| CREEPY CLASSICS VIDEO (P.O. Box 643, Latrobe, PA 15650, (724) 532-5226, credit cards accepted.)
Crypt-Keeper Ron "Rondo" Adams (also Grand Poobah of "The Monster
Bash" conventions, see article) sells the latest
factory-sealed (pre-recorded) tapes and DVDs. Creepy Classics' inventory is
dominated by classic horror and monster flicks (Renfield’s favorites), along with
some mysteries and silent classics . Rondo has a new catalog out regularly and he
carries CDs and collectibles. Delivery is fast, especially if you flash your plastic
at the Website, and Ron quickly resolves problems, usually in the customer’s favor. ENGLEWOOD ENTERTAINMENT (10917 Winner Road, Independence, MO 64052,
888-573-5490 (toll free), credit cards accepted.) The firm have a good selection of
horror, sci-fi, and classic Hollywood titles--not to mention a good'n'gory selection of
modern "wet" horror titles. They deal not with public-domain dupes but instead
with films legally licensed from the copyright owners. Recorded on SP mode, their videos
are very high quality--some of the best-looking versions of venerable horror and sci-fi
films we've seen. In addition, the videos are shipped in artful and colorful boxes
featuring posters and stills from the films, plus a good plot summary and film credit list
to boot. We would prefer the company offered hard-cover boxes as well, but that's the only
nit we can pick with Englewood's product. Shipment is very fast, especially if you order
with a credit card at their web site. All in all, another quality source for genre videos.
We can only hope that Englewood gets more classic and cult horror in their inventory soon.
THE INCREDIBLY STRANGE FILMWORKS (P.O. Box 245, Dept. FF, Jamestown, MO 65046-0245,
(800) 859-9238, credit cards accepted). This is another good general source for horror and
monster videos, plus a smattering of cult favorites. In addition, they also sell Englewood
Entertainment videos and have stopped selling Something Weird Videos. Most of their videos
are moderately priced at $14.95, and come in colorful, clamshell boxes, which is all to
the good. But the quality of their videos can vary widely. Renfield purchased a very nice
copy of Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter, but their copy of Cry Of
The Werewolf was almost entirely bleached out and unwatchable. Fortunately, TISF has
an information line (660-849-2578) and we recommend you call first before ordering to
avoid disappointment. These folks show up at most of the Cons, so you might want to buy
from them in person and get the chance to check out their videos at their table.
Their shipping is fast and they respond quickly to queries.
LUMINOUS FILM AND
VIDEO WURKS (PO
Box 1047, Medford, NY 11763, (516) 289-1644, credit cards accepted.) Luminous doesn't have
much in the line of horror, but what it does have, is choice. This is the outlet where
Renfield purchased a pristine tape of the nearly impossible-to-find, early 1960’s
Euro-Horror classic The Vampire And The Ballerina. This has made Renfield the
envy of his ward. Not only was Luminous’s tape a superior effort, but it was also
packed in a hard plastic color-illustrated clamshell case. Luminous excels in offering
European sex romps and crime dramas and specializes in spaghetti westerns—usually
uncut and in letterboxed format. NEW UPDATE--Luminous has
instituted a secure credit card ordering system at its Website and recent orders were
delivered promptly. The old firm still owes money for orders not filled for years,
but their Website is apparently safe to order from. However, video quality has
apparently dropped drastically. We will now list Luminous as "recommended"
although one should beware of shoddy video transfers.
MIDNIGHT
VIDEO (5010 Church Drive Coplay, PA
18037, e-mail: Midnight@fast.net, credit cards
accepted). There's a great mail order company called Midnight Video. It's run out of
Coplay, Pa., by a gentleman named Bill Knight. This guy is extremely knowledgeable. He
mentioned to me some titles he's trying to get that made my jaw drop. He deals mostly in
Japanese imports, but lately has used other sources as well. He's also the only person I
know who has a uncut copy of Polselli's Black Magic Rites. His copies are
pristine, his service is quick, and he also takes plastic.--Reviewed
By Domenick "Elric" Fraumeni
REVOK FILM PRODIGIES (Revok
Online, 2425 Truscott Road, P.O. Box 40004, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5J2B0, no
telephone number listed, credit cards not accepted.) I've ordered 14 videos from them.
