PROM NIGHT (1980) Blu-ray Screenshot Comparison

My complete review of the disc will be up tomorrow at some point but I wanted to share a few screenshots of the new 2K remaster of PROM NIGHT (1980) - it's an amazing restoration from SYNAPSE FILMS. 

I was unable to grab Blu-ray screenshots on my ancient PC but I sourced the restoration pics from Amazon and then matched the screenshots myself from the Echo Bridge Entertainment DVD.

The Blu-ray and DVD will be available on September 9th 2014 from Synapse Films - there's a lot to be excited about!. 

PROM NIGHT (1980)

Label: Synapse Films
Region Code: A
Rating: R
Duration: 93 Minutes
Audio: DTS-HD MA 5.1, DTS-HD MA 2.0 Mono with Optional English Subtitles
Video: 1080p Widescreen (1.78:1)
Director: Paul Lynch
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Leslie Nielsen, Eddie Benton, Casey Stevens

Here are some revealing screenshot comparisons of the old Echo Bridge DVD and the new 2K restoration on Blu-ray from Synapse Films.

ECHO BRIDGE TOP

SYNAPSE BOTTOM

Special Features
- Brand-New 2K High-Definition Transfer from the Original 35mm Camera Negative
- 5.1 Surround Remix Specifically Created for This Release (Original 2.0 Mono Included)
- Audio Commentary with Director Paul Lynch and Screenwriter William Gray
- THE HORRORS OF HAMILTON HIGH: The Making of "Prom Night" (41 minutes)
- Collection of Additional Scenes Added for Television Broadcast (11 minutes)
- Never-Before-Seen Outtakes from “Prom Night” [Exclusive to Blu-ray] (23 minutes)
- Motion Still Gallery [Exclusive to Blu-ray] (6 minutes)
- Original Theatrical Trailer (2 minutes) 

- 6 Television Spots (3 minutes)
- 2 Radio Spots (1 minute) 

BLU-RAY BATTLE! SCREAM FACTORY VS. ARROW VIDEO'S LIFEFORCE (1985)

On September 30th 2013 Arrow Video in the United Kingdom will unleash a 2-disc Blu-ray edition of Tobe Hoopers sci-fi epic LIFEFORCE (1985) loaded with special features. Here in the US we just got a great edition from Scream Factory on Blu-ray/DVD (review HERE) but damn does this UK edition look truly stunning!

First, there's a collectible steelbook edition which looks great! Second, it ports nearly all of the special features from the Scream Factory Blu-ray including the two commentaries but Arrow present a third commentary with with Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Douglas Smith, moderated by filmmaker and scholar Howard S. Berger. There's a UK exclusive documentary Cannon Fodder: The Making of Lifeforce, an isolated Ennio Morricone music score track, nifty Gary Pullin reversible artwork and a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by science fiction expert Bill Warren, a new interview with Oscar-winning visual effects artist John Dykstra by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters. WHEW!

Here's a quick comparison of the features and you can check out my review for the Scream Factory Blu-ray HERE. 

LIFEFORCE (1985) 

Arrow Video's (Region B) 2-Disc Blu-ray Special Features:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation of both the Theatrical and International Versions, transferred from original elements by MGM with supervision by director Tobe Hooper
- Optional uncompressed 2.0 Stereo PCM and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround Sound
- Isolated Music and Effects Sound Track
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Audio commentary with Tobe Hooper, moderated by filmmaker Tim Sullivan
- Audio commentary with Academy Award-winning visual effects artist Douglas Smith, moderated by filmmaker and scholar Howard S. Berger
- Audio commentary with make-up effects artist Nick Maley, moderated by filmmaker Michael Felsher
- Cannon Fodder: The Making of Lifeforce - An epic UK-exclusive look at the genesis, production and release of Lifeforce featuring interviews with Hooper, producer Michael J. Kagan, editor John Grover, actors Aubrey Morris and Nicholas Ball, makeup artist Sandra Exelby, screenwriter Michael Armstrong, sound designer Vernon Messenger, artistic designers Tom Adams and Douglas Smith and effects artist John Schoonraad.
- Space Vampires in London: An interview with Tobe Hooper
- Dangerous Beauty: An interview with Mathilda May, Lifeforce’s iconic star
- Carlsen’s Curse: Star Steve Railsback looks back on Lifeforce and his career
- Original Theatrical Trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin
- Collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by science fiction expert Bill Warren, a new interview with Oscar-winning visual effects artist John Dykstra by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters

Scream Factory's (Region A) Blu-ray Special Features: 

 - English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0, 5.1
- English Dolby Digital 2.0, 5.1 

- 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1) 

- The original theatrical version in HD (on the Blu-ray Disc only)
- Audio Commentary with Director Tobe Hooper, moderated by Fillmmaker Tim Sullivan
- Audio Commentary with Special Make-up Effects Designer Nick Maley
- Space Vampires from London with Tobe Hooper (9:57)
- Carlsen's Curse with Steve Railsback (7:07)
- Dangerous Beauty with Mathilda May (15:15)
- Original “The Making of Lifeforce” Featurette (21:16)
- Still Gallery
- 2 Theatrical Trailers (3:30)
- TV Spot (:30)

DVD COMPARISON: MARK OF THE DEVIL (1970)

DVD BATTLE:

MARK OF THE DEVIL (1970) 

It's been awhile since we had a DVD comparison up on the site but here we go, this time out it's MARK OF THE DEVIL (1970) with editions from Blue Underground and Cheezy Flicks. .

