Arrow Video Tabs June 27 As The Street For The Limited Edition Blu-ray Collection Titled Enter The Video Store: Empire Of Screams

Arrow Video, with domestic sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has target June 27 as the street date for a stunning new limited edition Blu-ray collection titled Enter the Video Store: Empire of Screams.

This is a salute to film veteran Charles Band, who founded Empire International Pictures in 1983 and proceeded to deliver one genre hit after another … some got theatrical releases, while others did the straight to video rental.

We kick off the proceedings with the 1984 anthology tale, The Dungeonmaster, a group directing effort featuring the handy work of no less than seven filmmakers, including Charles Band, f/x wizard David Allen (The Howling, Willow, Ghostbusters II and Oscar-nominated for his work on Young Sherlock Holmes) and John Carl Buechler (Troll, Cellar Dweller, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood).

The film began production in 1983, had its debut at the Cannes Film Market in May of 1984, which is traditionally a shopping place to find a buyer for subsequent distribution.   The film tested so well that it went the theatrical route in February of 1985 (UK in October of 1984).

This is a new 2K film restoration from the original camera negative.  There are three viewing options for the film — the Cannes Film Market pre-release version, the U.S. theatrical version and the international version (titled Ragewar).

Bonus goodies include a newly-prepared commentary from actor Jeffrey Byron (as Paul Bradford), who is joined by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain, and the featurette title “I Reject Your Reality and Substitute My Own.”

Next up is director Stuart Gordon’s 1987 theatrical release of Dolls.   This too is a new 2K film restoration from the original interpositive.

This Blu-ray presentation comes loaded with extras.   There are two vintage commentary options — director Stuart Gordon and writer Ed Hana and cast members Carolyn Purdy-Gordon, Stephen Lee, Carrie Lorraine and Ian Patrick Williams team up for the second — plus a newly prepared commentary with Empire alum David Decoteau.   Addtionally, there are two featurettes — “Assembling Dolls” and “Toys of Terror: The Making of Dolls.”

Director John Carl Buechler, who did one of The Dungeonmaster segments, is back with the 1988 direct-to-video horror classic, Cellar Dweller.

Bonus nuggets here include a newly-minted commentary with make-up f/x artist Michael Deak (the creature), who joined by film critics Matty Budrewicz and Dave Wain and a pair of featurettes — “Grabbed by the Ghoulies” and “Inside the Cellar.”

Rounding out the collection are new 2K film restorations of director Peter Manoogian’s 1991 theatrical release of Arena and director Stuart Gordon’s Robot Jox.  Both include commentary options and production featurettes.