Yowza! Color me surprised when I began looking up all of this week’s releases! Redemption Films unleashes five euro-Horror films upon us, Criterion gives a king his due, “Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots” re-enact “Rocky III” and “IV,” and Liam Neeson punches wolves in the face! This is a pretty great week, all things considered! Here’s everything you have to look forward to:

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 24th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 27th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
Fascination
Flash Point
* Godzilla (Criterion Collection)
The Iron Rose
Lips of Blood
The Nude Vampire
Paranormal Activity 3
* Real Steel (2-Disc DVD/Blu-ray combo)
* Real Steel (3-Disc DVD, Blu-ray, Digital Copy)
Shiver of the Vampires
Summer of Massacre
* The Woman
World God Only Knows: Complete Collection

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
Always From Darkness
Blade of Fury
The Brute Man
Classic Kung Fu 2-pack Vol. 1: True Game of Death & Incredible Kung Fu
Classic Kung Fu 2-pack Vol. 2: Bloody Fight & Story in Red Temple Lily
Cold Creepy Feeling: Paranormal Exorcism
Cold Light of Day
Dark Waters
The Devil’s Men / Terror (Double Feature)
Fascination
Flash Point
The Flying Serpent
* Godzilla (Criterion Collection)
Head Case
House on Sorority Row (Re-Mastered 2-Disc Special Edition)
Ice
The Iron Rose
Lips of Blood
The Naked Nazi
Naruto Shippuden Box Set 9
Night of the Dead
Night Owl Theater: Season 1, Vol. 1
No Blade of Grass
The Nude Vampire
Paranormal Activity 3
The People That Time Forgot
Porn Star Zombies
* Real Steel
Revenge
* Roger Corman’s Cult Classics: Lethal Ladies Vol. 2
Shiver of the Vampires
Summer of Massacre
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tales of an Ancient Empire
Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Box Set S.A.V.E.
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Time Traveler – Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Trapped (a.k.a. Forever Mine)
* The Woman
The Woman Who Came Back
World God Only Knows: Complete Collection

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

The Grey – Yeah I know, this isn’t exactly a genre release, but it has Liam Neeson duking it out with a pack of ravenous wolves! Written and directed by Joe Carnahan, the film follows an oil drilling team whose plane crashes in the Alaskan wilderness. The survivors band together and attempt to return to civilization, but are soon besieged by a pack of territorial/hungry wolves. When things go bad, it’s up to Liam Neeson and his patented “broken bottle gauntlets” to fight off the vicious predators. I am most definitely going to see this movie this weekend!

That’s all I’ve got for you guys and gals; not a bad week for genre releases if I do say so myself. But don’t think about taking a break from cult and b-cinema just yet because next week is going to be another winner.

Theatrically we’ll have three new movies to look forward to, including “The Woman in Black” (from the reanimated Hammer Studios, and featuring Harry Potter!), “The Innkeepers” (a ghost story from Cabin Fever 2 director, Ti West), and “Chronicle” (a “found footage” film about three teens who get amazing special powers… and abuse them). All three of these new theatrical releases look promising; here’s hoping to see all of them.

On digital home video, there’s a real mixed bag of DVDs and Blu-rays. Paramount dumps another “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” release on us, this time featuring tons of extras and a 3D version of the film (for you rich bastards who have 3D TVs). Also coming out next Tuesday is a seven-disc Blu-ray collection of all three “Transformers” adventures, the prequel of “The Thing” (pointless, but enjoyable), “Dead Hooker in a Trunk,” “In Time” (do Justin Timberlake and sci-fi mix?), Arrow Video’s new release of Tobe Hooper’s “The Funhouse,” Uwe Boll’s “Blubberella,” and… what? No way…. not even the Asylum would be that insane…. “2-Headed Shark Attack?” Really?

