Ghoul (2015) Blu-ray 3D [Region Free / Czech Republic Only]

[the13thman]

Ghoul is a native 3D found footage horror movie that's been released on a 100% English-friendly disc (most of it was shot in English anyway) in the Czech Republic.



Being a found footage style film, you need a tolerance for shakycam and all the other cliches associated with the genre, but the 3D shows a natural depth that really enhances the atmosphere and is further evidence to me that EVERYTHING looks better in 3D. I certainly wouldn't ever have watched this if it was in 2D. I'll quote myself from the 'last bought or watched' thread:

Originally Posted by the13thman

I took a gamble on ordering the Czech release of Ghoul and it paid off - the disc is fully English friendly. Even the English subtitles that appear for the bits of foreign dialogue are removeable - just as well, given that they do go right through the 3D a number of times.

It's a found footage style film shot in 3D just for the sake of it, it seems. I generally hate found footage movies and can't say this one changed my opinion of them. I certainly wouldn't watch this in 2D. Annoying young documentary crew investigate legend of whatever (Ukrainian cannibals in this case) and bad things happen. Not much reward for sitting through lots of shouting, shakycam and bad camerawork unless you're playing a 'tick the found footage cliches' drinking game. Take a drink every time the camera is dropped. Maybe place a bet on when it will go into night vision or when someone will ask "are you filming this?"

If you can tolerate shakycam then the 3D shouldn't give you headaches, it's natural and bright. A little bit of ghosting for me early on, but I stopped noticing it after a while. What I did notice was the actors breaking out of the screen throughout so it's not all about depth, but this is done naturally, there are no obvious pop-outs - it's definitely not one for fans of in-your-face 3D. Depth fetishists will be right at home though, the interiors are deep and really do benefit from the 3D. It doesn't sound like much, but it makes all the difference to me. Most of the film is set in and around an old farmhouse, so there are outbuildings, an attic, woods, tunnels etc - all of which naturally look better in 3D.

It's a tough one to recommend. As far as 3D shakycam movies go, it wasn't as interesting as Paranormal Activity The Ghost Dimension or even Banshee Chapter but if you like these kinds of films then this is easily one of the best of its type, just by the virtue of being in 3D.

I got it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghoul-BD-3d-...words=ghoul+3d

At the bottom of the page it says "Audio: Czech ONLY! Subtitles: None" but that's garbage because this edition features English audio and English subtitles for the foreign dialogue parts. These were switched on for me when I selected "Subtitles off" from the main menu, but I could switch them off entirely via my remote.

[levcore]

Originally Posted by the13thman

It's not listed on this site yet, but Ghoul is a native 3D found footage horror movie that's been released on a 100% English-friendly disc (most of it was shot in English anyway) in the Czech Republic

Being a found footage style film, you need a tolerance for shakycam and all the other cliches associated with the genre, but the 3D shows a natural depth that really enhances the atmosphere and is further evidence to me that EVERYTHING looks better in 3D. I certainly wouldn't ever have watched this if it was in 2D.

More details here: https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...96880&page=251

Sounds great, thanks for the heads up. Can we order this from an Amazon site anywhere?

[Richard--W]

is Ghoul for gorehounds? does it get munchy gorey and all that?

The imdb listing

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3101132/?ref_=nv_sr_4

doesn't indicate which hi-def 3-D camera was used.

Would the13thman mind checking the endtitles to see if the camera is identified by name? or the system.

Thanks in advance.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

is Ghoul for gorehounds? does it get munchy gorey and all that?

The imdb listing

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3101132/?ref_=nv_sr_4

doesn't indicate which hi-def 3-D camera was used.

Would the13thman mind checking the endtitles to see if the camera is identified by name? or the system.

Thanks in advance.

There are a couple of gory moments but they are brief and only one is munchy - the film has a 15 rating on the back cover so it's not really one for gorehounds. Without going into spoilers, there is a supernatural element too, which is where it crosses over into Paranormal Activity territory.

