This is one thing I did not expect to happen but am thrilled at the aspects of it. Okay, maybe my wallet isn’t, but that’s a problem for Future-Jon to worry about! The new Hammer Films company, under the leadership of John Gore, has been making a lot of fans of the studio very happy with their amazing releases of some of their classic titles, such as the first two Quatermass movies, Captain Kronos, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein (1957). But now, not only are they going to continue to do that, but they are also going to be putting out other British horror titles from different studios under the banner Hammer Presents.
According to Hammer’s Steve Rogers, under this new banner, it “is an ongoing series of British horror releases that are similar in style and substance to the Hammer horror films everyone loves – they will run alongside and complement our range of Limited Collector’s Editions.” He continued to say that it will “focus solely on British horrors, but there’s no era-specificity. There are lots of good, scary films from the ’30s to the ’70s and beyond, after all.” The releases will not get the huge special edition treatments like they’ve been doing with their Hammer titles, but they will be restored, not all in UHD, but will have some special features.
Their first title they’ve announced is Cry of the Banshee (1970), which is one of the AIP movies filmed in the UK, with Gordon Hessler directing this tale of a witch-burning magistrate with Vincent Price starring. The release will have Hessler’s original director’s cut of the film, in both widescreen and full-frame ratio, and AIP’s re-edited theatrical version. It will have a new commentary with author and filmmaker Chris Alexander, a new interview with author and film critic Kim Newman, as well as an archive interview with Hessler called A Devilish Tale of Poe.
They have also announced the second title under this banner, Crucible of Horror (1971), starring Michael Gough. This will only be released on Blu-ray, but with a new commentary and a featurette.
Neither of these films are “great” films, but as fans of the ’70s British horror, I’m excited that they are being given the care to help keep these films alive for future generations. You can find all the latest updates by going to the official Hammer Films page by clicking HERE.
