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Category:    Home > Reviews > Horror > Slasher > Supernatural > Monster > Murder > British > Drama > Torture > Technology > Thriller > Scien > Hellraiser (1987) + Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) + Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (1996)/Videodrome (1983/4-disc Limited Edition with DVDs/Arrow U.K. Region B Blu-rays)/Vampyros Lesbos (1971/Umbrell

Hellraiser (1987) + Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) + Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (1996)/Videodrome (1983/4-disc Limited Edition with DVDs/Arrow U.K. Region B Blu-rays)/Vampyros Lesbos (1971/Umbrella Region Free Blu-ray)



Picture: B Sound: B-/B-/B-/B/B- Extras: B/B/B (box set: B+)/B+/C Films: C-/C-/D/B-/C+



PLEASE NOTE: The Hellraiser and Videodrome Import Blu-rays are now only available from our friends at Arrow U.K., can only play on Blu-ray players that can handle the Region B format and the Videodrome 4-disc version is limited to only 3,000 copies & can be ordered while supplies last (is also Region B only), while the Vampyros Lesbos import Blu-ray is region free, can play on all Blu-ray players and is available in this version only from our friends at Umbrella Entertainment in Australia. All can be ordered from the links below.



Here is new set of horror and thriller films of note in upgraded (and additionally) upgraded Blu-ray editions you should definitely know about...



We have reviewed 4 of the five feature films here, but our readers need to know about upgrades and variances, especially with the Hellraiser films being constantly issued in unfortunately substandard editions. We include clips with the previously reviewed and add new information on, then conclude with our usual technical round-up.


Hellraiser (1987) + Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/11251/Dark+Age+(1987/Umbrella+PAL+Regi


Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth (1996)

http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/12218/Hellraiser+III:+Hell+On+Earth+(1996


Arrow U.K. (and only in the U.K in this case, unfortunately) are using new transfers that finally do justice to how the films are supposed to look, i.e. a fresh film print versus the disasters we have encountered over the years. This also means the sound is better, but there are also extras where Arrow is known for excelling.


While the import of the first film above had no extras, the Anchor Bay Blu-ray and DVD editions had the same extras, including stills (including posters & advertising) sections, storyboard gallery, TV spots, trailers, five featurettes and an audio commentary by Barker & lead actress Ashley Laurence moderated by Peter Atkins. Arrow pretty much has all that, then adds a BD-ROM of the script, original EPK (electronic press kit; something new at thew time) for the film and a second, a vintage solo-only Barker audio commentary.


The second film's Blu-ray offered a Behind The Scenes montage, four featurettes, Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots and feature length audio commentary track by Director Tony Randel, Writer Peter Atkins and Co-Star Ashley Laurence. New extras on top of those include Leviathan: The Story of Hellbound: Hellraiser II, a brand new version of the definitive documentary on the making of Hellbound, featuring interviews with key cast and crew members, Surgeon Scene offers the home video world premiere of this legendary, never before-seen excised sequence from Hellbound, sourced from a VHS workprint, rare and unseen storyboards and Draft Screenplay in the BD-ROM format.



Extras for the third film's Blu-ray included a 14-minutes long Bradley interview featurette Under The Skin, 14 more minutes interview with Hickox called Raising Hell On Earth, a Making Of featurette with Barker & Bradley and the Original Theatrical Trailer. Arrow retains all that and then adds an Alternate Unrated Version (at 97 minutes), a brand new audio commentary with writer Peter Atkins, vintage audio commentary with director Anthony Hickox and Doug Bradley, a brand new Time with Terri interview with actress Paula Marshall, never-before-seen Hellraiser III SFX dailies, an Image Gallery and Hellraiser III comic book adaptation in the 'disc gallery'.


Arrow U.K. will sell these separately during 2016, but the trilogy has been issued first as The Scarlet Box and it is quickly becoming a fan favorite, even over its U.S. counterpart that seems to not be quite as good. Because it has a Limited Edition bonus disc and and exclusive 200-page hardback book with new writing from Clive Barker archivists Phil and Sarah Stokes for starters, you might want to consider it, so here are the specifics...


