Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[GasmaskAvenger]

I still need to get Christmas Evil.

The next big off-beat Christmas movie that's missing in my movie collection.

[Michael24]

I saw Christmas Evil a few years ago and thought it was awful. My least-favorite of any "killer Santa" horror movie I've seen. Silent Night, Deadly Night is a lot better and much more entertaining.

[therealjondoe]

Do we get anything for mailing back the duplicate titles?

[The Great Owl]

I just finished watching my Scream Factory Blu-ray of The Lawnmower Man.



When I was in college, my friends and I saw The Lawnmower Man several times at a nearby one-dollar cinema, and we always enjoyed making fun of the film, although we were also engrossed in the premise about the dangers of virtual reality. This movie has jack to do with the Stephen King short story, and, in fact, King sued the filmmakers for their use of his name in context to the title, but it's a fun slice of early-1990s horror on its own terms. Today, on my flex day off from work, I watched the Director's Cut, which adds over a half hour to the movie and fleshes out the characterization and exposition. The Director's Cut does not make a diamond out of fast food, but I do prefer it to the theatrical version by a considerable margin.

The computer-generated effects are crude by today's standards, but they were really something else back in 1992. I still love the scene where the lawnmower man, Jobe, played by Jeff Fahey (White Hunter Black Heart, Planet Terror), demolecularizes the gunmen who are trying to apprehend him. Pierce Brosnan is quite good in this pre-Bond role, and I always love seeing Jenny Wright, who stole my heart in the 1987 movie, Near Dark.

I guess that, back in 1992, we were all sort of concerned about the dangers posed by an increased reliance on computers. Interestingly enough, things have turned out far worse than what we imagined in our greatest fears back then.

This Scream Factory Blu-ray is quite wonderful in terms of its technical presentation and its supplementary goodies. I'm listening to the commentary track now (for the Director's Cut, since it's basically the same commentary as the theatrical cut except with the added scenes).

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by Michael24

I saw Christmas Evil a few years ago and thought it was awful. My least-favorite of any "killer Santa" horror movie I've seen. Silent Night, Deadly Night is a lot better and much more entertaining.

I thought Christmas Evil stunk also. Terrible movie.

[The Great Owl]

Don't be raining on my Christmas Evil parade, y'all.

I bought it during the recent Vinegar Syndrome sale, and I'm saving it for the holiday season as a Christmas present to myself.

Nothing compares to Black Christmas (1974) in terms of Christmas horror, but I'm looking forward to giving this one a spin, along with the (hopefully) remastered Silent Night, Deadly Night.

[Damonstein]

I think chirstmas evil is just about one of my favorite horror films ever. It seems like even if you don't care for it there's not much to hate about it, im not sure why so many people feel so extremely negative about it.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

I'm really hoping Silent Night, Deadly Night is at least a fun slasher like Prom Night or Terror Train (same with Christmas Evil) so I can do a double/triple feature with those and Black Christmas every December now. I definitely don't expect them to reach the same level of greatness as the classic Black Christmas though.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I'm really hoping Silent Night, Deadly Night is at least a fun slasher like Prom Night or Terror Train (same with Christmas Evil) so I can do a double/triple feature with those and Black Christmas every December now. I definitely don't expect them to reach the same level of greatness as the classic Black Christmas though.

I consider it better than both of the slashers you mentioned. With that said I'm kind of weird when it comes to mixing horror with my Christmas stuff as I'm a bit of a purest and don't really like the idea of Christmas themed horror films that much. I of course have several and do watch them, but I much prefer my Christmas films to be carefree and fun, and my horror films to take place pretty much any other time of the year.

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I'm really hoping Silent Night, Deadly Night is at least a fun slasher like Prom Night or Terror Train (same with Christmas Evil) so I can do a double/triple feature with those and Black Christmas every December now. I definitely don't expect them to reach the same level of greatness as the classic Black Christmas though.

I wouldn't call it fun, it's a good film but I've always thought SNDN was a pretty mean spirited film. That might just be me though. Still is good for a Xmas themed double feature.

[Michael24]

For me, I'd say it's better than Prom Night (which I still like) and as enjoyable as Terror Train. Don't really care for the original Black Christmas, as blasphemous as that is to say.

[goldie1970]

Anyone have an issue with latest shout steelbooks? My ESNY came with the poster but no steelbook!!

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

Anyone have an issue with latest shout steelbooks? My ESNY came with the poster but no steelbook!!

WTF?? How does that happen I wonder.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by goldie1970

Anyone have an issue with latest shout steelbooks? My ESNY came with the poster but no steelbook!!

So received the poster tube by itself and not another box? Or you received a box with only the poster tube in it? Or the poster tube in a box with Escape from New York standard edition? More info please.

[Puffy]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

I'm really hoping Silent Night, Deadly Night is at least a fun slasher like Prom Night or Terror Train...

It's great! The movie is equal parts weird, unintentionally funny, and mean spirited, with an interesting killer backstory.

The first twenty minutes or so plays like Rob Zombie's Halloween in that we see the events which shaped the killer (without the excessive cursing and hillbilly trash). There is a great 80s montage played under sitcomy music, a couple of clever holiday related slashings, a crazy grandpa, and more.

In my opinion, it's the perfect midnight b-horror movie. It has it all. I'm excited Scream is giving us a new scan. Easily my most anticipated title, and that's including the possible release of Hell Night.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Yeah it's sounding like SNDN is going to be a blind buy for me. I'm feelin' it.

[Respectjuice]

I'll definitely get SNDN. I'm a sucker for Christmas theme horror... Probably cause I hate Christmas.

[Donl1282]

Does anyone know why they used half of the footage from the original SNDN in part 2? Was that the original plan all along or was that something they decided to add at the last minute? They really couldn't think of an original story to fill the hour and half that they had to resort to flashbacks for half of the film?

[Damonstein]

Originally Posted by Donl1282

Does anyone know why they used half of the footage from the original SNDN in part 2? Was that the original plan all along or was that something they decided to add at the last minute? They really couldn't think of an original story to fill the hour and half that they had to resort to flashbacks for half of the film?

It's a cheap way to fill run time. My understanding that it was originally going to be even more flashbacks but that the director pushed to direct some new scenes.

[Michael24]

From what I've read, I guess the company wanted to make a sequel but had no money for one. The director was originally asked to simply re-edit the first movie and pass it off as a sequel, which he scoffed at. Eventually, they scrapped together some money but not enough for an entirely original film, so large chunks of the original were just re-purposed with some minor new footage incorporated around it. Crazy.