That’s all for now, so check back next week for another dose of Genre Watch goodness! – The Vault Master

Thanks to DVD Drive-In for this news! According to them, Film Chest Inc. (under their CULTRA releasing arm) will be putting out a DVD/Blu-ray combo of ZAAT (a.k.a. Blood Waters of Dr. Z) on February 21st! (Pre-order it now!) Featuring a mad scientist that turns himself into a catfish-man (that looks nothing like a fish) with fish-wives and world domination on his mind, this obscurity has garnered a large cult following, which has since grown after the film appeared on MST3K.

The film will be featured in glorious 16×9 widescreen, fully restored from 35MM negatives, and presented in beautiful HD! Sadly, but not surprisingly, the movie will only have “Standard Dolby Audio,” which I suppose is 2.0? Not quite sure… As for extras, this thing is packed with them, including: Audio commentary with cast and crew, TV spots, original 35MM trailer, outtakes, a radio interview, a before-and-after restoration demo, and an original movie art postcard!

SRP for this two-disc set is $19.99, but it is currently $17.99 on Amazon and well worth it! Not familiar with this movie? Then take a glance at the trailer below.

Still not hooked? Then watch ZAAT with the MST3K treatment:

Got an e-mail from Amazon.com today, showcasing all of their newest TV shows and films that are available for pre-order. Hold on to you butts, because some of this stuff is pretty friggin’ awesome! Ladies and gentlemen…. prepare for glory!

American Horror Story (DVD & Blu-ray) – $34.99 / $41.99
Battle Royale (Blu-ray) – $19.99
Battle Royale Collection (Blu-ray) – $36.99
BOND 50: Complete 22 Film Collection (Blu-ray) – $199.99
Drive (DVD & Blu-ray) – $14.99 / $19.99
Falling Skies: Complete First Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $27.99 / $34.99
Game of Thrones: Complete First Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $52.99
Immortals (DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $27.99 / $41.99
In Time (DVD & Blu-ray) – $14.99 / $24.99
Justice League: Doom (DVD, 2-Disc DVD, Blu-ray) – $13.99 / $16.99
Logan’s Run: The Complete Series (DVD) – $27.99
The Muppets (DVD & Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $27.99
The Muppets (DVD & Blu-ray w/soundtrack) – $23.99 / $34.99
Night Gallery: Season 3 (DVD) – $19.99
Supernatural: Complete Seventh Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $55.99
The Thing (DVD & Blu-ray) – $17.99 / $23.99
True Blood: Complete Fourth Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $41.99 / $55.99
Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (DVD & Blu-ray) – $19.99 / $22.99
Vampire Diaries: Complete Third Season (DVD & Blu-ray) – $53.99 / $62.99

CLICK HERE for the full list of DVDs and Blu-ray discs that you can pre-order!

We’re halfway through January and things still look pretty grim for genre fare. At the cineplex: Kate Beckinsale squeezes herself back into tight black leather and leads a battle for survival against humanity. On digital home video, we get a smattering of anime titles, some new indie and foreign films, and a few classic comedies on Blu-ray. Man, this release slate is just depressing….

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 17th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 20th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
* Dutch
First Squad
* Gantz II: Perfect Answer
* License to Drive
Project X
Redline
Star Driver Part 2

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
Cold Sweat
Donner Pass
First Squad
Fists of Death
* Ganz II: Perfect Answer
The Girl Who Leapt Through Space: Volume 4
Gutter King
Hetalia: Axis Powers Collection 3
Hetalia: World Series 1, Season 3 (Limited Edition)
Kaze No Stigma: Complete Series S.A.V.E.
The Last of the Hard Men / Sky Riders (Action Double Feature)
Man With Two Lives
Nabari No Ou: Complete Series S.A.V.E.
The Perfect Student
Princess Resurrection: Complete Collection
Redline
Star Driver Part 2
Undocumented
Walking Dead: Vampires and Zombies
Zero Woman R

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

Underworld Awakening – The third (and final?) chapter in the “Underworld” saga features Selene (Kate Beckinsale in leather… :: drool ::) battling for the continued existence of Vampires and Lycans. Humanity has finally discovered that the creatures of the night are very real and declares war on them, so Selene and her fellow heroic monsters band together to face this unexpected(?) threat. I’m going to see this, if only because “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” (the completely unnecessary prequel) left a bad taste in my mouth. And at only 88 minutes, I can’t see myself being too bored by leatherclad babes and dueling monsters.

