Deaf Crocodile Films announced today that it will be working exclusively with DiabolikDVD, the largest independent online distributor of specialized home video releases, starting in July as its distributor for Deluxe Slipcase Edition Blu-rays and other special home video releases. Deaf Crocodile will also offer for the first time a subscription service beginning in July that guarantees subscribers Deluxe Edition Blu-ray releases shipped early before regular commercial release.
DiabolikDVD has been offering a one-stop shopping experience for over 20 years providing customers with boutique titles from all corners of the globe. As a strictly independent, owner-operated business, Diabolik thrives at providing customers with a well-curated and personal experience with a keen eye to the needs of the collector and casual customer alike. From the weird to the wild, Diabolik is the trusted choice among cinema fans looking for films that they have always wanted and the ones they never realized they needed to have.
Prior to working with DiabolikDVD, Deaf Crocodile was a partner label at OCN/Vinegar Syndrome since Deaf Croc’s launch in 2021.
The first Deaf Crocodile Deluxe Edition release available exclusively through Diabolik will be the ultra-rare Belarusian folk-horror THE SAVAGE HUNT OF KING STAKH by filmmaker Valeri Rubinchik, newly restored by Craig Rogers, Deaf Crocodile Co-Founder and Head of Post-Production and Restoration, in its 2-hour Director’s Cut version for its first-ever North American Blu-ray release.
“I’ve been a huge fan and customer of Jesse Nelson and DiabolikDVD for many years now, so it’s wonderful to be collaborating with them for the next stage of Deaf Crocodile,” says Deaf Crocodile Co-Founder and Head of Acquisitions & Distribution Dennis Bartok. “I’m a physical media collector myself, and Craig and I are thrilled to be working with the best in the business when it comes to carrying rare and wonderful film treasures—not only from the U.S. but from all over the world. His commitment to supporting physical media and their emphasis on working with often-neglected and overlooked filmmakers truly aligns with our passions at Deaf Crocodile.”
“We’re incredibly excited to be partnering with Jesse. DiabolikDVD has been fans’ go-to online shop for wonderful and hard-to-find cinema for decades, and this new partnership will allow Deaf Crocodile to explore ideas that have been percolating in our minds for some time now,” added Rogers. “The new expanded Deluxe Editions will be absolutely gorgeous and allow for more in-depth essays from some of the best folks working in the field today —and they’ll look great on your shelf!”
“I’m thrilled to be able to offer Deaf Crocodile titles exclusively as part of our extensive cult movie catalog,” says Diabolik owner Jesse Nelson. “While we certainly have made our name on selling horror titles, we have also curated a selection of lesser-known world cinema over the years and as a film fan, Deaf Crocodile’s films align perfectly with the store and my personal taste. This will be a long and fruitful relationship and allow customers to be able to continue expanding their Deaf Crocodile collection from a trusted independent retailer.”
Bluray Info:
THE SAVAGE HUNT OF KING STAKH (DIKAYA OKHOTA KOROLYA STAKHA), 1980, Belarusfilm, 126 min. Dir. Valeri Rubinchik.
“We have more ghosts than live people,” murmurs the pale, haunted mistress of the mansion of Marsh Firs (Elena Dimitrova) to a scholar of ancient folklore (Boris Plotnikov) who has arrived at her castle to research the bloody legend of King Stakh, a murdered 15th-century nobleman whose spirit supposedly thunders through the local woodlands.
The Wild Hunt is a fixture of northern European folklore in which a sinister figure leads a chase followed by ghostly companions. Part folk horror, part supernatural mystery, KING STAKH is a melancholy, chilling mixture of Terry Gilliam, Italian Gothic Horror, 1960s Hammer Films, and THE WICKER MAN —and a major rediscovery for genre fans. The longer the young scholar stays in this mysterious house of “shadow, gloom, madness, and death” the more strange and surreal the imagery becomes: a mad widow in a white wig; a man bleeding spontaneously from his skull; a dwarf hiding in a decayed doll’s house; screeching ravens and maniacal puppet shows. Based on the novel by Belarusian writer Uladzimir Karatkievich, the long-unavailable KING STAKH has recently been restored in its extended 126 minute Director’s Cut by Deaf Crocodile for its first-ever U.S. release, co-presented with Seagull Films. In Russian with English subtitles.
