Audrey Rose (1977) from Arrow in November

[Hammerlover]

Orson Welles acolyte Norman Lloyd plays Ivy's doctor. He looks seventy (he was really 62) and lived to be 106, the oldest actor in the world!

[Mose Harper]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

I'm curious about this one, I love this period of Horror. Plus this seems like one of those films who's release Arrow will knock out of the park. I'm definitely going to get this one, probably when the Arrow 50% off sale is taking place at B&N.

When I was a kid, I remember seeing the ads for it on TV and in the newspapers. Everytime I was in the book section of any store, the paperback was there with a truly tantalizing, sinister cover. My curiosity was primed from an early age to see this.

When I finally did via the Twilight Time disc, I couldn't believe how jaw droppingly silly and absurd it all was. The third act especially.
The seventies were full of occult and paranormal themed material. The paperbook racks were full of the stuff. Some of this stuff turned out to be silly in a good- or at least entertainingly bad, way (The Manitou), then there was stuff like this.
From the original cover and key art, it was sold as something hellishly demonic, but the only scary thing (in retrospect) is the behavior of Hopkin's "normal" character.

A thriller remake (not horror as this was sold) could easily be made that focused on how unhinged and threatening HE is to the family, with the same motivation not changing a bit- but it would rightfully come across as psycho behavior, not something that is accorded thoughtful deliberation as it literally is here.

No offense to the fans of this, but some films don't just disappoint but actively aggravate- which this one did to me. Of course, TT's higher than average price point at the time might have contributed a lot to that negativity too.

[dylrichard02]

Originally Posted by Mose Harper

[Show spoiler]When I was a kid, I remember seeing the ads for it on TV and in the newspapers. Everytime I was in the book section of any store, the paperback was there with a truly tantalizing, sinister cover. My curiosity was primed from an early age to see this.

When I finally did via the Twilight Time disc, I couldn't believe how jaw droppingly silly and absurd it all was. The third act especially.
The seventies were full of occult and paranormal themed material. The paperbook racks were full of the stuff. Some of this stuff turned out to be silly in a good- or at least entertainingly bad, way (The Manitou), then there was stuff like this.
From the original cover and key art, it was sold as something hellishly demonic, but the only scary thing (in retrospect) is the behavior of Hopkin's "normal" character.

A thriller remake (not horror as this was sold) could easily be made that focused on how unhinged and threatening HE is to the family, with the same motivation not changing a bit- but it would rightfully come across as psycho behavior, not something that is accorded thoughtful deliberation as it literally is here.

No offense to the fans of this, but some films don't just disappoint but actively aggravate- which this one did to me. Of course, TT's higher than average price point at the time might have contributed a lot to that negativity too.

Caveat emptor I suppose. I tend to enjoy the silly side of occult horror films, for instance Amityville II, but I'll definitely go in with lowered expectations! Perhaps I'll even stream before I buy the disc.

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

Now THIS is a fookin' great announcement Glad I held off double dipping with the Imprint edition.

This is the highlight of the Arrow announcements for me today (wondering though where it was leaked, before the official announcement today. Did my best yesterday to avoid any leaked titles and threads started for them).

[Mose Harper]

Originally Posted by dylrichard02

Caveat emptor I suppose. I tend to enjoy the silly side of occult horror films, for instance Amityville II, but I'll definitely go in with lowered expectations! Perhaps I'll even stream before I buy the disc.

Here was the big problem for me and why I chimed in to begin with- managed expectations.

It is definitely not the supernatural horror film the ads and key art sell it as being.
Without treading too heavily into spoilers, I will mention this because it is glimpsed in the trailer- the film is basically, at it's core, a courtroom drama.
I went in expecting something akin to The Omen or The Exorcist and instead got "a very special episode" of Judge Judy.

I kind of wish I hadn't sold it off as quickly as I did because I'm a bit curious to see it again, and see if it plays any better knowing where it's all going and what not to expect.

I don't want to dissuade anyone from experiencing a film for themselves for the first time- but I think ratcheting down your expectations as far as it being a spooky supernatural horror film, will only serve you better when you do see it.

[deepscan]

Originally Posted by Mose Harper

Here was the big problem for me and why I chimed in to begin with- managed expectations.

It is definitely not the supernatural horror film the ads and key art sell it as being.
Without treading too heavily into spoilers, I will mention this because it is glimpsed in the trailer- the film is basically, at it's core, a courtroom drama.
I went in expecting something akin to The Omen or The Exorcist and instead got "a very special episode" of Judge Judy.

I kind of wish I hadn't sold it off as quickly as I did because I'm a bit curious to see it again, and see if it plays any better knowing where it's all going and what not to expect.

I don't want to dissuade anyone from experiencing a film for themselves for the first time- but I think ratcheting down your expectations as far as it being a spooky supernatural horror film, will only serve you better when you do see it.

I, admittingly, have seen this film a couple of times, and if I had to rate this movie amongsted the Top 5 Modern Horror Films of All Time, AUDREY ROSE would be at the Top of the List.

