#alien zone

[seothesuperstar]

[unexplainedthings]

[trash-fuckyou]

House Of The Dead AKA Alien Zone, 1978

[brokehorrorfan]

Blu-ray Review: The House of the Dead

Not to be confused with Uwe Boll's infamous video game adaptation from 2003, The House of the Dead is a 1978 horror anthology best remembered for its appearance on Elvira's Movie Macabre in the '80s. The film was also released under the title Alien Zone; a head-scratching choice considering the film hasn't the slightest connection to extraterrestrials. It was likely a shrewd attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Ridley Scott's Alien, coupled with a Twilight Zone-esque concept.

The wraparound segments find a philandering man (John Ericson, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) in an unfamiliar neighborhood. He bumps into a mortician (Ivor Francis, Dusty's Trail) who tells him stories about his "latest clients." Even with its predictable conclusion, the wraparound story is often more compelling than the short films.

In the first tale, a teacher (Judith Novgrod) fears her home is being invaded by someone... or something. The second involves a serial killer (Burr DeBenning, The Incredible Melting Man) who films his murders. In the third, the best detective from America (Charles Aidman, The Twilight Zone) and Britain (Bernard Fox, Titanic) team up to solve a mystery. Finally, a businessman (Richard Gates) is essentially tortured into becoming an alcoholic.

It's no surprise to learn that the shorts started as The Twilight Zone spec scripts by writer David O'Malley (The Boogens), as the characters of victims of circumstance, before be reworked into the feature. While none of them are outright bad, director Sharron Miller (Cagney & Lacey) struggles to make any stand out. At only 81 minutes, the segments aren’t long enough to develop characters or even much of a story arc.

The House of the Dead has been restored in 2K from the 35mm camera negative for a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack from Vinegar Syndrome. It features reversible artwork, and Vinegar Syndrome has an exclusive embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr., limited to 1,500. Special features include a 44-minute audio interview with Miller and a 51-minute audio interview with O'Malley - both of which provide good insight on the film - along with a gallery of behind-the-scenes photos.

Even with its half-baked stories, wooden performances, and out-of-place muzak score, The House of the Dead benefits from the charms of a horror anthology. If you don't like one of the segments, the next one is never far behind. It ends on a fairly strong note, with the final segment being the most reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, and a satisfactory conclusion to the wraparound.

The House of the Dead is available now on Blu-ray/DVD via Vinegar Syndrome.

[desertdollranch]

Kirsten and Kaya visiting the Alien Zone in Roswell. As if traveling in time to 1947 and meddling with the crash site weren’t bad enough, they then broke into the laboratory and tampered with the evidence...

[itsraininggrunge]

👽

[brokehorrorfan]

House of the Dead (also known as Alien Zone) will be released as a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on July 31. If you order directly from Vinegar Syndrome for $22.99, you’ll get an embossed slipcover designed by Earl Kessler Jr., limited to 1,500.

The obscure 1978 horror anthology is directed by Sharron Miller (Cagney & Lacey) and written by David O'Malley (Fatal Instinct). John Ericson, Ivor Francis, Judith Novgrod, and Bernard Fox star.

The House of the Dead has been restored in 2K from the 35mm camera negative. The release features reversible cover art. Extras are listed below.

Special features:

Audio interview with director Sharron Miller

Audio interview with writer David O’Malley

Four tales of intrigue and horror await anyone brave enough to enter the House of theDead… When a philandering husband accidentally finds himself lost during a rainstorm, he’s taken in by an elderly mortician and is forced to learn the ghastly origins of four freshly arrived corpses: a scornful teacher whose students teach her a fatal lesson, an amateur filmmaker with a deadly muse, two dueling detectives attempting to solve a mysterious murder, and a bitter man whose arrogance costs him everything…

[seothesuperstar]