty much like second Christmas, as 20th Century Fox is releasing The X-Files series in its entirety in a Collector’s Edition Blu-ray set (complete with a space for the upcoming TV event series in January).

Other notable titles being released this week include Knock Knock, Ant-Man, and the cult classics Thundercrack and Women’s Prison Massacre.

Knock Knock (Lionsgate Blu/Digital HD & DVD/Digital)

When a devoted husband and father is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse. A sexy new thriller from director Eli Roth, Knock Knock stars Keanu Reeves as the family...

Tomorrow, Scream Factory's giving Bruno Mattei’s cinematic jailbreak its high-def due with their new home media release of Women’s Prison Massacre, and we've been provided with three Blu-ray copies to give away.

------------

Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive (1) Blu-ray copy of Women’s Prison Massacre.

How to Enter: For a chance to win, email contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Women’s Prison Massacre Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Entry Details: The contest will end at 12:01am Est on December 13th. This contest is only open to those who are eighteen years of age or older that live in the United States. Only one entry per household will be accepted.

------------

Women’s Prison Massacre Blu-ray: "Featuring master of exploitation Bruno Mattei’s (Cruel Jaws, Rats: Night of Terror) signature flourishes and a script co-written by Claudio Fragasso (Troll 2, Beyond Darkness...

A trashcan from space that's brimming with troublemakers and a life-or-death jailbreak are both coming to Blu-ray next Tuesday from Scream Factory. Ahead of the December 8th Blu-ray releases of The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Collector's Edition and Women’s Prison Massacre, we have high-definition clips from each film.

The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Collector's Edition Blu-ray: "Based on the wildly popular trading cards, The Garbage Pail Kids® Movie stars singer/songwriter Anthony Newley (Doctor Dolittle), Mackenzie Astin (Iron Will, Wyatt Earp), Katie Barberi (The Bronx Zoo). This grossly entertaining cult classic features great makeup effects by John Carl Buechler (Troll, Dolls, Ghoulies).

The Garbage Pail Kids® Movie Collector’s Edition

Special Features:

New The Effects of the Garbage Pail Kids Movie – interviews with special makeup effects creator John Carl Buechler and makeup effects artist Gino Crognale New On the Set – an interview with first assistant director Thomas A. Irvine...

Scream Factory's giving Bruno Mattei’s cinematic jailbreak its high-def due next month when they release Women’s Prison Massacre on Blu-ray. To help hold fans over until the film's December 8th Blu-ray debut, we have official release details and a look at the cover art:

Press Release: Featuring master of exploitation Bruno Mattei’s (Cruel Jaws, Rats: Night of Terror) signature flourishes and a script co-written by Claudio Fragasso (Troll 2, Beyond Darkness), Women’s Prison Massacre is a brutal and uncompromising entry in one of cinema’s most infamous genres. This 1980s Italian exploitation classic makes its Blu-ray debut on December 8th, 2015 courtesy of Scream Factory. Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com

Mattei hauls his unique cinematic stylings to the slammer in Women’s Prison Massacre! Sultry reporter Emanuelle (Laura Gemser) is on the verge of breaking a big story about a corrupt politician...

Scream Factory continues to pack the home media release calendar, as they recently announced four more upcoming Blu-ray titles, including Zombie High and The Brain That Wouldn't Die. The diligent distributor has also stirred up some ’80s nostalgia with their new cover art for The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Collector's Edition Blu-ray.

Initially announced at San Diego Comic-Con, The Garbage Pail Kids Movie Collector's Edition Blu-ray is slated for a December 8th release. Special features are expected to be unveiled before Halloween, and we'll be sure to share the news with our readers as soon as it hits. In the meantime, we have official details and a look at the cover art, below:

From Scream Factory: "Your favorite grime bandits come to life with all the farts, snot and vomit you can take in this hilarious film full of gross-out humor. Based on the wildly popular and irreverent trading cards,...

In 1989, Italian director Bruno Mattei made an amalgam of Aliens and The Terminator. We look back at a wonderfully bad film...

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then a 1989 Italian film called Shocking Dark pays James Cameron the ultimate compliment: it openly steals from not one but two of his 80s hits.

Now, it’s no secret that B-movie filmmakers have long taken ‘inspiration’ from hit genre movies - Star Wars, Alien, Jaws and Mad Max are some of the most imitated films of the 70s and 80s, spawning such cult B-movies as StarCrash, 1990: Bronx Warriors and Contamination.

Shocking Dark, on the other hand, occupies its own special place in movie history. We’re not just talking about an attempt to evoke the general atmosphere of a successful film here - we’re talking about the wholesale recreation of entire sequences. As an example, consider the following...

International release dates have been announced for over 17 countries for Zach Lipovsky's Dead Rising: Watchtower. Also: details on The Walking Dead and battle app, Winnin, joining forces, as well as a full image gallery for Appetites.

Dead Rising: Watchtower: Press Release: "Content Media is set to release the highly anticipated Dead Rising: Watchtower internationally, presented by Legendary Digital, available to rent or own on all major digital platforms on selected dates worldwide across Europe, Asia, Australasia, South America and Africa from July 1st 2015. The international release follows its Us release through Sony’s Crackle streaming service in March.

Legendary Digital presents Dead Rising: Watchtower, a Dead Rising/Contradiction Films Production- directed by Zach Lipovsky (Leprechaun: Origins), written and produced by Tim Carter (Mortal Kombat: Legacy), and executive produced by Tomas Harlan (Mortal Kombat: Legacy) and Lorenzo di Bonaventura (the Transformers franchise). Based on the widely popular Capcom video...

Welcome to another horror round-up! Nicolas Winding Refn’s The Neon Demon has added a few key cast members, the El Rey Network kicks off their 2nd annual ‘Rip Your Heart Out’ Marathon on Cupid’s big day next weekend, and Portsmouth’s Seacoast Repertory Theatre is hosting a special screening of Herschell Gordon Lewis’ cult classic Blood Feast at the end of the month, featuring a Skype interview with the prolific director and a food competition amongst attendees.

The Neon Demon: Deadline recently reported that Keanu Reeves, Christina Hendricks, Jena Malone, and Bella Heathcote have joined the growing cast of Nicolas Winding Refn’s in-development horror film, The Neon Demon. The roles of the new additions are not yet known. Elle Fanning and Abbey Lee will also star in the film, with Fanning set to play an “aspiring model who is caught in a world of beauty and demise.