You also get a 20-page booklet featuring never-before-seen original Hellraiser concept art, Limited Edition packaging with new artwork from Gilles Vranckx, a set of 5 exclusive art cards and fold-out reversible poster. Then the limited edition Clive Barker Legacy disc offers the Clive Barker short films Salome and The Forbidden (both reviewed elsewhere on this site in a U.S. DVD release), Blood & Beyond: The Literary Works of Clive Barker as horror author David Gatward provides a tour through Barker's written work, from the first Books of Blood to the recent The Scarlet Gospels, Hellraiser: Evolutions - a brand new documentary looking at the evolution of the hit horror franchise and its enduring legacy, featuring interviews with Scott Derrickson (director, Hellraiser: Inferno), Rick Bota (director, Hellraiser: Hellseeker, Deader and Hellworld), Stuart Gordon (director, Re-Animator, From Beyond) & others and The Hellraiser Chronicles: A Question of Faith short film.


Of course, if that does not sell you on the box set, there is the Damnation Games Limited Edition, 200-page hardback book with new writing on Hellraiser and the Barker universe from Barker archivists Phil and Sarah Stokes including chapters looking at Barker's early work, the genesis and production of the first 3 films in the Hellraiser series and much more, all illustrated with stills and rare material from the Barker archive. That may seem like a for-fans-only fest, but a collectible one of library calibre worth considering versus just getting the 3 films on their own. Now, you can decide.



David Cronenberg's Videodrome (1983) is a film we have somehow missed over the years, the cautionary tale that was too weird to be believed but came true to a great extent may never have totally worked for me, but I thought Cronenberg was onto something in he creepy tale of a secret TV station (mind you this is before cable, satellite, Internet, wireless TV access; all during the early years of home video) about a secret TV channel people tune into to enjoy what we would now refer to as torture porn. The station turns out to be secretly hidden in Pittsburgh (understandable even then if you've seen some of their bad programming, some of which is sadly still being produced today despite some quality productions), likely picked for its historical significance to broadcasting history (the first public television station, the first commercial radio station, home of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and a place (the town of Wilkinsburg) where the first analog radio transmitter that made TV and radio possible for decades was invented there) adds up.


Also however, by the time the film arrived, the Steel City and similar industrial town across the U.S. (including historic Braddock, PA) were having their industrial infrastructures dismantled for economic and political reasons, casting a new darkness on things that fit the film perfectly. James Woods shows up in an interesting performance and Debbie Harry (the lead singer of Blondie, the positive, New Wave Rock band whose great string of hits were sadly coming to an end at the time) is also cast in an interesting way, so the film is very well thought out. As well, the natural and unnatural (organic items and people) meld with various technologies (videotapes, S&M devices, TV, other tech gear) in the as-usual unexpected, wacky and bizarre ways Cronenberg has shown us since his earliest films rightly fighting against the stereotype of man & machine always connecting in some perfect, almost 'holy' way that was a fraud and fantasy form the start.


Videotapes play a significant role here and though pretty obsolete, it would not matter if it was VHS, U-Matic, Beta, old 12-inch LaserDiscs, DVDs or Blu-rays... the idea is that it is a palpable (read pre-streaming, downloading, cyber, etc.) widget that signifies the disastrous connection between humans and dehumanizing technology at its worst. The film was ahead of its time, even if it did not always work, too abstract the way Disney's Tron (1982) was at the time since cyber and post-modern concepts were too abstract or unreal to be believed, yet it is a film, people still talk about and that is why it deserves the discussion and extended special editions it has. It is a key Cronenberg film and daring, ambitious work for all, no matter what.


Thus you can get the regular Blu-ray, or go for the four disc set, which includes a Blu-ray and DVD of the film in a restored high-definition digital transfer of the unrated version, approved by director David Cronenberg and cinematographer Mark Irwin, feature-length audio commentary by Tim Lucas, the on-set correspondent for Cinefantastique Magazine and author of Videodrome: Studies in the Horror Film, David Cronenberg and the Cinema of the Extreme documentary programme featuring interviews with Cronenberg, George A. Romero and Alex Cox on Cronenberg's cinema, censorship and the horror genre, documentary Forging the New Flesh by filmmaker Michael Lennick on Videodrome's video and prosthetic make up effects, brand new interview Videoblivion with cinematographer Mark Irwin, brand new interview with producer Pierre David, AKA Jack Martin with Dennis Etchison, author of novelizations of Videodrome, Carpenter's Halloween, Halloween II and III and The Fog, discusses Videodrome and his observations of Cronenberg's script, the complete uncensored Samurai Dreams footage with additional Videodrome broadcasts with optional commentary by Michael Lennick, featurettes Helmet Test and Betamax by Michael Lennick on effects featured in the film, Camera (2000) Cronenberg's short film starring Videodrome's Les Carlson, Fear on Film: a round table discussion from 1982 with Cronenberg, John Carpenter, John Landis and Mick Garris, Promotional featurette with behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with Cronenberg, James Woods, Deborah Harry and Rick Baker and an original theatrical trailer.


