Arrow Films, out December 10

When busty horror TV host Elvira falls out from her top… I mean, falls out with her new boss… it’s time to move to Vegas. But the sudden death of distant relative means that she might be in line for a significant inheritance.

It’s pretty fair to say that Elvira, Mistress of the Dark is a one-joke movie. Well, two jokes. And they are Elvira’s boobs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film with so many jokes about bosoms, from single entendres to double entendres, to visual gags and witty throwaway lines like ‘Nice tits!’ Yes, in the less-enlightened world of 1988 the ‘Carry On’ ethos was still live and perving, and while most of the jokes are more of a wink at the camera than outright offensive, strip away the smut and there’s not much here.

This UK Blu-ray premiere has been taken from a new 4K scan of the original interpositive and there’s a commentary with director James Signorelli, hosted by Fangoria’s Tony Timpone (I recall lots of photos of this movie in Fango back in the 80s!) as well as one by Patterson Lundquist, judge of US TV show The Search for the Next Elvira – no, me neither. There’s also an archival commentary by the actors and an update ‘Making of’ documentary, which at 97 minutes goes into the level of detail you frankly wouldn’t think is there. And as the tale of the behind-the-scenes journey to the screen it’s far more engaging than the actual movie. Recipe for Terror: The Creation of the Pot Monster is also a fun piece on the movie’s big special effect, and the package is completed by trailers and storyboards.

Verdict: Cassandra Peterson’s Elvira is never less than endearing, a top-heavy combination of Morticia Addams and Jessica Rabbit, and there’s an impressive rack… of extras, but it does all get tiresome very quickly and if you really must buy it, wait for a ‘3 for £20’ deal at your retailer. 5/10

Nick Joy