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Stars: John Cassavetes, Duncan McIntosh, John Ireland, Kerrie Keane, Helen Hughes, Erin Noble, Harvey Atkin, Harry Ditson | Written by Ray Russell, George Franklin | Directed by John Hough

There are films that scare you in the moment, and then there are films that unnerve you in ways you can’t quite name. The Incubus, a 1981 horror oddity starring John Cassavetes, falls squarely into the latter category. When I sat down to watch this new 88 Films Blu-ray, I expected the usual genre mechanics of early-’80s horror: a town in peril, a shadowy force, the expected body count. What I didn’t expect was the eerie, fragmented atmosphere, the lingering existential melancholy—and above all, the strange, haunted performance from Cassavetes that somehow elevates this film from exploitation fare to something more enigmatic.

Let’s get the basics out of the way. The plot, on paper, sounds like pulp: a small New...

Disgusting, or shocking, are words often used to inform the audience what awaits them in a horror film. When a film is about demon rape, lurid immediately comes to mind. However, if you have a restrained (and respected) British horror director at the helm, will the results be different? Incubus (1982) is a fascinating shocker that attempts to walk the line between classy whodunit and lascivious bloodlust.

Released in September by Artists Releasing Corporation, Incubus (or, The Incubus according to the poster) had a large budget for a horror title at the time (5.1 million Cad) and was not a draw at the box office. Reviews were mostly dismal as well, and considering the subject matter, this is not surprising. ‘Demon rape’ does not scream fun night out at the movies. However, Incubus provides many moments of terror designed with the discerning horror fiend in mind. It’s an underappreciated gem.

Story time: Dr.

Around the time I brought this Vestron Video release home from my local video store, I had an adolescent fascination with how the punk rock subculture that influenced my development had been portrayed in the media. In everything from video games to television and films, punk rockers were mostly portrayed as villains. There was a mythological aura surrounding the way these rebellious thugs were portrayed and it's clear in Class of 1984 that filmmaker Mark L. Lester (Commando) had a similar fascination and knew that pushing the legend made for better cinema.

Lester proudly declares now that he was prophetically making a film that bares important social significance and considers it to be the best film he's ever made, but let's be honest and admit that this movie is pure sleazy exploitation. Don't get me wrong, I love some good fun exploitation and as far as that's concerned there's no...

The second week of April is a big one for horror fans, as one of the most buzzed-about indie genre films of 2014—The Babadook—is finally coming home this Tuesday courtesy of Scream Factory and IFC Midnight. There are also a multitude of classic cult titles arriving in high-def on April 14th as well, including Long Weekend, Tales of Terror, the sequels to both The Toxic Avenger and Class of Nuke ’Em High, and Class of 1984.

Several new titles are also being released this week including Jinn, Roadside, and Echoes, and 20th Century Fox is unleashing their terror-filled sequel, The Woman in Black 2 Angel of Death, on both Blu-ray and DVD.

The Babadook (Scream Factory/IFC Midnight, Deluxe Edition Blu-ray & DVD)

Amelia (AFI Award winner Essie Davis, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, The Slap) is a single mother plagued by the violent death of her husband.

When someone says they're "surviving high school," it can usually be considered an exaggeration, but when it comes to the teachers and students of Lincoln High, there's a literal truth in the phrase. Sinister students stalk the school's halls and don't hesitate to teach their own warped lessons to teachers after the bell rings in Mark L. Lester's Class of 1984. Scream Factory is releasing the early ’80s thriller in a Collector's Edition Blu-ray on April 14th, and we've been provided with two copies to give away to a couple of lucky Daily Dead readers.

"Synopsis: The teachers at Lincoln High have a very dangerous problem… their students!

Andrew Norris (Perry King, Lipstick, Mandingo), an idealistic and naive music teacher, has moved into a new community with his pregnant wife, Diane (Merrie Lynn Ross, General Hospital), only to find his new job is an academic abyss. Appalled by the crime-infested school,...

Detention doesn't solve problems in Class of 1984. The atrocious actions of the unruly students call for a far more intense form of discipline that Mr. Norris is pushed to dish out in the early ’80s thriller from Mark L. Lester. Soon, you can experience Class of 1984’s extracurricular revenge like never before, as Scream Factory's Collector's Edition Blu-ray of the film comes out on April 14th. Ahead of its release, we have the trailer and two clips from the Blu-ray, giving us a look at a young Michael J. Fox and a gun-wielding Roddy McDowall.

"Synopsis: The teachers at Lincoln High have a very dangerous problem… their students!

Andrew Norris (Perry King, Lipstick, Mandingo), an idealistic and naive music teacher, has moved into a new community with his pregnant wife, Diane (Merrie Lynn Ross, General Hospital), only to find his new job is an academic abyss. Appalled by the crime-infested school,...

Can't make it to the Valentine's Day Cannibal Holocaust feast at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema this Saturday? Don't sweat it, because now available from Mondo is the vinyl soundtrack and a new poster for the influential Italian horror film, along with a blood-dripping Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives that's also fittingly been released today. And that's just the first of three news items in our latest horror round-up, as we also look at Shout! Factory's Metal Hurlant Chronicles: The Complete Series Blu-ray and the newly unveiled final special features of Shout! Factory label Scream Factory's Class of 1984.

Cannibal Holocaust & Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives: Now available from Mondo:

"Cannibal Holocaust by Jock. 24"x36" screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 250. Printed by D&L Screenprinting. $50"

"Cannibal Holocaust (Variant) by Jock. 24"x36" screen print. Hand numbered. Edition of 100. Printed by D&L Screenprinting. $75"

"Cannibal Holocaust LP.

McM Expo/London Comic Con returns to ExCel London on 25th – 27th October. As well as hosting a galaxy of great sci-fi, movie, games, comics, anime and cosplay content, they’ve also got their usual huge line up of special guests – with more guests being added all the time! see www.mcmcomiccon.com for the latest London Comic Con news – but here’s a round-up of who’s been announced so far:

Red hot fantasy-noir show Lost Girl is coming to McM London Comic Com, with stars Ksenia Solo (Black Swan, Life Unexpected) and Rachel Skarsten (Transporter: The Series, Birds Of Prey) plus executive producer Jay Firestone (Andromeda, La Femme Nikita). Stars from hit sci-fi series Warehouse 13: Kelly Hu (Arrow, X-Men 2, The Vampire Diaries); Eddie McClintock (Bones, Desperate Housewives) and actor/director Saul Rubinek (Frasier, Curb Your Enthusiasm). The stars of new crime thriller By Any Means: Warren Brown (Luther,...