Movies too bad to survive DVD

[claws]

Spookies from 1986 comes to my mind.

Spookies had three DVD releases in the UK. They don't appear to be ports from VHS/Tape masters, but are presented in full screen. I believe Spookies was a European co-production and most likely the reason the UK got a DVD release. Legal rights might prevent a US release, or the owner just doesn't care, is asking for too much money or original elements are lost. It's always one of those.

[ChocolateChipCharlie]

I know it was reviewed here, but I'm still surprised that Rock N Roll Nightmare made it to DVD. As much as I love it, it's ghastly awful.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Spookies from 1986 comes to my mind.

Spookies had three DVD releases in the UK. They don't appear to be ports from VHS/Tape masters, but are presented in full screen. I believe Spookies was a European co-production and most likely the reason the UK got a DVD release. Legal rights might prevent a US release, or the owner just doesn't care, is asking for too much money or original elements are lost. It's always one of those.

I don't know how accurate is this, but Spookies does show as an American/Dutch co-production. Looking for the box office numbers, I could only find that it grossed only $17,785.00 here in the U.S. on an extremely limited release, which is why it probably has never gotten a release on DVD. Though, it probably should, if only because the storyline and the history of the film comes across as being one of those WTF! is going on moments.

[claws]

Spookies has been highly requested for ages and several boutique labels have tried to release it. Last I've read was Code Red trying to contact the owner by telephone without success.
If a DVD should ever happen it should include both versions of the film, otherwise the fanboys will go beserk.

[claws]

I was reading up on the history of Spookies and wow, what a mess. The owner of Spookies was also involved in UK's legendary VIPCO Label wghich should explain the UK DVD of Spookies. Anyway, here's a quote from the article:

Not many movies from the 1980s are considered missing, but Spookies is one of them. All the main players involved in Twisted Souls/Spookies are interested in releasing a DVD of the film in the U.S., including Magliochetti, who still has the original ending in interpositive form. Though rights were owned by Sony, then Vestron, and then Lionsgate, no negative or print has been found, and it is unclear whether Michael Lee still holds any rights, as no one has been able to contact him.

[Archivist]

Percival Rubens' The Demon 

Yes, I know it's available on DVD but the master that was used for that and the VHS release is a real crappy one: my place of work has the uncut version on 35mm film and I wish that could be used as a digital master to re-release the DVD and a BluRay if possible.

Is there the possibility that you could start a crowdfunding campaign to make that happen?  Or get in touch with the people who did the old release, and ask if they would be interested in a 35mm uncut print on loan?  Would your work be amenable to that? 

If successful, it could become a sideline, and you might get a raise commensurate with your new efforts.  It's just what I would do if I had access to hundreds of old and potentially financially viable movies...

[Trevor]

Percival Rubens' The Demon 

Yes, I know it's available on DVD but the master that was used for that and the VHS release is a real crappy one: my place of work has the uncut version on 35mm film and I wish that could be used as a digital master to re-release the DVD and a BluRay if possible.

Is there the possibility that you could start a crowdfunding campaign to make that happen?  Or get in touch with the people who did the old release, and ask if they would be interested in a 35mm uncut print on loan?  Would your work be amenable to that? 

If successful, it could become a sideline, and you might get a raise commensurate with your new efforts.  It's just what I would do if I had access to hundreds of old and potentially financially viable movies...

There is a company in SA which was interested in re-releasing the copy we hold but I never heard back from them.

[JPickettIII]

really the dumbest movie ever

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTGTLwpcTjM

I saw Tomcat:Dangerous Desires on HBO a long long time ago.  It was bad back then.  😜😜😜

[Olivia Bauer]

Apparently there's this increadibly offensive John Belushi biopic called "Wired" which was never released on DVD.
In fact they released a pretty small amount of VHS copies.

"I have witches working now to jinx the thing... I hope it never gets seen and I am going to hurl all the negative energy I can and muster all my hell energies. My thunderbolts are out on this one, quite truthfully."
-Dan Aykroyd