Code Red DVD release = WTF
Now, this isn't really a problem for me because I finally found a way to order it yesterday, but: why has the release of this on DVD been so friggin chaotic?
There were rumblings about a purported DVD release from Code Red about a year ago and I gave up faith that it would ever happen because the updates on it sort of ceased. Then, last month Code Red announced their release of it on their website, and yet when you go to their site and look through their catalogue it is nowhere to be found. It's been officially "out" for several weeks now, but their website doesn't have one iota of info on it. I've seen a post about the DVD however in the Code Red blogspot, but not on their actual site, and a bunch of people have been saying on message boards that the DVD is shipped straight from the warehouse and isn't going to stores.
I hunted around a little on the web looking for more info, and apparently people were having to email Code Red directly, request the title, do some funky PayPal transaction, and were purchasing them that way. I also read that there were only 500 pressings of the DVD since it's such a niche movie, so I sort of freaked out because this is one of my favorites and the chance of it seeing the light of day again is slim to none. Then again, I couldn't find any verification on the "500 copies" claim, so who knows?
Anyway, the whole rigmarole of ordering it seems a little ridiculous to me. I know Code Red is an independent company, but shouldn't these guys have a web store by now?
Instead of dealing with all of that, I found a seller on Amazon (named "the_exterminator") who was selling brand new copies of the Code Red DVD, which I'm assuming were purchased directly from the distributor; the only catch is that they were charging 5 dollars more than what you'd pay if you bought it directly from Code Red. Whatever. The seller is legit and stocks all kinds of Code Red releases (I also bought a 2-disc pressing of "Beyond the Door" from the same seller for 20 bucks, which is also pretty rare), and they're guaranteed factory originals.
So, if you don't want to deal with buying it from Code Red directly, there were 10 copies left as of last night from the Amazon seller. I get that it's not a big-name movie, but none of Code Red's releases are so it seems silly that they'd do a limited pressing of this and on top of that make it incredibly difficult for fans to even buy the thing.
Love the movie, LOVE Code Red for giving it a proper release (let alone with the insanely good transfer and impressive bonus features), but GOOD GOD guys, make the release process a bit more clean-cut next time, k?
Can't wait to finally own this on DVD. My VHS is old and the transfer is, as we all know, pretty bad. I saw screencaps of the Code Red DVD and the print looks gorgeous. Here's the link to the Amazon listing for anyone who wants it http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B007V7Q22K/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UT F8&condition=new (and NO, I am NOT the Amazon seller trying to make money here, just a baffled fan on this movie. Promise).