Blu-ray Today: Scooby-Doo, Vincent Price and Donnie Yen Can Get Kissed
Scooby-Doo and KISS: Rock and Roll Mystery – Considering how awful an idea this sounds, it had no right to come out as passably entertaining as it does. The Mystery Inc. gang show up to a KISS theme park that the real Gene Simmons presumably still dreams about, in search of an evil witch who looks like a cross between Big Barda and Elektra. Unlike in most Scooby stories, reality gets jettisoned at a certain point, as KISS display super powers and ultimately travel to another dimension – one equally inspired by Heavy Metal and Jack Kirby comics, complete with a Galactus/MODOK monster voiced by Darius “Hootie” Rucker.
Replete with ironic/not-ironic jokes about excessive KISS merchandise, and a stereotypical Jewish manager who resembles Transformers producer Don Murphy, the story sometimes appears cynical, but gains ground in smaller moments, as when KISS secretly cameo as the ultra-lame doo-wop band “Ascot 5,” favored by team leader Fred.
Blu-ray extras include two vintage Scooby cartoons, a fake gag reel involving KISS in full makeup, and a brief short in which all the special guest stars – including Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Pauley Perrette – declare whether they’d be Scooby or Shaggy.
Black Sabbath – Huh-huh, huh-huh, DUN DUN, DUN-NA-NA! DUNUNUNUNUNUH NUH NUH NUH NUH! I write what you think, but this 1963 anthology horror movie predates the band, and features tales based on Tolstoy and Chekov. Mario Bava’s masterpiece was made available in Italian and a more uncut version a week ago – this US release is in English and slightly tamer, but still stars Boris Karloff.
Ancient Aliens, Season 7 Volume 1 – What else is there to say, but…
Madhouse – More than a decade after going insane, an iconic horror actor (Vincent Price) returns to the role that made him famous, only to find people turning up dead on set. If you think he’s the culprit, you’re far too trusting – but don’t worry. We shall deal with your rebel friends soon enough.
I, Madman – A bookstore clerk cracks open a novel that soon comes dangerously to life, conjuring a killer obsessed with her. Many extras include a commentary track, making-of featurette and much more. Just don’t read the liner notes or they’ll come to life.
House of 1,000 Dolls – Vincent Price and his magician wife sell the volunteers who disappear in their act into white slavery, presumably because nobody nonwhite ever goes to see a magic show. Sounds fun.
Vampire Journals – A surprisingly well-received bloodsucker tale from Full Moon that somehow doesn’t involve any tiny creatures killing people.
Kung Fu Killer – Martial arts master Donnie Yen must help the cops track down a serial killer who preys upon kung fu masters. That dude’s asking for trouble.
That’s all I got this week. What would you add?