B-Movie classic THE DEATH KISS, starring legendary horror icon Bela Lugosi, Mario Bava’s PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, and modern horror classics THE FIRST POWER, JENNIFER, and TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT all to become available on Blu-ray and DVD from Kino Lorber in October.
Kino Lorber is proud to announce the Blu-ray releases of five horror classics in October, just in time for Halloween: THE FIRST POWER, starring Lou Diamond Phillips; the supernatural shocker JENNIFER, inspired by Carrie; the Christmastime slasher flick TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT; PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, by Italian horror maestro Mario Bava, and the 1932 B-movie classic THE DEATH KISS, starring Bela Lugosi and re-uniting him with his Dracula co-stars David Manners and Edward Van Sloan, presented here in a stunning new HD restoration from archival materials by the Library of Congress.
THE FIRST POWER stars Lou Diamond Phillips as an LA detective on the trail of an immortal serial killer. This exciting thriller streets on Blu-ray and DVD October 7th, with a SRP of $29.95 for the Blu-ray and $19.95 or the DVD.
JENNIFER is a horrifying tale of a young girl possessed with evil powers, who uses her supernatural powers to seek revenge on her classmates who have made her life a living hell. This supernatural horror film, inspired by Brian DePalma’s Carrie, streets on Blu-ray (SRP: $29.95) and DVD ($24.95) October 14th.
Also streeting on October 14th is THE DEATH KISS, which stars the legendary horror icon Bela Lugosi as the head of a Poverty Row movie studio who is faced with devastating scandal when one of his actors is found dead. Dracula co-star David Manners appears as the determined young writer who sets out to find the identity of the murderer in order to clear the name of a young actress under suspicion for the crime. This restored edition, mastered in HD from 35mm archival materials preserved by the Library of Congress, contains the original color sequences hand-tinted by Gustav Brock, and featured an audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith, making this edition a must for collectors and Lugosi fans!
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT puts a horrific spin on the usual Christmas fare, as a group of schoolgirls, set on having a debaucherous Christmas Eve alone with their boyfriends, find themselves terrorized by a killer Santa spreading Christmas “fear”, slashing one victim after the other as the bodies pile up. This terrifying slasher flick will street on October 21st with a SRP of $29.95 for the Blu-ray and $24.95 for the DVD.
And lastly, Mario Bava’s PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES, which finds a group of astronauts doing battle with a race of aliens who want to turn them into zombies. Directed with characteristic stylish flair by Bava, PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES will street on Blu-ray (SRP: $29.95) and DVD ($19.95) on October 28th.
THE FIRST POWER
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 7, 2014
Blu-ray SRP: $29.95
DVD SRP: $19.95
1990/Color/98 mins/PG
Director: Robert Resnikoff
Starring: Lou Diamond Phillips, Tracy Griffith, Jeff Kober, Mykelti Williamson, Elizabeth Arlen
Synopsis: How do you stop a killer with immortal powers? Lou Diamond Phillips (La Bamba) stars as a hotshot L.A. homicide detective caught in a harrowing game with a man who lives to kill – and cannot die – in this psychological thriller that transcends mortal terror! After a long, gruesome hunt. Detective Russell Logan (Phillips) finally captures the brutal Russell Logan (Phillips) finally captures the brutal Pentagram Killer (Jeff Kober), and watches as the murderer is executed at San Quentin. Finally, the terror is over… or is it? When the ritualistic killings begin again. Logan is haunted by violent visions of the executed man, and seeks the counsel of a beautiful psychic (Tracy Griffith). Together they discover that the Pentagram Killer, one of Satan’s disciples, possesses the First Power – the ability to inhabit the bodies of others at will! Now Logan has to catch the killer again, not knowing where – or in whom – he’ll show up next! Charged with bone-chilling suspense and otherworldly evil, The First Power will scare the devil out of you!
JENNIFER
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 14, 2014
Blu-ray SRP: $29.95
DVD SRP: $24.95
1978/Color/90 mins/PG
Director: Brice Mack
Starring: Lisa Pelikan, Bert Convy, Nina Foch, John Gavin, Jeff Corey
Newly Re-Mastered in HD
Synopsis: Lisa Pelikan (Ghoulies) unleashes the forces of hell in this supernatural thriller, inspired by Carrie. Jennifer is a shy, quiet country girl who wins a scholarship to the prestigious Green View School for girls, a dream come true. But the snobby girls at the school refuse to accept Jennifer and begin to torment her, hoping she’ll leave. The humiliation becomes unbearable and Jennifer’s growing anger and pain suddenly turn to a consuming desire for vengeance. Determined to repay those who degraded her, Jennifer releases the evil powers she had once fought to suppress. In a blinding fury of destruction, Jennifer evens the score. The strong supporting cast includes Bert Convy, Nina Foch, Jeff Corey and John Gavin.