This week totally sucked, but next week gives us a little more to look forward to. Here’s some highlights: Criterion unleashes their controversial Godzilla Blu-ray and DVD (controversial because the art on the outside and inside of the box depicts an artist’s rendition of the Big-G, which looks nothing like the original 1954 incarnation of the King of the Monsters); “Real Steel” (a.k.a. Rocky III and IV with robots) comes to digital home video; Shout! Factory gives us a new Roger Corman Cult Classics DVD which features a trio of films featuring “Lethal Ladies” (Vol.2!); Liam Neeson battles a pack of wolves on the big screeen, using homemade “glass knuckles” in “The Grey.”

That’s it for now everyone; check back next week for a look at what’s new in theaters and home video! – The Vault Master

Here it is folks, the first official Genre Watch article of 2012! Gaze at its… disappointing-ness. I know the first few months of each new year is pretty light on genre fare, but this is a sad, sad week my friends. Still, if you feel the urge to spend some money, might be you’ll find something of interest below:

(All DVDs and Blu-ray discs that are mentioned in this article hit store shelves on Tuesday, January 10th. All theatrical films mentioned here will be released in theaters on Friday, January 14th.)

VAULT MASTER’S PICK(S) OF THE WEEK:

THIS WEEK’S NEW BLU-RAY RELEASES:
Primeval: Volume Three
Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
* Summer of Massacre
Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of the Wind, The Shore of Maze

THIS WEEK’S NEW DVD RELEASES:
American Gothic: The Complete Series
The Cape: The Complete Series
Cleopatra 2525: The Complete Series
A Darker Reality
Death Bell – Bloody Camp
Doctor Who: The Android Invasion (Story 83)
Doctor Who: The Invasion of the Dinosaurs (Story 71)
Fistful of Bullets – Spaghetti Western Collection
Gurozaka
* Jack of All Trades: The Complete Series
Kenneyville
Night Gallery: Season One
Night Gallery: Season Two
Primeval: Volume Three
Psychotica
Red Faction Origins
Scorpion King 3: Battle for Redemption
She-Wolf of London: The Complete Series
* Shriek of the Sasquatch
* Summer of Massacre

THIS WEEK’S NEW THEATRICAL RELEASES:

The Divide – Michael Biehne stars in this dark post-apocalyptic thriller that focuses on a group of people that are trapped in the basement of their apartment building after a nuclear attack. As supplies and hopes dwindle, insanity and violence begin to prey on the survivors. This movie looks intense; I really want to see it. Sadly it only has a limited theatrical release this weekend so I, along with many of you, will have to patiently wait the DVD/Blu-ray release.

Don’t Go in the Woods – This one has a limited release and was written and directed by … Vincent D’Onofrio? Weird. A band heads out into “the woods” to have alone time and write some music. Naturally some hot young coeds show up to party it up, as does a mysterious killer. Looks like it might be a bit fun but… yeah, this looks like a rental at best.

Also “The Devil Inside” is still out in theaters and boasts one of the most anger-inducing “non-endings” in film history apparently. While most of the stuff I’ve heard about that movie has been bad, a few close friends have praised it. Guess I’ll find out for myself… next year when its in a bargain bin. Ha!

Next week promises a whole lot of nothing: “Underworld: Awakening” hits the big screen (hooray for theatrical gift cards that I got for Christmas; didn’t want to spend money on this one!) and there’s nothing to write home about on digital home video. It’s a really crappy week with the Blu-ray releases of “License to Drive” and “Dutch” ($12.99 each on Amazon) being the only movies that caught my eye.

So check back next week for the full story on the sad release slate. Then breathe a sigh of relief and put your wallets & purses away, and give your bank account some much needed time off. – The Vault Master