The Amicus Collection (Asylum / And Now The Screaming Starts / The Beast Must Die)
List Price:
Our Price: $15.58
You Save: $14.40 (48%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Barbara Parkins, Peter CushingBrand: MPI
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 270 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-10-30
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: MPI Home Video
Product features:
- Asylum When Dr. Martin (Robert Powell) arrives at the Dunsmoor Asylum for the incurably insane, he expects to be interviewed by asylum director Dr. Starr. Instead he is met by Dr. Rutherford (Patrick Magee), who explains that Dr. Starr had suffered a mental breakdown and now is one of the patients. Dr. Rutherford decides that if Martin can deduce which one is really Dr. Starr, then he will be giv
Movie Reviews of The Amicus Collection (Asylum / And Now The Screaming Starts / The Beast Must Die)
Movie Review: Superb Horror Collection (Provides A Terrific Crash Course On Amicus Studios)
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're not familiar with Amicus studios, you will be after watching the three films in this superb collection: "Asylum," "And Now the Screaming Starts!" and "The Beast Must Die." Amicus was a British film studio famous for releasing horror films in the sixties and seventies. It was Hammer studios' number one competitor. Whereas Hammer was famous for its historical gothic horror (e.g., the Frankenstein and Dracula series), Amicus was famous for its horror anthologies.
Perhaps one of the most famous of the anthologies that Amicus released is the chilling "Asylum." Based on short stories written by "Psycho" author Robert Bloch, this film begins with a young doctor applying for a position at an insane asylum. He must interview four patients; each one relates their ghastly experience that caused them to be incarcerated. Voodoo, witchcraft, and drugs bring forth some of our worst nightmares. Dismembered limbs seek revenge, a mannequin comes to life, and a man's soul is transferred into a doll that murders. A good body count, plenty of suspense, and a shocking ending make "Asylum" enjoyable viewing.
"The Beast Must Die" is contemporary horror. What distinguished this one from most of its contemporaries? The lead actor was controversially played by a black man, Calvin Lockhart. The film bordered on blaxploitation. Lockhart is Tom Newcliff, a type of "Shaft" character who is a self-made millionaire and big game hunter; he invites to his secluded home a group of strangers - one of whom is a werewolf. There is plenty of action as one by one the strangers are killed until the identity of the werewolf is revealed. There are a few shocking twists to keep everyone guessing.
"And Now the Screaming Starts!" is my personal favorite (and my reason for buying the collection) because I love historical gothic horror. I've read that this is the only one produced by Amicus. What a shame because it really is a great ghost story about a dismembered hand and an eyeless woodsman that terrorizes a wealthy couple on their wedding night. Gorgeous Stephanie Beacham is Catherine Fenngriffen who is determined to learn the curse that has been placed on her husband's family. One by one, friends and staff members die as they attempt to help her. There is a shocking climax similar to the one in "Rosemary's Baby."
Horror icon Peter Cushing co-stars in all three films. He was a big star for Hammer Studios. In fact, many of Hammer's actors and crew members worked on Amicus films. Roy Ward Baker directed "Asylum" and "And Now the Screaming Starts!" He directed many Hammer films such as "The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires," "Quartermass and the Pit," and "The Abominable Snowman." All three Amicus films were produced by Max J. Rosenberg (the money man) and Milton Subotsky (the idea man) who founded Amicus, which means "friend."
Dark Sky Films did an excellent job of packaging and releasing this collection. Each DVD has excellent commentaries, interviews, and liner notes that will explain in greater detail how Amicus studios came into existence and how each film was made. There are English subtitles for the hearing impaired. Each film can be seen in its beautiful widescreen theatrical presentation.
"The Amicus Collection" is highly recommended for those who enjoy watching gothic horror (both contemporary and historical) that was made in the early seventies. Each film is classic horror and represents a wonderful age in cinema that is long gone. Amicus, famous for its anthologies, made many that are recommended viewing such as "The Torture Garden," "The House That Dripped Blood," "From Beyond the Grave," "Tales from the Crypt," and "Vault of Horror."
Summary of The Amicus Collection (Asylum / And Now The Screaming Starts / The Beast Must Die)
Studio: Mpi Home Video Release Date: 10/30/2007 Run time: 271 minutesSimilar DVD Movies
City Of The DeadVideo Communications Inc.; Release date: 2001-10-23; DVD
Best price: $4.63
Price in other shops:
Tales from the Crypt (1972) / The Vault of Horror (1973) (Double Feature)Fox; Release date: 2007-09-11; DVD
Best price: $7.17
Price in other shops:
Horror Express (1972)Release date: 2002-02-02; DVD
Best price: $2.98
Price in other shops:
Horror Classics Collection (The Curse of Frankenstein / Dracula Has Risen from the Grave / Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed / Horror of Dracula / The Mummy / Taste the Blood of Dracula)Warner; Release date: 2004-04-27; DVD
Best price: $12.37
Price in other shops:
Torture GardenCOL; Release date: 2005-10-04; DVD
Best price: $3.49
Price in other shops:
Hammer Horror Series (Brides of Dracula / Curse of the Werewolf / Phantom of the Opera (1962) / Paranoiac / Kiss of the Vampire / Nightmare / Night Creatures / Evil of Frankenstein)UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAIN.; Release date: 2005-09-06; DVD
Best price: $19.57
Price in other shops:
Icons of Horror Collection: Hammer Films (The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb / Scream of Fear / The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll / The Gorgon)Sony; Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $18.77
Price in other shops:
From Beyond the GraveWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
The Icons of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films (Stop Me Before I Kill! / Cash on Demand / The Snorkel / Maniac / Never Take Candy from a Stranger / These Are the Damned)Sony; Release date: 2010-04-06; DVD
Best price: $11.19
Price in other shops:
The Creeping FleshSony; Release date: 2004-06-08; DVD
Best price: $8.94
Price in other shops: