Vinegar Syndrome Announces Its Jan. 25 Slate Of New Film Restorations

Vinegar Syndrome Pictures revealed its January release calendar this past week, which includes its next 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack release and four new film restorations heading to Blu-ray … the street date will be Jan. 25.

For genre fans and film buffs there are so many delights here that it is difficult to point to the “leader of the pack,” so we will go with personal preference.

Let’s begin with writer/director William Malone’s 1985 indie production of Creature.   This is a new 4K film restoration from the original 35MM camera negative.

This mini-budget sci-fi thriller, all about an ancient alien creature found on Saturn’s moon, Titan (a prologue sets the story in motion), was limited in the number of 35MM prints, so the theatrical release was staggered from city to city, with Los Angeles opening late April of 1985 and New Yorkers finally getting their “creature” thrills in August.  

Bonus features included with the Blu-ray release are a commentary option with members of The Hysteria Continues, the alternate director’s cut of the film, Titan Find, and two featurettes — “Finding Titan: The Making of Creature” and “Space on a Budget.”

Another genre-fan film gem included in this Jan. 25 release mix from Vinegar Syndrome Pictures is a new 4K film restoration (from the 35MM interpositive) of writer/director Dario Argento’s 1993 film release of Trauma, starring Asia Argento, Christopher Rydell, Frederic Forrest, Brad Dourif and Piper Laurie.

The film plays as a slasher entry with a mix of traditional Italian giallo mystery elements … all in English (one of Argento’s rare state-side productions).

Bonus goodies include two commentary options, one featuring film historian and author Alexandra Heller-Nicholas (“The Giallo Canvas: Art, Excess and Horror Cinema,” “Rape-Revenge Films: A Critical Study”) and the second with members of The Hysteria Continues.

There are video sessions with cast and crew members and five featurettes — “Beheaded,” “Female Hamlet,” “When the Lightning Strikes,” “Heads Above the Rest” and “Ruby Rain.”

Rounding out the Jan. 25 release calendar are Blu-ray editions of director Prano Bailey-Bond’s Censor and New York Ninja (a double-disc set) and the aforementioned 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray debut of the Ebola Syndrome.