Elvira's Box of Horror

Rating:
Summary: Devilish
Review: A collection of DVDs from Time/Life due out by this coming Halloween. Elvira does what she does best - hosting horror films. Titles include "House on Haunted Hill", "The Terror", "Little Shop of Horrors", "Brain That Wouldn't Die", "Dementia 13", "Carnival of Souls" and "Night of the Living Dead".

Rating:
Summary: Not what I expected, and thats good ,, ish
Review: For only $30 bucks, I picked this little gem up today and I recomend this for all Elvira Fans.

First, I didn't know it was being released, I just saw it on the new release shelf and thankfully had the money.

I thought these were just DVD copies of Elviras Old Movie Macabe. Where she gave a hilarious opening intro to the film, and an equally funny, ending segment. Elvira's appearance time itself was only about 5 mins per movie, and thats kind of stayed the same, but what I was supprised at was that all the Elvira in this DVD set was newly filmed.

I expected the host segments would be the same ones simply filmed in the 80s from the movie macabe.

nope, Casandra Peterson filmed all new openings and ending segments just for this DVD set. Its obivous because the picture Quality is greatly increased and Elvira makes some cracks about DVDs. So all this is deffinitly new.

Whats more interesting, is that before she would only host the movie before and after, now she appears periodically throughout the film giving snappy one liners. So now you have a reason to watch the films instead of skipping to the end.

I think thought they should have advertised Newly Filmed Segments on it, becuase many others will just think its a rerelease of her old footage.

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the downsides. unfortunettly that there are some.

The segements that intercut with Elvira are inserted into the film digitally, so there is this distracting 1-2 sec delay, like the DVD stops playing. Its a technical thing, but its distracting enough to make you forget what was previously said, and ruins Elvira's jokes by making them fall flat at times.


another downside to the new technolgy is the more powerful camera. Casandra is pushing past 50 right now, and she is working wonders, but having high quality footage really shows off her age. You can tell she uses every make up trick to hide it, but its noticebale, and kind of sad almost. She came off much more convincing ten + years ago. also, her jokes aren't as funny, in Movie Macabe she would do alot of things with props and gimicks like a KFC buket or a telescope, kind of like a plot in itself. thats seemingly missing, and the set piece she uses is very boring. It lacks the atmosphere and details her previous ones had.

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The problems are just minor ones, the set is still hillarious, and well, at 50, we are lucky Cassandra will still do things with Elvira. Heck at this point, anything having to deal with Elvira and the word new is a rare thing. That alone warrants a purchase from Elvira Fans.

Rating:
Summary: Welcome back, Elvira!
Review: I didn't realize how much I'd missed Elvira until I bought this boxed set. No, it's not the Movie Macabre series (maybe one day they'll put that out - hint, hint), but it's just as fun. One good thing about this set is that it has an option to watch each movie with or without Elvira's snazzy quips, so you don't need to buy any of the movies separately if you decide you want to see them without her. Maybe this feature is the reason why the movie/DVD pauses whenever she pops in to give one of those infamous snide remarks. The pause is distracting at first, but you soon realize there's an Elvira moment about to happen. Useful if you happen to be spacing out of the movie for a minute, and a couple of the movies are pretty goofy. All in all, there are three DVD's, each with two B&W classic (or is it "clas-sick") horror movies. This set doesn't cost much (not as much as some of those $60-$80 TV series sets), it's fun, it's creepy, it's goofy, it's so Elvira! I grew up with her (face it, the 80's had some of the best shows), and I have to say I am thrilled to see her again in all her glory! I am hoping there will be another boxed set coming soon.

Rating:
Summary: unpleaseant Dreams Come True
Review: I've got to be one of the biggest Elvira fans so this is a dream come true or rather a nightmare come ture. Unpleasent dreams to all that buy this it's worth it! Now if the realase the Movie Macabre series will only come to dvd!

Rating:
Summary: Elvira -Great! DVD quality - poor!
Review: It is great to see Elvira making appearances on DVD again.
Unfortunatly, the video quality of the DVD's leave something to be desired.

I have a High definition TV and when I played the "House on Haunted Hill" DVD the video quality was terrible!
Nothing like the single "House on Haunted Hill" DVD issued earlier, which is crisp and clear.

The movies in this DVD set seem to be of a poorer quality than their single release DVD counterparts.

If you like to see Elvira, then this set is ok, but if video quality matters to you, I'd suggest that you get the original DVD releases instead.


Rating:
Summary: Pleasant Nightmares...
Review: Parody Queen of All Media and Mistress of The Dark, the immutable Elvira returns with this ghoulish offering, presenting such Horror classics as The Little Shop of Horrors, Night of the Living Dead, House on Haunted Hill, The Brain the Wouldn't Die, and Carnival of Souls. These may already be in one's possession, but for those who do not yet own these marvellous bits of sinematgraphic arcana, it is well worth the acquisition.

Unfortunately. Movie Macabre is not yet in circulation, as fantoms have been awaiting this hopefully impending release, filled with her salaciously morbid wit and seductive charm, with that seemingly paradoxical "valley girl" attitude. For a time, there were VHS releases entitled "Thriller Video" featuring the Vampiric Vixen, which has since sunk into obscurity, yet may still be available at certain libraries, where I was fortunate enough to find several of the shows, as well as two original copies from an acquaintance.

Her image and persona has certainly been the inspiration for subsequent dark darlings such as the luscious Ivonna Cadaver who hosts Macabre Theatre with Butch "Eddie Munster" Patrick, quite the Morticia-like looker herself; Morticia, who may have actually inspired Elvira, both of whom were obviously inspired by Vampira {Plan 9 From Outer Space}, the original silver-screen dark lady of the night.