Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[sancho]

Originally Posted by Nosferatu31

I wish you nothing but success with that. Collecting can get very exhausting re buying the same films over and over again for decades and on different formats. I'm just at the point with my collecting that most of these films are good enough for me on Blu-ray.

+1 Blu ray is mostly the end of the line for me. Blu ray is good enough for me. A select few 4K's, and I am good.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Mikezilla3k

Universal's release of III apparently has better compresion:

[Show spoiler]

It's region free.

There's also the French release which looks to be a port of the US release with French subtitles that may be easier to import:

[Show spoiler]

Have checked the rear artwork on the Universal releases, the States and French releases, and wanted to ask about the extras on Shout's release in the States - if I wanted to double-dip for the extras, to get Shout's release as well?

[OceanBlue]

I know about the reputation of Exorcist II: The Heretic (including from reading some discussion on here). The thought came up recently about getting Shout's release (unless another release improves on it), after catching some of a recent UK TV screening of The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen (think it was on TCM Movies UK).

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by OceanBlue

I know about the reputation of Exorcist II: The Heretic (including from reading some discussion on here). The thought came up recently about getting Shout's release (unless another release improves on it), after catching some of a recent UK TV screening of The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen (think it was on TCM Movies UK).

The Exorcist celebrates it's 50th anniversary next year. Odd's are very good that we'll get a new 4k release of the first film. Exorcist 2 is not fondly viewed by most to put things mildly, however with a new film (or 3) on the way plus next years anniversary of the original, I could see Warner doing a 4k boxset. Outside of the possibility of that potential 4k release I am confident when I say that there will never be a better release of the film than what Shout Factory released, and so the question then becomes.... pick up the existing disc from Shout Factory, or wait and see what rolls out next year? Since you've waited this long, I'd say to wait a bit longer and see what gets announced over the next 9 months in regards to potential 4k releases...

That said, my motto when it comes to horror films is always... Buy what you can comfortably afford as soon as you can afford it, or else risk missing out forever.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by TripleHBK

The Exorcist celebrates it's 50th anniversary next year. Odd's are very good that we'll get a new 4k release of the first film. Exorcist 2 is not fondly viewed by most to put things mildly, however with a new film (or 3) on the way plus next years anniversary of the original, I could see Warner doing a 4k boxset. Outside of the possibility of that potential 4k release I am confident when I say that there will never be a better release of the film than what Shout Factory released, and so the question then becomes.... pick up the existing disc from Shout Factory, or wait and see what rolls out next year? Since you've waited this long, I'd say to wait a bit longer and see what gets announced over the next 9 months in regards to potential 4k releases...

That said, my motto when it comes to horror films is always... Buy what you can comfortably afford as soon as you can afford it, or else risk missing out forever.

I think it's a safe bet that The Exorcist will get a 4K release, but not the sequels, collectively or individually. Warner only controls the first two films (the rest of the films were part of the Morgan Creek catalog, which is not distributed by Warner, anymore), and they've been very conservative about upgrading back catalog titles to the format. Their interest level in anything beyond the first film is likely to be minimal.

[JMDiaz718]

Originally Posted by zbinks

I think it's a safe bet that The Exorcist will get a 4K release, but not the sequels, collectively or individually. Warner only controls the first two films (the rest of the films were part of the Morgan Creek catalog, which is not distributed by Warner, anymore), and they've been very conservative about upgrading back catalog titles to the format. Their interest level in anything beyond the first film is likely to be minimal.

Exorcist III is the only sequel deserving of an upgrade. However, since I am totally happy with the blu-ray format, I am content with my Scream Factory collectors set. I watch 1 and 3 every Halloween season.

[mad_max2000]

Originally Posted by lildemon666

Why not? Everything on that set is included and in the 4K sets? You’ll just be keeping the booklet. That set isn’t even done right as it doesn’t include both cuts of zombies films. Yeah they are trash but I bet if shout would release them they include both cuts.

Originally Posted by scissorpuppy

I could be wrong, but there might be a few things not carried over from Halloween 1978 discs. But these could also be found on other releases as well without having to hold onto the big boxset. I haven’t checked the discs themselves but based on the review rundown the 4K edition doesn’t carry over the following.

1. Curtis, Hill & Carpenter Criterion commentary track
2. On Location : 25 years later
3. Pop-Up Trivia Track

The rest of any exclusive content for 6-8 will most likely get carried over if scream does release new versions, as they produced the special features.

