Roger Corman’s suspenseful, cult classic, “Beast From Haunted Cave”—newly restored from a 4K scan of 35mm archival materials—will be released as a special collector’s edition on Blu-ray and DVD, October 24 from Film Masters.
Acclaimed as the king of low-budget cult movies, Corman produced dozens of films that were both hilarious and thrilling. Among the best of his early output was 1959’s “Beast From Haunted Cave,” which was directed by legendary director Monte Hellman (“Two-Lane Blacktop,” “Cockfighter”), launching a 15-year collaboration between the duo. The film stars Michael Forest, Sheila Noonan, and Frank Wolff.
In “Beast From Haunted Cave,” cut-throat gangsters hatch a plan to rob a bank in Deadwood, South Dakota, but when one of the henchmen sets off an explosion in a nearby gold mine to act as a diversion for the heist, he awakens a blood-sucking, spider-like creature that isn’t happy about the intrusion. When a violent snowstorm delays the gang’s escape, things rapidly progress from bad to blood-curdling worse.
“Beast From Haunted Cave” is presented in its original theatrical 1.85:1, 65-minute format and extended, 72-minute 4×3 TV version.
The release will also include the bonus feature, “Ski Troop Attack,” in newly restored HD. The film is a Corman-directed World War II drama that used the same location and much of the same cast and crew that worked on “Beast From Haunted Cave.” The film
This special Collector’s Edition release of “Beast From Haunted Cave” will also include several special features:
- Hollywood Intruders: The Filmgroup Story: Part One, a Ballyhoo Motion Pictures documentary
- Full-color booklet with essays by authors C. Courtney Joyner and Tom Weaver with the man behind the beast, Chris Robinson
- Commentary for “Beast From Haunted Cave” by author and film historian Tom Weaver and filmmaker Larry Blamire;
- Commentary for “Ski Troop Attack” by author C. Courtney Joyner and filmmaker Howard S. Berger
- Gallery of rare stills from camera negatives taken during the filming of “Beast From Haunted Cave,” courtesy of Tom Weaver
- Original, 35mm-restored theatrical trailer for “Beast From Haunted Cave” and new, recut trailers from both restored films using restored film elements.
- An Easter egg hidden on the disc with a special interview with the original beast
You can pre-order your copy of “Beast From Haunted Cave” on Blu-ray or DVD.