It is far more chilling than even POLTERGEIST or THE EXORCIST, and the lack of music score in many crucial scenes makes this film all the more chilling, even 45 years after it’s initial theatrical release.

Sure, it was a flop in theatres (we have that crazy George Lucas to thank for that), and yes it’s rated PG, but when seen to the very end it will leave you shaken (the only other film I’ve ever seen that left me shaken was THE DEER HUNTER). It is a true horror classic, and probably (when you rank it with all those Universal Horror films of the ‘30s and ‘40s) would make any Top Ten list of the greatest Horror films ever made. It is an underrated Horror masterpiece worth seeing again all the way through.

[Dailyan]

The hyperbole is strong in this one.

[DaylightsEnd]

I've shamefully never owned this over the years on physical media, or even finished watching it all the way through. The new Arrow release is the perfect reason and opportunity to rectify this situation.

[Gold Ranger]

Since this was scanned in 4k, what are the chances of a 4k disk next year?

[starsteam]

Originally Posted by Gold Ranger

Since this was scanned in 4k, what are the chances of a 4k disk next year?

At this point, if they thought sales would be good enough they would have already released this simultaneously on 4K.

[THF90]

Site Review:

https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Audre...131866/#Review

[PowellPressburger]

I wonder if the transfer is the same as the recent Imprint Blu-Ray.

Also kind of irritated the Arrow promo art makes it look like it’s going to be a slipcover release, but it is just standard Arrow plastic case. No slip.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

I wonder if the transfer is the same as the recent Imprint Blu-Ray.

Unlikely:

Brand new 2K restoration by Arrow Films from a new 4K scan of the original 35mm camera negative

[PowellPressburger]

Looks like according to the HTF Review the original United Artists logo has been restored on the Arrow Blu-Ray edition.

I will keep the Imprint for those bonus features, but I like Audrey Rose, so I will grab a copy at Barnes this week probably.

[Member-222782]

The new scan is gorgeous. So glad this was rescued - the transfer that was used for the Twilight Time (and I assume Imprint as well) BDs was ancient and terrible. This film always gave me goosebumps. It's no masterpiece like The Exorcist but it's still damned good and creepy.

[Gunsnroses092789]

Originally Posted by Cinema84

The new scan is gorgeous. So glad this was rescued - the transfer that was used for the Twilight Time (and I assume Imprint as well) BDs was ancient and terrible. This film always gave me goosebumps. It's no masterpiece like The Exorcist but it's still damned good and creepy.

Good to hear. And yeah, it's no Exorcist but the first two acts are pretty great. The film ultimately disappoints in the last act, but it's still a solid film.

[deepscan]

I have yet to see this film again (and I do plan to get the new Arow release), but having seen this film twice it is highly recommended. It deserves 5 stars.

To repeat what I have said elsewhere, this is, by far, the greatest modern-day horror masterpiece ever made. Not even THE EXORCIST or POLTERGEIST can compare to AUDREY ROSE. For a PG-rated film, it is chilling from the beginning to the end. It will leave you shaking, literally.

The only other film that gave me the chills after I had seen it (and one you should compare to) is the late Michael Cimino’s THE DEER HUNTER. Though not a horror film, DEER HUNTER‘s climactic “Russian Roulette” sequence alone leaves you (as it left me) shaken for days. But as AUDREY ROSE took two hours to tell, DEER HUNTER was three hours…and even won a Best Picture Oscar.

What both Robert Wise and Michael Cimino have in common is the realism that was put into both films, reality that is just as terrifying in the real world as it is on the screen…the horrors of reincarnation (and the price paid) in ROSE, and the horrors of Vietnam (and its price paid) in DEER HUNTER.

I recommend you see BOTH films. It is no Disney experience.

[hanz0]

PNG's

[Show spoiler]

[OceanBlue]

Originally Posted by PowellPressburger

Looks like according to the HTF Review the original United Artists logo has been restored on the Arrow Blu-Ray edition.

I will keep the Imprint for those bonus features, but I like Audrey Rose, so I will grab a copy at Barnes this week probably.

Originally Posted by Cinema84

The new scan is gorgeous. So glad this was rescued - the transfer that was used for the Twilight Time (and I assume Imprint as well) BDs was ancient and terrible. This film always gave me goosebumps. It's no masterpiece like The Exorcist but it's still damned good and creepy.

After having a break off here this past weekend, one of the things I wanted to ask/post about, was whether Arrow's Blu-ray release of Audrey Rose has the restored United Artists logo or not. I was torn between waiting for an Arrow sale or getting this sooner (another Arrow title in the same situation for me is Gothic Fantastico). I like to get some titles in sales and some on or just after the release date. You both may have twisted my arm. I was looking forward to this Arrow release.

Fellow poster Nailwraps started a North America thread a few months ago about restored opening logos, so it looks like Audrey Rose can be added in that thread.

[BluPat]

My Audrey Rose shipped from Amazon along with The Honeymoon Killers (1969) Criterion Blu-ray.