No Shame are presenting two exciting if somewhat obscure Italian crime films in June, Stelvio Massi's CONVOY BUSTERS and Massimo Dallamano's COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD. Click on the pics for more tech details, trailers, and ordering info.

Take heed!:

CONVOY BUSTERS



“When he gets mad, Olmi really lets go!”

Busted down from homicide for arresting a diamond smuggler with friends in high places, hardboiled cop Olmi (the late great Maurizio Merli, star of VIOLENT NAPLES and THE CYNIC, THE RAT, AND THE FIST) joins RomeÂ’s emergency squad, where his extreme tactics make him a target of both the mob and the press. After killing an innocent man he mistakes for an assassin, Olmi has himself transferred to a quiet beat on the Adriatic coast. Finding love in the arms of a beautiful schoolteacher, OlmiÂ’s carefree existence is shot to Hell after he crosses paths with a gang of vicious gun runners operating out of the local port. When Olmi takes his .45 snub-nose out of storage, all hell breaks loose under the Tuscan sun.

Known in Italy as Un Poliziotto Scomodo (“The Inconvenient Cop”), CONVOY BUSTERS features Maurizio Merli in one of his last poliziotteschi assignments. Gorgeous Olga Karlatos (KEOMA, Lucio Fulci’s ZOMBIE) and the ever-evil Massimo Serrato (THE 10TH VICTIM, AUTOPSY) costar in a fast-paced action vehicle fueled by slashed throats, charred corpses and 100% Italian machismo, directed by Stelvio Massi (EMERGENCY SQUAD, THE LAST ROUND) and with a cool Euro-Cult score by Stelvio Cipriani (38 COLT SPECIAL SQUAD).

NoShame is proud to present this rare latter day poliziotteschi in an eye-popping transfer, in its original aspect ratio with exclusive interviews with actors and filmmakers.

- Merli on Merli – a conversation with actor Maurizio Matteo Merli (son of star Maurizio Merli)
- A Star Was Born – a conversation with journalist Eolo Capacci
- My Good Fella Maurizio – a conversation with actor Enio Girolami
- ER Prota – a conversation with director Enzo G. Castellari
- Bullet in the Closet – a conversation with director Ruggero Deodato
- COP ON FIRE Trailer – an upcoming poliziotteschi starring Maurizio Matteo Merli
- Poster and Still Gallery

Collectable Booklet - contains CRIME STORY: THE DE FALCO SOLUTION, an original comic book short story by Maurizio Rosensweig and Diego Cajelli (Mondadori's ALTA CRIMINALITA). Set in present day Milan but inspired by the poliziotteschi subgenre of the 70s, CRIME STORY: THE DE FALCO SOLUTION delivers 16 adrenaline-fueled pages of non-stop action by two of the most prominent comic book artists working in Italy today.

COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD



Two of the great all-time European badasses go mano a mano in this brutal crime thriller from Massimo Dallamano (WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?). When his wife becomes the latest innocent victim of a merciless Marseilles crime lord (Ivan Rassimov, of YOUR VICE IS A LOCKED DOOR AND ONLY I HAVE THE KEY), police captain Vanni (THE FRENCH CONNECTIONÂ’s Marcel Bozzuffi) goes beyond the law to form a secret squad of rogue cops, each armed with an unlicensed 38 Colt revolver. As Vanni and his vigilante crew take back the night bullet by bullet, the Marsellais joins the game by instigating a wave of violent crimes that turns the city into a deadly playground.

Released in Italy as Quelli della Calibro 38 (“Those of the 38 Caliber”), COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD was the last film directed by Massimo Dallamano and is a no-holds-barred poliziotteschi that’s an absolute winner on all fronts: a great cast (Rassimov and Bozzuffi tear up the town in their only screen pairing), high octane action, unflinching violence and a rousing Euro-funk score from maestro Stelvio Cipriani (DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS), plus a surprise guest appearance by Grace Jones!

NoShame Films is proud to present COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD for the first time on DVD, uncut and restored to its original aspect ratio.
Included in this 2-disc special edition is LA BIDONATA (1978), the long-lost final film by giallo specialist Luciano Ercoli. Shelved after its producer was kidnapped in Italy, the film was never released anywhere in the world and is presented now for the first time by NoShame Films, culled from the original 35 mm negative!

