Now in its 11th year the spectacular New York City Horror Film Festival, giving a platform to new and independent international horror film, returns for another grand weekend, November 14–17 on the twin screens of the Tribeca Cinemas, at 54 Varick Street, just south of Canal. Honoring the grand career of Mr. Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Nevermore), the festival is put together by Fangoria’s Tony Timpone and Ronnie Hein, and filmmakers Alan Rowe Kelly and Bart Mastronardi among the guest presenters.

The festival opens Thursday, Nov. 14 at 7 pm with a gala opening-night US premiere screening honoring Troma’s fortieth anniversary with their latest feature RETURN TO NUKE ‘EM HIGH, VOL. 1 with director Lloyd Kaufman in attendance to accept a Lifetime Achivement Award from the festival. The festival continues throughout the weekend with Lionsgate/After Dark presenting the world premiere of Travis Barker’s feature MISCHIEF NIGHT, the east coast premieres of Blair Erickson’s BANSHEE CHAPTER and IFC Films’ release of Eric England’s CONTRACTED, and the New York premiere of Craig and Peter DiFolco’s VISCERA, along with other New York and east coast premieres, including several short film world premieres. Byron Turk’s THE BATES HAUNTING, Dyland Banks’ CAPTURED HEARTS, and the film of Teller's (of Penn & Teller) live spookshow PLAY DEAD starring Todd Robbins accompany the premieres.

In addition, the 2013 Michael J. Hein Award for Personal Achievement in Direction will be given to director Stuart Gordon, helmer of several classics including Re-Animator, From Beyond, and Dolls on Saturday, Nov. 16. Michael J. Hein created the New York City Horror Film Festival in 2002 to offer a needed platform for the independent filmmakers of modern horror films and continued his work until his untimely passing in 2012. Now helmed by his mother Ronnie Hein and Fangoria’s Tony Timpone, the New York City Horror Film Festival continues Michael’s legacy, bringing revered filmmakers, newcomers, and short film makers together for a long weekend of camaraderie, thrills, and chills.

The New York City Horror Film Festival is held at Tribeca Cinemas, 54 Varick St., New York, NY.

For more information, http://nychorrorfest.com/

Full Moon Features recently announced in their newsletter that they're releasing Stuart Gordon's "The Pit and the Pendulum" and "Castle Freak" on Blu-Ray this upcoming Tuesday. "The Pit and the Pendulum" was originally released back in 1991 when Full Moon was releasing their films through Paramount. The film stars Lance Henriksen (Aliens, Near Dark), Jeffery Combs (Re-Animator, From Beyond)and Oliver Reed (“Gladiator,” “Three Musketeers”).

Special Features on "The Pit and the Pendulum" Blu-Ray includes Behind The Pit & The Pendulum: The Inquisition of Stuart Gordon, Rare, Never-Before-Seen Blooper Reel Original Pit & The Pendulum VideoZone and Full Moon Trailers.

"Castle Freak was released in 1995 right after the Full Moon/Paramount split. The film stars "Re-Animator" and "From Beyond stars Jeffery Combs and Barbra Crampton.

Special features on the Blu-Ray and DVD include Castle 'Speak' interview with Stuart Gordon, Lost William Shatner Interviews w/ Stuart Gordon, Jeffrey Combs, and Barbara Crampton, Original VideoZone and Full Moon Trailers

"The Pit and the Pendulum": Plot Synopsis:

In the quest to save souls, the Spanish Inquisition will stop at nothing and knows no boundaries for its evil. Under the direction of Torquemada (LANCE HENRIKSEN - “Alien,” “Pumpkinhead,” “Millennium”) the Grand Inquisitor of Spain, a young baker’s wife, Maria (RONA DE RICCI) is falsely accused of witchcraft and dragged before the inquisition and the Cardinal (OLIVER REED – “Gladiator,” “Three Musketeers”). Torquemada is enchanted by Maria’s beauty and subjects her and her husband Antonio (JONATHAN FULLER – “Castle Freak”) to heinous tortures hoping to prove that his own desires for her are a result of her magic, and that she has “bewitched him.” With the help of Esmerelda, Maria’s cellmate and confessed witch, Maria must find the power to save her husband Antonio from Torquemada’s ultimate machine of torture: the inevitable, razor sharp PENDULUM poised over the inescapable PIT of hell.

