Frankenstein Created Woman
Blu-ray (Collector’s Edition)
Director: Terence Fisher
Screenwriter: John Elder (Anthony Hinds)
Cast: Peter Cushing, Susan Denberg, Thorley Walters, Robert Morris, Peter Blythe, Susan Denberg, Derek Fowlds, Barry Warren
Distributor: Scream Factory
Not Rated | 92 Minutes
Release Date: June 11, 2019

“Everything we don’t understand is magic – until we understand it.”

Directed by Terence Fisher (1958’s Dracula, 1959’s The Mummy), 1967’s Frankenstein Created Woman is the fourth film in Hammer’s Frankenstein series and perhaps the most intriguing, dealing with the metaphysical aspects of Frankenstein’s work. For the first time, the film is available on Blu-ray from Scream Factory, presented in a new 2K scan from the original film elements, and loaded with special features.

The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
Blu-ray
Director: Roy Ward Baker
Screenwriter: Don Houghton
Cast: Peter Cushing, John Forbes-Robertson, David Chiang, Robin Stewart, Julie Ege
Distributor: Scream Factory
Not Rated | 83 Minutes
Release Date: April 9, 2019

“Black Belt vs. Black Magic!”

Directed by Roy Ward Baker (The Vampire Lovers, Asylum, The Monster Club), 1974’s The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires is the ninth and final film in the Hammer Dracula series.

The film, which stars Peter Cushing as Professor Van Helsing, debuts on Blu-ray from Scream Factory on April 9.

The House That Dripped Blood
Blu-Ray
Director: Peter Duffell
Screenwriters: Robert Bloch, Russ Jones
Cast: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Ingrid Pitt, Denholm Elliot, Jon Pertwee, Nyree Dawn Porter
Distributor: Scream Factory
Rated PG | 102 Minutes
Release Date: May 8, 2018

“Vampires! Voodoo! Vixens! Victims!”

The 1971 horror anthology film, The House That Dripped Blood, promises more than just alliteration. In addition to the vixens and vampires, there’s a lot to appreciate about this portmanteau production, namely Hammer horror icons Peter Cushing (The Curse of Frankenstein), Christopher Lee (The Satanic Rites of Dracula), and Ingrid Pitt (The Vampire Lovers). And if that isn’t enough, it also features Denholm Elliott (Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who).

Written by Russ Jones and Robert Bloch, the author of Psycho, The House That Dripped Blood comes to us from Amicus Productions, the purveyor of horror anthologies like Tales from the Crypt (1972), Asylum (1972), and Vault of Horror (1973).

We’ve heard about it in the past, using the many existing images and footage of deceased stars to bring them back to life using digital effects for roles in future movies. Debates have been had. Would you want to see Humphrey Bogart make an appearance in a new movie someday? It’s already happening in the music world with the likes of Tupac Shakur and Michael Jackson.

Now a new report claims that there are plans in the works to bring Peter Cushing back to life using digital effects for the upcoming Star Wars standalone spinoff/prequel Rogue One. Cushing played Grand Moff Tarkin in the original trilogy, and passed away at the age of 81 in 1994. The character appeared in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, but played by Wayne Pygram.

With Doctor Who starring Peter Capaldi set to return to television screens for Season 9 of the revived series, it seems like a good time to go back in time about 50 years and revisit some lesser known aspects of the series’ beginning. Though Doctor Who began with a historical serial now commonly known as “An Unearthly Child,” it rocketed into the national consciousness with its second serial, now called “The Daleks.” In a show much known for its monsters, the Daleks were the originals. They put the show into a format that we recognize today. They also caused a craze in Great Britain that came to be known as Dalekmania and brought the series audience figures of over 9 million viewers a week. It has only periodically equaled those numbers in the 50 years since.

The story of the Daleks was told in three different ways, with two different Doctors. First, there is the teleplay by Terry Nation. Being part of a weekly adventure series, it tells the story of how the Doctor, his granddaughter Susan, and her schoolteachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright arrive on the radioactive world of Skaro and meet the Daleks. The Daleks are mutated survivors of an atomic war who hate any creatures who are not like themselves. This is original version and, excepting certain accommodations for budget and pacing for a half hour television serial, it is the best. It is also canonical.