BRIGADE DES MOEURS aka DEATH SQUEAD on Blu-ray and 4K from Mondo Macabro!!!

 

Yep, the good people at Mondo Macabro, Jared Auner and Pete Tombs, are going to release Max Pécas' insane film BRIGADE DES MOEURS (1985) on Blu-ray and 4K in the US soon! 

I've known about this for quite some time and now it's finally happening. The above picture is obviously not from the upcoming release but from my old Danish vhs tape (fully uncut and in French with Danish subs. One of the VERY few uncut released until very recently). I own the German blu-ray that came out 1-2 years ago, and I probably don't need this new release (not least since I haven't upgraded to 4K). But the rest of you should certainly get this if you're into violent exploitation cinema! 

Apparently there's also a new French blu-ray/4K coming out (in December) but online info states it's not English friendly. 

My old review of the Danish vhs (in Danish)

The new promotion trailer:

Wolves Don't Eat Meat AKA Kuwait Connection (Samir A. Khouri, Egypt 1973)

MONDO MACABRO'S ABANDONED WORLD-WEIRD PEARL
Here's a film you've never heard of. Or have forgotten you heard about. Or maybe you've heard of it but you've never seen if. Well, not unless you 1) watch world-weird cinema - and 2) don't limit your world-weird viewing to films that are being handed to you on a plate from the well-known labels.

In 2008 Mondo Macabro was planning to put out a weird and wild Egyptian film from 1973 that has gory violence and nudity. Pete Tombs of Mondo Macabro described it this way in an interview to "Cinema Strikes Back":

"We've also got this Egyptian exploitation film. Yeah, we've got a couple of Lebanese/Egyptian movies. They're pretty interesting, as if Jess Franco met Jean-Luc Godard, you know, with a lot of (boobs). The guy who made them worked in Italy, with people like Sergio Bergonzelli, so he had that kind of sleazy stuff, but he had a political side, and an intellectual arty side. And he liked filth, and sleaze, and naked girls. So you put that all together and it was the early 70s and you've got a pretty good package. Kuwait Connection, it's called. "Wolves Don't Eat Meat" is the other title."

Unfortunately, MM never released the film. Later Pete said (on Cinehound forum), "I spent a long time talking to the Khouri's about this one, but we couldn't get the materials sorted to our satisfaction. It's not a no, but more of a maybe, if and when."

But the film exists on Arabic dvd (a pretty good English/French friendly release actually) and the film is a world-weird blast. I wish MM or somebody else would put it out on blu-ray so it could finally get the love it deserves.

I realise my post is shit in regard to being a review so I urge you to check out Todd Stadtman's cool and informative review over at Die, Danger, Die, Die, Kill!  
(PS: and check out the 7 year old comments section!)

LA COMTESSE PERVERSE - Jess Frenco - three versions - three upcoming releases!

I have no knowledge of this film but it's what the cool teenagers talk about when they smoke in the school-yard so I'd better write about it (i.e. pretend I actually know what I'm talking about).

No, seriously, Jess Frenco's LA COMTESSE PERVERSE (France, 1973) is going to get no less than three releases from two different video labels in the very near future; in May it'll come out as both a 1-disc and a 2-disc release from Edition Tonfilm in Germany (or maybe they're in Switzerland I'm not entirely sure), and in June Mondo Macabro are putting it out as a 1-disc release.

Now, bear in mind I've never watched the damn film but this is the info I have from a German forum where one of the people behind Editon Tonfilm posted about it. One of the things he said is that he reckons LA COMTESSE PERVERSE is among the 10 best films from Jess Franco's golden period of the 1960 & '70s!

LA COMTESSE PERVERSE was released in 1973 under that exact title. The original film has never been released on video tape or DVD and it's been a very sought after film (a fan subbed copy of the French tape is being passed around in fan circles).

Then in 1974 it was re-edited and new footage was added to the film. It had a cinema release and came out on VHS in France under the title of LES CROQUEUSES.

BUT there more! In 1975, it was yet again re-released with new erotic scenes (HC I believe) under the title SEXY NATURE.

So THREE different versions of the film exist!!! However, obviously, only the first version is Jess Franco's original director's cut version.

On Edition Tonfilm's 2-disc release they'll be including the original cut on disc 1 and the third version in full on disc 2. The footage from the second version will be included as extras on disc 1. This release will be a world premiere as, like I said, the original edit has never been released to home cinema in any format anywhere! The 1-disc release will contain the SEXY NATURE edit of the film.

Mondo Macabro are releasing the film under the new re-title of COUNTERSS PERVERSE. The disc will contain the original director's cut version only. I have no info about the extras.

