"The Resurrected" (dir: Dan O'Bannon) might never get a US BD? - Blu-ray Forum

Michael Allred · 11-07-2015, 03:00 AM

Some years back I had campaigned online to get Dan O'Bannon's "The Resurrected" released on DVD via Lionsgate. After many e-mails, phone calls with the guy who ran their home entertainment division, it got a DVD release in 2005 (all be it in a full screen only, bare bones version but whatever.)

Seemingly not long after it's release, it went out of print and to this day is unavailable on home video in the US. I kept trying and was promised Lionsgate had big plans for the title down the road as part of some focus on their HP Lovecraft titles. 10 years later has seen no such thing come about.

Since then Scream Factory has become a horror lovers best friend and have relentlessly written letters, e-mails, Facebook posts, etc, hoping they might acquire the rights to a deafening silence.

This year saw a rather impressive German only release of "The Resurrected." A multi-disc title with new, Scream Factory-esque packaging. Reviews are online, here's one:

http://www.dvdexotica.com/2015/04/ca...lghomeent.html

Naturally I'm salivating over such a release coming to the US and got me thinking maybe one is not far off so I went back to Scream Factory's Facebook page again asking if they would at least look into the mere possibility of them releasing it on blu-ray. To my surprise I finally got a response. Here is a direct quote,

"Sorry we can't get this one. We are told there are music issues apparently."

I'm trying to wrap my head around that one. Music issues? I don't recall any actual songs used in the film that would cause clearance issues, red tape, money problems, etc. Just the actual score of the film itself (which I own on the CD by the way. Good stuff.) Aren't scores typically part of the film itself, hiring a composer to write it and then it becomes property of the studio or producers? Why could this be an issue?

Thoughts/comments?

Buscemi · 11-07-2015, 03:22 AM

The film was produced by the Scotti Bros. record label. It's possible that Sony (who owns the Scotti Bros. music library through their acquisition of Volcano) owns the music while MGM has the film.

I also know that MGM has not been the best with reuse fees (see the Fatal Instinct Blu-ray for more).

RodChester · 11-07-2015, 04:15 AM

This looks to be a cool movie and that German set looks to be a winner. It comes out to under $35 shipped from Amazon.de which isn't too bad. I think I may pick up a copy since it seems like it won't be coming to the US anytime soon. I'd suggest the OP does that same.

rillog · 11-07-2015, 06:17 AM

Ofdb usually releases standard editions after the first digipak edition has sold out. So it is more than likely that we will also see a budget edition of 'The Resurrected' in the near future.

Zillamon51 · 11-07-2015, 07:04 AM

This is the one with Chris Sarandon (Fright Night) in it, right? I watched it a year or two ago on Netflix streaming, for what it's worth.

Michael Allred · 11-07-2015, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodChester

This looks to be a cool movie and that German set looks to be a winner. It comes out to under $35 shipped from Amazon.de which isn't too bad. I think I may pick up a copy since it seems like it won't be coming to the US anytime soon. I'd suggest the OP does that same.

If I could afford the extra expense of a region free player

Michael Allred · 11-07-2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buscemi

The film was produced by the Scotti Bros. record label. It's possible that Sony (who owns the Scotti Bros. music library through their acquisition of Volcano) owns the music while MGM has the film.

I also know that MGM has not been the best with reuse fees (see the Fatal Instinct Blu-ray for more).

MGM? They have international rights? Lionsgate released it in the US

ditcin · 11-07-2015, 10:36 AM

This is a terrific film. I had it on laserdisc. When the domestic DVD was released I got that as well, but it's defected and jumps and locks up. Interesting that the music rights created a rights issue - a CD soundtrack was limitedly available a while back, which I was able to get my hands on - really good music BTW.

Lionsgate reminds me of WB in the way they seem to gobble up films and then don't release them.

Katatonia · 11-07-2015, 11:57 AM

I own the German Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, and it's excellent. The packaging is super nice, and the bonus features are extensive. I just wish I was more fluent in German to read the 84-page book included. The film's transfer (from MGM) looks pretty good, but not outstanding.

I can't really foresee a better release coming along anytime soon... at least as far as bonus features are concerned. Lionsgate sure aren't going to release it here on Blu-ray, that's almost a certainty.

Michael Allred · 11-07-2015, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katatonia

I own the German Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, and it's excellent. The packaging is super nice, and the bonus features are extensive. I just wish I was more fluent in German to read the 84-page book included. The film's transfer (from MGM) looks pretty good, but not outstanding.

I can't really foresee a better release coming along anytime soon... at least as far as bonus features are concerned. Lionsgate sure aren't going to release it here on Blu-ray, that's almost a certainty.

