Battle Beyond the Stars Blu-ray/DVD (Shout!)
For decades, Roger Corman has been synonymous with low-budget but influential genre filmmaking. Through his production house he helped iconic American directors like James Cameron and Jonathan Demme get their start. Lately distributor Shout! Factory has been re-issuing many of Corman’s out-of-print films on blu-ray and DVD. Today several of these Roger Corman Cult Classics arrive streaming on Netflix. Celebrate the man, the legend, that is Roger Corman with these key films:
Rock ‘n Roll High School (1979) – the hit rock musical that launched The Ramones into the cultural lexicon
Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) – this science-fiction epic was no doubt produced to ride the “Star Wars” craze but its story structure actually takes inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai.” Streaming in HD
Slumber Party Massacre (1982) – this tongue-in-cheek slasher movie was helmed by acclaimed screenwriter Amy Jones (“Mystic Pizza,” “Beethoven”)
Humanoids From the Deep (1980) – this horror flick is notorious for its skin-crawling premise involving mutant fish monsters wanting to mate with land-dwelling ladies. Streaming in HD
Caged Heat (1974) – possibly the most famous film of the entire ‘women in jail’ subgenre, this movie was an early effort from “Silence of the Lambs” director Jonathan Demme
The Big Bird Cage (1972) – another movie with a ‘women in captivity’ theme, this one stars Pam Grier and arrives from “Spider Baby” and “Switchblade Sisters” director Jack Hill. Streaming in HD
Women in Cages (1971) – are you noticing a pattern yet? Subjugated women sure were a popular theme in the 70’s. Also starring Pam Grier. Streaming in HD
Grand Theft Auto (1977) – before the popular video game there was this film, about a couple on the run from the mob in a hot car, which also happens to be Ron Howard’s directorial debut
Crazy Mama (1975) – Jonathan Demme directs this kitschy ode to the 1950’s involving three outlaw women
Carnosaur (1993) – released two weeks before “Jurassic Park” hit the big screen, this low-budget cheapie cashed in on the whole dinosaur fad
Bloodfist (1989) – yes, Roger Corman even tried to produce his own “Bloodsport.” This martial arts flick starring Don “the Dragon” Wilson spawned no less than eight sequels
