Eureka Entertainment has annouvced three new Blu-ray releases for April release in the UK. First up, we have Three Monster Tales of Sci-Fi Terror, a box set consisting of Man-Made Monster (1941), The Monolith Monsters (1957) and Monster on the Campus (1958). Then, later in the month, we have two kung-fu comedy favourites starring Yeun Biao in the shape of the 1979 Knoackabout, directed by Sammo Hung Kam-Bo, and the 1981 Dreadnaught, from director Yuen Woo-ping.

THREE MONSTER TALES OF SCI-FI TERROR | Blu-ray | 11 April 2022 | £24.99

A trio of chilling sci-fi tales from the vaults of Universal Pictures, starring a number of genre legends including Lionel Atwill (Son of Frankenstein), Lon Chaney, Jr. (The Wolf Man), Grant Williams (The Incredible Shrinking Man).

A mad scientist transforms a carnival performer (Lon Chaney, Jr.) into a murderous monster in Man-Made Monster (dir. George Waggner, 1941). In The Monolith Monsters (dir. John Sherwood, 1957), a giant meteor crashes to Earth and the fragments begin to spread – turning everyone they come into contact with to stone! And finally, fear stalks the seemingly tranquil halls of Dunsfield University in Monster on the Campus (dir. Jack Arnold, 1958) when a palaeontology professor becomes infected with irradiated blood and begins to devolve into a primitive beast.

2-DISC BLU-RAY SET FEATURES:

• Limited Edition O-Card slipcase [2000 copies]
• 1080p presentations on Blu-ray
• Disc One – Man-Made Monster and The Monolith Monsters
• Disc Two – Monster on the Campus (available in both 1.33:1 and 1.85:1 aspect ratios)
• Man-Made Monster – Brand new audio commentary with author Stephen Jones and author / critic Kim Newman
• The Monolith Monsters – Brand new audio commentary with Kevin Lyons and Jonathan Rigby
• Monster on the Campus – Brand new audio commentary with author Stephen Jones and author / critic Kim Newman
• A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing on the films included in this set by film scholar Craig Ian Mann [2000 copies]

Check out our review of the German Anolis Entertainment Blu-ray of The Monolith Monsters as a taster.

KNOCKABOUT [ZA JIA XIAO ZI] | Blu-ray | 25 April 2022 | £17.99

Another fast and furious kung fu comedy classic directed by Sammo Hung (The Millionaires' Express), Knockabout features a cast of martial arts movie legends including Yuen Biao (The Prodigal Son), Bryan "Beardy" Leung Kar-yan (Warriors Two), and Lau Kar-wing (Odd Couple) alongside Hung himself.

Brothers Yipao (Yuen Biao) and Taipao (Leung Kar-yan) are a couple of down on their luck conmen. After getting soundly defeated by the kung fu master, Silver Fox (Lau Kar-wing), the brothers realise it would be in their own self-interest if they learn how to fight, and they ask him to train them. Unfortunately, their new master is actually a ruthless killer, and when the brothers realise this, one of them is murdered. To get revenge, the surviving brother must learn a unique form of kung fu from an unlikely source, a beggar who just happens to be a master fighter!

Featuring one of the greatest action finales in the history of Hong Kong cinema, Knockabout is yet anotherclassic of martial arts filmmaking from the legendary Sammo Hung, and Eureka Classics is proud to present the film in its UK debut on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration.

BLU-RAY FEATURES:

• Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
• Reversible sleeve design featuring original poster artwork
• Two versions of the film presented in 1080p on Blu-ray from 2K restorations (Original HK Theatrical cut and the shorter Export Cut)
• Original Cantonese mono audio
• Optional English dubbed audio
• Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
• Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
• Archival interview with Sammo Hung
• Archival interview with Bryan "Beardy" Leung Kar-yan
• Archival interview with Grandmaster Chan Sau Chang (aka The Monkey King), a master of Monkey Style kung fu
• Archival interview with Grandmaster Chan Sau Chang (aka The Monkey King), a master of Monkey Style kung fu
• Trailers

You can read our review of the 2006 Hong Kong Legends DVD release here.

DREADNAUGHT [YONG ZHE WU JU] | Blu-ray | 25 April 2022 | £17.99

Directed by legendary action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping (The Matrix; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Drago), Dreadnaught expertly blends majestic action sequences with superb physical comedy, courtesy of stars Yuen Biao, Bryan Leung Kar-yan, and Yuen Shun-yee.

A violent criminal known only as 'White Tiger' (Yuen Shun-yee; Iron Monkey) is hiding amongst a theatre troupe, murdering anyone who discovers his identity (as well as anyone who happens to annoy him). Mousy, a timid laundry man (Yuen Biao; Project A), crosses paths with White Tiger several times but always manages to escape. When the killer instead targets his friend (Bryan "Beardy" Leung; Warriors Two), Mousy must overcome his cowardly nature and acquire the skills necessary to defeat the White Tiger.

Notable for being the final film in which Kwan Tak-hing portrayed folk hero Wong Fei-hung (and, oddly enough, for its famous laundry scene being directly referenced in Batman Forever), Dreadnaught is a cult favourite amongst martial arts fans, and Eureka Classics is proud to present the film in its UK debut on Blu-ray from a brand new 2K restoration!

BLU-RAY FEATURES:

• Limited Edition O-Card slipcase featuring new artwork by Darren Wheeling [2000 copies]
• Reversible sleeve design featuring original poster artwork
• Original Cantonese mono audio
• Optional English dubbed audio
• Optional English Subtitles, newly translated for this release
• Brand new feature length audio commentary by Asian film expert Frank Djeng (NY Asian Film Festival)
• Brand new feature length audio commentary by action cinema experts Mike Leeder & Arne Venema
• Archival interview with actress Lily Li (21 mins)
• Trailers
• A Limited Edition collector's booklet featuring new writing by James Oliver [2000 copies]
• *All extras subject to change

You can read our review of the 2006 Hong Kong Legends DVD release here.