Texas Chainsaw Massacre 40th Anniversary Gets a Black Maria Limited Edition!

Dark Sky Films has announced a special limited edition set dubbed The Black Maria for the upcoming 40th anniversary home video release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

The set boasts a great poster, a Leatherface apron, and the film in all it's 4K glory!

This release is a complete 4K restoration with some fantastic features!

Read on for more!

Dark Sky Films Brings

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre: 40th Anniversary

Black Maria Limited Edition

Exclusively Available Through Gorgon-Video.com Starting September 16th

Collector's Edition Blu-ray/DVD Combo and Single DVD and Blu-ray Also Available on September 16th

 

It's been imitated and remade, but never equaled. Tobe Hooper's THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE rose from a notorious 1974 sleeper sensation to rank as one of the greatest horror films ever made. Now, to mark the film's 40^th anniversary, Dark Sky Films is presenting the digitally re-mastered masterpiece on Blu-ray for the first time in a stunning Limited Deluxe "Black Maria" Collector's Edition box set.

 

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE appears in an all-new 4K digital transfer and with a newly created 7.1 surround sound mix supervised by director Hooper (Poltergeist). This release marks the only transfer of the film to go back to the original 16mm A/B rolls, the actual film that rolled through the cameras. The Limited Deluxe "Black Maria" Edition of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE will be released at retail in October but will be available exclusively at www.gorgon-video.com for 30 days starting September 16, 2014. Fans of the film will recognize the unique packaging as a replica of the iconic 'Black Maria' cattle truck that comes to Sally Hardesty's rescue when she's being pursued by Leatherface, a fitting nod to the legions of TCSM enthusiasts who were instrumental in keeping the film at the forefront of the genre throughout for the past 40 years and a true collectible display piece.'

 This four-disc DVD/Blu-ray combo pack will include a wealth of extras, including:

A Leatherface apron

Theatrical mini-poster

Five audio options

Four feature commentaries with the filmmakers and cast,

Several making-of featurettes

Deleted scenes, outtakes, bloopers, trailers and much more

 

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE received a mixed critical reception upon its initial release - the Los Angeles Times called it "despicable" - but horror fans immediately recognized it has a breakthrough in unbearable suspense. The story, written by director Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel, is dreadfully simple: Five young people on a weekend getaway in remote Texas countryside fall prey to a chain saw-wielding butcher (dubbed Leatherface because of his mask made of human skin) and his demented cannibalistic family. Thanks to startling scenes such as a woman being impaled on a meat hook, horror cinema would never be the same. Violent, confrontational and shockingly realistic, the film terrified audiences and was the most buzzed-about release of its time (a buzz fueled by the marketing campaign that claimed it was based on a true story).

Thrust upon an America disillusioned by the Vietnam War and Watergate, the 1974 shocker faced a storm of controversy, censorship and outcry. But this masterpiece of horror has stood the test of time to become a landmark motion picture and cultural milestone, having opened the (sliding steel) door to the entire slasher genre of the 1980s and beyond.

In addition to the Limited Deluxe "Black Maria" Edition of THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE , the film will also be released as a standard DVD, Blu-ray and DVD/Blu-ray Combo on September 16 at retail outlets nationwide.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE 40^th ANNIVERSARY BLACK MARIA LIMITED EDITION BOX SET

Street Date: Exclusively at gorgon-video.com only September 16, 2014

Street Date: retail outlets nationwide October 14, 2014

SRP: $99.98

Rate R

4K Digital Transfer, 7/1 Surround audio

EXTRAS:

A Collector's Edition Bonus Disc:

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth

* Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw

* A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen

* Off the Hook with Teri McMinn

* The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman

* New Deleted Scenes & Outtakes

* Grandpa's Tales: An Interview with John Dugan

* Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview With Editor J. Larry Carroll

* Deleted Scenes & Outtakes

* Blooper Reel

* Outtakes from "The Shocking Truth"

* Horror's Hallowed Grounds: TCSM

* Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents "Making Grandpa"

* Still Gallery

* 40th Anniversary Trailer

* Trailers

* TV Spots

* Radio Spots

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE 40 ^th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTOR'S EDITION DVD & BD COMBO

Street Date: September 16, 2014

SRP: $49.98

Rated R

4k Digital Transfer, 7.1 Surround audio

EXTRAS:

Collector's Edition Bonus Disc:

