Author: King of the Island

Candyman

Candyman on VHS. Horror movie starring Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Tony Todd, Kasi Lemmons. Based on "The Forbidden" by Clive Barker. Directed by Bernard Rose. 1992.

Candyman on VHS. Starring Virginia Madsen, Xander Berkeley, Tony Todd, Kasi Lemmons. Based on “The Forbidden” by Clive Barker. Directed by Bernard Rose. 1992.

From the VHS cover:

Stand in front of the mirror, turn off the light, and chant the word “Candyman” five times. Then he’ll appear behind you… if you believe.

A children’s ghost story comes to terrifying life in this gut-wrenching thriller about a graduate student whose research into modern folklore summons the spirit of the dead. Helen Lyle laughs when she interviews college freshman about their superstitions. But when she hears about Candyman, a slave spirit with a hook hand who is said to haunt Chicago’s notorious Cabrini-Green housing project, she thinks she has a new twist for this thesis. Braving the gang-ridden territory to visit the site of a brutal murder, Helen arrogantly assumes Candyman can’t really exist… until he appears, igniting a string of terrifying, tragic slayings. But the police don’t believe in monsters, and they charge Helen with the grisly crimes. And only one person can set her free. Candyman.

DVD upgrade: Candyman (Special Edition)

“The Forbidden” short story by Clive Barker: The Forbidden – eBook Single (Comma Singles)

The soundtrack: Philip Glass : The Music of Candyman




Progeny

Progeny on VHS. Horror movie starring Arnold Vosloo, Jillian McWhirter, Brad Dourif. Directed by Brian Yuzna. 1998.

Progeny on VHS. Horror movie starring Arnold Vosloo, Jillian McWhirter, Brad Dourif. Directed by Brian Yuzna. 1998.

From the box:

Evil in a Bottle

Their dreamchild turned into a nightmare.

After hoping and praying Craig and Sherry Burton’s dream of having a baby just came true. But it’s nothing like they expected. Because this baby is definitely not of this world. Fearing the worst, Craig teams up with alien abduction expert Bert Clavell to unravel the truth. Through hypnosis, they discover in horrific detail that Sherry was impregnated by aliens. Now the only way to save themselves is to face the terror within. The impossible cannot be denied when you feel it inside you.

DVD upgrade: Progeny



Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things

Children Shouldn't Play with Dead Things on VHS. Starring Alan Ormsby, Jane Daly, Valerie Mamches, Jeffrey Gillen, Anya Ormsby, Paul Cronin, Seth Sklarey. Directed by Bob Clark. 1973.

Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things on VHS. Starring Alan Ormsby, Jane Daly, Valerie Mamches, Jeffrey Gillen, Anya Ormsby, Paul Cronin, Seth Sklarey. Directed by Bob Clark. 1973.

From the VHS clamshell box cover:

You’re Invited To Orville’s “Coming-Out” Party… It’ll Be A Scream!!!

A group of five young actors, led by their decidedly bizarre director, Alan (Alan Ormsby), go to an abandoned burial island somewhere off the east coast to act out a satanic rite with a freshly exhumed corpse named Orville. The “children,” as Alan calls them, don’t believe the ritual ceremony to raise the dead will work, and they return to their cottage to play party games with Orville. Little do they know, the dead things follow, driven by a supernatural force and hungry for revenge.

DVD upgrade: Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things – 35th Anniversary Exhumed Edition



Attack of the Puppet People

Attack of the Puppet People on VHS. Movie starring John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Jack Kosslyn. Directed by Bert I. Gordon. 1958.

Attack of the Puppet People on VHS. Starring John Agar, John Hoyt, June Kenney, Susan Gordon, Michael Mark, Jack Kosslyn. Directed by Bert I. Gordon. 1958.

From the box:

Terror Comes In Small Packages!

“She’s a living doll!” changes from a flattering expression to a terrifying reality when a certifiably deranged maniac creates a shocking device that shrinks people to foot-high figurines! An “amazing triumph of special effects” (Hollywood Citizen News), this menacing mini-sized movie is so big on realistic terror, you’ll never turn your back on dolls again.

Mr. Franz is a kindly, old, silver-haired doll-maker… who turns people into living puppets! He forces his human inventions to put on parties and sing to him, but one day, tired of being toyed with, the puppets launch an attack, and suddenly Mr. Franz finds he better stop playing — and start praying — because these miniature moppets are hell-bent on revenge!

Upsize to DVD: Attack of the Puppet People

Free the puppets! (Watch instantly for free with Amazon Prime): Attack Of The Puppet People

Connection to Watergate? Trivia: Puppet People changed the history of the United States

The Spirit Of Whiskey Mountain

The Spirit Of Whiskey Mountain on VHS. Presented by The Wildlife Unlimited Foundation. Rare VHS starring Bill Porter. Produced and Directed by Bill Porter Sr. Music by Bill Porter and Frank Woehrle. 1995.

The Spirit Of Whiskey Mountain on VHS. Presented by The Wildlife Unlimited Foundation. Rare VHS starring Bill Porter. Produced and Directed by Bill Porter Sr. Music by Bill Porter and Frank Woehrle. 1995.

From the VHS cover:

Millions have wanted to join Bill Porter on location! Now you and your entire family can go there to the home of the ‘wild ones.’

Bill Porter leads a pack horse adventure into the great beauty of the windy mountain range. He weaves the legend of Whiskey Mountain, two original songs, and spectacular scenery in this unique video. You’ll see more wild animals in their natural habitat than ever before. And you’ll hear “I Walked on the Mountain” and “The Legend of Whiskey Mountain” — two original songs written exclusively for these videos by Bill Porter and Frank Woehrle.

