A classic film that not only endures but continues to inspire half a century later is a true marvel. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Wicker Man helped popularize the folk horror genre that continues to flourish with the likes of Midsommar, The Witch, and The Ritual. Its impact extends beyond cinema, from inspiring Radiohead (“Burn the Witch”) and Iron Maiden (“The Wicker Man”) songs to being included in the 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.
In the film, Sergeant Neil Howie travels from the mainland to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The devout Christian is appalled to learn that the islanders practice a form of paganism characterized by blasphemous beliefs, degeneracy, doublespeak, and peculiar customs. Like The Bride of Frankenstein, the namesake doesn’t show up until the final moments of the film, but it leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.
In the film, Sergeant Neil Howie travels from the mainland to the Scottish island of Summerisle to investigate the disappearance of a young girl. The devout Christian is appalled to learn that the islanders practice a form of paganism characterized by blasphemous beliefs, degeneracy, doublespeak, and peculiar customs. Like The Bride of Frankenstein, the namesake doesn’t show up until the final moments of the film, but it leaves an indelible impression long after the credits roll.
- 11/3/2023
- by Alex DiVincenzo
- bloody-disgusting.com
If Operation Mincemeat has got you in the mood for a Second World War story with more than a dash of the domestic, then this newly restored Studiocanal release based on a real-life sea raid is well worth a look. Compton Bennett already had a solid track record when he directed this, having been Oscar-nominated for King Solomon's Mines and he is helped enormously by skilful cinematography from Harry Waxman, who would go on to shoot The Wicker Man later in his career and whose employment of lighting and framing here adds enormously to the atmosphere generated when the men are on the boat that gives its film its title.
She is a pensioned-off US destroyer that has been brought out of mothballs to help out the British Navy for convoy work but who, through the course of the film, will come to perform a much more dangerous task. In.
She is a pensioned-off US destroyer that has been brought out of mothballs to help out the British Navy for convoy work but who, through the course of the film, will come to perform a much more dangerous task. In.
- 4/23/2022
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
What’s the best Ecological Thriller of all time? Finally available in a good Region A disc is Val Guest and Wolf Mankowitz’s thrilling, realistic account of our world turned topsy-turvy, and perhaps plunging into a fiery oblivion. The violent shifts of climate and weather patterns echo today’s global warming chaos. Newspapermen Edward Judd and Leo McKern track down a frightening government secret; Janet Munro is the confidential clerk that leaks the truth. One of the top all-time British Science Fiction films is also a great newspaper story about the importance of a free press. Extras include a new Richard Harland Smith commentary.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date July 7, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Braden, Reginald Beckwith, Renée Asherson, Arthur Christiansen, Pamela Green, Robin Hawdon.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman...
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date July 7, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Braden, Reginald Beckwith, Renée Asherson, Arthur Christiansen, Pamela Green, Robin Hawdon.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman...
- 7/11/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
What’s the best Ecological Thriller of all time? Finally available in a good Region A disc is Val Guest and Wolf Mankowitz’s thrilling, realistic account of a world turned topsy-turvy, and perhaps plunging into a fiery oblivion. The violent climate/weather pattern shifts predict today’s global warming chaos. Newspapermen Edward Judd and Leo McKern track down a frightening government secret; Janet Munro is the confidential clerk that leaks the truth. One of the top all-time British Science Fiction films is also a great newspaper story about the importance of a free press. Extras include a new Richard Harland Smith commentary.
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date July 7, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Braden, Reginald Beckwith, Renée Asherson, Arthur Christiansen, Pamela Green, Robin Hawdon.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Art...
The Day the Earth Caught Fire
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1961 / B&w / 2:35 widescreen / 99 min. / Street Date July 7, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Janet Munro, Leo McKern, Edward Judd, Michael Goodliffe, Bernard Braden, Reginald Beckwith, Renée Asherson, Arthur Christiansen, Pamela Green, Robin Hawdon.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Art...
- 7/9/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Graham Greene’s tense crime tale is as important as his classic The Third Man but nowhere near as well known. Down Brighton way the race-track boys have sharp ways of solving disputes and terrorizing the common folk — think ‘straight razor.’ Richard Attenborough’s breakthrough film is also a showcase for Hermoine Baddelely and a marvelous newcomer that every horror fan loves even if they don’t know her name, Carol Marsh. Kino’s disc has a Tim Lucas commentary; this review balances thoughts about mercy and damnation, with an extra insight about a piece of ‘stick candy’ unfamiliar to us Yanks.