Because keeping track of this stuff seems to be my weird little hobby, here's everything not carried over from past releases on every Halloween film to date [Note that this list is for the North American Releases only]:

Halloween (1978) -

1. Audio Commentary by John Carpenter, Debra Hill & Jamie Lee Curtis originally recorded for the Criterion Collection's 1994 Laserdisc release.
(Available on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD & 2007 Anchor Bay BD [the later was reprinted and included for the 2014 Scream factory box set and 2018 Lionsgate 4K release])

2. On Location: 25 Years Later Featurette
(Available on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD, 35th Anniversary Anchor Bay BD & 2018 Lionsgate 4K Release)

3. Still Gallery Material
(Several still photographs are only available on the 1999 THX/Restored Anchor Bay DVD and nowhere else; not on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD or the 4K Scream Factory Collector's Edition)

4. Fast Film Facts - Trivia Track
(If anyone cares about such a thing anymore, this is only available on the 2007 Anchor Bay BD [which again, was also reprinted for the 2014 Scream Factory boxset and the 2018 Lionsgate 4K Release)

Halloween II (1981) -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory

Halloween III: Season of the Witch -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers -

1. Audio Commentary by Alan B. McElroy
(Available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD and nowhere else. The track is moderated by former Halloweenmovies.com webmaster Anthony Masi, who no one seems to want to work with anymore, hence it's exclusion from all subsequent releases. It was planned for the 2012 Anchor Bay BD but that fell through)

2. Halloween 4&5 Discussion Panel -
(Available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD, 2012 BD & the 2017 DVD re-issue, all from Anchor Bay)

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers -

1. Introduction by Danielle Harris & Ellie Cornell
(Availble on the 2000 DVD and 2006 Special Edition DVD, both from Anchor Bay)

2. On-Set Footage
(Certain portions of the raw, on-set footage reel are available only on the 2006 Special Edition DVD and the Halloween: 25 Years of Terror set, both from Anchor Bay. The 2012 BD from Anchor Bay, 2017 DVD re-issue from Anchor Bay and the 2021 4K from Scream Factory have most of this footage but not everything that was available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD & Halloween: 25 Years of Terror set)

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers -

N/A - Everything Included on the 2 disc set from the 2014 Scream Factory Box Set

EDIT: Forgot that the Horror's Hollowed Grounds Episode is on the Bonus Disc of the Box Set, for anyone (like me) who might have picked this one up lose at a second hand store.

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later -

1. Unmasking the Horror
(Available on the 1999 Collector's Series DVD from Buona Vista and nowhere else. At the time of the 2014 box set, official word from Scream Factory was that they couldn't afford to carry this featurette over to the boxset; given the number of interviews with high-profile figures such as Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson and Richard Schickel, I can see that. However most of the interview footage used to create this featurette is in the "Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage segment that is on the 2014 disc in the SF box set)

2. Music Video by Creed
(Available on the 1999 Collector's Series DVD from Buona Vista and nowhere else. Again, I think this feature was priced out of the 2014 disc in the SF boxset, which is a good thing in my opinion )

Halloween Resurrection -

N/A - Everything is included on the disc from the 2014 Scream Factory Box Set. [Although I will add that there are TV spots for this movie that have popped up on Youtube recently that Scream Factory could include on a future release].

Halloween (2007) -

1. Theatrical Cut of the film
(Available on the 2007 Genius Productions 2-Disc DVD and the Alliance double feature DVD & BD releases in Canada)

2. Audio Commentary by Rob Zombie on the Theatrical Cut
(Available on the 2007 Genius Productions 2-Disc DVD set and nowhere else that I know of)

3. Two TV Spots
(Available on the Bonus disc of the 2014 Scream Factory box set and nowhere else officially, although I have seen them on youtube)

Halloween II (2009) -

1. Theatrical Cut of the film
(Available on the 2009 Sony DVD and the Alliance double feature DVD & BD releases in Canada)

2. Audio Commentary by Rob Zombie on the Theatrical Cut
(Available on the 2009 Sony DVD set and nowhere else that I know of)

3. One TV Spot
(Available on the Bonus disc of the 2014 Scream Factory box set and nowhere else officially, although I have seen it on youtube)

4. The mythical 8-hour long making-of documentary
(Never released because of Bob Weinstein. It apparently exists but litigation from the Weinstein company prevented it from ever being seen)

Halloween (2018) -

N/A - All Features created for the film so far are on the BD & 4K discs from Universal

Halloween Kills -

N/A - All Features created for the film so far are on the BD & 4K discs from Universal

