The Himalayan – 88 Films (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Hong Kong, 1976
Director: Huang Feng
Writer: Ni Kuang
Cast: Angela Mao, Chan Sing, Dorian Tan, Guan Shan, Ling Hon, Angela Wang En-Chi, Han Ying-Chieh, Sammo Hung Kam-Bo 

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 116 Minutes 58 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Mandarin, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region A
Retail Price: $29.95

"Set against the stunning mountain vistas of Nepal, Tseng Ching Lam (Mao), a noblewoman betrayed and falsely accused of adultery by her devious brother-in-law. Fleeing into exile, she vows vengeance and begins her transformation by mastering the secret Tibetan fighting art of Mi--a discipline of spiritual strength and deadly precision." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 5/5

Here’s the information provided about this release's transfer, "2K restoration from the original negative."

The Himalayan comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 39 GB

Feature: 33.5 GB

The source looks excellent; flesh tones look healthy, colors are nicely saturated, contrast, black levels, image clarity, and compression are solid, and the image looks organic.

Audio: 4.25/5 (Both Audio Tracks)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Mandarin and a LPCM mono mix in English. The differences between these two tracks are minuscule. Both tracks sound clean, clear, and balanced, and action sequences sound robust. Included are removable English subtitles for the Mandarin language track and removable English subtitles for Mandarin text when watching with the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/lobby cards/posters), a theatrical trailer (4 minutes 35 seconds, Dolby Digital mono Mandarin with removable English subtitles), English language opening and closing credits (3 minutes 7 seconds, Dolby Digital mono), an interview with actor Dorian Tan titled Tales from the Monastery (9 minutes 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with removable English subtitles), an audio commentary with Asian cinema experts Frank Djeng and Michael Worth, reversible cover art, a double-sided fold-out poster (limited to the first pressing), and an O-ring slipcase (limited to the first pressing).

Summary:

Huang Feng directed The Himalayan. He’s known for The Shaolin Plot, Naked Comes the Huntress and his nine collaborations with Angela Mao.

A power-hungry man seizes his opportunity when his brother is chosen to marry the daughter of a noble and well-respected man.

While there are several action set pieces, The Himalayan is better described as a melodrama than a typical martial arts film. The Himalayan deals with familiar themes like deception and vengeance. In the case of deception, the power-hungry brother murders his sibling and enlists a look-alike who will obey his every command. Vengeance arises from the daughter, who has been falsely accused of adultery and narrowly escapes a certain death.

The main draw of 'The Himalayan' is its scenic Nepal locations; they give it a look that’s unlike any other martial arts film of this era. Where so many 1970s martial arts films were shot on a soundstage or in countries like South Korea and Taiwan, filming in Nepal really opens up 'The Himalayan' in a way that those other locations could not have. That said, some of the interior scenes were shot on a soundstage, according to Dorian Tan.

Although Angela Mao (Lady Whirlwand) is the star of 'The Himalayan.' The most memorable performance is Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury) in the role of the power-hungry brother named Kao Chu. His character is ruthless and impulsive in his quest for power, and he delivers a pitch-perfect performance. Other performances of note are Angela Mao in the role of Tseng Ching Lam and Dorian Tan (The Hand of Death) in the role of Hsu Chin Kang, an old childhood friend of Tseng Ching Lam. Another cast member of note is Sammo Hung Kam-Bo (The Magnificent Butcher), portraying an evil henchman.

The opening setup does a phenomenal job drawing you in and setting a solid foundation for what unfolds. Although there are many peaks and valleys over the course of 117 minutes, the narrative never lags; it always maintains and builds momentum. While the film emphasizes exposition over action set pieces, it is important to note that the action sequences are still exemplary. Ultimately, 'The Himalayan' is an enthralling film that finds a satisfying blend of exposition and action.

The Himalayan gets an excellent release from Eureka Video that comes with a solid audio/video presentation and informative extras. Highly recommended.

