Death Ship Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie Review

We now live in a world where there are two Blu-ray releases of 1980’s “Death Ship.” It seems the B-movie was a significant performer for Scorpion Releasing, who originally issued the film in 2012, giving fans a decent look at the production particulars with a comfortable visual experience. Times have changed, and Scorpion has returned with a fresh scan of the chiller (even including a previously deleted scene), collecting some additional supplementary materials to help beef up the new disc, which is an improvement, especially for fans of the picture, who are now offered a clearer look at all the oceanic carnage the endeavor provides.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"Death Ship" last appeared on Blu-ray in 2012 and, at the time, I claimed the release was "perhaps the best 'Death Ship' is ever going to look on home video." The quote reigned for six years, but Scorpion Releasing takes another crack at the picture, returning to the marketplace with an AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation, billed as a "2K scan of the original interpositive." Indeed, there was room for improvement, with the 2018 scan managing to achieve a more vibrant viewing experience for the grungy feature, bringing out brighter, tighter colors. Hues are consistent throughout, with heartier primaries emerging from costuming, serving up bolder blues and reds, which are, of course, accentuated during the blood shower sequence and with Nazi imagery. Cooler passages on the boat are involving as well, with rusted metal and black paint jobs retaining their forbidding shades. Detail is sharpened some, supplying sweatier close-ups and ship dimensions, while costuming preserves fibrous qualities. Delineation is acceptable. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in good condition, but a few scratches are detected, and some rough frames are encountered.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While a 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix remains on the Blu-ray, the new default here is a 5.1 DTS-HD MA track. It's an appealing upgrade, with the new offering slightly clearer, with defined dialogue exchanges and performance choices, including multiple emotional breakdowns. It's a frontal mix, without much play in the surrounds, but scoring opens up pleasingly, with clear instrumentation. Grinding engines are heavier, offering weight to ship exploration sequences. Sound effects keep their exaggerated presence. Hiss is mild.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Newly added:

• Commentary features director Alvin Rakoff.

• "Stormy Seas" (41:15, SD) is a 2007 making-of for "Death Ship," featuring interviews with Rakoff, actors George Kennedy and Nick Mancuso, and screenwriter Jack Hill. What's immediately hilarious about the featurette is how quickly Rakoff shares the rest of his resume, making it perfectly clear to the viewer that "Death Ship" was a career anomaly. Hill recounts his early dealings with producer Sandy Howard, scripting "Blood Star," a more ambitious version of the story that dealt with a ghostly backstory, with plans to direct himself. While Hill and Rakoff never met, they clearly don't like each other, putting down their individual efforts, with the screenwriter sharing that the director was only hired due to his Canadian citizenship. Hill also amuses himself by sharing Howard's script notes, which request a dumbing down of the material and a removal of spectral happenings. The cast is commented on, with everyone agreeing that Richard Crenna was a joy and quite impish, and more Howard anecdotes are shared, including his insistence on nudity during the blood shower sequence. Kennedy has some vivid memories concerning the ship's everyday stench, and the cast is in agreement about the toxic quality of Mobile Bay waters, with Mancuso refusing to get wet. Hill closes with a comment about a possible remake, but this was 11 years ago, so I'm guessing that's never going to happen.

• Still Gallery (4:25) includes publicity snaps, ad slicks, international art, newspaper ads, and poster art.

• And Trailer #1 (:58) and Trailer #2 (1:34) are included.

• An Isolated Music Track is offered.

• "Learn What the Ship is Saying" (3:41, HD) is actually a valuable supplementary feature, with Katarina Leigh Waters (as "Frau Waters") translating most of the German dialog of the film. Turns out, some important material is explored in the foreign tongue, leaving the film's resistance to subtitling a real mystery.

• "Nightmare Theater Mode" (6:20, HD) is hosted by Waters, who reads off the credits of key cast and crew, while sharing a few tidbits about the movie's release and reception. If there's more to this "Mode," Waters fails to mention it.

Death Ship Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

One can never get enough sweaty George Kennedy close-ups, and the new "Death Ship" release provides an even more detailed, colorful viewing event. For lovers, it's worth an upgrade. At least until Scorpion decides to revisit it for the 4K market.