tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928771769789533784.post2873532385525810821..comments2023-10-21T04:21:25.200-07:00Comments on Video Junkie Strikes Back from Beyond the Grave: Newsploitation: Go to the Head of the CLASS OF 1999Thomas T. Sueyreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01999827678453063356noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928771769789533784.post-29948191804428530762015-05-12T13:57:02.552-07:002015-05-12T13:57:02.552-07:00More Vestron UK info if you're interested...Ve...More Vestron UK info if you're interested...Vestron UK's theatrical division was run by the former staff of PSO (minus Mark Damon), and they briefly changed their name to "Interaccess Film Distribution", but only released two films under that name (Taffin and The Princess Bride). Vestron UK didn't release nearly as many films as the US parent company (the Orion and Tri-Star films like Lone Wolf McQuade and The Monster Squad were put out by Virgin and Columbia, respectively) and only released 5 Empire films (Dolls, From Beyond, Underworld, Rawhead Rex and The Caller), the first two of which had a decent theatrical run, mainly in cinemas owned by Cannon (funnily enough, most Cannon product was released direct to video, whilst Vestron movies played in their theatres). <br />When Vestron continued under the First Independent name, they continued to enjoy success by releasing their horror back catalogue ( Slaughter High, Sundown, Waxwork, Rawhead Rex, Cutting Class etc) under the "First Fright" banner, and re-releasing "Dirty Dancing" repeatedly (I dont know if the record has been broken, but as of the late nineties that film was still the biggest selling VHS tape of all time in the UK).<br />I'm assuming that Vestron also had a lot of success in the UK with Dream a Little Dream, as towards the end of their life they seemed to specialise in releasing Corey Haim films, (Dream Machine, Rollerboys, Fast Getaway and its sequel all got theatrical releases. At the end of their life they changed their name once again to "Vestron E", "First Choice" and "First View" before briefly reverting to Vestron UK, then finally to First Independent. Incidentally, Vestron UK's old premises can be found at this address...https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.514349,-0.111238,3a,75y,81.3h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sreJZrS8z9QLqII64d8UQTQ!2e0 Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03926537052599776317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928771769789533784.post-77177891960442164002015-05-11T18:22:43.936-07:002015-05-11T18:22:43.936-07:00Matthew,
Thanks for the info! The US Vestron stu...Matthew,<br /><br />Thanks for the info! The US Vestron stuck around for a while too, but in a much smaller fashion. A shame as I would have loved to have seen something like HIDER IN THE HOUSE theatrically.William S. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17735697605016894400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4928771769789533784.post-64902236769230597942015-05-11T17:20:49.730-07:002015-05-11T17:20:49.730-07:00Vestron UK were still going strong in October 89 w...Vestron UK were still going strong in October 89 when this was released here...and they promoted the hell out of it (Billboards, massive Standees in video stores, etc), as was Up World, which wasn't released theatrically, but received a ton of promotion in the national press (I even had a one-sheet poster given away as a freebie in an at-the-time popular kids mag). Vestron UK stuck around until September '91, releasing stuff like "Fear" and "Hider in the House" to theatres. In late '91, the staff of Vestron UK changed the company name to "First Independent", with the release of "Prayer of the Rollerboys" (which also received a big theatrical release) and stuck around until the early 2000's. Apologies if yu already knew this, and for rambling on!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03926537052599776317noreply@blogger.com