Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Video Ghoul

I've never shopped at Hamilton Books. What's their deal? Are these used or just really low prices?

They sell new product, not used.

[MifuneFan]

Just to clarify, there is no sale per se at HB, these are just their prices. Sometimes there are price cuts as well. Most times you'll be able to find stuff there much cheaper than other places.

There's a highly active thrread dedicated to them in the deals section:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=288710

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Video Ghoul

I've never shopped at Hamilton Books. What's their deal? Are these used or just really low prices?

Everything is new. They work deals with various distributors for titles to sell and then typically sell them at better prices than can be found elsewhere. Each distributor is a bit different. Vinegar Syndrome never allows for their titles to be sold for %50 off thus they retain their big sale incentives where as some of the major studios place no such restrictions on titles and as a result they dip really low. Hamilton Books has purchased large numbers of titles that were going, or on occasion already were, out of print and have offered them for sale as well.

Their primary focus was and still is direct book sales, however they've grown their home media division substantially thanks to Goldenwheels who is a regular here on site in the Hamilton Books thread and has been wonderfully receptive to our community feedback over the years. They typically carry between 700 and 1700 Blu Rays at any point in time with far more DVD's and thousands more book options.

They have a great flat rate shipping fee and their packaging is arguably the best around due to it's completely unique design. You can rest easy when buying from Hamilton Books. They won't have everything you want, but when they do have something they've been great to work with. Many of us here on site have been using them for years.

[co-villain]

Anyone think we're actually going to get a finalized list of Halloween 1-5 UHD extras? Or is what we got, what we got?

[steev210]

Originally Posted by co-villain

Anyone think we're actually going to get a finalized list of Halloween 1-5 UHD extras? Or is what we got, what we got?

Yeah, Shout is intending to release the full specs and bonus content the first week in September.

[HipsterTrash]

So is announcements some time next week?

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

So is announcements some time next week?

If we follow recent trends we have about 2.5 weeks to go yet.

[BarnDoor]

Originally Posted by HipsterTrash

So is announcements some time next week?

For November? Hopefully the week commencing the 6th, though it could be a week later, one never knows with Scream.

What one does know, however, is that they'll probably leak somewhere first.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

For November? Hopefully the week commencing the 6th, though it could be a week later, one never knows with Scream.

What one does know, however, is that they'll probably leak somewhere first.

I actually think this may be the first month in a long time that they don't leak early. Usually titles leak around the 8th-10th of a month. The 10th is on a Friday in September and Scream Factory has liked to hover around the 10th or 11th for announcements these last few months and so because I don't see them waiting until the 13th, I expect a 9th or 10th announcement from them which may head off those leaked retail listings this go round.

[rocknblues81]

I just picked up the Shout Select release of Earthquake.... I heard there might be some issue with the release... Can anyone confirm?

[SpazeBlue]

Originally Posted by rocknblues81

I just picked up the Shout Select release of Earthquake.... I heard there might be some issue with the release... Can anyone confirm?

:

During the authoring process of Earthquake [Collector’s Edition], an error in outputting the master changed the aspect ratio of the theatrical version of the film (disc 1 only).
Replacement program: https://www.discshipment.com Note: You will need to upload a copy of your receipt.
The corrected disc can be identified by a "R1," which appears around the ring of disc 1.

[Jlouisbarrett]

Does anyone know how to tell the original, defective disc from the replacement? I mixed the discs up together and now don’t know which is which.

[SpazeBlue]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

Does anyone know how to tell the original, defective disc from the replacement? I mixed the discs up together and now don’t know which is which.

:

The corrected disc can be identified by a "R1," which appears around the ring of disc 1.

[Fdup Flix]

But is there any issue with the Collector’s Edition of Earthquake?

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Last night I saw Curse of the Werewolf on the Shout Disc.

[Show spoiler]CotW has the rather awkward plotline of the union between a woman and a bestial man giving birth to a werewolf (there's some hugger-mugger about it being a bad idea for the child to be born on Christmas). Anyhoo, the child grows up to become devilishly handsome Oliver Reed, who finds that on full moon nights (which seem to occur daily once the cycle starts) he is transformed into something else.

