After years of complaining about Hammer Films getting a new owner and a promised reboot that never happens, I would almost say that I’m regretting that it is actually happening now. But I won’t. Because even though it’s costing me more and more money, I’m loving every minute of it! We all know the incredible special edition box sets they have put out on the first two Quatermass films, as well as The Curse of Frankenstein, as well as some other more rare non-horror titles, but now even releasing some non-Hammer but still British horror titles, such as Doctor Blood’s Coffin and Cry of the Banshee. Then there is their new documentary Hammer: Heroes, Legends and Monsters documentary that his coming out. What more could we ask for? How about The House of Hammer: Volume 1?

What is different about this new documentary is that first of all, as you can see in the title, this is just the first volume of an on-going series. But also, it is not just about Hammer Films, or even British horror films. And while priced at $48 might seem a bit steep just for a documentary, it seems to be much more than that. In fact, any horror fan that loves to learn about the history of the genre might be as excited about this as I am.

In this 2-disc set, you get several documentaries on a variety of subjects, such as Cornish filmmakers, AIP, censorship in the UK in the 1970s, and more. Plus, there is a 120-page book with even more information. Below is a trailer for the set, but below is the breakdown of what exactly is in the contents of both the Blu-rays as well as the book:

• The Land Demands Blood (38 mins) – An examination of the work of contemporary Cornish filmmakers, like Bait’s Mark Jenkin, and the fundamental connection between Cornwall’s landscape and British horror films like Hammer Presents title Doctor Blood’s Coffin.
• Masques, Monsters and Madmen (120 mins) – Part 1 of a new, feature-length documentary about AIP, one of Hammer’s main competitors in ’60s/’70s British horror.
• Deep Cuts (75 mins) – A documentary about the landmark censorship changes in the 1970s when the X-certificate was raised to over 18, leading to a wave of provocative films that pushed the boundaries of what audiences could see on screen.
• Ticket to Happiness (30 mins) – A recently recovered (and long thought lost) 1959 Hammer short, newly restored in 2K.
• Making Monsters (30 mins) – An interview with Oscar-winning Make-Up and Special Effects duo, Dave and Lou Elsey.
• Symphonies of Shudders (40 mins) – An exploration of music in film, focusing on Hammer, its key composers, and the iconic scores that defined its films.
• Off the Leash (43 mins) – A deep dive into Michael Gough’s unforgettable work in British horror, with film historian Jonathan Rigby.
• An archive interview with Roger Corman from 1995 (35 mins)
• Footage from the 2025 London premiere of the newly restored The Curse of Frankenstein (30 mins)

The booklet features:

• A 120-page book featuring new articles on the making of Cry of the Banshee
• An exploration of the British horror genre
• AIP and Roger Corman’s ‘Poe Cycle’ of films starring Vincent Price
• A profile of British indie horror filmmakers Caralan Productions
• Hammer’s films outside of the horror genre
• An archive interview with Vincent Price.