Severin Films

Severin Films is an American independent film production and distribution company founded in 2006 by David Gregory, Carl Daft, and John Cregan, specializing in the restoration, release, and curation of provocative cult cinema, including banned titles and folk horror, through physical media, theatrical screenings, and streaming platforms.^[1] The company is renowned for producing acclaimed collectors' editions and box sets featuring exclusive special features, such as in-depth documentaries and featurettes that enhance the viewing experience of obscure and transgressive films.^[2] Notable among its output are award-winning documentaries like Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau (2014), Blood & Flesh: The Real Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (2019), and Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021), which explore the making and cultural impact of niche genre films.^[2] Severin has also co-produced original features, including Plague Town (2008) and The Theatre Bizarre (2011), while restoring and releasing over 35 titles from the UK's controversial "Video Nasties" list.^[1] Its founders have been vocal champions of anti-censorship efforts, including a landmark 2001 legal challenge for an uncut UK release of Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left (1972) through their previous label, which paved the way for its approval in 2008, underscoring Severin's commitment to preserving unedited cinematic history.^[1]^[3] Through collaborations with prestigious labels like the Criterion Collection and the British Film Institute, Severin has elevated the production of high-quality bonus content for Blu-ray editions of classics such as Dawn of the Dead (1978) and The Tenant (1976), employing an international team across the US, UK, Italy, and Australia to deliver meticulously crafted releases.^[2] As of 2025, the company continues its work, winning the Best Home Release from an Indie Studio Award in April and announcing new restorations for release later in the year.^[4]

Company Overview

Founding and Leadership

Severin Films was established in 2006 in Los Angeles, California, by filmmakers and industry veterans David Gregory, Carl Daft, and John Cregan.^[3] The company was formed as an independent film production and distribution entity, with a primary emphasis on home video releases of cult and provocative cinema.^[3]^[5] The founders brought extensive prior experience in the genre film sector to the venture. Gregory and Daft, who first met as middle school students in Nottingham, England, had co-launched the VHS and DVD label Exploited in their mid-twenties, where they pioneered innovative special features for exploitation titles.^[3]^[2] Daft, a practicing lawyer, handled business aspects, while Gregory focused on creative production. Cregan, meanwhile, contributed his expertise as an editor for Blue Underground's U.S. operations, a label known for distributing international cult films.^[3]^[6] The company's headquarters are located in Los Angeles, with additional operations in London facilitating European market engagement.^[3] This structure has enabled Severin to operate as a nimble independent studio from its inception.

Mission and Focus

Severin Films is an independent studio dedicated to rescuing, restoring, and releasing provocative cinema from cult icons and Oscar nominees, primarily through high-quality physical media formats such as Blu-ray and 4K UHD, alongside digital platforms.^[3] The company's mission emphasizes preserving and distributing underrepresented works that might otherwise remain obscure, with co-founder David Gregory articulating this commitment by stating, “World cinema speaks many languages… Severin is committed to uplifting the most provocative voices in entertainment.”^[3] This focus on accessibility and fidelity to original visions underscores Severin Films' role in making niche and boundary-pushing content available to global audiences. The studio's primary focus areas span a diverse array of cult classics and genre-specific subgenres, including horror variants like Italian gialli, cannibal films, and zombie movies; erotic thrillers; 1980s action; Blaxploitation; Ozploitation; Nunsploitation; arthouse cinema; UK comedies; documentaries; and even children's films.^[3] With a library exceeding 250 films and television projects, Severin Films prioritizes titles from fringe auteurs such as Jess Franco and Bruno Mattei, alongside more recognized figures like Dario Argento and Alejandro Jodorowsky, ensuring a broad representation of international and unconventional storytelling.^[3] Central to Severin Films' ethos is a strong anti-censorship stance, rooted in the founders' historical advocacy against restrictive film classifications, as exemplified by co-founder Carl Daft's involvement in landmark appeals challenging bans on controversial releases.^[3] This commitment extends to uplifting underrepresented voices in entertainment by restoring and promoting works that defy mainstream norms and cultural barriers. In 2019, Severin Films expanded its scope with the launch of the Severin Kids imprint, dedicated to family-oriented releases of generation-defining children's classics like The Peanut Butter Solution. In 2020, the company launched the Intervision imprint, dedicated to ‘80s softcore and shot-on-video rarities.^[3]