* The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Shocking Truth

* Flesh Wounds: Seven Stories of the Saw

* A Tour of the TCSM House with Gunnar Hansen

* Off the Hook with Teri McMinn

* The Business of Chain Saw: An Interview with Production Manager Ron Bozman

* New Deleted Scenes & Outtakes

* Grandpa's Tales: An Interview with John Dugan

* Cutting Chain Saw: An Interview With Editor J. Larry Carroll

* Deleted Scenes & Outtakes

* Blooper Reel

* Outtakes from "The Shocking Truth"

* Horror's Hallowed Grounds: TCSM

* Dr. W.E. Barnes Presents "Making Grandpa"

* Still Gallery

* 40th Anniversary Trailer

* Trailers

* TV Spots

* Radio Spots

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE 40 ^th ANNIVERSARY DVD OR BD

Street Date: September 16, 2014

SRP: $24.98 DVD / $29.98 BLU-RAY

Rated R

4k Digital Transfer, 7.1 Surround audio

EXTRAS:

4 Feature Commentaries:
 

* Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper, actor Gunnar Hansen, Cinematographer Daniel Pearl

* Actors Marilyn Burns, Allen Danziger, and Paul A. Partain, and Production Designer Robert Burns

* NEW Commentary with Writer-Producer-Director Tobe Hooper

* NEW Commentary with Cinematographer Daniel Pearl, Editor J. Larry Carroll and Sound Recordist Ted Nicolaou

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Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons Coming to Segerstrom Center for the Arts August 16, 2014

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons to Orange County on August 16, 2014. Single tickets, which start at $49 are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket savings for 20 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746.

The original Jersey boy himself, Frankie Valli is a true American legend. His incredible career with The Four Seasons, as well as his solo success, has spawned countless hit singles with unforgettable tunes such as "Sherry," "Walk Like a Man," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," "Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and of course, "Grease." His songs have been omnipresent in other iconic movies such as The Deer Hunter, Dirty Dancing, Mrs. Doubtfire, Conspiracy Theory and The Wanderers. As many as 200 artists have done cover versions of Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” from Nancy Wilson’s jazz treatment to Lauryn Hill’s hip-hop makeover.

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons have sold more than 100 million records worldwide. They continue to tour throughout the U.S. and abroad to packed houses receiving nightly standing ovations from thrilled fans of multiple generations.

Valli’s long-lasting career has led to the overwhelming success of the Broadway musical JERSEY BOYS, which chronicles Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ incredible career and features all of their greatest hits.
The Broadway juggernaut, which opened on Broadway in 2005, has been now been seen by more than 18 million people worldwide. It currently boasts six companies: Broadway, London, Las Vegas, U.S. national tour, The Netherlands and Asia tours.

In 2006, JERSEY BOYS won four Tony Awards® including Best Musical and Best Cast Album. In 2009, it won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and as of April 9, 2014, it will be the 13th longest running show in Broadway history. 

Don't miss this chance to see this pop music iconic and legendary performer.  

Tickets on sale NOW!!

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Arnold: @Terminator Genisys Wraps!

"Can someone bring me my prune juice and a COOOKKKIIEEEEE...!!!!"

Ho. Ly. Shit! Paramount Pictures gets it, readers, and they understand how important it is to get another Schwarzenegger/T-800 flick back on screen before this glorious era of action stars is dead and gone.  The Terminator franchise has such a rich mythology, and although folks may rag on some of its recent incarnations (Terminator: Salvation, Sarah Connor Chronicles), these stories are fantastic and need to continue.

Enter Terminator: Genisys, the fifth installment in the series.  I'm super excited!  And yeah, I'm ecstatic that an old Arnold is back in the movies; so sue me.  I really liked The Last Stand, and he's really taking his comeback seriously, playing with fans and trying to deliver on what his fanbase cries out for!  It's like he was a politician or something!!  Here's just a few words from the man himself:

 Hasta la vista, baby. I want to thank the cast and crew of @TerminatorGenisys for a fantastic shoot. It was challenging, it was fun, and it was rewarding. From our director to the producers, from the camera team to catering, from visual effects to hair and makeup - we couldn't have done it without you. I can't wait to see our finished project and I know we'll remind the fans why they fell in love with the Terminator. On July 1, 2015, I'll be back.

And bet on ME being back in that theater seat, dudes.

Terminator Genisys stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney, Jason Clarke, Matt Smith, Byung-Hun Lee, and JK Simmons.

