Severin Films' David Gregory

In this episode of 'The Movies That Made Me,' host Joe Dante sits down with David Gregory, co-founder of Severin Films, to explore the films that shaped Gregory’s cinematic journey and the often-unseen work of preserving and restoring cult, genre, and forgotten cinema. Gregory shares his deep affection for Severin’s meticulous restorations, highlighting landmark releases like the 4K restoration of 'Delicatessen' and the exhaustive box sets on filmmakers like Al Adamson and Jimmy Sangster. He recounts formative experiences watching films like 'Dracula vs. Frankenstein' and 'Bloody Moon' in his youth, and how the UK’s 'video nasties' scandal cemented his passion for horror and resistance to censorship. The conversation turns to Severin’s ambitious projects, including a 13-disc Grand Guignol box set with a 90-minute documentary on the infamous Parisian Theatre of Horrors, and their ongoing quest to recover lost films like 'Unhinged' and 'Exit the Dragon, Enter the Tiger.' Gregory candidly reveals the legal and logistical hurdles—especially with major studios like Disney and Warner Bros.—that prevent the release of films like 'The Nanny' and 'The Devils,' despite their cultural and artistic value. The episode is a love letter to physical media and film preservation, celebrating Severin’s role as a 'heroic act' in saving cinema from obscurity. Gregory’s reverence for filmmakers like Jess Franco and the raw, chaotic energy of exploitation cinema shines through, as does his belief in cinema as a living, breathing art form. The discussion ends on a hopeful note, with a call to action for film lovers to support organizations like Missing Movies and to cherish the tactile, imperfect beauty of restored prints. Ultimately, this is a celebration of cinema’s resilience, the power of nostalgia, and the quiet revolution happening in film vaults across the world.