DISC 1: COLT 38 SPECIAL SQUAD

- Introduction by composer Stelvio Cipriani
- Always the Same OlÂ’ 7 Notes - A Career spanning interview with composer Stelvio Cipriani
- A Tough Guy - Interview with editor Antonio Siciliano
- Photo Gallery
- Original Theatrical Trailer


DISC 2: LA BIDONATA (a.k.a. THE RIP-OFF) (extra)

- Back To Life – Interview with director of photography Sergio D’Offizi

Collectable booklet – including liner notes and talent bios

A NoShame exclusive, available for a limited time only, LA BIDONATA is LUCIANO ERCOLI's (THE DEATH BOX SET) long lost last feature film. Restored from the only existing positive 35mm print, this notorious lost film has never been exhibited anywhere in the world and boasts a cast of great Italian character actors: Walter Chiari (THE VALACHI PAPERS), Susan Scott (DEATH WALKS AT MIDNIGHT, DEATH WALKS ON HIGH HEELS), Ettore Manni (Mario Bava's RABID DOGS), ... and was shot by CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST cinematographer Sergio D'Offizi.

On June 27th. From No Shame. You've been warned.

CasaNegra is a new DVD label, related in some way to the great Panik House label (home of those amazing Pinky Violence movies, you do have those Pinky Violence DVDs, right?), that is dedicated to unearthing in pristine form classics of Mexican Horror Cinema. June 27 will see the release of THE WITCH'S MIRROR (the only film of these I've yet seen albiet via a scratchy, dubbed print on an old Something Weird Video VHS) and THE CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN. In August they unleash THE BRAINIAC (a film I've longed to see for quite some time) as well as the just announced BLACK PIT OF DR. M! Very, very exciting!
Here's CasaNegra's rundown on the films and the technical details of the DVDs:

CURSE OF THE CRYING WOMAN
CasaNegra Entertainment is proud to present a spellbinding classic of Mexican horror cinema, Rafael Baledon’s The Crying Woman (1961).

A visually lush, gothic story based loosely on the real legend of La Llorona, the Crying Spirit. Beautifully filmed and dripping with atmosphere, Baledon's Curse of the Crying Woman is considered a true horror classic. A phantom figure attacks a horse-drawn carriage in the woods. As the police investigate the grisly murders, young Amelia (Rosa Arenas) travels to the old mansion of her Aunt Selma (Rita Macedo) close to where the murders took place. Shortly after her arrival Amelia uncovers dark family secrets, including rumors of torture, murder and witchcraft! Each sinister revelation exposes a more diabolical mystery. Whose charred corpse lay buried in the family crypt? Why does Aunt Selma cast no reflection? And finally: What terrors will be unleashed by The Curse of the Crying Woman?

Based on the Mexican legend of La Llorona, The Curse of the Crying Woman is a stately, breathtaking excursion in bone-chilling fear and cinematic exhilaration. CasaNegra Entertainment is proud to present this classic tale of bedeviled bloodlines, mysterious murders and supernatural evil for the first time ever on DVD in a brand new, restored transfer with completely re-mastered picture and sound.

Special Features:

* Original Uncut Version
* Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
* Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
* Audio Commentary by Mexican Cinema Expert Michael Liuzza
* Full Color Booklet: The Legend of Llorona by Entertainment Weekly’s Peter Landau
* Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
* Essay on Legendary Actor, Filmmaker Rafael Baledon by noted film historian David Wilt
* Cast Biographies
* Poster and Stills Gallery


THE WITCH'S MIRROR
“Chano Urueta’s THE WITCH’S MIRROR is an exercise in pure cinema, in which countless allusions to previous movies and a virtual catalog of special effects techniques are used to illustrate a delirious tale of witchcraft vs. mad science.”
~David Wilt - Publisher, Mexican Film Bulletin.

CasaNegra Entertainment presents one of Mexican cinema’s most mesmerizing horror classics, The Witch’s Mirror.

