Anchor Bay is a Video Collecters Dream Come True !

Anchor Bay has been releasing special edition videocassettes and DVD's
of some really great uncut and hard to find horror films.
These special editions are in widescreen format and
sometimes they come with Lot's of extra goodies.
Here is a Review of some of the ones i have.









The Beyond aka Seven Doors of Death

This film is the original theatrical version with the extra 9 minutes of scenes that were cut from the american version known as The Seven Doors of Death. Here we have the theatrical trailer at the end of the tape, plus they also Digitally remastered the audio and have presented it in a great widescreen look with a Ratio of 2.35:1 which gives it a theather look and feel, this is a great copy and a real must for all you Lucio Fulci Fans. . .



Blood Spattered Bride

What can i say about this sleeper well it's Widescreen and enhanced for 16x9 TVs, It has an Aspect Ratio:1.85:1/16x9 and they have the U.S. Combo Theatrical Trailer and a neat little Collector's Booklet, not to forget it is presented uncut and uncensored.



Bloodstained Shadow
a.k.a Solamente Nero

This Italian suspense Giallo film is Widescreen and enhanced for 16x9 TVs, with an Aspect Ratio:1.85:1/16x9 they have added the short interview called Solamente Bido -- which is only 13 minutes with Director Antonio Bido on the dvd and you also get the Theatrical Trailer, and a bio on the director.



C.H.U.D

Anchor Bay has done a nice job with the transfer. The film is letterboxed at 1.77:1 and is enhanced for 16x9 TVs. The image is very clear and sharp, only showing a little grain or noise. And the audio on the DVD is a Dolby Digital Mono track which is'nt too bad, as far as extras there is audio commentary with director Douglas Cheek, writer Shepard Abbot and stars Stern, Heard, and Curry. The theatrical trailer for the film is also included as well as a still gallery. A real must for any collection.



Children Of The Corn

Anchor Bay has done a great job on this film they remastered the Audio with Dolby Surround 5.1 and the film is enhanced for 16x9 TVs with an Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1/16x9 not bad at all, this is the best of the corn series i think, plus they put in a 16 Page Collector's Booklet on the film too, there's also the original theatrical trailer and a 5 x7 Theatrical Poster Replica just to make you smile.



Church
aka Demons 3

With remastered Audio and video and plus they enhanced the film for 16x9 TVs with an Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1/16x9, this Michele Soavi film shows his film style at it best, and of course it was also produced by Dario Argento so what more can i say, for some reason they didnt put too much on this dvd, but theres the trailer, and a Soavi bio.



City of the Living Dead aka.The Gates of Hell

This film is the uncut original theatrical version with the original title, plus 3 extra minutes of scenes and it has the theatrical trailer and two radio spots with pictures at the end of the tape, plus they also Digitally remastered the audio and have presented it widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1 which gives it a full theather look and feel, this is a great copy and a must for all you Lucio Fulci Fans. . .



Daughters Of Darkness

This is the Unrated Director's Cut version in Widescreen with an Aspect Ratio of 1.66:1, but the audio is in mono too bad, hey they did put the 12 minutes that was cut out for the 1971 US showing back, and you also get a 5 x7 Theatrical Poster Replica with the DVD Version and there is the Audio Commentary with actor John Karlen and journalist David Del Valle, to make up for the lack of stereo.



Dawn of the Dead

This Special edition is out on two versions, i have the US Theatrical Cut in the widescreen format, The other version which is called the Director's cut is a bit longer with some of the music tracks changed, but for now we will talk about this one, Widescreen ratio is 1.66:1 which is very good for this film, you will notice alot in the backgrounds that you did'nt notice on other video copies before, There are Alternate Scenes from the European cut " Zombi " at the end of the film, some of which are short shots but still fun to see, This film only runs 128 mins, as the Directors cut is 139 mins.



Day of the Dead

This Film is Presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1, which gives it a theater like look on your set, it would be great on a big screen set ,on this one they added a behind the screen look at the effects , Tom Savini, and Romero ,too bad they don't do this with all their tapes, it also has the theatrical trailer at the end too.



Deep Red aka.Profondo Rosso

This film is the uncut original and complete theatrical widescreen version,Dario Argento helped to restore it with some of the footage that had been removed, the replaced scenes are presented in Italian with English subtitles at the bottom of the screen in the black border, which makes this perfecto, Once again Anchor bay has done a great job on the tape, of course it has the US and Italian theatrical trailers plus it also has a 25th anniversary short on Dario and the film, very cool.
The widescreen Ratio is 2.35:1 and the Goblin music sounds perfect with the Digitally remastered soundtrack. . .



