Rats (Night of Terror) 4K UHD (88 Films)

[Driver78]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

I enjoyed the Severin release, but it's almost a given that the 88 Films 4k will have nicer packaging, better compression and more clean-up of debris and damage in the mastering. They've become very proficient at the cleanup. Some of the damage won't be an easy fix, so they'll likely be selective but respectful of the source and of the grain. I ordered this with the quickness and look forward to seeing exactly what 88 has done with the handsome 4k transfer. They worked small miracles with Night Train Murders 4k, even cleaning up what looked like pretty severe water damage that is very visible all over the opticals at the end of the opening credits on the Severin 4k release. 88's cleanup work on Zombie Holocaust 4k and Hell of the Living Dead 4k was equally stellar. I really hope they give us Zombi 3 4k uhd sooner than later. It looks to be totally out of print, and both the 88 and Severin blu rays of Zombi 3 look to be starting to trade for some serious bucks. A 4k is kinda overdue.

88 bested Severin on Night Train Murders? I don't typically follow new release chatter after they're in the wild, plus I already own the Sev 4K. Are you suggesting that, generally, 88 Films' editions of these Italo splatter classics on 4K are better than Severin's overall? I seek absolute best PQ from these films and will double dip if I have to. 88 goofed on Hell of the Living Dead initially and I went through Heck to get a replacement disc sent to me so that experience soured me a bit on 88. They've also dropped off the radar for me since they're so focused on HK and Martial Arts these days. If they're cranking out better 4K discs than Severin of Italo splatter, they'll come right back into my field of vision.

Zombi 3 should definitely hit 4K and pronto. I wouldn't hesitate to grab a 4K of Zombie 4 as well. I really enjoyed that one.

Someone needs to get busy on Italian goodness. We still need Ghosthouse, Black Demons, Witchery, Door Into Silence and more.

[russweiss1]

Originally Posted by Driver78

They've also dropped off the radar for me since they're so focused on HK and Martial Arts these days. If they're cranking out better 4K discs than Severin of Italo splatter, they'll come right back into my field of vision.

Looking at 88's "new releases" they have around 34 titles listed with 13 of them being HK/martial arts. That still leaves plenty of other genre's to choose from. If you dislike Asian releases in general it does give you substantially less as 10 of the titles are Japanese.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by Driver78

88 bested Severin on Night Train Murders?

Are you suggesting that, generally, 88 Films' editions of these Italo splatter classics on 4K are better than Severin's overall?

Yes and yes.

This is what I wrote immediately after directly comparing the Severin and 88 4k discs for Night Train Murders, at length:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...7&postcount=57

I kept both 4k discs, but the 88 is my go-to, and the Severin is my "grindhouse copy." Same with Zombie Holocaust 4k. My thoughts on that also:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...9&postcount=77


88 Films has spent some serious time and money at this point cleaning up and digitally restoring a number of very grungy and occasionally quite damaged negatives for some of these old Italian zombie and exploitation delights. They're not quite Indicator or Synapse, but getting pretty darned proficient at dirt remediation and basic scratch and stain repairs while not adversely affecting the grain field to any significant degree. Severin doesn't have the same experience at this point with the uhd format and is not spending the money or time on such pursuits, regardless.

With respect to some of the Italian gore-horror uhd releases, such as Burial Ground and Count Dracula, the 4ks for Severin and 88 Films are essentially identical. For Burial Groud, they either shared work product on the mastering, or were both provided with an IP scan that was already cleaned up.

[Trampled]

And my copy direct from 88 Films has been dispatched.

I haven't watched this in a long time.

[88 Films Official]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Yes and yes.

This is what I wrote immediately after directly comparing the Severin and 88 4k discs for Night Train Murders, at length:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...7&postcount=57

I kept both 4k discs, but the 88 is my go-to, and the Severin is my "grindhouse copy." Same with Zombie Holocaust 4k. My thoughts on that also:

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...9&postcount=77


88 Films has spent some serious time and money at this point cleaning up and digitally restoring a number of very grungy and occasionally quite damaged negatives for some of these old Italian zombie and exploitation delights. They're not quite Indicator or Synapse, but getting pretty darned proficient at dirt remediation and basic scratch and stain repairs while not adversely affecting the grain field to any significant degree. Severin doesn't have the same experience at this point with the uhd format and is not spending the money or time on such pursuits, regardless.

With respect to some of the Italian gore-horror uhd releases, such as Burial Ground and Count Dracula, the 4ks for Severin and 88 Films are essentially identical. For Burial Groud, they either shared work product on the mastering, or were both provided with an IP scan that was already cleaned up.

Glad you noticed we've been spending a lot of time and money trying to put out the very best 4K transfers we can.

