Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[dsman71]

That's because maybe nothing other than the title has been finalized. as the weeks and month go by Scream Factory will keep us posted on their facebook page.
I admit, having Melting Man with extras that could include Rick Baker or Alex Rebar if he is alive would be very cool & I am hopeful Vampire Lovers on Blu Ray will have new extras and ported ones from the DVD as well

[Frightener22]

For those interested, Wes Craven will be involved in the "Deadly Blessing" release, in exactly what capacity, whether it will be for interview purposes, a commentary or both is unclear at this moment. Regardless, this is fantastic news!

[BluPat]

I would love to get the Lee Majors/Karen Black action/horror/heist movie 'Killer Fish' from 1979 on Blu.

[redrunner97]

Speaking of Karen Black. I'd love "The Hooker Cult Murders" aka "The Pyx". Its public domain - but really needs a bluray release. There was a recent release through Scorpion via Katarina's Nightmare Theatre. I only picked up "Final Exam" and "House on Sorority Row" though.

I wish I could start a horror/cult label that released quality blu-rays of PD films. I know that barely any are out and I doubt very many will ever be.

[Russhole]

I also want The Brain - 1988. I used to rent that film a lot. I think Lionsgate is sitting on that one too. It's a stupid movie but I like it.

[Youre My Boy Blu!]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

I still have yet to watch my "Poltergeist II" Blu-ray from MGM but if Scream Factory wanted to release it as well as "Poltergeist III", I'd absolutely be game. I always found "Poltergeist III" to be underrated and it'd be nice to see it get a Blu-ray treatment. The trailer and a director's commentary would be just fine on that one.

I've been considering one of the three different region B locked versions of Poltergeist III, but it may be better to wait just a little longer because I haven't been too thrilled with the quality I've seen on some screencaps.

Here are some of the reasons why I believe part III was potentially more frightening than I & II.

1. Carol Anne is sent away from her parents. It's as if she was being abandoned by them - that in and of itself is a horrible circumstance.

2. Heather O'Rourke's poor health is beginning to show, its negative affect on the character isn't mentioned, but it adds to the movie either way, like the poor health of Julian Beck, who was dying of cancer during part II comes through the screen indescribably real.

3. Moving into an even more powerful and easily accessible dimension, the T.V. no longer represents a gateway into darkness. Instead, the use of mirrors/reflections are now gateways into the darkness. IMO, this is something that probably should have been used more in the previous versions so it could carry over better because I believe mirrors and reflections were a much more powerful tool, and they used it very well in part III and IMO is the single most underrated, if not totally ignored aspect of the film.

With that said, here are some reasons why I believe Part III isn't as widely appreciated as Parts I & II

1.Rather than a series of events over a course of days and nights as seen in Parts I and II, Part III is essentially condensed into 1 night with little change in scenery.
This may be one reason why it feels like less of a movie to some audiences and critics.

2.Also, I think fewer people identified with the new guardians in her life, they simply weren't as easy to relate to as her parents, so this movie fails to resonate strongly among the same suburban family viewing demographic that parts I and II scared the sh!t out of.

3.Kane isn't the same.

Other redeeming qualities...

In addition to Carol Anne, Tangina Barrons also comes back.
It was necessary for somebody else from one of the previous movies to reappear, and given the new set of circumstances Tangina was the only
choice. She always had a calming motherly effect over Carol Anne anyway, so it's necessary she show up when there's no mother to be found. Plus, I don't think you can have a Poltergeist movie without her eerily pitched voice in there somewhere.

A pre-Jack, pre-plastic surgery, pre-drama Laura Flynn Boyle (Lindsay Lohan v1.0) graces the screen playing to her strengths as a b!tchy teen.

Ever since Nancy Allen earned her horror movie badge of honor with Carrie, she's been a welcomed addition to any scary or suspense movie since then.

So yeah, I'd like to see Poltergeist III on blu-ray in region A, preferably by Scream Factory.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by BluPat

I would love to get the Lee Majors/Karen Black action/horror/heist movie 'Killer Fish' from 1979 on Blu.

For whatever reason, I stumbled across this movie on youtube(broken into 10 parts). I remember when this aired on TV like in '80/'81, I was glued to the set watching it.
Even as a 9yr old I had to question a tornado destroying a reinforced concrete damn! A very fun movie!

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

Confirmed Collector's Editions:
- Halloween II
- Halloween III
- The Funhouse
- Terror Train
- They Live
- Deadly Blessing
- Phantasm II
- From Beyond

Confirmed Standard Editions:
- The Island
- Death Valley
- The Nest

Any speculation as to which titles announced for 2013 are gonna be Collector's Editions vs Standard Edition?

