Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[Michael24]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

So I've decided to give New Years Evil a revisit tonight a few days ahead of schedule. I'll report back if my thoughts have changed at all from my earlier comments.

Edit: So second viewing is in the bag and I'd say that my second impression is ever so slightly better than my first, but not by much. The biggest problem I have with this film is it's pacing and insistence on the repetitive Band segments. When the film starts I find myself bobbing my head and thinking "alright, nice intro theme". However by the time I have to listen to it for the 5th time I find myself just wanting to hit fast forward. This coupled with the fact that so many of the musical interludes completely kill any tension that the film has going for it thanks to their poor timing and or insistence on over staying their welcome and the film just never really seems to get any real momentum. Around 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through things pick up and it appears that all is finally going in the right direction only to once again run into problems with unneeded musical numbers and pacing problems. The film is an entertaining enough time killer, and for the right price it's worth owning, but there are countless better slasher films out there in my opinion which is a shame since this shows some promise at times.

I've only seen New Year's Evil once, a few years ago when it ran on TCM for New Year's Eve. It wasn't anything special and, like you, I thought it had pacing issues at time. But I still found it entertaining for the most part (I certainly didn't see the twist involving the killer's identity coming), and I liked Roz Kelly as Blaze. It's not a priority for me but I'd still like to pick it up eventually just because I enjoy the whole milieu of early-80s horror, and it's always nice to have something else to throw on instead of the usual standbys.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Michael24

I've only seen New Year's Evil once, a few years ago when it ran on TCM for New Year's Eve. It wasn't anything special and, like you, I thought it had pacing issues at time. But I still found it entertaining for the most part (I certainly didn't see the twist involving the killer's identity coming), and I liked Roz Kelly as Blaze. It's not a priority for me but I'd still like to pick it up eventually just because I enjoy the whole milieu of early-80s horror, and it's always nice to have something else to throw on instead of the usual standbys.

That's exactly how I feel about it as well. I'm happy to be at a point in my buying/collecting that I can take chances and pick up lesser known films and give them a spin for something different. There is a fair amount to like in this film but it's just bogged down by some of the other aspects. I don't hate it by any means, but it just never quite feels like it reaches its potential. This one regularly can be found at a decent price though so it's worth watching at least once in my opinion.

[darkness2918]

Originally Posted by sasdragon

I just watched Terror Train the other night and am suddenly glad I never pulled the trigger on buying it. streamed it through Amazon video. Not sure what I expected but I was underwhelmed at best. One Scream release I can live without especially now that it's OOP and thereby generally more expensive.

Still adore the company and will generally blind buy releases at the right price. Like The Editor. The movie is hilarious and I knew NOTHING about it, picked it up at an FYE used with Slip just because it was scream.

That a bit how I feel about Terror Train. I owned it before, wasn't impressed by it & sold it. Once I heard it was going OOP I figured I'd give it a second chance on Amazon Prime & see if I wanted to try & find another copy but after my second viewing I still didn't like it much.

[SeanJoyce]

I thought Terror Train sucked. Going to wait quite a while to sell mine though so I can fetch a pretty penny back.

Now if only Squirm would go out of print as well.

[captainron_howdy]

Terror Train is an excellent 80s era slasher w Jamie Lee & David Copperfield in his prime. This is one best watched around new years eve time....aka 'NOW' & I know I will be putting my disc on very soon. No way I would of ever gotten rid of this, so now I'm even more glad SF released this when they did.

[tylerc904]

Terror Train is solid, certainly better than New Year's Evil if we're talking about the upcoming holiday-themed flicks. I think the problem is they spent way too much time on the horribly unlikable Doc (which I get is the point, since we are all supposed to root for his demise). The other characters get so little time, especially the underutilized Mitchie.

And why throw in the two other girls (the pants for a shirt girl and cleopatra) if neither are even in any danger of being axed!

Similarly, New Year's Evil focuses too much on the killer. I am a sucker for slashers but never really love the ones that revolve around the villain (Don't Answer the Phone, Don't Go In The House, Christmas Evil).

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by captainron_howdy

Terror Train is an excellent 80s era slasher w Jamie Lee & David Copperfield in his prime. This is one best watched around new years eve time....aka 'NOW' & I know I will be putting my disc on very soon. No way I would of ever gotten rid of this, so now I'm even more glad SF released this when they did.

Yeah frankly I'm really surprised at the amount of hate on here with Terror Train. It's never been hailed as one of the best horror films of the 80s or slashers of the 80s. It's just a fun movie and it's a lot better than a lot of the other crap SF releases IMO.