A poetic tale of madness and horror from director Chano Urueta. The Witch's Mirror is one of the landmark films of the Mexi-horror genre. A benevolent witch (Isabela Corona) enchants a magic mirror to protect her adopted daughter Elena (Dina de Marco) from her cruel husband (Armando Calvo). When the incantation fails and the girl is murdered, the witch vows revenge using every unholy principle of the supernatural that she can conjure. An unforgettable foray into black magic, high spookery and dazzling storytelling, CasaNegra is proud to present The Witch’s Mirror restored and remastered for the first time on DVD in a brand new transfer – including the blasphemous resurrection of the slain Elena!

Special Features:

* Original Uncut Version
* Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
* Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
* Audio Commentary by Founder of IVTV, Frank Coleman
* Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
* Essay: Chanovision: The Films of Mexican Cult Moviemaker, Chano Urueta
* Cast Biographies
* Poster and Stills Gallery


THE BRAINIAC
CasaNegra Entertainment presents Mexico's all-time horror classic Brainiac.

The year is 1661. Baron Vitelius (Abel Salazar) stands accused of consorting with the devil. The penalty: death. Cursing his inquisitors as they burn him at the stake, the Baron’s revenge comes 300 years later, in the form of a horrifying fork-tongued incarnation of the Baron, hellbent on devouring the brains of the descendents of those who killed him. As bodies pile up, the police become mystified. Who is draining the skulls of local call-girls and well-to-do banquet-goers alike? And, more importantly, how many flamethrowers will it take to stop him? Brainiac is the supernatural cult classic that has been beloved for decades by fans of spook-show matinees and late-night monster movie marathons.

Famously imported to the U.S. by exploitation icon K. Gordon Murray in the 1960s, Brainiac is at once lurid and loony, unnerving and uproarious, spellbinding and surreal.

CasaNegra is proud to present this milestone of Mexican cinema digitally remastered and uncut for the first time on DVD.

Special Features:

* Original Uncut Version
* Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
* Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
* Essay: Keep Repeating, It’s only the Most Bizzare Horror Film Ever Made. By Casamiro Buneavista
* The Official Brainiac “Interactive” Press Kit
* Audio Commentary by Kirb Pheeler, Creator of the Brainiac Interactive Press Kit
* Original 1969 U.S. Theatrical Release Radio Spot
* Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Card Game
* Cast & Crew Biographies
* Poster & Stills Gallery



THE BLACK PIT OF DR. M
By day, Dr. Mazali (Rafael Bertrand) runs an insane asylum. By night, he lashes out at the veil between this life and the next, desperate to contact his former partner, Dr. Harrison Aldeman (Jacinto Aldama), who was executed for a crime he did not commit. What follows is madness, tragedy, agonizing violence and the unrelenting horror of infinite damnation.

The Black Pit of Dr. M is a masterpiece of gothic filmmaking punctuated by shocking jolts and beautiful imagery that render it years ahead of its time. It is also a major accomplishment in chilling tone, unsettling atmosphere and wildly inventive storytelling.

CasaNegra is proud to present this much sought-after classic digitally remastered and uncut for the first time on DVD.

Special Features:

* Original Uncut Version
* Completely Re-Mastered Picture & Sound from Newly Restored Vault Elements
* Bilingual Menus in English & Spanish
* Photo Essay: Mexican Monsters Invade the U.S.
* Exclusive Black Pit of Dr. M Rock Video composed by 21st Century Art
* Biography on Director Fernando Mendez By Film Historian David Wilt
* Audio Commentary by IVTV founder Frank Coleman
* Exclusive CasaNegra Loteria Game Card
* Cast Biographies
* Original Theatrical Trailer
* Poster and Stills Gallery



Miss these at your own peril!

Mondo Macabro is our favorite DVD label here at Worldweird, and it's because they release movies like this:

Mondo Macabro has been proud to present classic Indonesian exploitation films on DVD in the past, and theyve always been some of our most popular releases. The cinema of Indonesia is one that Western audiences know little of, so introducing these one-of-a-kind films to new audiences is what Mondo Macabro is all about. But whenever we put a new Indonesian film out, people keep asking us, Any plans to do Barry Prima movies? Like clockwork this happens, and now, were pleased to announce that our first Barry Prima action classic on DVD is one of his all-time masterpieces, THE DEVILS SWORD! For years fans have been forced to contend with crappy full frame bootlegs that make the film look cheap. Well, its time to finally throw those boots away, because Mondo Macabro has done THE DEVILS SWORD right on DVD in a special edition that were proud to say is one of our best!