Which is why, assuming they still hold the rights, fan pressure needs to be used.

Katatonia · 11-07-2015, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allred

Which is why, assuming they still hold the rights, fan pressure needs to be used.

Fan pressure hasn't even persuaded Lionsgate to release the remainder of the Little House on the Prairie remasters on Blu-ray, so I doubt they'd even consider a little film like this.

The studio just really doesn't even release much at all on Blu-ray, except new and popular films.

Buscemi · 11-07-2015, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allred

MGM? They have international rights? Lionsgate released it in the US

The MGM logo can be seen on the cover of the German release.

I assumed Lionsgate still had domestic rights too but since Shout had shown interest, it seems as if MGM has taken over the rights in recent years (they have the rather small Scotti Bros. library and did license Eddie and the Cruisers II to Shout).

heebiejeebie · 11-07-2015, 11:46 PM

I hope whatever the music issues might be get sorted out because I'm a fan of this movie. I'd love to see O'Bannon's directors cut, and the link in the first post says it played theatrically. So it does exist in some form or another.

RodChester · 11-19-2015, 06:22 PM

I got my copy of the German release today. It looks to be a pretty nice set. Kind of bummed that the packaging is DVD sized. Also, the included book is a wash for me since it is all in German and only has a handful of pictures in it. Anyways, I'm looking forward to giving this a watch sometime soon.

HarryBogart · 01-25-2016, 12:57 PM

This has been released in Japan "NEW HD MASTER" version apparently.

Am desperate to find out if its better than the dated German master!!

Dragun · 01-25-2016, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allred

If I could afford the extra expense of a region free player

The real expense of a region-free player is not the player itself (which can be found for reasonable prices), but all the discs from around the world that you'll want to buy.

willo007 · 01-25-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buscemi

The film was produced by the Scotti Bros. record label. It's possible that Sony (who owns the Scotti Bros. music library through their acquisition of Volcano) owns the music while MGM has the film.

I also know that MGM has not been the best with reuse fees (see the Fatal Instinct Blu-ray for more).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allred

MGM? They have international rights? Lionsgate released it in the US

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Allred

Which is why, assuming they still hold the rights, fan pressure needs to be used.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buscemi

The MGM logo can be seen on the cover of the German release.

I assumed Lionsgate still had domestic rights too but since Shout had shown interest, it seems as if MGM has taken over the rights in recent years (they have the rather small Scotti Bros. library and did license Eddie and the Cruisers II to Shout).

MGM does own the rights in the US for this and I believe Scream tried or is currently trying to obtain it for an US release, but there is some sort of red tape that needs to be sorted out, and I did think it was the music rights issue.

Wernski · 01-25-2016, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryBogart

This has been released in Japan "NEW HD MASTER" version apparently.

Am desperate to find out if its better than the dated German master!!

You never know, but I'd assume it's the same master ss the German disc.

HarryBogart · 01-31-2016, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wernski

You never know, but I'd assume it's the same master ss the German disc.

Well I took your advice and just went with the German one. I was hesitant due to a lukewarm review I read about the PQ online. I was expecting only DVD quality. Its much better than that and I needn't have worried , im very happy with it. The thing I dislike most about the German release is the stupidly large cardboard box it comes in!! Total waste of cardboard I would have much preferred a mediabook or even a regular case.

Wernski · 01-31-2016, 07:46 AM

Nice; yeah, I'm really happy with it. I'd been hoping for anything better than Lions Gate's fullscreen DVD, and this turned out to be a pretty sweet special edition.

11-07-2015, 03:00 AM	#1
Michael Allred Member Member since:Nov 2010 Location:MI Blu-ray collection:84 DVD collection:60	"The Resurrected" (dir: Dan O'Bannon) might never get a US BD? Some years back I had campaigned online to get Dan O'Bannon's "The Resurrected" released on DVD via Lionsgate. After many e-mails, phone calls with the guy who ran their home entertainment division, it got a DVD release in 2005 (all be it in a full screen only, bare bones version but whatever.) Seemingly not long after it's release, it went out of print and to this day is unavailable on home video in the US. I kept trying and was promised Lionsgate had big plans for the title down the road as part of some focus on their HP Lovecraft titles. 10 years later has seen no such thing come about. Since then Scream Factory has become a horror lovers best friend and have relentlessly written letters, e-mails, Facebook posts, etc, hoping they might acquire the rights to a deafening silence. This year saw a rather impressive German only release of "The Resurrected." A multi-disc title with new, Scream Factory-esque packaging. Reviews are online, here's one: http://www.dvdexotica.com/2015/04/ca...lghomeent.html Naturally I'm salivating over such a release coming to the US and got me thinking maybe one is not far off so I went back to Scream Factory's Facebook page again asking if they would at least look into the mere possibility of them releasing it on blu-ray. To my surprise I finally got a response. Here is a direct quote, "Sorry we can't get this one. We are told there are music issues apparently." I'm trying to wrap my head around that one. Music issues? I don't recall any actual songs used in the film that would cause clearance issues, red tape, money problems, etc. Just the actual score of the film itself (which I own on the CD by the way. Good stuff.) Aren't scores typically part of the film itself, hiring a composer to write it and then it becomes property of the studio or producers? Why could this be an issue? Thoughts/comments?

