Culture Shock Releasing will release Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 on Blu-ray on November 10, 2026. Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 is on disc for the first time ever, with a transfer from the original D2 masters. Dark Romances (1990) is a shot-on-video horror anthology from 6 directors, with Brinke Stevens in most of the stories.
About Dark Romances (1990)
Dark Romances is a 1990 SOV anthology filmed at EZTV and conceived by director/producer Patricia Miller and (the late) Mark Shepard. It was originally shot as an episodic TV series for Playboy but was turned down due to it being deemed too violent & gory for their network. So, Mark and Patricia decided to distribute the 3-hour, 28-minute edited stories directly to video. Film Threat originally released these as a two-volume set.
Stories in Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2
Dark Romances Vol. 1 has 2 stories. The Black Veil is a Grand Guignol-inspired gothic story set in 1988, in which a psychiatrist’s widow visits a college friend performing in a theater that enacts mutilations. Listen to Midnight is a film noir style story about a photographer and a woman with a dragonfly tattoo who lures men to their death.
Dark Romances Vol. 2 has 5 stories:
- She’s Bad, She’s Blonde, She’s Lunch: a couple robs a store, then meets a man and his monster at lovers’ lane
- Cardinal Sin: a young man dreams of Hustler star Elle Rio while dealing with his overbearing religious mother
- Pet Shop of Death: a submissive husband who wants to leave his wife for his neighbor, played by Brinke Stevens, visits a specialty pet shop to find something to help free him from his marriage
- Last Love: a psychiatrist grieving her husband has an affair with his ghost
- What Goes Around: a composer who lost his wife and child finds inspiration in a woman who is not what she seems
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 commentaries and interview
John Strysik, Rodd Matsui and Patricia Miller recorded commentaries for Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2. Strysik speaks on Last Love and Matsui on Pet Shop of Death. Miller and Strysik speak together on The Black Veil. Brinke Stevens appears in an interview.
EZTV extras and Zombie Party clips on Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2
The 6 directors of Dark Romances worked at or frequented EZTV and filmed Dark Romances at EZTV. Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 includes EZTV promos with an opening sequence bumper and a tour of EZTV studio with John Dorr. Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 also includes clips from Zombie Party, a short film by Matsui and Samuel Oldham.
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 packaging
Culture Shock Releasing sells Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 as a Special Edition with a sideloader slipcover, an 8-page booklet and a poster. The Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 booklet includes an essay by director John Strysik.
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 Blu-ray release details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Label | Culture Shock Releasing |
| Format | Blu-ray |
| Edition | Special Edition |
| Video | Transferred from the original D2 masters |
| Color | Color |
| Subtitles | SDH subtitles; newly created subtitles |
| Aspect ratio | 1.33:1 |
| Region | Region Free |
| Rating | NR |
| Packaging | Sideloader slipcover, 8-page booklet with an essay by director John Strysik, poster with original Dark Romances art from the original trade ad |
| Release date | November 10, 2026 |
| Where to buy | Culture Shock Releasing and Terror Vision |
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 special features
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 includes these special features and details:
- Transferred from their Original D2 Masters
- Region Free Blu-ray
- Sideloader Slipcover w/8-page booklet featuring essay by dir. John Strysik. Poster w/original Dark Romances art from original trade ad.
- Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2
- Commentary on Last Love w/ John Strysik
- Commentary on Petshop of Death w/ Rodd Mattsui
- Commentary on The Black Veil w. Patirica Miller and John Strysik
- Interview w/ Brinke Stevens
- EZTV promos including opening sequence bumper
- John Dorr Tours EZTV studio
- Genre Grinder podcast episode on Dark Romances
- Clips from Zombie Party short film dir. Rodd Matsui and Samuel Oldham
- Nightsearch unaired TV pilot
- Dark Romances original promo trailer
- What is Dark Romances featurette
- BTS slideshow featuring demo music from actor Dukey Flyswatter’s band HAUNTED GARAGE
- Culture Shock Trailers
- Newly Created Subtitles
Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2 comes out on Blu-ray from Culture Shock Releasing on November 10, 2026. Culture Shock Releasing and the Terror Vision store sell Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2. The Terror Vision subscription does not include Dark Romances Vol. 1 & 2.