[Dr. Phibes]

Thanks to the poster who mentioned Terror Train going out of print. I put in an order for one on Amazon for like $14 a few weeks ago. It was out of stock and I figured it would never actually ship, but it just showed up and it even has a slipcover. Happy to have this at a non-ridiculous price.

[trickle]

Originally Posted by Dr. Phibes

Thanks to the poster who mentioned Terror Train going out of print. I put in an order for one on Amazon for like $14 a few weeks ago. It was out of stock and I figured it would never actually ship, but it just showed up and it even has a slipcover. Happy to have this at a non-ridiculous price.

Just like you, I got this for under $14 from Amazon and it's on its way to me, hopefully with a nice slipcover.

This is a blind buy for me. Always wanted to make time to watch it but never did. Glad I didn't have to pay an astronomical price.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

Perhaps if you contact them, they’ll do an adjustment?

Two of my Blu-rays from that order have already arrived in the mail (Darkman and Day of the Dead), so I doubt that they would bother. Stuff goes on sale shortly after I buy it sometimes, but I just move on with my life and roll with those punches.

[Jlouisbarrett]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Two of my Blu-rays from that order have already arrived in the mail (Darkman and Day of the Dead), so I doubt that they would bother. Stuff goes on sale shortly after I buy it sometimes, but I just move on with my life and roll with those punches.

Me too, but I work for a large online retailer and our policy is to price match ourselves within 7 days of delivery. So I thought I’d suggest reaching out to them if it’s a significant difference.

[Darkstream]

Still waiting for somebody to release Alfred Sole's Alice, Sweet Alice (1976) and George Romero's Martin (1978). Two classic horror cult favorites.

I know I originally posted this in the Shout Factory thread, but I think it's worth repeating here. Hopefully someone who works for the powers that be will see it and consider mentioning it at their next meeting in an attempt to make it happen.

[splintersan]

This is brought up all the time but I'll post it again for those that don't know. Martin and Dawn of the Dead can not be done by SF or any of our other favorite labels at this time. The producer, Richard P. Rubinstein, owns the rights to both of those films. He wants an insane amount of money to license them, SF has asked, it's upwards million of dollars. He will either put out his own version or die and then we can get them. It's extremely unfortunate but that's why we don't have either of those in a beautiful speacial edition.

To even screen Dawn of the Dead theatrically you have to pay a stupid amount. Most of the retro screenings done in the US are of the Italian or European cut just to circumvent Rubinsteins stupid fees.

Alice Sweet Alice I can't remember why it's not out but I remember SF talking about it on a podcast with in the last year or two saying why they can't get it right now.

[Catastrophe]

Alice Sweet Alice was originally put out on DVD by Hen's Tooth Video, but now apparently the rights are with Warner Bros. They were apparently working on putting out a new transfer of it but there hasn't been much news on that front. I believe there may be further rights issues at play, as well.

[Member-222782]

I guess the rumors about Well Go USA licensing the original Dawn of the Dead aren't true.

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by Cinema74

I guess the rumors about Well Go USA licensing the original Dawn of the Dead aren't true.

Probably not but Well Go may have the extra $$$ to throw around or may have worked out a deal to pay Rubenstein more of the cut than the smaller companies can afford to.

[splintersan]

Originally Posted by Catastrophe

Alice Sweet Alice was originally put out on DVD by Hen's Tooth Video, but now apparently the rights are with Warner Bros. They were apparently working on putting out a new transfer of it but there hasn't been much news on that front. I believe there may be further rights issues at play, as well.

If Warner has it and with their venture into more horror releases with Warner Archive, we may have a chance down the road if there are not other rights issues to deal with.

[20th Century Boy]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

[/B]

I'm right there with you on Something Wicked This Way Comes,

+1

Could you imagine if the alternate cut was released as well? But we all know Disney doesn't do that type of thing for those types of movies. Boo-urns.

[Worship.my.wreck]

Originally Posted by splintersan

This is brought up all the time but I'll post it again for those that don't know. Martin and Dawn of the Dead can not be done by SF or any of our other favorite labels at this time. The producer, Richard P. Rubinstein, owns the rights to both of those films. He wants an insane amount of money to license them, SF has asked, it's upwards million of dollars. He will either put out his own version or die and then we can get them. It's extremely unfortunate but that's why we don't have either of those in a beautiful speacial edition.

To even screen Dawn of the Dead theatrically you have to pay a stupid amount. Most of the retro screenings done in the US are of the Italian or European cut just to circumvent Rubinsteins stupid fees.

Not much longer now, the dude is 70.

[Marshall Crist]

I remember trying to do a licensed product based on DAWN OF THE DEAD about 30 years ago. He would not entertain the idea. Dude hates money.