The credits aren't any help, camera systems from FINT and there's a credit for S3D supervision but no logos or text anywhere to suggest what it was shot on.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...-horror-ghoul/

Originally Posted by levcore

Sounds great, thanks for the heads up. Can we order this from an Amazon site anywhere?

This is where I got mine: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghoul-BD-3d-...words=ghoul+3d (ignore the CZECH ONLY warning in the product description at the bottom, the disc does have English audio)

[levcore]

Thanks mate, bit pricey for a blind buy, I was hoping it would be a lot less.

[bud_brigman]

Region B locked, yeah?

I really need to just go region-free.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by bud_brigman

Region B locked, yeah?

I really need to just go region-free.

This looks like another pointlessly region locked release (it's got Region B logos on the back and on the disc) but I've had confirmation over in my Region B movies thread that it's actually region free.

Originally Posted by levcore

Thanks mate, bit pricey for a blind buy, I was hoping it would be a lot less.

I've seen it listed for a lot more on ebay but yes, it is a bit pricey. However, I don't see it getting a UK or Australian release and any eventual French or German release is likely to lose the English subs, so I figured it was this or nothing.

[Zivouhr]

Sounds interesting 13thman, thanks for the info on Ghoul.
The B region and price is a factor, but if it is released in the US, I'll consider it.

YouTube

Trailer Ghoul

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Sounds interesting 13thman, thanks for the info on Ghoul.
The B region and price is a factor, but if it is released in the US, I'll consider it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOk3Af8zysA
Trailer Ghoul

It's been out on DVD in America since June of last year so I wouldn't hold my breath for a Region A 3D blu-ray. It's been released by Entertainment One who in the UK have a bad record of not releasing 3D versions of native 3D films (e.g. All Stars, The Protector 2 )...

[Richard--W]

Serial killers and gore are not the sort of thing I'm drawn to anymore, but it looks like a film shot with a store-bought hi-def 3-D camera, and I'm always curious to see what a filmmaker does with that technology and how one store-bought hi-def 3-D camera performs compared to another. So my interest is strictly technical.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Richard--W

Serial killers and gore are not the sort of thing I'm drawn to anymore, but it looks like a film shot with a store-bought hi-def 3-D camera, and I'm always curious to see what a filmmaker does with that technology and how one store-bought hi-def 3-D camera performs compared to another. So my interest is strictly technical.

I think your assumption is right, the deleted/extra scenes start off with the director and producer taking the 3D camera to the beach for a test.

On the technical front, the director has said (the link escapes me right now, but there are a few interviews online) that he deliberately started the film with a more scrappy handheld feel and then started to lock the camera down more and introduce movie-like cinematography. I'm not sure that worked as well as he expected, I found some shots at the beginning very annoyingly framed (e.g. where an old man holds out some keys to another character) and was grateful when the cinematography seemed to settle down. There are still plenty of shots of people's midsections as they are talking (rather than their heads) and shakycam while running but those are some of those found footage cliches I was talking about...

I can't say it's a great film, but my interest is also on a technical level - how do films look in 3D that you wouldn't think would look good in 3D? And I always find that everything looks better in 3D than it does in 2D, whether it's straight drama or shakycam horror.

[levcore]

I'd love to check this out but i'm very hesitant in that it could be a movie I watch once and that's it. I love horror but i'm not sure about this one.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I think your assumption is right, the deleted/extra scenes start off with the director and producer taking the 3D camera to the beach for a test.

On the technical front, the director has said (the link escapes me right now, but there are a few interviews online) that he deliberately started the film with a more scrappy handheld feel and then started to lock the camera down more and introduce movie-like cinematography. I'm not sure that worked as well as he expected, I found some shots at the beginning very annoyingly framed (e.g. where an old man holds out some keys to another character) and was grateful when the cinematography seemed to settle down. There are still plenty of shots of people's midsections as they are talking (rather than their heads) and shakycam while running but those are some of those found footage cliches I was talking about...

