Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie Review

One of the nice opportunities for consumers in this global age is the ability to sample different "versions" of the same product, and that has turned out to be especially true of Blu-rays released in various regions around our planet, many of which have been sourced from different elements and/or masters, and many of which sport significantly different supplemental features as well. That's one reason why Blu-ray.com has such a robust international readership, and why we're one of the few major websites to regularly feature discs released "overseas" (I will fall back on my incipient Americanism for a moment). Domestic consumers have already had a chance to purchase Dr. Terror's House of Horrors in a bare bones release from Olive which offered intermittently problematic video and (in typical Olive fashion) no supplements. Now German label Wicked-Vision Media has released a (region free) version that Wicked-Vision's Daniel Perée informs me was sourced off the original camera negative in 4K. Even better, this release comes stuffed to the gills with some excellent supplements.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Wicked-Vision Media with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.35:1. In just about all the ways we typically analyze video quality, this release is superior to the Olive Films release, though perhaps not in quantum leap amounts that "4K scan off of the original camera negative" might suggest to some videophiles. Sharpness and clarity are improved, and this transfer offers a more convincing and consistent accounting of grain. While colors are nicely suffused, some may find the timing of this version a bit too yellow at times, something that gives flesh tones a somewhat jaundiced look. There are still some anomalies in the voodoo sequence, as evidenced by screenshot 4 in this review, some of which must obviously been inherited from the source, but which here are at least better compressed and at least relatively clearer.

Note: I've attempted to duplicate some of the screenshots from my original review of the Olive Films version so that those interested can open full sized windows and toggle between views to make a comparison.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two German DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono mixes included, one of the theatrical version and another of the television version, with the theatrical version sounding considerably more fulsome and less boxy. The English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono track is very much in line with what is heard on the Olive disc, and is in fact for all intents and purposes largely identical to that version.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: I apologize in advance if my translations of the titles of these supplements from German is inadequate.

• Intro with Dr. Rolf Giesen (1080p; 5:28) is a little goofy but fun. In German with optional English subtitles. Playable either via the Supplements Menu or the actual Play menu for the film.


• 35 mm Theatrical Version (1080p; 1:37:26) is sourced from a pretty faded and damaged old print. In German with no optional English subtitles.


• Documentary: House of Cards (1080p; 57:45) is a really well done piece that seems to have been a British production. Several interesting talking heads chime in on a number of aspects, like Amicus and Freddie Francis. In English, with optional German subtitles.


• German Opening Credits Sequence (1080p; 1:27)


• German End Sequence (1080p; 1:56) contains the last few seconds of the film, with German voiceover when the guys look at the newspaper, followed by the German credits.


• Italian Opening Credits Sequence (1080p; 1:21)


• Italian End Sequence (1080p; 1:09) is anamorphically squeezed.


• Dutch Prefix (1080p; 1:46) is the credits sequence (in English, sourced off an old and wobbly print).


• Original Prefix (1080i; 1:17) is a different credits sequence.


• Original Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 00:59) is in English.


• Italian Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:48)


• German Theatrical Trailer (1080p; 2:38)


• Re-Cut Trailer 2015 (1080p; 00:59)


• Still Galleries offer an incredible array of stills from all aspects of the production and even beyond, including everything from the original script to PR photos to an Amicus filmography.


• German Commentary by Dr. Rolf Giesen and Uwe Sommerlad unfortunately does not offer optional English subtitles.


• English Commentary by Freddie Francis and Jonathan Sothcott is well done, though Francis is a bit vague on his memories at times.

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This German disc offers better picture, comparable audio and an excellent supply of bonus content, and the best fact is this is a region free disc with no problematic PAL or 50i content to confound domestic Blu-ray players. Fans of Dr. Terror's House of Horrors will most likely want to opt for this release, while even some curious fans may want to check this out for some of the excellent supplements. Recommended.