Bonus Features:
* Brand-new restoration of the Director’s Cut of the film by Craig Rogers for Deaf Crocodile.
* Slipcase edition offers 60-page illustrated booklet including:
* New essay by film historian & professor Peter Rollberg (Historical Dictionary of Russian and Soviet Cinema).
- New essay by film critic Walter Chaw (Film Freak Central).
- New commentary track by comics artist (Swamp Thing), film historian, and author Stephen R. Bissette.
- New commentary track by Mike White of The Projection Booth.
- “The Wild, Wild Hunt of King Stakh” — new video essay by film historian Evan Chester.
- Video introduction by filmmaker and author Kier-La Janisse (WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR).
- Blu-ray authoring by David Mackenzie of Fidelity In Motion.
- New art by Beth Morris and comics artist David W. Mack (“Kabuki”, Marvel Comics’ “Echo”)
The CW has released a new extended trailer for The Flash, offering up some new footage from several upcoming episodes and teasing the unmasking of Zoom:
Zoolander is back but a lot has happened since 2001! Rest assured the Ben Stiller comedy features familiar faces and a few new ones with plenty to get you excited. Read more
Zone 414 is an upcoming American science fiction thriller film written by Bryan Edward Hill and directed by Andrew Baird. The film stars Guy Pearce, Matilda Lutz, Jonathan Aris, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, Olwen Fouéré, Colin Salmon, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Read more
It is the final episode of Season 1, and as expected following the somewhat calmness of last week's episode this week is about to go off the scale. Our crew Read more
Episode 5 of Zomboat! is the penultimate episode of Season 1 and it gave the audience a chance to catch their breath before the grand finale. Instead of the fast Read more
In Zomboat! Episode 4 we discover that even a shopping trip can be hazardous to your health in post-apocalyptic Birmingham. With the boat moored and apparently safe Amar (Ryan McKen) Read more
After our diversion last week our Zomboat crew begin travelling in the right direction and end up back where they first got on the boat. This also happens to be Read more
Zomboat! burst onto our screens last week and while we loved it we noted that it felt "a bit rushed with lots crammed in." As Episode 2 washed over us Read more
Debuting on ITV2 in the UK, Zomboat! is filmed in the 2.35:1 widescreen ratio of most zombie movies and answers the life long question of what would happen if you Read more
Homemade horror-comedy feature Zomblogalypse received its UK premiere at Dead Northern Film Festival - in association with Fangoria and Shudder - at City Screen York on 26th September 2021. The Read more
Tony Todd is back in an all new zombie movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBlWz-n-nec When the world is in shambles, plagued by a zombie outbreak, only the strong will survive, but just how Read more
Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL6NTQhEqn4 Read more
In Zombieland 2: Double Tap, Columbus, Tallahasse, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of Read more
Zombie With A Shotgun is the feature adaptation of the popular web series of the same name. Aaron and Rachel are on the run due to the fact that Aaron is Read more
Directed by Anthony C. Ferrante, Zombie Tidal Wave aims to pick up where the Sharknado franchise left off. More serious in tone, the film plays more like the original Sharknado Read more
It's a Zombie Tsunami! From the same twisted minds behind Sharknado comes an all-new disaster: Zombie Tidal Wave starring Ian Ziering. Watch the world premiere Saturday August 17th at 9/8c Read more
11 years ago, a zombie virus killed many people, while others had their family members turned into zombies. Society is still angry, and so outside the city, a zombie fight Read more
Zombie Army VR is COMING to PS VR2 in 2024! Add it to your WISHLIST NOW! Zombie Hitler has been defeated, but the zombie hordes are still at large, and Read more
The looming release of ZOMBIE ARMY 4 draws ever closer, but there’s a whole new realm of terror lurking just behind! A new three-part campaign called Hell Cult, comprising three Read more
Zombie Army 4: Dead War is OUT NOW! Get your copy on PlayStation 4 TODAY! A reanimated despot and his ghoulish backup dancers shake a precariously attached leg in this Read more
Brett Summers
Brett founded CultFaction.com in 2014 a website and podcast that deals with cult film and tv. He also has a strong interest in grappling martial arts both as a practitioner and as a historian.