Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[SilentNight]

Originally Posted by RiFiFi1955

Arrow did it on DVD so I am thinking they might do a blu eventually too. As far as a stateside release, well yeah that DVD re-issue last year makes it look like that might not be happening anytime too soon, would be sweet if it did happen soon though.

I thought about Arrow. I am guessing that at this point it's the cut footage that was put back in for the DVD release that is the issue. The quality is poor at best but still, even if that is all they have to work with I believe this is a title that with the proper features and packaging will sell. Who knows, it might end up online as a digital download at some point. Anything is better than the dated DVD at this point.

Also, I know this would never ever happen as it is a newer release and Sony owns it but I would LOVE to see the 2004 Western Horror flick Dead Birds released to Blu-Ray. That thing still scares the piss out of me. Great movie.

[Undeadcow]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

• Night of the Living Dead...:...Night is an even bigger "NO", because its Public Domain and they'd never make the money they put into it back, at least not on blu-ray. Unfortunately...

I've heard this argument before and find it silly. If a legitimate company, like Scream Factory, release a quality edition of Night of the Living Dead (original) I am sure it would sell like mad. It seems silly to assume two bit knock-offs would just come out of the woodwork and steal the transfer styphoning off sales. Especially on blu-ray the format is "new" enough that knock-offs would seem to have trouble with production (more expensive to press, higher minimum runs, etc).

High definition transfer of Night of the Living Dead already exist and have not been subjected to knock offs. If no one has taken, for example, Netwerk's master from the UK and cloned it in other markets, I don't know what basis there is to assume pirates would hijack Scream Factor's public domain release. How many Island of Lost Souls blue-ray releases have we seen follow Criterion Collection's edition? Not one I know of. Kino releasing Nosferatu (1922) also suggests there is a viable market for publishers to release high definition public domain cult classics.

The fallacy of the "public domain" excuse is mind boggling and I can think of no examples supporting it [not that I'm any sort of expert]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

• Slumber Party Massacre Set:
All 3 would be great, they don't seem too interested in doing it, but keep buggin 'em, we might get it one day soon.

I understood, perhaps incorrectly, Cmac to comment that the Slumber Party Massacre masters aren't sufficient quality for a reasonable high definition release. Have you seen the DVD set? It's not great.

[thompsonjohn]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

I hope they'll get a new interview with Linnea Quigley.

Well looking at my Anchor Bay DVD, all they need to do is port over the extras on this disc which includes "My Demon Nights - An all-new 14 minute interview with actress Linnea Quigley."

Sure it's a little dated (2004, I believe) but I don't see what else she might have to say on this film that isn't said here already.

Other extras on the DVD, that I'm sure will be ported over are audio commentary with Kevin Tenney, Walter Josten and Jeff Geoffray, the Linnea Quigley interview, a "promo reel", "video trailer", theatrical trailer and TV spots.

[KrugStillo]

I hate the notion that because Night of the Living Dead is public domain that a good company won't touch it. Elite did back in the day and their version is still considered one of the best. Criterion put out Carnival of Souls on DVD a while ago. This just reeks of corporate greed that a company won't do it because others could steal it. So what, they would never do it justice if you did an amazing version. I feel this would be a plus, less money up front. I guess I just don't get that concept cause I would be one of the first in line to get a proper blu release of NOTLD from someone like Scream.

[Metallix87]

Simple solution to the problem: Find a way to secure profits. Putting "The Last Man on Earth" in the next Vincent Price collection, or perhaps "Night of the Living Dead" in a double feature with another old school zombie film could work.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by Metallix87

Simple solution to the problem: Find a way to secure profits. Putting "The Last Man on Earth" in the next Vincent Price collection, or perhaps "Night of the Living Dead" in a double feature with another old school zombie film could work.

I tried to see if they would put Night as a feature on Day of the Dead. Denied.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I hated the film, but that seems like a pretty well-designed and representative cover.

Blasphemy.

[persuazion]

Artwork looks really cool......cant wait to see Witchboard's.

[demonknight]

Eight of the next year's rough 48 titles have been announced.
-Bad Dreams
-Die, Monster, Die!
-Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut
-Night of the Demons
-Nosferatu, the Vampyre
-Visiting Hours
-Witchboard

Not too shabby so far.

[demonknight]

Originally Posted by persuazion

Artwork looks really cool......cant wait to see Witchboard's.

Witchboard's is probably just going to be the original poster. This is quite possibly Nathan's best work since the inaugural two pieces (Halloween 2&3), in my opinion.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

I understood, perhaps incorrectly, Cmac to comment that the Slumber Party Massacre masters aren't sufficient quality for a reasonable high definition release. Have you seen the DVD set? It's not great.

He said that it wouldn't look too great, yes, but Jeff has stated that its not in their immediate plans anyway.

But I do think it's possible that they change their mind.