Somewhere in time, in a land far away, an ancient wizard forged a deadly sword from the hot metal of a fallen meteorite. This sword is filled with magical energy. Whoever controls it will have ultimate power on earth.

Deep under the ocean, in her palace of crystal, lives the sexually insatiable Crocodile Queen. She uses her body to enslave men to her will. All who enjoy her favors become mutant warriors in her zombie army. The queen wants the power of the deadly sword and entraps the one man she thinks can bring it to her.

THE DEVILS SWORD is one of the triumphs of Indonesian fantasy cinema. Packed with jaw-dropping scenes of incredible wildness, its the closest thing to a legal hallucinogen ever invented. This is a trip youll want to take again and again.

Mondo Macabro's special edition DVD of THE DEVILS SWORD contains the following extra features:

A new interview with DEVILS SWORD star Barry Prima, filmed exclusively for this DVD. Barry is something of a legend amongst fans of Asian cinema and this is the first interview he has ever done. Anywhere. He tells us about how he got his start in the movies, what he thinks of the films he has made and gives us an insight into his unique personality.

Heavenly Swords A text essay about the history and mythology of the sword, written by Mondo Macabros Pete Tombs.

Original theatrical trailer

Extensive production notes and illustrated biographies of cast and crew.

The much loved Mondo Macabro trailer reel of past and future releases.

So get ready for some primo Prima this June with the DVD world premiere of THE DEVILS SWORD from Mondo Macabro. Its bound to be the cult action DVD release of the summer!

Look for Mondo Macabros THE DEVILS SWORD DVD in stores on June 27, 2006 at a retail price of $24.95.

For more info on all of Mondo Macabro's fantastic DVDs, go here.

For a great early review of this masterpiece, go here.

Turkish Pop Cinema is a particular favorite here at Worldweird HQ, being among the absolute weirdest cinema the world has to offer. But until recently we've mostly had to deal almost exclusively with non-subtitled nth generation bootlegs (not that I find anything inherently wrong with that ...). Greece's Onar Films is out to change all that. Having already released two stellar, subtitled KILINK dvds (you must get these!), Onar now turns to one of the most justifiably famous (or infamous) of all Turkish classicks, 3 DEV ADAM! Available Now!
Here's the press release for it:

Do I really have to say how cult and bizarre this film is? Do I really have to narrate all the hell I passed through in order to release it? Who would care anyway?

But I have to say this: ALL THE ORIGINAL MATERIALS OF THIS FILM WERE DESTROYED IN A FIRE YEARS AGO... I USED THE ONLY SURVIVING ELEMENTS I MANAGED TO FIND...THE RESULT IS NOT PERFECT NEITHER VERY GOOD...IT IS JUST GOOD...AND IT IS BETTER THAN ALL BOOTLEGS FLOATING AROUND...IF I DIDN''T DO IT THEN NOONE WOULD!...AND FINALLY, ONAR MEANS "DREAM", THAT''S WHY I INSIST ON RELEASING FILMS THAT NOONE ELSE WOULD... FILMS THAT MANY PEOPLE COULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT SEEING ON OFFICIAL DVD...

PLOT: Turkey is being terrorized by a ruthless gang of criminals lead by a psychotic guy with a green uniform and a pair of hellish eyebrows sticking out of his mask eye holes. The local authorities are forced to resort to some super assistants. One of them is the national superhero of Mexico, Santo. The other one is the national superhero of the USA, Captain America. Their countries too, have been encountering major trouble with the green psycho''s illegal activities, namely ancient artifacts smuggling and fake cash circulation. In fact, the economy of the whole planet is about to collapse! Upon their arrival in Istanbul though they soon realize that their opponent is more ruthless and evasive than they had imagined. This maniac stops at nothing. He murders and robs ladies. He tortures people. And just when you think you have killed him another one pops up. Is he a virus? Does he have endless dispensable clones to die in his place? And above all, what''s his name? Oh, yes..it is.. SPIDER MAN!

