John A Russo's Midnight!!

[gunnerg]

I can hardly believe that after years of waiting, FINALLY we're getting a quality release of John A Russo's Midnight! I just had to compare some of Severin's screenshots to the old murky vhs we've seen for years. And, show off my screen used sickle (Nancy uses to kill witch Cynthia) & Vidmark video store counter standee/poster that I acquired from Russo.
Totally pumped for this release! And I must say, there weren't any uncut version rumors on this title. Some hunches that always fell flat when folks found out a lot of the film ends used ended up being light struck and favorite shots were unusable. Russo himself told me he had a bunch of film element, alternate & deleted footage that would make terrific supplements. Even approaching (and being denied by) Lionsgate around the dvd release time. I'm not sure if these elements were edited into a theatrical cut? Or a genuine longer version found? I'm just damned excited to see this! I do wish it included a slip cover of the Vidmark vhs artwork.

[DukeTogo84]

Never seen this, but looks nuts and it has Lawrence Tierney. Will be buying this one for sure.

[drownsoda]

I picked the Lionsgate DVD of this up several years back from a thrift store. I'd never heard of it, but ended up loving it. It has such a grimy, creepy atmosphere. The whole thing is nuts. I bought the Arrow DVD a few years ago on eBay, which was marginally better (mainly because it had some bonus features, whereas the Lionsgate disc was bare-bones). I sort of expected Arrow would eventually do a Blu-ray, but it is a great candidate for Severin. This was the title I was most excited about of the others they announced yesterday, but it doesn't seem many people know about this movie.

[gunnerg]

I'm glad to see more Midnight admirers! Any person taking a blind buy, don't worry. This is very, very unlike Santa Claws or 30th Anniversary NotLD.
Maybe this is by accident? But it's the perfect blend of the winning low budget, American grindhouse/drive-in filmmaking formula. The vhs tape was huge and everywhere, we're talking middle shelf at 90% of video stores. Billions rented this movie. The trailer shown by Severin is great...and the film delivers what it's trailering! A tad unique to itself, but it does enough right to be a commercial for it's genre. Awesome soundtrack, shag carpets, tongue & groove paneled walls, freaky abandoned shacks/barns sitting in fields of dead golden rod. It's budgetary restraints help it as a movie. The opening field-trapped "demon" sequence alone is a classic, gritty film moment. And a good first exposure to the awesome soundtrack I mentioned earlier. I just love it. And I hope the blu ray release broadens the film's admirers.
Usually "the book is better". But in this case, Midnight is a better film than it is a book...which adds too much geographic complexities & crowds of people to the story.

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

I'm glad to see more Midnight admirers! Any person taking a blind buy, don't worry. This is very, very unlike Santa Claws or 30th Anniversary NotLD.
Maybe this is by accident? But it's the perfect blend of the winning low budget, American grindhouse/drive-in filmmaking formula. The vhs tape was huge and everywhere, we're talking middle shelf at 90% of video stores. Billions rented this movie. The trailer shown by Severin is great...and the film delivers what it's trailering! A tad unique to itself, but it does enough right to be a commercial for it's genre. Awesome soundtrack, shag carpets, tongue & groove paneled walls, freaky abandoned shacks/barns sitting in fields of dead golden rod. It's budgetary restraints help it as a movie. The opening field-trapped "demon" sequence alone is a classic, gritty film moment. And a good first exposure to the awesome soundtrack I mentioned earlier. I just love it. And I hope the blu ray release broadens the film's admirers.
Usually "the book is better". But in this case, Midnight is a better film than it is a book...which adds too much geographic complexities & crowds of people to the story.

There is definitely something about this movie, atmospherically speaking, that makes it so effective for me. The locations themselves are just creepy, mainly the exteriors and the rundown rural houses. The woods and rolling fields are captured very ominously. The locations in Malevolence (2004) are very similar—in fact, I think that both films were shot in Pennsylvania, so it makes sense (they also both look like they were filmed during the fall, which makes the natural landscapes even spookier looking).

[gunnerg]

Midnight Blu!!!

