Terror Films & Umbrella Entertainment's “HELL HOUSE LLC” Collector’s Box Set Is An Essential Purchase! (REVIEW)

Courtesy of Umbrella Entertainment

Horror fans and collectibles have gone hand in hand since there was the first chance to get the Michael Myers mask from the classic “Halloween” movies. One of the most important collectibles on a horror fan’s shelf is that of the physical media of horror movies. Collecting physical media for horror movies, such as Blu-rays, box sets, and 4K releases is essential for preserving the genre's history. Doing so is a fantastic way of ensuring access to uncensored, high-quality versions with a bit of horrifyingly entertaining good time that goes beyond the horror movie itself. Streaming platforms may alter or remove films due to licensing issues, but owning physical copies guarantees permanent access beyond the desires of our horror fandoms. Moreover, special features like director’s commentaries, behind-the-scenes footage, and collectible packaging often accompany physical media, enriching the horror fan experience in the best ways. For horror movie enthusiasts, these collections offer a way to appreciate the artistry, context, and cultural impact of their favorite films. Who knows when the days of the horrific apocalypse that people have dreaded for years will come, but you will at least be satisfied knowing you will be able to end the world (or just enjoy a night when the WiFi goes out) with the sweet joys of your horror movie box sets and physical media. 

Recently we here at Macabre Daily packed our bags, said a few prayers, and made our way to the Abbadon Hotel to enjoy the amazing “Hell House LLC Collection I-IV” Blu-ray collector’s edition box set from Terror Films Releasing and Umbrella Entertainment. This terrific collector’s edition collection of the found footage horror franchise phenomenon includes:

· 100+ page hardback book with written content from Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and an exclusive Q&A with Director Steven Cognetti

· Lenticular rigid case using 3 original poster artworks

· 8 art cards

· 2 x A3 reversible posters

· Limited Edition Numbered release

Each movie also has an amazing bit of extras alongside the Blu-ray quality format to enjoy the fright and found footage style of this hauntingly great horror-fueled story. The collector’s edition box set includes the movies with special features like: 

Hell House LLC

· Audio Commentary with Director Stephen Cognetti

· Hell House LLC - Director’s Cut

· NEW! Video Essay by Andrew Foster

· Cast Auditions

· Behind the Scenes

· Deleted Scenes

· NEW! Hell House Unseen Improv Scenes

· Trailer

Review: This is the movie that started it all and holds a high reserve as a fan favorite among the franchise. On paper it seems like the typical haunted house and found footage movie but what makes this one of the best ones is the fact that the slow burn into madness doesn’t seem forced and the subtle ways it terrifies the audiences with background ghosts or misplaced clown props will keep you up at night well after the end of the movie.

Hell House LLC II: Abbadon Hotel

· Audio Commentary with Director Stephen Cognetti

· NEW! Video Essay by Andrew Foster

· Behind the Scenes of Hell House II

· Finding Abaddon featurette

· Trailer

Review: The sequel that fans were long awaiting for didn’t disappoint in any aspects. It is a great follow up to the events of the first one with the original haunted house crew’s disappearances still remaining a mystery. What stands out the most with this is it doesn’t try to repeat the same storyline by having someone take over and meet the same fate, but utilizes new characters journalistic curiosity to dive deeper into the terrors of the Abbadon Hotel. Not to mention the great scenes involving teens trying to make YouTube videos and being scared out of their minds. It is a great follow up and pairs well with the original as you get a bit more of the origins of the previous owner of the Abbadon Hotel and his demonic motives.

Hell House LLC III: Lake of Fire

· NEW! Audio Commentary with Director Stephen Cognetti

· NEW! Video Essay by Kat Ellinger

· NEW! Behind the Scenes of Hell House III

· Trailer

Review: Unfortunately this one is seen by fans as not a favorite but a poor sequel, which is hard to believe considering the fact that it almost takes the story back to its roots with people not only taking over the haunted house for a new attraction, but getting a cameo from the previous victims of the first film. It is an enjoyable chapter of the franchise mainly for the fact that it has a bit more twists and turns with the plot than the previous chapters, but it does add a bit of closure to the Abbadon Hotel. The only bad part is your are left wanting more and we didn’t get more of the franchise until years later. It is still one that we suggest fully watching and enjoying with the rest of the movies.

Hell House LLC Origins: The Carmichael Manor

· NEW! Audio Commentary with Director Stephen Cognetti

· NEW! Video Essay by Kat Ellinger

· NEW! Behind the Scenes of Hell House Origins

· NEW! Cast Auditions

· Trailer

Review: This was the comeback for the franchise we were all waiting for. Since the Abbadon Hotel burned down in the last chapter of the franchise, many of the fans wondered were it would now take us. With the announcement of it being an origins story we thought we were getting the much anticipated “Abbadon Tapes”, but this was a great route. We get to see a story of a family who were plagued by the curse of the Abbadon Hotel before it became what it was, a strong new cast who breath fresh new talent to the franchise and an even more terrifying addition to the story. While all of these are scary in their own way, The Carmichael Manor may be the scariest in the franchise, mainly for the haunting that happen within the walls of the home our main characters spend most of their time in.

 The box set has an amazing cover that holds each movie, the book, and collectible images/posters perfectly. It also has a beautiful front cover that changes between the first 3 movie posters when you move it around. While all of this is splendid for any fan of the franchise, the best thing about the collector’s edition is the hardcover book. This mini hardcover book has not only great cover art but also glossy pages filled with tons of facts, images, behind-the-scenes info, and more that will suck you in just as much as the movies themselves (it also makes great décor for your horror bookshelves). It is a great companion to the art cards and mini posters that we could see many horror fans taking to cons and events to get autographed.

Another great part of this collector’s box set art is the Blu-rays themselves. The cover arts for each case add a bit of extra eerie feeling with the faces of the infamous clowns from the “Hell House LLC” franchise. Not to mention when you get over the creepiness of their faces you are once again greeted by them when you open the cases and see them on the Blu-rays. These are a phenomenally terrific touch to the collector’s box set but even more so are the commentaries and special features on each of the discs.

The biggest and best special feature of each of the Blu-ray Discs has to be the director’s commentary featuring Stephen Cognetti. Hearing him speak about each scene, each scare, and the story, in general, gives off the feel of attending a terrifyingly glee-fueled Ted Talk on each movie. They are very enjoyable and informative while knowing his process and his likes about the franchise from his perspective. These commentaries are a great companion to the hardcover book, but honestly hearing them from the Hell House host himself is very memorable.

With the “Hell House LLC” collector’s edition box set you’re still getting a great mix of the typical special features including behind-the-scenes, deleted scenes, and the addition of the visual essays. The “Hell House LLC: Director’s Cut” will be a fan favorite, as you will get a bit of a longer cut of the movie and an introduction by the director himself Stephen Cognetti.

We here at Macabre Daily are huge horror fans and especially equally big fans of physical media. We are even more fans of the fantastic special features that come with those physical media pieces we get the chance to have sent our way, especially with a director’s cut involved. It goes without saying that this is a high recommendation from us to add to your physical media library. Whether you have a vastly large physical media library or looking to start one up, this is going to be one you will want to revisit every spooky season and proudly have on your shelf as a bit of a brag to your fellow horror fan friends.

The “Hell House LLC Collection I-IV” Blu-ray collector’s edition box set from Terror Films Releasing and Umbrella Entertainment is now available online via the link here for $90. For more reviews of all things spooky and collectible, stay tuned to Macabre Daily as your go-to source of everything horror.

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