Slew of horror films on DVD

It's not even October yet, but horror shows for Halloween are already starting to roll out in force. These are all making their DVD debut.

THE BORIS KARLOFF COLLECTION (Universal, 1937-52, not rated, $29.98, three discs). These five enjoyable flicks, starring the venerable Boris Karloff, demonstrate his often underrated range and ability.

—"Night Key" (1937, b/w) isn't a horror film but has Karloff made up to play an aged inventor whose innovative new burglar alarm is stolen by his partner. (Home video debut)

—"Tower of London" (1939, b/w) is also not a horror piece, but it's the best of these films, a period melodrama with murder on its mind, as evil King Richard III (Basil Rathbone) kills those who block his succession to the throne, with aid from his executioner (Karloff). Vincent Price has a supporting role as an ill-fated duke.

—"The Climax" (1944, color), Karloff's first color film, is at its best when it focuses on him as a theater physician who killed an opera star 10 years earlier and may kill again. But the picture weakens when it meanders through a romantic subplot. Echoes of "Phantom of the Opera."

—"The Strange Door" (1951, b/w) is the weakest of these but has its moments — with Karloff as a quiet servant who becomes the hero. Charles Laughton is way over the top in the lead role as an insane 18th-century French lord.

—"The Black Castle" (1952, b/w) also reduces Karloff to a supporting role as a good guy in another gothic period piece, as a nobleman (Richard Greene) visits the castle of an evil one-eyed count (Stephen McNally) to find out what happened to two friends. Lon Chaney Jr. also shows up.

Extras: Full frame, subtitle options (English, French), chapters.

INNER SANCTUM MYSTERIES (Universal, 1943-45, b/w, $29.98, two double-sided discs). These are low-budget B-movie murder mysteries — all starring Lon Chaney Jr. — that took their franchise name from the "Inner Sanctum" radio anthology series.

—"Calling Dr. Death" (1943). Did a doctor (Chaney) murder his wife before losing his memory? He undergoes hypnosis to find out.

—"Weird Woman" (1944) is, arguably, the best of these, as a college professor (Chaney) marries a voodoo priestess (Ann Gwynne) during a South Seas trip, brings her home and has to contend with a jealous ex-girlfriend (Evelyn Ankers).