In terms of Count Dracula and Burial Ground, we swapped transfers, so we got the Neg transfer of Dracula, after spending a fortune on restoring the Interneg (c'est la vie) and we supplied our Burial Ground master in exchange.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by 88 Films Official

Glad you noticed we've been spending a lot of time and money trying to put out the very best 4K transfers we can.

In terms of Count Dracula and Burial Ground, we swapped transfers, so we got the Neg transfer of Dracula, after spending a fortune on restoring the Interneg (c'est la vie) and we supplied our Burial Ground master in exchange.

Thank you!!! I'm very grateful when 88 weighs in and shares valuable information with us.

Your time, money and expertise are really showing on this uhd format. It's definitely not going unnoticed. 88's 4k sets are essentially definitive releases of just about every title you've put your hand to. Please don't stop. 88 is doing an incredible job, and I am rewarding that major effort with multiple uhd purchases of each of your releases for my private film library.

Your extensive cleanup efforts, and more proficient encodes than most of your competitors, are the primary deciding factors in my purchasing, and it puts you head and shoulders above some of your colleagues that are not undertaking their restorations to the same degree. Fans never though they'd see some of these Italian films especially looking so incredible on a home media platform. I simply can't get enough.

Now, if only we could get Fulci's "Zombi 3" (1988) in 4k uhd, cleaned up and beautifully mastered.......Put me down for three uhd copies!

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Now, if only we could get Fulci's "Zombi 3" (1988) in 4k uhd, cleaned up and beautifully mastered.......Put me down for three uhd copies!

I second this!

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

Now, if only we could get Fulci's "Zombi 3" (1988) in 4k uhd, cleaned up and beautifully mastered.......Put me down for three uhd copies!

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

I second this!

I 3rd this! 88 Films, do it, and please do it prior to Severin, so I don't have to buy twice!

[dallywhitty]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

I 3rd this! 88 Films, do it, and please do it prior to Severin, so I don't have to buy twice!

Me to 88 if they don’t realise it prior to Severin:

[DaylightsEnd]

If Arrow doesn't grab the uhd rights to Alien Contamination (1980) soon, I hope 88 Films scoops the 4k license for that and releases it, too.

[Driver78]

I can't find my Severin copy of Zombi 3. I may have sold it off but I only do that in anticipation of a re-release. Not sure what gives but at least I still have my "velvet touch" 88 Films slipcover edition. Doesn't look too shabby, there's plenty of room for improvement though.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Anyone compare this one to Severin yet? Severin's wasn't the best, and I don't wanna spend another 50 bucks unless it's siginificantly improved.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by 88 Films Official

Glad you noticed we've been spending a lot of time and money trying to put out the very best 4K transfers we can.

In terms of Count Dracula and Burial Ground, we swapped transfers, so we got the Neg transfer of Dracula, after spending a fortune on restoring the Interneg (c'est la vie) and we supplied our Burial Ground master in exchange.

After those initial 4Ks you made had issues, pretty much every release since then (including the corrected discs for those two releases) has been a stunner. Whoever is doing your resto work is ace.

One question though - given these are old films, probably with horrendous source materials, what does your resto person use to attempt to respect the individual artistic flavor for each film - to avoid having them all appearing to have the same color profile and look after correction?

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by RevolverOcelScott

Anyone compare this one to Severin yet? Severin's wasn't the best, and I don't wanna spend another 50 bucks unless it's siginificantly improved.

I have two copies inbound. They're probably a few days out. Can't wait to check it out and compare to my Severin 4k copies.

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by DaylightsEnd

I have two copies inbound. They're probably a few days out. Can't wait to check it out and compare to my Severin 4k copies.

I look forward to your assessment!

[dallywhitty]

Can't wait to experience a flour-covered Geretta Geretta shouting, "I'm white now, I'm whiter than all of you!" in 2160p with High Dynamic Range.

[DaylightsEnd]

Originally Posted by dallywhitty

Can't wait to experience a flour-covered Geretta Geretta shouting, "I'm white now, I'm whiter than all of you!" in 2160p with High Dynamic Range.

This, and with enough nits to put your eyeballs out, please.

This flick is epic. Sometimes I just have to ask myself......"Rats....What do they want?" One of the great universal philosophical ponderings....

[Driver78]

Whoa! Orbit is selling this for $49.99 WTF

[RevolverOcelScott]

Originally Posted by Driver78

Whoa! Orbit is selling this for $49.99 WTF

53-55 to import it, not bad honestly, not great either. If the scan and restoration is better it'd be worth it. Some areas on the Severin release were beat to shit with yellowing fades in/out, especially during the shootout near the end.

[Nguss]

Mine just arrived the box art looks great - hopefully check it out tonight!