Originally Posted by Undeadcow

[Show spoiler]I've heard this argument before and find it silly. If a legitimate company, like Scream Factory, release a quality edition of Night of the Living Dead (original) I am sure it would sell like mad. It seems silly to assume two bit knock-offs would just come out of the woodwork and steal the transfer styphoning off sales. Especially on blu-ray the format is "new" enough that knock-offs would seem to have trouble with production (more expensive to press, higher minimum runs, etc).

High definition transfer of Night of the Living Dead already exist and have not been subjected to knock offs. If no one has taken, for example, Netwerk's master from the UK and cloned it in other markets, I don't know what basis there is to assume pirates would hijack Scream Factor's public domain release.

[Show spoiler] How many Island of Lost Souls blue-ray releases have we seen follow Criterion Collection's edition? Not one I know of. Kino releasing Nosferatu (1922) also suggests there is a viable market for publishers to release high definition public domain cult classics.

The fallacy of the "public domain" excuse is mind boggling and I can think of no examples supporting it [not that I'm any sort of expert]

It is far from false.

The price of remastering it on blu-ray and packaging it would be 10x's the price of a dvd release, hence the fact that no one has done it yet, except a bootleg called "forgotton films' who used a copyrighted international transfernd were promply ordered to cease and dissist.

Cliff himself has stated that the risk isn't worth the reward, particularly on Night of the Living Dead. They'd sell a nice "Scream Edition" for 25$, but a knock-off could go for $3.99, most non-loyal followers would much rather pay 3.99. That's why there a so many versions, because people will typically buy the cheaper one.

Its a legitimate argument. I know what I'm talking about, and Cliff has agreed with this side of the argument before exactly.

And the HD transfer currently circulated is owned and copyrighted by TWC/Dimension Films. It was one of the extremely rare instances where a Public Domain work was later copyrighted as another "cut". By cropping and editing scenes they made a "derivative work". A different film.

When Forgotton Films released their bootleg, Dimension threatened to sue them for using their transfer. That's why its unavailable now, and international companies get permission before using said transfer. That's why its widely available in other countries, but not here.

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by Metallix87

Simple solution to the problem: Find a way to secure profits. Putting "The Last Man on Earth" in the next Vincent Price collection, or perhaps "Night of the Living Dead" in a double feature with another old school zombie film could work.

That wouldn't stop anyone from ripping it and selling it as an individual blu-ray.

Cliff and Jeff have both explained this countless times, there's a reason why no one's had the balls to put it out yet. Its incredibly risky. And its not healthy to gamble in business.

We'd buy their version first, but others would glady dive into the 5 dollar bin at walmart before spending about 30$ online at Amazon.

I'd kill for them to release it, but I'm being realistic.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

And the HD transfer currently circulated is owned and copyrighted by TWC/Dimension Films. It was one of the extremely rare instances where a Public Domain work was later copyrighted as another "cut". By cropping and editing scenes they made a "derivative work". A different film.

When Forgotton Films released their bootleg, Dimension threatened to sue them for using their transfer. That's why its unavailable now, and international companies get permission before using said transfer. That's why its widely available in other countries, but not here.

The Forgotten Films release is available again.

[Undeadcow]

Aside from the hypothetic is there any actual instances were a punblic domain high definition release has been just ripped off and sold for "pennies" instead? Even on DVD many budget releases of titles like Carnival of Souls or NOTLD dis not use quality transfers and preferred editions retained their value (i.e. Criterion Collection's Carnival of Souls remained unrivaled). It sounds like with NOTLD if nothing else Scream Factory could license Dimension's transfer rather than make their own for cost effectiveness and copy protection or resort to similar derivative work loophole.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by zbinks

The Forgotten Films release is available again.

I thought i read it here somewhere, but didn't a BDInfo scan confirm that the FF release was just a rip of one of the international releases? It wasn't a rip of the Happinet, that I remember.

[demonknight]

Still no announcement on any more ITC titles. Soon. Soon.

Hopes:
-The Company of Wolves
-Stepfather II (w/ Stepfather 3 DVD)
-ANYTHING ELSE!!!

[returnofthemack]

i would rebuy slumber party massacre on blu ray but am going to pass on visitng hours and bad dreams

[TripleHBK]

There is a full .m2ts 16gb file of NOTLD available LEGALLY FOR FREE on archive.org. There is no reason to think that if Scream released this the exact same thing wouldn't happen again. Just take that copy (which looks quite good by the way) add whatever extra content you want and author your own Blu ray disk. I used the fantastic custom cover art created (and posted here) last year and it looks fantastic. There is simply no reason to put out yet another version of this film when there are already versions available.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by DetroitSportsFan

I thought i read it here somewhere, but didn't a BDInfo scan confirm that the FF release was just a rip of one of the international releases? It wasn't a rip of the Happinet, that I remember.

I'm not sure if it was ever confirmed to be 1:1 identical with any of the releases or not.

For what it's worth, redrunner97 is correct. The 40th Anniversary Edition of NotLD is copyrighted.

[crow2k5]

Originally Posted by jupiter123

Maybe the third title that Scream is going to announce is Trick or treat or Rawhead Rex

If Scream could get Trick or Treat, i would be the happiest person alive.