Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[jessbarker]

I kind of wonder if Code Red/Dark Force check with outfits like Exhumed Films, AGFA, and Grindhouse to see if they have prints before moving forward with old masters as in the case of Psycho from Texas. Not asserting that they don't...just sincerely curious if they go to those lengths.

[Detroit Grindhouse]

Originally Posted by rdodolak

And there appears to be a sliver less on the bottom. It's possible these aren't exact frame matches which might explain the sliver of a difference.

Here are a couple more. There appears to be a bit extra visible on the sides on the DF disc as well.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by ProfondoRosso

Yeah you can see the difference on his arm resting on the counter. The sleeve is clearly clipped on the screen grab from the blu. Though, the reflection on the countertop does appear to be more defined than the dvd. Bottom line, “this is the best this 45 year old movie will ever look.” - - until someone else does a new master...I mean, uncovers the long lost negative....

Perhaps is someone were to uncover a negative that was in good shape obviously it could be enhanced more. But I would be willing to make a significant bet that will NEVER happen.

[MadDrZbu]

How long does it take for Dark Force to ship out an order? I would check but unfortunately the website is currently down. I'm really eager to see how good the transfers for the Cheerleaders films are.

[kraven]

When someone who isn't Amazon has a sale or a new release, give them 2 weeks to ship.

[Toxoplasmic]

Dead Pit shipped yesterday. Order #4044.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by MadDrZbu

How long does it take for Dark Force to ship out an order? I would check but unfortunately the website is currently down. I'm really eager to see how good the transfers for the Cheerleaders films are.

In the beginning it was usually within 2 days after placing an order - nowadays you're lucky if they ship within 7 days at the earliest. They don't take this stuff seriously, sad to say. Still waiting for movement with my copies of GoH and Breeders.

[Detroit Grindhouse]

I ordered my copy on August 14th and received the disc on the 19th.

[jessbarker]

Just confirmed...American Genre Film Archive has a 35mm print of Psycho from Texas...as can be seen here from this programming schedule for Fantastic Fest's 2009 Cinemapocalypse West Coast Tour held at the New Beverly using AGFA prints. AGFA has loaned their prints out before to labels...were Bill and Dave not aware of this print or not look into it?

[cloudnine]

Originally Posted by jessbarker

Just confirmed...American Genre Film Archive has a 35mm print of Psycho from Texas...as can be seen here from this programming schedule for Fantastic Fest's 2009 Cinemapocalypse West Coast Tour held at the New Beverly using AGFA prints. AGFA has loaned their prints out before to labels...were Bill and Dave not aware of this print or not look into it?

Did it ever occur to you that's where they got it from? They don't grow on trees!

[jessbarker]

Originally Posted by cloudnine

Did it ever occur to you that's where they got it from? They don't grow on trees!

Yes, but wasn't the reason a new master wasn't created was because there was no film of ANY type for this title.

[wicky_J]

Originally Posted by jessbarker

Yes, but wasn't the reason a new master wasn't created was because there was no film of ANY type for this title.

.....but AGFA has a print, and has had it for a while by the sound of it. It sounds like Dave was too lazy to pick up the phone and ask for help when he's got this ancient SD master to work with.

[miribeau]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

Perhaps is someone were to uncover a negative that was in good shape obviously it could be enhanced more. But I would be willing to make a significant bet that will NEVER happen.

Originally Posted by jessbarker

Just confirmed...American Genre Film Archive has a 35mm print of Psycho from Texas...as can be seen here from this programming schedule for Fantastic Fest's 2009 Cinemapocalypse West Coast Tour held at the New Beverly using AGFA prints. AGFA has loaned their prints out before to labels...were Bill and Dave not aware of this print or not look into it?

Originally Posted by cloudnine

Did it ever occur to you that's where they got it from? They don't grow on trees!

Given the above, I am confused. If Bill used a different source for his scan back in the day, and we all know that source was pretty bad, given how much work they had to do to get it looking as decent as it looks, then, with this print source available, possibly, for loan out, wouldn't it make sense to look into the source quality of this 35mm print?

