Schlock-Wire: Shout Factory Serves Up A Double-Shocker With THE EVIL/TWICE DEAD
Here is a shot of budget-conscious horror news just in time for Halloween: Shout! Factory will be issuing a 2-for-1 DVD containing The Evil and Twice Dead on October 5th as part of their ongoing "Roger Corman Cult Classics" line. Both titles deal with ghost-infected real estate: The Evil is a late 1970's cult fave about a haunted house that features Richard Crenna and Joanna Pettet while Twice Dead is a late 1980's version of a similar premise. Both films are presented on DVD for the first time in anamorphic transfers and both will feature commentary tracks involving the directors plus additional extras. Read on for all the spectral-schlocking details:
A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME -- ESPECIALLY IF IT'S HAUNTED
JOIN SHOUT! FACTORY AND ROGER CORMAN FOR A PAIR OF FILMS DESIGNED TO GIVE HOMEOWNERS NIGHTMARES
THE EVIL/TWICE DEAD
DOUBLE-FEATURE DVD
BE PREPARED TO SPEND SOME TIME IN A COUPLE OF MANSIONS THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY -- LITERALLY.
The home invasion begins October 5, 2010
from Shout! Factory
Forget about the housing crisis. Don't worry about toxic mortgages. Here's a couple of films that will have you running to your real estate agent to renegotiate your lease -- on life! Fans of Roger Corman's cult-film classics will appreciate these two B-film guilty pleasures, brought to DVD for the first time as a double feature from Shout! Factory in association with New Horizons Picture Corporation. Beginning October 5, cozy up to the hearth with these two Roger Corman's Cult Classics sure to keep your heart pumping fast: The Evil (1978) and Twice Dead (1988) on Double Feature DVD for $19.93 SRP.In the vein of The Legend of Hell House, Burnt Offerings, The Haunting and The Amityville Horror, The Evil and Twice Dead will rock you to your foundation with unexpected twists and horrors. Both films come with such bonus features as commentaries and interviews.
In Gus Trikonis' The Evil, psychologist C.J. Arnold (Richard Crenna) and his wife Caroline (Joanna Pettet) buy a dilapidated mansion with a dark past in the hopes of restoring the estate and turning it into a drug rehabilitation clinic. With the help of some of his students and current patients, the doctor begins work on the mansion -- but things take a nasty turn when an ancient spirit starts attacking people. When he opens a secret door in the basement of the house, the psychologist inadvertently releases the malevolent presence ... and all hell breaks loose. Also stars Victor Buono, Andrew Prine and Cassie Yates. Includes commentary by director Gus Trikonis, writer Donald Thompson and director of photography Mario Di Leo.In Twice Dead, a family inherits a mansion that once belonged to an actor who committed suicide and whose ghost now haunts the house. But the ghost isn’t the only thing the family needs to watch out for: There's also a street gang roaming the area looking for trouble and harassing the family’s high school-aged son and daughter. When the gang invades the house one night, the ghost decides to take out his anger on the punks. Stars Tom Bresnahan ("Ski School"), Jill Whitlow ("Night of the Creeps") and Todd Bridges ("Diff’rent Strokes"). Special features include audio commentary by director /co-writer Bert Dragin and actor Tom Bresnahan, an interview with actress Jill Whitlow, and trailers.THE EVIL (1978)(aka "House of Evil" and "The Evil Below")New World PicturesStarring Richard Crenna, Joanna Pettet, Andrew Prine, Cassie Yates, George O'Hanlon Jr. and Victor Buono as "The Evil"Directed by Gus TrikonisScreenplay by Donald G. ThompsonProduced by Ed CarlinExecutive Producers: Paul A. Joseph and Malcolm LevinthalRunning time: 89 minutesRated: RSpecial Features:New anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1)Audio commentary with director Gus Trikonis, writer Donald Thompson and director of photography Mario Di LeoTrailers TWICE DEAD (1988)Concorde PicturesStarring Tom Bresnahan, Jill Whitlow, Jonathan Chapin, Christopher Burgard, Sam Melville, Brooke Bundy, Joleen Lutz and Todd Bridges as PeteDirected by Bert DraginScreenplay by Bert Dragin and Robert McDonnellProduced by Guy Louthan and Robert McDonnellCinematographer: Zoran HochstatterEdited by Patrick RandMusic composed by David BergeaudCasting by Kevin AlberRunning time: 85 minutesRated: RSpecial Features:New anamorphic widescreen transfer (1.78:1)Audio commentary with director/co-writer Bert Dragin and actor Tom BresnahanInterview with actress Jill WhitlowTrailers