‘Wax Mask’, ‘Killer Crocodile’ 1 & 2 Coming to Blu-ray from Severin Films

Severin Films have revealed their August Blu-ray lineup, which will include a trio of Italian horror titles from the 1980s and 90s.

Wax Mask (1997) was to be the first collaboration between Dario Argento and Lucio Fulci. Sadly, Fulci passed away before production began, so FX artist Sergio Stivaletti stepped in to direct the film.

Next up are Fabrizio De Angelis’ Killer Crocodile (1989) and Giannetto De Rossi’s Killer Crocodile 2 (1990), a pair of Italian-style takes on the nature-run-amok subgenre which deal with giant mutated crocs terrorizing unfortunate folks at a tropical locale.

Full details for each title are listed below, and all three are available for pre-order at https://severin-films.com with a scheduled release date of August 27, 2019.

WAX MASK

“In the mid-‘90s, Dario Argento approached a physically and professionally ailing Lucio Fulci to direct one final production, an over-the-top shocker about grisly murders at a Paris wax museum. But when Fulci passed away only weeks before filming began, Argento turned to Sergio Stivaletti – the FX genius on PHENOMENA, OPERA, DEMONS and CEMETERY MAN – to make his feature-directing debut. Original Grand Guignol director/performer Robert Hossein (RIFFIFI) and Aldo Massasso (CONTRABAND) star in what DVD Drive-In hails as “old-timey luridness married to state-of-the-art gore” – from a screenplay co-written by Fulci with cinematography by Sergio Salvati (ZOMBIE, THE BEYOND) – now featuring a 4k scan from the original negative supervised by Stivaletti and packed with Special Features that include rare behind-the-scenes footage, all-new interviews and more.”  

Special Features:

• Audio Commentary with Director/Special Effects Artist Sergio Stivaletti and Michelangelo Stivaletti
• Beyond Fulci: Interviews with Producer Dario Argento, Director Sergio Stivaletti, Producer Giuseppe Columbo, Production Designer Massimo Geleng, Actress Gabriella Giorgelli and Filmmaker Claudio Fragasso
• The Chamber of Horrors: Interviews with Producer Dario Argento, Director Sergio Stivaletti, Producer Giuseppe Columbo, Production Designer Massimo Geleng and Actress Gabriella Giorgelli
• Living Dolls:  Interviews with Producer Dario Argento, Director Sergio Stivaletti, Producer Giuseppe Columbo and Actress Gabriella Giorgelli
• The Mysteries of the Wax Museum:  Interview with SFX Artist Sergio Stivaletti
• The Waxworks Symphony:  Interview with Soundtrack Composer Maurizio Abeni
• The Grand Opening:  Interviews with Producer Dario Argento, Director Sergio Stivaletti and Producer Giuseppe Columbo
• Wax Unmasked: Interview with Film Writer Alan Jones
• Vintage Featurettes: Behind the Scenes, Special Effects, On Set with Dario Argento
• BONUS: CD SOUNDTRACK
• Exclusive Slipcover Art by Austin Hinderliter
• Reversible Art

KILLER CROCODILE 1 & 2

“More than a decade after the Spielberg blockbuster, a dream team of shock maestros – including producer-turned-director Fabrizio De Angelis (DR. BUTCHER M.D., EMANUELLE AND THE LAST CANNIBALS), screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (BAY OF BLOOD, DEMONS), gore guru Giannetto De Rossi (ZOMBIE, THE BEYOND) and Oscar®-nominated composer Riz Ortolani (MONDO CANE, CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST) – created one of the most ridiculously entertaining JAWS rip-offs in ItaloSleaze history: When a humongous crocodile begins chomping on a tropical island community, a group of idealistic young environmentalists will clash with a crusty redneck hunter to destroy the monster reptile spawned by toxic waste.  Richard Anthony Crenna (ROSWELL), Sherrie Rose (DEMON KNIGHT), Ennio Girolami (GREAT WHITE) and Hollywood legend Van Johnson (THE CAINE MUTINY) star in this Crocsploitation classic now scanned in 2k from the original negative. We’ve also included the sequel Killer Crocodile 2 in this incredible set (only 4000 units available).”

Killer Crocodile Special Features:

• Half A Croc: Interview with Makeup FX Artist Giannetto De Rossi
• Italian Crocodiles: Interview with Actor Pietro Genuardi
• An Italian in Santo Domingo: Interview with Cinematographer Federico Del Zoppo

Killer Crocodile 2 Special Features:

• Maidens and Flesh Eaters: Career Interview With FX Master Giannetto De Rossi