News

Samurai stories, an essential genre of Japan’s film industry since its inception, have been enjoying a global resurgence lately.

FX and Disney’s smash-hit period series Shogun, produced by and starring veteran Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, became the most honored drama in Emmys history last month, winning in more categories in a single year than any show in TV history. The series, a painterly period drama about the struggle for power at the dawn of Japan’s Edo period, also became Disney+ and Hulu’s globally most-watched show ever.

Despite Shogun‘s phenomenal success, however, fans — and Disney’s content execs — will have to wait quite a while for more. Shogun has been renewed for two additional seasons, but the first season was based on James Clavell’s best-selling novel from 1975, and the show’s story arc concluded right where the author’s book ends. FX and Shogun‘s...

We already have a lot of new content to look forward to in September from the main streaming platforms, and Amazon Prime are no exception. As well as showcasing one of Will Smith’s less-successful pictures, Amazon are also putting out some great horror titles as we head into the fall, including classics like Wes Craven’s original The Last House on the Left, and several 1960s and 1970s curios from American International Pictures (Aip). What horror films can we expect, then, on Prime next month?

Well, in terms of The Last House on the Left, Craven’s directorial debut attracted controversy in the 1970s and beyond for its rape-revenge plot and generally exploitative tone. Made for just $87,000, Last House went on to be a box office success, and launched Craven’s career. The production has been banned at various times in its history, and received a 2009 reboot, which arguably...

We’re still a couple of weeks out from The Boys returning with its second season, but based on the footage we’ve seen so far, it certainly looks as if we’re in for another wild ride. One that may even top the first run of the show, which was one of the best things that we’d seen on television in a long time.

Of course, trying to predict how something as crazy as The Boys is going to end up is a fool’s errand, but let’s not forget that it won’t be the only new thing arriving on Amazon Prime in September. Far from it, in fact.

Earlier today, the streaming service announced their entire line-up of new titles for next month and it’s a meaty list, comprising both films and television shows. And though The Boys may be the highlight for many...

An election season is fast-approaching in the U.S. So for its new releases in September 2020, Amazon Prime is bringing back one of its most political shows.

The Boys season 2 premieres its first three episodes on September 4. Though the show on its face is a superhero story, viewers of season 1 will know it’s really about America’s troubling embrace of entertainment with fascism. Sounds fun and not at all terrifying right before a presidential election!

That’s not the only bleak Amazon original on the schedule for September. British TV adaptation Utopia arrives on September 25. This Gillian Flynn-produced series follows fans of a comic book who believe it predicts…world-ending pandemics. Darn it. Amazon’s only original film this month is a…documentary about voter suppression from Liz Garbus called All In: The Fight for Democracy. Yikes.

For those of us who want to relax with some ‘member berries,...

By the mid ‘60s, the glory days of Boris Karloff were far behind him. The gentle giant forever known as the screen’s original (and best) Frankenstein monster was relegated to appearing in disappointing quickies that squandered his immense talents. However, there were some twilight standouts: Mario Bava’s Black Sabbath (1963), a couple of animated delights, How The Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966) and Mad Monster Party? (1967), and his dignified portrayal of an aging horror star in Peter Bogdanovich’s debut, Targets (1968). Nestled in between (and often shown the door) was Daniel Haller’s Die, Monster, Die! (1965), an early, colorful, and fun foray into the world of H.P. Lovecraft.

Released by Aip in the Us in October on a double bill with Planet of the Vampires (Bava again), Die rolled out to theatres and drive-ins across the land, but had to wait until February to be released in England under the ghastly...

More news is coming out of the sexy creatures who populate the hallways of the Scream Factory. Two more Blu-rays are on their way which deserve a spot in your collection and on your shelf. Read on for details.