Written by Michael Den Boer

Born a Ninja/Commando the Ninja Double Feature: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray)

Release Dates: Taiwan/Hong Kong, 1988 (Commando the Ninja, Born a Ninja)
Director: Law Chi (Both Films)
Cast: Man Fei, Patrick Largent, Hung Kuan, Daniel Garfield, Howard Wang, Kelvin Wong, Laura Yang, Lo Kei, Yolanda Kuk, Wai Shum, Martin Chan, Wallace Man (Commando the Ninja), Man Fei, Patrick Largent, Martin Chan, Daniel Garfield, Lo Kei, Yolanda Kuk, Wallace Man, Willie Sun, Howard Wang, Laura Yang (Born a Ninja)

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 86 Minutes 26 Seconds (Commando the Ninja), 89 Minutes 19 Seconds (Born a Ninja)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Interlaced / MPEG-4 AVC (Commando the Ninja), 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (Born a Ninja)
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English (Both Films)
Subtitles: English SDH (Both Films)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"This shot-on-video martial-arts double feature from Joesph Lai and IFD Films unleashes pure 1980s ninja chaos as two unlikely heroes are dragged into a war over stolen germ-warfare secrets. Featuring disappearing ninja assassins, endless waves of thugs, criminal masterminds, insane effects and the mysterious 'Hocus Pocus' magic fighting style - It's full-tilt SOV insanity, delivering cult ninja action at maximum volume.

Born a Ninja is a wild SOV martial-arts action romp where espionage, absurdity, and vanishing ninjas collide. When unlikely heroes Larry and David stumble onto a long-lost WWII germ formula created by the mysterious scientist Tanaka, they're pulled into a deadly web of shadow warfare and secret assassins. On their trail is Simon, a merciless ninja enforcer working for the cold-blooded mastermind Martin, whose scheme threatens global catastrophe. Outnumbered and outmatched, Larry and David rely on nerve, instinct, and their own unconventional fighting discipline - Hocus Pocus, a martial art as unpredictable as it is lethal.

Commando the Ninja (a.k.a. American Commando Ninja, a/k/a Silent Killers) cranks the chaos up even higher, continuing the covert war over germ-warfare secrets more dangerous than ninja blades. Once again caught in a storm of espionage, double-crosses, and stolen science, Larry and David find themselves facing more ruthless power brokers and endless waves of attackers. As the battle escalates, two fearless allies - Becky and Brenda - join the fight, driving the action toward an outrageous finale of acrobatics, ambushes, and full-blown ninja madness." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 1.5/5 (Born a Ninja), 1/5 (Commando the Ninja)

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "SD masters from original tape elements."

Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 44.6 GB

Feature: 18.2 GB (Born a Ninja), 16.4 GB (Commando the Ninja)

The sources look rough, especially Commando the Ninja, which is interlaced. That said, the included screenshots give you a clear idea of what to expect.

Audio: 2.5/5 (Both Films)

Each film comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. Although dialogue comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced, things are limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background, a Visual Vengeance trailer for Born a Ninja (1 minute 52 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a original trailer for Born a Ninja (2 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a Visual Vengeance double feature trailer for Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja (57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a original trailer for Commando the Ninja (1 minute 58 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with actor Kwan Chung (8 minutes, Dolby Digital stereo Cantonese with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay by  Justin Decloux titled The Law Chi Touch (11 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a video essay by  Justin Decloux titled The Essential Godfrey Ho (11 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Justin Decloux and Will Sloane of The Important Cinema Club for Commando the Ninja, an audio commentary with Justin Decloux for Born A Ninja, reversible cover art featuring original VHS art, a 'Stick your own' video store sticker sheet (first pressing only), two folded mini-posters with original VHS art, a 6-page leaflet with an essay titled Looking Back at American Commando Ninja and Born a Ninja written by C.J. Lines, and an O-card slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras are Visual Vengeance trailers for Furious, Ninja Operation Knight and Warrior, and Ninja the Protector.

Summary:

Despite a prolific filmography that stretches beyond 50 years, Law Chi is not a name that most Hong Kong cinema fans will recognize. His most notable films are The Crippled Masters and Amsterdam Connection.

A Chinese terrorist group, Japanese ninjas, and Russian mercenaries are in a race to capture a Japanese scientist and his formula for germ warfare.

