TEAM SEVERIN PICKS THEIR TOP 5 RELEASES OF 2025!
Andrew, Amy, David and Zach's top 5s were revealed and discussed on the podcast but how did the rest of the Sev team vote?
Kier-La Janisse (Acquisitions / Producer)
These are in no particular order — and I think it's inevitable I picked almost all releases I produced, largely because I'm so invested in them! Sorry!!
THE PICK-UP — My first job for Severin was editing extras for some Bob Cresse/Lee Frost films and I ended up diving into that world pretty hard, emerging with a few favourites, among them The Pick-Up. This noir-ish roughie has some experimental static frame elements and even a rare appearance by singer-songwriter Jim Sullivan, most famous for disappearing in the desert in the '70s, presumed abducted by aliens.
THE SAVAGE EYE — Maybe the classiest film in the Severin catalogue? When I was a programmer for the Alamo Drafthouse in the early aughts we always played vintage 35mm trailers before everything, and the trailer for The Savage Eye was on high rotation. But it was only years later that I finally saw the film itself, and it's as angry and venomous as the trailer promises. Essentially a travelogue through a Los Angeles that largely doesn't exist anymore (meaning, you may have seen clips from this in Thom Anderson's Los Angeles Plays Itself), guided by internal dialogue between a recent divorcee and the accusing voice in her head, it transforms sunny LA into a terrain that is hostile and apocalyptic.
ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE — This one was so fun to work on. Not only due to the gleeful wit and silliness of the movie itself, but also just to spend some time in the world of playwright Joe Orton, the language of the UK's gay subculture (I don't think I knew what Polari was before doing the research for this) and discovering actress Beryl Reid's role in that subculture. And the fact that the original UK quad poster had that "dick and balls" design that we reproduced for our slipcase. I think many people were surprised to learn that was actually the original poster and not just a saucy Severin concoction!
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASSIFICADA "S" — This is the only one I picked that I didn't work on! But having curated and produced a number of Quinqui films for Severin (see the Eloy de la Iglesia Quinqui Collection we released in 2021) I am pretty invested in the Transition era of Spanish Cinema, and how the end of the dictatorship ushered in a new age of permissiveness in film that was equally celebrated and derided. And Alberto Sedano's original feature-length documentary is an exhaustive look at the craziest films of that period that will have you frantically scribbling down titles - luckily a bunch of them are available in the Exorcismo box set we released to coincide with the doc!
NORTH SEA IS DEATH SEA — A huge coup for me that we got this film - a late '70s juvenile delinquent drama directed by Fassbinder alum Hark Bohm and starring his two adopted sons as two young teens initially at odds who decide to run away together. It's not as harsh as some JD films of the era - it's more Little Darlings than Out of the Blue - but that also ensured that it became a staple of German youth of a certain age (including a young Jorg Buttgereit!), aided in no small part by the music from German superstar Udo Lindenberg.
Gary Hertz (OG Creative / Marketing Guru)
(In no particular order)
BASKIN UHD — I first worked on packaging this title with Nicole and Todd at MPI/Dark Sky nearly a decade ago, and it kicked my ass. Now in UHD, I find it more startling than ever.
UNKNOWN WORLD — A very un-Severin title on the surface, yet the deeper you go (see what I did there?) it’s clearly the kind of significant socio-cultural artifact that exemplifies what we do and how we do it. Plus it's vital to recognize that another HUAC scenario — complete with government control over what we see and hear — is now in motion in America.
BAY OF BLOOD UHD — Seminal genre film. Definitive Severin presentation.
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA ’S’ — An essential exploration of how history can be defined by genre and vice versa. Cinema is revolution.
GHOST UHD — From discovery to restoration to presentation — including Venice FF — it’s an achievement we should all be proud of.
Ethan Hull (Regional Warrior)
WILD BEASTS — Love selling the upgrade to a 4K UHD-polar bear scene is that much scarier.
CRIPPLED MASTERS — Amazing to see the Severin treatment. I paid for most of my college extra curricular activities by bootlegging this on VHS.
THE GHOST — Barbara Steele-all I need to say!
MONSTER SHARK — Bava greatness.
BOYS NEXT DOOR — Kicks off 20 Screenings for our 20th year
Ian Stratta (Disc QC)
NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS
DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH: 2150 A.D.
RAZOR BLADE SMILE
THE GLASS CEILING
UP!
These are in no particular order — and I think it's inevitable I picked almost all releases I produced, largely because I'm so invested in them! Sorry!!
THE PICK-UP — My first job for Severin was editing extras for some Bob Cresse/Lee Frost films and I ended up diving into that world pretty hard, emerging with a few favourites, among them The Pick-Up. This noir-ish roughie has some experimental static frame elements and even a rare appearance by singer-songwriter Jim Sullivan, most famous for disappearing in the desert in the '70s, presumed abducted by aliens.
