Bigger, Better and Bloodier The Hells of ‘Horror Hospital’ Invade Your Home
by Marc Patterson
I’m not going to lie. I haven’t seen Horror Hospital, nor do I know anything about this film. So I’m going to do something I rarely do… I’m going to let the press release do the talking. The only added disclaimer to this I’m going to add is that normally I’d never do this, but coming from Dark Sky Films I feel almost safe in allowing the copy of a PR agency do the talking for me. Dark Sky has established themselves as a solid, reliable source for quality horror done right. They give unknown cult titles the red carpet treatment and take risks on fresh independent horror. Had this been anyone else, (except for the guys at Grindhouse Releasing) I’d have passed on posting this. Simple as that. Read on folks…
Fright-Flick Favorite Michael Gough Is at His Most Sinister in Antony Balch’s Wild Feast of Sex and Gore, Hitting DVD from Dark Sky Films on June 15, 2010
Before he played the mild-mannered butler Alfred in Tim Burton’s “Batman” movies, Michael Gough was an icon of horror, appearing in such classics as “Berserk,” “Trog” and “Horrors of the Black Museum.” But none of his roles can compare to his performance as sadistic and deranged Dr. Christian Storm in HORROR HOSPITAL. Director Antony Balch’s legendary 1973 shocker has now been restored to its uncensored glory and will be released on DVD by genre masters Dark Sky Films, via MPI Media Group, on June 15, 2010. The disc, carrying an SRP of $19.98, includes a new feature-length commentary.
As with many British fright flicks of the ’70s, HORROR HOSPITAL pours humor, sex and abundant nudity into the macabre mix, but Anthony Balch (“Secrets of Sex”) amps up the action to eye-popping levels. Exhausted young rock singer Jason (Robin Askwith, “Confessions of a Window Cleaner,” “Let’s Get Laid”) decides to visit a rural retreat for some rest and rejuvenating treatment. Along the way, Jason meets Judy (Vanessa Shaw), a pretty girl who is also traveling to the “health hotel,” where her aunt is the matron. But when the new couple arrives for their relaxing vacation, they instead become trapped in a nightmare of wandering psychotic patients, cheeky dwarves, decapitations, lethal luxury sedans and a diabolical plan to create a slave army of lobotomized teenage zombies – all at the hands of the domineering Aunt Harris (Ellen Pollock) and her husband, the skull-drilling Dr. Storm.
Skip Martin (“Vampire Circus”) and Dennis Price (“Theater of Blood”) co-star in this bloody/campy cult favorite, now transferred in HD from the original 35mm camera negative and featuring a revealing new commentary with producer Richard Gordon (“Fiend Without a Face”), moderated by Tom Weaver. The DVD also includes an extensive still gallery which features selects from the personal library of Mr. Gordon, as well as rare lobby cards from Germany
Dark Sky Films’ DVD features the rare uncut, uncensored version of HORROR HOSPITAL and presents the film in its original widescreen aspect ratio, enhanced for 16×9 TVs.
HORROR HOSPITAL Specs:
Street date: June 15, 2010
Prebook: May 10, 2010
SRP: $19.98
Running time: 90 minutes
Widescreen, Enhanced for 16×9 TVs
Not rated
DVD Extras: Feature-length commentary
