Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Double-posting from the dedicated thread for this box set...

I just finished watching Horror Rises from the Tomb from the Scream Factory Blu-ray set, The Paul Naschy Collection.



In 15th century France, a black magic practitioner, Alaric de Marnac (Paul Naschy), and his mistress, Mabille De Lancré (Helga Liné), are executed for witchcraft. Fast forward to the 1970s, where a contemporary skeptic, Hugo (also played by Paul Naschy), attends a seance with his friends, and ends up summoning the spirit of de Marnac. They travel to a remote countryside villa, where they locate the severed head of de Marnac, which possesses villagers and turns them into grisly undead servants. Gory killings, gratuitous nudity, and zombie attacks ensue.

Horror Rises from the Tomb is the first of many Paul Naschy films that I'll be watching in the days of come. Naschy, an actor, writer, and director, was sort of the Spanish equivalent of Vincent Price, and he graced a great many atmospheric and spooky films, mostly from the 1970s and 1980s. I've only seen two other Naschy films, Count Dracula's Great Love (1973) and The People Who Own the Dark (1976). If these three movies that I've seen so far are any indication, then I've got a lot of awesome supernatural horror and beautiful Spanish ladies waiting for me in the days to come.

As far as the nudity is concerned, we've got the amazing Helga Liné, whom I've seen before in Nightmare Castle (1965), we've got Cristina Suriani, we've got Betsabé Ruiz, and we've got a few other ladies whom I'm too lazy to look up on the Internet Movie Database. Best of all, however, we've got the gorgeous Emma Cohen, whom I enjoyed watching in the Spanish "spaghetti western", Cut-Throats Nine (1972). One look at Emma Cohen makes it easy to understand why Alaric de Marnac completely loses his head over her.

This is a solid eye candy movie across the board, not only because of the females, but also because of the picturesque rural Spanish film locations, which have the perfect gothic vibe for this feature. If you're familiar with the British horror films from Hammer Studios, then these Spanish movies are along the same lines, although they're a little more over-the-top.

This Scream Factory Blu-ray sports an impressive video presentation with a naturally filmic look. The audio presentation is good enough, although, watching the foreign language track with the subtitle option like I do, I tend not to notice audio imperfections right off the bat. Overall, though, I'll stick my neck out and say that it's a great disc.

The commentary track by Naschy experts, Rod Barnett and Troy Guinn, is slam-packed with a lot of information and anecdotes. I should be listening to it with undivided attention, instead of posting this review as I listen, and I'll probably do that later tonight.

This disc also features Alternate Clothed Sequences of five minutes of footage from the movie. I'm normally a thick-skinned guy who does not get offended by things, because I'm mature enough to understand that the world does not revolve around me and my sensibilities. That said, I'm dumbfounded, angered, and offended by the presence of this particular supplement, which I consider to be an affront not only to my values, but to decency in general. It's beneath me to get on a soapbox when I'm writing reviews here, but I'm so dismayed by this special feature that I want to encourage the rest of you not to support this outrage and to let Scream Factory know, by email or phone, that immoral defacements of cinema like this will not be tolerated or supported in the future.

An Alternate End Sequence is beneficial to the viewer because it shows more of Emma Cohen. I can get behind this particular extra.

Onward to the other flicks in this Naschy set!

Got my set in and watched this film this morning. I loved it, thought the picture looked great, and I'm excited for the rest of the films. Thanks again for your review, which pushed me into buying the set. Right up my alley, and money well spent.

[WesReviews]

Placed my Hell Night order with Best Buy.

Even got an email from Best Buy when the release date was changed from October to December.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

On Facebook Scream have confirmed The Strangers and Drag Me To Hell will be coming in 2018, which is probably no great surprise. Given that they've discounted Cyborg for this year as well, I wonder if we'll see Eye of the Cat and American Gothic alongside Silent Night Deadly Night and (fingers crossed) Hell Night in December? Alternatively, they might have a few unannounced titles slated for December, since they hinted there would be more to announce for this year after the SDCC announcement (and we've only had the Naschy set so far).

It seems like they don't really understand the point of announcing things at Comic Con.

[WesReviews]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

It seems like they don't really understand the point of announcing things at Comic Con.

They shouldn't wonder why the room had hardly anybody in it when the announcements took place.

[cloudnine]

Originally Posted by BarnDoor

On Facebook Scream have confirmed The Strangers and Drag Me To Hell will be coming in 2018, which is probably no great surprise. Given that they've discounted Cyborg for this year as well, I wonder if we'll see Eye of the Cat and American Gothic alongside Silent Night Deadly Night and (fingers crossed) Hell Night in December? Alternatively, they might have a few unannounced titles slated for December, since they hinted there would be more to announce for this year after the SDCC announcement (and we've only had the Naschy set so far).