From the Press Release

It’s time to unleash our primal animal nature and succumb to the unbridled cravings for a generous dose of suspense, unspeakable desires and good old-fashioned horror storytelling! On January 21, 2014, Scream Factory™ is proud to present the provocative 1982 thriller Cat People Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™. Directed by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), this memorable cult hit is a remake of 1942 Jacque Tourneur horror noir classic. The all-star cast includes Nastassja Kinski (Tess, Savior), Malcolm McDowell ( A Clockwork Orange), John Heard (Prison Break, The Sopranos), Annette O’Toole (48 hrs), and features music by Giorgio Morotor (Top Gun, Flash Dance) with the “Cat People” theme sung by legendary artist David Bowie.

Scream Factory has provided us with new details on two of their early 2014 releases: 1982′s Cat People and Die, Monster, Die!, starring Boris Karloff:

“It’s time to unleash our primal animal nature and succumb to the unbridled cravings for generous dose of suspense, unspeakable desires and good old-fashioned horror storytelling! On January 21, 2014, Scream Factory™ is proud to present the provocative 1982 thriller Cat People Collector’s Edition Blu-ray™. Directed by Paul Schrader (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull), this memorable cult hit is a remake of 1942 Jacque Tourneur horror noir classic. The all-star cast includes Nastassja Kinski (Tess, Savior), Malcolm McDowell ( A Clockwork Orange), John Heard (Prison Break, The Sopranos), Annette O’Toole (48 hrs), and features music by Giorgio Morotor (Top Gun, Flash Dance) with “Cat People” theme sung by legendary artist David Bowie.

For the first time ever on Blu-ray, this definitive collector’s edition of Cat People features anamorphic...

Scream Factory made a surprise release announcement today, when it was revealed that they’ll be bringing Die, Monster, Die! to Blu-ray for the first time. While a specific release date has not been set, they’ve said to expect the movie early next year:

via Scream Factory: “Ready to cruise back to the 60s? We are! The 1965 shocker Die, Monster, Die! (starring Frankenstein’s monster himself, Boris Karloff) will be coming to Blu-ray for the first time from us in the early part of 2014. No other details to report at this time.”

Released in 1965 from director Daniel Haller, Die, Monster, Die! stars Boris Karloff, Nick Adams and Susan Farmer. The movie was distributed by American International Pictures and was originally released in the UK under the title Monster of Terror:

“Based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, Karloff stars as the wheelchaired master of a strange old house in Arkham,...

For those that like their giant Japanese monster action to have a little more Kurosawa-esque classiness to it, the Daimajin movies of the 1960’s were just that.

Now the giant stone samurai statue of vengeance is preparing to unleash its wrath on North American Blu-ray players for the first time ever.

Having already released the excellent 1990’s Gamera trilogy on Blu-ray in North America, Mill Creek Entertainment has announced plans to give the 1960’s Daimajin trilogy the same treatment in the form of a 2-disc triple feature collector’s edition to be released September 18th.

Synopsis:

In 1966 the Daiei Motion Picture Company – the studio behind Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon and the Gamera series – released a trilogy of films that combined elements of the popular daikaiju (giant monster) and jidaigeki (period drama) genres. Set during Japan's "Warring States" era, the Daimajin movies told the story of Majin, a giant statue of...

Many widely consider Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris the best daikaiju movie since the original Godzilla. Since the first two are already on Blu-ray, it only makes that this final installment in the epic 1990’s Gamera trilogy finally get its blu due, as well as a certain giant stone samurai.

Mill Creek Entertainment released Gamera: Guardian of the Universe and Gamera 2: Advent of Legion as a Blu-ray double feature last year. September 27th will see the third and final and most critically acclaimed entry in Daiei’s 1990’s Gamera revival take its hi-def bow on September 27th for the stunningly low price of only $9.98.

The disc is promised to come packed with extra, but specifics as to what the extras will be remain vague other than confirmation of interviews with the cast and crew and a behind-the-scenes with the special FX crew.

Mill Creek Entertainment will also be releasing...