THE SAVAGE EYE — Maybe the classiest film in the Severin catalogue? When I was a programmer for the Alamo Drafthouse in the early aughts we always played vintage 35mm trailers before everything, and the trailer for The Savage Eye was on high rotation. But it was only years later that I finally saw the film itself, and it's as angry and venomous as the trailer promises. Essentially a travelogue through a Los Angeles that largely doesn't exist anymore (meaning, you may have seen clips from this in Thom Anderson's Los Angeles Plays Itself), guided by internal dialogue between a recent divorcee and the accusing voice in her head, it transforms sunny LA into a terrain that is hostile and apocalyptic.
ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE — This one was so fun to work on. Not only due to the gleeful wit and silliness of the movie itself, but also just to spend some time in the world of playwright Joe Orton, the language of the UK's gay subculture (I don't think I knew what Polari was before doing the research for this) and discovering actress Beryl Reid's role in that subculture. And the fact that the original UK quad poster had that "dick and balls" design that we reproduced for our slipcase. I think many people were surprised to learn that was actually the original poster and not just a saucy Severin concoction!
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASSIFICADA "S" — This is the only one I picked that I didn't work on! But having curated and produced a number of Quinqui films for Severin (see the Eloy de la Iglesia Quinqui Collection we released in 2021) I am pretty invested in the Transition era of Spanish Cinema, and how the end of the dictatorship ushered in a new age of permissiveness in film that was equally celebrated and derided. And Alberto Sedano's original feature-length documentary is an exhaustive look at the craziest films of that period that will have you frantically scribbling down titles - luckily a bunch of them are available in the Exorcismo box set we released to coincide with the doc!
NORTH SEA IS DEATH SEA — A huge coup for me that we got this film - a late '70s juvenile delinquent drama directed by Fassbinder alum Hark Bohm and starring his two adopted sons as two young teens initially at odds who decide to run away together. It's not as harsh as some JD films of the era - it's more Little Darlings than Out of the Blue - but that also ensured that it became a staple of German youth of a certain age (including a young Jorg Buttgereit!), aided in no small part by the music from German superstar Udo Lindenberg.
Gary Hertz (OG Creative / Marketing Guru)
(In no particular order)
BASKIN UHD — I first worked on packaging this title with Nicole and Todd at MPI/Dark Sky nearly a decade ago, and it kicked my ass. Now in UHD, I find it more startling than ever.
UNKNOWN WORLD — A very un-Severin title on the surface, yet the deeper you go (see what I did there?) it’s clearly the kind of significant socio-cultural artifact that exemplifies what we do and how we do it. Plus it's vital to recognize that another HUAC scenario — complete with government control over what we see and hear — is now in motion in America.
BAY OF BLOOD UHD — Seminal genre film. Definitive Severin presentation.
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA ’S’ — An essential exploration of how history can be defined by genre and vice versa. Cinema is revolution.
GHOST UHD — From discovery to restoration to presentation — including Venice FF — it’s an achievement we should all be proud of.
Ethan Hull (Regional Warrior)
THE PICK-UP — While I’m not the biggest fan of the “roughie”, this hard as nails perfectly paced rip-off ripper, is as good as it gets when it comes to 60’s exploitation pot boilers. What a shock!
IN MY SKIN — I’ve never seen another movie like this and I doubt I ever will. A deeply personal film by Marina De Van in which she also stars as main character Esther. I never once got the feeling I was watching an actor act.
A BAY OF BLOOD — The King Mario Bava’s ahead of its time slasher in beautiful 4K UHD. Not only did he create the template for slashers to come, but he also predicted how cutthroat real estate would become.
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA S — I love Spanish cinema and this really opened the flood gates for understanding the culture and times that gave us so many unforgettable and unique films. I intend to sell the absolute loving shit out of the accompanying boxset in 2026.
THE DEVIL'S RAIN — The Satanic Western that everyone needs in their lives in glorious 4K. A mandatory purchase or you’ll hear Corbis yell from the pit, “Burn!”
Can’t wait to see what 2026 brings! Congrats on a banner year.
Matt Harding (Special Events Coordinator)
IN MY SKIN — I’ve never seen another movie like this and I doubt I ever will. A deeply personal film by Marina De Van in which she also stars as main character Esther. I never once got the feeling I was watching an actor act.
A BAY OF BLOOD — The King Mario Bava’s ahead of its time slasher in beautiful 4K UHD. Not only did he create the template for slashers to come, but he also predicted how cutthroat real estate would become.
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA S — I love Spanish cinema and this really opened the flood gates for understanding the culture and times that gave us so many unforgettable and unique films. I intend to sell the absolute loving shit out of the accompanying boxset in 2026.
THE DEVIL'S RAIN — The Satanic Western that everyone needs in their lives in glorious 4K. A mandatory purchase or you’ll hear Corbis yell from the pit, “Burn!”
