After Charles Band left Media Home Entertainment, he went on to found Empire International Pictures, which spawned some seriously classic and timeless genre films. As part of its success, he would start a subsidiary known as Wizard Video. They would acquire and release films from all over the world on videocassette and were widely known for the use of a “big box” and are still highly sought after by collectors.
To celebrate its legacy, Band has come up with a new idea to deliver some of these titles to audiences with brand new packaging, more specifically, films he licensed from French genre studio Eurocine. Being labeled The Eurocine Collection: Vol. 1, this set contains six films, all packaged together in a Wizard Video big box.
Angel of Death (1985) stars Christopher Mitchum, Suzanne Andrew, and Fernando Rey and is directed by Andrea Bianchi and Jess Franco. Jewish commandos track down the evil Nazi Dr. Mengele in the jungle only to find out he’s torturing young women and experimenting on the locals. They need to stop him, but it won’t be easy getting past the army protecting him.
There’s far more action in this film than expected. It’s not a typical Jess Franco picture, but it’s quite welcome, and you see another side of the filmmaker.
Night of the Eagles (1989) stars Mark Hamill, Christopher Lee, and Ramon Estevez (Sheen) and is directed by Jess Franco. During World War II, two young men, one a Nazi follower and the other is hiding the fact he’s anti-Nazi. They both fall in love with the same woman, which causes their worlds to collide in a devastating way.
This entry in The Eurocine Collection is strictly a war drama that works for the most part. Franco proves he can handle the subject matter in a mature way. However, the lack of budget keeps it from appealing to a mass audience. This is one Franco’s fans will appreciate.
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Mania Killer (1987) features Bo Svenson, Chuck Connors, and Robert Ginty and is directed by Andrea Bianchi. There’s a nasty cult on the loose kidnapping French prostitutes trying to purify them with torture. A man whose girlfriend was taken along with local pimps set out to stop them before more girls go missing.
The film can be a little slow, but it’s never boring, it’s overflowing with a weirdness that’s actually quite welcome.
Panther Squad (1984) stars Sybil Danning and is directed by Pierre Chevalier. The film follows a group of female mercenaries who battle an organization hell-bent on stopping the exploration of space.
It’s Euro-trash at its best (or worse), but who doesn’t enjoy bikini-clad women and Sybil Danning in tight leather pants? If you don’t go in expecting too much, you’ll have a good time.
Downtown Heat (1994) stars Mike Connors and is directed by Jess Franco. A Jazz musician turns vigilante when he goes after the local drug cartel after his wife is killed.
Another departure for Franco, it’s an action thriller that feels nothing like what you’d expect from the director. However, it’s certainly an interesting effort filled with an anti-drug message. It features a wonderful performance from Franco’s long-time companion, Lina Romay.
Countdown to Esmeralda Bay (1990) stars Robert Forster, George Kennedy, and Fernando Rey, with direction from Jess Franco. A priest leads rebels in their fight against a corrupt military dictatorship in the small country of Puerto Santo.
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Once again, nothing like what you’d expect from Franco, but there’s something about it that’s quite entertaining. Lots of familiar faces, and what’s a Franco film without Lina Romay? It lacks the sleaze factor but makes up for it in action.
The discs are similar to previous Full Moon releases. The Eurocine Collection: Vol. 1 is strictly about the packaging. All six films come in a single case, which a neatly kept in an imitation big box along with a collection of six postcards featuring the artwork on the front and description on the back. They are the same as found on the original inserts.
If you have the films already, you may not need this collection. But I love the packaging, and while it may be a little awkward to store with your other discs, it’s beautifully designed. I’m really looking forward to growing my collection if Full Moon continues to release sets like these. The nostalgic geek in me hopes every collector picks it up, so we keep getting more.
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