Demons

This Film is Presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.66:1, which gives you more screen for the effects the story is simple but in true Lamberto Bava style, and Produced by Dario Argento and with a screen time of only 88mins, Hey but it is the Unrated version. and it also has the theatrical trailer plus a behind the Scenes Segment at the end of the tape.



Demons 2

Presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.66:1, this sequel has the missing sceens that were cut from the theatical R rated version and is presented fully uncut for the first time, once again Director Lamberto Bava, and Producer Dario Argento, show their film style as they take us into a nightmare in a highrise appartment building, there is a theatrical trailer is at the end of the tape, but that's it, too bad.



Evil Dead (Limited Edition)

There are many copies of this Classic Movie from Wide Screen to Pan and Scan but the other day i saw this tape sitting on the video rack, when i saw it had a book in it i had to buy it, now for the basics. Most of the older copies had poor sound, so they Digitally remastered the audio for starters, it also has a Collectible 32 page booklet with lots of great info on the behind the filming of the movie, Groovey ! It has a plastic clamshell case with some great pics on the other side of the sleeve, All this just Makes you wana say Give me some Sugar baby. Plus the tape also has the original theatrical trailer for the film.



Halloween

This film is finally presented on videocassette in the widescreen format, and the difference is obvious. This film was shot very wide, and it's incredible to finally see how much was actually cut off in the old pan and scan version. The packaging is one of the best of the special editions. It has a plastic clamshell case that is much more durable and impressive-looking than a cardboard case. This tape has one other additional feature: the original theatrical trailer for the film.



Halloween 4 : The Return of Michael Myers

This film has Michael Myers hunting for his young niece, it is in widescreen ratio of 1.85:1, and It has a plastic clamshell case but thats about it for some reason they put the original Halloween theatrical trailer with the Halloween 4 Trailer at the end of the tape, talk about a let down, but it really was'nt that bad of a film, at least it had an ending, not like Halloween 5 which really stunk, hell when they did H20 they skipped the 4 & 5 plot lines. but if you are a fan this copy would fit snug in your collection.



Hell of the Living Dead
aka Night of the Zombies, aka Virus

This film was Directed by the notorious Bruno Mattei and it is a real hardcore effects film with lots of splatter for merrit, they have transferred it from the original negative materials and is now presented completely uncut and uncensored for the first time ever in all it's glory, for starters it is in a widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 and enhanced for 16x9 TVs , on the dvd you also get Hell Rats Of The Living Dead - an all new interview with the Director Bruno Mattei, plus his bio, . the Theatrical Trailer, and a Poster And Still Gallery is also on the disk, not bad.



House by the Cemetary

Here's a great copy of the film and a real must for all you Lucio Fulci Fans. The film has been digtally remastered with a widescreen ratio of 2.35:1 and they also enhanced it for 16x9 TVs too which now gives it a real great theater look to it, there's also the original theatrical trailer, plus a tv spot and talent bios, and they included a 5 x7 Theatrical Poster Replica too.



I Spit on your Grave (Collector's Edition)

Here's the classic film by Meir Zarchi where a bunch of men meet thier match when they rape a women who refuses to be a silent victim, and decides revenge is the right choice for her. The film has been digtally remastered for video and sound with a widescreen ratio of 1.85:1 which gives it a great theater look to it, too bad they did'nt include more at the end of the tape, they did add the original theatrical trailer at least.



Let Sleeping Corpses Lie

The digital transfer is letterboxed at 1.85:1 and has been enhanced for 16x9 TVs for starters, and it has a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack to really put you in the film, There is also a one-minute introduction to the film by director Jorge Grau. and at the end he returns with a 20 min insight on it too, some of the other extras are, a 25-second TV spot, which is letterboxed at 1.85:1 and there are several radio spots. In these ads, the film is being advertised under the title ’Don’t Open the Window’. As you listen to the radio spots, you get to see the ad pics for ’Don’t Open the Window’. And lastly, we get a still gallery which features many of the different posters for the film, under its various film titles.



New York Ripper

Another of Lucio Fulci's Classic films in Widescreen, also enhanced for 16x9 TVs too, you don't get much in this one but at least there's the Theatrical Trailer and the 5 x7 Theatrical Poster Replica to help it out, oh and they throw in Lucio Fulci Bio too.



Nightmare on Elm Street

This special edition is one of the best. But it is no longer available in most places because the rights to the film have reverted back to New Line, who has released their own tape. The Anchor Bay set consists of two tapes. The first contains a widesceen copy of the movie and trailers. LOTS of trailers. About four or five spots for Nightmare, plus trailers for each film up to part 5. The second tape has alternate takes of scenes, scenes that were cut from the film, and special effects takes. Some of these (notably the cut scenes) are fascinating to watch.



