Anchor Bay/Starz! Press Release

[Horrorview]

Hey Guys! Dunno how much if this is news to anyone else, but my Anchor Bay rep just e-mailed me this a couple of minutes ago.

Dear Journalist:



On October 2nd, Anchor Bay Entertainment will unleash a new way of looking at horror – with the first
Anchor Bay titles released in Blu-ray high definition! Classics like John Carpenter’s Halloween, George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead and Day of the Dead, along with Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II are faithfully preserved with 1080p transfers and uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio.


On October 16th, the Emmy™ and Saturn™ award winning horror anthology “Masters of Horror” starts its transition to Blu-ray with two volumes, each containing three bone-chilling episodes from the anthology series that redefined the genre!


The final specs for Anchor Bay Entertainment’s first Blu-ray releases are now available. Starting on Tuesday, October 2nd:



DAWN OF THE DEAD

Tech specs:

BD-50 dual layer
1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer
1.85 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Surround 2.0
Original Mono
Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director George A. Romero, Special Make-up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Assistant Director Chris Romero and DVD Producer Perry Martin
Fast Film Facts – Blu-ray exclusive feature!
The Dead Will Walk Featurette
On-Set Home Movies
Monroeville Mall Tour
U.S. & International Trailers
U.S. & U.K. TV Spots
U.S. & U.K. Radio Spots
Monroeville Mall Commercial
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!

DAY OF THE DEAD

BD-50 dual layer
1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer
1.85 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Surround 2.0
Original Mono
Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director George A. Romero, Special Make-up Effects Artist Tom Savini, Production Designer Cletus Anderson, and Actress Lori Cardille
Audio Commentary with Filmmaker Roger Avary
Fast Film Facts – Blu-ray exclusive feature!
“The Many Days of Day of the Dead” Featurette
Behind The Scenes
Audio Interview with Richard Liberty
U.S. & International Trailers
U.S. & U.K. TV Spots
U.S. & U.K. Radio Spots
Gateway Commerce Center Promo
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!

EVIL DEAD II

BD-50 dual layer
1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer
1.85 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Digital 5.1
Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Sam Raimi, Star Bruce Campbell, Co-Writer Scott Spiegel and Special Make-up Effects Artist Greg Nicotero
Fast Film Facts – Blu-ray exclusive feature!
Evil Dead II: Behind The Screams Featurette
The Gore The Merrier Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!

HALLOWEEN

BD-50 dual layer
1080p AVC MPEG-4 transfer
2.35 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Digital 5.1
Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Director John Carpenter, Actress Jamie Lee Curtis, and Producer Debra Hill
Fast Film Facts – Blu-ray exclusive feature!
Halloween: A Cut Above The Rest Featurette
Trailer
TV Spots
Radio Spots
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!
The screams continue in high resolution on Tuesday, October 16th:



MASTERS OF HORROR V1

Episodes: CIGARETTE BURNS, DREAMS IN THE WITCH HOUSE, FAIR HAIRED CHILD
BD-50 dual layer
1080i AVC MPEG-4 transfer
1.77 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Surround 5.1
Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Director John Carpenter on CIGARETTE BURNS
Audio Commentary with Writers Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan on CIGARETTE BURNS
Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Stuart Gordon, Actor Ezra Godden and DVD Producer Perry Martin on DREAMS IN THE WITCH HOUSE
Audio Commentary with Writer Matt Greenberg and Director William Malone on FAIR HAIRED CHILD
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!


MASTERS OF HORROR V2

Episodes: JENIFER, SICK GIRL, DEER WOMAN
BD-50 dual layer
1080i AVC MPEG-4 transfer
1.77 Anamorphic
Uncompressed 5.1 PCM
Dolby Surround 5.1

Bonus features:

Audio Commentary with Writer/Actor Steven Weber and DVD Producer Perry Martin on JENIFER
Audio Commentary with Director Lucky McKee, Composer Jaye Barnes Luckett and Actors Angela Bettis and Jesse Hlubik on SICK GIRL
Audio Commentary with Actors Brian Benben and Anthony Griffith on DEER WOMAN
Anchor Bay Blu-ray Preview – Presented in high definition!

