The Criterion of Public Domain Bargain Bins: A boutique film distribution label that focuses on releasing forgotten/everpresent films with new special features.
Happy Gold Wednesday! Four new Blu-ray releases are now up on the site: Ed Wood's REVENGE OF THE DEAD (aka. NIGHT OF THE GHOULS), THE MONSTER MAN, THE GOLD TRIANGLE and ROCK N' ROLL ASYLUM.
Our release of WHITE ZOMBIE is a heartfelt experiment in presenting a texture that isn't common in the digital realm: From a battered source that gives the entire thing the feel of a transmission from a faraway place, like a half-remembered nightmare, cloaked in darkness.
I can't believe I am scanning a 35mm print of Ed Wood's NIGHT OF THE GHOULS... and its got the REVENGE OF THE DEAD title card that was only on the preview version.
The Roan and Kino Blu-rays of the film are excellent visual presentations, but something is intoxicating about the organic textures of a reel that has been run through the wringer for 50+ years. It's what I thought horror films looked like when I was a kid.
I know it won't be for everyone, and some people will say, "I CAN JUST SCREW UP MY TV SETTINGS AND GET THE SAME RESULT!" (Not quite like this, but I get their perspective), so we also did a TON of new special features because we love WHITE ZOMBIE with all our heart.
I just received the re-coloured copy of PHANTOM KUNG FU, and I will always be wowed by the way colour can be saved from something seemingly faded to nothing but shades of red.
Hooray! I finally got a new 2K scan of the never-released silent Canadian film THE DEVIL BEAR (1929) - which is not about a bear, but a Gorilla that shipwrecks in North Bay. Coming soon to Gold Ninja Video, of course.
I never thought I'd get my hands on a feature lemgth vanity film that only ever played once in its entire existence and has never been seen since... but here we are.
CHRISTMAS HAS COME EARLY. Received a new 35mm print of a martial arts film that has never been released on DVD or Blu-ray, and is only available in terrible looking full screen. Coming in the new year!
Holy Moly! The reaction to the WHITE ZOMBIE Blu-ray announcement has been super awesome. Thank you to everyone that has shared it and jumped in with a kind word.
For people worried they shall never lay eyes on THRILLING BLOODY SWORD, I will reprint it again this year, but with an alternative cover and no booklet, so please don't spend your life savings on a copy. I don't want you out of house and home!
All the images above on the left are from a scan of a 16mm print of WHITE ZOMBIE I did for the upcoming Blu-ray currently available for pre-order at . It includes a version where me and
@WillSloanEsq
do horror host schtick.
If you can spread the word about our releases, I'd genuinely appreciate it. Honestly, it's disheartening that 40+ releases in, I haven't been able to hit a sales target which would relieve some of the mechanical stress of putting these together, cause it ain't getting easier!
Me, bursting into the room to save a French Canadian film that hasn't seen the light of the day anywhere since the early 50s.
And yes, this is from that film.
Coming soon! The Scary Important Cinema Club presents a Blu-ray of WHITE ZOMBIE, from a new scan of a beaten-up 16mm print - with optional horror host segments.
The company
@Error44442
just announced that they're releasing THRILLING BLOODY SWORD remastered on Blu-ray in 2023, so with that in mind, there will be no more copies made after the double pack that's currently on sale because I don't want to get in the way of a new restoration.
This has been the hardest release I've ever had to put together. From acquiring the print, the hell of scanning it, the wonder of a great colour corrector, and the horrors of the rest... This just to say it's almost done.
UPDATE ON WHITE ZOMBIE and KING OF THE BULLWHIP: It's still being worked on! Every one of these film scan releases has been incredibly tough to put together, but they're still coming!
On the REVENGEFUL SWORDSWOMAN disc, there will be a video featurette in which the colourist of the scan, Daniel Stuyck, discusses the process of breathing life into a red theatrical print. Choices need to be made! And you can see how (and why) he made them.
