Rating summary
| Movie |  | 3.0 |
| Video | | 3.0 |
| Audio | | 3.0 |
| Extras |  | 4.0 |
| Overall | | 3.0 |
The Haunting of Morella Blu-ray Movie Review
Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2016
Producer Roger Corman has spent his career paying tribute to the works of author Edgar Allan Poe, most notably masterminding pictures such as “The Masque of Red Death” and “House of Usher.” In 1990, Corman returned to Poe’s creative playground with “The Haunting of Morella,” tasking co-writer/director Jim Wynorski to come up with a sexually charged take on witchcraft and period passions, making sure to remain within strict budgetary limits. Big on nudity and light on thrills, “The Haunting of Morella” isn’t a premiere Poe/Corman pairing (the material was previously covered in “Tales of Terror”), but when the film finally begins to issue macabre highlights, it finds its B-movie footing.
“The Haunting of Morella” is strange picture, offering a range of thespian talent to help bring the ghoulish particulars of the plot to life. On one side there’s David McCallum, who handles his role of a doomed blind man with relative care, trying to communicate to viewers the urgency of the situation through practiced emphasis. On the other side is Nicole Eggert, with the teen actress out of her league in a dual role of virginal goodness and unholy evil, having trouble conveying the developing darkness as her characters bewitch local men and women. Lana Clarkson also appears as a loyal supporter of doomsday, with her statuesque presence adding spice to the effort, though true emotional depth is lacking.
The Haunting of Morella Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality
The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation battles with softer cinematography, identifying bloomy whites and challenges to fine detail. The viewing experience seems true to intentions, but the haziness gets a little carried away at times. Textures have to fight for attention, passable with close-ups and costuming. Colors are comfortable and true to style. Delineation reaches as far as possible. Source encounters its share of scratches and speckling.
The Haunting of Morella Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is a bit problematic. Sourced from a troublesome IP, the feature is missing a handful of brief shots (accessible in the supplements), which messes with the track at times. Most notably, there are a few instances when music cues are abruptly cut off. The rest of the listening experience inches toward shrillness, finding thespian surges hitting crispy highs, though intelligibility is never threatened. Scoring is dull but acceptable, retaining basic dramatic shape and purpose. Atmospherics are thick, keeping in line with the movie's limited budget.
The Haunting of Morella Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras
- Commentary features director Jim Wynorksi and second unit director Steve Mitchell.
- Interview (5:28, HD) with producer Roger Corman explores the feature's production origins and low-budget challenges. Corman also identifies the strengths of the cast and shares his feelings on the sexual content of the picture.
- Deleted Clips (2:08, SD) present the missing pieces of the Blu-ray presentation, pulled from an earlier DVD release.
- "Nightmare Theater Mode" (5:23, HD) returns to host Katarina Leigh Waters, who performs a skit and shares IMDB trivia with the viewer.
- And a Theatrical Trailer (1:30, SD) is included.
The Haunting of Morella Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation
What's interesting about "The Haunting of Morella" is how much it retains the classic Corman/Poe atmosphere. It's modernized all the way, but a little of the old hysteria remains, and the feature does escalate agreeably, making time for witches, gore, and sex. While production efforts are hampered by budget issues, Wynorski keeps up the "Poe Cycle" to the best of his ability, creating a climax that's filled with amusing chaos and gothic horror.