Can’t wait to see what 2026 brings! Congrats on a banner year.
Matt Harding (Special Events Coordinator)
WILD BEASTS — Love selling the upgrade to a 4K UHD-polar bear scene is that much scarier.
CRIPPLED MASTERS — Amazing to see the Severin treatment. I paid for most of my college extra curricular activities by bootlegging this on VHS.
THE GHOST — Barbara Steele-all I need to say!
MONSTER SHARK — Bava greatness.
BOYS NEXT DOOR — Kicks off 20 Screenings for our 20th year
Ian Stratta (Disc QC)
NIGHT TRAIN MURDERS
DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH: 2150 A.D.
RAZOR BLADE SMILE
THE GLASS CEILING
UP!
Blake Monahan (Disc QC)
EMANUELLE: JOYS OF A WOMAN
EXORCISMO
THE ODD JOB
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE GHOST
Alfonso Carillo (Rendezvous After Hours DJ)
EMANUELLE: JOYS OF A WOMAN
EXORCISMO
THE ODD JOB
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE GHOST
Alfonso Carillo (Rendezvous After Hours DJ)
Could easily have a top 10, so many good ones this past year.
Top 5 as follows (no particular order):
RUSS MEYER’S UP!
GOODBYE EMMANUELLE
BABA YAGA
EXORCISMO!
BAY OF BLOOD
Runner up: Morgiana
Nicole Mikuzis (HR / People Operations)
MOTORPSYCHO
THE GHOST
A BAY OF BLOOD
DEVIL'S RAIN
BABA YAGA
Jeffrey Owens (Warehouse Lead)
BAY OF BLOOD
VAMPYROS LESBOS
SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY
BASKIN
FERAT VAMPIRE
Curtis Johnson (Archive Director / Film Archivist)
This was a tough one, here are mine:
BAY OF BLOOD
DEVIL'S RAIN
THE GHOST
FERAT VAMPIRE
ASYLUM
Carl Daft (Co-Founder / Secretary)
In no particular order:
MOTORPYSCHO
A BAY OF BLOOD
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA "S”
THE GHOST
EMMANUELLE
Brad Carter (Subtitle Copy Editing / Novelization Writer / Regional Warrior)
A BAY OF BLOOD — (It's my third favorite Bava film)
THE GHOST — (Barbara Steele...enough said)
KILL LIST — (Still my favorite Ben Wheatley film)
RUSS MEYER'S UP! — (A subtle character study in the Merchant-Ivory style)
SKINHEADS — (It's Claudio and Rossella, which means it makes my list)
Top 5 is much harder than Top 10. It was hard to cut The Shark Hunter, Terror-Creatures from the Grave, The People Who Own the Dark, Baskin, and Asylum. Alas...
Claire Donner (Freelance Writer / Digital Distribution Hench)
IN MY SKIN
I, EMMANUELLE
RUSS MEYER'S UP!
FERAT VAMPIRE
STUDENT CONFIDENTIAL
Mark Raskin (Audio Restoration)
CARNE APALEADA
DIMORFO
EXORCISMO OF COURSE
BRONSON LEE, CHAMPION
EYE WITNESS... DEVILS WEDDING... oh wait, I'll go bay of blood for the fun factor and because i had never seen it
... and a very special mention to Lookin' Italian for simply existing on this list!!
Jamie Lockhart (Editor / Regional Warrior)
ASYLUM
DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS
THE GHOST
A BAY OF BLOOD
UNKNOWN WORLD
You thought I was going to say Lookin' Italian didn't you?
Deanna Rooney (QC Manager)
THE IDIOT BOX
BUTTERFLY KISS
THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE BOYS NEXT DOOR
Flynn (Warehouse Supervisor / Customer Support)
In order of release:
BUTTERFLY KISS
DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.
TERROR-CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE
THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK
THE GHOST
Todd Wieneke (Licensor & Elements Research / QC)
Tough, tough, tough call. In no particular order:
MOTORPSYCHO
SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY
NEGATIVES
BABA YAGA
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA "S"
Highest of honorable mention: Za Karate (ALL)
Jesus Teran (QC Support)
In alphabetical order. Only adding films (or upgrades) I’ve seen or have QC’d. These five are excellent films, and look great transfer wise as well.
BAY OF BLOOD
EMMANUELLE
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE GLASS CEILING
MORGIANA
Katie Hamiton (Public Relations)
Very hard to pick only 5; I had a lot of fun researching/watching the 2025 titles while writing press releases. In no particular order, my favorites were:
ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE
MORGIANA
BASKIN
THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS
THE GHOST
Amy Voorhees Searles (Creative Director)
IN MY SKIN
MOTORPSYCHO
THE PRIEST
BEAT GIRL
POPPERS
Andrew Furtado (Post-Production Supervisor)
THE SAVAGE EYE
JACK THE RIPPER UHD
THE IDIOT BOX
BRONSON LEE TRILOGY
THE PICK-UP
David Gregory (CoFounder / President)
In no particular order:
THE GHOST
BEAT GIRL
EMMANUELLE
MANCUNIAN MAN
EXORCISMO
Zach Carter (Lead Editor)
We put out some gems this year. These were all first time watches for me aside from Bay.