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Breaking News - #FantasticFest 2014 - First Wave of Films Announced!

By Adam Ruhl

After a abnormally long wait it's finally here (and with an amazing new poster)! The opening film and first wave of titles for Fantastic Fest 2014 are:

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Theater Review: Hair Live at the Hollywood Bowl #HAIRatthebowl

The Age of Aquarius came alive under the stars tonight as the anti-war flower children of Hair took over the Hollywood Bowl. This was the first time I'd seen a musical at the Bowl and the first time I'd seen Hair at all so I was looking forward to a good time.

The powerhouse cast alone is enough to make this a must see show but to see them actually perform it only confirms that. The entire cast turned in a wonderful performance and made a memorable first viewing of this historical play.

With names like Kristen Bell, Hunter Parish, Beverly D'Angelo, Jonah Platt, Jenna Ushkowitz, Amber Riley, Sarah Hyland, and more you know you're in for something special. For me, the big draw was Kristen Bell. It's no secret I am a huge fan of hers and the chance to see her performing live on stage was too great to pass up. She was fantastic but it was another actress who stole the show: Sarah Hyland. I was blown away by her. She was charming, funny, and I am pretty sure she was on stage the entire first act. She handled some unexpected mic trouble like a seasoned broadway veteran, and even ad-libbed a joke about it in act two. This girl is definitely more than Modern Family.

Another stand out was Amber Riley. What a voice this girl has. A true talent with a killer voice and comedy chops as well.

I don't mean to leave the gentlemen out of the review here. The guys were great but to be honest, the ladies owned it tonight.

As the show went on, another unexpected issue came up: a rare summer rainstorm. Unfortunately, the fickle LA audience wasn't having the rain and a lot of people began heading for the doors. This was just moments into act two by the way and no amount of praying for star shine or sunshine was keeping the rain at bay. The cast referenced the rain in a couple clever ways and the Bowl staff passed out ponchos. The audience that remained (it was still a lot of people) were treated to a high energy and emotional finale.

One drawback is that a show like Hair is better served in a more intimate venue where cast interactions with the audience can be more appreciated and enjoyed than with a massive Bowl audience.

With great direction and choreography along with a talented and captivating cast, Hair at the Hollywood Bowl is a wonderful way to spend an evening.

You have one more chance to catch this great show tonight (Sunday August 3) at 7:30pm.

Hair

8/10 Tie Dyes!

For more information and tickets click HERE.

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#fantasiafest Fantasia International Film Festival Reviewed! - @WOLFCOPTheMovie , @Patchtown

By Adam Ruhl

It seems like it's Canada night for PCB reviews of Fantasia Festival films. I've got two amazing films from north of the border to share with you. Let's take a look!

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Sketch Comedy: Hot Ice Cream

What's a better way to waste your time on a Friday than watching the seconds tick away until quittin' time? Watching some brand new sketch comedy, of course!

Check out the premiere of the new LA-Based sketch comedy group Hot Ice Cream featuring comedians Ryan Budds and Wendi Starling.

Subscribe to their channel for new, hilarious sketches every Monday and Friday!

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#fantasiafest Fantasia International Film Festival Reviewed! - @TimeLapse_Movie

By Adam Ruhl

Normally I post a couple of reviews together but after seeing this film tonight I knew I couldn't sit on this one. Submitted for your approval, I give you Time Lapse!

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@fantasiafest Fantasia International Film Festival Reviewed! - The Man in the Orange Jacket, @cybernaturalmov!

By Adam Ruhl

The Man in the Orange Jacket

I was pretty excited for this one, not just because of its intriguing trailer but also because it’s the first movie I’ve ever seen from Latvia. For my fellow Americans, start at Russia and go west, if you hit the Baltic Sea you’ve gone too far. Was it any good? It is both beautiful and terrifying and grotesque. I have never before seen a film that so seamlessly blends great cinematography, suspense, and torture porn before.

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#SDCC14 – The Great Alien Egg Hunt @super7store

By Adam Ruhl

I’ve written a couple times now about the Reaction Figures Alien line, so yes, I am a fan. Quick recap for the uninitiated: In 1979, Kenner was going to release five action figures to tie in with the movie Alien but cancelled the plans. Fast forward to 2013 and Reaction Figures buys the rights to the designs and releases the figures on awesome retro cards. Everybody caught up?

