Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Transylvania 6-5000 Blu-ray Movie Review

Frankenstein meets Jeff Goldblum in a zany horror-comedy

A classic 80's comedy set against the horror of Transylvania, the spooky world of Transylvania 6-5000 is a wild ride that audiences will want to go on. Executive produced by Arnie Fishman (Out of Control) and Paul Lichtman (Destroying Angel), the story follows the misadventures of a pair of bumbling news journalists: Gil Turner (Ed Begley Jr.) and Jack Harrison (Jeff Goldblum). Sent on a mission to find information regarding the origins of a series of strange sightings in Transylvania involving monster Frankenstein, the aloof pair find themselves getting into far more trouble than was bargained for. Prepare to scream (or howl with laughter).

The film does an excellent job of mixing together a potent combination of classic horror-movie staples. Not only does the story revolve around the mysterious sightings in Transylvania of Frankenstein, the film even brings together a monster-mash of vampires, werewolves, and mummies (oh my). Genre enthusiasts wanting to see a fun comedy with some classic horror staples will be more than pleased by the potent mix in Transylvania 6-5000. The special effects (which are often traditional) are exactly the kind of good 1980's fun audiences would expect.

The comedy wouldn't be nearly as effective as it ultimately is without the dynamic casting. The lead performances by Jeff Goldblum and Ed Begley Jr. are entertaining and one of the key reasons the film works as well as it does. Goldblum is especially pitch-perfect and sinks his teeth (pun?) into the material. Ed Begley Jr. gives a sometimes manic performance and goes to silly extremes to amp up the humor. There are also a number of fun supporting players contributing to the comedic hijinks. Geena Davis brings the heat as the lustful vampire Odette while Seinfeld alum Michael Richards delights in spades as the eccentric butler Fejos.

"Are there fries with that?"

The production has curious cinematography by Tomislav Pinter (Carmen, Kontakt). The efforts of Pinter feel perfectly at home for an eighties comedy even if the lighting and tone never truly strikes a horror tone that feels truly scary. While the easily scared might still find moments in the film to bounce back in fright from, serious horror aficionados won't be shaking in their boots (so to speak). Though the film might be best described as a horror-comedy the horror quotient is low (besides the genre nods). A original music score composed by Lee Holdridge (The Mists of Avalon, Splash) gives the film some added ambiance while the costumes by Christine Glazier and Latica Ivanisevic have fun playing a monster-mash with audiences.

Rudy De Luca (Pink Lady, Peeping Times), the writer-turned-actor (and then director) both wrote and directed the strange quirky horror-comedy that is Transylvania 6-5000. The strength of the film lies in both the exceptional casting and the quirkiness of the filmmaking. Attempting to inject some fun into a sometimes overly-dark horror genre, De Luca forms a comedic world that has a good time with its odd cast of characters.

The filmmaking feels relaxed while the director-in-charge gives the actors room for experimenting with their roles. The end result is a comedic slice of horror pie (yum) that aims to entertain audiences in good measure. While not a perfect film, Transylvania 6-5000 has charms where it counts and a cast which knows how to have a fun party on celluloid. A sometimes deliriously strange experience, Transylvania 6-5000 is worth a watch.

Transylvania 6-5000 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from distributor Kino Lorber, Transylvania 6-5000 has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 widescreen. The release has received a brand new 4K restoration of the film. Much to my surprise, the 4K scan doesn't equate to gold under-the-rainbow or some semblance of perfection.

The benefit of the 4K remaster is seen in the print being extremely clean with only a few specks of dirt or scratches. It disappoints (somewhat) nonetheless. Colors on the print are rather mute and the image has some inherent softness. While the scan looks naturalistic overall, Transylvania 6-5000 is never a showy, flashy, and exciting presentation. It simply is.

Transylvania 6-5000 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has an impressive DTS-HD Master Audio mono audio presentation. The audio track is reasonably crisp and clear throughout. Dialogue is consistently easy to understand. The music has acceptable depth and fidelity. The track isn't flawless and there are occasional scenes in which the soundtrack is not quite as crisp as might be desired but the overall effort is commendable nonetheless. Optional English subtitles are provided.

Transylvania 6-5000 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Audio Commentary by writer/director Rudy DeLuca and visual consultant Steve Haberman

Transylvania 6-5000 TV Spots (SD, 1:35)

Transylvania 6-5000 Trailer 1 (SD, 1:27)

Transylvania 6-5000 Trailer 2 (SD, 1:00)

The release also includes trailers for the following releases from Kino Lorber: Life Stinks (SD, 2:01), My Boyfriend's Back (SD, 1:10), Haunted Honeymoon (SD, 2:19), and The Monster (SD, 1:37).

Transylvania 6-5000 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A zany 80's comedy with a fantastic ensemble cast having a good time, the silly Transylvania 6-5000 is far from a forgotten classic but its nonetheless a reasonably charming comedy to experience. The best thing about the film is the fun energy displayed by the cast. Jeff Goldblum, Ed Begley Jr., Geena Davis, Jeffrey Jones, and Michael Richards have a good time bouncing jokes off of one another in quick succession.

While Transylvania 6-5000 is never an outright scary experience (despite the Halloween-friendly setting) the goofball antics make it worth checking out for fans of the cast. The Blu-ray releases features a new 4K scan. Fans of the film might be interested in picking it up and are encouraged to do so. Recommended.