Just a reminder to everyone that the "Two-Disc Ultimate Edition" DVD release of Pou-Soi Cheang's ultra-violent action flick, Dog Bite Dog hits stores this Tuesday courtesy of Dragon Dynasty. Here's the basic gist of the film for you:

"All hell breaks loose when a renegade detective (Sam Lee, Invisible Target) squares off with a savage assassin (Edison Chen, Infernal Affairs trilogy) in a raging blood feud. After most of his team is viciously murdered, the obsessed detective goes to unthinkable extremes to track the killer and get his revenge. Through the back alleys of Hong Kong, they fight in an escalating series of one-on-one battles that builds to an unforgettable bare-knuckle showdown."

Dog Bite Dog may not be your typical "horror" film, but I'll be damned if there aren't some truly horrific things going on. Pou-Soi Cheang's brutal and violent action flick is a nonstop bloody battle that should keep fans of genre flicks pretty happy.

Here's a little bit of what Ian Jane has to say about the film itself: "Dog Bite Dog starts off quite well. The characters are well established, the story points out an interesting link between all three of them that binds them together in ways that none of them realize, and the action comes at us with style and intensity. The atmosphere is sufficiently bleak and the cinematography and rough camera work accentuates this quite a bit. Adding to the 'plus side' of things is the fact that the acting from Sam Lee and Edison Chen is top notch, with Lee in particular really getting into his role and showing a darkly serious side that those who have only seen him in comedic roles just might be taken aback by...Dog Bite Dog does get more right than it gets wrong. It tells a decent story, it features some strong performances, and it has stylish direction, realistic violence that actually adds to that atmosphere without feeling too gratuitous and an interesting underlying theme of paternal redemption...Not a masterpiece, but a decent movie."

Dragon Dynasty (a sub-studio of The Weinstein Company and Genius Products) has been consitently putting out quality asian films since their first foray into the DVD business and Dog Bite Dog is no exception. They're taking great care in providing not only top-notch audio-visual material, but also really putting some care into the extra features. This "Two-Disc Ultimate Edition" of Dog Bite Dog not only includes a few commentary tracks, but also sports an extensive behind-the-scenes feature as well as several smaller featurettes.

While it may not thrill each and every horror fan out there (since it's not technically a horror flick), but it's definitely got plenty that should keep you watching. Add that to the impressive DVD presentation from Dragon Dynasty and you've got a quality recommendation.

Stay tuned for our full review coming up and a bit more in this week's column. In the meantime, get over to your favorite retailer and check out Dog Bite Dog.

Just a reminder to everyone that the unrated DVD release of Victor Garcia's not-as-bad-as-you-might-expect Warner Premiere sequel, Return to House on Haunted Hill hits stores this Tuesday. Here's the basic gist of the film for you:

"The house has a second story, even more terrifying then the first! When a new group of unsuspecting visitors enters the legendary House On Haunted Hill, they come face to horrifying face with an unimaginable, unrelenting evil. Trapped with the spirits of the sadistic Dr. Vannacutt (Jeffrey Combs) and the insane asylum inmates who died there, the newcomers discover one by one that this time the house won't let anyone leave alive."

When Return to House on Haunted Hill hit the doorstep here at DVD Stalk, I have to admit that I had some major reservations. Let's see... direct-to-video sequel to a fairly crappy remake... hmmm. So I probably didn't really give the film a fair shake from the very start. That being said, when I actually sat down to check it out, Return to House on Haunted Hill does have a few really fine moments. Unfortunately, they're amidst a sea of really bad ones. This isn't a good film, by any stretch of the imagination, but it is one that gorehounds will probably appreciate - there are some really killer gore scenes (and a pseudo-lesbian-threesome), including one where a ghostly hand digs right into someone's gut.

Amanda Righetti and Cerina Vincent are unspeakably hot, as usual, but not even they can save this little flick. We see Cerina get into it with her professor, but alas, she keeps the bra on (I mean...come on, we already saw them in Cabin Fever, Cerina. It's the least you could have done for Warner Premiere). Righetti stays fully clothed the whole time too, but she's tossed into just about every possible scenario where she could possibly get soaking wet in that oh-so-tight white tanktop. Yeah, exactly.

The only real standout performance is from genre-mainstay Jeffrey Combs, who speaks nary a word throughout the entire film but still manages to carry that creepy aura around him enough to make it all interesting.

The audio-visual aspects of the Warner Premiere disc are just fine, but the extras (most of which are fictionally played in the part of the characters that we don't really care that much about in the first place) are pretty much a waste of time.

