Description: The desolate town of Blue Lights, which gets its name from a mysterious nightly illumination close to the graveyard, is rumored to be cursed. The origin of both the lights and curse itself have been left to legend, but rumor has it that ancient monsters roam the area and have been responsible for the countless deaths and tragedies which have afflicted nearby residents. When a group of college students decide to spend a night investigating these supernatural occurrences, they quickly find themselves in for a nasty surprise, after uncovering an ancient relic, which leads them into the terrifying subterranean layer of The Muldoon Men; giant monsters who need to ingest human corpses in order to sustain their strength...
A low-fi monster film oozing with regional charm, John Henry Johnson's Colorado lensed CURSE OF THE BLUE LIGHTS is a cheerfully entertaining and highly original take on a traditional "creature feature," enhanced by excellent practical effects and a series of wild twists and surprises. Vinegar Syndrome is pleased to finally bring this late 80s, direct-to-video classic to Blu-ray, newly restored in 2K from the director's personal 16mm answer print, in its intended and director approved 1.85:1 aspect ratio for the first time, and bursting with a wide array of newly recorded interviews with cast and crew.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION FROM A 16MM ANSWER PRINT
Brand new commentary track with co-writer/director John Henry Johnson
Archival commentary track with John Henry Johnson and actor/crew member Brent Ritter
"Demons Down in Pueblo: Remembering Curse of the Blue Lights" - a newly produced making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew (97 min)
Scenes from an alternate version of Curse of the Blue Lights (sourced from VHS)
Description: Giorgio Pisani, a journalist, has just returned from an international assignment only to discover that, in his absence, his wife has died during childbirth. However, a seemingly unavoidable tragedy takes an unexpectedly sinister turn when Lydia Franzi, his wife's doctor, reveals that Giorgio is sterile and therefore couldn't have fathered his wife's child. Soon after learning this terrible news, a mysterious, black-clad killer begins stalking the city, viciously murdering pregnant women who were in the same maternity clinic as Giorgio's deceased wife. Could Giorgio, in a fit of guilt-ridden madness, be responsible for these horrendous crimes, or is he an unwitting participant in the sinister plan of an even more wicked culprit?
An exceptionally mean-spirited giallo made at the height of the genre's golden age, Stelvio Massi's (Arabella Black Angel) FIVE WOMEN FOR THE KILLER stars British character actor Francis Matthews (The Revenge of Frankenstein) alongside Pascale Rivault (The Beast) and Eurosleaze stalwart, Howard Ross (The New York Ripper). Barely seen outside of its native Italy, Vinegar Syndrome proudly presents the world Blu-ray debut of this equally nasty, shocking, and highly stylized whodunit, newly restored in 4K from rare archival film elements of the never-on-video original theatrical cut, and featuring a host of new and exclusive interviews.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM A 35MM ARCHIVAL POSITIVE
Brand new commentary track with film historians Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth
"My Name is Howard" - An interview with actor Renato Rossini (20 mins)
"The Massi Touch" - An interview with filmmaker Danilo Massi, son and frequent collaborator of director Stelvio Massi (25 mins)
"Working with Stelvio" - A portrait piece on Stelvio Massi with actor Luc Merenda (13 mins)
"Five Women for a Giallo" - Director and film historian Luigi Cozzi on Five Women for the Killer and the evolution of the Giallo film (22 mins)
"Cinematographers in Arms" - A portrait piece on Stelvio Massi with friend and fellow director/cinematographer Roberto Girometti (13 mins)
Gore inserts from the re-edited version of FIVE WOMEN FOR THE KILLER
Description: Looming large over the landscape of Mexican cinema, no family names are bigger than Cardona and Galindo. Both families traversed every genre and style and sometimes their paths would cross, as they do here in the VACATION OF TERROR series. Vinegar Syndrome is proud to present the worldwide Blu-ray debut of this terrifying double feature from two of Mexico's finest genre filmmakers of the '80s and '90s, René Cardona III and Pedro Galindo III. Newly scanned and restored in 4K, experience the horror like never before!
After inheriting a new summer home from a deceased relative, wealthy Fernando brings his family, his niece Paulina (Gabriela Hassel, Don't Panic) and her boyfriend, Julio (Pedro Fernández, Hell's Trap), who happens to be an occult expert along for the vacation. Quickly they discover strange happenings on the property, but when Fernando's young daughter Gaby falls into a well and returns with an old doll, things take a turn for the horrific. Possessed by the evil spirit of a witch, Gaby and her doll run amok, with telekinesis, terrifying hallucinations, fiery car crashes, and ample scares. Only Julio with his knowledge of the dark arts, and the help of a mystical amulet, can bring this VACATION OF TERROR to an end!
