This is the story of two cute little rats named Ben and Willard...and one creepy guy named Crispin Glover. While it didn't light up the box office last winter, New Line Home Entertainment will still give the scary rat tale Willard the Platinum Series treatment on October 7th. Presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby Digital Surround EX, extras include a new audio commentary with director Glen Morgan, producer James Wong, Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey; two documentaries "The Year of the Rat" (from pre-production through the premiere) and "Rat People: Friends or Foes," deleted scenes with optional commentary, the infamous Crispin Glover music video for the title tune (also with commentary), theatrical trailers and ROM extras including a script viewer, a rat gallery, a trivia challenge and the original website. Retail is $27.95.

Also on October 7th comes more scary and sci-fi themed titles. Making their DVD debuts are the Michael Apted thriller Blink starring Aiden Quinn and Madeline Stowe, The Lawnmower Man 2, Heaven's Prisoners and Excessive Force. Each features anamorphic widescreen and full screen transfers, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 surround tracks and trailers. Retail is $19.95 each. And as previously mentioned, that Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III Platinum Series edition is back on for a September 30th release.

Satan in a blender - 12:01am

More Halloween horrors to come from Universal Studios Home Video, who will release a wave of scary movie favorites on October 7th. Fans of Wes Craven can look forward to his favorites The Serpent and the Rainbow and, making its DVD debut, The People Under the Stairs. Both get the anamorphic widescreen treatment plus Dolby 2.0 surround tracks, plus trailers. Also getting reissued in new Universal versions are the John Carpenter gems Prince of Darkness and They Live, which were previously available via Image Entertainment. Newly repackaged with the same specs above (no other extras have been announced), retail is $14.95 a pop. Two additional three packs will be available, The John Carpenter Collection (also with The Thing) and The Wes Craven Collection (with the abysmal Shocker), each for $39.95.

Since it wouldn't be right to piss Chucky off, Universal will also give Child's Play 3 its first-ever domestic DVD debut on October 7th, which is also presented in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 2.0 surround plus the trailer. Retail is $14.95, and The Chucky Collection adds Child's Play 2 and Bride of Chucky to the mix, and goes for $39.95. Note that the first Child's Play is an MGM property and is not included. Neither are the batteries.

Rounding out Universal's October horror lineup are more reissues, including the two Tales from the Crypt flicks, Demon Knight and Bordello of Blood, and the Ice-T horror comedy Hood Rat. All are presented in anamorphic widescreen with Dolby 5.1 surround tracks and include trailers. Retail is $14.95 each.

Last but not least, Universal will also be adding to their September 2nd lineup with a newly-remastered collector's edition of the underrated Brian de Palma crime epic Carlito's Way. Newly remastered in anamorphic widescreen, extras have yet to be announced, but stay tuned. Retail is $19.95. Then on September 23rd is director Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things, complete with a 2.35:1 anamorphic transfer, DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks and trailers. Retail is $26.95. Also for LaBute fans is a reissue of Your Friends & Neighbors complete with the same features as before, and on September 30th the direct-to-video sequel Timecop 2: The Berlin Decision in anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1. Retail is $26.95.

Mouse house - 12:01am

Since man cannot live by horror movies alone (well, I could), here's some happy Disney stuff the whole family can enjoy. Buena Vista Home Entertainment will issue their next wave of Walt Disney Treasures on December 2nd. These excellent limited edition two-disc sets feature the same great collectible packaging, and titles in this lineup include The Chronological Donald, Walt Disney on the Front Lines, Walt Disney's Tomorrowland and Mickey Mouse in Living Color Volume 2. The Chronological Donald presents all of the shorts starring Donald from "Donald and Pluto" in 1936 to "Chef Donald" in 1941, 36 of 'em in all. Mickey Mouse In Living Color: Volume 2 covers Mickey from 1939 to 1995, with 21 shorts in all. Walt Disney On The Front Lines documents the training, propaganda and educational films Walt created over the years, as well as his contributions to the war effort. There are 32 shorts and films in this set. Finally, Walt Disney's Tomorrowland is a compilation of the "Disneyland" TV episodes that focused on outer space and space travel, six in all. Retail is $39.95 each.