This is one of the more unusual Hammer films, being fairly restrained in the horror element till late into the running time. It may be that Hammer wanted to save on the requirement of the werewolf make-up and issued instructions to the writers in that regard. For the longest time we see Reed (and the child actor that plays the younger version of his character) mainly breaking out into sweats and moaning over disturbing dreams. It helps that Reed gives off an innate animal charisma that really sells the character. A lot of the film is about his guilty repression of his animal instincts. It is mainly in the last third the fangs are bared, so to speak. While the werewolf body count is relatively low (as I recall around 4 kills, and two of them come rather hastily), the film shows a dramatic edge for its anti-hero by not having the victims be villains "asking for it". The subplot about Reed's lover being able to soothe his inner beast could have been better explored. Some more stealthy werewolf action would have been welcome. Overall, the script is rushed, especially with regards to the origin story, and could have been significantly refined for greater impact, but this is another interesting entry in Hammer's take on the Universal Studios Classic Monsters.

Video-wise, Shout's transfer of the film in the 1.85:1 ratio is quite fantastic, colorful and filmic. There may be flaws but I was too wrapped up in the beauty of the presentation. The DTS-HDMA 2.0 audio is also fine, clearly conveying the dialog and giving the score support (within the limitations of the film's vintage). I haven't as yet checked out the extras, but there's a good-sized bunch of them, and they sound interesting. A lush slipcover and reversible cover art sweeten the deal further for collectors.

Want to add that the commentary track with Haberman and Nasr is fantastic, and not just a collection of IMDB/Wiki trivia. They do a lot of comparisons between the source novel (Werewolf of Paris) and this film, and talk about how they differ in tone and treatment. There's some insight into the life of the author Guy Endore and historical events that might have some bearing on the story. Also, a lot of discussion on how the film riled the censors. One thing missing from this release is how much the UK theatrical release differed from the US release in terms of censored content (they keep saying "shredded to bits", but there's no detailed comparison on what and how much material was shorn off).

[Professor Echo]

Originally Posted by ravenus

Want to add that the commentary track with Haberman and Nasr is fantastic, and not just a collection of IMDB/Wiki trivia. They do a lot of comparisons between the source novel (Werewolf of Paris) and this film, and talk about how they differ in tone and treatment. There's some insight into the life of the author Guy Endore and historical events that might have some bearing on the story. Also, a lot of discussion on how the film riled the censors. One thing missing from this release is how much the UK theatrical release differed from the US release in terms of censored content (they keep saying "shredded to bits", but there's no detailed comparison on what and how much material was shorn off).

Reviews of commentaries are very useful, but tend to be scarce, so thanks for this. Very often I make buying decisions between the same movie on other labels or other region releases based on the worth of the commentary, but critiques of them are not so easy to come by. And as all we know, some commentaries aren't worth the energy it took the commentators to clear their throats.

[KickAss]

So on average, how long is Shout Factory taking to ship out orders? (yes I know that there is a slower turnaround time due to COVID) I placed my order 6 days ago and the status is just set to "Order Taken". Is this the norm? Should I contact SF to see what's going on?

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by KickAss

So on average, how long is Shout Factory taking to ship out orders? (yes I know that there is a slower turnaround time due to COVID) I placed my order 6 days ago and the status is just set to "Order Taken". Is this the norm? Should I contact SF to see what's going on?

If you order something that’s in stock, they ship within 24-48 hours. It appears that they’re waiting for stock for at least one of the items in your order.

[BobSimms]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

The Possession of Joel Delaney (this would have been available to Olive and Kino, and I can't imagine either of them willingly passing on it; supposedly there are no usable HD elements, which would explain it)

Looks like that isn’t stopping Imprint (Aus) from releasing it!

Edited to add specs from Imprint:

This 1970s occult classic is released for the first time in HD.

Special Features and Technical Specs:
• Newly Restored 1080p High definition presentation
• Fully uncut edition
• Audio Commentary with Editor & Writer Stephen Jones and Author & Critic Kim Newman
• NEW Audio Commentary with film historian Lee Gambin
• NEW Video essay from costume historian Elissa McKechnie
• NEW video essay from film Historian Chris O’Neil
• NEW Interview with actor Perry King
• More extras to be announced!
• Trailer
• LPCM 2.0 audio
• Aspect Ratio 1.85:1
• English subtitles
• Limited Edition slipcase on the first 2000 copies with unique artwork

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Jlouisbarrett

Does anyone know how to tell the original, defective disc from the replacement? I mixed the discs up together and now don’t know which is which.

I was going to say if you have a PC BD-ROM you can check the file dates of the contents for the later dated one...