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‘Perfect Blue’ Finally Recieves Official US Blu-ray Release

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Perfect Blue

In March 1991, Yoshikazu Takeuchi released his first novel Perfect Blue: Complete Metamorphosis, a terrifying story about Japanese pop-star sensation Kirigoe Mima choosing to leave behind her career and fans to venture down the path of acting, but one unnervingly obsessed fan uses their hatred to hatch a revenge scheme that could end Mima’s new career, and possibly her life. Takeuchi’s novel caught the eye of a prodigal director who is famous for telling stories using relentless psychological deception: Satoshi Kon (PaprikaTokyo Godfathers, and Paranoia Agent).

Perfect Blue

Image via IMDB

Released in Japan on February 28th, 1997, Kon’s film based Perfect Blue would become a critically well-received and revered film, depicting the horrifying aspects of not only having an obsessive stalker, but the terrifyingly real occurrence lines between reality and fantasy drastically blurring. Accompanying the no-holds-bar psychological horror, Perfect Blue is praised for using contrasting colors in its presentation and to subtly highlight important elements, objects, and characters crucial to the film’s plot. Additionally, Mashirio Ikumi’s work on the soundtrack is entrancing yet unsettling, as if someone combined the styles of Shoji Yamashiro (Akira) and Colin Stetson (Hereditary). Unfortunately, the west’s access to the film outside of pirating has been limited.

With the passing of Satoshi Kon, and the multiple buyouts of original distributor Manga Entertainment, Perfect Blue has not been sold on DVD’s in the US since 2005 and was only released on Blu-Ray in the UK and African regions in 2015 by Anime Limited. Western distributor of anime remasters and rereleases GKIDS was able to bring over a national theatrical release on September 6th of this year, but no word of a Blu-ray release has been confirmed until yesterday.

GKIDS has confirmed through their Twitter that Perfect Blue will finally receive its western Blu-ray release on March 26, 2019! The 2-disc set will be released unrated with both remastered English and Japanese dubs (with English subtitles) and is available for pre-order purchase at $21.99Perfect Blue‘s Blu-ray will also contain a phenomenal collection of bonus features, which includes:

  • NEW Digital Remastered Presentation Of The Film
  • Original SD Version Of Feature (Japanese Mono Dolby Digital 2.0 With English Subtitles)
  • NEW Lectures By Satoshi Kon Featurette
  • NEW Into The Blue Featurette – New Interviews
  • Angel Of Your Heart Recording Sessions
  • Angel Of Your Heart Full English Version
  • Theatrical Trailers And TV Spots – Includes New Trailers From the US And UK Re-releases
  • Cast And Crew Interviews
Perfect Blue

Image via IMDB

As both an avid horror and anime fan that has only been able to watch this movie through my Ebay bought Greek subtitled copy, certain streaming sites, or the official theatrical release, it’s spectacular to see GKIDS making sure that die-hard fans will get to finally own and watch Perfect Blue proper. Having an official copy with tons of bonus features trumps scavenging through second-hand dealers at conventions asking $90 barebones DVD copies of Perfect Blue.

If you’re wanting to get your fix of animated violence and horror right now though, then you can check out the new Netflix Castlevania series, and read up on our reviews of seasons 1 and 2. It’s also worth mentioning that the producer of Castlevania, Adi Shankar, will be the showrunner for the new Devil May Cry animated series, which you can read our article covering further detail on his announcement.

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Editorial

She Divorced a Ghost and Then Adopted a Possessed Clown Doll

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We won’t pretend to understand all the nuances of being a medium. Some people believe and some don’t. It might be a matter of walking in someone else’s shoes for a day. Whatever you believe, it’s a slow news day so we thought we’d bring you this interesting story.

It comes from the New York Post where we are introduced to a woman named Brocarde who says she married a ghost named Edwardo. Brocarde contends that Edwardo cheated on her which resulted in their divorce. Brocarde, who is also a musician, is making a video series about her journeys and that led her to Nevada and the Clown Motel.

There she adopted a clown doll which she says is possessed by a spirit. After bringing it home with the motel’s permission to do a paranormal study, her ghostly ex, Edwardo, resurfaced and became jealous.

Brocarde told The New York Post:

“I can instantly tell when Edwardo has a point to make, his energy is very powerful. His presence has been very manageable these days and I only see him from time to time, he does not like the clown though, he watches him and I keep finding the clown by the door, subtly is not Edwardo’s strong point.

