Arrow Video has Argento, Yokai Monsters and William Grefe in October

As we get closer to Halloween, we’re all looking for a few scares. Arrow Video has a trio of shocks from around the globe ready for your TV. First there’s the Yokai Monsters Collection boxset. These are a batch of creatures based off Japanese folklore that over the last few decades have been turned into family friendly critters via Pokémon and Yo-kai Watch. But back in the late ’60s, Daiei Film released a trio of films that showed these bizarre characters as being a bit more dangerous. The three films came out in a year so fans didn’t have to wait long for the next installment. Decades after the movies came out, Takashi Miike (Audition) made his own version. That it is included here. The films play like an extremely demented Sid and Marty Krofft show.

Dario Argento’s Deep Red gets elevated to a 4K Ultra HD release. Now you can see even more details into his ultimate Giallo film. After Argento had made the genre profitable with Bird With the Crystal Plumage and two more films, he tried to do a normal movie. Except it basically was forgotten. He came back to the mystery and bloodshed with Deep Red. David Hemming (Blow Up) is a jazz pianist who witnesses a murder. But while he can’t identify the killer, the killer know who he is. The cops aren’t quite working fast enough for him so he must investigate with the help of a journalist (Daria Nicolodi). This is an intense thriller that got even better when the international cut finally arrived in America. Now you can get both the original US edit and the international version on 4K UHD.

He Came From The Swamp: The William Grefe Collection boxset contains 7 films by the Florida based filmmaker. He thrived during the era when studios didn’t book every screen in America for their blockbusters. He found those odd theaters and drive-ins during the late ’60s and early ’70s. His movie Mako: The Jaws of Death did well as it cashed on Jaws. The film is part of the boxset. The original limited edition boxset with a book has sold out, but don’t panic. Arrow Video is re-issuing the Blu-ray discs with the movies. Now you can enjoy The Naked Zoo with candy corn.

Here’s the press release from Arrow Video:

Yokai Monsters Collection [Limited Edition] From the makers of Daimajin comes a trilogy of terror ripped from the pages of Japanese folklore! List Price: $99.95   From the makers of Daimajin comes a trilogy of terror ripped from the pages of Japanese folklore, with ghosts and monsters from ancient myths and legends brought to life through stunning special effects, alongside an epic, big-budget reboot of the series from a modern-day master of the macabre, now available together on Blu-ray for the first time. In the first film in the trilogy, 100 Monsters, a greedy slumlord’s attempts to forcefully evict his tenants invite the wrath of the titular spirits when a cleansing ritual is botched, with terrifying results. The second film, Spook Warfare, tells the tale of an evil Babylonian vampire inadvertently awoken by treasure hunters, and a brave samurai that teams with the yokai to defeat the bloodthirsty demon. In the final film, Along with Ghosts (released only 12 months after 100 Monsters), the yokai are roused to defend a young girl on the run from deadly yakuza. Decades later, none other than Takashi Miike (Audition) helmed The Great Yokai War, a loose remake of Spook Warfare that used cutting-edge digital effects to renew the franchise for a new generation. In it, a young boy is given a grave responsibility: to band together with a group of yokai to defend humanity against a vengeful and powerful demon that has sworn retribution against modern-day Japan. Bonus Materials LIMITED EDITION BOXSET CONTENTS High Definition (1080p) Blu-ray presentations of all four films Optional English subtitles on all four films Illustrated 60-page collectors’ book featuring new writing on the series by Stuart Galbraith IV, Raffael Coronelli and Jolyon Yates Reversible sleeves featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jolyon Yates Postcards featuring newly commissioned artwork for each film by Jolyon Yates Foldout ‘yokai guide’ poster illustrated by Jolyon Yates DISC ONE – 100 MONSTERS Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio Hiding in Plain Sight, a brand new documentary giving a primer on yokai for Western audiences, featuring interviews with experts Matt Alt, Zack Davisson, Kim Newman, Lynda E. Rucker and Hiroko Yoda Theatrical trailer US re-release trailer Image gallery DISC TWO – SPOOK WARFARE / ALONG WITH GHOSTS Brand new 4K restoration of Spook Warfare by Kadokawa Pictures Original uncompressed Japanese mono audio for both films Theatrical trailers for both films US re-release trailers for both films Image galleries for both films DISC THREE – THE GREAT YOKAI WAR DTS-HD MA 5.1 original Japanese and dubbed English audio Brand new audio commentary by Japanese cinema expert Tom Mes Archive interviews with the cast and crew, including Takashi Miike Short Drama of Yokai, two shorts detailing the further adventures of the yokai Another Story of Kawataro, two shorts featuring the continuing story of the kappa character in the film World Yokai Conference, a publicity event where Miike speaks about the film Promotional Events, video of the press conference to announce the start and completion of filming, as well as the premiere in Tokyo Documentary on the film’s young star, Ryunosuki Kamiki, and his experience making the film Theatrical trailer Image gallery