Commando the Ninja is the film that establishes who all of the main players and their motivations are, while Born a Ninja picks right up where its predecessor left off. There is so much overlap between these two films that they will have you feeling déjà vu. Both films essentially revolve around a central conflict: the efforts to capture, and at times retain, the Japanese scientist. This conflict serves as a backdrop for numerous fight scenes throughout the movies.

With the home media market exploding in the 1980s, there was an increased demand for new products, most of which were cheaply made and thrown together. Case in point: films like Commando the Ninja and Born a Ninja, which were made by IFD Films & Arts Company, a company known for taking existing footage and merging it with newly shot footage to create an entirely new film. The films not only share a cast but also reuse several shots. However, the main distinction between the two is that Commando the Ninja focuses more on exposition, while Born a Ninja features continuous action.

Despite these two films' many shortcomings, they do have some charms, like atrocious dubbing that’s unintentionally funny and impressive stunt work. Unfortunately, their biggest drawback is how their narratives just drag, and it's clear that if they were condensed into one film, the end result would be better. Ultimately, Commando the Ninja and Born a Ninja are two ultralow-budget action films that even the most diehard ninja aficionados will find a chore to get through.

Visual Vengeance gives Born a Ninja and Commando the Ninja their best home media release to date.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer

Island of the Doomed – Mondo Macabro (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: West Germany/Spain, 1967
Director: Mel Welles
Writers: Mel Welles, Ernst Ritter von Theumer, Stephen Schmidt
Cast: Cameron Mitchell, Elisa Montés, George Martin, Kai Fischer, Hermann Nehlsen, Rolf von Nauckhoff, Matilde Muñoz Sampedro, Ricardo Valle, Mike Brendel 

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 88 Minutes 13 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Spanish, DTS-HD Mono English
Subtitles: English
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $29.99

"A group of tourists arrive to see the botanical gardens on a small island off the coast of Spain. The only inhabitants of the island are the famous botanist Baron von Weser and his two faithful servants. All of the other residents fled after a series of mysterious deaths. When the car driven by the tourists’ guide hits one of the baron’s servants, von Weser explains that the death was due to a rare and incurable disease, not the accident. That night, the guide and Cora Robinson, one of the guests, are found murdered with all the blood drained from their bodies. Is there a serial killer at large, or is it something even more dangerous?" - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.25/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "As no usable negative was found for this film, our restoration was done from scans of two theatrical prints. Both had issues of various sorts. Slight traces of some of these issues are still occasionally visible on screen. We trust this will not detract from your enjoyment of this wildly entertaining rarity."

Island of the Doomed comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 37.9 GB

Feature: 22 GB

The source typically appears excellent; flesh tones and colors are accurate, image clarity and black levels are impressive, compression is effective, and the image maintains an organic look.

Audio: 4.25/5 (DTS-HD Mono Spanish), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Spanish and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. Both tracks sound clear and balanced. That said, the Spanish language track sounds more robust, especially in moments where the score is prominent. Included are removable English subtitles for the Spanish language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a publicity parade of stills, posters, lobby cards, and video sleeves, a theatrical trailer (1 minute 41 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with writer/director Mel Welles (31 minutes 11 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an interview with film critic Xavi Sánchez Pons titled George Martin, The First Spanish Action Hero (57 minutes 22 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), an interview with film historian Angel Sala titled Fantastique in the Catalan Mediterranean (27 minutes 40 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Spanish with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with David Flint.

Summary:

Island of the Doomed was directed by Mel Welles, who is most known for directing Lady Frankenstein.

Six tourists visit an island known for its botanical gardens whose only inhabitants are a baron and his servants.

Something that becomes clear very early on while watching Island of the Doomed is that it's a film where you should not try to rationalize any of its characters' actions. What drives the narrative is a mad scientist type named Baron von Weser, who's created vampire-like plants that feed off of human blood. While all of the signs are there that the baron is not alright, for some reason his guests trust him and his carnivorous plants.

