5.9 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
It's the second unluckiest day of the year. Pennsylvania is beginning to look a lot like Transylvania in the horror spoof Saturday the 14th! John and Mary can't believe their good fortune when they inherit the vast estate of John's recently departed uncle. Sure, it's a fixer-upper. But there's nothing that can't be taken care of with a fresh coat of paint, a little dusting... and maybe an exorcist! It turns out that they've just moved into the most eerie house in Erie, PA - and one that some loathsome looky-loos are simply dying to take off their hands! Monsters, mayhem, and mirth descend upon the house - and only a mysterious book can save this everyday normal family from Saturday's paranormal activity.
Starring: Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, Jeffrey Tambor, Severn Darden, Kevin BrandoHorror | 100% |
Supernatural | 12% |
Thriller | Insignificant |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Adventure | Insignificant |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
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 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
When “Airplane!” was released during the summer of 1980, it became a massive hit (the fourth highest-grossing movie of the year), inspiring Hollywood to attempt to replicate the formula with other genres. The obvious choice for a prolonged pantsing was the horror genre, with another screaming success, “Friday the 13th,” managing to shock the industry and become something of an event film for teenagers. Slasher entertainment was ripe for the mocking, and one of the first titles out of the gate was…not “Saturday the 14th.” Despite its enticing, silly title, the endeavor offered a hard pass on all things Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, with writer/director Howard R. Cohen (“Space Raiders,” “Time Trackers”) electing to make an Abbott and Costello picture for the disco age, trying to revive dormant slapstick interests for a comedy adventure that utilizes horror, but doesn’t quite satirize it. It’s a very broad effort from Cohen, who seems convinced that all he needs to sell the wacky viewing experience is game actors and hoary jokes, leaving true sharpness of wit and timely targets to other productions.
The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation strives to preserve the bright, comedic look of the original cinematography, but Shout Factory appears to be working with an older scan of the movie, which carries some evidence of filtering. Colors are adequate, with comfortable primaries that emerge from period costuming and house decoration. Monster appearances are also true, showcasing darker, greener skintones, while humans retain their natural appeal. Detail isn't satisfying, battling waxy appearances, along with flatter costuming, and skin surfaces aren't textured. Delineation struggles with solidification, swallowing some frame information during shadowy encounters and black outfits. Source has some speckling and mild scratches, but no major damage.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix handles the limited sonic requirements of the picture, which offers more of a basic listening experience to best support the slapstick mood. Dialogue exchanges are defined, identifying individual performances as they make the leap from casual conversations to more aggressive acts of panic. Screaming and yelling doesn't push the track into distortive extremes. Scoring retains synth-laden weight, supporting silliness and faux suspense. Sound effects are identifiable. Mild hiss is detected.
"Saturday the 14th" soon brings in Van Helsing (Severn Darden) and transforms into party mode, with the Waldemar and Yolanda entering the house to join what becomes a monster mash, giving the tale the group participation it's been working towards. And yet, the material never matches the potential of the gathering, with Cohen refusing to come up with brighter jokes and more interesting near-misses. He has a cast that's willing to play (with the exception of Prentiss, who's tasked with playing a vampire but never commits to the transformation in full), but talented actors are often stuck with dismal material. "Saturday the 14th" is a title that promises so much, but Cohen doesn't have the vision to go bananas with his concept, playing a very careful game of one-liner checkers with a premise that all but demands a prolonged sense of comedic insanity, stuffed with all sorts of ghoulishness from a genre that's primed for parody.
Collector's Edition
2005
1988
1987
1993
2010
Unrated Director's Cut
2006
Original Unrated Cut
2005
2015
2009
Collector's Edition | Theatrical Cut 4K + BD / Director's Cut BD
1990
Hardcover
1989
Collector's Edition
1990
The Outing
1987
1955
1985
1986
1976
1975
Limited Edition
1982
2022