The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 1, 2022

Shot in 1999, “The Collingswood Story” takes credit as the first “screenlife” feature, with writer/director Michael Costanza inventing a type of dial-up phone cam connection between two characters, who spend their time discussing separate lives and dealing with the Other Side as a mystery involving cult happenings in New Jersey develops. The gimmick is well-executed for a no-budget feature, but it’s difficult to generate much enthusiasm for a project that clearly should’ve been a short film. Costanza doesn’t have enough dramatic material to carry 82 minutes of screentime, and while there’s fine idea for internet-age chills in play, “The Collingswood Story” doesn’t get wild enough to rattle the senses.

Most of “The Collingswood Story” involves communication between Rebecca (Stephanie Dees) and her ex-boyfriend, John (Johnny Burton), with the pair using a phone cam to stay in touch while Rebecca’s away at college, spending her birthday alone. For a gift, John provides Rebecca with access to Vera (Diane Behrens), a phone cam psychic who picks up on something awful in Collingswood, New Jersey, sending Rebecca down a path of research that connects her to evil forces.

The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

"The Collingswood Story" is a strange movie to bring to Blu-ray, originally shot in 1999 with a Sony Hi-8 camcorder. The AVC encoded image (1.33:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures the feature's limited look, with phone cam activity as detailed as the source allows. Colors are satisfactory, with costuming choices and desktop hues. Delineation is acceptable for the film, which visits many dark spaces. Banding is periodically detected.

The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix doesn't offer much more than phone cam dialogue exchanges, which sound acceptably clear and dramatic. Short pieces of music and droning synth register as intended.

The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features writer/director Michael Costanza.

• "Behind the Story" (14:02, SD) is an interview with writer/director Michael Costanza, which also includes some behind-the- scenes images from the making of "The Collingswood Story."

• "2005 Fearless Tales Film Fest" (5:01, SD) is a 2005 interview with actress Stephanie Dees.

• Interview (10:20, SD) is a 2006 conversation with actors John Burton and Grant Edmonds.

• Image Gallery (1:41) collects continuity pictures and set Polaroids from the 1999 shoot.

• And a Trailer (1:02, HD) is included.

The Collingswood Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"The Collingswood Story" doesn't get away from computer desktop interactions, with Rebecca still tethered to a landline and video recording as she elects to pursue her investigation outside of her apartment. Mood is appreciable with Vera's presence and a gentle escalation of suspense, leading to some found footage sequences, but Costanza doesn't have enough ideas to fill an entire movie, leaving the endeavor to stew in tedious conversations and limited ideas for terror.