Deep Red UHD [Limited Edition] You will never forget it! List Price: $59.95   From Dario Argento, maestro of the macabre and the man behind some of the greatest excursions in Italian horror (Suspiria, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage), comes Deep Red – the ultimate giallo movie. One night, musician Marcus Daly (David Hemmings, Blow Up), looking up from the street below, witnesses the brutal axe murder of a woman in her apartment. Racing to the scene, Marcus just manages to miss the perpetrator… or does he? As he takes on the role of amateur sleuth, Marcus finds himself ensnared in a bizarre web of murder and mystery where nothing is what it seems… Aided by a throbbing score from regular Argento collaborators Goblin, Deep Red (aka Profondo Rosso and The Hatchet Murders) is a hallucinatory fever dream of a giallo punctuated by some of the most astonishing set-pieces the sub-genre has to offer. Bonus Materials 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS New 4K restoration of both the original 127-minute Italian version and the 105-minute export version from the original negative by Arrow Films 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray presentations of both versions in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring originally and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring writing on the film by Alan Jones and Mikel J. Koven, and a new essay by Rachael Nisbet Fold-out double-sided poster featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards DISC 1 (4K ULTRA-HD BLU-RAY) – DEEP RED: ORIGINAL VERSION Restored original lossless mono Italian and English soundtracks* Optional lossless 5.1 Italian soundtrack English subtitles for the Italian soundtrack Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing for the English soundtrack New audio commentary by critics Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson Archival audio commentary by Argento expert Thomas Rostock Almost three hours of new interviews with members of the cast and crew Italian trailer Arrow Video 2018 trailer Image galleries DISC 2 (4K ULTRA-HD BLU-RAY) – DEEP RED: EXPORT VERSION Restored original lossless mono English soundtrack Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Archival introduction to the film by Claudio Simonetti of Goblin Profondo Giallo – an archival visual essay by Michael Mackenzie featuring an in-depth appreciation of Deep Red, its themes and its legacy Archival interviews with Dario Argento, Daria Nicolodi, Claudio Simonetti and long-time Argento collaborator Luigi Cozzi US theatrical trailer *The English audio track on this original cut has some portions of English audio missing. English audio for these sections was never recorded for these scenes. As such, they are presented with Italian audio, subtitled in English.

He Came From The Swamp: The William Grefe Collection (Standard Edition) Journey into wild world of director William Grefé with a collection from the darkest depths of the Florida everglades! List Price: $99.95   Killer sharks and human jellyfish and living mummies, oh my! Arrow Video is proud to present the first ever collection of works by William “Wild Bill” Grefé, the maverick filmmaker who braved the deep, dark depths of the Florida everglades to deliver some of the most outrageous exploitation fare ever to go-go dance its way across drive-in screens. Bringing together seven of Grefé’s most outlandish films, plus a feature length documentary on the filmmaker’s career, He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefé Collection packs in a macabre menagerie of demented jellyfish men (Sting of Death), zombified witch doctors (Death Curse of Tartu), homicidal hippies (The Hooked Generation) and seductive matrons (The Naked Zoo) – not to mention the ubiquitous go-go dancing – to create one of the most wildly entertaining box-sets of all time! Bonus Materials SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS Seven William Grefé films: Sting of Death (1966), Death Curse of Tartu (1966), The Hooked Generation (1968), The Psychedelic Priest (1971), The Naked Zoo (1971), Mako: Jaws of Death (1976) and Whiskey Mountain (1977) Brand new, extended version of Ballyhoo Motion Pictures’ definitive documentary They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentations on 4 Blu-ray discs Original uncompressed mono audio for all films Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing Reversible sleeves featuring newly commissioned artwork for each of the films by The Twins of Evil STING OF DEATH (1966) + DEATH CURSE OF TARTU (1966) Brand new introductions to the films by director William Grefé Archival audio commentaries for both films with William Grefé and filmmaker Frank Henenlotter Beyond the Movie: Monsters a-Go Go! – a look into the history of rock ‘n’ roll monster movies with author/historian C. Courtney Joyner The Curious Case of Dr. Traboh: Spook Show Extraordinaire – a ghoulish look into the early spook show days with monster maker Doug Hobart Original Trailers THE HOOKED GENERATION (1968) + THE PSYCHEDELIC PRIEST (1971) Brand new introductions to the films by director William Grefé Archival audio commentaries for both films with director William Grefé and filmmaker Frank Henenlotter Beyond the Movie: Thet’s Drugsploitation! – a look inside the counter culture films that inspired The Hooked Generation with author/film historian Chris Poggiali Beyond the Movie: The Ultimate Road Trip – the story behind The Psychedelic Priest with Chris Poggiali The Hooked Generation behind-the-scenes footage The Hooked Generation Still Gallery THE NAKED ZOO (1971) + MAKO: JAWS OF DEATH (1976) Brand new introductions to the films by director William Grefé Brand new audio commentaries for both film with William Grefé William Grefé’s original 92-minute Director’s Cut of The Naked Zoo, painstakingly reassembled from various source materials Alternate version of The Naked Zoo, as reedited by its original theatrical distributor, featruring added gratuitous nudity and a performance by blues-rockers Canned Heat – 100% non-director approved! Beyond the Movie: That’s Sharksploitation! – a deep dive into the history of shark films with author/film journalist Michael Gingold The Aquamaid Speaks! – a brand new audio interview with Mako actress Jenifer Bishop Sharks, Stalkers, and Sasquatch – a brand new audio interview with Mako writer Robert Morgan Mako Super-8 Digest Version Mako Original Trailers and Promos Stills Galleries WHISKEY MOUNTAIN (1977) + THEY CAME FROM THE SWAMP: EXTENDED CUT (2020) Brand new extended cut of They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Grefé Brand new introduction with William Grefé for Whiskey Mountain Brand new audio commentary for Whiskey Mountain with director William Grefé The Crown Jewels – featurette on independent film studio and distribution company Crown International Pictures William Grefé Short – Bacardi and Coke Bonanza (1981) On Location in Miami – an archival tour of filming locations with director William Grefé Whiskey Mountain Trailer and Promo Gallery They Came from the Swamp deleted scenes Bonus Exploitation Trailer Gallery