PRODUCT INFORMATION
British cinema has long cemented its legacy of producing creative thrillers, often infusing macabre twists with a wry sense of cynical humor. By the early 1970s, the British film industry had become more daring in subject matter while still relying on the consummate technical professionalism that helped establish it as a leading force in the medium. Presented here are a trio of rarely-seen murder thrillers and mysteries that showcase the types of independent and transgressive work coming out of Britain in the first half of the decade, all of which have been newly restored by Vinegar Syndrome for this release.
Showcasing the beautiful yet under-filmed region of Cornwall, the Giallo-esque CRUCIBLE OF TERROR (1971) by director Ted Hooker finds a group of hippyish youths staying at the seaside home of a reclusive and mysterious sculptor. Their holiday fun is short-lived as they begin falling prey to a vicious mystery killer who’s determined to protect a deadly secret hidden deep in the cliffside caverns. Taking visual cues from Italian horror and displaying a surprising amount of horrible bloodshed, this long-overlooked whodunit is a precursor to the soon-to-be budding slasher genre.
When a young woman is slain by a trench coat-wearing and razor-wielding killer, there’s no shortage of suspects, including her twin sister, boyfriend, and plentiful shady acquaintances. As the mystery unfolds and more people vanish or are murdered, a detective begins to suspect that the crimes might be connected to a prized stamp. A slow-burn hybrid of murder mystery and crime caper directed by acclaimed cinematographer Jack Cardiff, PENNY GOLD (1973) offers twist after twist, leading to a murder-fueled final act, sure to leave one guessing who the real killer is until the end titles.
By day, Neal Mottram operates an unassuming antique shop, while at night, he is the high priest of a small cult worshipping the idol Chuku. After accidentally killing one of his fellow worshipers, Neal offers Chuku her body as a sacrifice, shortly after which he finds himself bestowed with good fortune. Believing that the idol is responsible for his luck, Neal finds more sacrificial victims. Anchored by a memorably unhinged starring performance by Jack Palace, director Freddie Francis’ blending of occult horror and police thriller CRAZE (1974) remains an overlooked gem in the oeuvre of famed producer Herman Cohen.
features:
2-disc Region Free Blu-ray Set
PENNY GOLD and CRAZE scanned and restored in 4K from their 35mm original camera negatives
CRUCIBLE OF TERROR scanned and restored in 2K from a 35mm vault positive
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones for CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Barry Forshaw for PENNY GOLD
Commentary track with writers/film critics Kim Newman and Stephen Jones for CRAZE
Commentary track with filmmaker David DeCoteau and historian David Del Valle for CRAZE
Happy Gatherings (10 min) - an interview with Judy Matheson, actress in CRUCIBLE OF TERROR
In for a Pound (11 min) - an interview with Richard Heffer, actor in PENNY GOLD
Archival career-spanning interview with Michael Jayston, actor in CRAZE (50 min)
Inside sleeve artwork
English SDH subtitles
Shipping
No, we only ship inside the US
Most orders for in-stock items take less than 24 hours to ship (may take longer if you place an order over the weekend). Pre-orders are shipped as soon as the product arrives. International pre-orders may not come in before the street date. This is especially true with Australian pre-orders.
We only use USPS for all shipments. If there is an issue after your order ships you will need to contact your local post office.
Product
All items that come with a slipcover will say so in the product page.
Pre-orders will not say WITH SLIPCOVER until the product comes in.
Slipcovers are not guaranteed to be in mint condition.
If you can order it, it's either in stock or a pre-order. If an item is out of stock you will not be able to add it to your cart. It's rare but our inventory may not be correct. So in some cases an item may have to be shipped separately.
Other
We do not sell bootlegs. All product arrives from the distributor or is directly from the filmmakers. All items are new and sealed. Some indie titles or signed editions may not have shrinkwrap.