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror -

Might as well include this too; the documentary and all supplemental features releated to it are only available in the 2006 release from Anchor Bay. To my knowledge there has never been a reprinting of this set, again because of Anthony Masi's involvement. The documentary itself is pretty outdated now and it's woefully lacking in substance but it is the only place to see interviews with certain cast & crew members who have passed away since then or who haven't been interviewed for other making-of documentaries for the series.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

Because keeping track of this stuff seems to be my weird little hobby, here's everything not carried over from past releases on every Halloween film to date [Note that this list is for the North American Releases only]:

[Show spoiler]Halloween (1978) -

1. Audio Commentary by John Carpenter, Debra Hill & Jamie Lee Curtis originally recorded for the Criterion Collection's 1994 Laserdisc release.
(available on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD & 2007 Anchor Bay BD [the later was reprinted and included for the 2014 Scream factory box set and 2018 Lionsgate 4K release])

2. On Location: 25 Years Later Featurette
(available on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD, 35th Anniversary Anchor Bay BD & 2018 Lionsgate 4K Release)

3. Still Gallery Material
(several still photographs are only available on the 1999 THX/Restored Anchor Bay DVD and nowhere else; not on the 25th Anniversary Anchor Bay DVD or the 4K Scream Factory Collector's Edition)

4. Fast Film Facts - Trivia Track
(if anyone cares about such a thing anymore, this is only available on the 2007 Anchor Bay BD [which again, was also reprinted for the 2014 Scream Factory boxset and the 2018 Lionsgate 4K Release)

Halloween II -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory

Halloween III: Season of the Witch -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers -

1. Audio Commentary by Alan B. McElroy
(Available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD and nowhere else. The track is moderated by former Halloweenmovies.com webmaster Anthony Masi, who no one seems to want to work with anymore, hence it's exclusion from all subsequent releases. It was planned for the 2012 Anchor Bay BD but that fell through)

2. Halloween 4&5 Discussion Panel -
(Available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD, 2012 BD & the 2017 DVD re-issue, all from Anchor Bay)

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers -

1. Introduction by Danielle Harris & Ellie Cornell
(Availble on the 2000 DVD and 2006 Special Edition DVD, both from Anchor Bay)

2. On-Set Footage
(Certain portions of the raw, on-set footage reel are available only on the 2006 Special Edition DVD and the Halloween: 25 Years of Terror set, both from Anchor Bay. The 2012 BD from Anchor Bay, 2017 DVD re-issue from Anchor Bay and the 2021 4K from Scream Factory have most of this footage but not everything that was available on the 2006 Special Edition DVD & Halloween: 25 Years of Terror set)

Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers -

N/A - Everything Included on the 2 disc set from the 2014 Box Set

Halloween H20: Twenty Years Later -

1. Unmasking the Horror
(Available on the 1999 Collector's Series DVD from Buona Vista and nowhere else. At the time of the 2014 box set, official word from Scream Factory was that they couldn't afford to carry this featurette over to the boxset; given the number of interviews with high-profile figures such as Wes Craven, Kevin Williamson and Richard Schickel, I can see that. However most of the interview footage used to create this featurette is in the "Vintage Interviews and Behind-the-Scenes Footage segment that is on the 2014 disc in the SF box set)

2. Music Video by Creed
(Available on the 1999 Collector's Series DVD from Buona Vista and nowhere else. Again, I think this feature was priced out of the 2014 disc in the SF boxset, which is a good thing in my opinion )

Halloween Resurrection -

N/A - Everything is included on the disc from the 2014 Scream Factory Box Set. [Although I will add that there are TV spots for this movie that have popped up on Youtube recently that Scream Factory could include on a future release].

Halloween (2007) -

1. Theatrical Cut of the film
(Available on the 2007 Genius Productions 2-Disc DVD and the Alliance double feature DVD & BD releases in Canada)

2. Audio Commentary by Rob Zombie on the Theatrical Cut
(Available on the 2007 Genius Productions 2-Disc DVD set and nowhere else that I know of)

3. Two TV Spots
(Available on the Bonus disc of the 2014 Scream Factory box set and nowhere else officially, although I have seen them on youtube)

Halloween II (2009) -

1. Theatrical Cut of the film
(Available on the 2009 Sony DVD and the Alliance double feature DVD & BD releases in Canada)

2. Audio Commentary by Rob Zombie on the Theatrical Cut
(Available on the 2009 Sony DVD set and nowhere else that I know of)

3. One TV Spot
(Available on the Bonus disc of the 2014 Scream Factory box set and nowhere else officially, although I have seen it on youtube)

4. The mythical 8-hour long making-of documentary
(Never released because of Bob Weinstein. It apparently exists but litigation from the Weinstein company prevented it from ever being seen)

Halloween (2018) -

N/A - All Features created for the film so far are on the BD & 4K discs from Univeral

Halloween Kills -

N/A - All Features created for the film so far are on the BD & 4K discs from Univeral

Halloween: 25 Years of Terror -

Might as well include this too; the documentary and all supplemental features releated to it are only available in the 2006 release from Anchor Bay. To my knowledge there has never been a reprinting of this set, again because of Anthony Masi's involvement. The documentary itself is pretty outdated now and it's woefully lacking in substance but it is the only place to see interviews with certain cast & crew members who have passed away since then or who haven't been interviewed for other making-of documentaries for the series.