11-07-2015, 03:22 AM	#2
Buscemi Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Aug 2013 4K collection:10 Blu-ray collection:3841	The film was produced by the Scotti Bros. record label. It's possible that Sony (who owns the Scotti Bros. music library through their acquisition of Volcano) owns the music while MGM has the film. I also know that MGM has not been the best with reuse fees (see the Fatal Instinct Blu-ray for more).

11-07-2015, 04:15 AM	#3
RodChester Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Illinois Home Theater Gallery:63 4K collection:333 Blu-ray collection:3380 DVD collection:141 Trading Score:129	This looks to be a cool movie and that German set looks to be a winner. It comes out to under $35 shipped from Amazon.de which isn't too bad. I think I may pick up a copy since it seems like it won't be coming to the US anytime soon. I'd suggest the OP does that same.

11-07-2015, 06:17 AM	#4
rillog Expert Member Member since:Sep 2014	Ofdb usually releases standard editions after the first digipak edition has sold out. So it is more than likely that we will also see a budget edition of 'The Resurrected' in the near future.

11-07-2015, 07:04 AM	#5
Zillamon51 Banned Top contributor Member since:Oct 2013 Location:S.E. Michigan 4K collection:374 Blu-ray collection:2062 DVD collection:664 Digital collection:929 Trading Score:11	This is the one with Chris Sarandon (Fright Night) in it, right? I watched it a year or two ago on Netflix streaming, for what it's worth.

11-07-2015, 10:36 AM	#8
ditcin Power Member Member since:Apr 2011 Location:NY 4K collection:28 Blu-ray collection:597 Blu-ray reviews:1	This is a terrific film. I had it on laserdisc. When the domestic DVD was released I got that as well, but it's defected and jumps and locks up. Interesting that the music rights created a rights issue - a CD soundtrack was limitedly available a while back, which I was able to get my hands on - really good music BTW. Lionsgate reminds me of WB in the way they seem to gobble up films and then don't release them.

11-07-2015, 11:57 AM	#9
Katatonia Blu-ray Grand Duke Top contributor Member since:Nov 2010 Location:Missouri, USA 4K collection:920 Blu-ray collection:8211 DVD collection:3655 Digital collection:33 Prime collection:97 Blu-ray reviews: 30 Trading Score:156	I own the German Blu-ray/DVD Combo set, and it's excellent. The packaging is super nice, and the bonus features are extensive. I just wish I was more fluent in German to read the 84-page book included. The film's transfer (from MGM) looks pretty good, but not outstanding. I can't really foresee a better release coming along anytime soon... at least as far as bonus features are concerned. Lionsgate sure aren't going to release it here on Blu-ray, that's almost a certainty.

11-07-2015, 11:46 PM	#13
heebiejeebie Senior Member Member since:Jan 2015 Trading Score:1	I hope whatever the music issues might be get sorted out because I'm a fan of this movie. I'd love to see O'Bannon's directors cut, and the link in the first post says it played theatrically. So it does exist in some form or another.

11-19-2015, 06:22 PM	#14
RodChester Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Jun 2009 Location:Illinois Home Theater Gallery:63 4K collection:333 Blu-ray collection:3380 DVD collection:141 Trading Score:129	I got my copy of the German release today. It looks to be a pretty nice set. Kind of bummed that the packaging is DVD sized. Also, the included book is a wash for me since it is all in German and only has a handful of pictures in it. Anyways, I'm looking forward to giving this a watch sometime soon.

01-25-2016, 12:57 PM	#15
HarryBogart Banned Member since:Jan 2016	This has been released in Japan "NEW HD MASTER" version apparently. Am desperate to find out if its better than the dated German master!!

01-31-2016, 07:46 AM	#20
Wernski Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Nov 2011 Location:NJ, USA 4K collection:170 Blu-ray collection:1172 DVD collection:878 Trading Score:1	Nice; yeah, I'm really happy with it. I'd been hoping for anything better than Lions Gate's fullscreen DVD, and this turned out to be a pretty sweet special edition.

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