Synapse Films recently released a nicely remastered 5-disc set of the Hammer House of Horror, one of the studio’s last efforts to keep the brand alive in horror before the company was shuttered for more than 20 years. The big surprise: HHOH is a fun, pulpy romp through cruel territory, and the final episode closes the series with material that is, for lack of better words, 100% Wrong.
Yes, another installment of CanCon 101, featuring John Huston’s much-maligned tax shelter film Phobia (1980), shot in Toronto, and available nowhere. Also: short Editor’s Blog with nods to EOne’s recent purchase of Alliance Films, and the Canadian film channel Starlight.
Quick tally of notable screenings in T.O., including The Bloor’s Doc Soup: Portrait of Wally (with director Q&A) + Cinema Politica: Doctors of the Dark Side (with guest Q&A), and Canada’s Top 10 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. Speaking of Canadian cinema heritage (ahem): I’ve uploaded a lengthy review of Alvin Rakoff’s Death Ship (1980), recently released in a crisp Blu-ray special edition by Scorpion Releasing, which somewhat replaces the 2007 Region 2 DVD from Nucleus Films.
The TIFF Bell Lightbox announces its Spotlight Japan series, which focuses on classic 80s films, divas of the silver screen, and a selection of exploitation films from Nikkatsu, the established studio that switched gears in 1971 and embraced smut like Female Teacher: Dirty Afternoon / Onna kyôshi: Yogoreta hôkago (181) and Sex Hunter: Wet Target / Sekkusu hantâ: Nureta hyôteki (1972) – two erotic ‘roman porno’ titles just reviewed, and recently released by Impulse Pictures / Synapse Films.
In tandem with the release of Danny Elfman’s score to Hitchcock (Sony Classical) I’ve uploaded a release of a rarely seen Alfred Hitchcock film – Waltzes from Vienna (1934) – his only, er, musical. Also added: minor Editor’s Blog on best-of lists, and the need to acknowledge Dumb Moves and Missed Opportunities by labels large & small.
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