6.3 | / 10 |
Users | 3.5 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
At the beginning of the film, we learn from one of the characters that earthworms can be called to the surface with electricity, but somehow it turns them into vicious flesh-eaters. Sure enough, a storm that night causes some power lines to break and touch the ground, drawing millions of man-eating worms out of the earth, and into town where they quickly start munching on the locals...
Starring: Don Scardino, Patricia Pearcy, R.A. Dow, Jean Sullivan, Peter MacLeanHorror | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: LPCM 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
DVD copy
Region B (locked)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Jeff Lieberman's directorial debut "Squirm" (1976) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of British distributors Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; Q&A session with Jeff Lieberman and actor Don Scardino; new video interview with horror aficionado Kim Newman; and audio commentary by Jeff Lieberman. The release also arrives with a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Lee Gambin, author of Massacred by Mother Nature and an interview with Jeff Lieberman by Calum Waddell, illustrated with original archive stills and posters, as well as a reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Gary Pullin. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".
"They came from everywhere..."
Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jeff Lieberman's Squirm arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.
The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:
"Squirm was transferred from a 35mm interpositive. The film was transferred in High Definition at Modern Videofilm in Glendale, California. Digital restoration was carried out using the DRS system and was approved by director Jeff Lieberman. Audio was transferred from a restored 35mm mono mag. The colorist was Kevin Shaw, and the entire project was managed by James Owsley of MGM.
Technical consultant: James White.
Production assistant: Louise Buckler."
There are select areas of the film where extremely light noise is visible, but clarity and image depth are good. Contrast levels also remain stable throughout the entire film. Generally speaking, there is also a good range of healthy colors, though occasionally the reds and browns appear slightly pushed up. Perhaps the best news, however, is that there are no traces of problematic degraining and sharpening corrections. Indeed, grain is carefully managed and as a result the film has a stable organic look. Lastly, there are no serious stability issues. Also, there are no large debris, cuts, damage marks, or stains to report in this review. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).
There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.
Dynamic intensity is limited, but this should not be surprising considering how and with what resources the film was shot. Occasionally depth also fluctuates a bit, mostly during sequences where Robert Prince's music is used to further enhance the spooky atmosphere, but clarity is very pleasing. The dialog is stable and easy to follow. Also, there is no problematic background hiss, pops, crackle, or distortions to report in this review.
Jeff Lieberman's Squirm should appeal strictly to fans of low-budget horror films. Arrow Video's technical presentation of the film is up to the high standards set by the company this year, so if you happen to be one of those fans, you should not miss it.
1977
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1988
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1981
1989
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2015
2019
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1971
Limited Edition
1982
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1991