While I can't give Return to House on Haunted Hill a strong recommendation, I can say that it will certainly appeal to some. There's plenty of gorey moments, some very nice eye-candy, and a positively creepy Jeffrey Combs. If you're willing to overlook the ridiculous plot and ham-handed acting, Return to House on Haunted Hill actually might suprise you from time to time.

Stay tuned for our full review coming up and a bit more in this week's column. In the meantime, get over to your favorite retailer and check out Return to House on Haunted Hill.

Just a reminder to everyone that the unrated DVD release of Jonathan King's excellent New Zealand import about crazed Zombie-Sheep, Black Sheep hit stores this Tuesday. Here's the basic gist of the film for you:

"When sheep-aphobic Henry returns to sell his share of the family farm, he finds his brother has been genetically altering animals. The resulting monsters go on a murderous rampage, and it's up to Henry to stop them."

Black Sheep has enjoyed some killer (no pun intended...natch) buzz for quite a while now and it's great to see the film finally come to DVD under Dimension's new line of "Extreme" flicks. We've been excited to see it and you will be too. If you dig zombie and, well, sheep...Black Sheep is probably going to be become your all-time favorite film. If you're just into zombies and not so much about the sheep, then you'll still dig the film for it's shocking gore and over-the-top fun.

Stay tuned for our full review coming up and a bit more in this week's column. In the meantime, get over to your favorite retailer and check out Black Sheep.

Just a reminder to everyone that the "Extended and Unrated" DVD release of Quentin Tarantino's half of Grindhouse, Death Proof, hit stores today. Here's the basic gist of the film for you:

"Kurt Russell stars as a sociopathic stuntman whose taste for stalking sexy young ladies gets him into big trouble when he tangles with the wrong gang of badass babes. Their confrontation escalates into a hair-raising, 18-minute automotive duel with one of the girls strapped to the hood of a thundering Dodge Challenger..."

And here's a small taste of Ian Jane's review of Death Proof:

"When it was announced that Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez were going to unleash Grindhouse upon the world, it seemed like a surefire hit. Two of the hottest directors in the country were going to do an homage to the seventies exploitation movies that they grew up watching and present them as a double feature complete with fake trailers (from the likes of Eli Roth and Rob Zombie) and feature attraction bumpers in order to replicate the experience of sitting through a double feature at an old Times Square theater before that area became Disney-fied. Sounds like a lot of fun, right? It was! While neither film, Rodriguez's Planet Terror and Tarantino's Death Proof, was a masterpiece Grindhouse did make for a fun night out at the movies...Casting Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike was a brilliant idea. Not only does he completely look the part but he's got the right voice, the right mannerisms, and the perfect tough guy acting style to pull it off and make it look easy. While his performance here may not become the stuff of legend like his work with John Carpenter has, it's not because he doesn't deserve it - Russell is phenomenal in this part...The other key factor that makes Death Proof worthwhile is the stunt driving scenes. Don't look for any fake CGI here - Tarantino wisely opted to use real cars and real stunt drivers the way films like this were made in decades past and the results are fantastic. The two key car scenes are also exceptionally well edited and really drive home the impact of the collisions and the balls out dangerousness of what we're seeing on screen...there's enough here that works that the movie is worth a watch primarily due to Kurt Russell's great performance and the genuinely thrilling stunt work."

Stay tuned to read more about the film in an upcoming DVD Stalk column. In the meantime, get over to your favorite retailer and check out Death Proof.

Horror fans everywhere have been waiting for this for a VERY long time. Well, it's finally arrived and DVD Stalk has the EXCLUSIVE unboxing for you. Thanks to everyone at Lionsgate for getting this disc out to us so quickly.

So, I won't make you wait anymore. And I'll let the images (and video) do the talking. Here it is: The Monster Squad: Two-Disc 20th Anniversary Edition on DVD.

Amazingly beautiful for something we've all waited so long for. The Monster Squad: Two-Disc 20th Anniversary Edition hits the streets on July 24th. We should have a full review up (with more video) very soon. Enjoy!

Making its way to our front door today is Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Sixth Season courtesy of Warner Bros. As a youngster, I can remember staying up late on the weekends to watch episodes of this creeptastic series, and I couldn't be more excited for yet another round of classics on DVD. Warner has done a killer job with the series so far and I'm sure this sixth entry will only be more of the same. If (somehow) you're unfamiliar with the show, here's the standard press release info for you:

"It's that time of fear again! So if you've been missing the Crypt Keeper, here's a chance to improve your aim. But be warned: It'll be a fright to the finish. The cadaverous cut-up is your host for a 15-episode die-gest based on classic horror comics from back in the day and featuring a parade of characters who are variously merciless, clueless, topless and headless.