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Exclusive Clip: Biker Battleground Phoenix

Tonight on the History Channel's Biker Battleground Phoenix, Yaffe, Kody and Jenkins put their reputations at risk as chaos descends at Arizona Bike Week, one of the largest builder/biker showcases in the country.

Check out the exclusive clip of tonight's episode "Respect" below:

Yaffe questions whether his SRT will succeed or fail.  In a never before done stunt, Kody and his fabricator Ricardo assemble a bike in front of an audience of his peers.  Can Kody prove he knows how to build and that he’s not a “fraud” or “poser” in the bike building world? Kody later surprises Ricardo by giving him the bike. When Ricardo finds out, he falls to his knees in front an audience of 5,000 as the crowd literally goes wild.

An anxious Yaffe finally reveals his top secret SRT on stage to thousands of onlookers. While the others builders give Yaffe props, Kody is unimpressed and shows it riding off while Yaffe is in the middle of his presentation.  Yaffe is outraged at Kody’s lack of respect and vows to retaliate.  Jenkins attempts to win the Baddest Bagger Competition for the second year in a row with his Custom Bagger. His crew works night and day but misses a major opportunity to show up on the main stage.


Watch all of the excitement and drama on Biker Battleground Phoenix tonight (July 29th) from 11:03-12:01AM ET only on the History Channel!

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Movie Trailer: TUSK #WalrusYes

Kevin Smith returns to horror with his insane looking Tusk.

The official synopsis reads: From the singular mind of writer/director and podcaster Kevin Smith, and conceived from one of Smith’s own Smodcast’s, TUSK is a story unlike anything that has ever been committed to screen before. A tale that is equal parts hilarious and horrifying, TUSK will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Word is this is part of a Canada set trilogy which is pretty intriguing. I don't know about you but I am definitely interested in this one.

Check out the trailer below.

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Blu-ray Review: Curtains

It's been over 30 years since Curtains was first released and relatively forgotten. As the years went on, the film grew a cult like status and its fans have been clamoring for a proper home video release (a DVD released in 2010, was not acceptable due to its poor transfer). Well, thanks to the folks at Synapse Films, that day has finally come as Curtains has finally gotten the loving respect it deserves.

The film is about a director casting a coveted role of Audra so he invites several actresses to his remote mansion to work towards finding his perfect cast. Of course his first choice is a method actress so she locks herself away in a mental institution to learn what it means to be crazy. She breaks out once she hears of Stryker's (the directors) plans to choose another Audra.

Of course murder and strangeness occurs as the women do whatever they can to earn the part in this film.

The interesting thing about Curtains is the lack of a main character. There is no Laurie Strode, no Nancy Thompson. This is interesting because that means that no one is NOT the killer. There is no one safe to identify with because anyone could be hiding underneath that creepy old hag mask. You never really know who the killer is until the ultimate revelation.

The film is acted well and is among the better examples of 80s slasher films. This one is a bit calmer than most. It's not kill after kill and it gives the viewer room to breathe and to suspect who might be behind the killings.

The real star here now is the absolutely wonderful transfer Synapse has delivered. They did a masterful job, the likes of which only someone with a love of the film could be capable of. Fans should be ecstatic over the picture and sound. They've got some good features to dig through as well, including a trailer, commentary, and more. Synapse has really gone above and beyond with this title and it should serve as an example to other horror labels. Treat your films right and your fans will love you all the  more for it. I can't wait to see what Synapse does with Prom Night.

Fans of early slashers will eat up Curtains, and the beautiful transfer makes it a definite must watch for fans of the genre.

Well done, Synapse Films. You've raised the bar on what a label can do for a much loved film and a genre sorely in need of more respect in the home video market.

Curtains is available now.

Curtains

8/10 Hag Faces!

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Movie Trailer/Poster: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

Warner Brothers has unleashed a brand new poster and a gorgeous trailer for the final chapter of The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies. It's a stunning and exciting clip sure to have fans frothing at the mouth.

This chapter looks to deliver the goods and it is a great link to the original trilogy.

Check it out below!



BTW, TODAY ONLY get the Extended Cut Lord of the Rings Trilogy on Blu-ray for $38!

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Movie Poster/Trailer: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One

Lionsgate dropped some Hunger Games goodies at comic con this year including the above poster. But, I suspect now everyone will be talking about this nifty little teaser trailer for Mockingjay Part One, which I enjoyed. It's an attention grabber without being too revealing. Really a good tease all in all.

Ok I guess you just want to see it now right?

Fine!

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