I can't say it's a great film, but my interest is also on a technical level - how do films look in 3D that you wouldn't think would look good in 3D? And I always find that everything looks better in 3D than it does in 2D, whether it's straight drama or shakycam horror.

I also love 3D but having watched The Force awakens in 3D at the cinema I actually think the 2D Bluray looks superior on my projector.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by levcore

I'd love to check this out but i'm very hesitant in that it could be a movie I watch once and that's it. I love horror but i'm not sure about this one.

I loved the Likes of Piranha, My Bloody Valentine, Final Destination etc.. Where are all those types of films? Yes, the 3D was gimmicky but I loved it!

All we get now is bargain bin Horror.

[mikkeli]

This is on sale at Film-Arena. Unfortunately shipping rates are quite high

[Joe D.]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I think your assumption is right, the deleted/extra scenes start off with the director and producer taking the 3D camera to the beach for a test.

On the technical front, the director has said (the link escapes me right now, but there are a few interviews online) that he deliberately started the film with a more scrappy handheld feel and then started to lock the camera down more and introduce movie-like cinematography. I'm not sure that worked as well as he expected, I found some shots at the beginning very annoyingly framed (e.g. where an old man holds out some keys to another character) and was grateful when the cinematography seemed to settle down. There are still plenty of shots of people's midsections as they are talking (rather than their heads) and shakycam while running but those are some of those found footage cliches I was talking about...

I can't say it's a great film, but my interest is also on a technical level - how do films look in 3D that you wouldn't think would look good in 3D? And I always find that everything looks better in 3D than it does in 2D, whether it's straight drama or shakycam horror.

Hi 13th,

Off topic a bit but you've impressed me using Louis Jordan as count Dracula. A great production not many are familiar with. His portrayal was quite unique which made him even more scarier. Have it on dvd.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Joe D.

Hi 13th,

Off topic a bit but you've impressed me using Louis Jordan as count Dracula. A great production not many are familiar with. His portrayal was quite unique which made him even more scarier. Have it on dvd.

I think you're confusing me for someone else - while I've always liked Louis Jourdan (Dracula aside, I have nostalgic soft spots for Octopussy and Swamp Thing), I don't recall posting anything about him in these forums...

[Joe D.]

Originally Posted by the13thman

I think you're confusing me for someone else - while I've always liked Louis Jourdan (Dracula aside, I have nostalgic soft spots for Octopussy and Swamp Thing), I don't recall posting anything about him in these forums...

Hi 13th,

The picture looks like Louie and seeing your fandom for ghoulish type films I guessed you liked his portrayal of the Count so much that you decided to use it with your posts.

So its not that you posted anything about him, it's just sensed a connection. Was I wrong? Is it just a picture chosen at random?

Loved him taking on a different role playing the Bond villain but my favorite Jordan film is Gigi AND his 1977 performance of Count Dracula for the BBC.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Joe D.

Hi 13th,

The picture looks like Louie and seeing your fandom for ghoulish type films I guessed you liked his portrayal of the Count so much that you decided to use it with your posts.

So its not that you posted anything about him, it's just sensed a connection. Was I wrong? Is it just a picture chosen at random?

Loved him taking on a different role playing the Bond villain but my favorite Jordan film is Gigi AND his 1977 performance of Count Dracula for the BBC.

My profile pic is actually Ekin Cheng from The Legend Of Zu - it was a toss up between him and Jeffrey Combs from The Frighteners but I've loved Tsui Hark ever since I saw Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain and he's the best director working with 3D today so that's why I went with that. The effects don't hold up as well as those in Zu Warriors but I'd still love to see The Legend Of Zu in 3D...

[Joe D.]

Originally Posted by the13thman

My profile pic is actually Ekin Cheng from The Legend Of Zu - it was a toss up between him and Jeffrey Combs from The Frighteners but I've loved Tsui Hark ever since I saw Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain and he's the best director working with 3D today so that's why I went with that. The effects don't hold up as well as those in Zu Warriors but I'd still love to see The Legend Of Zu in 3D...

Hi 13th,

My bad.

But there is a resemblance......