Made in Spain by an American filmmaker: Island of the Doomed is a textbook example of 1960s low-budget Eurohorror, which mostly takes place in a central striking location, often a castle, and features a cast of recognizable faces. The role of Baron von Weser features Cameron Mitchell (Blood and Black Lace), the marquee name in the cast. He built a career on portraying unhinged characters, and he gives an outstanding performance as the archetypal mad scientist. Other notable cast members are Elisa Montés (Death Packs a Suitcase) and Kai Fischer (Uncle Was a Vampire).

Although the narrative moves at a deliberate pace that makes it feel like it's in no hurry to arrive where it's heading, it's a surprisingly engaging narrative that always holds your attention. The most memorable moments are those with the carnivorous plants. When it comes to the special effects, despite their limitations, they are very effective. Ultimately, Island of the Doomed is a film in which the positives significantly outweigh the negatives. This is particularly evident in its effective use of atmosphere.

Island of the Doomed gets a solid release from Mondo Macabro that comes with a strong audio/video presentation and a wealth of informative extras. Recommended.

 

ritten by Michael Den Boer

Capitán de rurales - VCI Entertainment (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Mexico, 1951
Director: Alejandro Galindo
Writers: Alejandro Galindo, Gunther Gerszo
Cast: Luis Aguilar, Alicia Caro, Agustín Isunza, Julio Villarreal, José Elías Moreno, Salvador Quiroz, Miguel Manzano, Rodolfo Landa

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 100 Minutes 48 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: LPCM Mono Spanish
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $19.95

"Set in rural Mexico during the era of the famed Rurales, the story follows a courageous captain tasked with bringing order to a region plagued by banditry and lawlessness. As criminal forces grow bolder, he must confront dangerous outlaws while maintaining his sense of justice and honor. Balancing duty, loyalty, and personal sacrifice, the captain fights to protect the people of the countryside and restore peace to the land.” – Synopsis provided by the Distributor

Video: 3/5

Here’s the information given about the transfer, “Transferred from a 4K master!"

Capitán de rurales comes on a 25 GB single layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 21.8 GB

Feature: 20.8 GB

While some source imperfections remain, usually the transfer is in great shape. Image clarity is generally strong, black levels fare well, and there are no issues with compression. That said, there appears to be some digital filtering of the image.

Audio: 3/5

This release comes with one audio option, a LPCM mono mix in Spanish with removable English SDH. The audio features minor background hiss and lacks dynamic range. However, the dialogue remains clear throughout.

Extras:

The sole extra, listed as "trailers," is actually a collection of film clips of Mexican films released by VCI Entertainment.

Summary:

A young idealistic captain finds himself at odds with the government he serves when he goes against his superiors' orders.

Capitán de rurales is a morality tale about a captain who’s been sent to a rural village to capture a fugitive who tried to kill a wealthy landowner. Instead of taking the evidence being presented to him as fact, he decides to dig deeper when something does not appear to be right. His suspicions are further enhanced when the victim's answer to the reason why they were attacked does not make sense.

Although the narrative does an excellent job establishing the main characters, there are moments where it drags. The narrative is strongest when the captain is on the hunt for answers and pursuing the wanted man; however, the moments when characters suddenly break into song disrupt the flow and momentum of the story. That said, there is a subplot where the captain becomes romantically involved with the girlfriend of the wanted man, and these moments further add tension and are effective at building momentum.

Overall, the cast performs well in their roles, particularly Luis Aguilar as Capitán Felipe Garmendia. He delivers an outstanding portrayal of a man who would rot in jail rather than compromise his moral code. Other performances of note are Rodolfo Landa in the role of Hipólito Salazar, the wanted man, and Alicia Caro in the role of Rosa Álvarez, Hipólito’s girlfriend.

Besides being a morality tale, other themes Capitán de rurales explores are rural vs. city life and poor vs. affluent. When it comes to the latter, it's blunt in its depiction of how the affluent use their status to wield power over the poor. Ultimately, Capitán de rurales is a well-crafted melodrama that works as well as it does because of its characters, in particular its protagonist, Capitán Felipe Garmendia.

VCI Entertainment gives Capitán de rurales a serviceable audio/video presentation.