Outstanding work. Always love seeing write-up's like this. As someone that currently doesn't get rid of older editions of a film unless the disc is identical to another found in a set/subsequent release seeing stuff like this helps remind me why I so often choose to keep these multiple editions.

[scissorpuppy]

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

Because keeping track of this stuff seems to be my weird little hobby, here's everything not carried over from past releases on every Halloween film to date [Note that this list is for the North American Releases only]

Great list! I didn’t realize Zombie had done separate commentaries for the theatrical cuts of his films. I’m assuming these are completely different tracks from the directors cuts and not just slightly different edits of a session to match each version?

[mad_max2000]

Originally Posted by scissorpuppy

Great list! I didn’t realize Zombie had done separate commentaries for the theatrical cuts of his films. I’m assuming these are completely different tracks and from the directors cuts and not just slightly different edits of a session to match each version.

I've not listened to the tracks on the theatrical cuts but I do believe it is exactly as you describe, where it's the same base track edited to include commentary on scenes specific to that version of the film. So much of the content will be identical between both tracks on each film.

I've been interested in hearing the commentary on the theatrical cut of HII because apparently Zombie really gets down and dirty with what it was like to work with Bob Weinstein on that movie...

[JasonMichael]

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

I've not listened to the tracks on the theatrical cuts but I do believe it is exactly as you describe, where it's the same base track edited to include commentary on scenes specific to that version of the film. So much of the content will be identical between both tracks on each film.

I've been interested in hearing the commentary on the theatrical cut of HII because apparently Zombie really gets down and dirty with what it was like to work with Bob Weinstein on that movie...

Down and dirty Weinstein?...Ewwww....

I think we've heard enough about that.

[Xtrem3]

Originally Posted by Luke Dodge748

Where did you hear that we're getting the rest of the Halloween films in 4K this year?? Thought it was only a rumor...

It stands on this site at least Halloween 6,7,8.

look at the bluray new listings and you will find them from Shout factory but no dates.

13th of June 2022 they listed 3 Halloween movies in 4K number 6,7,8

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Xtrem3

It stands on this site at least Halloween 6,7,8.

look at the bluray new listings and you will find them from Shout factory but no dates.

Anyone can add listings to this site, even you. Doesn't mean they're happening.

[Xtrem3]

Originally Posted by starsteam

Anyone can add listings to this site, even you. Doesn't mean they're happening.

I am 99% sure these 3 will arrive in time for Halloween, but you never know.

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Xtrem3

I am 99% sure these 3 will arrive in time for Halloween, but you never know.

I think they're likely, but only because someone teased work on a new Halloween 6 release. Otherwise, Shout hasn't gotten 4K rights to any Paramount titles, and their access to the Miramax library is still questionable at this time. If they release those three Halloween films to 4K it would be a revelation, not a expectation.

[sancho]

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

Because keeping track of this stuff seems to be my weird little hobby, here's everything not carried over from past releases on every Halloween film to date [Note that this list is for the North American Releases only]:

You are a Rock Star.

[jstxanothrxstory]

Originally Posted by scissorpuppy

Great list! I didn’t realize Zombie had done separate commentaries for the theatrical cuts of his films. I’m assuming these are completely different tracks from the directors cuts and not just slightly different edits of a session to match each version?

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

I've not listened to the tracks on the theatrical cuts but I do believe it is exactly as you describe, where it's the same base track edited to include commentary on scenes specific to that version of the film. So much of the content will be identical between both tracks on each film.

I've been interested in hearing the commentary on the theatrical cut of HII because apparently Zombie really gets down and dirty with what it was like to work with Bob Weinstein on that movie...

I've listened to the commentaries for both cuts, though it's been a while on the theatrical side. From what I remember (and this is particularly noticeable in the second film) is that the commentary tracks are the same whenever scenes were identical, with the different scenes then having differing commentary. They're both edited very well - the theatrical cut has several moments where scenes end a line or two sooner (or begin a line or two later) from its unrated counterpoint, and the commentary doesn't feature any mid-sentence cut-offs.