I'm wondering, if this print looked really good, in comparison, might it make more sense to scan it, do minimal, or what I'd call "cheap" restorative work on it, and then use the new scan for subsequent pressings of Drive-In #6, with no glow-cover, or, even use it on another Drive-In release, with a film that is not Gates of Hell, perhaps Drive-In #6.5, a sort of do-over where they still get paid and we all have the opportunity to see a better looking version of PFT, one that doesn't look so much like a 720 (and I'm not saying it wasn't full 1080, but, we've all seen the pictures and clarity was an issue) but is clearly, on even the briefest glance, a full 1080 slice of awesome, with that clarity that they just couldn't pull from their source, in spite of an HD scan.

[toxic-shock]

I don't normally comment here but AGFA has a print of The Killing of Satan that in the past I've contacted them about regarding releasing some kind of bluray for, that they've told me was not in good enough condition for a bluray release through them. Mondo Macabre showed interest, but they also said the condition of the print wasn't good enough. So I sometimes have to wonder if that's what happened here, that perhaps the print has scratches or other imperfections that make it undesirable for a bluray release. Then again, perhaps not...only way to know is to ask AGFA themselves.

[jessbarker]

Originally Posted by toxic-shock

I don't normally comment here but AGFA has a print of The Killing of Satan that in the past I've contacted them about regarding releasing some kind of bluray for, that they've told me was not in good enough condition for a bluray release through them. Mondo Macabre showed interest, but they also said the condition of the print wasn't good enough. So I sometimes have to wonder if that's what happened here, that perhaps the print has scratches or other imperfections that make it undesirable for a bluray release. Then again, perhaps not...only way to know is to ask AGFA themselves.

If the print for Psycho from Texas was in good enough condition to screen at a New Beverly film festival, it was most likely in good enough condition for a home media transfer.

[toxic-shock]

Originally Posted by jessbarker

If the print was in good enough condition to screen at a New Beverly film festival, it was most likely in good enough condition for a home media transfer.

That's what I thought but they said it wasn't, which was really weird . Well, I hope Bill reads this and releases it either way, because I know Bill is willing to take chances if he sees demand.

ETA: Sorry if this is about Psycho from Texas, then perhaps you're right. I wouldn't know about that print's condition. What I do know is that that print was screened in 2009 and I believe it wasn't (at that point) released on DVD until Code Red released it much later. Was it screened again more recently?

[Detroit Grindhouse]

Originally Posted by jessbarker

Just confirmed...American Genre Film Archive has a 35mm print of Psycho from Texas...as can be seen here from this programming schedule for Fantastic Fest's 2009 Cinemapocalypse West Coast Tour held at the New Beverly using AGFA prints. AGFA has loaned their prints out before to labels...were Bill and Dave not aware of this print or not look into it?

Why don't you ask them if their print is in better shape than the Blu-Ray then?

[HooverNiebold]

Pure speculation here but if I remember correctly, there may be bad blood about Drafthouse Films' release of THE VISITOR. That would lead me to believe why no contact would've been made about PFT concerning Code Red for the new release and by proxy, Dark Force seeing as AGFA is technically an offshoot of the Alamo Drafthouse.

[bipbop13]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

Perhaps is someone were to uncover a negative that was in good shape obviously it could be enhanced more. But I would be willing to make a significant bet that will NEVER happen.

So how much is that wager anyway? I think a few people want in. Hopefully someone from here will be close enough to attend the screening & let us know what we're REALLY missing. Who knows, they could be saving it for Arrows upcoming American Horror Project: Volume 3.

[CODE RED DVD]

Originally Posted by toxic-shock

I don't normally comment here but AGFA has a print of The Killing of Satan that in the past I've contacted them about regarding releasing some kind of bluray for, that they've told me was not in good enough condition for a bluray release through them. Mondo Macabre showed interest, but they also said the condition of the print wasn't good enough. So I sometimes have to wonder if that's what happened here, that perhaps the print has scratches or other imperfections that make it undesirable for a bluray release. Then again, perhaps not...only way to know is to ask AGFA themselves.

Killing of Satan was sold outright to a USA company for perpetuity. Bobby the director said he doesn't own it for USA.