They raved about EYE OF THE CAT because it has Michael Sarrazin. They also said they have other unreleased horror films. Does this equal THE REINCARNATION OF PETER PROUD?

[LeeFanatic007]

Scream's Comic Con announcements are always a bust, a couple interesting things and lots of re-releases of stuff already on Blu-ray. I agree that they don't get Comic Con, and then with Hell Night trying to keep it hush hush when it's leaked on various sites is just stupid, just tell us it's coming but you can't give out any specifics because it hasn't been finalized.

[edwoodjr]

Originally Posted by ashedmaniac

I don't really understand why they're there in that capacity anyway.

Seems like a very easy way to maintain a presence amongst the overall community of fandom (along with their booth). I know that some of us would love it to be something more epic and personally exciting, but I don't think that's their goal.

[thatguamguy]

Originally Posted by ashedmaniac

I don't really understand why they're there in that capacity anyway.

I understand the idea that Shout is keeping itself visible in the geek community, and drumming up word of mouth, even with low attendance. But there's not much value in increasing word of mouth in July about products that won't even be available until next year's calendars are already on 80% markdown.

A lot of comic book companies create exclusive variants for Comic-con, with how big packaging and such things are with the geek crowd, I'm surprised they don't at least create exclusive slipcovers or something like that.

[Member-222782]

Would a con exclusively about movies/home video be any kind of success today? I know there are several conventions around the country where horror icons make appearances but what about an event that just showcases Blu-ray/physical media? Even if it doesn't draw millions it could still be successful IMO. What better way to make splashy announcements and receive real-time feedback?

[Phobics]

Originally Posted by thatguamguy

I understand the idea that Shout is keeping itself visible in the geek community, and drumming up word of mouth, even with low attendance. But there's not much value in increasing word of mouth in July about products that won't even be available until next year's calendars are already on 80% markdown.

A lot of comic book companies create exclusive variants for Comic-con, with how big packaging and such things are with the geek crowd, I'm surprised they don't at least create exclusive slipcovers or something like that.

I feel the same with how hot toys does stuff, going up to a year or so from announcement.

[JimSmith]

Originally Posted by zbinks

RE: Tourist Trap

Both the US and UK Blu-Rays feature the same "alternate" cut of the film.

There are German Digibook releases from 84 Entertainment that include the theatrical cut of the film, but the missing footage has been reincorporated from SD sources.

I so wish that we had a definitive edition of the uncut 90 minute version of Tourist Trap on Blu-ray!

[i-kari]

Originally Posted by JimSmith

I so wish that we had a definitive edition of the uncut 90 minute version of Tourist Trap on Blu-ray!

I kind of agree. On the other hand, having already purchased the German mediabook, something inside me hopes that I don't find a need to replace it.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by i-kari

I kind of agree. On the other hand, having already purchased the German mediabook, something inside me hopes that I don't find a need to replace it.

The mediabook + a properly remastered Blu-ray which you can swap = perfection.

[WesReviews]

You would think Scream Factory would be a good company to partner with on a new Tourist Trap Blu, since they've released to much Empire stuff in the past.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by WesReviews

You would think Scream Factory would be a good company to partner with on a new Tourist Trap Blu, since they've released to much Empire stuff in the past.

But do the uncut elements exist anymore to make a Blu-ray transfer? Wasn't there a theory that the uncut footage was thrown away when Band didn't pay his storage/lab fees?

[BarnDoor]

After Midnight specs:

NEW High-Definition Film Transfer
NEW Audio Commentary With Writers/Producers/Directors Ken and Jim Wheat
NEW Interview With Actress Jillian McWhirter
Theatrical Trailer

[bruce holecheck]

Final specs for Scream's upcoming Blu of Elio Petri’s A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY (1968):

***A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY Update***

We reveal the final extras for the bizarre and creepy 1970 Italian film A QUIET PLACE IN THE COUNTRY that is coming to Blu-ray for the first time on Sept 26th.

- New High-Definition Film Transfer (includes optional Italian audio w/English subtitles.)
- New Interview with Actor Franco Nero
- New Audio Commentary with Film Historian/Author Troy Howarth
- Theatrical Trailer

[babybreese]

Bruce, you goofed the year of the film.
No English track clearly listed, that's a final specs fail too.
Guess the 'optional Italian audio' is a clue that there is an English track?

Distressing to see yet another Howarth commentary...what a wasted opportunity.

[Member-222782]

It's going to feel good throwing away that old MGM After Midnight DVD. Not one of the best horror films out there but it's still nice to have a good edition of it on Blu-ray.

[trentdiesel]

Originally Posted by Cinema74

It's going to feel good throwing away that old MGM After Midnight DVD. Not one of the best horror films out there but it's still nice to have a good edition of it on Blu-ray.

I was always interested in it but never got around to seeing it, you'd recommend it?