DAWN OF THE DEAD Blu-ray
Street Date: October 2, 2007
Pre-Book: August 30, 2007
Catalog #: N3008
UPC: 0-1313-83008-8 1
Run Time: 127 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $29.97

DAY OF THE DEAD Blu-ray
Street Date: October 2, 2007
Pre-Book: August 30, 2007
Catalog #: N3005
UPC: 0-1313-83005-8 4
Run Time: 110 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $29.97

EVIL DEAD 2 Blu-ray
Street Date: October 2, 2007
Pre-Book: August 30, 2007
Catalog #: N3006
UPC: 0-1313-83006-8 3
Run Time: 84 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $29.97

HALLOWEEN Blu-ray
Street Date: October 2, 2007
Pre-Book: August 30, 2007
Catalog #: N3007
UPC: 0-1313-83007-8 2
Run Time: 127 Minutes
Rating: R
SRP: $29.97

MASTERS OF HORROR VOLUME 1 Blu-ray
Street Date: October 16, 2007
Pre-Book: September 13, 2007
Catalog #: N3009
UPC: 0-1313-83009-8 0
Run Time: 169 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $29.97

MASTERS OF HORROR VOLUME 2 Blu-ray
Street Date: October 16, 2007
Pre-Book: September 13, 2007
Catalog #: N3010
UPC: 0-1313-83010-8 6
Run Time: 175 Minutes
Rating: Not Rated
SRP: $29.97

[Banjo]

Where's the English subtitles and SDH?

I e-mailed them a while ago, I didn't get a response.

[DAMNSAM77]

Niiiiiiiice! I am assuming Anchorbay/Starz are BLURAY Exclusive? we're talking original Halloween...right? thats a good asset to have in BLU!

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by DAMNSAM77

Niiiiiiiice! I am assuming Anchorbay/Starz are BLURAY Exclusive? we're talking original Halloween...right? thats a good asset to have in BLU!

yes they are exclusive.

[Horrorview]

Yep! They're exclusive! I just called my rep to check on the English subs, so I'll post once I get an answer.

[E-Dogg]

Excellent news.

[Rustmonsteru]

Already have the Romero films & Evil Dead II pre-ordered.

Thanks Starz/Anchor Bay.

[JAG1977]

Are Masters of Horror worth buying?

[gandley]

look at all the BD50s. yeilds cant be that bad then if the smaller houses are able to distribute content on them.

[TauHeel05]

Horrorview, thanks for the info. Can't wait to hear the uncompressed 'Halloween' score!

[ProvenFlipper]

Originally Posted by gandley

look at all the BD50s. yeilds cant be that bad then if the smaller houses are able to distribute content on them.

I was thinking the same thing as well. I also just got pissed off at Warner again, because if Anchor Bay can deliver PCM audio on their releases, then Warner most definately can.

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by JAG1977

Are Masters of Horror worth buying?

I saw a few episodes on Showtime. Like everything, some are better than others. I'm holding off on MoH, but Halloween and Evil Dead are mine!

[Blu-dock Saint]

Great news! Definetely got to pick up Evil Dead 2.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Horrorview

HALLOWEEN Blu-ray
Street Date: October 2, 2007
Pre-Book: August 30, 2007
Catalog #: N3007
UPC: 0-1313-83007-8 2
Run Time: 127 Minutes
Rating: R
SRP: $29.97

The run time must be a mistake.

The theatrical version is 91 minutes and the extended cut is 101 minutes.

Anyway, I'm getting Dawn, Day, Evil Dead, and Halloween.

[aygie]

Like the 50's but why are MAsters of Horror only 1080i?

[Palanthian]

I can't freakin wait for Dawn/Day of the Dead. Two of my favorite films of all time. Nice to see that Anchor Bay is going PCM too. I'm excited.

[Blu Titan]

Thanks for the update. I plan on getting three of those titles.

[Bombthroat]

Awesome news, thanks for posting all the specs to go along with the movie announcements. Nice to see them on BD50's.

[MrBogey]

Pfffff... and Amir says making BD-50s is tough.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Aygie

why are MAsters of Horror only 1080i?

I'm wondering too.