6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Sheila Keith stars as a former patient of a mental institution, who has settled down in a remote farmhouse, where she tells fortunes in her spare time. But the kind, maternal exterior conceals a dreadful monster, which the asylum, it seems, was unable to cure.
Starring: Rupert Davies, Sheila Keith, Deborah Fairfax, Paul Greenwood, Kim ButcherHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
“Frightmare” represents my official introduction to the filmography of Pete Walker. A British director who specialized in low-budget horror features, Walker made a name for himself with efficient chillers and scrappy visions of brutality, with efforts such as “Schizo,” “House of Whipcord,” and “The Comeback” earning the respect of cult audiences who live their lives to make such discoveries. 1974’s “Frightmare” is perhaps his most admired production, if only because it caused quite a stir during its initial theatrical release, upsetting critics at the time with its X-rated vision of cannibalism and murder, while offering a provocative condemnation of criminal rehabilitation services. In 2014, it’s difficult to understand why such a fuss was raised, with the genre now exposing every perversion and evil known to man, but what remains under the aged layers of condemnation is a crafty chiller, wonderfully performed and executed with a refreshing grimness. “Frightmare” has its share of ugliness, but it’s also considered work from Walker, who isn’t merely out to sicken, but haunt his audience with this effective picture.
The AVC encoded image (1.66:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "Frightmare" is impressively refreshed for its HD debut, bringing out the original flavors of the cinematography with a surprisingly vivid viewing experience. Damage is present, with speckling, judder, scratches, and mild discoloration, but nothing pulls attention away from the nasty business at hand, which is supported with good deal of sharpness. Fine detail brings out the best in gore zone visits and location particulars, while facial textures look terrific, presenting creases and grimaces with accuracy. Grain is successfully managed, holding to a tastefully filmic appearance. Colors are stable and true, with pronounced shades of red for moments of bloodletting, while emerald lighting and orange interiors also make an impression. Skintones appear pinkish and true. Blacks are stable, communicating depths and fabrics without severe solidification.
The 2.0 LPCM sound mix doesn't have much variety to offer the listener, tending to basics of this horror picture with a certain degree of confidence. Highs are harsh, as to be expected with a movie that's now 40 years old, and there's some damage detected, with a rhythmic buzzing that pops up intermittently. It's not distracting, but it's noticeable. Dialogue exchanges are defined with satisfactory clarity without ever sounding truly crisp, keeping accents accessible and emotional outbursts manageable. Atmospherics are present, preserving the creepy mood as ordered, while scoring cues are adequately supportive.
While it would still qualify for an R-rating these days, "Frightmare" isn't particularly vicious stuff, allowing contemporary audiences to assess the work as it stands, without the roar of the damning press to fog the view. It's a nifty little nasty and a proper introduction to Walker's skills as a B-movie director and his genre appetites, adding to the kaleidoscopic vision of horror from the fertile genre ground of the 1970s.
1974
Sharon's Baby / I Don't Want to Be Born / It's Growing Inside Her
1975
Raw Meat
1972
1972
w/ 3D sequence
1972
The Confessional
1976
Fanatic
1965
Count Dracula and His Vampire Bride
1973
2014
1976
1971
Nightmares in a Damaged Brain
1981
1974
The Fall of the House of Usher
1960
Collector's Edition
1970
1971
Gli orrori del castello di Norimberga
1972
4K Restoration | Danza macabra
1964
Also Includes = I Eat Your Skin and Blue Sextet
1970
1971