The Curse Of The Werewolf (Collector's Edition) (Remastered)- April 21, 2020

[Cortiz]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Watched this for the first time today. Overall, it was pretty good and one of the better Hammer films I've seen. Only issue is that for a werewolf movie, this is barely any werewolf in it.

I've never seen this one and was considering a blind buy but this is disappointing.

[SMOOT]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

I've never seen this one and was considering a blind buy but this is disappointing.

It is a very smart and intelligent movie. I think it is an excellent film.

[Monterey Jack]

There may not be much werewolf action in the film, but the rest is so compelling it's only a minor disappointment.

[cakefactory]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

I've never seen this one and was considering a blind buy but this is disappointing.

Hammer movies were always cheap and the makeup here is very elaborate so it's not surprising. The movie's kind of structured like the 80s The Fly in that it's more about slowly watching the lead character degenerate than it is just a fun monster movie, so it works structurally.

[babybreese]

Originally Posted by DukeTogo84

Watched this for the first time today. Overall, it was pretty good and one of the better Hammer films I've seen. Only issue is that for a werewolf movie, this is barely any werewolf in it.

Been familiar with the film for 50 years and never looked at it that way.
It's got as much or more than the Universal werewolf films.

[dml1988]

Watching this release, I think Shout did a very good job with this one, I can live with the little information missing on the side, which I didn't even notice. Being a new 4K scan, it looks very good in motion. Wonder how this release stands up against the Anolis German release? Gives me hope for Brides of Dracula, if Shout can get their hands on that one

[Partyslammer]

Originally Posted by dml1988

Watching this release, I think Shout did a very good job with this one, I can live with the little information missing on the side, which I didn't even notice. Being a new 4K scan, it looks very good in motion. Wonder how this release stands up against the Anolis German release? Gives me hope for Brides of Dracula, if Shout can get their hands on that one

I received this last Friday and I have the Anolis (and US Universal/Hammer set) but haven’t had a chance to do a good comparison between the 3 Blu-ray releases.

I did watch the SF release today and it looks very good but the fact this source is patched together from several sources is more evident then I ever recalled. The picture quality often shifts right in the middle of scenes mostly thanks to originally cut bits from a different source film being spliced back Into this uncut source. For example, check out the scene where the mute woman repeatedly stabs the Marquis, as he slumps over the detail and color density subtly shift mid-frame. A majority of the film looks excellent, but parts look noticeably grainier or feature more boosted contrast. I do prefer what appears to be an overall brighter image than the Universal and Anolis releases but I need to compare to be sure.

I believe this was done in the early 80’s at Universal as part of their project to restore their batch of US released Hammer films and first seen in the Laserdisc release and this reconstructed interpositive/print source is what’s been used for most if not all subsequent home video releases ever since. It would have been a nice extra feature to document the process to restore the uncut film, a glaring omission in an otherwise great set of extras included in this release.

Regarding the movie itself, I rank it among the very top 5 or so Hammer films. Considering the circumstances of it’s gestation and the issues with the British censor, much like Horror Of Dracula, between the talent in front and behind the camera, everything all came together in a perfect storm.

BTW, Shout really went the extra mile packaging this in a large box (along with Captain Kronos) with plenty of SF branded wrapping with the poster in it’s own tube. Big thumbs up for that.

[Allen Voice]

Originally Posted by Partyslammer

I received this last Friday and I have the Anolis (and US Universal/Hammer set) but haven’t had a chance to do a good comparison between the 3 Blu-ray releases.

I did watch the SF release today and it looks very good but the fact this source is patched together from several sources is more evident then I ever recalled. The picture quality often shifts right in the middle of scenes mostly thanks to originally cut bits from a different source film being spliced back Into this uncut source. For example, check out the scene where the mute woman repeatedly stabs the Marquis, as he slumps over the detail and color density subtly shift mid-frame. A majority of the film looks excellent, but parts look noticeably grainier or feature more boosted contrast. I do prefer what appears to be an overall brighter image than the Universal and Anolis releases but I need to compare to be sure.

I believe this was done in the early 80’s at Universal as part of their project to restore their batch of US released Hammer films and first seen in the Laserdisc release and this reconstructed interpositive/print source is what’s been used for most if not all subsequent home video releases ever since. It would have been a nice extra feature to document the process to restore the uncut film, a glaring omission in an otherwise great set of extras included in this release.

Regarding the movie itself, I rank it among the very top 5 or so Hammer films. Considering the circumstances of it’s gestation and the issues with the British censor, much like Horror Of Dracula, between the talent in front and behind the camera, everything all came together in a perfect storm.

BTW, Shout really went the extra mile packaging this in a large box (along with Captain Kronos) with plenty of SF branded wrapping with the poster in it’s own tube. Big thumbs up for that.

This might seem like a nit-pick to many, but I'm curious about the framing within the 1.85:1 aspect ratio. The dvdbeaver comparison of the old Universal-Region 1- NTSC dvd and the i-catcher Media blu ray (both 1.85:1 aspect ratios) shows a difference in the way the images are framed. The old dvd compositions are more pleasing to my eye. I own the French blu ray release that is framed like the German i-catcher Media release. I would buy the Shout! blu ray if it had the same framing as the old dvd release.