Written by Michael Den Boer

The Screaming: Collector's Edition – Visual Vengeance (Blu-ray/CD Combo)

Release Date: USA, 2000
Director: Jeff Leroy
Writer: Jeff Leroy
Cast: Vinnie Bilancio, Wendi Winburn, Elizabeth Barris, John F. Goff, Tim Gannon, Curt Swobel, David Lipson, Daniella Green, Linda Serbu, Erin Horne, Tanya Taskila, Joe Haggerty, Debbie Monroe, Kelly Boczek, David Billotti, Florence Lipson

Release Date: May 12th, 2026
Approximate Running Time: 83 Minutes 33 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Aspect Ratio / 1080 Interlaced / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: NR
Sound: Dolby Digital Stereo English
Subtitles: English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $34.95

"College student Bob Martin rents a room from the alluring Crystal Traum, who introduces him to her New Age religion, Crystalnetics. Soon, Bob's health and mindset dramatically improve. But when a detective reveals a string of mysterious deaths tied to the cult, Bob uncovers the chilling truth—and must face a slew of cloaked assassins, monsters, and the cult's charismatic alien leader." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 1.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, "Director-approved SD master from original tape elements."

The Screaming comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 42.8 GB

Feature: 18.9 GB (The Screaming), 18.6 GB (The Screaming: Reborm)

This transfer looks like one would expect considering the limitations of its video source. That said, the screenshots give you a clear idea of what to expect.

Audio: 2.5/5

This release comes with one audio option, a Dolby Digital stereo mix in English with removable English SDH. Although dialogue comes through clearly and everything sounds balanced, things are limited range-wise.

Extras:

Extras for this release include a Visual Vengeance trailer for The Screaming (1 minutes 5 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), the original trailer for The Screaming (2 minutes 8 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a trailer for The Screaming: Reborn (1 minute 37 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an image gallery with music from the film playing in the background (stills/home video art/articles), an interview with composer Jay Woelfel (6 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), a featurette titled Screaming and Screaming Again: The Making of The Screaming (8 minutes 45 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with Tony Strauss of Weng’s Chop Magazine for The Screaming, a director-remastered alternate version of film titled The Screaming: Reborn (82 minutes 16 seconds, 1.66:1 aspect ratio, Dolby Digital stereo English, no subtitles), an audio commentary with director Jeff Leroy, producer Dave Sterling and actor Vinnie Bilancio for The Screaming: Reborn, a CD with composer Jay Woelfel's original score, reversible cover art featuring original VHS art, a 'Stick your own' video store sticker sheet (first pressing only), a collectible folded mini-poster, and a limited-edition O-card slipcover (first pressing only).

Other extras are Visual Vengeance trailers for Rat Scratch Fever, Werewolf in a Woman’s Prison, and The Witches' Sabbath.

Summary:

A cash-strapped college student rents a room from a woman who tries to push her new-age religion on him. Is she trying to save his soul or does she have something more nefarious planned for him?

The Screaming is a horror parody that takes aim at Scientology. While the film does not explicitly mention Scientology, several aspects of Crystalnetics, the new-age religion featured in the film, closely resemble it. Another clear nod to Scientology is that one of Crystalnetics's most prominent members is an action movie star.

Although the narrative does a good job establishing its characters, there are no real surprises, and things tend to move a deliberate pace that creates too many lulls. The narrative is at its best during moments where the protagonist, a cash-strapped college student named Bob Martin, uncovers the truth behind Crystalnetics. Unfortunately, there are too many moments that feel like padding to expand the running time.

For all of The Screaming’s faults, most of the performances exceed expectations because of the cast's enthusiasm, especially Vinnie Bilancio’s portrayal of Bob Martin. The Screaming’s greatest asset is Jay Woelfel's score, which does a superb job reinforcing the mood. While the director’s alternate version, The Screaming: Reborn, is an improvement over the original, it still has its flaws. Ultimately, The Screaming suffers from many of the trappings that befall ultra-low-budget horror cinema and is only recommended to the most dedicated fans of these types of films.

Visual Vengeance gives The Screaming a first-rate release that comes with the best possible audio/video presentations, an alternate version of the film, and a wealth of bonus content.

Written by Michael Den Boer