Also, a person a Facebook posted an image of "TerrorVision"'s poster with 'dvd + blu-ray combo pack' on the top. It was obviously not an approved design, mainly because they haven't announced if its even going to be a blu-ray or not, even though it did look "scream factory-ish'. But Scream! Factory liked the post. So that makes me think that it may be a non-collectors edition.

When did they confirm that The Nest wasn't getting the collector's edition treatment? I really hope you're wrong, because I want special features....

[dressedtokill]

Originally Posted by Youre My Boy Blu!

I've been considering one of the three different region B locked versions of Poltergeist III, but it may be better to wait just a little longer because I haven't been too thrilled with the quality I've seen on some screencaps.

Here are some of the reasons why I believe part III was potentially more frightening than I & II.

1. Carol Anne is sent away from her parents. It's as if she was being abandoned by them - that in and of itself is a horrible circumstance.

2. Heather O'Rourke's poor health is beginning to show, its negative affect on the character isn't mentioned, but it adds to the movie either way, like the poor health of Julian Beck, who was dying of cancer during part II comes through the screen indescribably real.

3. Moving into an even more powerful and easily accessible dimension, the T.V. no longer represents a gateway into darkness. Instead, the use of mirrors/reflections are now gateways into the darkness. IMO, this is something that probably should have been used more in the previous versions so it could carry over better because I believe mirrors and reflections were a much more powerful tool, and they used it very well in part III and IMO is the single most underrated, if not totally ignored aspect of the film.

With that said, here are some reasons why I believe Part III isn't as widely appreciated as Parts I & II

1.Rather than a series of events over a course of days and nights as seen in Parts I and II, Part III is essentially condensed into 1 night with little change in scenery.
This may be one reason why it feels like less of a movie to some audiences and critics.

2.Also, I think fewer people identified with the new guardians in her life, they simply weren't as easy to relate to as her parents, so this movie fails to resonate strongly among the same suburban family viewing demographic that parts I and II scared the sh!t out of.

3.Kane isn't the same.

Other redeeming qualities...

In addition to Carol Anne, Tangina Barrons also comes back.
It was necessary for somebody else from one of the previous movies to reappear, and given the new set of circumstances Tangina was the only
choice. She always had a calming motherly effect over Carol Anne anyway, so it's necessary she show up when there's no mother to be found. Plus, I don't think you can have a Poltergeist movie without her eerily pitched voice in there somewhere.

A pre-Jack, pre-plastic surgery, pre-drama Laura Flynn Boyle (Lindsay Lohan v1.0) graces the screen playing to her strengths as a b!tchy teen.

Ever since Nancy Allen earned her horror movie badge of honor with Carrie, she's been a welcomed addition to any scary or suspense movie since then.

So yeah, I'd like to see Poltergeist III on blu-ray in region A, preferably by Scream Factory.

Interesting....I love the first movie and I really thought that the second one was an underrated film and almost as good as the first one. That being said, the third one is okay. The problem with third one is that it doesn't have a clear focus, there's almost no story and it's just lots of great special effect scenes. The movie is all over the place, sometimes it doesn't even make sense and you could tell that it went through numerous reshoots. It's actually kind of sad because from the what I've read and the pictures I've seen the movie could have been so much better, but the reshoots and script changes ended hurting the movie. Another issue for me is the ending or the lack of one, it just didn't make much sense and felt rushed much the whole film.

The Good News:
- A sequel to one of the greatest films ever made isn't a big challenge, and this one at least attempts some new ideas. The move into the urban area rather than the suburbs in part 1 or countryside in part 2 is more than welcome and allows for some traps that might be from an unknown source. That is the main source of scares in the film, when an unexpected action occurs from a familiar object. The most obvious is the appearance through the door. It's a striking scene that really leaps out of the screen, as does the gag in the garage. The series of hallway mirror gags are some of the most suspenseful ones in the entire series, and is quite imaginative and clever. The film really picks up once the spirits attack, as all sort of great scenes come up and the pace quickens. The last thirty minutes are undoubtedly the best of the film. This alone makes the film exciting and watchable.

