Just like PUMPKINHEAD, director Kevin Connor's 1980 oddball horror classic MOTEL HELL (which you can watch HERE) received a special edition Blu-ray release from Scream Factory back in 2014. And just like they're doing with PUMPKINHEAD, Scream Factory is planning to give MOTEL HELL a new steelbook release this October.
The steelbook has an October 13th release date in the US and Canada. Images of the case can be seen below.
Written by Robert Jaffe and Steven-Charles Jaffe, MOTEL HELL stars Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons, Nina Axelrod, Wolfman Jack, Elaine Joyce, and John Ratzenberger. The synopsis:
It takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent’s fritters! You really are what you eat with Farmer Vincent's smoked meat in this creepy horror yarn which "packs a punch that goes way beyond mere terror" (Boxoffice). Vincent's popular products contain a special ingredient that the psychotic farmer and his sister would literally kill to keep a secret!
Most of the bonus features on the steelbook Blu-ray have been carried over from the previous Blu-ray release, but this one does have a new 4K transfer. Here's the full list of bonus features:
– NEW 4K Transfer From The Original Camera Negative
– Audio Commentary With Director Kevin Connor, Moderated By Dave Parker
– "It Takes All Kinds: The Making Of Motel Hell" – Featuring Interviews With Kevin Connor, Producers/Writers Robert Jaffe And Steven-Charles Jaffe And Actor Marc Silver
– "Shooting Old School" With Cinematographer Thomas Del Ruth
– "Another Head On The Chopping Block" – Interview With Actor Paul Linke
– "From Glamour To Gore" – Interview With Actress Rosanne Katon
– "Ida, Be Thy Name" – A Look Back At Motel Hell's Frightful Female Protagonist, Ida Smith
– Theatrical Trailer
– Still Gallery
MOTEL HELL is a really fun, amusing, weird movie that has memorable characters and some iconic imagery, so it's cool to see it being celebrated with this steelbook release.
The steelbook can be pre-ordered through the Scream Factory website. If you don't need a steelbook or the 4K transfer, the previous Blu-ray is still available on Amazon.
At one point, Tobe Hooper was attached to direct MOTEL HELL