6.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
The murder of an innocent, happy couple leads to a courtroom trial that would sentence the killer to death, but who really did it?
Starring: Katherine Cortez, Larry Parks (IX), Nita Patterson, Don Cummins, Martin McDonaldCrime | Insignificant |
Drama | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo verified
None
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 1.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
1976’s “The Electric Chair” offers a haunting title and an initial scene of corpse discovery that promises something macabre to come. However, it’s unwise to trust drive-in cinema, which often uses every trick in the book to sucker audiences in to see something they’d otherwise avoid like the plague. Instead of a chiller, “The Electric Chair” is a particularly terrible episode of “Law & Order,” taking the action to North Carolina, where lawyers and cops attempt to figure out the motive behind a double murder and bring someone to justice for the crime.
Let's get real here: the AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation is likely going to be the best "The Electric Chair" is ever going to look on home video. Age is unavoidable, and wear and tear is displayed throughout the viewing experience, with scratches, speckling, cigarette burns, brief chemical damage, and jumpy frames present, and there's mild discoloration on the right side of the frame at times. However, even with visual issues, basic filmic needs are met here, offering satisfactory clarity on faces and locations, bringing out a decent amount of detail to survey. Colors are also capable, highlighting primaries and richer hues for blood and greenery. Delineation is passable, going about as far as the original cinematography allows.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is also hit with age-related issues, but mild ones mostly contained to fluctuating volume levels. Microphone use isn't a priority to the production, leaving dialogue exchanges acceptable. Scoring is pronounced, driving what passes for atmosphere in the effort, and soundtrack selections are adequate. While nothing's sharp on the track, one can follow the performances and detect intended moods. Hiss is minimal.
There are two major capital punishment sequences in the picture, justifying the title, but the rest is painful to sit through, filled with tedious legal battles, abysmal acting, and iffy technical achievements (though editing sometimes perks up to set the mood of the scene). And, if you're a student of murder mysteries, there's no whodunit here, as the killer is clearly identified right off the bat. "The Electric Chair" is inept, barely a movie, but accept it as filler for a punishing drive-in schedule, and maybe there's some fun to be found. If you can stay awake while watching it.
2021
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