History

Origins and Early Development

The origins of Severin Films trace back to the mid-1990s in Nottingham, England, where co-founders David Gregory and Carl Daft, who had met in middle school, launched the Exploited label to release cult and exploitation films on VHS and early DVD formats.^[3]^[5] This venture produced around 14 titles, including Hated (1994) and Deranged (1974), often featuring innovative special features like filmmaker interviews to enhance viewer engagement.^[3]^[5] Concurrently, operating as Blue Underground UK, Gregory and Daft created supplementary featurettes for U.S. DVD editions of landmark genre films such as Dawn of the Dead (1978) and Don’t Look Now (1973), honing their expertise in content curation and production for the home video market.^[3]^[7] These early endeavors were marked by significant challenges, particularly in navigating the United Kingdom's stringent censorship regime under the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and the Video Recordings Act of 1984, which imposed high costs and delays for rating obscure titles.^[5]^[7] A notable example was the 2001 release of The Last House on the Left (1972) under Exploited, which faced cuts and sparked successful anti-censorship appeals by Daft, underscoring the difficulties of operating a boutique label amid a home video landscape increasingly dominated by major studios transitioning to DVD.^[3]^[5] Gregory's subsequent work in the U.S., producing special editions like The Mondo Cane Collection (2002) for Blue Underground, further exposed the hurdles of securing rights to aging exploitation films, many of which suffered from lost negatives or fragmented ownership.^[3]^[7] Upon forming Severin Films in 2006, the company adopted an aggressive strategy to acquire rights to obscure cult titles, prioritizing DVD releases of niche genre cinema such as Italian giallo and horror to carve out a dedicated audience.^[3]^[7] Initial releases included Mansion of the Living Dead (1982) in October 2006 and early 2007 titles like Gwendoline (1984) and several Jess Franco films, emphasizing high-quality transfers and bonus materials to differentiate from mainstream competitors.^[8]^[7] This approach laid the foundation for restoration efforts by sourcing the best available elements for these long-neglected works.^[5] Key early partnerships bolstered these foundations, including ongoing collaboration with Blue Underground U.S. founder Bill Lustig until 2006, which provided access to industry networks, and the involvement of editor John Cregan, who brought technical expertise from U.S. operations.^[3]^[7] By 2009, the addition of producer Evan Husney from Troma Entertainment further strengthened acquisition capabilities, enabling Severin to rapidly build a catalog of provocative, underappreciated films through targeted negotiations with rights holders.^[7]^[5]

Expansion and Milestones

In the 2010s, Severin Films expanded its operational footprint beyond its Los Angeles headquarters by establishing a presence in the United Kingdom to facilitate international distribution and production collaboration.^[9] This move supported the company's growing catalog of restored genre films, enabling smoother access to European markets and talent. Concurrently, the company transitioned from primarily DVD releases to higher-resolution formats, embracing Blu-ray as the standard by the mid-2010s to meet collector demands for enhanced visual quality.^[3] By the late 2010s, Severin Films had significantly grown its library to over 250 films and television projects, reflecting a decade of strategic acquisitions and restorations focused on cult and exploitation cinema.^[3] A key milestone came in 2019 with the launch of the Severin Kids imprint, dedicated to restoring and releasing family-friendly classics such as The Peanut Butter Solution (1985), marking the company's first venture into children's programming to broaden its audience.^[3] This period also saw successful rights acquisitions, including the long-pursued license for Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre (1989) in 2011, which became a cornerstone of their horror catalog.^[10] Entering the 2020s, Severin Films further advanced its technological capabilities by adopting 4K UHD restorations and expanding to digital streaming platforms, allowing wider accessibility for titles like the Danza Macabra series.^[3] Notable achievements included a 2024 partnership with the Russ Meyer Charitable Trust to restore and release iconic films including Vixen! (1968), Supervixens (1975), and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra Vixens (1979) from original negatives, underscoring the company's role in preserving American exploitation cinema.^[11] In June 2024, Severin closed a distribution deal with Shudder and IFC Films for 11 special edition physical releases, enhancing its theatrical and home video output.^[12] As of 2025, Severin Films continues its expansion through active restorations and high-profile announcements, including the worldwide UHD premiere of Mario Bava's A Bay of Blood (1971) in a 5-disc limited edition and the 11-disc Saga Erotica: The Emmanuelle Collection featuring multiple 4K restorations.^[13] The company also hosts the annual Super-Shock Pop-Up Film Festival, with events scheduled through November 2025 showcasing restored prints and new projects.^[14] These efforts highlight ongoing growth in library curation and format innovation, maintaining Severin's commitment to niche genre preservation.^[3]

