The Nasty Downmix Thread

[Markgway]

A beware guide to all those BDs that contain downmixed audio in the guise of an "original audio" track (whether it be fake mono or stereo, 1.0 or 2.0). With a 5.1 remix you know what you're getting, but the practice of downmixing is insidious and consumers must be warned of their existence.


BATTLE CREEK BRAWL (Shout, 2013)
English 2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. Fox DVD, original 2.0 English mono.

DAWN OF THE DEAD (Arrow (UK), 2010)
2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1
Alt. Anchor Bay, 2007, original 1.0 mono.

DAWN OF THE DEAD (Umbrella, AU, 2010)
2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1
Alt. Anchor Bay, 2007, original 1.0 mono.

ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (Shout, 2015)
2.0 stereo downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. MGM, 2014, original 3.0 stereo.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (MGM, 2009/11)
2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. Although the first pressing of 2014's 'The Man with No Name' box set offered only a downmix for TGTBATU, it was soon replaced via new pressing with a genuine 1.0 mono track (except, of course, for newly dubbed scenes where original soundtrack doesn't exist).

HALLOWEEN (Anchor Bay, 2013, 35th anniversary ed.).
2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. Anchor Bay, 2007, original 1.0 mono.
Original 2.0 mono in 2014 Complete Collection (10 films).

HALLOWEEN II (Shout, 2012)
2.0 stereo actually a mono mix, not theatrical stereo.
Alt. Universal, 2011, original 2.0 stereo.

THE HOWLING (Shout, 2013)
2.0 stereo downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. Studio Canal (FR), original 2.0 mono.

MAD MAX (MGM, 2010)
Australian 2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. DVD (included), original 2.0 mono track.

MAD MAX (Shout, 2015)
Australian 2.0 stereo downmixed from 5.1.

POLICE STORY I & II (Shout, 2013)
Cantonese 2.0 mono downmixed from 5.1 (both films).
Alt. Dragon Dynasty DVD, original Cantonese mono (both films).

THE PROTECTOR (Shout, 2013)
English 2.0 stereo downmixed from 5.1.
Alt. Warner DVD, original stereo track.

TENEBRAE (Arrow (UK), 2011)
English 2.0 downmixed from 5.1
Alt. Arrow 2013 (Steelbook), 2015 (standard), both original mono.

THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (Dark Sky, 2014)
2.0 mono downmix from 5.1.
Alt. Second Sight (UK) 1.0 original mono.

THUNDERBALL (MGM, 2008)
2.0 mono downmix from 5.1 (US version)
Alt. MGM UE DVD (R1), original mono track (international version).


Please post with additions and/or corrections.