Black Christmas (1974)

[jlk5844]

Holy crap I don't think I was even aware of this possibly getting a new Blu-ray, sucks that Don May couldn't work on it, I would KILL for a Synapse BD of this title. Not only one of the best holiday slashers, not only one of the best slashers period, but a great horror film that definitely brings the creepiness that so many slashers lack. I love the obscene phone call scenes and Billy's POV shots, the Christmas atmosphere is lovely and a brilliant contrast to the darkness of the story.

I stuck with my DVD (same cover/edition as the BD) last December (which was acceptable) and told myself I'd finally upgrade to the current Blu-ray this year, but if there's a new edition on the horizon I'll hold off, I hope it comes in the fall at latest, and not from Anchor Bay unless they actually put in effort and give it a new 2K transfer. I do like that 40th anniversary artwork but I would prefer just the original theatrical poster as a cover.

[Wernski]

Who's doing the steelbook, or how do we know there's one coming?

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by Wernski

Who's doing the steelbook, or how do we know there's one coming?

Go to post #113.

[NoirFan]

Considering how badly AB botched both Silent Night and Osterman Weekend, I'll have to hold off any enthusiasm until screenshots/reviews.

[filmmusic]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

I hope we hear something soon regarding the 40th anniversary steelbook.

I thought this would be a repackage.
Anyway, if this is a new Bluray, I really hope they include English subtitles! (I would hope Arrow to release this)
It's difficult for me to catch 100% of the dialogue, especially through the phone.

By the way, the 40th anniversary wasn't last year??

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by filmmusic

By the way, the 40th anniversary wasn't last year??

Yes. 1974-2014. They're just getting it out a year late. No surprise. The first DVD of Black Christmas, the 25th anniversary edition from Critical Mass, was released on December 5, 2000 (the 26th anniversary) when it should have been released in 1999.

[filmmusic]

So, this is supposed to be a restoration/new scan or we don't know yet?

Maybe it's the same with the Japanese one that was released this year:
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread...lack+christmas

[Rockercub]

I don't think anybody knows yet. I'm certainly not holding my breath. It seems to me that when a restoration, new scan, etc. is being performed on a film, word tends to get out. Whenever I hear no news at all, it usually turns out that it's just a repackaging of an old disc. I do hope I'm wrong in this case though.

[Scoot79]

40th Anniversary Blu-ray of Black Christmas (1974) coming from Anchor Bay Canada in November 2015.

[charliemaess]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

40th Anniversary Blu-ray of Black Christmas (1974) coming from Anchor Bay Canada in November 2015.

Well after the amazing job they did on Silent Night Deadly Night I can't wait.

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by charliemaess

Well after the amazing job they did on Silent Night Deadly Night I can't wait.

Yeah, there's nothing to get excited about until we see reviews/screenshots.

[RandyK]

Hopefully they make the character's skin tones green or red to match the Christmas theme instead of purple like The Osterman Weekend.

Or (and this will sound really insane) they could make it look natural and better than the previous release!

[MTRodaba2468]

Originally Posted by charliemaess

Well after the amazing job they did on Silent Night Deadly Night I can't wait.

This. I'm all for a new Blu-Ray release of Black Christmas, but after SNDN, I'm going to wait and make sure it's an upgrade.

[Scoot79]

To be fair, Silent Night, Deadly Night was from Anchor Bay US. Black Christmas is coming from the Canadian branch of Anchor Bay. That doesn't mean it will be a stellar release, but maybe we'll get lucky. At least it's coming...

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Scoot79

To be fair, Silent Night, Deadly Night was from Anchor Bay US. Black Christmas is coming from the Canadian branch of Anchor Bay. That doesn't mean it will be a stellar release, but maybe we'll get lucky. At least it's coming...

It also included lost/uncut footage that was in notably worse condition than the rest of the film. Anchor bay may have decided that going the way they did was preferable since they could give the complete uncut version of the film and minimize the complaining from people saying the film had been cut and footage was missing. It would appear that the elements for those scenes are gone, possibly forever. So what would have been better... slightly better picture quality and those scenes removed, or Completely uncut but an upscaled image? Personally I think this was a Damned if they Do, Damned if they Don't situation. Had they just not released it at all we'd all still be complaining about never having the chance to own it. I picked it up for $10 and am more than satisfied with it. I'd love better picture, but if my only option was no release at all, than I'm happy with what i have.

I'll likely be grabbing this new Steelbook edition regardless if it's available for a similar price. I'm liking the new design and I hadn't gotten around to grabbing the initial release yet, so good or bad, as long as it's no worse than whats already available I'll grab this version instead.

[HorrorBlu]

I thought Anchor Bay Canada already released Black Christmas on blu-ray years ago?

Likely the same disc in a steelbook, same as most steelbook releases.

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by HorrorBlu

I thought Anchor Bay Canada already released Black Christmas on blu-ray years ago?

Likely the same disc in a steelbook, same as most steelbook releases.

They did. Seven years ago. (December 2, 2008)

Regardless if this new release sucks or not (and most people seem to have already condemned it to) it is time for a new release.

[Member-222782]

I didn't even know Anchor Bay had a Canadian branch. So now the question is, do I import this from the Great White North or should I expect there to be a US counterpart? Kinda silly if it's Canada-only, though. Which means, if it is, then it's probably the same crappy transfer, just repackaged. Why bother with a restoration just to limit it to one territory?

[Scoot79]

Originally Posted by cine74

I didn't even know Anchor Bay had a Canadian branch. So now the question is, do I import this from the Great White North or should I expect there to be a US counterpart? Kinda silly if it's Canada-only, though. Which means, if it is, then it's probably the same crappy transfer, just repackaged. Why bother with a restoration just to limit it to one territory?

In 2008 there was also a US Blu-ray (released three weeks earlier on November 11) that featured the same disc/transfer as the Canadian BD, but with much inferior cover art. Maybe there will be a US release this time too?

[ZombieTwin2]

Anyone know if this new Canadian release is likely to be region-locked?

Kev W