IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALPHA NEW CINEMA UNLEASHES VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE ON DVD

AVAILABLE IN STORES AUGUST 28, 2007

A new documentary by KEVIN SEAN MICHAELS

Starring MAILA "VAMPIRA" NURMI, SID HAIG, BILL MOSELEY, FORREST J ACKERMAN, DAVID J. SKAL, JERRY ONLY OF THE MISFITS, CASSANDRA "ELVIRA" PETERSON, DEBBIE ROCHON, LLOYD KAUFMAN, PENNY DREADFUL, THE DOUBLE D'S, JAMI DEADLY, SVENGOOLIE, KEVIN EASTMAN, JULIE STRAIN and ZACHERLEY

Narberth, PA- VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE chronicles the story of Maila "Vampira" Nurmi living on the very edge of show business and her rise to fame 50 years later. In 1954 her big break came when she played the "glamour ghoul" Vampira, who wandered through a hallway of cobwebs to greet viewers of obscure horror movies on the new medium — television. Her newfound fame led her to friendships with Marlon Brando, James Dean and Anthony Perkins. But Vampira's show was abruptly cancelled. Nurmi appeared as Vampira again in the 1959 low-budget sci-fi film, PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE (dubbed "the worst film of all time"), directed by Edward D. Wood Jr.

But you can't keep a good vampire down and Nurmi's character rose from the dead again in 1993's ED WOOD, directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. The movie renewed interest in Maila Nurmi and she has achieved a Bettie Page-like cult status.

"We are very excited to have all these great people pay tribute to the first-ever horror host," says director of VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE Kevin Sean Michaels. "This is the first documentary to really delve into Maila Nurmi's personality, and love it or hate it, her no-holds-barred take on the world is unique."

"We were looking for something different and we heard about VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE," says Steve Kaplan of Alpha New Cinema. "The movie is very much a labor of love for the director Kevin Sean Michaels."

A fellow horror host, Cassandra Peterson a.k.a. Elvira, Mistress of The Dark appears in VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE. In the 1980's, Vampira sued Elvira for alleged unauthorized use of her likeness. The court ruled in favor of Elvira. Why is Elvira in the movie? "To set the record straight," Michaels says. "I think the feud should end here with this movie. Cassandra is a great lady and deserves to be heard."

The movie has been an official selection at many festivals and conventions, including Comic-Con International Film Festival, Fangoria Weekend of Horrors, Weekend of Fear (Germany), MonsterMania, I-CON, and Dragon*Con Independent Film Festival.

Ari Lehman, who was the first to play the character Jason Voorhies in the film FRIDAY THE 13TH, wrote and performed the original score for VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE. "The movie does justice to the legacy of Maila Nurmi, the original scream queen," Lehman says.

Another friend of Kevin Sean Michaels chimes in. "Vampira was the first exaggerated woman I ever yearned to meet," says John Waters, director of PINK FLAMINGOS and HAIRSPRAY. "As a child, she never looked scary to me; I thought she was pretty."

VAMPIRA: THE MOVIE features a crypt of extra features including a tour of the Coffin Case guitar case company, outtakes and music videos.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
Director's Commentary • Ted V. Mikels on "Plan 9" • Joe Flynn Show Interview • Count Smokula - Music Video • Jonny Coffin Interview • Ari Lehman - Music Video and much more!

Color / B&W • 2007 (Documentary) DVD ITEM# ALP 1033 PRICE: 9.98

Alpha Home Entertainment P.O. Box 101 • Narberth, PA 19072-0101
Telephone: 610-649-7650 • 1-800-446-8426 • Fax: 610-649-0315
Press inquiries: steve [at] oldies.com • Updates on www.vampirathemovie.com