Received my copies a few weeks early from Severin and have since checked out this release! I knew there wouldn't be any additional violence/gore. There isn't. Or is there? Every single moment is in such time machine reality. The atmosphere and mood, textures, full dimensions of scenery. They all stood out like new scenes. I kept staring at actor's faces. Nancy was kinda cute afterall. Her eyes were lost on Vidmark vhs. The sound is also greatly improved through earbuds. Lots of little audio nuances that were muffled out or muted before.
So, back to the hyped extended version. I know there's a shot of some cows in a field & "Kalor" (PA) road sign that are new. A few extra van turns, I believe. Not much help, sorry. Need to put in actual focused work to compare. This all means they at least don't hurt the movie! On supplements, superb new interviews, with more new Midnight knowledge (Maniac, Frank Zitos mom appliances used here, just like Friday the 13th's machete). I can't speak highly enough. A fantasy release come true for any mom & pop video storegoer from yesteryear.
I look forward to the audio interview with composer! My last remaining supplement.

[Pinot Grigio]

I thought it was advertised as the uncut version (not seen before) so I'm sorry there's no gore. But the quality is so good that I don't care. It'll enhance the film like never before!

[Jay H.]

I'm pretty sure the budget on this was "free" dollars.

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

Midnight Blu!!!

Received my copies a few weeks early from Severin and have since checked out this release! I knew there wouldn't be any additional violence/gore. There isn't. Or is there? Every single moment is in such time machine reality. The atmosphere and mood, textures, full dimensions of scenery. They all stood out like new scenes. I kept staring at actor's faces. Nancy was kinda cute afterall. Her eyes were lost on Vidmark vhs. The sound is also greatly improved through earbuds. Lots of little audio nuances that were muffled out or muted before.
So, back to the hyped extended version. I know there's a shot of some cows in a field & "Kalor" (PA) road sign that are new. A few extra van turns, I believe. Not much help, sorry. Need to put in actual focused work to compare. This all means they at least don't hurt the movie! On supplements, superb new interviews, with more new Midnight knowledge (Maniac, Frank Zitos mom appliances used here, just like Friday the 13th's machete). I can't speak highly enough. A fantasy release come true for any mom & pop video storegoer from yesteryear.
I look forward to the audio interview with composer! My last remaining supplement.

Is Severin shipping this out early? I am thrilled to have this in HD (as noted above, I am a big fan of this one). If they are shipping them early, I will order right now.

[gunnerg]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

Is Severin shipping this out early? I am thrilled to have this in HD (as noted above, I am a big fan of this one). If they are shipping them early, I will order right now.

Yes, all the Sept 28th releases are in-stock and shipping now!

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

Yes, all the Sept 28th releases are in-stock and shipping now!

Awesome, just ordered this along with Day of Judgment. Thank you!

Update: I woke up this morning was surprised to see Severin already processed my order within hours of my placing it. USPS still hasn't picked it up, but it's ready to go and complete as far as Severin is concerned. Hopefully I get it in the next few days (looks like it's coming from Arizona).

[gunnerg]

As posted in my first post on Midnight. I wished they'd done a Vidmark VHS style slip cover for this release. Well, look what they did!! (posted on Instagram). It even has my favorite theatrical poster on the backside. They're spoiling me now!...well, that is if I can get my hands on a couple from them. Apparently it's a convention favor.

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

As posted in my first post on Midnight. I wished they'd done a Vidmark VHS style slip cover for this release. Well, look what they did!! (posted on Instagram). It even has my favorite theatrical poster on the backside. They're spoiling me now!...well, that is if I can get my hands on a couple from them. Apparently it's a convention favor.

Given the low-expectations I have for boutique labels not screwing over early-buyers, I'll wait for them to inevitably offer this slipcover during a future sale.

[drownsoda]

I got my copy of Midnight (along with A Day of Judgment) today from Severin—didn't expect it'd be here so quickly. I watched Midnight, and the difference in picture quality is truly shocking. I've seen the film on two different DVD editions—the muddy Lionsgate one and the slightly less-muddy Arrow one—and while the Arrow disc looks okay, it really doesn't come close. They did a great restoration of this. As gunnerg alluded, it is truly like watching a completely different movie.

[gunnerg]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

I got my copy of Midnight (along with A Day of Judgment) today from Severin—didn't expect it'd be here so quickly. I watched Midnight, and the difference in picture quality is truly shocking. I've seen the film on two different DVD editions—the muddy Lionsgate one and the slightly less-muddy Arrow one—and while the Arrow disc looks okay, it really doesn't come close. They did a great restoration of this. As gunnerg alluded, it is truly like watching a completely different movie.