Not found on DVD. For some reason there appears to be three (possibly slightly different) versions available on VHS:

The Legend of Whisky Mountain [VHS]

The Spirit of Whiskey Mountain [VHS]

Return To Whiskey Mountain [VHS]




Mr. Vincent

Mr. Vincent on VHS. Hollywood Video First Rites movie starring Frank John Hughes, Lisa LoCicero, Mimi Scott, Shoshana Ami, Robert Bruzio, Dana Chaifetz. Directed by Robert Celestino. 1997.

Mr. Vincent on VHS. Starring Frank John Hughes, Lisa LoCicero, Mimi Scott, Shoshana Ami, Robert Bruzio, Dana Chaifetz. Directed by Robert Celestino. 1997.

From the VHS box:

First Rites @ Hollywood Video

Mr. Vincent is the character study of a struggling song writer who obsesses over the woman in his life.

Robert Celestino

Robert has made several narrative shorts and documentaries. Robert’s fascination with obsessive and extreme behavior is established with his award-winning feature, MR. VINCENT, which premiered at the Sundance film festival. Robert studied filmmaking at the New School in New York City.

First Rites: The Only Monthly Film Festival You Can Take Home

First Rites showcases the films of emerging American directors. Each month, First Rites highlights the best in independent filmmaking, seeking out filmmakers who “make a statement.” These films can be found only at Hollywood Video.

DVD upgrade: Mr. Vincent



Clear and Present Danger

Clear and Present Danger on VHS. Movie starring Harrison Ford. With Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer, Joaquim de Almeida, Henry Czerny, Thora Birch, James Earl Jones. Directed by Phillip Noyce. From a Tom Clancy novel. 1994.

Clear and Present Danger on VHS. Starring Harrison Ford. With Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer, Joaquim de Almeida, Henry Czerny, Thora Birch, James Earl Jones. Directed by Phillip Noyce. From a Tom Clancy novel. 1994.

From the box:

Truth Needs A Soldier

Harrison Ford returns as intrepid CIA agent Jack Ryan in this critically acclaimed box-office smash from the producers of Patriot Games. When his mentor Admiral James Greer (James Earl Jones) becomes gravely ill, Ryan is appointed acting CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence. His first assignment: investigate the murder of one of the President’s friends, a prominent U.S. businessman with secret ties to Colombian drug cartels. Unbeknownst to Ryan, the CIA has already dispatched a deadly field operative (Willem Dafoe) to lead a paramilitary force against the Colombian drug lords. Caught in the crossfire, Ryan takes matters into his own hands, risking his career and life for the only cause he believes in — the truth.

DVD upgrade: Clear and Present Danger (Special Collector’s Edition)

Read the book by Tom Clancy: Clear and Present Danger (Jack Ryan)

Coffy

Coffy on VHS. Movie starring Pam Grier. With Booker Bradshaw, Robert DoQui, William Elliot, Allan Arbus, Sid Haig. Written and directed by Jack Hill. 1973.

Coffy on VHS. Starring Pam Grier. With Booker Bradshaw, Robert DoQui, William Elliot, Allan Arbus, Sid Haig. Written and directed by Jack Hill. 1973.

From the box:

Grier is Coffy, nurse by day and avenging angel by night. When she discovers that her little sister has been doped up — and freaked out — by a greedy drug pusher, she not only puts an end to his miserable days, but she also vows to follow his trail of corruption up to the top — the very top. But what Coffy doesn’t realize is that all is not as it seems… and that the leafy green behind the pusher’s scene just may come from someone she knows!

DVD upgrade: Coffy

Easy Rider

Easy Rider on VHS. Movie starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson. With Toni Basil, Karen Black, Phil Spector. Directed by Dennis Hopper. 1969.

Easy Rider on VHS. Movie starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack Nicholson. With Toni Basil, Karen Black, Phil Spector. Directed by Dennis Hopper. 1969.

From the VHS cover:

A man went looking for America and couldn’t find it anywhere…

Experience the real, uncensored sixties counterculture in this compelling mixture of drugs, sex and armchair politics. In the role that catapulted him to stardom, Jack Nicholson portrays an alcoholic attorney who hooks up with two part-time, drug-dealing motorcyclists (Fonda and Hopper) in search of their “American Dream.” Heading from California to New Orleans, they sample the highs and lows of America the Beautiful in a stoned-out quest for life’s true meaning.

DVD upgrade: Easy Rider (Special Edition)

The music: Easy Rider: Music From The Soundtrack (1969 Film)

Part sequel, part prequel, Easy Rider: The Ride Back (straight to the dustbin according to reviews): Easy Rider: The Ride Back




Psychomania

Psychomania aka The Death Wheelers on VHS. Starring George Sanders, Beryl Reid, Nicky Henson. Directed by Don Sharp. 1973.

Psychomania aka The Death Wheelers on VHS. Starring George Sanders, Beryl Reid, Nicky Henson. Directed by Don Sharp. 1973.

From the VHS box:

Violence, excitement and a complete disregard for the conventions of society — this is the way of life for a group of motorbike riders who call themselves “The Living Dead.”

Leader of the gang is Tom, whose mother is a medium holding seances in her home. Together with a sinister butler, Tom’s mother exercises a strange communion with the dead. Through her, Tom learns a terrible secret — how to cross over the barrier between life and death. He suggests to his fellow riders that they put this new-found knowledge to the test.

One by one, they choose their own way to commit suicide with a difference — for each is certain he will arise from the dead.

At a secret place, a Druid’s circle of seven stones called “The Seven Witches,” the members of the gang return. Or do they? Is the butler really a domestic in a mystical household, or is he in reality Satan himself?

“Psychomania” is a powerful drama of the supernatural, the occult, and the violence which lies just beyond the conventions of society.

DVD upgrade: Psychomania