"Castle Freak": Plot Synopsis

Stuart Gordon takes you on a pulse pounding roller- coaster ride in Castle Freak… one of the most macabre thrillers you’ll ever experience. John Reilly (Jeffrey Combs – Re-Animator), Susan (Barbara Crampton – Young & The Restless) and their daughter come face to face with terror when they travel to Italy to move into a castle they have inherited. They soon discover it is haunted by a relentless blood- thirsty creature. When mutilated bodies start turning up, John must uncover the Reilly family’s dark secret to save his wife and child from the sadistic being.

This Blu-Ray release has been a long time coming. Image Entertainment has send us over information regarding the upcoming Blu-Ray and DVD release of the cult horror classic "Re-Animator" The 1985 shocker was ranked #32 of 50 on EW’s “Top 50 Cult Films,” inspired two sequels as well as an award-winning stage musical.

Special Features on the DVD and Blu-Ray include Audio Commentary by Director Stuart Gordon, Audio Commentary by Producer Brian Yuzna and Actors Bruce Abbott, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Robert Sampson, Documentary: “Re-Animator Resurrectus”, Interview with Director Stuart Gordon and Producer Brian Yuzna, Interview with Writer Dennis Paoli, Interview with Composer Richard Band, Music Discussion with Composer Richard Band, Interview with Fangoria Magazine editor Tony Timpone, Deleted and Extended Scenes, Theatrical trailer and TV Spots.

"Re-Animator" hits DVD and makes its Blu-Ray debut on September 4th.

Press Release:

On September 4th, Image Entertainment resurrects one of the greatest horror films ever made with the Blu-ray™ debut of Stuart Gordon’s cult classic H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator. Presented in a brand-new 1080p HD transfer approved by producer Brian Yuzna, the 1985 shocker was ranked #32 of 50 on EW’s “Top 50 Cult Films,” inspired two sequels as well as an award-winning stage musical!

Featuring high-resolution DTS-HD audio and packed with bonus features, the Re-Animator Blu-ray™ hits retail with an SRP of $17.97. Also available on DVD for an SRP of $9.98. Pre-book for both is August 7th.

Adapted by Dennis Paoli, William J. Norris and Stuart Gordon from the H.P. Lovecraft short story, Re-Animator tells the strange tale of medical student Dan Cain (Bruce Abbot) and his girlfriend Megan Halsey (Barbara Crampton), both of them drawn to odd new student Herbert West (Jeffrey Combs) who’s conducting secret experiments involving the re-animation of dead tissue. When one of the instructors, Dr. Carl Hill (David Gale), stumbles upon their activities, West murders him -- but is brought back to life, now thirsting for revenge as well as lusting after Megan. The final denouement features the re-animated Dr. Hill squaring off against Herbert and Dan in a battle royale within the school’s morgue, complete with resurrected “henchmen” and undoubtedly one of the greatest visual double entendres in all horror cinema!

Bonus features for the Re-Animator Blu-ray™ include:

Documentary: “Re-Animator Resurrectus”
Audio Commentary by Director Stuart Gordon

Audio Commentary by Producer Brian Yuzna and Actors Bruce Abbott, Jeffrey Combs, Barbara Crampton and Robert Sampson
Interview with Director Stuart Gordon and Producer Brian Yuzna
Interview with Writer Dennis Paoli
Interview with Composer Richard Band
Music Discussion with Composer Richard Band
Interview with Fangoria Magazine editor Tony Timpone
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Theatrical trailer
TV Spots