One of the surprise titles among the genre-disc specialist’s announcements today is its first dimensional release, with supplements by a member of the RUE MORGUE team.
Vinegar Syndrome is now offering the 1984 slasher film SILENT MADNESS, originally released in 3D and presented in both digital 3D (mirroring the theatrical experience, requiring a 3D-capable TV and player) and anaglyph 3D (with two pairs of custom glasses included) as part of this two-disc region-free package, along with a 2D version. Directed by Simon Nuchtern from a script by Robert Zimmerman and producer William P. Milling, it stars Belinda Montgomery, Viveca Lindfors (CREEPSHOW), David Greenan, Solly Marx, Sydney Lassick (ALLIGATOR), Tori Hartman, SLEEPAWAY CAMP’s Katherine Kamhi and Paul DeAngelo, Paige Price, Katie Bull and Shelly Gibson. The synopsis: “When a glitch in the computer system at an asylum for the criminally insane results in the release of the wrong patient–a giant-in-stature homicidal maniac named Howard Johns, who has a penchant for killing college coeds–it’s up to one of the institute’s top doctors to track him down. Unfortunately, it’s not just Howard she has to worry about, as the administration of the asylum has decided to cover up the error to avoid bad press, going as far as to hire a duo of thugs to permanently ’silence’ the good doctor. Soon enough, Howard finds his way back to the sorority house he once terrorized and sets out to murder the latest batch of nubile coeds who have taken up residence in the stately manor.”
The film has been newly scanned and restored in 4K from the 35mm negative, presented in 2.35:1 widescreen. Special features are:
- Newly recorded commentary track by director Simon Nuchtern, moderated by author Michael Gingold
- Commentary track by The Hysteria Continues!
- “Method to the Madness,” a 45-minute making-of documentary featuring interviews with the cast and crew
- Deleted interviews from “Method to the Madness”
- “Silent Stalking Grounds”: locations featurette
- Introduction by director Simon Nuchtern
- Promotional 3D sizzle reel for Silent Madness
- Promotional & behind-the-scenes still gallery
- Multiple radio spots
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
This edition (with an embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr.) is limited to 6,000 units. Also part of Vinegar Syndrome’s Black Friday slate is another surprise horror title, Rubén Galindo Jr.’s supernatural thriller DON’T PANIC, in a limited edition (5,000 units) with an embossed slipcover by Richard Hilliard. The film, about birthday-partying teenagers who raise an evil demon named Virgil by fooling around with a Ouija board, is also newly scanned and restored in 4K from the original 35mm negative, presented in 1.85:1 widescreen, with both the original English and dubbed Spanish soundtracks. Bonus features are:
- “Possessed by Horror,” an interview with director Rubén Galindo Jr.
- Commentary track by director Rubén Galindo Jr.
- Commentary track by The Hysteria Continues!
- Alternate Spanish titles
- Reversible cover artwork
- English SDH subtitles
Then there are the previously announced Blu-rays of Vernon Zimmerman’s FADE TO BLACK, starring Dennis Christopher as an unbalanced cinema buff who dresses as classic characters to murder his enemies, with two different slipcovers; Don Coscarelli’s sword-and-sorcery opus THE BEASTMASTER, in a UHD/Blu-ray combo pack with a pretty spectacular foldout package; and FORGOTTEN GIALLI: VOLUME #2, containing THE FRENCH SEX MURDERS, MY DEAR KILLER and THE GIRL IN ROOM 2A. In addition, all Vinegar Syndrome titles are priced at 50 percent off for the duration of the Black Friday sale, which lasts through Monday, November 30. See all the details and place your orders at the company’s official website.