Cast:
Aytekin Akkaya .... Capt. America
Deniz Erkanat
Yavuz Selekman .... Santo
Teyfik Sen
Dogan Tamer ...Inspector

Year: 1973

Director: T. Fikret Ucak

Country: Turkey

HERE ARE THE DVD FEATURES

1 -1200 numbered copies
2- Turkish audio
3- Colour-Pal- Region free
4- Greek & English subtitles
5- Original Fullscreen
6- Dolby Stereo
7- 3 Interviews with Aytekin Akkaya(Captain America)- T. Fikret Ucak(director)- Dogan Tamer(Inspector)
8- Biographies
9- Filmographies
10- Photogallery
11- Trailers
12- Interactive menu
13- Chapters

**CONDITION OF TRANSFER: All original materials-NEGATIVES etc- of this film were destroyed in a fire years ago. So, this transfer comes from the ONLY surviving elements and the quality is FAR FROM PERFECT but BETTER THAN ANY EXISTING BOOTLEG.**

Here's Onar's trailer for the film!:


You can purchase it directly from the source at onarfilms.com.

AND Here's what's in store for the future from this great new company!:

A double feature of Turkish thrillers with:
ASKA SUSAYANLAR SEKS VE CINAYET aka THIRSTY FOR LOVE, SEX AND MURDER (A Turkish Giallo! I have seen this film and it is nothing short of astonishing. Full of surreal images, sexy Turkish dames, and suprising violence and sadism!)
plus
OLULER KONUSMAZ KI aka THE DEAD DON'T TALK (A gothic chiller described in the excellent book Fear Without Frontiers as a 'largely forgotten low-budget effort that deserves a second look", thanks to Onar,we can!)
After that another superhero double feature with the classic SUPERMAN RETURNS (otherwise known as TURKISH SUPERMAN, produced and directed by the wonderfully named Kunt Tulgar (star of the classic DEATHLESS DEVIL!) and DEMIR YUMRUK DEVLER GELIYOR aka IRON FIST: THE GIANTS ARE COMING, never heard of this one before, anyone know any details?)
And then a double feature of Turkish Tarzan movies!
If you are anything like me, you await each of these with baited breath.

Hello and welcome to my new little enterprise here. The point and purpose of this blog is a centralized source of info concerning DVD release news and rumors of cult, exploitation, genre and just plain odd films from outside the English-speaking world. Continental Europe, Asia, and Latin America are the focus, (and perhaps even further afield - Africa, maybe?), in particular those released during the golden age of exploitation the 1960s-the1980s. That means nothing from the US or the UK or even Canada or Australia. Why? Well, why not? That's just where my particular movie obsessions seem to have been moving lately. The strangeness of these kinds of films (genre, exploito, etc.) seems to be intensified to us in the English speaking world when it comes from these far flung locales. It's an essentially ethno-centric attitude, y'know maybe Indonesian martial arts/fantasy films really aren't all that weird to the folks in Jakarta. But here in Seattle, Washington USA? That's some fucking bizarre stuff. And to me, totally exciting.
My main inspiration here would have to be the work of Immoral Tales and Mondo Macabro author Pete Tombs. Those books (and even moreso, his DVD label Mondo Macabro, who's releases will be featured frequently here) have opened up this world to us more curious and adventurous cineastes, and so props must be given and credit must be due. Your first homework assignment from Worldweird is to track these books down and read every word in them. At least twenty times. I know I have.
So what I'm trying to do is stay on top of the latest news about DVD releases of these kinds of films from cutting edge DVD labels such as Mondo Macabro, Onar Films, No Shame, Panik House, CasaNegra, Blue Underground, Raro, Synapse, Criterion, and whoever else pops up on the "scene". I will also try and write about interesting movies which haven't been released or don't seem to be "in the pipeline" as it were, to try and bring some of these to light. If you have a film you would like to recommend, a "scoop" you'd be willing to share or even a review you'd like published here - please by all means contact me, I can't do it all by myself.
It's a big world out there, y'know?