Hank Azaria, Shelley Hack, Isaac Hayes, Richard Lewis, John Lithgow, Wayne Newton, Isabella Rossellini, Rita Rudner and Humphrey Bogart (you read that right) are among the stars. And vampires, mad doctors, killers, ghosts and adulterers are eager to come out and play. We could tell you more, but that would be wrong. You do know rot from wrong, don't you? "

We're stoked to have a chance to get an early peek at Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Sixth Season. Here are the 15 episodes included in the 3 disc set:

- "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime"
- "Only Skin Deep"
- "Whirlpool"
- "Operation Friendship"
- "Revenge Is the Nuts"
- "The Bribe"
- "The Pit"
- "The Assassin"
- "Staired in Horror"
- "In the Groove"
- "Surprise Party"
- "Doctor of Horror"
- "Comes the Dawn"
- "99 & 44/100% Pure Horror"
- "You, Murderer"

I should have a quick peek early look at the DVDs for you next week, so keep checking the DVD Stalk Blog for updates.

In the meantime, you can check out the pre-order information here.

Well well, look what made it's way to our front door today! Joel Schumacher and Jim Carrey's The Number 23. If you're unfamiliar with the film, here's the standard press release chatter for you:

"The number 23 is everywhere. The belief that all dates, times, names and the most momentous events in history can be connected to the number is the backdrop of the psychological thriller, The Number 23, arriving on a special edition infinifilmTM DVD from New Line Home Entertainment on July 24, 2007. Jim Carrey stars as family man Walter Sparrow whose life spirals out of control when the chilling murders in a mysterious novel begin to parallel his own life, leading him into a dark world of uncontrollable paranoia. The nightmare begins when Walter Sparrow (Carrey), a mild-mannered dogcatcher, takes home a tattered used book called The Number 23. Reading it, he begins to believe that this isn't just any story -- it's his story. Inside are too many coincidences, all revolving around the number 23, for this to be chance. Rattled by the countless similarities between the degenerate main character and himself, an obsessed Walter starts to descend into madness. And when the book's main character commits an unspeakable act, Walter is terrified that he's destined to follow the same twisted path."

We here at DVD Stalk have been patiently awaiting the arrival of The Number 23 on DVD and we're stoked to able to grab an early peek all the killer infinifilm features. New Line never fails to impress with their infinifilm titles, and this disc looks to be no exception. Just take a look at the list of features:

• "All-Access Pass" features:
o Feature commentary with director Joel Schumacher
o Deleted scenes with commentary from director Joel Schumacher
o "Making of The Number 23" documentary
o "Creating the World of Fingerling" featurette
• Beyond-the-Movie documentaries:
o "The Number 23 Enigma" - the legacy behind the obsession with the number 23
o "How to Do Your Numbers" - the history of numerology
• infinifilm links - behind-the-scenes branching featurettes
o Original ending
o Original idea
o 23's in the movie
o 23's on the set
o Fingerling's tattoo.

I should have a quick peek early look at the film (and the disc) for you next week, so keep checking the DVD Stalk Blog for updates.

The Number 23 got beat up pretty badly by the mainstream critics, but we plan to go into it with the same open mind we view everything here at DVD Stalk with. If you're tempted, you can check out the pre-order information here.

Just a reminder to everyone that the unrated DVD release of James Wan's (Saw) latest flick, Dead Silence hit stores this past Tuesday. Here's the basic gist of the film for you:

"Dare to unlock the deadly curse of Mary Shaw...From the writers and director of Saw comes a new thriller of relentless terror! Ever since Mary Shaw was hunted down and killed, the small town of Ravens Fair has been haunted by horrific deaths. When a local's wife is brutally murdered, he returns home to unravel the terrifying legend of Mary Shaw and the reason why when you see her, you should never, ever scream."

Now, Dead Silence hasn't really been getting raves from the critics, but I have to admit that I actually really enjoyed the film when I had the chance to watch it last week. It's nice to see Wan do something outside of the Saw franchise, and while Dead Silence certainly isn't a perfect film it had enough fun scares and simple genre schlockiness to make it an enjoyable ride. Trust me, if you're looking for something to watch this week, you could do a lot worse.

Stay tuned for our full review coming up and a bit more in this week's column. In the meantime, get over to your favorite retailer and check out Dead Silence.

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