Treasured Films Brings Horror Icons to Worcester
Boasting one of the best line-ups of stars from cult and horror cinema, the guys behind Midlands boutique label Treasured Films, and the importer and distributor Film Treasures, hosted Weird Worcester on the 14th and 15th of June.
Hundreds of film fans descended on the Worcester University Arena to pick up merchandise, books and physical media from the various traders, and to get their items signed by the guests.
Speaking to the fans at the event, they said that they had never seen a line-up like it. Blaxploitation star Fred Williamson was on hand, who alongside his supporting role in From Dusk till Dawn (Robert Rodriguez, 1996) had roles in the Enzo G. Castellari flicks Inglorious Bastards (1978) and 1990: The Bronx Warriors (1982).
Castellari himself was also in attendance, who directed the infamous The Last Shark (1981). The film was famously blocked for release in America after being accused of plagiarising Jaws. Treasured Films had copies of their release of The Last Shark available on the day, so fans could get these signed by the director.
A UK first was the appearance of Carl Gabriel Yorke, who was signing autographs alongside Francesca Ciardi, both of whom starred Cannibal Holocaust (Ruggero Deodato, 1980). The film remains one of the most controversial ever made, featuring disturbing realistic practical effects and, even more disturbingly, real animal cruelty in the uncut version.
Another person with strong links to Deodato was in attendance. Alessandro Capone wrote Deodato’s 1986 slasher Body Count, before going to write and direct Witch Story (1989). Treasured Films has a link to Capone as well, attempting to get the controversial Reality Killers (which Capone produced) released in the UK, only for it to be rejected outright by the BBFC and instead released as the company’s first US title.
Lamberto Bava, who acted as assistant director on Cannibal Holocaust, is also the director of Demons and Demons II (1985 & 1986), as well as giallo classics A Blade in the Dark (1983) and Delirium (1987). He was in attendance alongside actress Geretta Geretta, who is perhaps most famous for playing Rosemary, who puts the demon mask on in Demons and kickstarts 90 minutes of gory practical effects.
Those practical effects were handled by Sergio Stivaletti, who had replicas of the demon masks for sale at the event. With a long career working with some of the best in Italian cinema, including Dario Argento for Phenomena (1985), which starred a very young Jennifer Connelly.
Lucio Fulci fans were able to get their money’s worth, with appearances from both Silvia Collatina, who found childhood fame as Mae Freudstein in The House by the Cemetery (1981). She was joined by Catriona MacColl, who starred in all three of Fulci’s Gates of Hell trilogy.
Arriving late on the first day due to personal issues, director Sergio Martino has worked prolifically across multiple genres in his career. This includes giallo films such as All the Colors of the Dark (1972) and Torso (1973), as well as Poliziotteschi features and horrors including Slave of the Cannibal God (1978).
A late addition to the lineup was Charlie Higson, who made an appearance on the Saturday, and who wrote the novel King of the Ants; the adaptation of which (Stuart Gordon, 2003) was released by Treasured Films earlier this year.
Margie Newton was a particularly special guest at the event, having starred in The Last Hunter (Antonio Margheriti, 1980), the film that kickstarted the Treasured Films label. From the first release to the latest batch and Howard Ross was in attendance, not only celebrating his roles in giallo such as 5 Women for the Killer (Stelvio Massi, 1974) and The New York Ripper (Lucio Fulci, 1982), but also his part in Rino Di Silvestro’s Werewolf Woman (1976), which was announced as the next Treasured Films release.
This will be the first uncut release of the film in the UK. When initially released for cinemas, it underwent cuts and was later categorised as a Section 3: Video Nasty, meaning that shops stocking the home media release risked having copies seized and destroyed. Alongside Howard Ross, Annik Borel stars as a woman who believes that she is a werewolf after suffering a series of traumatic events.
The other release announced was Sergio Martino’s Mannaja (A Man Called Blade), a 1977 spaghetti western which stars Maurizio Merli, John Steiner and Sonja Jeannine. It follows a bounty hunter who gets caught up in the violence of a small mining town.
No release date has been announced for either Werewolf Woman or Mannaja, but keep an eye on www.treasuredfilms.co.uk for more information
Matthew Tilt
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