Blood-spattered 3D western explodes onto Blu-ray!
In what is berserkly exciting news for 3D genre movie freaks (like me!) MVD Entertainment has locked the North American distribution rights to Western movie legend Tony Anthony’s splattery, ridiculously blood, bats, breast and boots in-yer-face 3D cult classic shock-fest COMIN AT YA!, one the last and most unique of the spaghetti western cycle.
The studio plans a 35th Anniversary re-release on home video that includes its debut on Blu-ray 3D. Directed by Ferdinando Baldi (DJANGO, PREPARE THE COFFIN) and written, produced and starring spaghetti western legend Tony Anthony (GET MEAN, the sister 3D flick TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS), COMIN’ AT YA! is largely credited with the 3-D revival in the early 1980’s that spawned other split-stereo flicks like AMITYVILLE 3D, JAWS 3D, PARASITE and FRIDAY THE 13th PART 3D.
The deal was negotiated by Eric Wilkinson for MVD and Robbie Little of The Little Film Company on behalf of the filmmakers.
Independently produced, COMIN’ AT YA! was originally released theatrically in 1981 by Filmways Pictures and went on to gross over $12,000,000 domestically in only 200 theaters in North America (over $30,000,000 in 2016 dollars when adjusted for inflation), long before independent films were a regular staple in multiplexes. COMIN’ AT YA! happily embraced the 3-D technology of its time, not only taking advantage of the depth that the technology provided, but also taking every opportunity possible to throw, shoot and point things at the viewer at every possible turn and created a cult classic movie as a result.
Writer, producer, and star of COMIN’ AT YA Tony Anthony said about the movie’s 35th anniversary:
“In the 80’s COMIN’ AT YA! was the first 3D film distributed by a major company since the 50s and it went on to set box-office records and turned Hollywood and the world onto 3D once again. Films are strange, live-for-ever works of art and as a producer and writer, this is a labor of love. To be able to restore this film with the new technology that’s now available, I’m thrilled to finally be able the present this film the way is was meant to be seen.”
The new home video version of
COMIN’ AT YA was supervised and produced by Tony Anthony himself and Tom Stern, through his company Sternco 3D. Sourced from a new 4K master, the film boasts a frame by frame digital conversion of the polarized over-and-under format of the original print, sourced from a brand new internegative into the MVC 3D format and new 5.1 surround sound.
Eric Wilkinson, MVD Entertainment’s Director of Acquisitions and Sales shares Tony Anthony’s excitement about the re-release of COMIN’ AT YA:
“I remember this film from when I was a kid. I also remember my parents telling me I wasn’t allowed to go see it due to the film’s R rating. I finally did get to see this on home video in a less-than-desirable full frame transfer on VHS. I loved it, but always wanted to see this the way it was meant to be seen… in 3D. As a both an acquisitions executive and a fan, I chased this film for years. I’m thrilled to be working with Tony and Tom and bring this back to home video the way that it was meant to be seen. The 3D looks amazing! At one point during the film, I actually ducked!”
This writer is so very, very, VERY excited to learn this. I interviewed Tony for hours 6 years ago for FANGORIA right when he was in the middle of remastering this version. Over the years I followed his and Tom Stern’s efforts to find a home that would respect this sonic-boom 3D gem and now, they’ve found one.
For those of you used to the pitiful anaglypgh 3D Image DVD from over a decade ago, you’re in for a real deal treat here.
COMIN’ AT YA! makes is home video debut on January 26, 2016 on Blu-ray 3D/2D (UPC# 760137773795) and 2D DVD (UPC# 760137773696) and Digital / VOD from MVD Entertainment Group.
