Blu-ray Movie Reviews

It has been called grisly, sick, and perverse," as well as raw, unshakeable, and the movie that redefined horror. It was attacked by churches, banned by governments, and acclaimed by only the bravest of critics. It stunned audiences worldwide and set a new standard in movie terror forever. In 1974, writer-producer-director Tobe Hooper unleashed this dark, visionary tale about a group of five young friends who face a nightmare of torment at the hands of a depraved Texas clan. Today it remains unequaled as a landmark of outlaw filmmaking and unparalleled in its impact as perhaps the most frightening motion picture ever made.

Few horror films live up to the paradigm associated with true “horror” or “terror” but Tobe Hooper’s masterpiece is definitely one of them. The film resonates a bone chilling sense of realism that most horror films lack and thrusts the viewer into a circumstance that feels more like a documentary on terror than a motion picture. Its low budget roots and guerilla camera work only lend to the unease and this is a film that solidifies the fact that you don’t need a bunch of gore to create great horror. Modern horror filmmakers should definitely take note.

I really didn’t know what to expect for picture quality on this one. This film has never really looked “good” but the strong lensing from cinematographer Daniel Pearl has always been a highlight. The HD presentation holds up quite well given the film’s roots and actually delivers some nice depth and overall dimensionality. Daylight sequences show a decent amount of detail for a 16mm film and the color balance has a natural quality to it. Darker sequences can get a bit softer and film grain can be a bit intrusive at times, but not nearly to the level I would expect given the editions I’ve seen in the past. I don’t think you could ever expect a pristine presentation of a film like this, but that would ruin the mood anyways.

The soundtrack is offered in three different flavors. You can chose between the original mono soundtrack, an uncompressed PCM stereo mix or a DTS 5.1 track. I switched between all three throughout the film in different areas to compare the experience and felt that the DTS mix offered the most satisfying balance of dialogue and sound stage. The mono mix was way too boxed in and sounded quite dated in fidelity. The stereo mix wasn’t bad but the 5.1 mix added a bit more atmosphere to the soundstage and had a more convincing quality without being distracting or unnatural. I love the film’s haunting score and the filmmaker’s use of suspense and tension with the simple sound design.

Extras are very similar to the Ultimate Edition DVD that was previously released and do a great job of providing insight into the production of this classic. Two feature commentaries are included; one with the cast and the other with the director, cinematographer and lead actor Gunnar Hansen. You also get a great documentary on the film’s production and influences complete with interviews and behind the scenes footage. A tour of the house with Leatherface and all the trailers and publicity are also included along with deleted scenes and a blooper reel.

Still one of my favorite horror films of all time and truly one of the only films that really lives up to its genre. The HD presentation is by far the best I’ve seen this film look and I was impressed with the supplemental package. Fans of the film and first timers should definitely give this one a look.