THIS WEEK’S NOTABLE DVD & BLU-RAY RELEASES:

Dead & Buried [Blu-ray] – Something is amiss in the seaside town of Potter’s Bluff. Strangers are turning up dead, then turning up alive and well as one of the townsfolk! Dead & Buried offers up an interesting idea, but the execution is lacking (in my opinion anyway). Still, it is regarded as a horror classic and has some very memorable scenes. The new Blu-ray boasts better picture and sound than the DVD release (well no duh) and comes with a slew of extras, including three audio commentaries, three featurettes, and theatrical trailers. This is a solid step up from the old Blue Underground DVD release and is definitely worth picking up.

Dead of Night [DVD] – Dark Sky Films unearths this lost made-for-TV horror anthology that was made notorious by the third tale in the film called “Bobby.” The new DVD features some nifty extras including deleted footage (and extended opening) for “There’s No Such Thing as a Vampire,” Robert Corbert’s music highlights (samplings of the film’s soundtrack), and finally the TV pilot for a never-launched Dead of Night TV series entitled “A Darkness at Blaisedon.” This came out long before I was born, but I have heard of it, and probably will pick up this reasonably priced disc.

HULK VS. [DVD and Blu-ray] – An animated double feature where the Hulk takes on Thor in Asgard and dukes it out with Wolverine (and the rest of the “Weapon X Project” guinea pigs) in the Canadian wilderness. I saw the Hulk vs. Wolverine portion of this double feature and it was amazing! The animation is good, the story is interesting, and the voicework is phenomenal. As far as extras go, each animated adventure gets its own trailer, audio commentary, and making of featurette, but that’s not all! Also included is a short featurette about pioneering comic book artist Jack Kirby and footage from the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con.

Mercury Man [DVD] – This is a bizarre Thai rip-off of Spider-Man that features a fire-proof hero who can also control metal. This one comes with two behind-the-scenes featurettes, and trailers for other Magnolia Films releases.

Redneck Zombies: 20th Anniversary Edition [DVD] – This Troma “classic” has rednecks turning into flesheating ghouls after drinking contaminated moonshine. Aside from the cheap (but effective) gore, there’s a few laughs to be had here, especially when the unnamed “super alcoholic dude” runs rampant on the screen. This pricy two-disc re-release of Redneck Zombies features a very nice and clean transfer of the film (it’s been color-corrected!), the original soundtrack from the film (awesome! I’ve always wanted a copy of that “Redneck Zombie” song!), a newly recorded audio commentary with the director and producer, cast and crew interviews, outtakes, trailers, and more! This isn’t my favorite Troma title, but by golly, I think I may just pick this up later on down the road, if only for the soundtrack CD!

Sharks in Venice [DVD] – The film’s title and cover art alone made it necessary to add to this week’s list of notable releases. So there’s a Great White guarding a huge treasure hidden somewhere in the polluted canals of Italy’s famed city, and the mob wants it! Sheesh, everything about this film looks terrible (oh God, it stars Stephen Baldwin!), but I can’t help but want to see it. This is a barebones release (only a few trailers on the disc) that will go well with pizza, wings, a six-pack of beer, and a brave best friend.

THIS WEEK’S CULT DVD & BLU-RAY RELEASES:
42nd Street Forever: Volume 4 [DVD]
The All New Superfriends Hour: Season 1, Vol. 2 [DVD]
Baccano! Volume 1 & Volume 1 Starter Set [DVD]
Blood+ Volume 4 [DVD]
Bruce Lee: Dragon Immortal [DVD]
Classic Sci-Fi TV – 150 Episodes [DVD]
Clay [DVD]
Conrad Brooks Homemade Horror Collection [DVD]
Dario Argento’s Door Into Darkness [DVD]
Dark Dreamers [DVD]
*Dead & Buried [Blu-ray]
*Dead of Night [DVD]
Demoniacs [DVD]
Exploitation Cinema: Horror High / Lurkers [DVD]
Exploitation Cinema: Nightmare in Wax / Blood of Dracula’s Castle [DVD]
Fetching Cody [DVD]
Final Remains [DVD]
The Gene Generation [DVD]
Grindhouse Double Feature: Fright / Stark Fear [DVD]
Grindhouse Double Feature: Warriors of the Wasteland / Cosmos: War of the Planets [DVD]
Grindhouse Possession Triple Feature [DVD]
Gutterballs (Widescreen & Uncut) [DVD]
Hannibal [Blu-ray]
* Hulk VS. [DVD & Blu-ray]
The Invaders: Seasons 1 & 2 [DVD]
The Invaders: Season 2 [DVD]
Killer Bees [DVD]
Kisarazu Cat’s Eye 2 [DVD]
Kiss Napolean Goodbye [DVD]
Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland [DVD]
M.A.N.T.I.S. – The Complete Series [DVD]
Megaman: A Hero is Born [DVD]
* Mercury Man [DVD]
Naruto Volume 32 [DVD]
Ninja Love [DVD]
One Piece: The Princess and the Pirates – Adventures in Alabasta [Blu-ray]
Rareflix Triple Feature: Volume 3 [DVD]
*Redneck Zombies: 20th Anniversary Edition [DVD]
Rock N’ Rolla [DVD]
* Sharks in Venice [DVD]
The Sirens / Murderer [DVD]
The Son of Tarzan [DVD]
Starballz [DVD]
S.T.R.A.I.N. – Strategic Armored Infantry: Complete Box Set [DVD]
Terror Circus [DVD]
Thai Action Pack [DVD]
Utawarerumono: Complete Box Set [DVD]
Vampyres [DVD]
Vermillion Pleasure Night: Complete Collection [DVD]

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:
The Uninvited – Sadly it is not a remake of the Greydon Clark classic, but rather, a remake of a film called A Tale of Two Sisters. Two young girls suspect their (hot) future mom of being a psychotic murderer, especially when the dead spirits of little kids start issuing icky warnings. It looks ok (Elizabeth Banks… so hot… want to touch the hiney) but I won’t shell out nine bucks to see it. This one seems like a solid rental to me.

That’s all she wrote for this week, but prepare for the awesomeness that is February cult movie fans! There’s too much stuff to buy on DVD and Blu-ray, and the theatrical slate is looking strong, with Friday the 13th paving the way. See you next week! – Vault Master