The Devil Rides Out (1968) - October 22,2012

[Mr Kite]

Watched The Devil Rides Out (Hammer) last night and for the most part thought it looked great although some scenes did seem to take on a DVD quality and jump in brightness which is probably down to the source material. But on the whole i liked it.
There is a lot of talk on forums regarding the tweaking of special effects and that i can fully understand and think that the option to have the new effects on or off would have been a better idea.

[Quuhod]

Originally Posted by Mr Kite

There is a lot of talk on forums regarding the tweaking of special effects ...

I just watched the Blu-Ray and thought the tweaks were mostly subtle and respectful. Too bad they didn’t edit the scene when the Angel of Death appears and the horse rears up and the film reverses and loops, it looks so silly and turns a potentially tense moment into a joke. Everybody I’ve ever watched it with just bursts out laughing when it happens.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by Quuhod

I just watched the Blu-Ray and thought the tweaks were mostly subtle and respectful. Too bad they didn’t edit the scene when the Angel of Death appears and the horse rears up and the film reverses and loops, it looks so silly and turns a potentially tense moment into a joke. Everybody I’ve ever watched it with just bursts out laughing when it happens.

Wow, that's almost a 10-year bump! Surprised this classic film hasn't been discussed more. The Scream Factory Blu-ray is the definitive version, IMO. By the way, I agree with you about the horse...although it could be argued that the Power of Evil has the ability to manipulate and distort time and one's perception of it. (Yeah, I know; I'm reaching.)

[Quuhod]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

Wow, that's almost a 10-year bump! Surprised this classic film hasn't been discussed more. The Scream Factory Blu-ray is the definitive version, IMO. By the way, I agree with you about the horse...although it could be argued that the Power of Evil has the ability to manipulate and distort time and one's perception of it. (Yeah, I know; I'm reaching.)

Yeah I’m late to the party! I just watched it the other night as a double-bill with Night of the Demon, both excellent films. I picked up the Studio Canal Blu-Ray for a few quid, was impressed with the overall quality. I did look at the Scream Factory disc but it’s a bit pricey so I’m good with this one for now.

Maybe you’re right about that horse, I need to analyse the hoof movements more closely…

[WaverBoy]

Originally Posted by Hammerlover

Wow, that's almost a 10-year bump! Surprised this classic film hasn't been discussed more. The Scream Factory Blu-ray is the definitive version, IMO. By the way, I agree with you about the horse...although it could be argued that the Power of Evil has the ability to manipulate and distort time and one's perception of it. (Yeah, I know; I'm reaching.)

Except the Scream Factory Blu has the lame American retitle of THE DEVIL’S BRIDE. Strangely enough, I actually dig the tweaked effects, and this is coming from a guy who normally hates newly altered Lucasized versions of original films. If only the UK Blu would have included the original unaltered version everyone would have been happy.

[Killer Meteor]

I find it odd that Studio Canal updated the FX, then made no effort to hype that they had done so. What an odd waste of money.

[ravenus]

Originally Posted by Killer Meteor

I find it odd that Studio Canal updated the FX, then made no effort to hype that they had done so. What an odd waste of money.

It was known at the time that they had updated the FX (or rather finished the incomplete FX with some CG), but they also took flak from a vocal minority for having done so and tampered with the original movie, especially since they did not include a branching of the original theatrical version.

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It was known at the time that they had updated the FX (or rather finished the incomplete FX with some CG), but they also took flak from a vocal minority for having done so and tampered with the original movie, especially since they did not include a branching of the original theatrical version.

They didn't publicise it though. If you were buying the BD on release date, you would not know the film had been tampered with.

[grahams76]

I didn't buy this film specifically because there's no option to watch the original version. I've still not got round to getting the US disc.

[oddbox83]

Originally Posted by ravenus

It was known at the time that they had updated the FX (or rather finished the incomplete FX with some CG), but they also took flak from a vocal minority for having done so and tampered with the original movie, especially since they did not include a branching of the original theatrical version.

A fairly large "minority" IIRC.

The new effects in themselves didn't annoy. It's purely the fact they didn't bother putting the originals on there. This was after a string of cock-ups with Hammer titles so people were doubly annoyed. Hammer releases tend to come and go without any issues these days, but 10 years ago it felt like every other release was screwed over by mistakes and bad decisions.

[Hammerlover]

Originally Posted by WaverBoy

Except the Scream Factory Blu has the lame American retitle of THE DEVIL’S BRIDE. Strangely enough, I actually dig the tweaked effects, and this is coming from a guy who normally hates newly altered Lucasized versions of original films. If only the UK Blu would have included the original unaltered version everyone would have been happy.

Yeah, unfortunately that was the only way Scream Factory could release a BD of the interpositive, which is held by 20th Century-Fox (and now controlled by Disney) in the US. I assume StudioCanal has access to the negative in the UK, and am hopeful this could be the source of an eventual 4K release.