Dark Force Entertainment Discussion Thread

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx

Can those flaws even be removed? I know Vinegar Syndrome's release of Climax of Blue Power has black vertical lines and green stuff. They don't seem to be the type of label to release something like that unless they had to.

We did advertise that both REDNECK, the SENZA RANGIONE version and DEATH RAGE HD masters were all created from the only surviving 35mm prints and it was no easy feat with the transfers and restoration on all of them. Of course the original negative or IP would have been a lot better but it was either the 35mm prints or nothing. Many of these older obscure movies the original negatives are gone forever. Overall they are a definite marked improvement over anything previous due to the obvious upgrade with the high def. As for some of the print damage that will always be an issue to a certain extent depending on the condition of the surviving films. We have had to deal with way worse ones at Dark Force.

[Member-222782]

Looking forward to the underwater flick. Sounds like it'll be a nice companion piece to THE DEEP. Dark Force is rocking it this year.

BTW, thanks for the huge Redneck magnet. Looks cool.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx

Can those flaws even be removed? I know Vinegar Syndrome's release of Climax of Blue Power has black vertical lines and green stuff. They don't seem to be the type of label to release something like that unless they had to.

Its doable but the results are imperfect, and of course costs more money. Dark Force removed a bunch on their God's Bloody Acre Blu (and they still caught flack for PQ on that release despite this attempt), but if you pause the frames where they are you can clearly see where the line was removed. The information is essentially lost so interpolation is used to restore the lost pixels, which ends up looking like a context-aware blurry line instead of a green line.

Code Red/DF have a history of using compromised sources that other labels won't touch in attempting to protect their "video quality" reputation - CR/DF instead going for the "unique content" reputation by using these compromised sources (often the only available source) that other labels would reject.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by cloudnine

This film is available on many different PD labels/double features.

Not in Hi-Def it isn't. We were actually able to create quite a nice looking HD master on the TREASURE OF JAMAICA REEF in scope. The additional HD quality boost really makes a difference with this release as the movie is very visual.

[Podmax]

I got my copy of Redneck today, stoked to watch it!

Unfortunately there seems to be a mix up with the other title I ordered. I ordered the Italian crime two pack but instead of death rage I got Black Dragon. Is there an email address thats best to contact so I can fix it?

[Laserguy]

Just watched both cuts of REDNECK on the new Dark Force release. I prefer the English version, which is the one I first saw when it played HBO in 1977. The additional pre-credit scene on the Italian adds nothing of value to the film. The audio and video quality was exactly what I expected given the scarcity of good materials available. I was not disappointed, and I would certainly recommend this release if you have any interest in the film. There won't be a better one.

An interesting extra is the ultra-rare trailer for THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA, which somehow missed inclusion on the recent Scorpion release of that film.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by Podmax

I got my copy of Redneck today, stoked to watch it!

Unfortunately there seems to be a mix up with the other title I ordered. I ordered the Italian crime two pack but instead of death rage I got Black Dragon. Is there an email address thats best to contact so I can fix it?

Email us at defal3@aol.com with the order number and the issue and we will take care of it. You can also contact on the Dark Force Facebook page or through the store site when it is up.

[Dark Force]

Originally Posted by Laserguy

Just watched both cuts of REDNECK on the new Dark Force release. I prefer the English version, which is the one I first saw when it played HBO in 1977. The additional pre-credit scene on the Italian adds nothing of value to the film. The audio and video quality was exactly what I expected given the scarcity of good materials available. I was not disappointed, and I would certainly recommend this release if you have any interest in the film. There won't be a better one.

An interesting extra is the ultra-rare trailer for THE SAILOR WHO FELL FROM GRACE WITH THE SEA, which somehow missed inclusion on the recent Scorpion release of that film.

Glad you enjoyed the release Laserguy. Saying there was a scarcity of good materials available on that title is an understatement. We went through literally hell with that release and came very close to having to scrap the whole thing. I don't think people realize what a nightmare some of these movies are, especially the older ones, when it comes time to getting the elements necessary to do a really good HD release. In many cases very little is available and/or they can be compromised. We have always maintained these cool movies we find are not worth abandoning over some flaws in the master elements. Just the Hi-Def alone is a very big upgrade even if there are some other imperfections. An older movie will never look like a newer one even if the elements are in great shape and all there.