Brighton Rock
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1948 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 92 min. / Street Date May 5, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Carol Marsh, Hermione Baddeley, William Hartnell, Harcourt Williams, Wylie Watson, Nigel Stock, Virginia Winter, Reginald Purdell, George Carney, Charles Goldner, Alan Wheatley.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Camera operator:...
Brighton Rock
Blu-ray
Kl Studio Classics
1948 / B&w / 1:37 Academy / 92 min. / Street Date May 5, 2020 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95
Starring: Richard Attenborough, Carol Marsh, Hermione Baddeley, William Hartnell, Harcourt Williams, Wylie Watson, Nigel Stock, Virginia Winter, Reginald Purdell, George Carney, Charles Goldner, Alan Wheatley.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Camera operator:...
- 5/9/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Why does CineSavant write so many positive reviews, even for films not commonly thought of as even being ‘good?’ Well, I’m about to offend committed fans of this Hayley Mills thriller… it bothered me in such basic ways that I had to watch it twice to make sure I hadn’t missed something important. Hayley Mills loves Hywel Bennett, a poor boy who gets a chance at the good life. But are they going to be victimized by envious relations, murderous gypsies, a deranged architect? The big superduper plus here is the film’s original music score by Bernard Herrman, one of his last.
Endless Night
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1972 / Color B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / / Street Date , 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, Britt Ekland, Per Oscarsson, George Sanders, Lois Maxwell, Patience Collier, Ann Way, Leo Genn, Shirley Jones (voice).
Cinematography: Harry Waxman...
Endless Night
Region B Blu-ray
Powerhouse Indicator
1972 / Color B&w / 1:85 widescreen / 100 min. / / Street Date , 2020 / available from Powerhouse Films UK / £15.99
Starring: Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, Britt Ekland, Per Oscarsson, George Sanders, Lois Maxwell, Patience Collier, Ann Way, Leo Genn, Shirley Jones (voice).
Cinematography: Harry Waxman...
- 2/18/2020
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Before we say goodbye to the month of May, we have one final day of Blu-ray and DVD releases ahead of us, and it’s an eclectic bunch of titles, to say the least. If you missed them in theaters earlier this year, Gaspar Noé’s Climax as well as Neil Jordan’s Greta hit both formats this Tuesday, and for you David Lynch lovers out there, Criterion is showing Blue Velvet some much-deserved love with their brand-new release of the cult classic as well.
Scream Factory is doing the dark lord’s work with their new Blus for both When A Stranger Calls Back and The Alligator People, and Severin Films is bringing home The Uncanny in HD for the first time ever this week.
Other home media releases for May 28th include Double Impact, Near Extinction, Splatter Farm, and a Shark Attack 3-Pack.
The Alligator People
Terror in the Bayou!
Scream Factory is doing the dark lord’s work with their new Blus for both When A Stranger Calls Back and The Alligator People, and Severin Films is bringing home The Uncanny in HD for the first time ever this week.
Other home media releases for May 28th include Double Impact, Near Extinction, Splatter Farm, and a Shark Attack 3-Pack.
The Alligator People
Terror in the Bayou!
- 5/27/2019
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Looking to add some scares to your viewing slate this summer? Severin Films has you covered (in blood) with their upcoming May Blu-ray releases that include The Uncanny, the wrestling horror movie Masked Mutilator, and Saint Bernard from writer, director, and makeup effects master Gabe Bartalos:
"This May, Severin Films is unleashing three visionary films that only the strongest viewers will be able to witness without losing their sanity. May 28th brings the long- awaited disc debut of the classic anthology horror The Uncanny, starring Peter Cushing & Ray Milland. May 14th sees the arrival of two brand-new, very different, outsider visions: FX guru Gabe Bartalos’ unhinged St. Bernard breaks down the barriers of good taste and Masked Mutilator splatters the blood of the wrestling ring all over Severin’s sub-label Intervision Picture Corp.
The Uncanny:
In 1977, legendary Amicus co-founder Milton Subotsky teamed with Canadian producer Claude Héroux for the anthology shocker CelluloidDiaries.
"This May, Severin Films is unleashing three visionary films that only the strongest viewers will be able to witness without losing their sanity. May 28th brings the long- awaited disc debut of the classic anthology horror The Uncanny, starring Peter Cushing & Ray Milland. May 14th sees the arrival of two brand-new, very different, outsider visions: FX guru Gabe Bartalos’ unhinged St. Bernard breaks down the barriers of good taste and Masked Mutilator splatters the blood of the wrestling ring all over Severin’s sub-label Intervision Picture Corp.