This is my attempt to guide genre film fans towards the most complete and proper presentations of our favorite films through comparison of special features and audio visual qaulities. I'll make my decision known and why but take a look at what each release offers and make your own decision based on what's important to you as a buyer. Some go for the commentaries and 5.1, others may take a shine to interviews and artwork or just price point. Let's just be thankful that we have choices and that there are niche labels the world around competing for our hard earned dollars because choice is a very good thing indeed.

MARK OF THE DEVIL (1970) 

Label: Blue Underground
Region Code: NTSC 1
Rating: Unrated
Duration: 96 Mins
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio: English Dolbu Digital 2.0 Mono
Cast: Udo Kier, Herbert Lom, Reggie Nalder, Herbert Fux 
Director: Michael Armstrong 

Synopsis: Uncensored!This is the one that historians and gorehounds alike still speak of with shock and awe, the movie so extreme that audiences were given free barf bags! Herbert Lom (THE DEAD ZONE), Udo Keir (BLADE), Herbert Fux (EUGENIE) and the ultra-creepy Reggie Nalder (SALEMS LOT) star in this infamous epic of fanatical 18th Century witchfinders who rape, torture, dismember and burn thousands of nubile young women falsely accused of fornicating with Satan. Can you stomach the agonizing torment of the damned? Behold the gut-wrenching horror of MARK OF THE DEVIL! 

BLUE UNDERGROUND MENUS

Special Features: 
- Audio Commentary with Director Michael Armstrong

- Fear and Loathing in Austria - Interview with Star Udo Kier (6:42)
- The Devil's Torturer - Interview with Star Herbert Fux (13:14)
- Burn, Gaby, Burn! - Interview with Star Gaby Fuchs (7:05)
- The Devil's Assaulted - Interview with Star Ingeborg Shoner (7:04)
- Theatrical Trailer (3:26)
- 3 Radio Spots (1:40)
- Poster and Still Galleries

VS.

MARK OF THE DEVIL (1970) 

Yach Pack Edition

Label: Cheezy Flicks 
Region Code: NTSC 1
Rating: R
Duration: 96 Mins
Aspect Ratio: Letterboxed  (1.78:1)
Audio: English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Cast: Udo Kier, Herbert Lom, Reggie Nalder, Herbert Fux 
Director: Michael Armstrong 

Synopsis: Banned in many countries!  - Udo Kier is a witch hunter apprentice to Herbert Lom. Udo believes strongly in his mentor and in the ways of the church but loses faith when he catches Lom strangle a man to death for calling him impotent. Kier begins to see for himself that the witch trials are nothing but a scam of the church to seduce women, rob people of their land, money, and other personal belongings. in the end, the towns people revolt, Herbert Llom escapes and poor Udo is tortured to death by the towns people with the his own devices from the dungeon. 

CHEEZY FLICKS MENU

THE VOMIT BAG!

Cheezy Flicks Special Features: 

- Vomit Bag

- Trailers: I DRINK YOUR BLOOD (1:38), HORRORS AT THE BLACK MUSEUM (3:8) 

- About Cheezy Flicks

- Intermission (1:05)

DVD SCREENSHOT COMPARISONS

Blue Underground: Top

Cheezy Flicks: Bottom

Verdict: Michael Armstrong's sadistic tale of a witchfinder (Herbert Lom) and his apprentice (Udo Kier) is still a fantastically exploitative period piece delving into the dark underbelly of just how truly evil and corrupt the witch hunts were, sure it's dated but it still packs quite a punch and is riddled with perversity and bloody torture. 

Cheezy Flicks novel vomit bag is a strong impulse buy based on kitschy appeal alone but in the face of Blue Undergrounds film-specific special features which include not just a great commentary with director Michael Armstrong but also four featurettes with video interviews with the principle cast including Udo Kier. 

That's just the extras, now when you take into consideration the quite poor video and audio quality of Cheezy Flicks edition which is a dark, washed-out muddy mess that seems to be sourced from a VHS the scales are even further unbalanced in favor of Blue Underground whose edition has been completely restored and it shows every level, the saturated color is gorgeous, fine details are abundant and black levels are generally strong, there's just no comparison to be made. Blue Underground bests Cheezy Flicks in all regards, if you can find it cheap enough I would suggest snagging the Cheezy Flicks edition if only to snag the cool vomit bag and stick inside the Blue Underground DVD as pictured below then toss the inferior edition on the sell pile.

THE WINNER: BLUE UNDERGROUND!

http://www.blue-underground.com/

http://cheezyflicks.com/