Rating: 
Summary: Jeepers Creepers! Cheapie Creepies!
Review: "The Screaming Skull" is a ghost story that plays with the viewer's mind as much as with the frightened wife's sanity. A newlywed couple named Eric and Jenni Whitlock move into the gloomy mansion formerly inhabited by Eric and his first wife, Marion. Marion died under peculiar circumstances. Jenni has a history of emotional instability, and she also has money. One terrible night, when Jenni is left alone in the house, weird and terrifying things happen. Screams are heard in the night. Maybe it's just a pair of peacocks crying to each other in the yard, or could it be the agonized scream of Eric's first wife in her death throes? A human skull unaccountably appears in a cabinet in the same room as a self-portrait of the dead Marion. Overcoming her terror, Jenni hurls the skull out of the window. A short time later, a knocking that reverberates through the house is heard at the front door. Jenni timidly opens the door and collapses, screaming at what she finds. Is it horrifyingly real or just hallucination? The atmosphere and suspense of this little movie is amazingly effective. The old dark house, only illuminated by dim candles and a flickering fireplace adds to Jenni's terror. The tilted camera angle as if the skull is viewing the house from outside raises the hackles. There is a blend of ghost story elements and murder mystery that keeps the first time viewer guessing. What really happened to Marion, and what or whom is tormenting Jenni? Is the ghostly female figure that appears in the greenhouse and bounds through the garden real or just more of Jenni's tortured hallucinations? And what are those screams that resound through the night?Both of these films are low budget movies. A typical drive-in double feature from the late '50s and early '60s. Schlock cinema rules! "The Screaming Skull," if viewed with the right mindset, rises above its poverty level origins, and can be a very scary experience. The producers assure the viewer that funeral expenses will be paid for anyone who dies from fright after viewing this movie. The second feature, "Attack of the Giant Leeches" is a wealth of unintentional humor. It has been reviewed elsewhere in Amazon.Com, and hasn't improved. This DVD package is an excellent opportunity to indulge in thrills, chills, groans, and chuckles. Suspend disbelief and knock yourself out.
Rating: 
Summary: GREAT disc if you have the right attitude!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: First off, any videophile or Home Theater enthusiast knows how fairly difficult and/or expensive it is to find genuine Filmack stuff; the hotdog ad, the "Chilly Willy" ad, the "Hey, Mom!" ad. Just for this content alone the disc is worth the asking price. The movies themselves are entertaining if only for the sheer cheesiness of them...BUT DON'T EXPECT GLADIATOR! It disappoints me to read such purist comments complaining about the letterboxing (which looked all right on my display, previous reviewer. Might want to check yours), and the "Distorto" sound, which I found pretty novel and engaging. Such negative snobbery pretty much ensures people like Elite Entertainment won't be as bold to try something different in the future. We'll be left to the whims of the major studios to put out great LETTERBOXED stuff like the Special Edition of "American Pie." Congrats!
Rating:
Summary: "A Night at the DRIVE-IN".......FOR REAL!!
Review: I bought this DVD strictly for the classic Filmack intermission clock, which was hard-to-find on VHS. It's the same one that is featured in the movie "Grease", and it's always been my all-time fave intermission trailer. The transfer is excellent, and the copy that Elite has used is in prestine condition. The movies are interesting to watch with all the bad acting, and hokey special effects, but they are classic drive-in movie stuff. I am glad that these discs are available, especially with all the intermission trailers.
Rating: 
Summary: Who cares about the movies!
Review: I bought this DVD strictly for the classic Filmack intermission clock, which was hard-to-find on VHS. It's the same one that is featured in the movie "Grease", and it's always been my all-time fave intermission trailer. The transfer is excellent, and the copy that Elite has used is in prestine condition. The movies are interesting to watch with all the bad acting, and hokey special effects, but they are classic drive-in movie stuff. I am glad that these discs are available, especially with all the intermission trailers.
Rating:
Summary: Who cares about the movies!
Review: I bought this DVD strictly for the classic Filmack intermission clock, which was hard-to-find on VHS. It's the same one that is featured in the movie "Grease", and it's always been my all-time fave intermission trailer. The transfer is excellent, and the copy that Elite has used is in prestine condition. The movies are interesting to watch with all the bad acting, and hokey special effects, but they are classic drive-in movie stuff. I am glad that these discs are available, especially with all the intermission trailers.
Rating:
Summary: "A Night at the DRIVE-IN".......FOR REAL!!
Review: I must admit that I'd been holding off buying this (and the other disc)--due to the price AND the conflicting reviews of others (some have loved them...some were unrelenting in their criticism). Finally, I bought them both...