Both labels are releasing the film with its original French audio, the MM disc with English subs while Edition Tonfilm's release is going to be subbed in German only.

Specs for the Mondo Macabro release are yet to be announced.

Specs for the Editon Tonfilm releases (from a forum post by the label and yes it's in German, you figure it out):

Amaray-Case mit Alternativcover im O-Ring Schuber

DVD 1
La Comtesse Perverse
Frankreich 1973
Regie: Jess Franco
Darsteller: Robert Woods, Alice Arno, Lina Romay, Howard Vernon u.a.
Länge: 73 Minuten
Sprache: Französisch
Untertitel: deutsch
Format: Originalformat 1.33

Weltpremiere der Originalfassung, erstmalig aus dem Originalarchiv und über lange Zeit gemastert. Seid 40 Jahren gilt dieser Film als einer der gesuchtesten Franco-Filme überhaupt und überzeugt durch eine perfekte Mischung aus Horror und Erotik. Franco bediente sich dem klassischen Stoff „Graf Zaroff – Genie des Bösen (The most dangerous game, 1932)“ und machte seine eigene Version daraus.

Extras:
- Bonusszenen Les Croqueusses (18:32)
- Rohvorspann Comtesse Perverse (1:16)
- Bonusszene Sexy Nature (5:03)
- Restaurationsvergleich (5:01)
- Alternativvorspann Comtesse Perverse (1:08)
- Werbematerial Les Croqueusses (1:34)

DVD 2
Sexy Nature (Les Croqueuses)
Frankreich 1974/1975
Regie: Jess Franco
Darsteller: Robert Woods, Alice Arno, Lina Romay, Monica Swinn, u.a.
Länge: 97 Minuten
Sprache: Französisch
Untertitel: deutsch
Format: Originalformat 1.33
- Bonusheft „Gräfin Zaroff – Genie des Bösen“ 8 Seiten mit Schnittbericht, Bildern und Informationen über Jess Franco und seinem Schaffen.

Disc 2 mit dem Film Sexy Nature ist auch als große Buchbox mit dem original Kinoplakat erhältlich.

"The Girl in Room 2A" from Mondo Macabro

Here's the trailer for MM's new DVD, William Rose's THE GIRL IN ROOM 2A (aka La casa della paura, Italy, 1974). Certainly looks like something we'd like to watch around these shores!! ^_^

Hmm, reminds me I used to live in room 5A for about a year twenty years back. LOL.



Thanks to Jared for the screen grab. Posted on Cinehound.

MM is back!

No, the headline isn't a reference to old Spider-man comic books, LOLZ.

However...every wee boy and girl's fave video label, Mondo Macabro, is gonna be back with another release around Christmas time when they release the ol'e slasher DON'T OPEN TILL CHRISTMAS. MM have been quite silent for a while (apart from Pete Tombs occasional post on Cinehound) so it's definitely cool to know they're not calling it a day. According to Jared (of Worldweird Cinema fame) Pete Tombs promises that SNAKE SISTERS will get a release in 2012!!

[EDIT: Alright, I was a bit too quick there; according to Jared what Pete said was, "Snake Sisters" MIGHT VERY WELL get a release in 2012! Sorry]

AWE goes WORLDWEIRD to release THE LIVING CORPSE and HELL'S GROUND this summer!

Gee, wauw!!! Another World Entertainment (AWE) are planning to release Khwaja Sarfaraz' ZINDA LAASH aka The Living Corpse (1967) and Omar Khan's Mondo Macabro produced ZIBAHKHANA aka Hell's Ground (2007) in June!!!

Four thumbs up from this here blogger!!!

It seems AWE are going to retitle THE LIVING CORPSE to Dracula in Pakistan, probably in order to make it sound more exotic - which is fine by me. Hell, they can call it "Pakistani-Dracula is a horny old geezer" for all I care. The main thing is they're putting this important and highly entertaining early Lollywood horror film on DVD.

Did I hear you say "important"? Why yes you did! ZINDA LAASH/The Living Corpse/Dracula in Pakistan is important as it's the first movie from Pakistan to ever receive an X rating! The movie was even banned when it was originally released! And then it was almost lost for good. The print that survived was literally found by Omar Khan on top of a trash can in an flooded basement!!! Mondo Macabro and The Hot Spot (Omar Khan and his brother's company) restored the print and it was released on DVD from Mondo Macabro in 2003. I certainly hope AWE enclose Omar Khan & Pete Tomb's commentary track!

