THIS WEEK’S TWIN PEEKS
BRIDE OF THE MONSTER
1955; $14.95 each, UR
Without peer in the world of bad movies, its stench rises to the rafters and stretches till daybreak. See Giant Tor Johnson shamble about menacingly, looking for a plot! See a limp-assed stuffed octopus eat ham! See Bela Lugosi emote from beneath a spaghetti strainer! One of Ed Wood Jr.’s all-time funniest film fiascos, now fully restored in beautiful B&W as God intended … and colorized for some damn reason. Also available restored/colorized — and all highly recommended: Roger Corman’s “Creature from the Haunted Sea,” Bela Lugosi in “Devil Bat,” the underrated “Phantom From Space” and the simply incredible Vincent Price version of Richard Matheson’s book “I Am Legend,” called “The Last Man on Earth.”
THE OUTER LIMITS: THE ORIGINAL SERIES COMPLETE BOX SET
1953; $59.95, UR
“There is nothing wrong with your television …” Wow. Created in response to CBS’s success with “The Twilight Zone,” ABC demanded “something scary … with a new monster every week.” The producers, MGM/UA, didn’t stop there, creating some of the most memorable and entertaining hard-sci-fi/horror ever shown in any medium. Then ABC moronically canceled it in the middle of its second season! But that still leaves 49 perfect episodes that haunt our nightmares to this day. From “The Galaxy Being” to “The Probe” on seven discs; simply a must-own. (There’s some confusion as to the exact release date. Check with a good vidstore to reserve your copy.)
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COMEDY CENTRAL SALUTES GEORGE W. BUSH
2008; $14.95, UR
This compilation of CC’s best series boots The Shit Heard ’Round The World into unemployment in style. Contains full-length episodes of “South Park,” “Lil’ Bush,” “That’s My Bush” and a smattering of stand-ups — culminating in a savage outing by Lewis Black — to say goodbye and good riddance to the man who wiped his ass on the Constitution, leaving America broken, destitute and vulnerable. Rot in hell, you bastard.
EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED
2008; $26.95, PG
Ben Stein leads a tongue-in-cheek — or is it? — look at the “hypocrisy of big science” that naturally excludes such oxymoronic notions as Intelligent Design. We swear, we can never tell when this guy is kidding!
FLIGHT OF THE RED BALLOON
2007; $24.95, UR
For the culturally deprived: In 1956, Albert Lamorisse won an Oscar for his mesmerizing short, “The Red Balloon.” In it, a kid’s toy follows a small boy wandering the streets of Paris. May not sound like much, but its simplicity and innocence can make grown men cry. This film is an homage to that tale. Mother Juliette Binoche hires a babysitter for her young son, and together they share marvelous adventures in an imaginary world — followed everywhere by a red balloon.
IMPALER
2008; $24.95, UR
A documentary on Jonathon “The Impaler” Sharkey: Satanic Dark Priest, Sanguinary Vampyre, Hecate Witch … and 2006 candidate for governor of Minnesota. He didn’t make it, but the international media frenzy following his campaign was entertainment enough.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
2008; $29.95-$34.95, PG-13
Edward Norton and Liv Tyler prove that you can make a damn good movie about the Incredible Hulk … but he’s still going to look like a cartoon. No slight intended: This is a masterful bit of storytelling, getting the “genesis” out of the way during the opening credits so that Norton, Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt can jump straight into the “Hulk SMASH!” action. (And check our the contest below to win your own three-disc set!) Also available: The complete Hulk TV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno for $149.95.
THE LAZARUS PROJECT
2008; $24.95, PG-13
Paul Walker stars in this far-better-than-it-has-to-be indie thriller about a criminal who finds himself working in a psychiatric hospital … or is he? In turns mystical, diabolical, confusing and savagely in focus as the low-life learns that reality, family, sanity and despair are all simply different colors of redemption.
THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E.: THE COMPLETE SERIES
1964; $199.95, UR
Damn fine look back at one of TV’s best action-dramas. Robert Vaughn and David McCallum starred as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, top agents of the United Network Command for Law Enforcement, dedicated to fighting the enemies of peace. Based on an idea by Ian “007” Fleming, this terrific series combined action, humor, adventure, romance and neat-o-nifty spy gadgets for a rollicking good time. All 105 episodes (first season in B&W) on 41 discs in a too-cool mini-spy attaché case!
THE MOTHERSHIP CONNECTION LIVE 1976
1976; $14.95, UR
A rare and welcome Halloween concert from 1976, with George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic just five dates into their legendary Mothership Connection/Clones of Dr. Funkenstein Tour. Man, they blew the friggin’ roof off the Houston Summit! Simply the best damn concert DVD around.
THE STRANGERS
2008; $29.95, R
We’re not ashamed to say it: This scared the bloody hell out of us. Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman star in a fact-based tale of nice people who open their door to a stranger, only to be repaid with terror, torture and death. Not for the squeamish. (And as frightening as this is, we can also recommend the hard-to-find 1969 French original with Senta Berger and Michel Constantin.)
TRAILER PARK OF TERROR
2008; $22.95, UR
How could we pass up a title like that? Country warbler Trace Adkins (who does “Welcome to Hell” on the soundtrack) and Priscilla Barnes (Terri Alden from “Three’s Company”) are the star-names in this Imperium Comic-based horror tale about troubled high-schoolers who get stranded in an “abandoned” trailer park populated by a ravishing redneck (Nichole Hiltz) and her brood of undead trailer trash. Yep, it’s just as stupid and bloody as it sounds. Enjoy!
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HULKIN’ HALLOWEEN VIDEO CONTEST!!!
We’ve got a bag full of video-goodies to give away, including 10 “Incredible Hulk” three-disc sets (PG-13) courtesy of the fine folks at Universal Studios. There’s no real trick here, just visit GOTOBUTTON BM_1_ www.VideoTapeWorm.com — the World’s Largest-Smelling Guide to Video — to register for the drawing. What a treat! Plus, we’ve scared up some “Goosebumps,” a few R-rated horrors and even Care Bears vids for the wee-ones, so everyone can have a smashing good time on the couch this Halloween. ’Nuff said?
OTHER DVDS OF INTEREST
BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE: SEASON ONE, VOL. 1
2008; $14.95, UR
BLOOD: VOLUME THREE
2008; $24.95, UR
LOONEY TUNES: GOLDEN COLLECTION, VOL. 6
2008; $64.95, UR
RAIN SHADOW, SERIES ONE
2007; $39.95, UR
THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
2008; $39.95, UR
A more complete listing and free vids at www.videotapeworm.com
