Vinegar Syndrome has announced its October batch of Blu-ray releases. They are:
Ticks (1993),
The Laughing Dead (1989),
Camille Keaton in Italy (1974),
Nothing Underneath / Too Beautiful to Die (1985-1988), and
The Grave (1996).
Ticks 4K Blu-ray
Synopsis: An assortment of unruly and misfit teens have all been forced to attend camp at a wildlife preserve, to commune with nature. What they don't realize is that nearby in the woods, an illicit marijuana growing operation is underway and the weed farmers have been using a pesticide which has had one very unintended side effect: turning ordinary ticks into giant, ravenous bloodsuckers...
One of the quintessential creature features of the early 90s, Tony Randel's (Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Amityville: It's About Time) TICKS pays loving tribute to 1950s giant monster movies, updating the formula by adding copious amounts of slime and heavily increased bloodshed. Starring Seth Green (Austin Powers), Alfonso Ribeiro (TV's Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Rosalind Allen (TV's Seinfeld) and a very memorable appearance from Clint Howard (Ice Cream Man), Vinegar Syndrome brings TICKS to 4K UHD for the very first time in a never-before-seen extended version, featuring comprehensive interviews and commentaries with the film's key creators including producer Brian Yuzna (Society) and TICKS creator and effects supervisor, Doug Beswick (Aliens, The Terminator).
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM FROM AN INTERPOSITIVE
- HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
- Commentary track with director Tony Randel and actor Clint Howard, moderated by Nathaniel Thompson
- Commentary track with special effects supervisor Doug Beswick and stop-motion animator Yancy Calzada, moderated by filmmaker Joe Begos
- "UNDER THE SKIN: THE MAKING OF TICKS" - an extended three part making-of documentary with: director Tony Randel, actress Rosalind Allen, special effects supervisor Doug Beswick, actress Ami Dolenz, writer Brent Friedman, editor Leslie Rosenthal, composer Christopher Stone and executive producer Brian Yuzna
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- 4K BLU-RAY/BLU-RAY REGION-FREE COMBO RELEASE
Camille Keaton in Italy
Before starring in the notorious exploitation classic, I Spit on Your Grave, Camille Keaton starred in a series of highly atmospheric, early 70s Italian horror films, three of which are collected here, on Blu-ray, for the first time.
MADELEINE
Synopsis: Madeleine has just endured a traumatizing miscarriage. Finding herself increasingly lost in bizarre nightmares, she begins to question her life and happiness, taking refuge in extra marital affairs and unstoppable hedonism. But how long can she hide from reality before the brutal consequences of her actions catch up to her?
An eerie, sensual, and character driven mood piece which is highly reliant of unsettling dream sequences, Roberto Mauri's MADELEINE: ANATOMY OF A NIGHTMARE offers one of Camille Keaton's strongest performances, and co-stars Paola Senatore (Eaten Alive), Silvano Tranquilli (Legend of Blood Castle), and Pier Maria Rossi (The Messiah). Sumptuously lensed by veteran cinematographer Carlo Carlini (Autopsy), Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present the world Blu-ray debut of MADELEINE, newly restored in 4K from its original camera negative and presented for the first time in its English language version, with Keaton's original English dialogue finally able to be heard.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
- Commentary track with actress Camille Keaton & Art Ettinger
- "Passport to Kill" - a brand new interview with actress Camille Keaton
- Audio essay by critic Rachael Nisbet
- Alternate Italian 'Burning Baby' sequence
- Original trailer
- Camille Keaton Still Gallery
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- REGION-FREE
TRAGIC CEREMONY
A foursome of young friends, enjoying themselves in the countryside, happen upon a secluded villa. Believing the place to be empty, they decide to investigate, only to stumble upon a grisly, in progress satanic rite. Barely escaping with their lives, it's not long before evil forces begin to torment them...
Best known for its bonkers, mid-film massacre, Riccardo Freda's (Iguana With the Tongue of Fire) Spanish-Italian co-production, TRAGIC CEREMONY is a gore heavy supernatural horror treat that dispenses normal logic in favor of ever mounting weirdness. Starring Camille Keaton, Tony Isbert (No One Heard the Scream), Luciana Paluzzi (Thunderball), and veteran Italian character actor Luigi Pistilli (The Good the Bad and the Ugly), and scored by maestro Stelvio Cipriani (A Bay of Blood), Vinegar Syndrome is excited to present the Blu-ray debut of TRAGIC CEREMONY, newly restored from its original negative.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
- Commentary track with critic and author Samm Deighan
- "Camille's European Adventures" - an archival interview with actress Camille Keaton
- Camille Keaton Still Gallery
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- REGION-FREE
SEX OF THE WITCH
The wealthy patriarch of the Hilton family has just died, and his heirs have gathered at the family castle to collect on their inheritances. However, it's not long before a black clad killer strikes, bumping off several members of the Hilton clan, in gruesome fashion. As the police begin their investigation, long buried secrets are revealed, including curses and connections to black magic.
An almost impossibly trashy mix of gothic horror, sex drama, and giallo overtones, Angelo Pannacciò's (Holocaust II) SEX OF THE WITCH is a gloriously perverse slice of Eurosleaze. Featuring Camille Keaton alongside Jessica Dublin (Toxic Avenger II & III), Franco Garofalo (Virus), and Donald O'Brien (Zombie Holocaust), Vinegar Syndrome presents the world Blu-ray debut of SEX OF THE WITCH, newly restored from its original techniscope negative and including nearly 10 minutes of additional, long lost, sex!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
- Commentary track with critic and author Kat Ellinger
- Original trailer
- Camille Keaton Still Gallery
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- REGION-FREE
The Laughing Dead
Synopsis: A busload of travelers and their guide, on the hunt for Aztec ruins, decide to stop in an all but forgotten-to-time Mexican village, on the eve of the Day of the Dead. The tour leader, a disgraced priest, is enlisted by a local doctor to perform what he believes to be an exorcism, but in actuality, the doctor is using him to begin a diabolical ritual intended to bring about Hell on Earth!
