Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		5.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Terror Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 21, 2018

As the story goes, director Norman J. Warren caught a showing of “Suspiria” and was greatly impressed with the stylistic choices made by filmmaker Dario Argento, also respecting his general disregard of a traditional narrative to live in the moment with abstract wonders. Warren, born and bred in the U.K., decided to try to replicate a slice of Italian cinema in his homeland, with 1978’s “Terror” a hodgepodge of giallo craftsmanship and horror freak-out obsessions. The helmer of “Prey” and “Satan’s Slave,” Warren already knew a thing or two about freaking out audiences, but with “Terror,” he strives for mimicry, and as plenty of other challengers already understand, it’s hard to do what Argento does, especially during the “Suspiria” years.

James (John Nolan) is a filmmaker and owner of London movie studio space, watching as his cousin, Ann (Carolyn Courage), tries to become an actress, showing her a picture he’s made that details their family curse. As James strives to be casual and welcoming with his friends, hypnotist Gary (Michael Craze) unlocks something deep within Ann while she’s under, commencing a strange series of events that takes the lives of those close to James and Ann, creating panic for the producer, who’s already courting trouble with law enforcement by producing pornography at his studio. As the bodies pile up, so do questions of sanity and guilt, with the horror reaching a remote hostel home to Ann and her fellow aspiring thespians.

“Terror” isn’t careful when it comes to plotting. Warren and screenwriter David McGillivray aren’t attentive to the needs of characterization, going more for a creepy mood of ominous happenings, starting with a showcase of James’s film about his family curse, which dates back hundreds of years and showcases the killer instinct of Mad Dolly (L.E. Mack), a woman burned at the stake who wouldn’t go easily into the afterlife. The action soon switches to 1978 London, where James keeps a close eye on Ann, in possession of information he doesn’t want to share with his more innocent relative. At a party, she submits to Gary, who actually manages to put her under hypnosis, which rolls out the welcome mat for mayhem to come, some of it including a special sword from the Mad Dolly Collection that James keeps in his house, giving those who wish to do harm easy access to weaponry.

“Terror” is episodic, built primarily as a directorial exercise for Warren to show off his newfound interest in Italian-style hellraising, lavishing attention on the murder sequences, where innocents are chased into the dark and slaughtered by an unknown killer or mystical force, leaving James to figure out what’s going on. The deaths aren’t very remarkable at first, but they improve as the tale unfolds, with one character dealing with the unique challenge of escaping a car that’s floating off the ground, and the picture’s best sequence belongs to James’s partner, who’s not only subjected to the murderous wrath of a silent antagonist, but one that whips around anything that isn’t nailed down inside a movie studio, including angry clumps of 35mm film. It’s here where Warren is his most “Suspiria”-like, blasting the screen with colors, noise, and physical harm, finally working “Terror” into an appealing lather. It’s a shame the whole feature isn’t this outrageous.

Terror Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Billed as "Newly scanned and restored in 2K from the 35mm original camera negative," "Terror" looks sensational for its HD debut. The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is terrific with detail, picking up on filmmaking accomplishments such as grotesque make-up and fibrous period outfits, while facial particulars are especially fresh, with outstanding textures that note age and grooming habits. Colors are respectfully refreshed, handling primaries with care. More aggressive hues from the 1970s are managed comfortably (interior paint jobs are most vivid), along with stretches of violence, which offer candied reds and greens. Grain is fine and filmic. Delineation is communicative. Source is in good shape, with no significant stretches of concern.

Terror Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 1.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix does well with the English production, and while some minor sibilance issues pop up from time to time, dialogue exchanges are pronounced, giving some life to dramatic passages and urgency to suspense sequences. Scoring is supportive, with satisfactory instrumentation to handle the more frantic aspects of the murder sequences. Sound effects are preserved, enjoying a little boost in volume to support the illusion. There's a brief audio dropout (at 48:36) which lasts for a few seconds.

Terror Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Career Overview Interview (66:52) is an audio conversation with director Norman J. Warren, who discusses the ups and down of his professional choices with journalist Kat Ellinger. The discussion is presented as an audio commentary, and the volume level on Warren is very low.

• Interview (20:34, HD) with Warren examines his love of independent film from the 1970s and the electric charge of creativity he received when he watched "Suspiria" for the first time, influencing his vision for "Terror." The director discusses casting choices, including the search to find an interesting stripper for a club sequence. Warren also highlights special effects work, soundtrack inventions, and the challenges of putting "Terror" together during a four week shoot.

• Interview (12:47, HD) with David McGilivray cracks open the screenwriter's diary from the late 1970s to learn about the "Terror" shoot. He also discusses the feature's cult longevity.

• Interview (5:03, HD) with Carolyn Courage mostly highlights the work put into the "flying car" sequence, with the actress describing the details of special effects, along with the particulars of screen blood.

• Interview (8:49, HD) with Tricia Walsh is a bright conversation with the giggling actress, who recalls her refusal to do nudity after taking a look at all the leering crew members who brought "Terror" to life. The actress explores her cockney inspiration, and recounts her relationships with co-stars.

• Interview (8:33, HD) with Mary Maude examines her interest in character, finding her place as the "older woman" of the ensemble. The actress discusses her co-stars and love of costuming, identifying the items that helped to inspire her performance. Maude also recalls being subjected to the life casting process, describing the claustrophobic experience.

• Interview (10:06, HD) with actor Peter Craze details slight ribbing from his wife, who playfully laments the loss of the hunky version of her husband found in "Terror," where he portrays a softcore porn star. Craze also points out career highlights, including the longstanding popularity of his stint on "Dr. Who."

• Deleted/Extended Scenes (4:46, HD) offer a little more conversation during the initial hypnotism scene, strip club camaraderie and atmosphere, and additional "Bathtime for Becky" dialogue exchanges.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Terror Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Argento fandom is entertaining, but it doesn't carry the 80-minute movie, which often struggles to find things to do. Warren doesn't subscribe to tight editing, leaving much of the effort slack, but oddities tend to save the day, including a trip to a bleak strip club where all the actresses work, and there's the Mad Dolly aspects of the plot, which brings out sufficient weirdness. However, "Terror" doesn't live up its title, alternating between cinematic replication and directorial survival, coming up with a horror extravaganza that's arresting in fits, but missing a grander sense of oncoming doom.