Phenomena

In this Dario Argento film which is presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.66:1, with it's sound digtally remastered we find his favorite style of story telling, we have bugs, semi-nude girls, and a psycho who loves to kill, what more do you need ?, oh and did i say Jennifer Connely was in it ?. It comes packed with extras like the original theatrical trailer, 2 music videos, and of course a interview with Dario himself, plus a behind-the-scenes segment too, a great one for your collection...



Prom Night

The packaging for this edition, while not as great as Halloween's box, is still nice. This film was shot in a narrower aspect ratio than Halloween, so the widescreen presentation doesn't add as much to the film as it did on the Halloween tape, but it's still an improvement other pan & scan. As a bonus treat, this tape features not only a theatrical trailer, but a tv spot as well.



Rats: Night of Terror

Okay this Bruno Mattei film is a Widescreen Presentation thats been enhanced for 16x9 TVs with the Aspect Ratio of 1.85:1/16x9 which gives it a good theater like image the Audio is Mono and clear to the ear, they added the basics on this one which is a downer because im sure they could have put more extra's on the disk, at least they have the Hell Rats Of The Living Dead - an all new interview with Director Bruno Mattei, and the Theatrical Trailer, and a bio on the directer...



Return to Horror High

Well they for some reason left this dvd with very little on it, you get the basics here, and i mean the basics, first up it's a Widescreen Presentation enhanced for 16x9 TVs and they put the theatrical trailer on it and there's the 5x7 Theatrical Poster Replica and thats it, talk about scarce...



Stagefright aka AQUARIUS, DELIRIA .

This Film is Presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1, and is the unrated, uncensored and totally uncut Rome version, Directorial debut of Dario Argento's protègè Michele Soavi and it does show his early film style, with somewhat of a lame plot but it does have several scenes that EuroHorror fans worldwide consider to be the most violent of the decade,
at least thats what it says on the box.
Ok with this one you get the theatrical trailer and a Bio on the Director. And a choice of Dolby Digital Surround EX or Dolby Surround 2.0 audio tracks.



Tenebre aka Unsane

Presented in widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1, and with the missing 10 min of film that was cut from the US version, and now we can see it the way Dario Argento intended, this film keeps you on the edge of your seat, while making you wonder who the killer is, in true Argento style.
On this one you get the theatrical trailer and two behind the scenes segments. Which makes it a very nice addition to your home video collection.



Thou Shalt Not Kill . . . Except
(Collector's Edition)

This Josh Becker Film was made on a buget less then the Evil Dead had, and has some great scenes in it, plus Sam Raimi really hams it up as the crazed cult leader, what more could you want in a film?. It has, Crazed Killers, Pissed off Marines and lots of Blood, plus you get to see Ted Raimi play the Chain Punk, Okay heres what you get in this one, First it's Widescreen with a Ratio of 1.66:1, the audio and video has been digitally remastered and there's the plastic clamshell case with some great pics and info on the other side of the sleeve, All this just Makes you wana call your friends and get the popcorn going. Plus the tape has the original theatrical trailer for the film and a deleted scene, hell they even put the original title cut at the end too.



Torso

This Sergio Martino Film has some great effects in it, and of course let's not forget the 70s style nude scenes too. Okay heres what you will get in this great horror film, First up it's Widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1, also enhanced for 16x9 TVs, plus the audio and video has also been digitally remastered, but some of Torso's English Language Soundtrack was lost or pehaps never recorded. So some of the scenes are in Italian with English subtitles at the bottem of the picture, but it's really not that bad and then there's the original theatrical trailer for the film and a 5 x7 Theatrical Poster Replica insert that comes with the DVD version.



Vampyres

Now this Joseph Larraz Film has an erotic atmosphere and some very graphic effects scenes in it, thanks to it being fully restored to it's original film version,, it was cut down for an R rating when it first came out but now , Watch out. So heres what you will get in this classic vampire film, it's Widescreen with a Ratio of 1.85:1, Now enhanced for 16x9 TVs, and the audio and video are now digitally remastered, Theres also Audio Commentary with Director Joseph Larraz and the film's Producer Brian Smedley-Aston, plus you get the Original International Trailer and they put in some neat extras like,Talent Bios of the cast, a Still Gallery of pics from the film and a Collector's Booklet.

Zombie

This Film has Some of the Best Horror Effects yet, i saw this in the Theater when it first came out, it has been on video for some time but this is the best version yet, the color is great and the picture is perfect " the older tapes had poor color and somewhat of a grainy look to them", but this one is perfect, it's in Widescreen with the Ratio of 2.35:1 and looks great with the lights turned down low, it also has the theatrical trailer, plus tv and radio spots on the tape.




Anchor Bay has done a great job in restoring these classic horror films and
presenting them the way they deserve to be shown.



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