Terrific news from Subversive Cinema, who recently knocked one out of the park with their WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA release. Seeing the royal treatment WITCH recieved, I'd expect a very nice package coming from them. No release date yet but it should be this summer.
If you have seen CANDY SNATHCERS, you know all too well the twisted, bleak pleasures that it's story arc contains. If you are new to the film, it's one of those nasty low budget wonders that continues to surprise from beginning to end. A sleaze classic in the same grotty mold as WITCH.
This info was posted over at DVD Manics, and comes from Walter O, who works for them as well as for Media Blasters. Not sure why it did not get a notice over here, hence my post.

That is great news. Looks like this underappreciated gem will finally get its day in the sun. Not nearly as gritty as most expoiters of its ilk, but with a story that blows most away.

You may want to ask Mark Heuck about it, I think he helps out the folks at subversive, and he screened a print at the Nuart theater in Los Angeles not that long ago.

Better still, ask Walter Olsen about it (he's a member here I believe). Walter initially contacted me on behalf of Norm Hill and the folks at Subversive Cinema when it really was at grassroots stages (pretty much this time last year) and whether I could help him with extras and if I knew of any European contacts in the film rights business. From this and other boards (and our conversations by phone), it's clear that Olsen knows his stuff, despite the recent disagreements on this board.

It was infact he was the one who originally looked into CANDY SNATCHERS (I think upon a suggestion by another poster here, DVD Drive-In reviewer Casey Scott, and his own knowledge of these movies) and set the wheels in motion for acquisition (much like another title I still want to see WITCH WHO CAME FROM THE SEA - which I posted at substantial length on the earlier incarnation of MHVF a long time ago. So (Walt), he really was the one who got the ball rolling, rights acquired, etc - as he has done with some (but not all) of Subversive's upcoming titles. Everyone else involved in their titles in whatever capacity has come about because either Walt (or the other guy at Subversive which Norm Hill used) Shade Rupe, contacted them for help, first and foremost.

As Shade Rupe and Norm Hill don't post here, come on, Walt, spill the beans... :D

Yes, all credit must go to Walter Olsen. I am privileged to be having a part to play in this upcoming project, but I would not be involved were it not for the generosity of Walter. He's a fine fellow, and I've enjoyed many conversations with him.

Piotr, your timetable is mixed up. The Nuart screening has not yet occurred, it is scheduled for a Friday midnight show on March 18th. If attendance is good, it will be considered for play in other cities.

I'm ecstatic that this is finally coming out! And now that the cat is out of the bag, I can agree with everyone here: this is Walter Olsen's baby. He has an incredible story of rescuing the negative from the vault, and how he discovered the original shooting title of the film (!!). I'll keep it hush hush, but Walt may want to pipe in here.

I think the film was pretty much forgotten and a footnote in exploitation film history until not one, not two, but THREE reviews popped up here at Mobius: one by myself, one by Marty McKee and another soon after. One grey market dealer wrote me and thanked me for pushing this title, as it had motivated more sales of his edition of CANDY SNATCHERS. Don't know if that's a good thing, but...at least the official DVD is coming, from the negative, and hopefully with as many extras as can be allowed! Imagine the story behind this monster of a movie....!

My appologies. I've confused things entirely. The CANDY SNATCHERS screening that had already occurred was at the NEW BEVERLY theater and was currated by Eric Caidin several months ago as part of his cult movies program (I believe it's one Tuesday each month). Good to hear it will be playing theatrically again, though.

This is great news. I saw this film for the first time just a couple of months ago (in a reasonably busy cinema, too) having never heard of it in my life. I can safely say that the term "guilty pleasure" was invented for this movie!

So happy this is coming out and from the negative to boot! Time to retire the Nth generation tapes!

Congratulations Walter, sounds like you deserve all the credit for this one!

tom.

I'd been hearing about it here and there for years actually. Shock Cinema reviewed it way back in issue #8 (1996).

Good news about the upcoming disc. CANDY seems to be finding a new following already as it seems to be getting quite a few screenings lately. Even here in N. Carolina it had a recent presentation alongside John Carpenter's THE THING back in August at the Carolina Theatre in Durham as part of their semi-monthly double-feature series Retrofantasma. (If you live in the area and have never attended a Retro screening it's highly recommended.)
http://www.geocities.com/retrofantasma/

And speaking of the Carolina Theatre...
http://www.carolinatheatre.org/nevermore/

If anyone from MHVF is going to attend this years Nevermore Film Festival out there from Jan. 21st - 23rd, please come out to one our screenings and give me a shout. Of the couple dozen acquaintances I've made on the internet over the years I think I've actually only met two or three face to face and would certainly like to say "Hey" to a few more in the flesh.

BeAst WisheS -- L

I'm pleased to hear about this, but I'm rather confused as it's listed as an MGM title in the catalog I have.

I'm hoping their rights to this title have expired?

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the interest. It is true, Walter does work for us and has located the original elements to The Candy Snatchers. We have just completed a 16x9 anamorphic transfer from the original camera negative and are in the process of doing a restoration to the original soundtrack. We also got hold of neg for two theatrical trailers and yes, Marc H. is working for us to prepare the supplements. Both are great guys and we are very happy to have them working with us on some of our releases.

We are working with a new WEB MASTER and will update the site soon with all of this information.

Battlefield Baseball will be the next release...I am going through the check disc right now and am very confident this will be our best disc yet. We have so many supplements we almost had to go to a second disc (including a new 5.1 audio track)!

FYI...Shade Rupe has not worked for us since September and actually Tim Lucas needs to be acredited for WITCH...it was his article on MHVF listing WITCH as one of the 10 most wanted films on DVD...that really pushed us forward to license WITCH and clean it up....hence, the notes on the back of the jacket from Tim. I had not known that Kit had written an article about WITCH...but that is great to know there was such interest out there for it. I can tell you that Matt Cimber is extremely happy with the DVD...we have had a few festival screenings that have been a huge sucess (in Olympia, WA we had a sold out screening of over 800 people and won the audience award at Cinemuerte in Vancouver!) and have more coming it, giving WITCH a new life. We will be doing several more of Matt films down the road...we have two in the lab right now.

Thanks for all your support....I will post a list in couple days of some upcoming titles from us.


Norm Hill
Subversive Cinema, Inc.
www.subversivecinema.com