I have 4 speakers installed, in that "Surround" set-up thing...(it also works fine with only 2 speakers)...in the front left speaker, you'll hear the audio of the film (being transmitted over what SOUNDS like an actual Drive-In speaker...very tinny and MONO). In the other speaker(s), what is heard are nighttime crickets, people walking past, cars pulling up to park (beside me!), and other miscellaneous sounds!--all of which is Extremely authentic. For example, during the "Giant Leeches," (on volume ONE) there's even a carload of testosterone-charged teenagers...about 7 or 8 rows ahead (to the right!), who whistle every time blond bombshell Yvette Vickers comes onto the screen. During the intermission "highlights," people are heard running to the concession stand placing their orders, etc. ****REMEMBER: All these sounds CAN BE TURNED OFF with your DVD remote, (choosing the secondary audio track) and you'll hear full-blown (mono) audio without the distractions of the public!
The ambient Drive-In sounds on the second DVD ("Wasp Woman," "Gila Monster") are much more entertaining--I think...especially as you watch the intermission tid-bits and cartoons with two young couples who joke about the images on the screen--with regards to the warning of NO PUBLIC DISPLAY OF AFFECTION, "Let's All Go to the Lobby," and especially the Freudian humor of "Chilly Dilly Pickles"! You can't help but to laugh with them! There's no annoying chatter among the (invisible) people during the films--if you're thinking that I'm implying a sort of MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATRE atmosphere...the folks are respectfully silent (that is, about 98% of the time). As for the quality of the films...(and to address the complaints of other reviewers)...Both feature films (on both DVDs) are presented in widescreen (1.85:1), and yes, there ARE flaws; "moderate-to-low" print-quality, splices (jump-cuts), scratches...but, hey!--YOU'RE AT THE DRIVE-IN that's showing grade-Z horror/sci-fi schlock! The "worn" prints, in my opinion, only ADD to the authenticity of being at the Drive-In movies. If you want a pristine, camera-negative, re-mastered Director's Cut of "The Wasp Woman," I might suggest waiting until Criterion releases it(!!) Some of the intermission segments ARE repeated on the second DVD...but then, some are NEW; again, you're "visiting" your local neighborhood Drive-In, and they're not going to show a new commercial for the same food! One reviewer noted that the shorts are not of the same time period (i.e. the 1930's "Betty Boop" combined with 1950's horror), but, if you're at an outdoor theatre that's showing 2 cheapie "flicks," in actuality, all they'd probably be able to afford to rent WOULD BE a "Betty Boop" cartoon! (NOTE: The "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons ARE different on both DVD's.) Another reviewer noted that there's no time-code (counter-display) on the DVD player. So? When was the last time you ever saw a number-counter on the theatre screen? Again folks, these DVDs are meant to give you the feel of actually being at the Drive-In...where you aren't supposed to worry about time--just worry about having fun on a "night out," and the only "time" given is the on-screen "count-down" before the next feature--giving you time to get your last hot-dog or soda.
The only problem that I CAN agree with, is that each segment (intermission bits, coming attractions, etc.) are on separate DVD "chapters," and the player must pause (ever so) briefly to seek out the next bit. It's a slight hinderance, but nothing major. TRY THIS: For those who have a DVD playing capability in their home computer, try both DRIVE-IN discs, and you'll see the entire 3 hour presentation WITHOUT ANY pauses or breaks...you'll even "hear" the pops of the splices between film segments! All this being said, I must honestly endorse both DVDs for those who yearn for a bit of nostalgia...and an entertaining evening in front of the boob-tube!
Rating:
Summary: The Next Best Thing!
Review: I waited for this DVD for months. Delay after delay. But it was well worth th wait. Unfortunatly this may be the only way for many people to enjoy the sights and sounds of the drive-in. Elite has got it down. You would not want to watch this any other way than with the DISTORTO. The sounds are perfect. People walking on the crushed stone, cars parking, and more. The two movies are great for what they are... classic 50's horror. If you are expecting any thing else, you probably would not be reading this. The real star of the DVd are the original drive-in ads and shorts. I just hope that Vol. II does not take as long to get out.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new experienc
Review: I was very surprised to pop this disc into my DVD player and actually feel like I was transported back to the experience of going to a drive in theater. Who would have guessed you could add sounds like banging on the car trunk and people walking in gravel or someone next to you yelling to turn out your lights. This is a remarkable use of the technology available on DVD and I have never before seen or heard this used in such a unique fashion. OK so Screaming Skull and Attack of the Giant Leeches are goofy "B" film movies, this disc was worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new experienc
Review: I was very surprised to pop this disc into my DVD player and actually feel like I was transported back to the experience of going to a drive in theater. Who would have guessed you could add sounds like banging on the car trunk and people walking in gravel or someone next to you yelling to turn out your lights. This is a remarkable use of the technology available on DVD and I have never before seen or heard this used in such a unique fashion. OK so Screaming Skull and Attack of the Giant Leeches are goofy "B" film movies, this disc was worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Closest thing to a real drive-in experience
Review: Long live Distort-O! What a fun concept. Turn off the lights, it's easy to picture yourself in a drive-in. In addition to the "low-fi" sound of the movie, you also get ambient noises like cars coming & going, people talking, etc. As for the movies, they're standard drive-in flicks. Low budget, bad acting, cheesy effects...the works. But you already know what you're getting into if you pay to see a movie called "Attack of the Giant Leeches." No fan of 50's cheese can do without this technically impressive double feature.
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