This three disc set has films that on initial release were either left to the side or languished in obscurity. The first film is The Premonition a tale of children, carnivals and evil. When the foster mother of a child from an unstable family has a premonition of a snatch and grab she thinks its a manifestation of deep fears. Little does she know that it is just the start of the pain. Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood takes the circus to town and dispatches the locals for the delights of Dr Blood and his nasty cohorts. Many arrive for the roller coasters and fun but they seem to very rarely leave. A family who are working on the site only as a cover to find their lost daughter become entangled with the horrors. Finally we have The Witch Who Came From The Sea which takes repression, family conflict and violence to heights untapped or unexposed. Dreams and nightmares merge as the sexual monster of female is revenging for her father lost at sea. Just it seems that daddy was a little nasty and to close to his bottle. Now the rest of mankind is going to suffer under the less than hopeful memory of the times shared with father and daughter.

Well we must boil the lot down to a clear soup. For once not all the films in this set have been watched by myself!! Shock horror! I have seen the biggest draw The Witch as this is on the ‘nasties list’. It is also the best film in the set if you like films with depth and great visual subtext. Violence in it is dreamlike and erotically charged, which can be understood as why the film was censored so sharply. It has a great series of performances and has that uncertainity of reality to make it very worthwhile watch.

The Premonition is a film I havent seen before and one that compelled me at first. It is unsettling and makes the audience question what is right in the actions of the characters. I felt however it really loses its edge in the second act and by the third falls away to nothing. Sad really. The other film Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood is a rare thing. I would relate it to a tamed version of Bloodsucking Freaks. A version that is both very directly about blood shed and lacking any story or weight. It is however a replicated version of other films and should be watched solely because it makes itself worthwhile through great sets.

Now the discs… Excellent version but the print damage onThe Witch Who Came From The Sea is pronounced. Malatesta’s Carnival of Blood is cleared up and looks great. The Premonition is the clear winner in that it looks good and sounds better. The additions are great with the top additions being the booklet on the project and the commentary on The Witch Who Came From The Sea.

• Brand new 2K restorations of the three features
• High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) and Standard DVD presentations
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Reversible sleeves for each film featuring original and newly-commissioned artwork by the Twins of Evil
• American Horror Project Journal Volume I – Limited Edition 60-page booklet featuring new articles on the films from Kim Newman (Nightmare Movies), Kier-La Janisse (House of Psychotic Women) and Brian Albright (Regional Horror Films, 1958-1990)

MALATESTA’S CARNIVAL OF BLOOD – SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• Brand new interview with director Christopher Speeth
• Brand new interview with writer Werner Liepolt
• Draft Script (BD/DVD-ROM content)
• Production stills gallery

THE WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA – SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• Audio commentary with director Matt Cimber, actress Millie Perkins and director of photography Dean Cundey
• Brand new interview with director Matt Cimber
• Brand new interview with Dean Cundey
• Brand new interview with actor John Goff

THE PREMONITION – SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS

• Audio commentary with director-producer Robert Allen Schnitzer
• Brand new interview with composer Henry Mollicone
• Interview with actor Richard Lynch
• Three Robert Allen Schnitzer short films: ‘Vernal Equinox’, ‘Terminal Point’ and ‘A Rumbling in the Land’
• 4 “Peace Spots”
• Trailers and TV Spots