[Wtdk]

Originally Posted by cakefactory

Hammer movies were always cheap and the makeup here is very elaborate so it's not surprising. The movie's kind of structured like the 80s The Fly in that it's more about slowly watching the lead character degenerate than it is just a fun monster movie, so it works structurally.

That’s an excellent comparison. The film is atmospheric, well acted and absorbing IMHO. This is a very nice looking transfer although it’s clear that multiple sources were used to create this new scan. It was mentioned it was a new scan of an inter positive. My guess is that they had to substitute any damaged sections from a pristine print and that would explain the fluctuations of density, etc. it’s still probably the nicest this film has ever looked. It’s also one of Hammer’s more ex-endive productions as they had access to the Spanish set and Church built for another cancelled production and shifted the local to Spain from France with the source novel The Werewolf of Paris.

[Michael24]

Amusing to spot two future Bond movie actors early in the film, too. An uncredited Desmond Llewelyn (Q) answers the door when the beggar arrives at the marquis' palace, while the marquis himself is played by Anthony Dawson, Professor Dent from Dr. No.

Yvonne Romain would have made a great Bond Girl.

[HeavyHitter]

I'm going to place an order for this, but before I do, is there any kind of real chance this will take a price drop soon?

[Dubstar]

I know that Shout has a claimer stating that orders were being slowly shipped out - but ugh ... the wait for this though has been maddening.

[btpeters]

Here are some comparison screenshots between the Scream Factory Collector's Edition and the version found in the Universal Hammer 8-Film collection from 2016.

https://whysoblu.com/the-curse-of-th...lu-ray-review/

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by btpeters

Here are some comparison screenshots between the Scream Factory Collector's Edition and the version found in the Universal Hammer 8-Film collection from 2016.

https://whysoblu.com/the-curse-of-th...lu-ray-review/

[EManT2200]

Originally Posted by btpeters

Here are some comparison screenshots between the Scream Factory Collector's Edition and the version found in the Universal Hammer 8-Film collection from 2016.

https://whysoblu.com/the-curse-of-th...lu-ray-review/

Thanks for the link. Gotta have this new Scream Factory version.

[raybestos]

The Scream factory blu-ray looks outstanding, with the right color timing. The tealification is gone, it is much brighter -- one can actually see things now that everything isn't so dark. I think the new Scream release is definitely the one to get. Many and profound thanks for posting the screenshots above. There's a night and day difference! I haven't seen the Anolis German release, but I'd think you couldn't go wrong with the new 2020 scan.

[captainsolo]

Originally Posted by Cortiz

I've never seen this one and was considering a blind buy but this is disappointing.

The general rule of thumb with Hammer is start with the Terence Fisher directed films and you won't be disappointed. They are all extremely intelligent and beautifully crafted-including the non-horrors. CotW is easily the second best werewolf film of all time behind the Universal classic and is absolutely top tier Hammer. It's one of the best non-series Hammer horrors next to the peak early years of Curse of Frankenstein/Horror of Dracula/Revenge of Frankenstein/Hound/Mummy/Brides.

Originally Posted by Partyslammer

I received this last Friday and I have the Anolis (and US Universal/Hammer set) but haven’t had a chance to do a good comparison between the 3 Blu-ray releases.

I did watch the SF release today and it looks very good but the fact this source is patched together from several sources is more evident then I ever recalled. The picture quality often shifts right in the middle of scenes mostly thanks to originally cut bits from a different source film being spliced back Into this uncut source. For example, check out the scene where the mute woman repeatedly stabs the Marquis, as he slumps over the detail and color density subtly shift mid-frame. A majority of the film looks excellent, but parts look noticeably grainier or feature more boosted contrast. I do prefer what appears to be an overall brighter image than the Universal and Anolis releases but I need to compare to be sure.

I believe this was done in the early 80’s at Universal as part of their project to restore their batch of US released Hammer films and first seen in the Laserdisc release and this reconstructed interpositive/print source is what’s been used for most if not all subsequent home video releases ever since. It would have been a nice extra feature to document the process to restore the uncut film, a glaring omission in an otherwise great set of extras included in this release.

This wouldn't surprise me at all. A picture history for all Hammers is LOOOOONG overdue as we still to this day have to guess and guess and guess and buy multiple copies across formats.
I missed out on the Anolis stuff so I need to start picking up more of these Scream discs. So far I've been astonished that they're actually doing great solid work on each-I just wish they weren't so danged expensive!

[sancho]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I'm going to place an order for this, but before I do, is there any kind of real chance this will take a price drop soon?

I am hoping that there is a price drop soon. It may drop in price soon. The economy is shit, and sales are down.

[Michael24]

Review is up.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Michael24

Review is up.

it took me a sec, to realize the reviewer had forgotten to add a ":" for this

"The Men Who Made Hammer" (1912, HD)

1912 ohh 19 min. 12 seconds