The Bad News:
-Aside from those, there really wasn't a lot else going on. It just lags a lot in the beginning with needless and uncommonly grating exposition that is hard to get through. It's what really hurts the film, as it just makes the it a chore to sit through.
-The cheesiness of the film is also a hurting factor. With no real jump scares in it, it has to rely on it's moments to get the job done, but after that, there's really nothing to the film. It's a real shame, as this had a lot of potential, but with one cheesy, over-the-op scene after another just wears you out. The middle section is the most obvious example, as too much time is spent on the initial discovery of the haunted apartment. The teen antics on display are also a great distraction, feeling entirely out of place and in no real help to the film. It could've easily been taken out with no real damage done. There's several other small little scenes here and there that weren't all that great, but those can be dealt with on an individual basis.
- The new Kane isn't as menacing as the previous one. He's so laughable and cheesy. This is a major factor that hurts the movie.
- The way the handled some of the characters, case in point: Tangina. I just didn't like the fact that after THREE sequels, THAT is how Tangina gets taken out...in a cheap flash & in such a manner...big time cop out of the character.
- The characters are not developed enough.
- The viewing experience can be a bit depressing considering she died after the film was completed. The fact that she clearly looks sick and pale doesn't help.
- Like I said before, the film feels rushed and doesn't make much sense.For example, why the hell does the evil Scott tear off a chunk of evil Donna's cheek? The ending contradicts the previous films. I thought Kane wanted to possess Carol Anne and not really get led to the light?
- There is one thing that really bothers me so much though: the unintentional recurring gag of having them call her name every time. Carol Anne, Carol Anne, Carol Anne... According to IMDB her name is spoken a total of 121 times. Just take a look:

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcFreRqABXk

[Frightener22]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

Speaking of Karen Black. I'd love "The Hooker Cult Murders" aka "The Pyx". Its public domain - but really needs a bluray release. There was a recent release through Scorpion via Katarina's Nightmare Theatre. I only picked up "Final Exam" and "House on Sorority Row" though.

I wish I could start a horror/cult label that released quality blu-rays of PD films. I know that barely any are out and I doubt very many will ever be.

Scorpion Releasing is starting to do Blu-ray's with their first one, "Deathship", being released next month already so there's always hope for "The Pyx" to get the HD treatment from them now.

[Frightener22]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

When did they confirm that The Nest wasn't getting the collector's edition treatment? I really hope you're wrong, because I want special features....

The cover art that Scream Factory issued doesn't have a Collector's Edition banner which seems likely that it won't be one but don't forget "Death Valley" isn't a Collector's Edition either and it's still getting trailers and a director's commentary which is really great so we have a great chance of getting a little something in regards to special features.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

When did they confirm that The Nest wasn't getting the collector's edition treatment? I really hope you're wrong, because I want special features....

The artworks shows that it has the simple "DVD + BLU-RAY COMBO" banner on the top, whereas the Collector's Editions say "Collector's Edition". It has the same design as "Death Valley" and "The Island", ans there is no reversible cover artwork. Chack their Facebook page. Sorry, it seemed like you really wanted that movie in a Collector's Edition...

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Frightener22

Scorpion Releasing is starting to do Blu-ray's with their first one, "Deathship", being released next month already so there's always hope for "The Pyx" to get the HD treatment from them now.

I knew they were starting blu-rays. But I didn't know which ones. I looked into it and they've announced:
- "Death Ship"
- "Grizzly"
- "Day of the Animals"
- "Tower of Evil"

Thanks for giving me the heads up. I'd hate to have been blindsided by these releases and not have the money to buy them. I'm particularly excited about, well... ALL OF THEM!!

[NoirFan]

I noticed that the MGM disc of Witchfinder General is now OOP - it's a film that would be a great addition to the Scream line, although I'd probably just stick with the very nice UK disc.

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I noticed that the MGM disc of Witchfinder General is now OOP - it's a film that would be a great addition to the Scream line, although I'd probably just stick with the very nice UK disc.

It got a nice region-free BD release in the UK. I would rather see Scream Factory focus on movies which don't have any releases at all that are playable in Region A.

[Monroville]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

It got a nice region-free BD release in the UK. I would rather see Scream Factory focus on movies which don't have any releases at all that are playable in Region A.

Speaking of WITCHFINDER GENERAL, has Odeon announced anything in regards to their future blu-ray release of BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW?

[cropsy]

Just watched Hospital Massacre for the 1st time and really enjoyed it despite the crappy pq.would really like this to get the SF treatment.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by cropsy

Just watched Hospital Massacre for the 1st time and really enjoyed it despite the crappy pq.would really like this to get the SF treatment.

I'm a little surprised this hasn't been announced as a Scream Factory title yet. It looks like it should be part of the Cannon Films library, so it should be under MGM control. I've never seen it, but it sounds pretty awesome on paper.

[Brett C]

Originally Posted by Monroville

Speaking of WITCHFINDER GENERAL, has Odeon announced anything in regards to their future blu-ray release of BLOOD ON SATAN'S CLAW?

Not that I know of, I am waiting for that release myself.

[Frightener22]

It'd be cool to see some of those Cannon Films that received Blu-ray treatments overseas get the Scream Factory treatment. "The Phantom of the Opera" and "The Exterminator 2" (perhaps, not as apart of the Scream Factory line but just a cult release in general) spring to mind first. I've always wanted to see the "Ninja" trilogy as well and Shout Factory would be a great company to give it to US fans.