Nature will run amok when Kino Lorber unleashes five classic eco-horrors on Blu-ray as part of its Kino Cult line:The Food of the Gods, Empire of the Ants, Frogs, Squirm, and Kingdom of the Spiders. Due out on August 20, each title comes with a slipcover and features reversible artwork. Pre-orders are up for $24.95.
1976’s The Food of the Gods is written and directed by Bert I. Gordon, based on H. G. Wells’ 1904 novel The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth. Marjoe Gortner, Pamela Franklin, Ralph Meeker, Jon Cypher, and Ida Lupino star.
In the film, “On a remote island, a mysterious substance is oozing from the ground. A farmer sees that it acts as a growth hormone and thinks his fortune is made. But when rats, chickens, worms and wasps begin sampling the potent substance, they morph into bloodthirsty giants! Now, it’s up to the island’s few residents and visitors to destroy “the food of the gods”… before the animals take over for good!”
The Food of the Gods special features:
- Audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin and Wildcat!: The Films of Marjoe Gortner author John Harrison (new)
- Audio commentary by writer-director Bert I. Gordon
- Interview with actress Belinda Balaski
- 2 TV spots
- 3 radio spots
- Theatrical trailer
1977’s Empire of the Ants is directed by Bert I. Gordon and written by Jack Turley, based on H.G. Wells’ 1905 short story of the same name. Joan Collins, Robert Lansing, and John David Carson star.
In the film, “A heavenly paradise becomes a hellish nightmare when a toxic spill turns harmless ants into rampaging, radioactive reprobates! Stumbling into their creepy lair, a sleazy land developer (Joan Collins) and her clients are horrified to realize that the ants are having a picnic…and humans are on the menu! Fleeing for their lives—only to be squashed underfoot—they soon discover that these bad-boy bugs are hell-bent on exterminating mankind, and building an evil empire where humans check in… but they can’t check out!”
Empire of the Ants special features:
- Audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Michael Varrati (new)
- Audio commentary by director-producer Bert I. Gordon
- Radio spot
- Theatrical trailer
1972’s Frogs is directed by George McCowan and written by Robert Blees (Dr. Phibes Rises Again) and Robert Hutchison. Ray Milland, Sam Elliott, Joan Van Ark, Adam Roarke, and Judy Pace star.
In the film, “Jason Crockett (Ray Milland) is an aging, physically disabled millionaire who invites his family to his island estate for his birthday party. The old man is more than crotchety…he’s crazy! Hating nature, Crockett poisons anything that crawls on his property. But on the night of his shindig, it’s nature’s payback time, and thousands of frogs whip up every bug and slimy thing into a toxic frenzy until the entire environment goes environ-mental.”
Frogs special features:
- Audio commentary by film historians David Del Valle and Dan Marino (new)
- Interview with actress Joan Van Ark
- 4 TV spots
- 3 radio spots
- Theatrical trailer
1976’s Squirm is written and directed by Jeff Lieberman (Just Before Dawn, Satan’s Little Helper). Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, and Jean Sullivan star. Rick Baker (An American Werewolf in London, Men in Black) created the special effects.
In the film, “When a powerful storm knocks Fly Creek, Georgia’s power lines down onto wet soil, the resulting surge of electricity drives large, bloodthirsty worms to the surface—and then out of their soil-tilling minds! Soon, the townspeople discover that their sleepy fishing village is overrun with worms that burrow right into their skin. Inundated by hundreds of thousands of carnivorous creatures, the terrorized locals race to find the cause of the rampage—before becoming tilled under themselves!”
Squirm special features:
- Audio commentary by film historians Lee Gambin and John Harrison (new)
- Audio commentary by writer-director Jeff Lieberman
- Digging In: The Making of Squirm – Interviews with writer-director Jeff Lieberman, actor Don Scardino, and special effects artist Bill Milling
- Eureka: A Tour of Locations with Jeff Lieberman
- TV spot
- Radio spot
- Theatrical trailer
1977’s Kingdom of the Spiders is directed by John “Bud” Cardos (Mutant) from a script by Richard Robinson (Piranha) and Alan Caillou (Village of the Giants). William Shatner stars with Tiffany Bolling, Woody Strode, Lieux Dressler, and Altovise Davis.
In the film, “As even greater numbers of the helpless animals meet their deaths it is discovered that hundreds of tarantulas occupy the farm land. This is strange indeed! Tarantulas don’t live in colonies…or do they? An attractive entomologist (Tiffany Bolling) is called to the dusty little Arizona town to explain the sudden arrival of the spiders and their usual behavior. But is it too late? Time seems to be running out as the new species of eight-legged freaks now number in the thousands. The spiders are everywhere—and man is their prey!”
Kingdom of the Spiders special features:
- Audio commentary by film historian Lee Gambin (new)
- Audio commentary by director John “Bud” Cardos, producer Igo Kantor, spider wrangler Jim Brockett, and cinematographer John Morrill
- Audio commentary by producer Igo Kantor and actress Tiffany Bolling
- Interview with actress Tiffany Bolling
- Interview with writer Steve Lodge
- Radio spot
- Theatrical trailer
You can check out all of Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release artwork below.
