Larry Cohen: Mystery & Misdirection

Three-disc set includes: The Private Files Of J. Edgar Hoover (1978)This expansive biodrama offers an intriguing and fascinating look at four decades in the life and times of J. Edgar Hoover, with Broderick Crawford portraying America's number one G-man. The film sweeps through Hoover's illustrious career, covering the bringing down of Dillinger, the fall of McCarthy, the Watergate scandal, and more. Co-stars José Ferrer, Rip Torn, Michael Parks, Rip Torn, and Celeste Holm; Larry Cohen directs. 112 min. C/Rtg: PG Special Effects (1984)After having his manhood mocked by a wanna-be actress (Zoë Tamerlis), washed-up "B" moviemaker Chris Neville (Eric Bogosian) throttled her... and captured the whole act on film. The deranged director then connived not only to make the footage the basis of his comeback project, but to make his victim's hapless husband (Brad Rijn) the fall guy for the slaying. Larry Cohen's satirical, homage-laden suspenser also stars Kevin O'Connor, H. Richard Greene. 106 min. C/Rtg: R Wicked Stepmother (1989)A bewitching black comedy, famous for the off-screen feud between director Larry Cohen and star Bette Davis, who walked before completing the film (her last). Davis and Barbara Carrera play a sinister mother-daughter duo who use black magic to lure men into their clutches. With Colleen Camp, Tom Bosley, David Rasche. 90 min. C/Rtg: PG-13 Widescreen; Soundtracks: English; Subtitles: English (SDH); featurettes; theatrical trailers.