Radiance Films Readies A 4K Ultra HD Edition Of Director Mario Bava's Planet Of The Vampires For Release On Oct. 20

Genre fans in particular and movie-goes in general in Boston, San Francisco and at various theatres throughout Ohio were drawn to the double feature launch of director Daniel Haller’s Die, Monster, Die! (starring Boris Karloff no less) and Italian filmmaker Mario Bava’s Planet of the Vampires beginning on Oct. 27, 1965.   A horror-themed double-feature presented by American International during the Halloween promotional season, how could anyone pass that up!

What genre fans got as a bonus were leather-clad deep space hotties, ‘er “explorers,” in the form of Norma Bengell and Evi Marandi.   Indeed, hearts were pounding, not from the terror generated by what was lurking in the mist of that strange planet called Aura, but from those soft curves highlighted by Gabriele Mayer’s costume creations … those leather space outfits!! 

News has arrived that Radiance Films, with sales and distribution expertise provided by MVD Entertainment Group, has a new 4K film restoration of Planet of the Vampires ready for genre fans to enjoy once again … only this time as a glorious 4K Ultra HD product offering on Oct. 20.   The terror face by Santa (Bengell) and Tiona (Marandi) on Aura can now be savored in 4K … or will it be leering and lusting-after how those “very practical” black leather space outfits were filled out by these brave space explorers (in 4K, or course)? 

Bonus goodies include both the original Italian-language version (an extra two minutes of footage) and the 1965 English-dubbed domestic theatrical presentation.   Plus, Radiance has included with this 4K Ultra HD release an archival commentary from author and film critic Tim Lucas (Mario Bava: All the Colors of the Dark) and Dima Ballin and Kat Ellinger’s new documentary (2024) titled Transmissions from a Haunted World: Mario Bava and the Space Gothic. 

Additional bonus delights are a vintage interview with Lamberto Bava, the Super 8 version of the film and “trailer commentaries” from Joe Dante and Josh Olsen.

MVD Entertainment Group Bestows "Rewind Collection" Status On Director David Nutter's Oct. 17 Blu-ray Release Of Disturbing Behavior

It’s “Rewind” status for director David Nutter’s summer of 1998 sci/horror chiller, Disturbing Behavior, starring a pre-X-Men James Marsden (Cyclops) and Katie Holmes in her second screen appearance and on the cusp of her Dawson’s Creek breakout success … plus the likes of “Charlie Manson”/“Duane Barry” (Steve Railsback in the ’76 Helter Skelter mini-series; X-Files … season two) and no less than “John Connor” (Nick Stahl … Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines).

MVD Entertainment Group will induct Disturbing Behavior into its vaunted “Rewind Collection” as a newly-minted Blu-ray edition on October 17.

Highly under-rated as a horror entry … for two reasons (more, if you like).   First, MGM (the studio producing the film) seemed to have had little understanding of what David Nutter, an X-File alumni, was going for and took control of his film … cutting it to shreds in the process by lopping-out something like a half-hour’s worth of footage.   Next, the studio decided to open the film theatrically on the same date as Saving Private Ryan.  

That’s called “burying it” … in all fairness (who wants to be fair) the studio was in the mists of production changes, so what was in the pipeline was given lesser status in favor of what was being put into production (old guard versus new guard; common in Hollywood).

MVD knows a good thing when it sees it, especially with it comes to new members joining the “Rewind Collection” universe.   Disturbing Behavior on Blu-ray on Oct. 17 (which is also “Video Store Day” and included in this year’s annual promotion) is a perfect new addition to the family … be sure to check it out!

Bonus goodies include commentary from filmmaker David Nutter, plus deleted scenes and the original ending (all with optional commentary by David Nutter).  He gets the final word on what MGM did to his film!!