HELL'S GROUND, the second film on AWE's upcoming DVD, was actually directed by Omar Khan! It's from 2007 and it's a Pakistani zombie movie! Yay!! Mondo Macabro co-produced it but didn't release it, it's out on Danger After Dark in the US. THE LIVING CORPSE/HELL'S GROUND DVD is also scheduled for release by Njuta Films in Sweden.

I must admit I'm slightly baffled as to why THE LIVING CORPSE is the bonus film on the disc... o_O ...as it is the better film of the two! I recommend that you read Omar Khan's review of THE LIVING CORPSE on his The Hot Spot review site. By the way, if you have any interest in Bollywood or Lollywood* films The Hot Spot is an awesome site for info!
*Lollywood is the Pakistani equivalent of Bollywood.

HELL'S GROUND is indeed a fun movie, and it's interesting (and cool) because of its origin (i.e. being Pakistani) but THE LIVING CORPSE is head and shoulders better; Its allure goes way beyond being interesting just for the sake of its unusual background. It is a very good adaptation of the Dracula story on its own terms and I highly recommend it! Trust me, I'm a professional and I know what I'm talking bout. Now, smell my finger.




From Mondo Macabro's website:

In the 1960's, even Pakistan was swinging!
To prove it, here's this amazing version of the Dracula story from 1967. So hot it was banned on its original release.
The only Pakistani film ever to be rated "X" in its country of origin, this sizzling little gem is also the first Dracula film to include the shocking "baby stealing" scene.
This first ever official video release, taken from the only surviving negative, includes a host of exclusive extras.

Zinda Laash - The Living Corpse - is a film so rare that even the most exhaustive studies of vampire films don't mention it. Although the film caused a sensation on its release back in the 1960's, it was banned and all but forgotten...until now!

An absolutely essential purchase for vampire film afficionados...for horror film fans...and for anyone who likes their horror hot and spicy.
A LOST VAMPIRE CLASSIC AND A LANDMARK IN ASIAN HORROR MOVIES

Blood... nuns... blood... sinful... nuns... blooood...

Ahh, who wouldn't get arou... happy at the thought of wild nuns with bloodied hands who turn their eyes black and spew equal amounts of profanities and blood in your face. Ahhh. xD



The muy fantastico lobbycard above is one that I've just won. YAY!!! The bottom one is one I unfortunately lost out on a couple of weeks back. Boo-hoo!!! They're both from the Mexican horror movie SATANICO PANDEMONIUM from 1975. It's available on a spiffy disc from Mondo Macabro but unfortunately it seems it's going out of print.

Btw, if you haven't watched SANTANICO PANDEMONIUM but still think there's a wee bell going off in your head it may very well be cos you've seen FROM DUSK TILL DAWN in which another Mexican (and muy bonita at that!), Salma Hayek, plays a character called Satanico Pandemonium (in fact this is without a doubt señorita Hayek's FINEST moment on celluloid if you ask me!).




I couldn't find a trailer for SATANICO PANDEMONIUM so instead here's one for a TV documentary about everyday life in Mexican convents:



- And here; one of the finest moments in cinematic history. This is the clip I'd bring to a deserted island if I were to only bring one clip!!!



LMAO. Alright, the top trailer is of course from the awesome movie ALUCARDA (also on DVD from MM). xD

The lost Mondo Macabro chapter finally in print (well, download print)

"LOOSE CANNONS, DANGEROUS CURVES and LEVITATING HOLY SCRIPTURES"

On Cinehound forum Pete Tombs once made the mistake of mentioning that due to a lack of space there was a full chapter that didn't make it to the MM book! A chapter on Lollywood cinema (i.e. Pakistani cinema) written by none other than Omar Khan who directed HELL'S GROUND (aka Zibahkhana). It was a mistake (haha) cos it meant I've kept bugging him on Cinehound ever since to put it out on their blog or website! Unfortunately, for some reason MM haven't wanted to do so. The chapter was actually included in the Spanish language edition of the MM book. However, ... lo and behold... Omar Khan has just put out what I believe is that chapter as an eBook (or eMag, whatever) for download! Go here. I can't comment on how good it is as I haven't read it yet (and thanks to Jared for the tip).

Upcoming Mondo Macabro: Jesus Franco's SINNER

So far only two alternative covers. No release date.
Thanks to Worldweird's Jared who posted them on Dvdmaniacs. Apparently, the "covered up" version will be the one that goes out on store shelves. Hopefully we're talking a two sided cover here. xD.

Mess with beautiful Byzantine women and they'll give ya HELL!!!

From a Mondo Macabro screening on UK TV of KARAMURAT, THE SULTAN'S WARRIOR. Thanks to Henrik Larsen of Obskuriøst magazine (and initually Graham Rix).