Synapse Films announces today the start of a high-definition transfer and extensive digital restoration on the classic 1975 16mm cult-horror film THUNDERCRACK!, directed by the late Curt McDowell. The film will be unleashed to coincide with the film’s 35th Anniversary in 2010.
“THUNDERCRACK! is a great film, and we are working with the director’s sister, and THUNDERCRACK! Actress, Melinda McDowell to make sure the film is presented correctly, in exactly the way Curt would’ve wanted it released,” says Donald May, Jr., President of Synapse Films. “Synapse will be releasing the film in it’s restored, longer form, using the one and only original 16mm film print of the longer version that still exists on the planet. And, we’re loading it with extras, of course!”
This black and white underground cult horror film about a group of people who meet a mysterious woman at her foreboding home on one dark and stormy night, is a highly controversial mix of horror, explicit sex and amazing stylized photography. To some, it defies description. To many, it’s the greatest midnight movie ever made. What’s it about, exactly? Fox News could only describe it as “a horror porn film.” That’s not quite right, of course, but to give too much away would spoil the many surprises that await the viewer. “If you’ve never seen it, you’ve missed out on one of the strangest, most entertaining films ever made,” says Synapse Films CEO, Jerry Chandler. “THUNDERCRACK! is a film we’ve pursued for years and we’re excited to be given the opportunity to release it in it’s proper form.”
Actress Melinda McDowell couldn’t be happier with her choice of Synapse Films to bring this film to home video. “When I went looking for a home video distributor for THUNDERCRACK!, everyone told me Synapse Films should do the project. I’d sampled some of their previous work and was stunned at the video quality of their releases. Based on their transfers, and willingness to work closely with the filmmakers, I knew they were the best choice,” she explains. “Don came out to San Francisco for a visit and spent a week with me going through Curt’s archives. We found some amazing material! We found some real treasures that only Curt and the crew had seen 35 years ago. Our longer version of the film will require extensive restoration, but Synapse Films is up to the task. We’ll be honoring Curt with the ultimate, most beautiful presentation possible.”
You know, we've been in business for around 13-14 years now and, every once in a while, a little "gem" of a movie comes our way that we're not sure about. When we release it, we're not 100% sure how successful it will be. NIGHT OF DEATH! was one of those. No one seems to have heard of it. It never got a US release. All these things are a concern when we buy a license to a particular film. Well, just like our release of SICK GIRL, NIGHT OF DEATH! started out with mediocre pre-sales, but now it seems to be going full-steam ahead. The reviews have all been pretty much positive and word-of-mouth seems to be spreading about it. Horror fans seem to be, uh, "eating it up" (a tired bad pun, I know... it's early) now that the reviews are out. I'm posting some links to some reviews (just in case you, dear reader, are on the fence about buying the disc).
