For horror movie aficionados, Scream Factory is a dream come true. Classics from the 1980s, 70s, 60s and even 50s are given attentive care until they're restored to the best quality possible. As a unit of Shout! Factory, the sub-label has gained the resources over time to both improve the presentation as well as the cavalcade of bonus features that accompany them.
From discovering underseen gems to reminiscing about oft-forgotten favorites, Scream Factory is a goldmine for horror fans. Just as they've released treasures from the aforementioned decades, they've also shown some love for 90s classics.
Body Bags (1993)
In the vein of Creepshow came Body Bags from John Carpenter. The auteur even appears as a CryptKeeper-like character in the TV movie's wraparound segments. Considering how kind Scream Factory has been to Carpenter's oeuvre (Halloween, The Fog, Vampires, Escape from New York/L.A., and, especially, both Prince of Darkness and They Live) Body Bags is a worthy addition for fans.
As for the film itself, it's a mixed bag. The wraparound segments are goofy, but make the viewer yearn for the host of HBO's show. The first segment, "The Gas Station," was Carpenter-directed and feels like unused material from Halloween or even its sequels. The second installment, "Hair," is again directed by Carpenter and stands tall as the highlight of the film. It features Stacy Keach (in an outstanding performance) as a vain man who gets peculiar hair implants. The final section was directed by Tobe Hooper and features Mark Hamill as a baseball player who gets an ocular transplant and receives an eye from, naturally, a serial killer.
Pet Sematary Two (1992)
Pet Sematary Two is an odd curiosity, and its well-put-together SF release makes it very easy to rediscover for its own merits. Directed by Mary Lambert (who also directed the far-more-faithful-to-King first film), the sequel is worth watching for Clancy Brown's profoundly bizarre, technically proficient performance alone. Fortunately, an interview with Brown titled Playing Over The Top is included.
There's also a gorgeous 4K scan of the original camera negative that was approved by Lambert herself. She provides an audio commentary in addition to interviews with Edward Furlong and other cast members.
Graveyard Shift (1990)
Frequently cited as one of the worst Stephen King adaptations, Graveyard Shift has certain midnight reachability. Loaded with hilariously unconvincing practical effects, performances of varying quality, and cover art that exceeds the quality of the movie itself, the movie's not for everyone.
However, throw in a wild Brad Dourif performance as well as an eerily memorable mine location, and Graveyard Shift is a worthy addition to the King section of a Scream Factory collection. While it may not actually have much to do with the author's short story, the sub-label still wrangled up interviews with the director/producer, the lead actress, and the film's villain, actor Stephen Macht (who turns in an effective performance).
Event Horizon (1997)
The label's recent release of Paul W.S. Anderson's Event Horizon (still his best film) is almost as good as it could be. Somewhere out in a pile of film rolls is a director's cut, but if it could be found it would be included on SF's release.
Even still, a 4K scan of the original camera negative is included and it's top of the line in terms of visual improvement. It was never a low-budget movie, but this release restores it to its former underseen, impressive glory.
Vampires (1998)
Vampires essentially signaled the end of Carpenter's directorial reign. There was an increasing decline after They Live in 1988, with Memoirs of an Invisible Man, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, and Escape from L.A. all failing to meet his earlier success. Vampires didn't change that, but like those films, it received a loving release from Scream Factory.
The Collector's Edition's special features include a batch of interviews. These include conversations with Carpenter, Thomas Ian Griffith (who played the main vampire), and even James Woods.
Idle Hands (1999)
Idle Hands isn't for everyone, but its Scream Factory release is fairly stacked. It comes with an audio commentary from just about every principal cast member save for Jessica Alba. This includes Devon Sawa, who frequently played teen horror movie characters, as well as Vivica A. Fox, Seth Green, and Elden Henson.
There are also a few side interviews with Henson, a few of the film's other actors, and with director Rodman Flender. While a new scan of the film would have been a logical inclusion, it looks better than it ever has before.
The Exorcist III (1990)
Scream Factory's release of William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist III is a 101 addition to any collection. Along with a new 2K scan of the theatrical version, there's also a restored version of the director's cut.
The director's version, Legion, is very faithful to his book of the same name. Everything about Father Karras is taken out and replaced with the intended Brad Dourif scenes (whose role in the theatrical cut was truncated). Dourif gives his best non-Chucky horror film performance in Legion. His work (along with George C. Scott's) bolsters the overall quality just as much as the excision of the theatrical cut's shoehorned exorcism scene.
In The Mouth Of Madness (1994)
This excellent but forgotten 1990s psychological horror movie from John Carpenter was one of his last as director, though he's since gone on to do well as producer and has continued to expand his musical oeuvre.
The 2018 release is like other Carpenter films from Scream Factory in that it both looks and sounds pristine. This is due to a brand new 4K scan of the original film elements. Furthermore, there are a couple of documentaries and interviews as well as a newly-recorded commentary by Carpenter himself.
Candyman (1992)
Scream Factory's Collector's Edition is, fortunately, the most widely attainable (and affordable) copy of the film available. Released in 2018, it could recently be seen on shelves in honor of Nia DaCosta's superb Easter egg-filled sequel.
The Blu-ray comes with a 2K restoration of a new 4K scan. While full 4K would have been nice, it looks as crisp as it should considering it was supervised by writer/director Bernard Rose. He also provides a new commentary alongside Candyman himself, Tony Todd.
Nightbreed: The Director's Cut (1990)
Clive Barker's Nightbreed easily ranks among the top tier of the author's adaptations. It's logical then that, like Hellraiser, Barker himself directed it.
The 2014 Blu-ray is as thorough a release as a fan could expect or hope for. Sometimes Scream Factory gives fans something they've been clamoring for frequently (e.g. the thought-lost footage from Friday the 13th Part II). This is applicable to Nightbreed; Included is a "Director's Cut" which is over 40 minutes longer than the truncated theatrical cut.