Arrow Video is tapping into that nostalgic experience of going to the video store with a brand new Blu-ray release.
“Freshly restored for the digital era with a wealth of new and archival extras, these films have never looked better,” Arrow Video teases the set this morning, which is loaded with a collection of retro films from Charles Band’s Empire International Pictures.
Arrow explains, “In 1983, entrepreneurial producer and director Charles Band founded Empire International Pictures, which would go on to make some of the most memorable and beloved genre movies of the 1980s. Empire became a mainstay of video stores across the world with their catchy titles, outlandish art and Band’s wholehearted belief in giving audiences a good time.”
Here’s all the details you need about this amazing boxset!
High Definition Blu-Ray (1080p) presentations of all five films
Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
Limited edition packaging featuring newly commissioned artwork by Laurie Greasley
Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Grimmfest artist Ilan Sheady
Double sided posters for each film featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Ilan Sheady
15 postcard-sized reproduction artcards
Arrow Video store “membership card”
80-page perfect bound book featuring new writing on the films by Lee Gambin, Dave Jay, Megan Navarro, and John Harrison plus select archival material
DISC ONE – THE DUNGEONMASTER
New 2K restoration by Arrow Films from the original negative
Three different versions of the film via seamless branching: the US theatrical version (The Dungeonmaster), the pre-release version and the international version (Ragewar)
Original lossless mono audio
New audio commentary with star Jeffrey Byron, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own, a new interview with star Jeffrey Byron
Theatrical trailers
Image gallery
DISC TWO – DOLLS
New 2K restoration by Arrow Films from the original interpositive
Original lossless stereo audio
New audio commentary by David Decoteau, Empire alumnus and friend of Stuart Gordon
Archive audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon and writer Ed Naha
Archive audio commentary with cast members Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Stephen Lee, Carrie Lorraine, and Ian Patrick Williams
Assembling Dolls, a new interview with Lee Percy, editor of Dolls, Re-Animator and From Beyond
Toys of Terror: The Making of Dolls, an archive featurette with Gordon, Yuzna, Purdy-Gordon, Williams, Charles Band and Gabe Bartalos
Film-to-storyboard comparison
Theatrical trailers
Image gallery
DISC THREE – CELLAR DWELLER
Additional picture restoration by Arrow Films
Original lossless stereo audio
New audio commentary by special make-up effects artist Michael Deak who inhabited the Cellar Dweller creature suit, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
Grabbed by the Ghoulies, a new appreciation of John Carl Buechler, special make-up effects artist of many Empire Pictures films and director of Cellar Dweller, by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
Inside the Cellar, a new interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
Original sales sheet
Original production notes
VHS trailer
Empire Pictures trailer reel
Image galleries, including behind the scenes photos courtesy of special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
DISC FOUR – ARENA
New 2K restoration by Arrow Films from the last known surviving 35mm elements
Original lossless stereo audio
New audio commentary with director Peter Manoogian, moderated by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain
Alternative fullframe presentation
Not His Arena, a new interview with co-screenwriter Danny Bilson
Empire of Creatures, a new interview with special make-up effects artist Michael Deak
Theatrical trailer
Image gallery
DISC FIVE – ROBOT JOX
New 2K restoration by Arrow Films from the original negative
Original lossless stereo audio
Archive audio commentary with director Stuart Gordon
Archive audio commentary with associate effects director Paul Gentry, mechanical effects artist Mark Rappaport, and stop-motion animator Paul Jessell
Crash and Burn, a new interview with actor Gary Graham
Her Name is Athena, a new Interview with actor Anne-Marie Johnson
The Scale of Battle: David Allen and the FX of Robot Jox, a new appreciation of stop motion animator David Allen by those who knew him, featuring contributions from fellow visual effects artists Steve Burg, Yancy Calzeda, Paul Gentry, Kevin Kutchaver, Dennis Muren and John Vincent
Looking Back, an archival interview with actor Paul Koslo
Original sales sheet
Original production notes
Theatrical trailer
Image galleries, including behind the scenes stills courtesy of associate effects director Paul Gentry
