Lair of the White Worm and Parents join the Vestron Collector’s series

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

The Vestron Video Collector's Series of limited edition Blu-rays began back on September 27th with the release of CHOPPING MALL and BLOOD DINER. A double feature of WAXWORK and WAXWORK II: LOST IN TIME followed on October 18th. Today, two more Vestron releases are hitting store shelves – RETURN OF THE LIVING DEAD III and C.H.U.D. II: BUD THE CHUD. So this was also the perfect time for the announcement of the next two films in the series, and these two were among the top twenty most requested.

The sixth film in the Vestron series (remember, these have little numbers on the spine of the case to help inspire you to collect the whole set) is Ken Russell's 1988 film LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM. Starring Amanda Donohoe, Hugh Grant, Catherine Oxenberg, and Peter Capaldi, it has the following synopsis: 

James D'Ampton (Grant) returns to his country castle in England. Legend has it that James' distant ancestor once slayed the local dragon- a monstrous white worm with a fondness for the sweet flesh of virgins. The young Lord dismisses the legend as folklore, until archaeology student, Angus Flint, unearths a massive reptilian skull and the ancient worship site of a pagan snake god on James' property. When James' virtuous girlfriend, Eve (Oxenburg), suddenly disappears, he and Angus set out to investigate the foreboding cavern said to be the worm's lair where a centuries-old mystery begins to uncoil.

The special features on the WHITE WORM release include 

– Two Audio Commentaries: Director Ken Russell, Lisi Russell, in conversation with Film Historian Matthew Melia

– 'Worm Food: The Effects of The Lair of the White Worm' featurette

– 'Cutting for Ken' an Interview with Editor Peter Davies

– 'Mary, Mary' an interview with Actress Sammi Davis

– 'Trailers from Hell' featuring Producer Dan Ireland

– Theatrical Trailers

– Still Gallery

Film #7 is director Bob Balaban's PARENTS from 1989, starring Randy Quaid, Mary Beth Hurt, Sandy Dennis, and Bryan Madorsky.

Meet the Laemles and taste the terror in this black comedy. Dad's (Quaid) got a great job, Mom (Hurt) has all the modern conveniences a happy homemaker could ask for, and ten-year-old Michael (Madorsky) has neat new friends and two parents that kill him with kindness. They're the all-American family of 1954… with one small exception.

The special features: 

– Audio Commentary with Director Bob Balaban and Producer Bonnie Palef

– Isolated Score Selections/Audio Interviw with Composer Jonathan Elias

– Four Featurettes:
'Leftovers To Be' with Screenwriter Christopher Hawthorne
'Mother's Day' with Actress Mary Beth Hurt
'Inside Out' with Director of Photography Robin Vidgeon
'Vintage Tastes' with Decorative Consultant Yolando Cuomo

– Original Theatrical Trailer

– Radio Spots

– Still Gallery

With the announcement of these two titles, Vestron continues to impress. Although I've personally never been able to get into it, LAIR OF THE WHITE WORM has a strong cult following and I'm sure a lot of horror fans are going to be excited to pick that one up. I'm more excited for PARENTS, a film that deeply freaked me out when I watched it at too young of an age to be able to handle the concept of threatening, cannibalistic parents. The unease that viewing caused me has stuck with me for twenty-seven years.

Both of these Blu-rays will be released on January 31, 2017.