6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A stone-encrusted body is unearthed at Pompeii, and people left alone with it keep dying of crushed skulls...
Starring: Richard Anderson (I), Elaine Edwards (I), Adele Mara, Luis Van Rooten, Gar MooreHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 3.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 2.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
There’s certainly a faceless man provided here, but it’s the curse part of the title I’m not so sure of. A horror effort from 1958, “Curse of the Faceless Man” is small-time programmer with an interesting plot, pitting science and art against an unexplainable discovery found at the site of the Pompeii disaster, unleashing a stone creature who’s not above killing anyone who stands in the way of longstanding love. Actual scares aren’t generated by the production, but “Curse of the Faceless Man” remains an agreeably odd B-movie that keeps its macabre star front and center.
Boasting a fresh scan for its BD debut, "Curse of the Faceless Man" provides a sturdy AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Detail, even when facing focus issues, comes through with surprising clarity, delivering agreeable facial particulars during close-ups, while set decoration is open for study, along with monster textures. Cinematographic balance is encouraging, providing secure delineation to aid in shadow play, while whites aren't overtly bloomy. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is rough in spots, but no overt damage is detected, leaving most of the clutter to speckling and mild scratches.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't the result of a restoration, but as a straight presentation of aged elements, it handles satisfactorily. Scoring is most pronounced, offering the listening experience a bit of percussion rumble as suspense heats up. Dialogue exchanges are adequate, hitting a few stretches of muddiness, but the track largely respects the performances, without slipping into distortive extremes when screaming takes over. Atmospherics are passable, lacking any real character for a mostly expository effort. Hiss and pops are detected.
The star of the show is composer Gerald Fried, who delivers an exceptional score that keeps "Curse of the Faceless Man" humming along, finding themes that support suspense efforts. The rest of the movie doesn't share the same enthusiasm, but the picture is entertaining, hitting enough highlights of horror and obsession to keep the film busy enough before it slips back into an expositional coma.
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