[SKULLISLANDRESIDENT]

Thanks Dark Force. I received my Copies Of "Redneck" and "Lialeh" with Redneck Magnet Today. Keep pumping these releases out and sending them my way. Can't wait for more.

[Dollar Colonel]

Anyone else's copy of Lialeh have weird glue-like residue on the case under the shrink wrap?

[indravayu]

Originally Posted by Dollar Colonel

Anyone else's copy of Lialeh have weird glue-like residue on the case under the shrink wrap?

(that's not glue)

[Dollar Colonel]

Originally Posted by indravayu

(that's not glue)

har har but it's as if someone put packing tape on the cover and then peeled it off.

[Podmax]

Originally Posted by Dark Force

Email us at defal3@aol.com with the order number and the issue and we will take care of it. You can also contact on the Dark Force Facebook page or through the store site when it is up.

Thank you! I just sent you an email to the aol address.

[Zygmunt22]

Dark Force store is back up today with Lialeh and Redneck in stock.

[nick1091]

Received my Redneck disc and watched it this weekend.

This was a blind buy, and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It's such a time capsule film, meaning I can't imagine another place or time this movie would be made other than Italy in the 70's. No human being I've encountered in real life would act or make the choices in similar circumstances as the characters in this movie. Telly Savalas's Southern accent sounds like a cross between Jim Ross and Foghorn Leghorn.

That being said, I was absolutely riveted. I watched this on a rainy late Saturday night, which feels like the perfect backdrop. There's such a weird 70's vibe to the whole thing that makes it hypnotically entertaining despite all its faults. I can understand why this never got a BR release until now, but props to DF for doing so.

As for the video itself, I will say the first 10 minutes or so is pretty rough. There's lines all over the place and there's a few (inconsequential) instances in the very beginning that makes it feel like the original spliced off a few seconds. After that it settles down quite a bit and though it's never going to be mistaken for crystal clear, it's totally watchable. Towards the end our friends the white lines come back for an unwelcome visit, but if they draw focus away from

[Show spoiler]Franco Nero wearing a ladies' fur coat pulling Telly Savalas in a sled up a snowy mountain,

well, I don't know what to tell you.

Looking forward to watching the other half of the 2 pack I ordered (Death Rage) at some point this week.

[Member-222782]

Originally Posted by nick1091

Received my Redneck disc and watched it this weekend.

This was a blind buy, and wasn't entirely sure what to expect. It's such a time capsule film, meaning I can't imagine another place or time this movie would be made other than Italy in the 70's. No human being I've encountered in real life would act or make the choices in similar circumstances as the characters in this movie. Telly Savalas's Southern accent sounds like a cross between Jim Ross and Foghorn Leghorn.


Nero wearing a ladies' fur coat pulling Telly Savalas in a sled up a snowy mountain,[/SPOILER] well, I don't know what to tell you.

Goofiness and absurdity are trademarks of 70's and 80's Italian cult cinema. You gotta have rock solid tolerance levels for this stuff, otherwise you're going to turn the films off after 10 minutes like I almost did with Redneck. That "Southern" accent was as cringe-inducing as they come

[jaws3dfan]

Originally Posted by John Lyons

EVIL IN THE DEEP is an interesting mutant film.
It's a gorier recut of TREASURE OF THE JAMAICA REEF. The additional sequences were directed by Jim Bryan.

Which version will this release be? EVIL IN THE DEEP sound like much more fun!

[GasmaskAvenger]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZM...ature=youtu.be

We love ya, Bill & Dave. Enjoy!

[Zarak]

I want to order Lialeh, but $35 for a bare-bones release? Yikes. Tempe's new BD of Skinned Alive is $35 too but it's autographed, has a slipcover, has a reversible cover, has multiple documentaries and commentaries, includes a DVD with additional features, has an 8-page booklet, and has a bonus BD-R with a widescreen version. It seems like Dark Force is trying to sh*t in people's mouth and call it a sundae.

[xXx$uicide_Ma$terxXx]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXZM...ature=youtu.be

We love ya, Bill & Dave. Enjoy!

Bro over an hour long with a cute anime girl? Def gonna have to watch this tonight lol.