Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

The Entity Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 3, 2017

Sidney J. Furie's "The Entity" (1982) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include an exclusive new program with composer Charles Bernstein; video interview with actor Robert MacNaughton; original trailer; and a collection of original promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

It is happening

I saw The Entity on a cold and windy winter night some years after it had already been released. I remember picking it up on VHS in my favorite video store while browsing through the latest genre selections -- different corners of the store had themed sections that would highlight either the latest hits or some of the manager’s favorite picks -- after the box cover piqued my interest. There was a small picture of Barbara Hershey’s face right under the title and this was a good enough reason for me to rent the film, but then I also saw that it was directed by Sidney J. Furie, which was even better because I really liked his early work. So, I did not even read the synopsis. I grabbed the plastic box and headed to the front of the store where I had to pick up the tape. I would never forget that night because the two hours that I spent later on in front of my TV turned out to be the most intense viewing experience that I have had to date. I am not trying to be overly melodramatic here. The film stayed with me for years after that night and I actually did quite a bit of research on the true story it recreates. Of course I also read Frank De Felitta’s novel, but this is one of those rare cases where the film is actually a lot better than the original material that inspired it. The novel has more detailed descriptions, but they also add a different flavor to the story. The film uses sound -- and I bet De Felitta, who also wrote the script for it, had some very specific instructions how it should be incorporated -- in some strikingly effective ways which becomes an essential element of the nightmarish atmosphere. The heavy thumping during the attacks, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, goes right into your head, and when Hershey panics moments before she is attacked, the atmosphere is absolutely phenomenal.

The film was completed in 1982 and there is a lot that has been written about it since then, so I am just going to mention a few bits about the true story it reconstructs. If you don’t know anything about it but wish to see the film, ignore old reviews and promotional materials that were published by CBS/Fox Video (this includes more recent printed material and original trailers from Twentieth Century Fox) as they contain some major spoilers. This way you will likely experience the entire range of emotions that I did years ago.

At the center of the story is Carla Moran (Hershey), a single mother, who lives a fairly uneventful life in sunny California. She goes to work, takes care of her children, and occasionally spends time with her friends. Then one night after she returns from work something, like an invisible force, rapes her in her house. Then the force does it again, and again, and again. Eventually, Carla meets Dr. Phil Sneiderman (Ron Silver), a psychoanalyst, and he vows to help her recover, assuming that the force is hiding somewhere in the deep corners of her mind. But the more Dr. Sneiderman learns about Carla’s disturbing experiences, the more convinced he becomes that they are in fact real.

The film merges the illogical and logical parts of Carla’s story in a truly brilliant fashion. It is structured as a thriller, but instead of moving toward a conventional resolution it actually goes deep into a territory where there is essentially very little room for conventional logic. Admittedly, this isn’t the first film to bend reality like that, but it is the only one that I am aware of that does it while recreating true events.

Hershey is outstanding and it is such a shame that the Academy did not at least recognize the quality of her performance with an Oscar nomination. Silver is also very convincing as the psychoanalyst who is willing to trust his new patient despite the reservations of his colleagues.

Furie worked with cinematographer Stephen Burum, who is probably best known for his contributions to many of Brian De Palma’s best films (Rumble Fish, Body Double).

The Entity Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Entity arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Australian label Umbrella Entertainment.

The release is sourced from the same older master that recently British label Eureka Entertainment accessed when it prepared its local release of The Entity, which comes from Twentieth Century Fox's vaults and Anchor Bay used for the North American release. So there are no meaningful discrepancies between these releases because they are all sourced from the same master. And how good is the master? It is serviceable, but it has very obvious limitations. For example, even though detail and clarity are quite decent it is frequently very easy to see that a lot of the darker footage struggles with some black crush. Fluidity is also inconsistent. The most obvious flaw, however, is the elevated sharpness, which sporadically gives the visuals a bit of a digital edge (you can see examples in screencaptures #4 and 13). The film certainly would have looked far better without it, but on the other hand it certainly does not have the distracting harsh digital appearance that many catalog titles from Universal's vaults do. Color balance is mostly good, but as I mentioned in our review of the British release there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that a new master, if done properly, will deliver more satisfying results. Lastly, there are no large cuts, debris, or damage marks, but a few tiny flecks occasionally can be spotted. My score is 3.25/5.00.

The Entity Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame. (The subtitles cannot be accessed via the main menu. You need to use your remote control to turn them on/off).

I think that the lossless track is quite good, but a new remaster of the film will almost certainly bring a new remix as well, and I fairly confident that depth will be improved. On the other hand, clarity and overall stability are very good, so your viewing experience will be quite pleasing.

The Entity Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for The Entity. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Finding a Voice for The Entity with Composer Charles Bernstein - in this new program, composer Charles Bernstein explains how the music score he created had multiple tasks in order to help tell the story of Carla Moran, where and how the music score was recorded, and how the violence that is committed by the entity is reflected in specific harmonies. Mr. Bernstein also recalls how he was approached and offered the opportunity to work with Sidney J. Furie, and discusses the process of 'spotting' -- which refers to the placing of music in the 'right' locations to get the desired type of ambience -- and the final sound design of The Entity. The program was produced by Umbrella Entertainment in association with Cinemaniacs. In English, not subtitled. (34 min).

• Robert McNaughton Remembers The Entity - in this new video interview, actor Robert MacNaughton, who played Michael in E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, recalls how he auditioned to play Carla Moran's son but did not get the gig. The interview was conducted exclusively for Umbrella Entertainment. In English, not subtitled. (3 min).

• Gallery - a collection of original posters and stills that were used to promote The Entity. (2 min).

• Sleeve - reversible cover.

The Entity Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I really, really like The Entity and have been secretly hoping that it enters the Criterion Collection, but the more time passes, the clearer it becomes that an elaborate special edition will probably not happen any time soon. This recent release from Australian label Umbrella Entertainment is sourced from the same Fox master that has been used in different territories for various local releases, but it has some exclusive bonus features. I thought that the long program with composer Charles Bernstein was excellent, as he has some very interesting observations about the excellent music score and the different ways in which it helps the film's unique ambience. Those of you who like The Entity as much as I do should consider a purchase. RECOMMENDED.