Scream Factory Blu-ray Discussion Thread

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

In the audio interview from Scream Factory's facebook page Cliff says in reference to Scanners "another company out bid us".

I think that may be Criterion.

I'd have to say it's definitely Criterion - in addition to having released previous Cronenberg films (and MGM titles), which other US label would be bidding, other than Synapse? We'll have to see how the (presumably) Criterion disc of I and the Shout disc(s) of II and III stack up against the Second Sight trilogy.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'd have to say it's definitely Criterion - in addition to having released previous Cronenberg films (and MGM titles), which other US label would be bidding, other than Synapse? We'll have to see how the (presumably) Criterion disc of I and the Shout disc(s) of II and III stack up against the Second Sight trilogy.

Well Criterion does have a pretty good track record, as does Shout...

[ianungstad]

What I would like to know is what's going on with Suspiria? The Weinstein Company picked up the rights in 2007 when the technicolor restoration debuted at Cannes. It's been 5.5 years since, surely their rights must have expired at this point? Cliff, do you know if the Weinsteins still have it or has it been acquired by another label.

Which brings up another question...would Shout release foreign language titles (lots of great stuff from Italy!) or are you guys going to keep it to American titles.

[ScorpionReleasing]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

I'd have to say it's definitely Criterion - in addition to having released previous Cronenberg films (and MGM titles), which other US label would be bidding, other than Synapse? We'll have to see how the (presumably) Criterion disc of I and the Shout disc(s) of II and III stack up against the Second Sight trilogy.

What about Severin? Or Olive? or Scorpion?

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by ScorpionReleasing

What about Severin? Or Olive? or Scorpion?

No offense, but Criterion is probably the only one with enough coin to outbid Shout Factory.

[Akijama]

And I'd have to say it's definitely Severin,since the same ppl run Severin and the UK label called Second Sight (that's pretty much obvious..more or less).And,as we all know,SS got the UK rights to Scanners and The Brood,so I take it that it must be Severin picking up the rights for US soil.Just my 2 cents,lol

[ianungstad]

Nah, I think it's probably Criterion. They posted a photo of Cronenberg at their offices in August. Victor Solnicki who apparently owns the rights to Scanners/The Brood already worked with Criterion on their Videodrome release. He even has his own page on their website: http://www.criterion.com/people/10607-victor-solnicki

[dressedtokill]

Blu reviews for Death Valley and They Island

Death Valley:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/58924/death-valley/

The Island:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/58927/island-the/

[jkh206]

8MM would be badass too.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Seymour

No offense, but Criterion is probably the only one with enough coin to outbid Shout Factory.

And Videodrome is unquestionably one of their big "art Cronenberg" sellers.
Don't think we'll ever see "The Brood" on Criterion, but Scanners is iconic.

[AKORIS]

Originally Posted by dressedtokill

Blu reviews for Death Valley and They Island

Death Valley:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/58924/death-valley/

The Island:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/58927/island-the/

Looking forward to seeing these.... I pre ordered from DVD empire awhile ago when they were a good price

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by Akijama

And I'd have to say it's definitely Severin,since the same ppl run Severin and the UK label called Second Sight (that's pretty much obvious..more or less).And,as we all know,SS got the UK rights to Scanners and The Brood,so I take it that it must be Severin picking up the rights for US soil.Just my 2 cents,lol

They're not the same company - Severin does extra features for Second Sight. I can't see Severin releasing it, as, other than the upcoming Zulu Dawn and The Wild Geese (both of which were originally announced for last year), they haven't released any Blu-rays in a year, and have none in the pipeline that have been announced. Scanners would be too expensive and high-profile a title for a company that doesn't really release anything and seems much more focused on creating extras for other labels. Also, they only do low-budget and/or relatively obscure titles. Olive only handles Republic and Paramount titles, and they're a 3-person label without money to bid on anything. Scorpion would be cool, but Criterion is still the obvious and logical choice.

[zbinks]

Originally Posted by ianungstad

What I would like to know is what's going on with Suspiria? The Weinstein Company picked up the rights in 2007 when the technicolor restoration debuted at Cannes. It's been 5.5 years since, surely their rights must have expired at this point? Cliff, do you know if the Weinsteins still have it or has it been acquired by another label.

Which brings up another question...would Shout release foreign language titles (lots of great stuff from Italy!) or are you guys going to keep it to American titles.

Shout! did release Audition in 2009. I wouldn't expect Shout! to go whole horse on foreign language horror titles (like Blue Underground), but I imagine they'd be bidders if the right titles present themselves.

Originally Posted by ScorpionReleasing

What about Severin? Or Olive? or Scorpion?