The Uncanny:
In 1977, legendary Amicus co-founder Milton Subotsky teamed with Canadian producer Claude Héroux for the anthology shocker CelluloidDiaries.
- 4/16/2019
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Dull vampire pix were once as ubiquitous as zombie pix are now, but when a good one came along we’d certainly take notice. The predatory Fran and Miriam are a wholly new twist on the ‘Wicked Lady’ highwayman theme — the picture transcends the softcore horror genre with class and style. Fringe director José Ramón Larraz found himself filming in England, and his output outclassed what were passing for Eurotrash horror epics across the channel. How did he do it? The answers become clear in Arrow’s special edition. Although only available in a boxed set, it’s reviewed here separately.
Vampyres
Blu-ray
Arrow Video USA
1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Street Date March 26, 2019 / Available in the collection Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz, from Arrow Video / $72.89
Starring: Marianne Morris, Anulka (Dziubinska), Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, Michael Byrne, Karl Lanchbury, Bessie Love.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Film Editor: Geoff R. Brown...
Vampyres
Blu-ray
Arrow Video USA
1974 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 88 min. / Street Date March 26, 2019 / Available in the collection Blood Hunger: The Films of José Larraz, from Arrow Video / $72.89
Starring: Marianne Morris, Anulka (Dziubinska), Murray Brown, Brian Deacon, Sally Faulkner, Michael Byrne, Karl Lanchbury, Bessie Love.
Cinematography: Harry Waxman
Film Editor: Geoff R. Brown...
- 4/2/2019
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Stars: Edward Woodward, Christopher Lee, Diane Cilento, Britt Ekland, Ingrid Pitt, Lindsay Kemp, Aubrey Morris | Written by Anthony Shaffer | Directed by Robin Hardy
It’s time once again for us to keep our appointment with The Wicker Man but this time as we’ve not seen him before. After long-thought to be lost footage was found and director Robin Hardy got back in the Wicker-way after the admittedly terrible sequel The Wicker Tree, we have here what is promised to be the ideal version of the film though interestingly, it’s not the most ” complete” version. Running longer than the truncated initial theatrical cut but shorter than the more recent Director’s Cut, this is instead an assemlage supervised by Hardy himself which is most true to what he believes is his intended version of the film.
Instead of being a Never Before Seen, Holy Crap Look At That Bit,...
It’s time once again for us to keep our appointment with The Wicker Man but this time as we’ve not seen him before. After long-thought to be lost footage was found and director Robin Hardy got back in the Wicker-way after the admittedly terrible sequel The Wicker Tree, we have here what is promised to be the ideal version of the film though interestingly, it’s not the most ” complete” version. Running longer than the truncated initial theatrical cut but shorter than the more recent Director’s Cut, this is instead an assemlage supervised by Hardy himself which is most true to what he believes is his intended version of the film.
Instead of being a Never Before Seen, Holy Crap Look At That Bit,...
- 10/17/2013
- by Ian Loring
- Nerdly
Netflix CEO Reed Hastings urged Congress on Thursday not to overturn regulations aimed at preventing internet providers from charging tolls for digital content. In a note to Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-mi) and Ranking Democrat Harry Waxman (D-ca), Hastings said that the FCC's rules were an important step toward preserving an open internet. He urged the committee to keep the FCC's regulations in place while simultaneously developing its own more comprehensive legislation. "We have been supportive of open access to the Internet and believe that the FCC's Open Internet...
- 4/7/2011
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Chicago – José Ramón Larraz’s 1974 cult classic “Vampyres” isn’t about vampires any more than “Troll 2” is about trolls. It’s a flat-out porn flick with fangs, or at least very unnatural teeth. The filmmakers harbor no artistic aspirations apart from terrifying and titillating their audience. Perhaps I’m merely jaded by the plethora of sex and violence in our modern media, but I found the film to be a complete snooze, even in its much-ballyhooed uncensored version.
Three minutes of the picture have been routinely cut by censors, primarily because of its lesbian content, and this Blu-Ray release restores the missing footage. This will mean quite a lot to fans of the film, and not much to anyone else. Though the film is competently made, and holds a certain campy charm, its repetitive plot grows quickly tiresome. It mainly consists of characters wandering around in the darkness, inching...
Three minutes of the picture have been routinely cut by censors, primarily because of its lesbian content, and this Blu-Ray release restores the missing footage. This will mean quite a lot to fans of the film, and not much to anyone else. Though the film is competently made, and holds a certain campy charm, its repetitive plot grows quickly tiresome. It mainly consists of characters wandering around in the darkness, inching...
- 4/9/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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