THE MASK 1961

 PUT ON THE MASK !....PUT ON THE MASK !....PUT ON THE MASK !....

    Although they came kind of late to the game, for their first entry in the horror genre Canada came up with this interesting cult curio that is finally getting a nice release courtesy of Kino on Nov. 24. Directed by Julian Roth this 1961 feature while not technically a "3D movie" does contain several hallucinatory 3D sequences that are brought about by the characters putting on a creepy ancient mask. Movie patrons were given a cardboard replica of the mask and intoned during the course of the film to "Put on the mask !" (along with the characters in the movie) during the 3D sequences.
    There was a nice DVD released in Germany (with the 3D sequences intact) a few years back, but for the most part this has been represented by only an old VHS release from Rhino and a couple questionable quasi bootleg DVD. Fully restored with both anaglyph and actual 3D (as seen in the theatres), this is will be a pretty cool release.

DEMONOID : MESSENGER OF DEATH 1981

   

     Coming out Oct. 13 from Vinegar Syndrome is this 1981 Mexican/U.S. co-production which is one of the truly great cheesy horror films of the 1980's and one that back in the VHS days seem to show up in every mom & pop video store.
     Directed by Alfred Zacarias (who also responsible for the equally mind bending THE BEES from 1978) this features Stuart Whitman as a priest on the trail of a possessed hand unearthed from a cursed mine in Mexico.  Helping out Whitman is Samantha Eggar (who was just coming THE BROOD and the THE EXTERMINATOR) and Russ Meyer starlet Haji (FASTER PUSSYCAT! KILL! KILL!) makes an appearance along with stuntman/third heavy on right (and member of the Sam Peckinpah stock company) Roy Jenson.
    To spice it up for the American market Jim Wynorski was hired to film a pre-credit sequence that featured some satanic ritual footage that had some back story for the processed hand (which during the course of the movie shows it self to be an expert at throwing craps in Vegas). Vinegar Syndrome has said the release will contain both the U.S. and International cuts of the movie along with some extras. Demonoid Diplomas were handed out to lucky recipients during the films initial run.

Happy Birthday Barbara Bouchet

    

     Born 71 years ago on this day in Germany, her family emigrated to the United States after WWII and settled in San Francisco where she become a regular on the KPIX Dance Party as teenager and later become actress.She started out in television with small roles and moved into movies such as IN HARMS WAY (1965) and CASINO ROYALE (1967) where she played Miss Moneypenny.
    In 1970 she moved to Italy and made a name for herself appearing in the exploding Italian exploitation market including BLACK BETTY OF THE TARANTULA (1971), the sleazy & delirious AMUCK (1972) with Rosalba Neri and THE LADY IN RED KILLS SEVEN TIMES (1972). In 2002 she had a small role in Martin Scorsese's GANGS OF NEW YORK. Here she is in Fernando Di Leo's excellent 1972 crime drama CALIBER 9 where she's plays the belly dancing girlfriend of a recently paroled convict who's at the center of a cache of missing mob money. Its one of the best examples of the Italian poliziotteschi genre (in addition Barbara looks stunning in it) and was just released in a spiffy new region B blu-ray from Arrow.

  

SLAUGHTER 1972

  

    Coming on blu-ray from Olive Sept. 22 is this 1972 blacksploitation action classic. After his parents are killed by the mob ex-green beret captain Jim Brown (only ever referred to by his surname of Slaughter) vows vengeance and after being recruited by the U.S. Government he goes on a one man rampage which leads to mob boss Dominic Hoffo (played by a weaselly Rip Torn).

    Directed by master drive-in director Jack Starrett (RACE WITH THE DEVIL & CLEOPATRA JONES) the film is anchored by Brown's commanding presence and also features Don Gordon (BULLITT), Cameron Mitchell (THE TOOLBOX MURDERS), Marlene Clark (BLACK MAMBA) and Stella Stevens (CLEOPATRA JONES AND THE CASINO OF GOLD). The nude lovemaking scenes between Brown and Stevens (who spends most of her time in various states of undress) caused quite a stir at the time of release.