Originally Posted by Seymour

No offense, but Criterion is probably the only one with enough coin to outbid Shout Factory.

I would've said the same thing about Echo Bridge getting roughly half of the Miramax catalog and I would've been wrong. I wouldn't count anyone out regardless of how unlikely it would seem.

A few other names that might be interested and could potentially outbid Shout! Factory: Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and Anchor Bay.

[rickah88]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

[Show spoiler]They're not the same company - Severin does extra features for Second Sight. I can't see Severin releasing it, as, other than the upcoming Zulu Dawn and The Wild Geese (both of which were originally announced for last year), they haven't released any Blu-rays in a year, and have none in the pipeline that have been announced. Scanners would be too expensive and high-profile a title for a company that doesn't really release anything and seems much more focused on creating extras for other labels. Also, they only do low-budget and/or relatively obscure titles. Olive only handles Republic and Paramount titles, and they're a 3-person label without money to bid on anything. Scorpion would be cool

, but Criterion is still the obvious and logical choice.

I can't wait to see the "cartoon clue" for that! Any chance they have a drawing of a guys head blowing up?

[NoirFan]

Originally Posted by zbinks

A few other names that might be interested and could potentially outbid Shout! Factory: Lionsgate, Image Entertainment and Anchor Bay.

Anchor Bay doesn't release their own titles anymore, why would they bid on another company's? I don't know much about Lionsgate except that they release a lot of straight-to-video and low-budget titles and all of their releases have very low MSRP, so I'm not sure why they'd be spending a chunk of change on a title that would be selling for $6.99 on Amazon a couple of months after release. As for Image, aren't they Criterion's distributor? Again, based on their history with Cronenberg and MGM, as well as their capitol and mission statement, it has to be Criterion.

[Monroville]

Any chance on seeing OPEN SEASON (1974) released on blu-ray?:









Here is an interesting tidbit from the IMDB talkback section:

That actress Cornelia Sharp who stars in this film and is married to big time film producer (18 years her senior) Martin Bregman was in some way involved in using their big bucks to buy up the rights and all copies of this film so that it can no longer be shown or purchased. I understand their thinking since it is the film she is most abused and degraded in and certainly not proud of. Marty probably can't stand to see her on her knees begging for her life before being booted out the door...interesting story in hollywood history of big bucks making a part of its history disappear.

BTW, is there a code for the bluray.com's forum for creating thumbnails (including the ability to click on the thumbnail for the original sized image)?

[redrunner97]

Originally Posted by NoirFan

Anchor Bay doesn't release their own titles anymore, why would they bid on another company's? I don't know much about Lionsgate except that they release a lot of straight-to-video and low-budget titles and all of their releases have very low MSRP, so I'm not sure why they'd be spending a chunk of change on a title that would be selling for $6.99 on Amazon a couple of months after release. As for Image, aren't they Criterion's distributor? Again, based on their history with Cronenberg and MGM, as well as their capitol and mission statement, it has to be Criterion.

2 things.

1. What do you mean Anchor Bay won't even release their own titles? They've recently put out a good bit of catalog films, and films they own the rights to or produced. Like "Mothers Day", "I Spit On Your Grave", "Silent Night Deadly Night I/II", and "Halloween 4/5".

2. Lionsgate is far from a low-budget company. They have to money to release "Scanners", but I doubt they'd be interested thought, as they are maily in the business of theatrical releases lately. With movies like "The Hunger Games", "Saw", "Texas Chainsaw 3D", and "The Twilight Saga" (through Summit, which they own), they have grossed billions. They could afford it if they wanted it. They could afford just about anything. They're already in big-time-studio ranking.

[psychocinderellax]

Was I the only one who noticed that Walter Olsen, owner of Scorpion Releasing commented on the "Scanners" post and included his company in the list of possible companies that couldve gotten the rights to "Scanners"??

Like their page for more info... Possibly?

http://www.facebook.com/scorpionreleasinginfo

[BarnDoor]

I'd love to see a DVD/Blu release of Open Season.

[Seymour]

Originally Posted by redrunner97

1. What do you mean Anchor Bay won't even release their own titles? They've recently put out a good bit of catalog films, and films they own the rights to or produced. Like "Mothers Day", "I Spit On Your Grave", "Silent Night Deadly Night I/II", and "Halloween 4/5".

I think he meant titles like Phantasm, Demons, and the Dario Argento films they have (had?). AB only picked up ISOYG and Mother's Day because they tied in with the remakes. I seriously doubt they would have any interest in releasing Scanners, let alone outbidding someone to get it.