Among the weirder and more original indie horror films to pop up at the tail end of the 80s, Thai born filmmaker Somtow Sucharitkul's THE LAUGHING DEAD, which he directed, wrote, produced, scored, and acts in, plays heavily into the colorful, gory, and effortlessly surreal tropes of Asian horror films of the 70s and early 80s, but relocates the setting to rural Mexico. Reveling in plentiful and creative death scenes (including a human 'basketball'), all gorgeously photographed by David Boyd (The Walking Dead), Vinegar Syndrome is delighted to present the world Blu-ray debut of THE LAUGHING DEAD, newly restored in 4K from its original negative.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVE
- Commentary track with writer/director/producer Somtow Sucharitkul
- "Unholy Assembly: Crafting The Laughing Dead" - an extended making-of documentary with: director Somtow Sucharitkul, producer Lex Nakashima, actress Premika Eaton, actor Tim Sullivan, cinematographer David Boyd, associate producer/second unit director Michael Deak, costume designer Shellagh Hannigan and transportation/pa Ron Ford
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- REGION-FREE
Nothing Underneath / Too Beautiful to Die
Synopsis: Bob Crane has long maintained a psychic connection to his twin sister, Jessica, who works as a fashion model in Milan. When Bob senses that his sister might be injured or killed, he travels to Italy to look for her, only to discover that she's vanished without a trace. Enlisting the help of about-to-retire Commissioner Danesi, Bob soon finds himself embroiled in a web of mystery and terror, when a scissors wielding killer begins to strike and all clues lead back to Jessica... A highly entertaining and unexpectedly raunchy late period giallo, clearly taking a cue from the American slasher craze, Carlo Vanzina's NOTHING UNDERNEATH amps up its mid 80s stylings and stars prolific TV actor Tom Schanley (Dexter), Danish fashion model Renée Simonsen, and Donald Pleasence (Halloween) and features a lush score by Pino Donaggio (Dressed to Kill).
A group of high fashion models have been invited to an isolated house to attend a party. As the night wears on, one of the models falls victim to a deadly 'accident,' which sets into motion a series of brutal murders, all traced back to a shocking secret... An in name only sequel to Nothing Underneath, prolific commercial director Dario Piana's feature film debut, TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE (Nothing Underneath II in Italy), is a quickly paced, ultra stylized, and satisfyingly violent giallo/slasher hybrid which stars French TV star François-Eric Gendron, Florence Guérin (Faceless), and Randi Ingerman (The Two Jakes).
Vinegar Syndrome proudly presents both NOTHING UNDERNEATH and TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE on English language Blu-ray for the first time, newly restored 4K from their original 35mm camera negatives and bursting with exclusive special features.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- BOTH FILMS RESTORED IN 4K FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVES
- Both films presented in their original English language soundtrack along with an optional Italian dub track (untranslated)
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles for both films
- REGION-FREE TWO-DISC SET
DISC ONE: NOTHING UNDERNEATH
- Commentary track by The Hysteria Continues!
- Commentary track by film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet
- "Murders a la Mode" - an interview with screenwriter Enrico Vanzina
- "Murder He Wrote" - an interview with screenwriter Franco Ferrini
- "High Fashion Music" - an interview with composer Pino Donaggio
- "Models, Murders and Italy" - an interview with actor Tom Schanley
DISC TWO: TOO BEAUTIFUL TO DIE
- Commentary track by film historian and critic Rachael Nisbet
- "Nothing True But The Eyes" - an interview with writer/director Dario Piana
- Alternate ending storyboards
- Deleted Scenes Storyboards
The Grave
Synopsis: King (Craig Sheffer, Night Breed) and Tyn (Josh Charles, Four Brothers) are inmates in a North Carolina prison who overhear the story of "The Grave", which promises buried treasure to anyone daring enough to embark on its quest. Naturally, the two break out of prison with the intent to dig up the mysterious loot, only to end up in a twisty crime and horror filled saga involving fellow criminals, old flames and a character known only as "The Priest" played by Keith David (They Live).
An idiosyncratic and highly entertaining entry in the post-Tarantino, indie-crime cinema of the mid-90s, Jonas Pate's (Deceiver, TV's Outer Banks) clever amalgam of Southern Gothic, hardboiled fiction, dark comedy and Tales from the Crypt-esque horror yarn is utterly unique and elevated by an astonishing supporting cast including Eric Roberts (Runaway Train), Gabrielle Anwar (Body Snatchers), Donal Logue (Blade), Giovanni Ribisi (The Gift) and Anthony Michael Hall (TVs The Dead Zone). Never released on blu-ray, Vinegar Syndrome Archive is proud to present this overlooked genre oddity in a brand new 2K restoration from 35mm vault elements!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM ORIGINAL 35MM VAULT ELEMENTS
- Commentary track with writer/director Jonas Pate
- "Tales From Beyond The Grave" - an interview with writer/director Jonas Pate
- "The Bottom Line" - an interview with actor Keith David
- "Baptism By Fire" - an interview with cinematographer Frank Prinzi
- "All The Way To The Morgue" - an interview with effects artists Jeff Goodwin and Rick Pour
- "Ungraving The Score" - an interview with composer Alex Wurman
- Double-sided poster
- Limited edition of 5,000
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
- REGION-A "LOCKED"