Paranoiac (1962) heads to DVD and Blu-ray

I've never heard of it, so it must be rare. Which is reason enough to get excited about the DVD and Blu-ray reissue of early 60s Hammer flick Paranoiac.

Sounding not unlike The Innocents in tone, the story is set three weeks before the Ashby siblings Simon (Oliver Reed), a brutish alcoholic, and Eleanor (Janette Scott), a nervous wreck, are to come into their late parents' inheritance. While Simon plans to have his sister certified insane and locked away, Eleanor keeps seeing the lurking figure of their long-dead brother Tony around the estate. Who or what is this apparition, and does he threaten to reveal skeletons in the closet (and elsewhere)?

Sounds like a winner, with a script by Jimmy Sangster and direction by Freddie Francis. Plenty of extras too, including an optional music & effects track, long-unseen original trailer and a Blu-ray-only exclusive of a high-definition stills gallery of rare materials. Available via Eureka from 26th July 2010, you can pre-order at Amazon now for £11.99.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Comments

[Reel Distraction]

I think you'll like Paranoiac. It's been available in the US for a while now as part of a $24 Hammer Horror Series box set with Brides of Dracula, Curse of the Werewolf, Phantom of the Opera (1962), Kiss of the Vampire, Nightmare, Night Creatures, and Evil of Frankenstein. Oliver Reed's over-the-top hammy performance is a wonder to behold. The copy I have contains no extras, so I'll be looking to upgrade.