Is there a single new scene that you've noticed? I've got this disc living inside my player. Have viewed the film maybe 4 to 5 times now. The edit seems almost identical to me, to the Vidmark tape (I was joking about the new cows and extra van turns). The film is somehow 6 minutes longer. Drives me nuts. A few gestures seem to stay longer. Cynthia's demise audio cue does a double tap, carries out a second longer, I think. But it's not enough to justify the much longer runtime. I still haven't revisited the dreary old release yet. One of these days, I'll play it on YouTube via my phone while watching Severin's release.

[babybreese]

I always do a side by side when trying to figure things out like this.

I am interested in this Blu too.

My guess is the VHS was somehow,
for some reason,
slowed down slightly when transferred.
You'd have noticed a big extension or new sequence easily.

[drownsoda]

Originally Posted by gunnerg

Is there a single new scene that you've noticed? I've got this disc living inside my player. Have viewed the film maybe 4 to 5 times now. The edit seems almost identical to me, to the Vidmark tape (I was joking about the new cows and extra van turns). The film is somehow 6 minutes longer. Drives me nuts. A few gestures seem to stay longer. Cynthia's demise audio cue does a double tap, carries out a second longer, I think. But it's not enough to justify the much longer runtime. I still haven't revisited the dreary old release yet. One of these days, I'll play it on YouTube via my phone while watching Severin's release.

I've never actually seen it on VHS, so I'm not sure. I have both the Arrow and Lionsgate DVDs, which look like they came from tape masters (the quality sucks). The way I came across this movie in the first place was finding a beat-up copy of the Lionsgate DVD at a Goodwill. I read the synopsis on the back, saw that the film was from 1982, and, being a complete genre nerd, was shocked I'd never heard of it before. I bought it of course, and went home that night and watched it. The poor quality, in a way, added to the viewing experience. It felt like I'd uncovered something that had been truly lost to obscurity—a diamond in the rough.

The Blu-ray restoration is incredible. I do wonder if the time difference you are noting can be explained by different display rates, as babybreese says. The Arrow DVD runs 1:33:48, whereas the Severin Blu runs 1:33:56—that's a negligible difference which I'm guessing is a matter of seconds being chopped off either the beginning or ending of the Arrow DVD.

[gunnerg]

Originally Posted by drownsoda

I've never actually seen it on VHS, so I'm not sure. I have both the Arrow and Lionsgate DVDs, which look like they came from tape masters (the quality sucks). The way I came across this movie in the first place was finding a beat-up copy of the Lionsgate DVD at a Goodwill. I read the synopsis on the back, saw that the film was from 1982, and, being a complete genre nerd, was shocked I'd never heard of it before. I bought it of course, and went home that night and watched it. The poor quality, in a way, added to the viewing experience. It felt like I'd uncovered something that had been truly lost to obscurity—a diamond in the rough.

The Blu-ray restoration is incredible. I do wonder if the time difference you are noting can be explained by different display rates, as babybreese says. The Arrow DVD runs 1:33:48, whereas the Severin Blu runs 1:33:56—that's a negligible difference which I'm guessing is a matter of seconds being chopped off either the beginning or ending of the Arrow DVD.

If you've seen the Lionsgate & Arrow dvds. Those are both the same cut as the old Vidmark vhs. With a slightly improved view (if you can believe that) of the master used for that tape. My issue was banked on believing the 88 minute runtime listed on the back of the USA vhs and dvds. They were false. This new Severin blu ray actually only plays a handful of seconds longer. I can actually see those seconds here and there. I was trying to find 6 minutes of additional footage. I should have popped in the old releases and checked their actual runtime on the counter immedietly.

[Mushi Minion]

Originally Posted by Mushi Minion

Given the low-expectations I have for boutique labels not screwing over early-buyers, I'll wait for them to inevitably offer this slipcover during a future sale.

Quoting myself just to say “I told you so.”

https://severin-films.com/shop/midnight-blu/

To their credit, they are offering “slipcover only” as an option.

[gunnerg]

The day before the official release day and I received my pair of these awesome slip covers! I haven't seen a spine like this since my vhs collection. Thank you, Severin!