The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		2.5

The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman May 30, 2019

For certain lovers of cult cinema, the name Hemisphere Pictures will most likely forever be linked to The Blood Island Collection, and perhaps more generally to Philippine shot outings in general, but as the movies collected in Hemishpere Box of Horrors make clear, this relatively small scale independent “studio” (if it could even be called that) at least attempted to try a few (marginally?) different things through the years. The five films assembled for this set document an approach that might be thought of as part Hammer, part Roger Corman (especially his Poe adaptations), but with a very peculiar, and some may reasonably feel distinctive, air. Part of that is due to the features shot in the Philippines, but there’s a weirdly exotic feel to even the stateside shot, admittedly low budget and often generally lo-fi offerings. One of the fun supplements on some of the Blood Island Collection discs were the reminiscences of Hemisphere marketing guru Samuel S. Sherman, and Sherman is back with more background information here, helping to explain how Hemisphere was seeking some kind of identity on the grindhouse and/or drive-in circuit(s), finding some unexpected success along the way. There's little doubt that any, and indeed probably all, of these films fits rather snugly into the confines of "cult cinema", but even devoted acolytes of this particular cult may need to temper expectations based on the source elements Severin was able to procure.

For reviews of the five films included in this set, please click on the following links:

The Torture Chamber of Dr. Sadism Blu- ray review

The Black Cat Blu-ray review

The Blood Drinkers Blu-ray review

Curse of the Vampires Blu-ray review

Brain of Blood Blu-ray review

The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Video quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Audio quality of each release is assessed in the above linked reviews.

The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Supplements on each disc included in this set are detailed in the above linked reviews (not all supplements are necessarily limited to the particular film or films on that individual disc).

The Hemisphere Box of Horrors Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Hemisphere Pictures may not be on everyone's radar, but for fans who do know of this lesser remembered company, this set may well be welcomed, even if technical merits are variable due to some issues with source elements. Severin has assembled some interesting supplements for those considering a purchase.