Horrible Horror (The Special Edition)

I've been hoping for a long time to see this highly entertaining collection of movie trailers, highlights, gaffs, and outtakes finally make its long overdue appearance on DVD. Just watching the content itself is a total hoot and a load of fun, but to have it all presented and hosted by TV Horror Host Legend John Zacherle (Zacherley, aka Roland, aka The Cool Ghoul), makes this DVD an absolute must-own for horror movie fans and "monster kids" like myself.I bought a VHS copy of Horrible Horror when it first came out back around 1986 or 1987, and have watched it so many times over the years that it is practically worn out. Not to mention the fact that my last VHS player died a couple of years ago, and I've been unable to view it since. When the pre-order for this new Special Edition was announced a few months back, I think I must have been one of the first to place my order with Amazon. Since then, I found out a few more details about this release, and became even more excited. Added footage and additional Zach bits were to extend the original's running time from 110 minutes to "almost three hours" as it states on the back of the DVD case. In fact, the Special Edition clocks in at two hours forty four minutes. But that's still an additional 54 minutes of well-aged cheese. The original VHS case says scenes from over 50 vintage films, whereas the new DVD case mentions scenes from over 75 films. I didn't actually take the time to count them, but there is surely a great deal of new footage, and some hilarious never before seen bits where Zach has inserted himself into the movie clips. All of this makes this Special Edition essential viewing. The image quality of the DVD is quite adequate, though not remarkably better than my old VHS tape, so I have to wonder if any remastering was actually done. But given the nature and the content of the disc, this did not tend to bother me at all.They could have easily left it at that, and I would have been one happy Zach fan. But the makers of this DVD wanted to give us even more, so they included a second disc of bonus features! Unfortunately, the bonus disc doesn't add a great deal to this DVD set. There are two short bits of genuine interest - "Zacherley Preps on Set", a 3 minute 35 second (3:35) glimpse behind the scenes of Horrible Horror, with Zach getting himself psyched up to go on camera, briefly plotting out his approach to the host segments, and joking around with the(unseen)crew. You get the distinct impression that everyone involved had a great time doing it. The other extra of interest to Zach fans is his 1960 appearance on the TV show "What's My Line", sans his trademark makeup. This bit runs about 2:50, and while entertaining, it was something I'd seen previously on YouTube. However, after these two all-too-brief Zach bits, the rest of the bonus disc is simply filler. We get a nearly 30 minute "Lights Out" TV episode from 1951 (no Zach), which was fairly boring and predictable to sit through. About the only point of interest I found was one of the actors in it looked like a cross between Fred MacMurray and Hugo Weaving. That, and the fact that the show's sponsor, Admiral, was touting its 11 cubic foot refrigerator, as well as its "big screen" 20 inch television(!). After that, we get a 5:45 Gumby short called "The Glob" (sorry, but I've never been much of a Gumby fan). Finally, we get a "bonus" movie feature, a pretty decent full frame presentation of 1958's "Frankenstein's Daughter" (85 min). This would have been totally awesome if it had been a version that Zacherley had hosted at some point in his career, but alas, this was not the case. Even if it had been one of the many movies Zach had poked fun at in Horrible Horror, the tie-in would have been a bit less tenuous. So while it's indeed a funny and entertaining filler piece, it again had nothing to do with Zach or Horrible Horror whatsoever. Perhaps if I didn't already own it on DVD, I would be more appreciative of it being included in this 2-disc set, because it IS a campy, low-budget 50's horror flick.So all in all, a slightly mixed bag, but the simple fact that we get an extended cut of Horrible Horror on this DVD set's first disc merits five stars all by itself. But I'm afraid they missed the overall mark with the bonus disc, and for that I have to deduct a star. With all of the great Zacherley footage still out there, they shouldn't tantalize us with extras, and then not deliver something worthy of inclusion. I couldn't help but feel the bonus disc was a wee bit of a cheat. I know it sounds funny to say, but if they had simply released the extended cut of Horrible Horror in a single disc edition, I would have probably given it 5 stars all the way. A good example of less being more, IMO.

I know why Bella Lugosi is so many of these films, but Peter Graves?! What a slog he had to go thru before Mission Impossible. I don't know which I like better the dance of the Cat Woman on the Moon (where was Neil Armstrong?) or the Alligator People (they are why I don't visit swamps). All of this stuff is great and really used to scare little kids and some older ones too. Didn't matter if they were on the big screen of later on TV, people actually gathered around to watch people change into apes and snakes. Quite a feat for the olden days. My all time favorite is The Giant Claw. I was telling a friend, she's in her 40s so never saw these flicks, about a bird hanging from visible wires who could out race jets and eat up locomotives. The alligator people look high-tech next to this bird. If you've never seen these films, grab a brewski (you will need some sort of booze) and some pop corn, pull the drapes and settle down for some great entertainment. I do have to take exception with one reviewer about the best host for this type of film. It has to be Elvira, hands down.

BOTTOM LINE: This is still great fun to watch and safe for every member of the family. It never fails to bring back a lot of warm memories. I also credit this video for my lifelong interest in classic sci-fi & the Z-grade clunkers of yesteryear. HORRIBLE HORROR set me on the path to collecting & appreciating the great (and not so great) films from days long gone. Thanks, Zacherley for all the wonderfully moldy memories! 5 STARS!THE STORY: When the 500-year lease is up on his crumbing castle by the sea, 1960's-era horror movie host "Zacherley" and his (always unseen) assistant Igor must pack up hundred's of year's worth of junk - including an amassed collection of movie trailers, shorts & bloopers from dozens of low budget 1950's-60's horror & sci-fi films. Zacherley has Igor cue up the dusty old film reels and invites us to sit back and watch them along with him.THOUGHTS: I bought the original Goodtimes VHS of this silly concoction waaay back in 1986 at an old Woolworth's store, during my early college years. I think I still have that tape sitting in a box of stuff somewhere. Anyhow... I eventually stopped playing the tape for fear that the next time I put it into my VCR it would get eaten up! I can now lay those fears to rest, thanks to this marvelous re-issue of HORRIBLE HORROR: THE SPECIAL EDITION onto digital DVD!THE DVD: Video & audio quality of the various clips ranges from solid to jumpy & grainy. In all fairness though, the source materials for this Goodtimes release were likely of the crummy public domain variety, so it is what it is. But that in no way deters from the fun of watching these goofy old clips. There are a few differences from the original videotape version but nothing too drastic. More importantly, there's quite a bit of extra stuff, (extended/alternate Zacherley segments & several additional film trailers) on this DVD version that makes upgrading from your old tape an even better bargain!

A Brilliant Collection Non Classics that still somehow make you want to track them down.Well worth A look.

Good old fun

great