House of Hammer: Volume 1

House of Hammer: Volume 1

A brand-new, ongoing series of releases that will cover all corners of the Hammer universe and British horror. Each release will consist of two Blu-rays of rare and newly-created material alongside a 120-page book in limited edition packaging. The perfect complement to both the Hammer and Hammer Presents range of 4K and Blu-ray releases.

Issue 1 consists of:

• Part 1 of a brand-new, feature-length documentary looking at AIP, one of Hammer’s main competitors in British horror through the late ’60s and early ’70s and the creator of such films as Cry of the Banshee and Murders in the Rue Morgue.

• An extensive documentary looking at the change in censorship in 1970 when the age was lifted from 16 to 18 for entry to X films in the UK and film production in both the UK and US began to produce much harder-edged content.

• An extensive documentary looking at the relationship between Cornwall and British horror, its past and its future – from the point of view of contemporary Cornish horror filmmakers.

• An extensive interview with Dave and Lou Elsey, Oscar-winning British make-up effects artists, looking at their inspirations, their favourite gigs and the future of British special effects make-up.

• A look at Hammer music, its key composers and how the music was used to best effect in the films.

• A look at the British horror output of Michael Gough, star of Crucible of Horror.

• Ticket to Happiness: a brand-new 2K restoration of a Hammer non-horror short film from 1959, long-since thought lost but recently acquired for the archive from a private collection.

• New articles including the making of Cry of the Banshee, Hammer’s non-horror films, British horror outside of Hammer, AIP’s Poe Cycle of films with Vincent Price, a profile of British indie horror film-maker Caralan and an archive interview with Vincent Price.