If that's not enough for you, the third Blu-ray disc and fourth DVD disc cover Cronenberg's early work including Transfer (1966) & From The Drain (1967), Cronenberg's previously unavailable short films newly restored by the Toronto International Film Festival [7 & 12 minutes respectively], Stereo (1969) & Crimes Of The Future (1970): Cronenberg's early amateur feature films, shot in and around his university campus newly restored from original lab elements [65 & 70 minutes respectively] and featurette Transfer the Future as author and critic Kim Newman discusses Cronenberg's early works.


To top it all off, you get a Limited Edition illustrated 100-page hardback Collector's Book featuring new writing including Justin Humphreys on Videodrome in a modern context, Brad Stevens on the alternate versions, Caelum Vatnsdal on Cronenberg's early works, extracts from Cronenberg on Cronenberg featuring Cronenberg's reminiscences of getting started in filmmaking and shooting all the films in this collection, plus more, illustrated with original archive stills.


That's enough to drive any Cronenberg fan to get a multi-region Blu-ray player and is easily one of the best Blu-ray releases by any company of any film in the last few years on the international Blu-ray market. Bravo Arrow U.K.!!!



Vampyros Lesbos (1971) is one we just covered in a 2-disc set from Severin at this link...


http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/13517/Vampyros+Lesbos+(1971/Severin+Blu


That means we lose the DVD that contains Las Vampiras, the alternate Spanish Language VHS Version With Optional English Subtitles as well as the Alternate German Opening Title Sequence,

Dracula's Heiress - German Trailer and The Delirious Cinema Of Jess Franco featurette the Severin edition had, but we still get Vampyros Jesus: Interview featurette with Director Jess Franco, Sublime Soledad: Interview with Soledad Miranda Historian Amy Brown, Stephen Thrower on Vampyros Lesbos: Interview with Author of 'Murderous Passions' and Jess Is Yoda Clip.

As for the film, the gals look good and the title amusingly provocative, but I thought the film lacked erotic effect and had many missed opportunities. Now you can see for yourself, but don't go watching it with high hopes.



Turns out all the releases here are from upgraded new 2K remasters supervised by the director and director of photography of each film for the most part and look really good, though the 1080p 1.85 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on all three Hellraiser films can show the age of the materials used, the upgrading here was highly necessary and this is much more exactly what they should have looked like to begin with in the mode with how they looked in their original releases. Videodrome has a slight edge over them if not perfect, but also is a big improvement over the too often muddy versions (including edited atrocities) we have seen over the decades. Criterion likely used the same master for their Blu-ray version.


The 1080p 1.66 X 1 digital High Definition image transfer on Vampyros can show the age of the materials used, but is the same solid, colorful and pretty consistent transfer my fellow writer liked even more than I did from the Severin U.S. Blu-ray edition. I doubt this could look much better and I give it points for some of its style, so some scenes that look soft are supposed to.


As for sound, Videodrome and the first 2 Hellraisers have been nicely upgraded to DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 5.1 lossless mixes, but the Hellraisers show more harmonic distortion due to its budget limits. Arrow did not push their luck on Hellraiser III, only offering a lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio) 2.0 Stereo track, which is still better than its previous sonic versions. The other films have 2.0 alternate tracks for grandfathered systems and the Vampyros Blu-ray has the same lossless monophonic track as the Severin U.S. Blu-ray. I hear no difference.



You can order the upgraded Hellraiser trilogy in several editions or expanded Videodrome (while supplies last) all having have only Region B Blu-ray capacity by going to this link for more information to order...


http://www.arrowfilms.co.uk/


...and to order the Umbrella import Blu-ray of Vampyros Lesbos, go to this link for it and many other goodies at:


http://www.umbrellaent.com.au/



- Nicholas Sheffo


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