Film Releases

Restored and Distributed Films

Severin Films specializes in the restoration and distribution of obscure and cult classic films, undertaking in-house efforts to remaster these titles through high-definition scans from original camera negatives, audio enhancements, and the inclusion of extensive bonus materials such as new interviews, archival footage, and commentaries.^[3] For instance, their restorations often involve collaborations with institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and the Academy Film Archive to source and repair elements, with projects sometimes requiring hundreds of hours of work to address damage while preserving the original aesthetic.^[15] This process has enabled the revival of long-unavailable works, presented in formats including 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and digital, emphasizing technical fidelity and contextual enrichment for collectors and enthusiasts.^[16] Among their notable releases are restorations of films like Bloody Moon (1981), a Spanish-German slasher restored in 4K UHD with upgraded audio and new special features; Hardware (1990), Richard Stanley's cyberpunk horror scanned from the original negative for its Blu-ray edition; Santa Sangre (1989), Alejandro Jodorowsky's surreal masterpiece reissued in high definition with bonus materials exploring its production; and BMX Bandits (1983), an Australian action-comedy given a definitive remaster highlighting its '80s stunt work.^[17] Severin has also curated works by key directors, including Dario Argento's giallo thrillers such as Opera (1987) and The Psychic (1977), restored from original elements to showcase their atmospheric visuals; Jess Franco's erotic horrors like The Sadist of Notre Dame (1979) and Cries of Pleasure (1983), remastered to uncover previously censored footage; Russ Meyer's sexploitation classics including Vixen! (1968), Supervixens (1975), and Up! (1976), scanned in 4K with over nine hours of combined extras; and Jodorowsky's visionary projects beyond Santa Sangre.^[18]^[15] The company's catalog reflects a diverse genre distribution, with a strong emphasis on horror (e.g., Italian zombie films like Burial Ground and Zombie Holocaust), exploitation (including blaxploitation and nunsploitation titles), action (such as '80s adrenaline-fueled entries like 2020 Texas Gladiators), and international cinema, particularly Italian gialli with their stylized murders and Australian Ozploitation featuring gritty, sun-drenched thrillers.^[3] This curation prioritizes underrepresented subgenres, blending high-art influences with lowbrow appeal to appeal to niche audiences.^[17] Overall, Severin Films has distributed over 250 restored catalog titles, excluding their original productions, forming a comprehensive library that has significantly expanded access to global cult cinema since the company's founding in 2006.^[3]

Original Productions

Severin Films expanded its operations beyond distribution and restoration by producing original content, beginning shortly after its founding in 2006 and focusing primarily on documentaries that delve into film history, genre subcultures, and the legacies of exploitation cinema. This shift allowed the company to create new works that complement its catalog of restored classics, emphasizing educational and celebratory explorations of overlooked cinematic phenomena. These productions often serve as meta-commentaries on the very films Severin restores, bridging archival preservation with contemporary analysis.^[19] Among the key original titles are Enter the Clones of Bruce, a documentary examining the "Bruceploitation" era of unauthorized Bruce Lee imitator films through interviews with actors and filmmakers; Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021), which traces the genre's evolution across over 200 films with contributions from more than 50 experts; Creation Is Violent (2021), a portrait of actor Klaus Kinski's turbulent final years using archival footage and personal accounts; Tales of the Uncanny (2020), an in-depth look at horror anthology filmmaking featuring over 60 international contributors; and co-produced features such as Plague Town (2008), a horror film about a family encountering a plague-ridden village, and The Theatre Bizarre (2011), an anthology of six macabre tales. Other notable projects include Blood & Flesh: The Reel Life & Ghastly Death of Al Adamson (2019), chronicling the exploitation director's career and demise, and Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau (2014), detailing the chaotic production of the 1996 adaptation. These works highlight Severin's interest in cult figures and niche genres, often incorporating elements from their restored releases for contextual depth.^[19] The production style of Severin's originals centers on meticulous use of archival footage, rare clips, and extensive interviews with genre insiders, cult icons, and historians to unpack thematic elements of exploitation and horror cinema. Directors like David Gregory, who helmed several projects including Enter the Clones of Bruce and Tales of the Uncanny, employ a narrative-driven approach that blends scholarly insight with entertaining anecdotes, fostering appreciation for low-budget and transgressive filmmaking traditions. This method aligns with Severin's broader restoration ethos, as the documentaries frequently reference and analyze restored titles to illustrate historical significance.^[19]^[20] To date, Severin has produced around 12 original projects, encompassing documentaries, short anthologies, and meta-films that span topics from Gothic television influences to Jodorowsky's surrealism, maintaining a scope tied to preserving and illuminating the underrepresented corners of global cinema. These efforts, released primarily on Blu-ray with bonus materials, underscore the company's commitment to both creating and contextualizing provocative content for dedicated collectors and enthusiasts.^[19]

