5.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 2.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Sailing to a remote and deserted island, Captain Thorne Sherman delivers supplies to scientist Dr. Craigis, who is anxious to have his daughter, Ann, join the skipper on his return voyage. And for good reason: Dr. Craigis and his assistants have accidentally wreaked biological havoc by spawning mutant shrews that are starving for food - especially humans! Sherman must fight for survival while fending off these savage creatures. Surrounded by the bloodthirsty beasts, he concocts a desperate escape plan that will keep viewers' hearts pumping with excitement...
Starring: James Best, Ingrid Goude, Ken Curtis (I), Gordon McLendon, Baruch LumetHorror | 100% |
Sci-Fi | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1, 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono (48kHz, 16-bit)
English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono (192 kbps)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 2.0 |
Note: This film is available on Blu-ray as part of
The Giant Gila Monster.
If you're old enough to remember broadcast television when only three basic networks were available, and when affiliates often offered cheesy
locally produced
horror anthology shows that typically
ran
late Friday nights and featured both classic and lesser known films, you may have some "history" with the two outings Film Masters has
aggregated for this set. For that and some other reasons, there's a potent if inherently kind of silly sense of nostalgia in revisiting them
now, with part of that nostalgia coming from a greater awareness of the production team responsible for both of the films. In that regard, some
appealing supplements included
with
this two disc set provide some really fun information about a semi-motley crew of folks including the rather fascinating character of Gordon
McLendon,
a Texas based entrepreneur who was an early version of what is now called a "multi-hyphenate", and who in the medium of radio founded the
Liberty network (where McClendon pioneered broadcasting Major League Baseball, if only after he became famous for "recreating" games that had
already been played, courtesy of after the fact announcing and a plethora of studio sound effects) and who is reportedly
responsible for coming up with the Top 40 Playlist format. McClendon also had a rather interesting history in the film industry, not just limited to
these two films which he produced (along with, somewhat incredibly, Gunsmoke
's Ken Curtis). He was a large stakeholder in Columbia Pictures, he owned a bunch of actual theaters (including lots of drive-
ins, which would have been the natural place to exhibit these particular films), and he was evidently an ad campaign wizard who at least
helped fashion marketing for any number of notable pictures. Part of the nostalgia attending this release may also come courtesy of the fact that
Film Masters have provided both 1.85:1 and (for those old enough to remember those television viewings) 1.33:1.
The Killer Shrews is presented on Blu-ray in either its theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 or the television version in 1.33:1. I've included just a couple of screenshots from the 1.33:1 version as I found the 1.85:1 framing to be the more balanced. Otherwise, the two versions show the same pluses and minuses, down to some of the same moments of (typically quite minor) age related wear and tear. Film Masters hasn't provided much (if any) technical information on the transfer, but like The Giant Gila Monster this boasts a pleasingly organic appearance, solid contrast and some generally good detail levels. Grain is arguably a bit grittier looking on this release than on The Giant Gila Monster. This film also indulges in quite a bit more dimly lit material, I suspect to hide the fact that the "shrews" are either puppets or dogs, and as such, detail levels are understandably not always as fulsome.
The Killer Shrews features a serviceable DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Mono track that offers capable support for quite a few ambient environmental effects, as well as the often less than stirring dialogue. There's some very minor crackling and break up in some of the more bombastic music cues. Optional English subtitles are available.
The Killer Shrews just can't quite get past the absurd shrews themselves, and the surrounding story here is almost like Tennessee Williams attempting to do low budget horror (I joke, but hopefully you get the idea). Technical merits are generally solid, and this disc's featurette on Ray Kellogg is especially worthwhile, for anyone who may be considering making a purchase.
(Still not reliable for this title)
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