Independent distributors Shout Factory have revealed that they will release combo pack editions of Michael Ritchie's The Island (1980), starring Michael Caine, David Warner and Angela Punch McGregor, and Dick Richards' Death Valley (1982), starring Paul Le Mat, Catherine Hicks and Stephen McHattie. Both releases will be part of the new Scream Factory series, which were created to focus on notable horror and sci-fi films from the past that have massive cult followings.
Exact release dates and technical specs for these upcoming combo packs are unknown at the moment, but we will update you as soon as such are made available by Shout Factory.
The Island
Based on the novel by Jaws author Peter Benchley, Michael Ritchie's The Island is an action-packed high-seas adventure that features a riveting performance from Michael Caine. Caine stars as Blair Maynard, an inquisitive British reporter who sets out to investigate a series of mysterious ocean disappearances in the Caribbean, where more than 600 boats have apparently vanished during the course of three years. While flying over the questionable area with his young son in tow, Maynard's airplane crashes into the briny deep. The two are subsequently stranded on an isolated island, uncharted by the modern world. In time they are captured by a group of scraggly, belligerent pirates who have inhabited the remote island for hundreds of years.
Death Valley
A divorced mother, her young son and her new boyfriend set out on a road trip through Death Valley and run afoul of a local serial killer.
This is awesome! I was hoping these would be released to BLU also. I was not willing to pick up DVD copies of these titles. BLU I will have pre-orderd!
love getting flicks like this that I haven't seen since a teen-ager!! I remember DEATH VALLEY being good, THE ISLAND not great but it has a cool ending...
"Great breaking news to report to you fans of DEATH VALLEY & THE ISLAND:
Originally, these two cult favorites were to be combined together as a double feature on DVD only but that has now changed. They will now be split up and released separately as a DVD & Blu-ray combo to appease fans of both formats. We will also be using the original theatrical key art for our covers. Stay tuned for more details on an official street date..."
i always enjoyed finding the original key art for BD/DVD covers Haven't seen Death Valley, so i guess i'll give it a go. On the other hand, The Island sucked totally (for me, that is). I'll pass on this one.
Death Valley on blu? Who saw that coming? I'll consider it. It's always been one of those movies I have to finish watching once I catch it while flipping channels.
This Scream Factory idea is the best cult classic BD news since the announcement of the Roger Corman's Cult Classics series (which needs more BD releases!)
I just visited the "Scream Factory" page and they show that upcoming titles include They Live (YES!!!!!!!!) and Phantasm 2. The upcoming debut titles they have listed (Halloween II, Halloween III, Terror Train and The Funhouse) look to contain a very nice assortment of bonus features. Shout! continues to make a name for itself as the Criterion of schlock. I will buy ALL of these eventually.
Haven't seen Death Valley, so i guess i'll give it a go. On the other hand, The Island sucked totally (for me, that is). I'll pass on this one. 