Fitting into the lineage of sequels that outshine their predecessor, the Vacation franchise returns even bigger and better with VACATION OF TERROR II: DIABOLICAL BIRTHDAY. Julio (Pedro Fernández) is back, quietly running an antique shop when a chance encounter with singer Mayra (Mexican pop icon Tatiana) and her younger sister Tanya, brings him face to face with the evil doll and the nightmare begins again! Racing to a birthday party for the young Tanya, who is now under the doll's spell, Julio arrives in time to witness the carnage begin, but will he be able to stop it again? Filled with action-packed set pieces, face-melting gore and buckets of blood, this sequel ratchets up every aspect of the original.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 4K RESTORATIONS from its 35mm original camera negative (VOT1) and a 35mm archival positive (VOT2)
Video interview with Gianella Hassel & Gabriela Hassel, actors in Vacation of Terror (12 min)
Video interview with Eugenio Castillo, composer of Vacation of Terror (10 min)
"Backlot Rats" with Carlos East Jr. & Ernesto East, actors in Vacation of Terror (19 min)
Video interview with Jorge Farfán, special effects artist on Vacation of Terror (13 min)
Description: When a wealthy widow sends a one thousand dollar bill to the local newspaper claiming murder, blackmail, a corrupt politician and $200,000 fortune to be had, it's up to reporter Terry Nichols and photographer Pidge 'Flash' Laurie to figure out the nefarious plot and clear the politician's (who's Terry's soon-to-be father-in-law) name. But they won't be alone. Among the colorful cast of characters are Terry's beautiful fiancee, a lawyer with his feline phobic secretary, a very deceiving private detective, and finally a mysterious woman and her even stranger black cat, which maybe involved with the murders itself!
From director Erle C. Kenton – whose classic shockers include HOUSE OF DRACULA, THE GHOST OF FRANKENSTEIN and ISLAND OF LOST SOULS, comes the 1946 melodrama that marked the end of the Universal Pictures 'Golden Age of Horror': THE CAT CREEPS. Noah Beery Jr. (RED RIVER, THE ROCKFORD FILES), Lois Collier (COBRA WOMAN) and Paul Kelly (FEAR IN THE NIGHT) star in this supernatural thriller influenced by equal parts THE CAT AND THE CANARY, THE OLD DARK HOUSE and the wildly popular 'mystery plays' of the 1940's, now scanned and restored in 2K by Vinegar Syndrome Labs from its 35mm dupe negative.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATION from a 35mm dupe negative
Brand new commentary track with film historians / authors Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby
"Feline Frights" - author and critic Kim Newman discusses cats and classic horror
Description: Desperate gambling addict Charlie Bartlett is heavily in debt to smarmy, big spender Doc. With no cash at his disposal, he offers Doc sex with his wife Ann as a means of payment for his debt. However, Ann will have no part of her husband's perverse plan, thus setting into action an unexpected chain of events as manipulative Charlie gets a taste of his own medicine... A well-paced, twist-filled hardcore drama from Henri Pachard, featuring uncredited co-direction and cinematography by Roberta Findlay, made at the tail end of the US theatrical hardcore boom, CLIMAX! boasts an all-star cast including Kelly Nichols, Joey Silvera, Eric Edwards, Cody Nicole, Tish Ambrose, Rhonda Jo Petty, Renee Summers, Taija Rae, Sharon Kane, George Payne, and more!
Jeannie is a bored housewife whose distinct lack of a satisfying sex life has left her feeling aimless. Her best friend, Sue, who has experienced a similar lack of carnal fulfillment, reveals to Jeannie that the ideal cure for erotic blues is to indulge in immersive sexual "daydreams" that, with the right concentration, can seem more real than the "real thing." Quickly mastering the technique, Jeannie finds herself engulfed by an unlimited set of sensual delights, which grow ever closer to becoming reality. A hardcore quickie produced simultaneously with Climax!, WET DREAMS again combines the creative talents of Henri Pachard and Roberta Findlay, and reunites CLIMAX!'s all-star cast, including Carol Cross, Barbara Daniels and Joe Santini!
Special Features and Technical Specs:
NEW 2K RESTORATIONS OF BOTH FILMS FROM THE ORIGINAL 35MM CAMERA NEGATIVES
Audio Commentary track for CLIMAX! with producer Roberta Findlay, moderated by film historian Casey Scott