6.2 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The day after a weird green light is seen in the English sky, a strange young man stops at the country home of two lesbian housemates. It turns out that the man is an alien, and a hungry one.
Starring: Barry Stokes, Sally Faulkner, Glory Annen, Eddie Stacey, Derek KavanaghHorror | 100% |
Mystery | 10% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.66:1
English: LPCM Mono (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Note: This version of this film is available as part of Bloody Terror: The Shocking Cinema of Norman J Warren, 1976-1987.
It might be an interesting bi-continental quiz to ask film fans in the United Kingdom if they recognize the name Herschell Gordon Lewis, while at the
same time asking film fans in the United States if they recognize the name Norman John Warren. My hunch (and it’s only a hunch) is that Lewis
might
fare a bit better than Warren (meaning at least in part that British cineastes might be more globally aware than Americans), but that said, the two
men are at least passingly comparable in that each offered exploitation outings that tended to
feature both scantily clad (and sometimes naked) women and horror elements in about equal measure. Arrow released the massive The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast* a
few
years ago which aggregated a bunch of Lewis’ films (there are other compilations available, including The Lost Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis* and Shock and Gore: The Films of Herschell Gordon
Lewis*), and now Powerhouse Films’ Indicator imprint has aggregated a quintet of Warren films to whet fans’ appetites. As with some of
Lewis’ efforts, the Warren films are often low budget affairs, but they arguably tend to be a cut above (no gore pun intended) some of Lewis’ films
in
terms of general production values and even performance acumen. All five films in this set have either already received Blu-ray releases in the
United States, or are about to as this review goes live (in the case of Inseminoid), but Powerhouse's website lists this set as offering
debuts of the films on Blu-ray for the United Kingdom market.
* Note: The links points to United States releases since there are reviews for some of those which some readers might be interested in
perusing, though there are UK releases of both
The Herschell Gordon Lewis Feast and Shock and Gore: The Films of Herschell Gordon Lewis.
Prey is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Powerhouse Films' Indicator imprint with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.66:1 (the release for the North American market is in 1.67:1). Powerhouse Films provided only check discs for the purposes of this review, with no supporting documentation, so I'm not privy to any verbiage that might be included in an insert booklet, but their website has the same generic "2K restoration, newly supervised and approved by director Norman J Warren" listed under its breakdown for every film in this set. While there are some minor dings along the way, along with occasional scratches and speckles, this is by and large a very nice looking presentation that supports some healthy saturation in the palette and generally good detail. Blues are especially prevalent, especially with regard to sweaters that both Jo and the alien wear. Kind of funnily, the alien is later in a kind of dark blue dress and that almost assumes a black look and tends to fall victim to crush in some late darkened scenes. On the whole, though, contrast is consistent and helps the presentation segue between some bright outdoor lighting and darker interior scenes. Fine detail is commendable in the many close-ups.
Prey features an LPCM Mono track, and is the first of several films in this set to also feature synth laden electronic scores. This one can be just slightly buzzy sounding in its lowest registers, but is fun, if maybe dated sounding. Other cues, featuring piano, can sound just slightly phased and wobbly. There are some slight amplitude fluctuations at times, as in the first dialogue scene between the two women. Dialogue is generally very cleanly and clearly presented, but the entire track sounds slightly boxy.
- Play (1080p; 6:52)
- Play with Director's Commentary (1080p; 6:52)
- Making 'The Bridge' (1080p; 1:01) is silent with Warren commentary.
- Play (1080p; 2:53)
- Play with Director's Commentary (1080p; 2:53)
- Play (1080p; 2:33)
- Play With Director's Introduction (1080p; 3:22 and 2:33) features Warren discussing the film.
Prey is often a very weird film, and that inherently bizarre quality may be enough to rope viewers in far enough that they'll overlook some frankly ham handed performances and silly plot mechanics. As with some of the other Warren offerings in this set, the film may strike some as decidedly "meh", but the supplemental features are interesting and informative. Technical merits are generally solid for those considering a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
Indicator Series
1978
Indicator Series
1981
Evil Heritage / Indicator Series
1976
88 Vault #10
1993
Indicator Series
1987
1987
Black Label 019
1986
2019
1987
2014
Alien Contamination
1980
1982
Alien 2 - Sulla Terra / Alien Terror | The Italian Collection #15
1980
They Came from Within
1975
2016
Titan Find
1985
1958
Indicator Series
1957
Limited Edition
1978
1974