Sergio Martino's SCREAMERS (1979) from Scorpion Releasing 6/24/14

"You will actually see a man turned inside-out!" announced the ads. Liars. But don't let that stop you from checking out Sergio Martino's SCREAMERS (1979), coming to Blu-Ray from Scorpion Releasing. Shipwrecked on a remote volcanic island, a turn-of-the-century gang of prison-bound convicts get wiped out by the Moreau-esque experiments that inhabit the marshes. A mad scientist has set up shop on this tropical hot spot, creating a rampaging race of amphibious humanoids to harvest the sunken treasures of Atlantis! Faces are slashed, heads are ripped, a voodoo lady goes nuts, and it's up to the boat's doctor and Bond gal Barbara Bach to stop this whole mess.

Filmed under the title ISLAND OF THE FISHMEN, the film quickly found itself Corman-ized for U.S. consumption; picked up by his New World Pictures, it had its pace streamlined, new dubbing and scoring added, some monster effects replaced, and a fresh, gored-up intro was shot to put a little pep in its step. Honestly, I prefer this domestic variation to its continental original, and am thrilled it's not being ignored! Striking an HD transfer from the original Interpositive, Scorpion have also added a collection of interviews to examine the New World machine at work -- chats with Joe Dante, Miller Drake, Jim Wynorski, Roger Corman and Clark Henderson are on hand to put the whole process into perspective, and there's also some trailers and a behind-the-scenes stills gallery. "...They're still alive!"

Blu-Ray Preorder (6/24/14). Direct links at my pages.

Italian Trailer!
http://youtu.be/0CRjvEPP3GI

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Specs:

* Brand New 16x9 (2.35:1) HD Master from the original IP
* Interview with Joe Dante
* Interview with Miller Drake
* Interview with Jim Wynorski
* Interview with Roger Corman
* Interview with Clark Henderson
* Screamers trailer
* Something Waits in the Dark trailer
* Behind the scenes Still Gallery from Miller Drake’s personal collection
* Sleeve will feature a reversible SOMETHING WAITS IN THE DARK front art so you can choose which one you prefer.

Cover:

 

Will this only be the U.S cut, i prefer the Italian version.

 

Nice! This chiller has got an intriguing release drama of the likes I have not seen since. I'm so glad it's all being put out in one superior medium rather than relegated to a few notes on IMDB and the faded memories of those of us who actually remember that fun TV spot in the few days leading up to its release in early 1981.

 

I think it's the US cut only.

 

Would be great if it has the "man turned inside out" scene from the trailer inserted into the film, as it was on the re-release. But I kinda doubt it will be.

 

It's indeed only the U.S. cut. I have the Mya disc of the Italian original, but I much prefer its domestic reworking, so I'm thrilled it's not being buried.

Here's the "man turned inside out" tv spot that caused such a commotion:

http://youtu.be/mOKP2G6M66E

Now if we could only get a good release of DR. BUTCHER, M.D.... (another U.S. variant I prefer!)

 

I really wish that TV spot had been extended into an full lenght feature.

How the hell did Corman think he could get away with such an misleading trailer, and tagline on the poster?
I can understand that people got pissed of in the theater, when the scene was not included in the original run

And I wonder where they put it in the re-run. At the end I guess, as it wouldn´t fit anywhere else

 

Corman famously did this all the time. His theory was that trailers needed to capture audience attention--but that they'd fade into memory by the time people saw the film. So he'd frequently cut explosions and other exciting stuff into trailers for his more genteel films.

If you're a fan of the man I can't recommend his autobiography highly enough. He's a truly engaging, articulate, and unpretentious guy.

 

Cool! Gonna check that out

I love his stuff from the 70:s/80:s.

 

Jim Wynorski commented about the tv spot on my FB page: "This brought back some fond memories. Not a frame from ISLAND OF THE FISH MEN made it into this 30 second TV spot. The girl is Janelle Delabar, who did not appear in the original film. The efx were by Rob Bottin, who would go on to Carpenter's THE THING, among many others. It was all shot on a Sunday afternoon back in 1982. It was the first time I ever yelled 'action' and 'cut.'"

 

$17.46 preorder price from blowitoutahere.com

http://www.blowitoutahere.com/screamers/853765005298

10% off $25 or more: MEMORIAL2014
Valid until Saturday night at midnight EST.

This with the Curtains preorder for only $13.73 is a pretty nice deal!

 

Great! I love that story...but '82? I'm sure he meant '81 since that is when I saw this spot on TV that autumn. September if I recall correctly...

 

I needed something to add to my CURTAINS order to qualify for the discount and couldn't find anything worthwhile - now I have it . $31 and some change shipped for these 2 titles is a great deal. I was expecting to pay that much for Curtains alone. $17 for Screamers feels a bit steep, though.

 

Nice. Yeah, but Screamers seems to be going for much more everywhere else.

 

Mondo Digital Review: http://www.mondo-digital.com/screamers.html

 

My copy shipped today from blowitoutahere!

 

10k Bullets review: http://10kbullets.com/reviews/s/screamers-something-waits-in-the-dark/

 

I don't think it's been answered yet, but: is the hastily-created footage (quickly assembled days into the 1981 release to appease disappointed audiences) with the so-called corpse turned inside out included as well?

 

The more I read about this film and it's history the more fascinated I become with it. I've seen parts of both versions but never the entire films in one sitting. I'm not expecting too much but am still dying to watch this Blu-ray.