|
JANUARY 10 VHS HISTORY LEASON : ACADEMY ENTERTAINMENT
This independent distributor opened it's doors in 1985, first releasing a bunch of 70's horror and action titles (some retitled for video), such as: THE ZODIAK KILLER, THE LOSERS, ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH (aka: THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE), BLOOD EVIL (aka: DEMONS OF THE MIND), BLOOD FEAST (aka: NIGHT OF A THOUSAND CATS), SLASHED DREAMS (with probably the most deceptive packaging of the 80's),TERROR AT RED WOLF INN (aka: THE FOLKS AT RED WOLF INN), SATAN'S SUPPER (aka: THE NIGHTMARE NEVER ENDS) and many others. Academy quickly progressed into releasing a bunch of DTV films, including: FLESH EATING MOTHERS, DANGEROUS GAME, BLOODY NEW YEAR, PLAY DEAD, ROCK 'N' ROLL NIGHTMARE, DOOM ASYLUM and the awful WITCHCRAFT series (Academy handled parts 1 thru 6). As with all video companies approaching the 90's, Academy got involved in producing and releasing a load of DTV "Erotic Thrillers", such as: ANIMAL INSTINCTS, BODY OF INFLUENCE, SINS OF THE NIGHT and many, many others until they closed-up shop in 1995. I also think that there's a small conspiracy to keep Academy Entertainment VHS covers off the Internet. The VHS covers for this company are nearly non-existant anywhere on the web. If you don't believe me, try Googling Academy and see what you come up with. Plenty of info on the films that they released, but hardly any artwork. I believe my site has the most Academy covers collected in one spot. If no one ever hears from me again, it's because the Academy gremlins have taken me away. { text from critcononline.com }
JANUARY 10 VHS HISTORY LEASON : KEY VIDEO
This sublabel of parent company CBS/Fox Video existed from 1982 to 1990. In those years, Key Video released a lot of good stuff. Their distinctive packaging (multicolored stripes that ran through the center of the video box) and choice of films (anything from 40's actioners like AIR FORCE to 80's horror films like KILLER PARTY) distinguished them from many of the independent labels that didn't have a big company and built-in library of films to supply them with product. Key Video released 70's exploitation films like THE DOBERMAN GANG, DAMNATION ALLEY and KILLER FISH, horror films such as Dario Argento's INFERNO, NIGHT SCHOOL, VAMPIRE AT MIDNIGHT and THE ATTIC, cult films like BETTER OFF DEAD, STRANGER THAN PARADISE, LITTLE MURDERS and HUSH HUSH SWEET CHARLOTTE and, of course, major Fox titles such as PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE, ACROSS 110TH STREET, ZARDOZ, THE BOSTON STRANGLER, WHERE'S POPPA? and many, many others for the first time on home video. Key Video also released some long sought-after TV films like the original HELTER SKELTER and DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW, which command big bucks on the collectors market today. Key Video has something for everyone during the 80's. The Key Video heritage is still going strong today, as most of their titles are still in the Fox family. { text from critcononline.com }
|
|