FUN FACT: As a huge commentary fan, I try to make sure that every commentary put out by GNV is worth a listen - which means editing it down so it flows non-stop, and because that causes a shift in timing, I re-record chunks, to fill in the gaps. Listen to the commentaries!
IT'S BACK!
THRILLING BLOODY SWORD is available again for Pre-Order! You can grab it in a double pack with the upcoming REVENGEFUL SWORDSWOMAN right now at
ORDER NOW: The terrifying HEARD SHE GOT MURDERED and the heartwarming time-travel comedy MAGIC SPOT are finally available on special feature-packed Blu-rays at .
It was
@WillSloanEsq
that tracked down the print, and the person who lent it to us said he found it on the balcony of a theatre closing down a long time ago.
Just got my hands on the brand new 2K transfer of the Canadian Classic SKIPTRACER from the Library and Archives of Canada. Coming soon in a special feature-packed package!
There are two new Blu-rays available for Pre-order at Gold Ninja Video: A 2K Scan of the Poverty Row Western Classic KING OF THE BULLWHIP, and the super personal project, a 2K scan of a moody 16mm print of Bela Lugosi's WHITE ZOMBIE. They are limited editions, so scoop 'em up!
The Roan and Kino Blu-rays of the film are excellent visual presentations, but something is intoxicating about the organic textures of a reel that has been run through the wringer for 50+ years. It's what I thought horror films looked like when I was a kid.
SHOCKING DISCOVERY: I received the new transfer of THE MONSTER MAN and discovered that it was originally 15 minutes longer!!! It seems the distributor originally cut a huge chunk out, including a scene in a video store.
OPEN DOOM CRESCENDO, Terry Chiu's post-apocalyptic action comedy-drama madness epic, is now available for Pre-Order in standard, and ULTIMATE 3-DISC COMES WITH A BOOK EDITION.
Check it out at
BREAKING NEWS: Thanks to the heroic work of
@ElectricRodBoy
, the IRON DRAGON Blu-ray will feature as an extra 20+ minutes of alternate and deleted footage. This includes an alternate fight scene, an extra Philip Ko fight, a superfluous police subplot, and an alternate ending.
If someone tells you a print "smells slightly of vinegar," it means the print's smell will strip the skin of the bones of anyone that comes within 20 feet of it.
NEW BLU-RAY RELEASE!
See that man in the distance? Is he a peaceful hobbyist, searching for historical artifacts? Or, is he some sort of devious maniac, hiding in plain sight, waiting for an opportunity to prey upon the innocent?
Pre-order here:
As I work my way through producing and shipping discs, I'd like to thank everyone that's written nice stuff, posted excitedly about their discs, and sent me kind words. It means the world and keeps me going!
REVENGEFUL SWORDSWOMAN:The Special Features
-Commentary by Dylan Cheung and Justin Decloux
-No One Can Touch Her: The Career of Chia Ling
-A Beginner's Guide to Wuxia
-Colour Correcting Revenge: With Daniel Stuyck
-Bonus Feature: Against the Drunken Cat Paws (1979)
THRILLING SWORD BLU-RAY UPDATE: It's taking a little longer than expected to get the disc ready (Who knew that working with film scans could be... complicated?) but it's coming! And it will be wonderful!
Check out some of the colour correction work that went into the upcoming release of THE IRON DRAGON STRIKES BACK! The colourist Daniel Stuyck just posted some A/B comparisons on his Instagram.
LOCAL LEGENDS and DON'T LET THE RIVEBEAST are back in print on Blu-ray! If you missed out on your chance to own these amazing films, you are legally obliged to grab them now.
Order them at
Thanks to the help of
@emiledirks
(who had previously helped translate the title cards in THRILLING BLOODY SWORD), the 23+ minutes of deleted scenes from IRON DRAGON STRIKES BACK will be subtitled in English for the first time!