Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 18, 2020

Horror fanatics love a monster battle royal, and 1970’s “Assignment Terror” is happy to deliver one…eventually. The picture revives international concepts of the Wolfman, the Mummy, Dracula, and Frankenstein’s Monster for a clash of the titans, with the enemies permitted a few showdowns during the runtime, giving the faithful some fantasy violence to feed daydreams. But, for some reason, creature clashes are not the entire focus of “Assignment Terror,” which also manages a bizarre, borderline incomprehensible plot about an alien takeover of Earth. I don’t think most audiences really care about storytelling when it comes to this type of entertainment.

“Assignment Terror” tries to build a disaster tone with its tale of alien invaders figuring out a way to kill all Earthlings. Naturally, they decide to resurrect screen monsters to do the dirty work, with cult hero Paul Naschy reviving his Waldemar Daninksy character, becoming the Wolfman once again. “Assignment Terror” takes a good 60 minutes before it really gets going, which doesn’t help the picture’s pace, especially when it deals with dull alien entanglements. The idea for something grander in scale is hinted at throughout the first act, but the movie doesn’t reach very far, padded with dry encounters before it gets to the main event.

Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation brings "Assignment Terror" to Blu-ray, giving fans of this obscure horror offering a showcase of technical achievements with noticeable filtering, creating a softer image. Colors come through as intended, offering bright hues on period dresses and laboratory lighting, and moodier creature wear is preserved. Skintones are natural for the humans, while a more bloodless pallor is consistent for the ghouls. Makeup is the big star of the show here, and the monsters are displayed with smoother appearances. Human characters also lack texture. Interiors highlight some decoration and age. Delineation is acceptable. The feature does carry the appearance of slight horizontal stretching, but this might be inherent to original cinematography limitations.

Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix defaults to a Spanish track, which emerges with pronounced hiss and pops that carry throughout the listening event. Dialogue exchanges remain intelligible. Scoring selections retain their swinging intent, offering a louder presence. The English 2.0 DTS-HD MA track is decidedly less inviting, presenting "Assignment Terror" with mild mono support.

Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features film historian Troy Howarth.

• Alternate Opening Titles (4:54, SD) showcase offerings from the U.S., U.K., and Germany.

• Still Gallery (4:32) collects film stills, lobby cards, home media covers, publicity shots, poster art, and newspaper ads.

• And Two International Trailers (5:58, SD) are included.

Assignment Terror Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The monster mash eventually arrives in "Assignment Terror," and there's fun to be had with low-budget makeup effects and individual performances. Violence isn't a knockout, but the very idea of battling creatures is enough to support the viewing experience, with the production making sure they follow through on at least one marketing promise.