Impact and Legacy

Contributions to Film Preservation

Severin Films has played a pivotal role in film preservation by acquiring neglected prints and funding extensive restoration projects, often scanning from original 35mm elements to produce 4K UHD versions. For instance, their restoration of Mario Bava's A Bay of Blood (1971) involved a first-ever 4K scan from the original negative, addressing decades of degradation in obscure giallo titles. Similarly, the restoration of Riccardo Freda's Lo Spettro (1963) incorporated lost shots sourced from a positive print at the Academy Film Archive's Jon Davison Collection, ensuring completeness in previously incomplete versions. These efforts frequently include director commentaries and recovered footage, as seen in the 4K remaster of Russ Meyer's Vixen! (1968), which required over 400 hours of work to revive damaged elements while adding new audio tracks from the filmmaker.^[13]^[21]^[16] The company's work has significantly revived forgotten subgenres, particularly Nunsploitation and Blaxploitation, by making rare titles accessible through high-quality physical media. In Nunsploitation, Severin's Nasty Habits: The Nunsploitation Collection (2023) restored uncut versions of films like Cristiana: Devil Nun (1977) from original elements, introducing these controversial 1970s Italian exploitation works to modern audiences. For Blaxploitation, restorations such as Blackenstein (1973) and Sugar Hill (1974) have preserved voodoo-horror hybrids starring Black leads, scanned from vault materials to highlight underrepresented narratives in cult cinema. These releases not only salvage deteriorating prints but also contextualize the genres' cultural significance through bonus features like historical essays.^[22]^[23] Severin addresses key challenges in preservation, including complex rights negotiations for international films and the threat of digital piracy, by prioritizing robust physical editions over ephemeral streaming. Their founding stemmed from the 2001 censorship battle over an uncut The Last House on the Left (1972), which influenced UK video laws and underscored the need for legal advocacy in releasing banned titles. For global catalogs like Jess Franco's oeuvre, Severin navigates fragmented rights across Europe to secure elements for 4K scans, as in Vampyros Lesbos (1971). To counter piracy, their deluxe Blu-ray and UHD sets—often with slipcovers, booklets, and multiple cuts—offer superior fidelity and extras that incentivize legitimate ownership, safeguarding long-term accessibility.^[3]^[3] Through these initiatives, Severin has built a comprehensive archive of over 250 cult titles, influencing academic and fan studies of exploitation cinema. Documentaries produced in collaboration, such as Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021), draw from their restored library to analyze subgenre evolution, cited in scholarly discussions on marginal film histories. This legacy ensures that obscure works by directors like Dario Argento and Russ Meyer remain viable for research, fostering renewed appreciation in film studies programs and festivals.^[3]^[24]

Recognition and Advocacy

Severin Films has garnered significant industry acclaim for its restoration and release efforts, particularly in the realm of cult and genre cinema. In 2024, the company's boxed set The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle received the Best Movie Boxed Set award at the Home Entertainment Media Play News Awards, recognizing its curatorial excellence in compiling and restoring Italian erotic thrillers from the 1970s and 1980s. Similarly, in 2025, All the Haunts Be Ours Vol. 2, a comprehensive anthology of international folk horror films, won the Peter von Bagh Award for Best Film at the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival in Bologna, highlighting Severin's contributions to global film preservation and exhibition. The distributor's original production Lola (2022) also achieved notable success, securing two awards from the Irish Film & Television Academy in 2024, including Best Director and Best Screenplay, after nominations in seven categories. These honors underscore Severin's role in elevating overlooked works through high-quality physical media releases. The company has been a vocal advocate against film censorship, drawing from the experiences of its founders, David Gregory and Carl Daft, who prior to establishing Severin in 2006, challenged the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) over an uncut UK release of Wes Craven's The Last House on the Left (1972) under their previous venture, Blue Underground UK. This 2001 controversy, which demanded cuts to the film's graphic content and sparked international debate on free speech in cinema, became a cornerstone of their anti-censorship ethos. Severin has since produced influential documentaries on the subject, including Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010), which examines the UK's 1980s "video nasty" prosecutions of 72 films like Cannibal Holocaust (1980) and The Last House on the Left, and its sequels Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide (2013) and Video Nasties: The Definitive Guide Part II (2014). These works, directed by Jake West, feature expert interviews and archival footage to critique moral panics and advocate for uncut access to provocative cinema, influencing ongoing discussions in film policy. Severin's industry influence is evident in its collaborations with renowned directors, including restored editions of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Santa Sangre (1989), released in 4K UHD in 2021 with the director's supervision, and Dario Argento's giallo films as part of the Danza Macabra series. These partnerships extend to festival contributions, such as screening restored classics like The Ghost (1963) with actress Barbara Steele at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, fostering retrospectives that celebrate European genre cinema. The company's efforts have also led to strategic alliances, including a 2024 distribution deal with Shudder and IFC Films for select titles. Severin Films enjoys a strong reputation as a premier boutique label specializing in provocative and transgressive cinema, often praised in genre media for its commitment to uncut, high-fidelity releases of banned or obscure titles. Outlets like Bloody Disgusting have lauded Severin for producing "definitive" home video editions and documentaries that educate on censorship history, positioning the company as a defender of cinematic freedom and a key player in the collector community. This perception is reinforced by its annual Super-Shock Pop-Up Festival, which in 2025 drew sold-out crowds for exclusive previews, solidifying its status among horror enthusiasts and archivists.