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Scream and Scream Again (Blu-ray Review)

• Review Date: Aug 13, 2019
• Format: Blu-ray Disc
• 

Release Date(due south)

1970 (April 23, 2019)

Studio(s)

American International Pictures/Amicus Productions (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

• Film/Program Grade: C+
• Video Grade: C+
• Audio Grade: B
• Extras Grade: B

Review

Gordon Hessler's Scream and Scream Once again isn't a typical motion-picture show from American International Pictures, nor is information technology emblematic of the type of genre its lurid title would lead you to believe it represents. Far removed from its perceived ties to gothic horror, it's describable more as a sci-fi conspiracy thriller, with just the mildest of horror elements. Upon its initial release, it managed to turn a small profit, but it left a bad taste in the mouths of more than than a few horror fans who had lined upward to run across Vincent Cost, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing in their get-go ever film together.

The story concerns organ transplant specialist Dr. Browning (Vincent Price), who operates on his victims for their various limbs (for every bit all the same unknown reasons); his former student Dr. Sorel (Christopher Matthews), who is suspicious of Browning'south activities; the enigmatic, despotic-employed operative Konratz (Marshall Jones), who kills high-ranking officials (such every bit Peter Cushing) by but squeezing their shoulders whenever his arrangement is threatened; the British police force detective Bellaver (Alfred Marks), who is on the hunt for a vampiric murderer of women (Michael Gothard); and the British intelligence agent Fremont (Christopher Lee), who is somehow connected to it all.

Based upon The Disoriented Man, Scream and Scream Once more follows the plot of its source novel adequately well, simply leaves out several elements that requite most of the characters their principal story motivation. As is, information technology can exist a flake of a muddled mess as zippo e'er really seems to coalesce, with storylines fracturing in different directions and losing characters for many minutes of screen time (with Vincent Price left belongings the bag at the end to attempt and explicate away the pic's diverse plots). On the other hand, there are other things that the film has going for information technology, including its star power and its impressive camera work from cinematographer John Coquillon, who would go on to lens the great George C. Scott ghost story classic The Changeling.

As previously mentioned, the major selling point for the film was the fact that it was the beginning fourth dimension that Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, and Peter Cushing would all be in a film together. Alas, information technology was goose egg more than a cheap marketing hook. Cushing is in the film for non much more than than a cameo, and both Cost and Lee are given footling to do together, despite appearing opposite from each other for most a minute in the picture'south head-scratching finale. All the same, this oversight cannot be blamed on Gordon Hessler, who was purportedly brought on to direct without a finished script, having to make the best with what he had available to him. Price was as well unhappy with the project and felt justifiably used, which some might argue was the beginning of the eventual terminate of his involvement with American International Pictures.

One can go on and on about the behind-the-scenes dealings on Scream and Scream Again, only what it boils down to is that information technology just isn't that potent a film. What information technology is instead is a very interesting picture with well-filmed sequences (including a long and suspenseful car chase) and a fine cast. It'southward besides more digestible upon a second viewing, peculiarly one time the understanding that it isn't a straight horror motion picture is made articulate. Despite its shortcomings, many feel that it'due south a misunderstood try and is actually Gordon Hessler's all-time piece of work, citing its strengths with admiration rather than disdain. Information technology'southward a justifiable though understandably irregular point of view.

Released once before to Blu-ray by Twilight Time, Kino Lorber Studio Classics picks up the rights for a new release of Scream and Scream Again, including (for the first time) both the Usa and UK versions of the film – though there's only a minute'due south departure between them with only minor variations. The Tv set version, which purportedly featured a different score, has not been utilized.

The transfer for the The states version is the aforementioned as the Twilight Time disc. It's quite grainy, but organic in appearance. There'due south a mild softness, particularly during outdoor scenes, but facial textures in close-ups and on article of clothing are oft distinct. The color palette is inconsistent, including on skin tones, merely it can exist lush given the right opportunity. Blacks are also uneven, often ripe with noise, while brightness and contrast levels could take used aligning. It's also unstable in spots with bits of damage leftover, including scratches, speckling, and cue marks.

The UK version is a dissimilar beast birthday. It seems to be from a impress with crushed blacks and slightly washed out colors. On the whole, information technology appears, non different its counterpart, movie-like, though effulgence and contrast levels are slightly more ideal (neither release is definitive). In that location's likewise more apparent impairment, including lines running through the frame, as well as instances of dirt, staining, splices, speckling, and scratches.

The audio for both versions is included in English language 2.0 mono DTS-HD. The U.s.a. track is non out to print sonically, but it's an efficient track nonetheless. Dialogue is generally make clean and clear, and both audio effects and score accept an aplenty amount of heft to them. Sometimes the mix can be a bit too overpowering, especially in scenes that take place in a nightclub where information technology'southward more than difficult to discern the dialogue over the music, but other than that, information technology's solid. The UK track is like, just it seems to have a little more push when it comes to the score. It too contains a bit more obvious damage than its US analogue with occasional thumps and crackle. There are no subtitle options included at all, which is sadly a downgrade from the previous Blu-ray.

Bonus materials include a fantastic sound commentary by motion-picture show historian Tim Lucas, who delves into the moving picture's production and provides plenty of contextual data; the Trailers from Hell version of the film'south trailer with commentary by filmmaker Mick Garris; a set of iii US radio spots; and bonus trailers for the Kino Lorber horror-related titles Tales of Terror, Twice-Told Tales, The Oblong Box, Madhouse, House of the Long Shadows, and the moving picture itself. Not carried over from Twilight Fourth dimension's Blu-ray release is an isolated score sound track; an audio commentary with film historians David Del Valle and Tim Sullivan; the 24-minute Admirer Gothic: Gordon Hessler at American International Pictures documentary from Clack Motion Pictures; the 9-minute Uta Screams Again!: An Interview with Uta Levka; and a notwithstanding gallery.

Scream and Scream Again certainly isn't one of the finest films of its era, but it may exist one of the most fascinating. Every bit far equally its Blu-ray release, it's squeamish to have it back in print, but the lack of subtitles and previous extras is a trivial frustrating. On the other manus, the new extras, most importantly Tim Lucas' audio commentary, are worth the price tag lone. Possibly another company volition come to the tabular array someday once the film'due south rights elapse again and practice their best to combine both sets of extras with new presentations of the pic. It certainly deserves more palatial handling.

– Tim Salmons

Tags

1970, 20th Century Fox, AIP, Alfred Marks, Amen Corner, American International Pictures, Amicus Productions, Anthony Newlands, A_I_P_, Blu-ray, Blu-ray Disc, Christopher Lee, Christopher Matthews, Christopher Wicking, Clifford Earl, conspiracy thriller, David Whitaker, Gordon Hessler, horror, John Coquillon, Judy Blossom, Judy Huxtable, Julian Holloway, Kenneth Benda, Kino Lorber, Kino Lorber Studio Classics, Louis M Heyward, Louis M_ Heyward, Marshall Jones, Max Rosenberg, MGM, Michael Gothard, Milton Subotsky, Nigel Lambert, Orion, Orion Pictures, Peter Cushing, Peter Elliott, Peter Sallis, Peter Saxon, review, sci-fi, science fiction, Scream and Scream Again, The Digital $.25, The Disorientated Man, thriller, Tim Lucas, Tim Salmons, Uta Levka, Vincent Price, Warner Pathe, Yutte Stensgaard

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