NORTH SEA IS DEATH SEA
UNKNOWN WORLD
NEGATIVES
STUDENT CONFIDENTIAL
A BAY OF BLOOD
THE GHOST
A BAY OF BLOOD
DEVIL'S RAIN
BABA YAGA
Jeffrey Owens (Warehouse Lead)
BAY OF BLOOD
VAMPYROS LESBOS
SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY
BASKIN
FERAT VAMPIRE
Curtis Johnson (Archive Director / Film Archivist)
This was a tough one, here are mine:
BAY OF BLOOD
DEVIL'S RAIN
THE GHOST
FERAT VAMPIRE
ASYLUM
Carl Daft (Co-Founder / Secretary)
In no particular order:
MOTORPYSCHO
A BAY OF BLOOD
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA "S”
THE GHOST
EMMANUELLE
Brad Carter (Subtitle Copy Editing / Novelization Writer / Regional Warrior)
A BAY OF BLOOD — (It's my third favorite Bava film)
THE GHOST — (Barbara Steele...enough said)
KILL LIST — (Still my favorite Ben Wheatley film)
RUSS MEYER'S UP! — (A subtle character study in the Merchant-Ivory style)
SKINHEADS — (It's Claudio and Rossella, which means it makes my list)
Top 5 is much harder than Top 10. It was hard to cut The Shark Hunter, Terror-Creatures from the Grave, The People Who Own the Dark, Baskin, and Asylum. Alas...
Claire Donner (Freelance Writer / Digital Distribution Hench)
IN MY SKIN
I, EMMANUELLE
RUSS MEYER'S UP!
FERAT VAMPIRE
STUDENT CONFIDENTIAL
Mark Raskin (Audio Restoration)
CARNE APALEADA
DIMORFO
EXORCISMO OF COURSE
BRONSON LEE, CHAMPION
EYE WITNESS... DEVILS WEDDING... oh wait, I'll go bay of blood for the fun factor and because i had never seen it
... and a very special mention to Lookin' Italian for simply existing on this list!!
Jamie Lockhart (Editor / Regional Warrior)
ASYLUM
DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS
THE GHOST
A BAY OF BLOOD
UNKNOWN WORLD
You thought I was going to say Lookin' Italian didn't you?
Deanna Rooney (QC Manager)
THE IDIOT BOX
BUTTERFLY KISS
THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE BOYS NEXT DOOR
Flynn (Warehouse Supervisor / Customer Support)
In order of release:
BUTTERFLY KISS
DALEKS INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.
TERROR-CREATURES FROM THE GRAVE
THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THE DARK
THE GHOST
Todd Wieneke (Licensor & Elements Research / QC)
Tough, tough, tough call. In no particular order:
MOTORPSYCHO
SHE KILLED IN ECSTASY
NEGATIVES
BABA YAGA
EXORCISMO: THE TRANSGRESSIVE LEGACY OF CLASIFICADA "S"
Highest of honorable mention: Za Karate (ALL)
Jesus Teran (QC Support)
In alphabetical order. Only adding films (or upgrades) I’ve seen or have QC’d. These five are excellent films, and look great transfer wise as well.
BAY OF BLOOD
EMMANUELLE
FERAT VAMPIRE
THE GLASS CEILING
MORGIANA
Katie Hamiton (Public Relations)
Very hard to pick only 5; I had a lot of fun researching/watching the 2025 titles while writing press releases. In no particular order, my favorites were:
ENTERTAINING MR SLOANE
MORGIANA
BASKIN
THE GHOST OF PETER SELLERS
THE GHOST
Amy Voorhees Searles (Creative Director)
IN MY SKIN
MOTORPSYCHO
THE PRIEST
BEAT GIRL
POPPERS
Andrew Furtado (Post-Production Supervisor)
THE SAVAGE EYE
JACK THE RIPPER UHD
THE IDIOT BOX
BRONSON LEE TRILOGY
THE PICK-UP
David Gregory (CoFounder / President)
In no particular order:
THE GHOST
BEAT GIRL
EMMANUELLE
MANCUNIAN MAN
EXORCISMO
Zach Carter (Lead Editor)
We put out some gems this year. These were all first time watches for me aside from Bay.
NORTH SEA IS DEATH SEA
UNKNOWN WORLD
NEGATIVES
STUDENT CONFIDENTIAL
A BAY OF BLOOD