He has nothing to be concerned about, as I have no intention of marrying a clown ghost, although that would be funny. The clown is here for research purposes only, and I definitely don’t need to get into a paranormal love triangle.

I know the clown is possessed, so perhaps Edwardo has picked up on some bad energy and is just looking out for me. I’m fascinated by the prospect of spirit vessels and haunted objects, it’s a whole new world for me, so I’m trying to learn and absorb as much as possible. 

That’s why I’ve enjoyed filming this series so much as I’m meeting people who’ve had fascinating ghost adventures, not unlike myself.”

The spirit inside the doll is a carnival clown according to Brocarde. She claims it was underappreciated and laughed at in its human form and that ridicule might have formed a bonding psychic link.

“When I connect with spirits, it’s often their emotions that I connect with first. Sometimes an un-rested spirit attaches itself to a physical entity, in this case this clown doll had once been owned by or come into contact with a man who worked as a clown.

This man was tortured by his dreams of stardom but was condemned to life in the carnival where he was underappreciated. I suppose as an artist, I can relate to this, so I feel that’s why he chose me to convey this message.”

Brocarde is currently conducting a study on the doll because she thinks the spirit inside needs rescuing. She wanted to take it away from the motel where she says the hundreds of other clowns are competing for guest’s attention. But the process is slow.

“At the moment I only know snippets of information about him,” Brocarde says, “so over the coming months I’m going to try and understand more. So far he’s been a peaceful entity. He’s often moving on his own, but nothing that would cause me alarm. I’m hoping that doesn’t change now I have two ghosts in the house!”

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Movies

‘The Strangers: Chapter 1’ Opening Surpasses ‘Prey at Night’

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Even with its mediocre reviews The Strangers: Chapter 1 has scared up quite a killing at the box office, making it the biggest horror film to open in 2024 so far. Ticket buyers shelled out $11.8 million domestically for the home invasion thriller over the weekend, surpassing the last film in the series Strangers: Prey at Night (2018) which grabbed almost $10.5 million upon its opening.

The year started out promisingly with fans anticipating big studio movies such as Night Swim, Imaginary, and Tarot on the slate. But those fell flat both critically and commercially, casting a pall over the box office, although Night Swim’s opening is almost on par with The Strangers Chapter 1.

It wasn’t until March that things started to improve critically with the release of Immaculate and then in April, The First Omen. Still, good reviews could pull either of those films into the $10 million opening weekend club.

However, his has been a streamer year for horror movies, with many genre originals being released on paid subscription services like Shudder. Viewers seem to appreciate the convenience of staying home to watch Late Night With the Devil, Infested, and the upcoming In a Violent Nature. Even this year’s breakout hit Abigail successfully moved from theaters to home digital just three weeks after its theatrical release.

With the year half over, there are still plenty of horror movies headed our way. To name a few, there is Longlegs, Cuckoo, MaXXXine, and Trap still loaded in the chamber for 2024.

The Strangers: Chapter 1, as the title suggests, is the first in director Renny Harlin’s trilogy within this universe. Whether or not the remaining two will be as lucrative on their opening weekends despite tepid reviews remains to be seen.

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Editorial

Alleged Former Haunted Museum Staff Member Tattles on Zak Bagans

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zak bagans haunted museum ihorror

Zak Bagans has been getting a bum rap lately thanks to some of his former Ghost Adventures teammates. But he’s also getting roasted by one of his alleged former Haunted Museum employees in Las Vegas

The apparent team member took to Reddit in an AMA (Ask Me Anything), inviting subscribers to ask them about their job including juicy details regarding their famous boss. It resulted in a windfall of queries that came with some surprising answers. 

Bagans was one of the first to take his ghost hunting prowess to television creating a successful reality show that featured some of the world’s most haunted places. Coupled with his good looks, reactive histrionics and penchant for building tension Ghost Adventures became a pop culture phenomenon. 

Throughout his travels, Bagans began to collect cursed items enough to fill a vintage house in Nevada which he eventually repurposed and named The Haunted Museum. Guests are able to visit his collection for a fee and are directed through its many rooms by a tour guide.

The YouTube channel TheSneezingMonkey featured the AMA Reddit thread on his channel with an update to follow.

Since the ex-employee cannot, or won’t, be verified, suffice it to say that nothing revealed in the lengthy discussion should be taken as fact. This could be a disgruntled ex-employee with nothing better to do than talk smack about the television icon who has managed to keep his show on the air for 16 years. Or, some of it could be true.

But that is for you to decide.

The Sneezing Monkey

The Sneezing Monkey

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