THE DEATH KISS
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 14, 2014
Blu-ray SRP: $29.95
DVD SRP: $24.95
1932/B&W and Color/71 mins/NR
Director: Edwin L. Marin
Starring: Bela Lugosi, David Manners, Edward Van Sloan, Adrienne Ames
Synopsis: Reuniting three of the stars of Universal’s Dracula (released the previous year), this low budget production was, on the surface, a blatant attempt to capitalize on the a major Hollywood hit. But THE DEATH KISS is anything but a cheap knock-off. A Pre-Code murder mystery that plays out on the soundstages, screening rooms, and dressing rooms of the fictitious Tonart Studios, the film offers modern viewers a precious glimpse at the workings of a Poverty Row Studio during the Great Depression. Bela Lugosi stars as the head of a struggling studio, who tries to contain a scandal after an actor is killed during the making of a film. While the police investigate the deepening mysteries within the studio, a quick-witted screenwriter (David Manners) decides to solve the crime himself, in order to clear the picture’s leading lady (Adrienne Ames) from suspicion.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Mastered in HD from 35mm elements preserved by the Library of Congress
Includes original color sequences hand-tinted by Gustav Brock
Audio commentary by film historian Richard Harland Smith
TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 21, 2014
Blu-ray SRP: $29.95
DVD SRP: $24.95
1980/Color/90mins/R
Director: David Hess
Starring: Jennifer Runyon, Forrest Swanson, Linda Gentile, William Lauer, Judith Bridges
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, Santa Claus is stirring, and he’s not bringing gifts. Five young female boarders at the Calvin Finishing School have set their sights on a festive Christmas holiday romp. They have just drugged their housemother and smuggled their boyfriends into the house. But their fun-filled promiscuous frolic will soon turn into a blood-soaked nightmare when a sadistic maniac dressed as Santa Claus arrives to deliver some holiday cheer, or maybe that’s FEAR. The insane Santa Claus starts slashing his way through the house, and the gory body count begins. So you better watch out, as this Santa knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake! Jennifer Runyon (in her film debut) stars in this 1980 slasher cult-horror favorite, directed by David Hess (Krug in Wes Craven’s LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT) and written and prodcued by Alex Rebar (THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN). Now see it in glorious HD for the first time ever.
PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES
Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 28, 2014
Blu-ray SRP: $29.95
DVD SRP: $19.95
1980/Color/86 mins/NR
Director: Mario Bava
Starring: Barry Sullivan, Norma Bengell, Angel Aranda, Evi Marandi, Stelio Candelli
Synopsis: A Close Encounter Of The Undead Kind! Get sucked into a chilling black hole of cosmic creepiness when an evil alien race zeroes in on a crew of unsuspecting astronauts, turning them into zonked-out zombies! Packed with space-age suspense and extraterrestrial terror, this eerily photographed and electrifying thriller drips with an intoxicating, feverish atmosphere of dread. A band of space travelers has just intercepted a distress call from a distant world! Is it a desperate cry for help… or something far more sinister? After landing on the shadowy planet, the crew is attacked by a horde of disembodied aliens with a diabolical plan: to conquer the universe by controlling the crew’s minds and stealing their souls-proving that even in outer space, possession is 9/10 of the law! Directed by horror legend Mario Bava (Black Sunday, Black Sabbath).
About Kino Lorber:
With a library of 1,000 titles, Kino Lorber Inc. has been a leader in independent art house distribution for over 30 years, releasing over 25 films per year theatrically under its Kino Lorber, Kino Classics, and Alive Mind Cinema banners, including five Academy Award® nominated films in the last seven years. In addition, the company brings over 70 titles each year to the home entertainment market with DVD and Blu-ray releases under its five house brands, distributes a growing number of third party labels, and is a direct digital distributor to all major platforms including iTunes, Netflix, HULU, Amazon, Vimeo, Fandor and others.