They've answered all my questions and their shipments are pretty fast. They offer rare
horror flicks (most are taken from Japanese laserdisc releases). Their labels are color
printed with original stickers in black cases and you can also order their "Prime
Cut" series which features full color box art. The 141-minute version of George
Romero's Dawn Of The Dead is available--the transfer is fantastic, 10/10. As is
the Dario Argento cut of said film, an equally fantastic transfer. Lucio Fulci's Zombie,
a rarity, is available letterboxed from Japan (the subtitles aren't on the screen so
they're easily ignored), as is an assortment of other Fulci flicks including some rare TV
movies he directed (the gore is still impressive). A rough cut of Leatherface:Texas
Chainsaw Massacre 3 is also available, featuring several scenes deleted from the
so-called "Uncut Version" released by New Line Cinema. A version of Army Of
Darkness featuring the aborted ending that the studio deemed "depressing"
is available; the quality isn't quite as good as the theatrical version, but it's
watchable. And of particular interest to George Romero fans is Document Of The Dead,
a documentary focusing on George's films--there's on-set footage from Dawn Of The Dead
and Two Evil Eyes, as well as a myriad of interviews with Romero throughout his
career. The transfer is excellent; you couldn't ask for better. They'll answer all your
questions via e-mail and their shipping department is fairly fast. I heartily recommend
them. They're the haven for the rare horror film collector. Their videos come in black
slipcases with color labels featuring the original stickers. You can also order their most
popular titles through the "Prime Cut" series.--Reviewed by Ian Glavine
SINISTER
CINEMA (PO Box 4369, Medford, OR 97501-0168, (541) 773-6850, credit
cards accepted.) The grandpapa of firms offering high-quality videotape versions of genre
films to collectors, Sinister Cinema still offers a lot of films not available anywhere
else. It set the standard for video quality (SP mode, videos always struck from at least a
decent 16mm source). After filling a thick catalog full of horror, suspense, peplem, and
serial fare, Sinister Cinema added a bevy of B-Westerns, achieving, among other things,
the virtual resurrection of "Lash" LaRue from the video graveyard. The best deal
is the "Drive-In Double Features"—two (count ‘em) two films on one
(still SP mode) tape, complete with drive-in or "hardtop" theater ads, coming
attraction trailers, and, best of all, all those enticing concession stand/snack bar
come-one that Renfield recalls fondly from the days when he was just a little loony. The
only gripes about Sinister Cinema in the past were that it didn’t sell its videos in
anything but its generic cardboard sleeves (but the firm is playing catch-up now with more
and more of its offerings encased in hard clamshell boxes with full-color illustrations)
and that delivery was slow (up to six weeks). Sinister Cinema has improved on its delivery
time lately. By the way, you can order only the hard-shell boxes in order to dress up a
video you may have purchased from Sinister Cinema in the past...just ask them.
SOMETHING
WEIRD VIDEO (PO Box 33664, Seattle, WA 98133, (206) 361-3759, credit
cards accepted.) A real standout in the genre video business, Something Weird has added
immensely to the video stockpile of sleazy, sexy shockers and general trash
movies—Renfield says God bless ‘em! Literally hundreds of formerly lost
exploitation (including Betty Page’s two color burlesque flicks) and soft and
hard-core sex flicks have been unearthed and placed in full-color hard clamshell boxes by
Mike Vraney and his cohorts. Top quality tapes from original sources has always been
Something Weird’s modus operand. Amongst the company’s teeming fleshpot
of stag films, Sixties and Seventies "Adults Only" epics, foreign films, and
peep-show loops are some rare and wonderful cult horror offerings, such as The
Playgirls And The Vampire. Something Weird brought Coffin Joe’s demented horror
flicks to America and that’s enough to qualify it for this list. One whine, though:
Something Weird’s delivery is slo-o-ow…if you don’t deal with plastic and
insist on personal check, delivery will seem endless. Be warned.
STEPHEN M. RUSSO VIDEO (P.O. Box 150-Revere Branch, Boston, MA 02151-0001,
no phone listed, credit cards not accepted). Russo is one of the one-man band video
sources, who issues a typewritten list of videos (and marks off inventory no longer
available with a black marker pen), accepts only checks or money orders, and provides
videos in their original brand-name cover sleeves with a typewritten label as the only
indication of the tape's contents. But, he does have videos (mostly from classic
television) that we haven't seen offered anywhere else. For example, Renfield added to his
library of original The Avengers episodes (with Honor Blackman and Julie Stevens)
and a great wide-screen version of Robinson Crusoe On Mars, thanks to Mr. Russo.
For horror fans, he has a goodly number of Kolchak episodes and the occasional
B-film like The Bowery Boys Meet The Monsters and The Gashouse Kids In
Hollywood (whereas "Alfalfa" and "Butch" from "Our
Gang" take on a mad scientist). For that reason, you should get his thick catalog. He
delivers relatively slowly, video quality ranges from excellent to just barely watchable,
and he doesn't often reply to queries, so be aware (comes from being a one-man band, we
suppose).