His unrated cut commentary actually offers the most details on how horrendous it was with the Weinsteins on the second film, since he has a longer run-time to elaborate.

If anyone's listened to Danielle Harris and Scout Compton's podcast, they also talked about it in one of their early episodes.

[jstxanothrxstory]

Originally Posted by mad_max2000

Because keeping track of this stuff seems to be my weird little hobby, here's everything not carried over from past releases on every Halloween film to date [Note that this list is for the North American Releases only]:

Halloween II (1981) -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory

Halloween III: Season of the Witch -

N/A - Everything included on the 2021 4K set from Scream Factory.

Technically, the original Universal release of Halloween II featured Terror in the Aisles as a bonus feature that Scream didn't cover over to any of their releases. (Not that it really matters since it's not a Halloween-specific documentary and Scream has issued a CE of it separately, but still.)

The original Goodtimes DVD release of Season of the Witch also had an audio mix where some of the sound effects were different. Some of the death scenes are supposedly a frame or two longer, but I haven't been able to notice it when looking at them.

There's still a handful of stuff that was released at some point on its own in the US that was never put with a Halloween release (such as documentaries and whatnot) or on Halloween releases internationally, but I'm glad Scream has been able to get the licenses for as much as they did.

[Nailwraps]

So, let's talk Comic-Con announcements; what do you hope to see Scream Factory announce this year?

I'll start (all 4K/Blu-ray Collector's Editions, unless when noted):

-Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers
-Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
-Halloween: Resurrection
-Westworld
-Futureworld Collector's Edition
-Army of Darkness
-Poltergeist II: The Other Side
-Poltergeist III
-Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
-Hellraiser: Bloodline
-Children of The Corn II: The Final Sacrifice (Blu-ray only)
-Jason Goes To Hell: The Final Friday
-Jason X
-Freddy Vs. Jason
-RoboCop 2
-RoboCop 3
-Motel Hell
-Piranha
-Humanoids From The Deep
-Swamp Thing

[ravenus]

Watched This Island Earth on the Shout blu.

The movie is a mixed bag for me. I like 50's SF movies a good deal and I was really hoping for a lot from this one going by its rep. To be fair it does have its moments. The film first begins with a smart atomic scientist (Rex Reason, a name that sounds too apt to be real) being lured to build a machine that is then used to send him a message with instructions about going to a location (did this inspire a similar plot point in Carl Sagan's Contact?). The scientist hero follows through and finds himself transported to a remote location where he encounters fellow researchers, including the comely Faith Domergue and also meets with the mysterious Jeff Morrow who appears very interested in his work to transmute lead into uranium.

After an escape attempt, Rex and Faith and transported by Jeff Morrow and his group in a flying saucer to the distant planet Metaluna. You see, Metaluna is under constant attack by its neighbors the Zagons, and while they have so far held up with their energy shield, the uranium reserves needed to power the same are fast running out, which is why they need our hero. Thus, while Morrow's crew has kidnapped the scientists from earth it is for the purpose of their planet's survival. Morrow's alien is shown to be a gentleman who respects his captives and always leans on appealing to their reason than forcing them to do his bidding. Some of the special FX are also remarkable, although having the film in color is not always a great decision, as some of them, especially the opticals, are not very convincing. The production design is inconsistent, sometimes quite imaginative and sometimes threadbare. The procedure shown to acclimatize the earthlings to the different atmospheric pressures between Earth and Metaluna is quite goofy, and the late introduction of a clawed monster does not do justice to the hitherto idea-oriented adventure.

In the end I found it an okay SF adventure film, lower tier to stuff like The Day the Earth Stood Still or It Came from Outer Space. But it was probably one of the early Hollywood live action adventures to show large amounts of its running time outside of earth, and Morrow always remains interesting (it must have been something of a comedown, his part in The Giant Claw, a couple years later).

The blu-ray gives a pretty good presentation of the technicolor film, although not as stunning as some of the prestige productions. Obviously scenes with mattes and opticals are more variable, but generally colors look punchy and there is no egregious digital processing. The Perspecta 3.0 soundtrack was clear, and showed some noticeable panning effects. The included English subs are white and clear, a little thicker than I normally see. There are a bunch of extras, including an audio commentary by a VFX expert, a 50min making of, a 20min appreciation by Luigi Cozzi (who claims that the space footage was reshot by Jack Arnold), trailers and galleries...and oh, the full film in an alternate open-matte 4:3 ratio.