More Slashers on Disc

More slasher and proto-slasher discs are on their way.

October 13: The Stepfather

This terrific 1987 slasher has been M.I.A. on DVD for far too long. Lost’s Terry O’Quinn stars as a family man who, when disappointed by his family, simply kills them, changes his identity, and moves on to a new family until they, inevitably, disappoint him too. A Shout! Factory release, the Stepfather disc features a commentary from director Joseph Ruben, a retrospective documentary, and the original US theatrical trailer. US retail: $19.99

October 13: The William Castle Collection

Once they’ve gone OOP, some discs of William Castle’s fun flicks are notoriously hard (i.e. expensive) to get a hold of. Sony Pictures rectifies this to some degree (it packs a mighty price tag) with the release of The William Castle Collection, including Homicidal (see Proto-Slashers review on this site) and Straight-Jacket, starring Joan Crawford as an axe-murderess who is released after years in an asylum. The set also includes 13 Frightened Girls, 13 Ghosts, Mr. Sardonicus, the remake of James Whale’s classic The Old Dark House, The Tingler, and Zotz. The collection features a ton of extras, but missing from the set are I Saw What You Did (again, check out Proto-Slashers here for deets), Macabre, House on Haunted Hill, and Night Walker. Cover art unavailable at this time. US retail: $80.95

November 24: The House on Sorority Row (25th Anniversary Edition)

A terrific slasher flick in the classic mold, 1983’s The House on Sorority Row is a must-have for any slasher fan. After a prank goes awry, someone starts killing the sorority sisters of Theta Pi. Full of memorable characters, smart directorial choices, set pieces, and suspense, HOSR was originally released by Elite Entertainment on DVD in 2000 and again in 2003. The OOP dics are currently selling online around the $50 mark. Liberation Entertainment make this more assessable to slasher fans with a space in their DVD collections for a bloody sorority house. Special Feature details to come. US Retail: $19.95

DVD releases of slasher classics — pristine, uncut, and in their original aspect ratios — are certainly the best thing to come out of the glut of lame slasher movie remakes. Despite the limp PG-13 reincarnations, renewed interest in the originals has created a boon for slasher fans. Sit back, tense up, and enjoy!