TRASH
PALACE (PO Box
2565, Silver Spring, MD 20915, (301) 681-4625, credit cards accepted.) Even weirder than
Something Weird Video, perhaps, is a new upstart, Trash Palace. The Palace features a
cornucopia of sleaze, exploitation, rock-and-roll, and monster flicks. In addition, Trash
Palace packs all sorts of non-video items for sale, ranging from posters, stills, and
books, magazines, and music to completely wacky, wonderful off-the-wall merchandise like
Push-Button Hula Girl Dancers and Cat Girl Sunglasses. Not to worry—Trash Palace has
a goodly number of classic and cult horror videos, with the best buys its own SP-mode
collector’s (name brand) tapes at $13. Now they have TRASHCAM 2000, where you can
watch your purchases being prepared for shipment live on camera at their website!
(European customers: “Collectors’ Videotapes” are offered in PAL format at
the regular price. T.P. does its transferring on site, eliminating the usual long waits.)
Since the Trash Palace Potentate Brian D. "Horror"-witz now accepts plastic
currency, you can charge your Trash Palace picks. Catalog #3 is now out. Take it
"sleazy"!
VIDEO
JUNKIE (PO Box
1794, Aurora, IL 60507. (630) 892-0581, credit cards accepted.) If you are a video junkie
(like Renfield), then Video Junkie is your "fix"--their catalogue is huge. And
it's full of choice videos, representing mainly the now-popular European gore, Italian giallo
and splatter, Asian horror, sci-fi, and crime genres. However, Video Junkie also has some
"Panama Red" for the classic horror fan, too, particularly some of the
lesser-known films from England's Hammer Studios. Renfield snagged a nice PAL transfer of
Hammer Film's Devil Ship Pirates that have made him the envy of his ward. You can
unload their entire catalog from their web site--a nice service. Video Junkie began by
offering mostly only name-brand videotape covers for their products but now boasts nice
colorful hard covers, which is something all video companies should provide. The
delivery is fast, the staff is friendly and very dedicated to the film genres they cover,
and their video quality is good to excellent (the PAL transfers are a bit foggy but that's
the nature of the format-conversion beast).
VIDEO
SCREAMS (P.O. Box 443
Bellafontaine, Ohio 43311, (937) 593-7667 ext #140, credit cards accepted.) This is a
small-staffed public domain company. But they have just about anything you want. Their
58-page catalog contains: Heavy gore (much Japanese/Euro), moderate horror, classics,
Mexi-Horror, Franco, Fulci, exploitation, WIP, television, and much more. They will list
quality of the videos, especially if the quality is only "fair". Prints struck
from many sources such as foreign laserdisc, Sinister Cinema prints, and others. They will
do PAL transfers as well. Of the 12 videos I've purchased from them only one was slightly
soft. But it wasn't anything that needed returning. Some of the "old" stuff is
of excellent quality, especially considering that a lot of their offerings aren't
available anywhere or are obscure. Cost per tape is $11 unless noted. These are SP
transfers onto name brand tapes. Super High Grade tapes are an extra $2 which I haven't
requested. Videos come in a vinyl slipcase. Box art is available. However it is an extra
$2 which seems to be high (to me) so I've skipped that. They do offer coupons and specials
that are worthwhile. Turnaround time is about three weeks shipped via Priority. World-wide
shippers. Videoscreams admits to being slow to respond to emails or miss them altogether
due to staffing. They pledge to improve that area. They have an online catalog/order
system that is being revamped as of this writing (01/00). All in all, I've had pleasant
experiences with them.--Reviewed by
evilskippy (Gary Banks)
VIDEO
SEARCH OF MIAMI (PO
Box 16-1917, Miami, FL 33116, (666) 279-9773, credit cards accepted.) VSoM is unique in
requiring that first-time customers pay a flat $10 "membership fee" (this keeps
the firm on the right side of "collector selling to collector" legal
grave—err, gray—area). The firm is also unique in having both a great reputation
for stocking titles other video suppliers can only dream of and a rotten reputation of
selling overpriced, low-quality dupes. Renfield’s experience is that both reputations
ring true, unfortunately. VSoM is a tremendous resource, almost legendary in its
inventory, but it is essential that customers check with the friendly, knowledgeable staff
at VSoM if they have a question on a tape’s quality before they buy…otherwise
they’re stuck (unless the video has actual recording flaws or is damaged in transit).
Of course, sometimes the only existent print of an obscure film is less than top
quality and VSoM does deliver their tapes almost unbelievably fast. Just be certain you
know what you’re ordering (second generation dupe, pristine copy off laserdisc,
etc.), and VSoM is a good "source." |
