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THE 'BOOGEYMEN' ARE COMING: Taking a page from the popular multi-artist Now music compilations, newly formed FlixMix is releasing a greatest-hits collection of a different kind.

Boogeymen, a best-of video compilation featuring 18 classic scenes from horror films, arrives in stores Oct. 2 from the Universal City, Calif.-based FlixMix. The DVD is priced at $19.98, the VHS at $14.98.

FlixMix is an independent production company, distributed by Universal Music and Video Distribution, formed to develop programming for various new-media formats. "We looked at music compilations and saw that it could be applied to movies," says Boogeymen producer Gary Shenk. "With DVD, you can create so much more content."

A 58-minute gore fest, Boogeymen includes scenes from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Candyman, A Nightmare on Elm Street, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Phantasm, and Hellraiser. Shenk says that studios participating in the program receive a flat one-time licensing fee.

The DVD features more than two hours of extras, including onscreen trivia games, character backgrounds, and commentary from the star of everyone's worst nightmare, Robert Englund. One of the all-time scariest boogeymen, Englund played Freddy Krueger in all seven Elm Street films.

FlixMix hopes to create a new DVD brand, but movie compilations don't have a track record at retail. TV-related titles, like Cops and blooper tapes, have enjoyed some short-term success, but FlixMix is entering uncharted territory with Boogeymen.

Shenk says Boogeymen will be aimed specifically at horror fans, with advertising in Fangoria and Rue Morgue, the top two magazines specializing in the genre. Other marketing elements include the Web site boogeymen.com.

Retailers are optimistic that the concept will work. "Compilations of horror scenes, comedy, and other genres make sense," says Amazon.com director of music and video merchandising Bill Carr. "There's a consumer for everything."

While Carr would prefer comedy, Shenk says that FlixMix's next project will focus on action. Ultimate Fights, featuring the best street fights, sword duels, fistfights, karate kicks, and body slams, will arrive in January.



ALL IN THE FAMILY: MTV and Paramount Home Entertainment have been sister companies since 1993, when MTV parent Viacom acquired the film studio. But until now, the cable channel's video product has been released by Sony Music Video.

Effective immediately, Paramount will distribute MTV product in the U.S. and Canada under the MTV Home Entertainment label. Paramount's video division has handled international sales since 1996. The Sony agreement expired this year, opening the door for Paramount to pick up the line.

The first releases under the agreement are Inside Fear (Nov. 6), which puts contestants in a haunted location, and The Real World You Never Saw: Back to New York (Dec. 4).

During the first quarter of 2001 Paramount will also release Daria the Movie: Is It Fall Yet?, a spinoff based on the popular teen-angst cartoon that airs on the music channel. MTV aired the feature earlier this year.

All MTV titles will be priced at $14.95 for VHS and $19.99 for DVD.

Meanwhile, the studio will release Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—Special Collector's Edition Nov. 13. The DVD title is priced at $29.99.

Unlike other collector's editions, the film and its extras will be packed onto one disc. But consumers won't feel cheated: Four different featurettes exploring the film's stunts, visual effects, and the origins of the video game on which it's based are included. Another segment looks at the three months of training that Angelina Jolie went through to play the title character.

Since the film is based on a video game, Paramount is including ROM elements that link viewers to a demo of the game Tomb Raider Chronicles and to an exclusive Web site accessible only through the DVD. Ads for the title will be placed in PlayStation Magazine and Expert Gamer to draw in Croft fans.

The VHS version, which includes one featurette, is priced for rental.