Sunday, December 04, 2011

When Winter Attacks! A Preview of Beastie Themed Horror Titles

When the coldest time of the year arrives, the snow it leaves behind may have some people putting on their gloves. Some will tuck in, hiding in the warmth of their homes and others will challenge the winter wonderland head-on. Here are some “inspirational” films to make tackling the winter doldrums just a little more fun. The theme in this list is what kind of beasts may lurk within that icy tundra near and afar?


The Thing from Another World (1951), The Thing (1982 & 2011) DVD & Blu-ray

The Thing From Another World (1951) at Amazon

No list can be complete without mention of the original, John Carpenter’s classic and the prequel in the same breath. When unleashing an alien terror is not enough, a night can be enjoyed watching all three films! Alien invasion cannot be any more disgusting with the innovative monster creations that are to be found in this movie set. The 2011 prequel will be released Jan 31, 2012.

Prequel Extras (2011):
-deleted/extended scenes
-featurettes (“The Thing Evolves,” “Fire & Ice)
-UltraViolet & The Thing digital download (expires 6/27/2012)
-feature commentary tracks


The Thing (1982) at Amazon


The Abominable Snowman (1957) (disc-on-demand)

"When Dr. John Rollason (Peter Cushing), a botanist, decides the join the exploration team on a dangerous expedition into the Himalayas, they will no doubt find danger. Mt. Everest may be tough to scale, but that is hardly the danger when there is a race of beasts that is capable of telepathy."

Note: This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

The Abominable Snowman (1957)


Black Christmas Special Edition (1974) DVD/Blu-ray

An ill-fated house full of sorority sisters get more than they expect as they celebrate their last days of college life before going home for Christmas. There is a killer on the loose, and that just may very well be the person seen crawling into the attic in this movie’s opening act. This film is hailed as one of the gems that kick-started the slasher sub-genre.

Extras:
-two newly discovered original scenes, with new soundtrack
-“The 12 Days of Black Christmas” featurette
-interviews with Olivia Hussey & Margot Kidder, and many more.

Black Christmas Special Edition at Amazon


Cold Prey (2009) DVD

Abandoned hotels, snowbound terrors, and a victim with a broken leg—oh my! If that’s not enough, yes, there’s a psychopath killer in the hotel that Jannicke, Morten, Eirik, Mikael and Ingunn are holing up in. Heeere’s Johnny!

Extras:
-several making-of featurettes
-alternate ending
-short films from director Roar Uthag

Cold Prey on DVD at Amazon


Dead Snow (2009) DVD & Blu-ray

Zombies and Nazis are the only two words people really need to know about this horror comedy. The setup could not be any better when medical students take a vacation high up in the Norwegian Alps and discover some gold. They soon realize that Montezuma is not the historical figure wanting his treasure back.

Extras:
-behind the scenes footage
-make up FX featurette
-a short film entitled "Madness in the North"

Dead Snow on DVD at Amazon


Jack Frost (1997), Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman (2000)

After an ice slick causes a police vehicle to collide with a tanker containing some strange chemical compound, this film is obviously not the origin tale of the Joker. Instead, this horror comedy details the creation of a killer snowman, uses a carrot in an erotic scene, and finds antifreeze to be an effective weapon. This film did well to spawn a sequel, Jack Frost 2: Revenge of the Mutant Killer Snowman.

Extras (Jack Frost 2):
-music video
-montages
-audio commentary.

Jack Frost (1996) at Amazon

Jack Frost 2 on DVD


Let the Right One In (2008)

Viewers will be in for a tough decision in which version is the right one to own, if its not already in the collection. 28DLA’s answer is to watch the classic. When a precocious boy finds life difficult by not knowing how to live, just whom he makes friends with is as foreboding as the cold world he’s trapped in.

Extras (2008):
-deleted scenes
-behind-the-scenes featurette
-photo & theatrical poster

Let the Right One In at Amazon


Let Me In (2010) DVD & Blu-ray

The update bears mention too because of the collection of extras it contains. The Blu-ray edition offers an audio aommentary with writer/director Matt Reeves, features like “From the Inside: A Look at the Making of Let Me In,” “The Art of Special Effects,” “Crash Sequence Step-by-Step,” “Dissecting Let Me In.” Additional material includes deleted scenes with a commentary track by writer/director Matt Reeves and plenty of image galleries.

Let Me In on BluRay at Amazon


Santa Claws (2006) DVD

This holiday movie features a different kind of Christmas cheer with B-Movie Scream Queen Raven Quinn being a target of desire. Her marriage is falling apart, and there is a quiet next-door neighbor who wants to say ho-ho-ho.

Extras:
-behind the scenes featurette with Charles Band
-interview with Bill Hinzman
-blooper reel
-original opening sequence

Santa Claws on DVD


Santa’s Slay
(2005) DVD

Wrestler Bill Goldberg is Santa in this gig. In this film, Old Saint Nick is actually the son of Satan, and ages ago, he made a bet with an angel which transformed him to jolly ol’ gift giving, sleigh-riding, rotund individual that mankind has come to know him as. All bets are off this year. The terms of the agreement has expired, and the Devil is back, and he’s mad.

Extras:
-information unavailable

Santa's Slay (2005) at Amazon


Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984) DVD

This slasher film has gained cult status for its psychological tale about a young boy, Billy Chapman, horribly traumatized. A killer dressed in a Santa suit did more than leave scars. Years later, Chapman and his brother Ricky live in an orphanage. The older Billy has to learn how to distinguish between what is naughty and nice, but the road he travels in is anything but.

This product spawned four sequels, and they are not as widely available. VHS tapes are still being sold on Amazon.

Extras:
-an audio interview with director Charles E. Sellier Jr.
-poster
-booklet feature essays about this film

Silent Night, Deadly Night on DVD


Wendigo (2001) DVD

Although this product falls short of many viewers’ expectations, this creature of the artic wastelands needs to be mentioned. This legendary beast from Native Indian folklore comes to life to terrorize George. While en-route to the Catskills to spend time at a friend’s college, trouble arrives when they accidentally hit a deer. Somehow this has awakened the rage of the Wendigo. Where is Sitting Bull to save the day when you need him?

Extras:
-searching for the Wendigo
-behind the scenes featurette
-director commentary
-art gallery
-an Interview with Director Larry Fessenden.

Wendigo on DVD at Amazon


Yeti, Maneater Series (2009) DVD

A college football team must find a way to survive after their plane crashes on the Himalayas. They could make some skis and navigate their way down to safety, or they could stumble upon a ferocious creature in a cave. But this “bear” has a bad additude. Will the team survive the sub-zero temperatures all huddled up, or will they be eaten alive?

Extras:
-trailer and previews for Genius Product's other films ( Maneater Pictures Promo Trailer, Viper, Never Cry Werewolf, Anamorph, Furnace).

Yeti: Maneater Series on DVD

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